ARC Review: "WILD AND WRANGLED" by Lyla Sage

Hello readers!
I'm back again with another review, thanks for @PRHInternational who is always so kind to grant me advance access to my favorite author's upcoming releases. So, in this case I'm super honored to talk to you about Wild and Wrangled, by Lyla Sage, that will be released today.

Title: Wild and Wrangled
Author: Lyla Sage
Publishing Date: April 15, 2025
Publisher:  Dial Press Trade Paperback
Pages: 368 (paperback)
Price: 17,99 $

Synopsis: Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small-town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping into her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?

 

Review:

*please, be aware I've tried to keep the spoilers as minimum as possible but there's some*

Rate: 5 ⭐

My heart is so full right now, because - even if you will see it on release day -  I've just finished this story and I feel the cracks in my heart for the awareness this series has really come to an end, at least for now. Rebel Blue Ranch books conquered me since the very first book, with their simple but deep stories about finding themselves again, facing fears, doubts the past and the uncertainty of the future, and open ourselves to real happiness, surrounded by the support of people who care deeply and love fiercely. It was like finding a home I didn't know I needed, and being immediately part of a family that grew bigger and bigger with every new book.

 

Here, with Wild and Wrangled, we finally focus on two characters we already know from the previous installments: Cam - Riley's mother - and Dusty, her ex-high school boyfriend. I admit I appreciated Cam, but she wasn't very present in the first three books (and Dusty even less) to already love her, and I really didn't know what to expect from this character. That until I read the little preview at the end of Lost and Lassoed 😏, when my interest sparkled immediately - and not just because the first chapter have all Luke, Gus and Wes in it, but sure, it helped #sorrynotsorry.

Anyway, knowing already a little of their background, even if vague, did make this story predictable? Absolutely not.

First of all, I didn't expect to immediately discover that the relationship between Cam and Graham was everything but romantic. That took me by surprise. So, if you expect a sort of love triangle, you'll be disappointed (I wasn't. I hate love triangles). And since we already know that Cam and Gus tried to be together for a few months but decided otherwise because they understood they weren't made for each other, why did Cam choose willingly this kind of life, instead of searching for real happiness? Was it related to how things ended between Dusty and her or to something else entirely?

This is the main question of this book, and I have to admit that I had general suppositions about it but they were completely wrong. Same as per the reason she and Cam went their separate ways years ago.

The easiest explanation would be a sort of order/blackmail from third parties to not seeing him again and that this separation made an heartbroken Dusty to go away - to be honest, I wasn't never convinced he just left her there to go working around the world. Well, as every Lyla's book, the explanation was simple but more multifaceted at the same time: it's true, Cam's parents were and are still horrible, at least toward their daughter and in a certain way they affected what had happened more than once, directly or not.

They're the typical kind people who are more focused on appearance, reputation and business, unsatisfied by anything or anyone who doesn't match their standards. Cam for them has always been mainly a tool rather than a person to love, and with their dissatisfaction it's clear they instilled a good amount of insecurities in her, especially, I suppose, to not being enough for anyone to fight for and never being able to be out of their control. Her actions were and still are influenced by these two aspects, in addition to the desire to protect Riley and ensure her a good future far from her parents ambitions.

At the same time, it's easy to understand why one of her first bravest decisions for herself at such young age was destined to fail. She hadn't been allowed to really think and focus about her future and her desires and that led her to start something without knowing where to go, while Dusty was already steadier about what he wanted to do with his life. That's why, even loving each other a lot, Cam spiraled into unhappiness and dissatisfaction, and Dusty suffered from that, without knowing what to do. Sure, I didn't expect what happened, and neither that Dusty didn't try to talk to her and just let her go, but again, they were too young and he probably thought she was finally trying to find her place in the world, so even if heartbroken, he didn't want to interfere because he truly loved her. But those never sent messages and letters? They broke my heart and made me think about Eli Mora from Jessica Joyce's The Ex Vows 😭 (if you haven't read it yet, just run). Furthermore, it made me sad to understand that Cam thought her possibility of freedom was over, like she had her chance and, blowing that up, her only option was to come back and follow the strict path her family designated for her and the only thing she could do. 

 

Back to Dusty: I loved him since the very first pages, and I fell for him over and over again with every flashback I read. He's that kind of person who doesn't have to be loud or make grand gesture to show his affection and support, and he's so sweet! I didn't expect that too. He's charming and a little flirt, without exaggerating, and he always makes me the impression to be a steady ground you feel you can put down roots in. I think it's impossible not to appreciate him as much he couldn't stop loving Cam through all those years apart, being ready to let her marry another man if that was what she really wanted.

