Four Funerals and Maybe A Wedding (Her Royal Spyness #12)

By: Rhys Bowen
Published Year: 2018
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 304

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Georgie is finally able to plan for her wedding in the summer. It is going to be a summer of weddings: her mother is marrying Max, her German beau; Georgie's grandfather is marrying his next door neighbor, Mrs. Huggins; and Darcy's father is getting up the courage to ask the princess to marry him. Georgie is staying at the princess's London house when she receives a letter from one of her mother's former husbands, Sir Hubert Anstruther. Georgie is now his sole heir, and he's offering her the use of his lovely country house. He suggests she move in right away to keep an eye on the place because all might not be well since his butler died.

Georgie talks this through with her husband-to-be, Darcy, who is off to Europe again, this time to Berlin. They decide that she will take Sir Hubert up on his offer. However, when Georgie arrives, it becomes clear that she is definitely not wanted in the house. Strange things are happening, including a lively ghost and a less than friendly reception from the new butler. When a body shows up, Georgie realizes that Sir Hubert's invitation may not have been entirely altruistic and begins to wonder if she'll even make it to her wedding day.

First Impressions

I have seen the cover for previous books in this series and always thought it looked cute. I like the cartoon-y look of it. It’s appealing and looks like a fun, light read. I was a little worried about starting with the 12th book of a series, but hoped that it was the type of series that you didn’t need much background with.

What I thought

This book was a lot of fun to read! Even though it took me a week to read, it felt like I flew through it.

Georgina is a daughter of a Duke and is connected to British royalty. In this novel, she is about a month away from marrying her fiancé Darcy. Her mother is also about to marry her German boyfriend Max, and her Grandfather is about to marry a woman as well. Before getting married, Darcy and Georgina need to find a place to live. Since Georgina is renouncing her title and tie to royalty and (I assume) because she is a woman, she doesn’t have much money. Darcy completes some secret work and also doesn’t make much money, meaning they are struggling to find a suitable place to live that isn’t Darcy’s family’s old castle. Georgina receives a letter from her stepfather that he would like to give his home to Darcy and Georgina as a wedding present (he will still live there in a wing). He also mentions that he has felt something has been off at his home while he has been away (he has been traveling the world for years) and would like her to look into it. When she arrives, she definitely sense something is amiss and works to figure out what.

I know that’s a bit of a long summary, but there is a lot going on. I didn’t even get into the whole family/royalty portion of the book. I will just say that there was a lot of aristocracy in this novel and British monarchy tie-in and I greatly enjoyed it. I feel like when books have British royalty they don’t often name the actual monarchs (with the exception of historical fiction), but I liked that they did.

Coming into this series in the middle was a lot easier than I thought. I’m sure there are some storylines that would make more sense to me (more nuanced maybe?) if I had read the other novels, but it works pretty well as a standalone. Georgina wasn’t trying to solve a previous mystery, and everything was wrapped up in the end.

I also appreciated that Georgina was smart, but not unbelievable smart. She was a strong woman for the time that she lives in as well. There wasn’t much of Darcy, so I can’t say much about him, but I did love her mother. She was a character and she cracked me up.

The mystery aspect of the novel isn’t anything ground breaking. I will say it was nice to read a mystery that was on the lighter side of things and not a thriller. I’ve read a lot of heavy intense mysteries/thrillers, and this book goes back to the style of old mystery novels. It moved at a great pace and I was interested the entire time.

If you enjoy light mystery novels, I would recommend checking this out. It is a fun story with fun and enjoyable characters. Even if you haven’t read the other novels in the series, you could easily check this one out. I’m not drawn to re-read it or to start the series from the beginning, but I would be happy to read the books that come out in the future.

Kiss the Girl

By: Tara Sivec
Published Year: 2018
Pages: 308
Publisher: Swerve

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this book.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A struggling antiques collector finds herself falling in love with a millionaire playboy; but can she ever be a part of his world?

Meet the Naughty Princess Club, a series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that brings readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after.

While her friends have broken free of their insecurities, Ariel Waters is struggling to come out of her shell. Her ex-husband took away her voice and her self-confidence, and Ariel is drowning under a sea of debt to afford the alimony she has to pay him. She refuses to ever fall for a man’s charms again, and is determined to make her own way.

When her house and her beloved antiques are taken by the bank after too many missed payments, Ariel finds herself adrift until the infuriatingly charming Eric Sailor comes to her rescue. Although she can’t stand the millionaire playboy, Eric’s kindness and unconditional support reveal hidden depths and a love that Ariel never imagined she could find.

