title: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen author: KJ Charles publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca publication date: March 7, 2023 pages: 352 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: violence, death summary: When Gareth’s mother died, years before the opening of the novel, his father sends him away from their Baroncy in Kent to live with an unkind uncle…
Author: caritagardiner
NetGalley Review of The Matchmaker
title: The Matchmaker author: Catherine Walsh publisher: Bookouture/Kindle publication date: April 18, 2023 pages: 281 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: parents die in a car crash years before the book takes place summary: Katie loves her tiny town in Ireland and her job as a bartender at the only pub in town, so she’s…
221. Why You’re Not Who You Think You Are
[I found the photo above on Nystrom and Associates’ Facebook page.] In my new job as a class dean, I’ve met with many students who’ve done things they’re not proud of. Some of them lie to me, saying they didn’t do whatever it is I’m asking them about. Some seem to believe that “I wish…
Book Review of Two Wrongs Make a Right
title: Two Wrongs Make a Right author: Chloe Liese publisher: Berkley Romance (of Penguin Random House LLC) publication date: November 22, 2022 pages:320 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: abusive relationship summary: Bea and Jamie meet at a party where everything goes wrong for them. Still, her twin sister and his roommate, who are newly…
Review of Georgie All Along
title: Georgie All Along author: Kate Clayborn publisher: Kensington publication date: January 24, 2023 pages: 335 peppers: 2 warnings: vomit, birth summary: Georgie heads home to her small town after losing her job as a personal assistant to a Hollywood powerhouse. She has no idea what to do with her life except that she wants to…
NetGalley Review of Tilly in Technicolor
title: Tilly in Technicolor author: Mazey Eddings publisher: Wednesday Books publication date: August 15, 2023 pages: 320 peppers: 2 warnings: puke summary: After her high school graduation, Tilly’s parents send her on a European trip as intern to her successful sister, who’s starting an environmentally friendly nail polish line. While her parents want Tilly to…
NetGalley Review of Plot Twist
title: Plot Twist author: Erin La Rosa publisher: Canary Street Press publication date: November 14, 2023 pages: 336 peppers: 3 on this scale warnings: alcoholism, vomit summary: Sophie is a romance author who hasn’t ever been in love and is stuck trying to figure out a happy ending for her second novel. Her landlord and…
NetGalley Review of Relative Fiction
title: Relative Fiction author: Alaina Rose publisher: self-published publication date: April 12, 2023 pages: 255 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: lots, she gives a long list at the beginning of the book including vomit, a nasal cannula, lots of drinking, and a dying parent summary: Julia recently got an anonymous email informing her that her…
220. Why I’m Making a List
If I managed the navigation correctly, the photo above will bring you to a site on which you can read another mother’s hopes for her daughters. Maybe you’ve already read the amazing Tina Fey’s viral list; if you haven’t, for goodness sake, click the link! Her poem/prayer/list works well in its humor and specificity. It…
Review of Maggie Moves On
It’s not a NetGalley review, but I thought it might be fun to post another review, while I’m on a roll. title: Maggie Moves On author: Lucy Score publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing) publication date: June 21, 2022 pages: 416 peppers: 3, some pretty graphic scenes warnings: nothing gross in this book summary: Maggie flips houses…