Luckily for us, this isn't the case, and I appreciated his anger when he discovers she would have done it for other reasons than love, because he immediately understands that even after years she still doesn't fight for herself like she should. And we can say Cam still tries to sabotage their potential relationship more than ones, blocked by the fear to be left alone again and suffer as she did before. I didn't expect this sphere of her personality that made me bump my head against the table multiple times - and Dusty did have a good amount of patience too - but I like how all this made her real to me. Cam isn't perfect, but she managed to raise a child, give her a home and the love she didn't receive from her parents, and her coparenting relationship with Gus is admirable. So, it's been good to see this strong woman let herself choose someone and something she really wanted.

Likewise, I'm wondering how Cam and her parents' relationship will develop in the future, because that part has been left a little bit open - and I'm sincere, I would have loved to see them interact with Amos Ryder (my personal hero of this series) or Gus. Dusty already gave me great satisfactions with that.

And talking about the rest of the family, Riley remains the "sunshine" that brings light in every book. I loved how her relationship with Dusty grows so naturally (the scene where they met out of this house? I can't stop thinking about it) they become fond of each other almost without realizing it. They are so adorable together my heart melted multiple times. We have also a good amount of Gus, and I won't ever complain about that. I appreciated his protectiveness toward Cam, without being too pushy or intrusive in her life and I still smile thinking about him and Dusty cheering at Riley's soccer game.

There's also more Wes and Ada than book three, but this isn't a surprise since we already understand in Swift and Saddled that she and Cam would be good friends even if the development of their relationship hasn't been fully explored, especially because Cam was quite absent from town in Lost and Lassoed. And Wes is a sort of link between past and present, due to the fact that he knew Dusty and Cam since high school. That probably misled me a little, because I expected a sort of bromance like Gus and Luke, instead I swam in that bittersweet moment when Wes talks about feeling a little bit alone until he met Ada (my heart of course melted). In the meantime, the best Dusty's supporter is Amos and I wont ever complain about this. I love how he took Cam and then Dusty in his enlarged family, being a father for them without overstepping the line. He is the core of these four books and thinking about him always makes me so emotional because Lyla was amazing to describe the perfect example of parental love anyone should have in their life. 

And what about Meadowlark and Rebel Blue Ranch? Without extensive descriptions this place has immediately become a second home to me. Its little shops, the Devil's Boot pub, the Ranch, the nature surrounding the town... thanks to Lyla's writing style I always felt like being there among the characters, riding a horse through a mountain trail, having a chat with a townsfolk or wandering through the Ranch watching at Emmy giving riding lessons to kids. It was like Meadowlark was breathing all around me during the reading and it's an overwhelming sensation not every author can manage to generate.

I loved it all. That's why arriving at the end of this series is a real sweet and sour moment, it's like saying goodbye to a dear friend who immediately got under my skin. For this same reason, though, I appreciated the "surprise" you'll find at the end of it - I cried the majority of the time, but they were good tears.

 

Then, before I finish, let me say something about the spicy scenes. I think we have less scenes than the previous ones - and considering the type of plot it has, it makes sense -, BUT I think you'll find them very interesting as much as I did. Good Lord, Dusty🔥🚒 .

 

So, in short, Wild and Wrangled is a love letter for every reader who appreciated the previous installments, giving them the perfect conclusion (for now🤞) for this series with a new sweet story of second chance I'm sure won't disappoint you and some additional adorable moments to cherish in your heart.

 

Because nothing lasts forever, you know. Not even goodbyes. - Lyla Sage, Wild and Wrangled's Authors Note

 I wanted more? Well, yes, because we readers are greedy people, but I know some novellas are coming in the future😍, so I want to focus on that and on the hope they'll include a good amount of bromance scenes I missed a little since book one, as well as some special Emmy and Teddy's moments, because their friendship is one of the thing I love the most in these books.
Plus, Lyla's already announced an upcoming new series in a nearby ghost town and I can't wait to read it!! Stay tuned for updates on my IG account (@booksalwaysinbag) or for other future reviews related to this amazing author here on the blog. 

 

In the meantime, thanks to you, readers, to remain until the end of this review and to Lyla, for this amazing series.

 

To the next review!

Chiara

Read More

WRAP-UP SETTEMBRE 2024

Buon pomeriggio lettor*!
Stavolta il wrap-up arriva un attimo in ritardo ma non poteva certo mancare. Anzi, a volte è proprio utile prendersi un momento per guardarsi indietro e dare un'occhiata alle ultime letture svolte anche solo per capire com'è andato il mese. 