But there are outside influences who will stop at nothing to keep them apart; can Ariel and Eric weather the storm and find a way to be together?

First Impressions

I’m a bit of a sucker for Disney Princesses, so this cover and title appealed to me immediately. Ariel isn’t y favorite Disney Princess, but I was willing to overlook that. When I read the summary and saw it was a part of the Naughty Princess Club Series, I knew it would be the perfect book to read on my upcoming girl’s trip.

What I thought

This is the first romance novel that I have reviewed on my blog. I don’t often read romance novels, but I do specifically enjoy them when it’s summer and I’m on vacation. The best part about romance novels is that they’re cheesy and relatively predictable. When I start a romance novel, I expect that and it’s typically the reason I seek them out. I will warn that this book does get a bit steamy, so if you’re not into that, you will not enjoy this book.

This is the third book in a series, and I have not read the previous two. What I appreciated in this book was the recap at the beginning. I felt like it was done in a way that was helpful to people who haven’t read the previous books but that wouldn’t be annoying to people who have read the other books in the series.

Ariel is the third princess in the Naughty Princess Club. She and her best friends, Cindy and Belle, have created an at home princess stripping service. In the previous two novels, Cindy and Belle have found their confidence as well as the loves of their lives, so in this novel it’s Ariel’s turn. In addition to finding love and confidence, she is working on making their business legitimate but applying for a business approval of some sort.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the humor. I read this while on my girl’s trip an found myself constantly laughing out loud and then reading the lines to them that made me giggle. Ariel’s love interest is (obviously) Eric. It starts out with Ariel hating him, but that hate turns quickly to lust and the to love. I do wish it had been a little bit more of a slow burn from the hate to the love part, but there could have been more build-up in the previous two novels.

As with most (all?) romance novels, there is a conflict that causes our protagonists to separate. This book’s conflict was a bit unexpected! While I don’t think I can say it was a complete surprise, there was a bit of a twist to it that I wasn’t expecting and I appreciated it a lot.

If you are a romance novel fan, I would recommend checking out this series. It has definitely convinced me to go back and read the other two. Like I mentioned before, it’s a romance novel so it follows a bit of a formula and is on the steamy side. But, this novel adds a sense of humor that I don’t often find in romance novels and I greatly appreciated it. I flew through it in under 24 hours and would gladly fly through it again!

More Harry Potter?

If, like me, you are a huge Harry Potter fan, I have some exciting news!

Audible (Amazon's audiobook subscription), in conjunction with Pottermore (the JK Rowling Harry Potter website) are releasing an audiobook of Harry Potter: A History of Magic, narrated by Natalie Dormer!!

Just to quickly explain a little more, Audible is a monthly audiobook subscription service in conjunction with Amazon that costs $14.95 a month. This $14.95 a month buys you one credit a month towards an audiobook of your choice. I believe that also, as an Audible subscriber, you receive small discounts on additional audiobooks. Pottermore, is the land of Harry Potter. If you have always wondered what house you would belong in, this is the official place to do it. JK Rowling has, in the past, posted additional short stories or exclusive content on Pottermore, so you know it's a safe place and a trustworthy source of all Harry Potter information.

Now, I'm not normally one for needed excessive Harry Potter stories. I don't follow JK Rowling on twitter to find out more about what happened between the pages. BUT! I love getting to see the actual textbooks from the stories, such as Qudditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

I'm very much looking forward to checking this out. Below is the official press release for Harry Potter: A History of Magic

NEWARK, N.J. – August 9th , 2018 - Audible Inc., the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, today announced the forthcoming release of Harry Potter: A History of Magic, published by Pottermore Publishing. An original non-fiction audiobook that reveals some of the hidden stories behind real-world magic and explores some of J.K. Rowling’s magical inventions alongside their folkloric, cultural and historical forebears. The recording reflects the exhibition of the same name which ran at the British Library last year and will run at the New-York Historical Society in the United States October 5, 2018 – January 27, 2019, with a selection of objects not featured in London that are on view to the public for the very first time. Narrated by Natalie Dormer, whose stage and screen roles include Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones and Cressida in The Hunger Games, Harry Potter: A History of Magic will release on October 4th and is currently available for preorder exclusively at www.audible.com/historyofmagic.

Throughout Harry Potter: A History of Magic, Dormer leads listeners through an audio journey like no other, delving into real-world magical texts and artifacts. From Ethiopian charms and Chinese oracle bones, to the story of Nicolas Flamel and Smelly Nelly’s black moon crystal ball, listeners will be transfixed by tales of magical history and mystical traditions from all over the world, many of which they will recognize from the Harry Potter books that they know and love. Featuring exclusive interviews with series narrators Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, illustrators Jim Kay and Olivia Lomenech Gill, and curators from the British Library and New-York Historical Society, Harry Potter: A History of Magic illuminates both the Wizarding World and the creative process behind the development of the beloved Harry Potter stories.

“I’ve always adored the Harry Potter books, but it wasn’t until I started speaking with the British Library’s curators – hearing about the various myths, legends and cultures that have helped shape the wizarding world – that I really began to appreciate the richness and depth of J. K. Rowling’s writing,” said Dormer. “There are so many wonderful details to explore and A History of Magic unearths some remarkable gems of information that are sure to have listeners awestruck. It’s been fun to join the Wizarding World family.”

“From the first time we spoke to the curators at the British Library and the New-York Historical Society, it was clear that the magical artifacts in the exhibition held so many hidden stories,” said Ann Scantlebury, Development Editor at Pottermore Publishing. “In this audiobook we have been able to delve a little bit deeper to hear about scandals and intrigues, seven reasons why a werewolf might attack, a witch flying a broomstick backwards, and a cautionary tale of an exploding cauldron. Fans of Harry Potter are in for a treat too – Jim Dale, Stephen Fry, Jim Kay, and Olivia Lomenech Gill give us great insight and some fantastic stories of how they created their own interpretations of the Wizarding World.”

“We are thrilled to offer Audible listeners the opportunity to enjoy a brilliant performance of yet another essential component of the Wizarding World,” said Audible EVP and Publisher Beth Anderson. “Natalie’s narration and the wealth of informative and inspiring interviews really bring listeners deep into the rich magical heritage of the Harry Potter stories and beyond. Ever since we first made the Harry Potter series available in Audible 2015, they have been consistently among the highest rated and most listened to audiobooks in our store.”

A special audio tour to accompany the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition at New-York Historical, featuring Dormer’s voice, will be available to ticketholders as a free Audible download, offering in-depth content on fascinating objects throughout the exhibition galleries. 

ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.

Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio content, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible was created to unleash the emotive music in language and the habituating power and utility of verbal expression. Audible content includes more than 425,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible is also the provider of spoken-word audio products for Apple’s iTunes Store.

ABOUT POTTERMORE PUBLISHING

Pottermore Publishing is the global digital publisher of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series as well as other audiobooks and eBooks from the Wizarding World.  It aims to lead the way in innovative digital publishing and to bring new generations of readers together with long-standing fans, celebrating and bringing to life the stories that first began with the Boy Who Lived.

How beautiful is this picture of Natalie Dormer?? In case you are unaware, she is a British actress who has most recognizably been in Game of Thrones.

Are you looking forward to more behind the scenes Harry Potter info? Are you an audiobook fan?

Amsterdam Exposed: An American's Journey into the Red Light District

By: David Wienir
Published Year: 2018
Publisher: DeWallen Press
Pages: 203

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this book.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Amsterdam Exposed tells the true one-of-a-kind story of an innocent exchange student who moves to Amsterdam hoping to write a book about the red light district and everything that follows. It’s an American abroad story, and also a love story; it’s an uplifting tragedy, full of humor from beginning to end; it’s an Amsterdam survival guide; a sympathetic look at a societal problem; a little piece of policy; a sweet farewell to a world just about gone; and, ultimately, as close as you can come to a free trip to Amsterdam without leaving your couch. In sum, Amsterdam Exposed takes readers deep into the district on a journey never before possible, forever reshaping their understanding of one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, and the women who work there. If you’ve ever spent time in Amsterdam, or dreamed of doing so, this book’s for you.

First Impressions

The cover drew me in, but the synopsis made me nervous. I'm glad that this cover is so beautiful, because without it, I don't think I would have even read the synopsis. Having never been to Amsterdam and always enjoying travel, I thought this could be an interesting book. I was a little wary about it being non-fiction.

What I thought

This is a fascinating story of the red light district of Amsterdam in 1999. I felt as though I traveled to Amsterdam without leaving the comfort of my couch.

David is a law student who decides to study abroad for a semester in Holland. While he is there to study law, his main motive is to get into the dark underbelly of the Red Light District and write a book about the women who work there. This book is the one that he set off to Holland to create 18 years ago, and talks about how he finally got there.