CAMILLA 

- ZODIAC ACADEMY vol. 2-5 di Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti - 4 stelle!
Faccio una recensione unica per tutti e quattro i volumi perché avendoli letteralmente divorati uno dopo l'altro non mi ricordo neanche più dove finisce uno e inizia l'altro. Posso ufficialmente dire di essermi unita al fan club della Zodiac. Il punto forte della narrazione sono i rapporti tra i vari personaggi, partendo da quello tra le sorelle per passare a quelli romantici o di amicizia/inimicizia. Un bel turbine di dramma, dolcezza e amore che riesce a tenerti incollato e a farti volere sempre andare avanti senza mai staccarti. La parte d'azione e più di trama è un pelino il tallone d'Achille delle scrittrici, nei primi volumi mi annoiavo a leggere di questo, ma poi andando avanti e con lo spostamento su un altro filone narrativo devo dire che ha cominciato a interessarmi anche a questa parte della storia. I finali sono sempre a cardiopalma e ti lasciano sul più bello, portandoti a voler iniziare immediatamente il sequel... cosa che io ho fatto per ben quattro volte!

- ANIMA DI CENERE E SANGUE di Jennifer L. Armentrout - 5 stelle!
Parliamoci chiaro: questo libro alla storia aggiunge veramente poco, è unicamente FBAA dal pov di Cas. La scrittrice è famosa per fare tipologia di romanzo e questa volta, rispetto a quelle precedenti, ha trovato anche un modo interessante di poter inserire questa scelta all'interno della vera e propria narrazione. Diviso tra passato e presente, da una parte possiamo ripercorrere i momenti iniziali della relazione tra Poppy e Cas, mentre dall'altra fare minuscoli passi avanti verso il gran finale della serie. Personalmente a me è piaciuto rivedere le varie situazioni dal pov di Cas, soprattutto perché non ho una grande memoria e quindi non mi sono mai annoiata. Inoltre, adorando il primo romanzo e la coppia non ho potuto che essere felice di questa, se vogliamo, "rilettura". 
È necessario leggerlo per poter continuare la serie? Minimamente. Se non vi interessa rileggere la storia vi consiglio la lettura solo dei capitoli ambientati nel presente, soprattutto degli ultimi capitoli che sono quelli veramente interessanti!

- LA SFIDA DEL RE di Nisha J. Tuli - 4 stelle!

In La sfida del re la storia riprende poche settimane dopo la fine de La guerra delle dieci regine e troviamo Lor non più prigioniera del Re del Sole, ma di Nadir, il Principe di Aurora. 

Questo secondo volume è più politico. C’è poca azione, ma più caratterizzazione, sia dei personaggi che del mondo creato dalla scrittrice. 
Attraverso i pov di Lor e Nadir si scopre di più sulla storia della ragazza prima di essere rinchiusa a Nostranza e perché il fae detesta così tanto il padre da cercare di spodestarlo. Il loro rapporto non inizia nei migliori dei modi, ma andando avanti riescono a trovare nel padre di lui un nemico comune che li porta a diventare prima alleati e poi forse qualcosina di più. 
L’evoluzione della loro storia avviene in modo graduale, ma ci sono alcuni punti che secondo me potevano essere approfonditi, soprattutto su alcune delle loro motivazioni. La parte che mi è piaciuta di più del libro è quella sul world-building. Oltre che approfondire l’oggi, cominciamo a scoprire anche cos’è successo due secoli prima che ha portato alla distruzione del regno di Heart. L’inserimento dei capitoli con protagonista Serce, l’ultima regina di Heart, ci permettono di poter leggere di prima mano cos’è realmente accaduto. Il personaggio di Serce è anche quello che ha catturato maggiormente il mio interesse. Mentre nel presente ci si chiede se sia tutto vero quello che sia stato raccontato sul suo conto, chi legge ha la possibilità di poter studiare la complessità del suo carattere, per cui per adesso non potrei descriverla né come eroina né come antagonista, ma un vero e proprio personaggio grigio. La trama in questo romanzo è più lenta, c’è meno azione e la scrittrice gioca ancora una volta con i dettagli per poter distinguere la sua storia dalle altre simili sul mercato. Tanti problemi vengono messi da parte per presentarne di nuovi ed è come se da questo momento inizi veramente quello che la Tuli vuole raccontare. 
Se devo fare un paragone tra i due libri devo dire di aver preferito questo, sia per il rapporto tra i protagonisti che per i capitoli di Serce. 
La sfida del re è un solido secondo volume, che definisce meglio la strada che la scrittrice vuole percorrere con la sua storia e ci fa capire le potenzialità dei nostri protagonisti, sia singolarmente che in coppia.

CHIARA

- THE COAST, di Donna Costello - voto 3 stelle!

Sono stata contattata dalla scrittrice - che comunque ringrazio - per leggere questa mini novella... che ammetto non credevo fosse proprio così breve. Questa è la sua pecca principale. Per quanto vengano inseriti degli elementi interessanti e siano chiare le tematiche che si vuole nadare a trattare, non c'è tempo per poterli presentare al meglio e il tutto risulta un po' povero nel contenuto. La curiosità di saperne di più c'è anche, ma per il resto non mi ha particolarmente colpita nel pensare ci possa essere qualcosa di diverso dal solito; d'altra parte, in due pagine è difficile coinvolgere totalmente il lettore in un'ambientazione di cui non si è mai sentito parlare prima. Su due piedi pare un intermezzo tra due libri, ma vedremo se verrà pubblicato altro..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- LADY OF DARKNESS (Lady of Darkness, #1) di Melissa K. Roehrich, DNF

Questo, lettor*, era il libro che avevate scelto nelle recensioni del mese di agosto. Come potete vedere non è andata bene ed evito anche di dedicargli un articolo singolo in merito perchè non avrebbe senso scrivere paragrafi interi riguardo tutto ciò che per me non va in questa storia. Chi non ha mai letto Acotar, Tog, o fantasy simili probabilmente potrebbe trovarlo accattivante, per me al contrario è risultato banale e snervante praticamente già da dopo il prologo. Per quanto ci stia di usare caratteristiche simili in storie diverse, penso anche che quando l'abbinamento di elementi sia palesemente sempre lo stesso, serva cambiare qualcosa per non risultare una brutta copia di altro. Almeno un minimo! Invece anche qui troviamo un'orfana che vuole vendetta, cresciuta da una setta di assassini con cui al momento non collabora più per x motivi ma con la quale ha ancora contatti, finita tra i nobili del Paese come spia. Inutile ancora dire che sia eccellente nel combattimento, abbia una lingua tagliente, un carattere altrettanto forte e che già alle prime pagine ha il classico elemento che le fa la corte non ricambiata nè gradita, con cui sicuramente avrà problemi in futuro. Insomma... con tutto l'affetto del mondo, non ce la facevo proprio a continuare.

Ovviamente, ripeto, se per me è stata una grandissima delusione, potrà essere magari la lettura del cuore di qualcun altro, quindi prendetelo come un giudizio soggettivo e non assoluto.

 

 

- HAUNTED EVER AFTER (Boneyard Key, #1), di Jen DeLuca, voto 3.5 stelle!

Questo è uno di quei casi in cui non posso non irritarmi: c'è una storia interessante, dei bei personaggi, quel pizzico di mistero o elemento magico che male non fa e l'autrice invece di lavorare sul renderlo accattivante riesce a rimanere su una superficie monotona per cui più vai avanti più per certi aspetti ti annoi nonostante la storia ti prenda! Ma perchè?! Nick e Cassie mi sono piaciuti fin da subito, ed era divertente vedere i loro scambi, così come sarebbe stato carino approfondire un attimo di più il loro background sentimentale ed emotivo, invece di inserirlo solo parzialmente senza risolvere del tutto determinate questioni. Io capisco che in un libro di un certo numero di pagine non si possa mettere tutto, ma credo anche che i personaggi debbano avere una loro evoluzione, altrimenti la staticità, anche nei tira e molla, stanca. Questo rende meno interessanti anche i colpi di scena, nonostante la storia sia ambientata in una città in cui fantasmi e presenze esistono davvero e anzi, sono inserite anche bene all'interno della storia. Peccato inoltre per la "risoluzione" del problema finale, fiacca e abbastanza sciocca. Per quanto una parte di me abbia sorriso all'idea credo si potesse tentare di rendere in maniera più seria senza buttarla così in caciara. Insomma, buono il canovaccio di base ma ci si poteva lavorare di più. Ammetto di essere indecisa se continuare (e leggere anche altri libri della scrittrice) o fermarmi qui. Sicuramente mi aspettavo di meglio.

- UNBEARABLY YOURS (It's Always Ben You, #3) di Elodie Colliard, voto 3.8 stelle!