What was so interesting about this story is that I knew nothing about the Red Light District. I knew that drugs and prostitution were accepted and common. Since those are not things I'm interested in, I never took an interest in learning more about the Red Light District.

This book shared with me a history I knew nothing about and both fascinated me and broke my heart. It's an easy read and David does a wonderful job at shedding light on the grittiness and sadness that is the truth of the Red Light District.

I think that this story could make a wonderful movie, but I wish that there had been more to the story of David's life outside of the Red Light District. I'm curious what else he did while he was there and some of his law school interactions. I guess over time, he felt as though that wasn't the part of the story he wanted to tell. The book is surprisingly short, and I'm even more curious about why it took him 18 years to finally write this story. 

If you are a fan of non-fiction (or even a fan of fiction who is looking to get into some non-fiction), this book is a fresh story. It is a quick read and every detail that David shares is fascinating. I would have like some more reflection on David and why it took him so long to write the book, why he felt so compelled to write it in the first place, and what kept drawing him to the Red Light District. At the end of the book, it gets a little preachy for me (a little bit too 'and the moral of the story is...'), but that didn't take away from the story as a whole. If you are looking for something unique and are curious about the Red Light District, I would highly recommend looking into this book.

Kut From the Kloth

Recently, I was contacted by Kut From the Kloth to try a few of their items and I about died. I talked about their upcoming Fall Collection here (which I'm still beyond excited about). Before being contacted, I owned two pairs of pants from Kut. I own a pair of their black skinnes (which I pretty much live in at work) and a pair of their boyfriend jeans (which I also love). 

Top: Lucida Floral Blouse Pants: Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose Shoes: Gianni Bernini Wedges (old) Watch: Olivia Butron Enchanted Garden Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old)

The first item I'm excited to talk about is the Lucida Floral Blouse ($54). I have never tried a top from Kut before and I was not disappointed. I am in love with the colors and cannot wait for the weather to cool down just a little so I can wear it. It is a long top, so I think it would like adorable with leggings. 

Top: Lucida Floral Blouse Pants: Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose Shoes: Gianni Bernini Wedges (old) Watch: Olivia Butron Enchanted Garden 

As you can see, there is more than enough butt coverage in the back which is nice. For reference, this is a size medium and I am 5'1". I think I would have preferred a small, as I do think it's a little baggy for my tastes, but it's still adorable. 

Top: Lucida Floral Blouse Pants: Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose

The material is a bit sheer, but I happened to have the perfect tank top for layering. It's just a basic coral tank, but it matched perfectly and I was really excited. It also helped me because if I want to wear this top to work, it would be a little low cut. So, layering a tank underneath solved both the sheer problem and the modesty problem!

Top: Lucida Floral Blouse Pants: Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose Shoes: Gianni Bernini Wedges (old) Watch: Olivia Butron Enchanted Garden Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old)

I also think that for work, I'll most likely tuck the front in to give it a little bit more shape. Plus it helps to show off the pants a little bit! 

The pants above are the Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose ($49). They also come in Olive and Mint, and I'm kind of dying over the mint. These pants are wonderful. I know that technically they're denim, but they don't look or feel like it at all. They have a ton of stretch and are super soft.

I tend to go back and forth from sizes 4-8 when it comes to pants, most commonly ending up at a 6.  I'm wearing a 6 and they fit perfectly, so I would say these fit true to size. Even though they are stretchy, they wear really well throughout the day. I did not have any issues with them stretching out and falling down as the day wore on.

As I mentioned before, I'm a bit of a shorty, so the ankle length ends up being the perfect regular length pant on me, but if you're taller they will be shorter :)

Top: Lucida Floral Blouse Pants: Connie Slim Fit Ankle Skinny in Rose Shoes: Gianni Bernini Wedges (old) Watch: Olivia Butron Enchanted Garden Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old)

Now here's an awkward shot of the back of the jeans. I wanted to show you that they fit really nicely and there isn't any embroidery (except for a small bit on the left pocket) on the pockets. I know some people do not like when there is stitching on the back, so I just thought I'd point it out.

I am so excited for these pants and can see myself wearing them all the time during the school year. 

Top: Loft (old) Pants: Mia Slim Fit Skinny (Approve Wash) Shoes: Blondo Waterproof Suede Bootie (old, similar) Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

The second pair of jeans I received are the Mia Slim Fit Skinny in the Approve Wash ($84). (Look at me... I'm so cool...) I've been wanting a new pair of dark wash skinnies, since my older pair has gone a bit faded. I love the wash and the feel of these jeans. Again, they are soft and stretchy which is wonderful.

I would, however, recommend sizing down in this fit and style. I am wearing the 6 again, and they're roomier in the waist than the Connie's. They're a bit big, and I do worry they'll stretch a little, but they'll be nice for bloated days.

Top: Loft (old) Pants: Mia Slim Fit Skinny (Approve Wash) Shoes: Blondo Waterproof Suede Bootie (old, similar) Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Again, there is no major stitching on the pockets. These ones, because they're not ankle length, are a bit long on me (not a surprise), but they roll up easily with a black underside which was neat. You can probably see with the bunching around the pocket that they're a little large on me. But nothing too terrible.

Top: Loft (old) Pants: Mia Slim Fit Skinny (Approve Wash) Shoes: Blondo Waterproof Suede Bootie (old, similar) Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

And here is one final picture of me trying to be artsy with my posing haha. I did unroll the jeans, so you can see the bunching above the booties.

If you have been looking for a new pair of jeans, I would highly recommend checking out Kut From the Kloth. They have such a variety of fits, styles, and washes. I am also now going to be keeping an eye out for their tops! While their pants may be a bit on the pricier side (though definitely not the most expensive jeans out there), the quality is worth it. I've had my black pants for at least 3 years, I wear them all the time, and they STILL look like new. 

Also, they offer free shipping and free returns/exchanges within 30 days, so honestly, what do you have to lose?

Stay Sweet

By: Siobhan Vivan
Published Year: 2018
Published: Simone & Schuster
Pages: 368

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Summer in Sand Lake isn’t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery—the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls, who inevitably become the best of friends. Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is “Head Girl” at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn’t sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly’s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business…but Grady’s got some changes in mind…

First Impressions

How cute is this cover? It just screams fun summer read. I barely read the description as this was one that sucked me in on cover alone. Plus, I've read other books by Sibhoan Vivian and enjoyed them, so I knew it would be good.

What I thought

This book was pretty much exactly what I thought it would be and was a perfect, light, summer read. 

Amelia is starting her final summer as a Meade Creamery girl. Meade Creamery is a local ice cream stand that has been around for over 60 years and only hires female employees. Molly Meade still makes the ice cream herself from her farm house, leaving the girls to pretty much run the stand by themselves. This summer, Amelia is appointed Head Girl, even though she feels that her best friend Cat should have been the one to receive the honors. When Amelia finds Molly dead at the beginning of summer, her idea of what the summer was going to look like changes. 

I really liked the idea of an ice cream stand run entirely by high school girls with only 4 flavors of home made ice cream. They explain that there is a bond and a set of friendship rules that the girls share and it's lovely. It's so nice to have a group of girls who say "no drama" and then pretty much stick to it. When Grady, Molly's nephew, first comes to town to take over the stand, it's pretty funny watching to see a male integrate himself into this ice cream sorority. He definitely has no clue what he's doing or what he's gotten himself into.

I appreciated some of the minor mysteries that unfolded in the story. Would the stand re-open? Would they find Molly's recipes? If they did find them, would they be able to re-create them? All these questions made the story move quickly and stopped it from getting stale. Like I mentioned, the group of girls is an integral part of the story. I do wish that there had been a little more friendship amongst all the girls, but instead it focused on Cat and Amelia. I know that Cat is Amelia's best friend, but man, I did not like her. She is a bit self-centered and very pushy. Amelia questions why Cat didn't get Head Girl, because she is so much more outgoing and bubbly than Amelia, but it's pretty obvious early on why Molly picked Amelia over Cat.

Of course, no summer contemporary YA would be complete without a romance. I wanted to love Grady and Amelia, but I didn't quite get there. I had similar issues with Grady that I did with Cat. He was just a bit too self-assured and pushy for my tastes. I know that Amelia claimed that she was never doing anything that she didn't want to (regarding stuff with the ice cream stand, nothing relationship wise), but it still felt pushy to me. In the end, I felt like they started to get to more equal grounds, but it isn't one of my favorite couples.

Speaking of the ending, I felt like the book ended abruptly. I wanted just a little more! An epilogue would've been perfect, but maybe Vivian will right a sequel? I would love to catch up with everyone the following summer!

This book was exactly what the title said it would be, sweet. It goes down just as smoothly as I'm sure the Meade Creamery ice cream does. I loved the unique story line, as well as the diary entries from Molly Meade's old diary. If you are looking for a cute summer YA, I recommend picking this one up. I think it stands out a bit from some of the other one's I've read, as the setting of the story is 90% at the creamery. 

Matchmaking for Beginniners

By: Maddie Dawson
Published Year: 2018
Publisher: Lake Union Published
Pages: 370

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.

When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. She’s even more astonished to find that she’s inherited Blix’s Brooklyn brownstone along with all of Blix’s unfinished “projects”: the heartbroken, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness. Marnie doesn’t believe she’s anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps.

And Blix was also right about some things Marnie must learn the hard way: love is hard to recognize, and the ones who push love away often are the ones who need it most.

First Impressions

I don't remember how I first found out about this book, but the cover sucked me in and the description sold me. Then it popped up as a choice for Amazon First Reads and I was so excited. First off, do you guys know about Amazon First Reads? I've somehow missed out on this but, if you are a Prime member, once a month you get the choice of one free book from a pre-selected list. If you are not a Prime member but have a Kindle, you get to chose one of the books for $1.99. How cool is that? This is not related to Kindle Unlimited, it's separate which I think is great.

What I thought

This book was so cute! I loved the characters, the storylines, the setting, just about everything.

Marnie is set to marry Noah when she meets his Great-Aunt Blix. Blix is intuitive and can see auras, sense perfect matches, will things to happen, and she's dying. When Blix meets Marnie, she senses a kindred spirit and immediately takes a liking to her.

When her marriage to Noah doesn't go as planned, Marnie tries to get her life back on track. Blix has other ideas, and leaves Marnie her Brooklyn house in her will. Blix's house is partially rented out to two tenants, Patrick, and Jessica and her son Sammy. As part of the deal, Marnie has to spend 3 months living in the house before it is hers.

I loved every character I was supposed to love and hated the ones I was supposed to. It was so nice and refreshing to have these characters. I don't know if it's because of the books that I've been reading lately where I don't really like anyone, but man I loved Marnie, Blix, Patrick, and Sammy. No one is perfect and it's their imperfections that makes them so wonderful. I loved how unique each of these characters were.

I also enjoyed the magical elements of the story. I liked that it was more of a psychic intuition and willing things to happen than true magic and spells. Blix and Marnie would just see sparks or be able to tell when two people should end up together. It wasn't anything silly or over the top and I appreciated that. I will say that the matchmaking part really isn't as much of the story as I expected. I kind of expected that Blix has a matchmaking business that was going to be passed to Marnie, but it's more of a lifestyle than a business.

Watching Marnie grow and change was also delightful. She didn't change her core of who she was and her change didn't happen quickly. I appreciated that she stumbled and we got to watch her learn from her mistakes.

This book isn't going to be one to change anyone's life, but it is a delightful summer read and it is exactly what I needed. I almost feel like Blix must have heard that I was struggling finding a good book, so she reminded me that I had this one on my Kindle!

If you love contemporary stories with a bit of a twist, you will love this book. It has a whole cast of lovable characters and I think it would make a great movie. Each character really comes to life off of the pages, and I found myself unable to put this book down. I looked forward to seeing everyone again every time I picked it up. 

Reading Slump

I think it's finally time to admit... I'm in a bit of a reading slump.

In case you haven't noticed, my blogging has been pretty sparse lately. I've been blaming it on being stressed and busy (trips and moves), but I think it's about time that I just come out and say that I'm slumped.

I'm so bummed that I have hit a reading slump, as the summer is usually my favorite time of year for reading. I usually inhale summer YA's like it's my job. Unfortunately, this year I just can't seem to get in the swing of it. I read a book and instead of flying through it in a matter of a day or two while lounging at the pool, it takes me a week or more. I find myself gravitating towards Netflix more than a book and I'm a little annoyed at myself because of it.

I don't know if it's that I've just been picking bad books or if it is a combination of being stressed that is making reading less enjoyable. I'm hoping that by finally admitting that I'm slumped, I can move past it. 

I've also been slacking on my two reading challenges. I'm 5 books behind on my Goodreads challenge and I've been meaning to do an update on the Uppercase Reading Challenge, but I haven't actually made any progress on that one since the last update.

But, instead of allowing myself to continue to be ashamed of my lack of reading and blogging, I am going to shout it out now. I am in a reading slump and that's ok!! I will get out of it. I will put down books that don't spark me! And, I will hopefully have a few non-book related (beauty and buy related) blog posts for you all next week :)