La Colliard è un po' il mio guilty pleasure per quando voglio leggere un cozy romance senza eccessivo impegno, con dei protagonisti maschili alla principe azzurro. Direi che con la frase precedente ho già riassunto i pro e i contro di questo libro.
Questa autrice scrive in maniera fluida, delicata, andando anche a trattare tematiche importanti senza specularci sopra, e i suoi racconti si fanno sempre leggere senza grande fatica. Al contempo, credo che arrivati al terzo libro l'eccessività di frasi melense (oltre che il misunderstanding) mi abbia un po' fatta storcere il naso. Per quanto non mi ritenga una persona cinica, anche se non diciamo ogni santa volta che i personaggi maschili guardano le loro compagne (o interessi amorosi) come se fossero angeli scesi in terra direi che si sta bene uguale. L'amore non è solo quello. E' gesti, piccole attenzioni, voglia di stare insieme che deve essere trasmessa al lettore... mi pare che ci si concentri troppo sul trope del "ha occhi solo per lei", piuttosto che creare qualcosa di più verosimile. A ciò si aggiunge il fatto che il resto della trama venga un po' sacrificato, quando invece poteva essere ampliato in maniera più organica. A mio parere è sempre il romance che deve entrare nella storia, altrimenti finisce per perdere quel suo luccichio, non diventare un enorme bersaglio a cui tutto il resto fa da contorno. Qui si parla di discriminazione femminile sul lavoro, elaborazione di un lutto, amore e rispetto per la natura, oltre che della plus dotazione che caratterizza Oliver, e si vede che tutti questi elementi non vengono buttati all'interno del testo in maniera casuale, però penso che non siano stati sfruttati come si sarebbe potuto.
E' anche vero però che ognuno punta più sull'aspetto che preferisce e che, rispetto ad altre storie, Unbearably yours mi ha fatta emozionare molto, oltre al fatto che questa è stata una delle rare volte in cui viene presentata un'amicizia uomo-donna reale, perciò non mi sento di bocciarlo in toto. Insomma, in un'altalena di pro e contro, io comunque vi consiglio di fare un tentativo e recuperare anche il resto della serie!

- THE GAMES GODS PLAY (The Crucible,#1) di Abigail Owen, voto 4.5 stelle!

 So che questo libro viene paragonato a Percy Jackson, quindi sarò molto diretta: a parte l'ambientazione urban c'è ben poco di simile: il target è decisamente più alto e questo comporta scene ma anche una crudeltà maggiore rispetto a quanto potremmo trovare nei libri di Riordan. Ovviamente non è un male, anzi, io ho amato entrambi, però non aspettatevi una storia così scanzonata altrimenti potrete rimanere delus*. Detto ciò, questa è stata la prima vera sorpresa del mese.
Mi ha catturata praticamente fin dall'inizio e non ho potuto smettere di leggere. Ho adorato come sono state presentate le varie divinità, anche in maniera diversa rispetto alle connotazioni caratteriali solite, e anche la spigolosità della protagonista non mi ha urtato eccessivamente come spesso accade. Sarà perchè, pur essendo ben dotata e capace, Lyra stessa ammette i propri difetti e non è caratterizzata da quella spocchia che piace tanto dare ultimamente alle figure principali dei romanzi. Anzi, devo dire che mi ha stupita la sua palese bontà anche di fronte alle reazioni altrui! In questo modo ho finito per affezionarmi quasi in egual modo sia a Lyra che ad Hades.. anche se ovviamente propendo per il dio dell'Underworld (la mia amica Caterina in questo momento sta sogghignando, lo so) e i suoi piani contorti. Detto ciò, le prove di questa guerra per la sovranità sull'Olimpo sono piuttosto machiavelliche, variegate, tremende nella loro cattiveria e non prive di imprevisti e colpi di scena, mentre si snoda davanti ai lettori un buon ritratto della natura umana tra tradimenti, invidie e aggressività, in un caleidoscopio di colori in cui è chiaro che non si può fare una netta distinzione tra buoni e cattivi. Sicuramente se devo trovare una pecca vi dico che il finale mi è sembrato un po' sbrigativo, ma spero venga ripreso più decentemente nel secondo libro (dove incrocio le dita che non parta in triangolo amoroso, perchè si sta così bene senza, Abigail!), anche perchè è palese che siamo solo l'inizio. Anzi, se proprio devo dirla tutta **attenzione, spoiler eventuale** ho il grande dubbio che il villain che ci viene presentato in realtà non sia ciò o chi noi pensiamo. Ma magari è solo una supposizione errata! 

- CLOSE KNIT (The Hastings, #1) di Kels & Denise Stone, voto 4.5 stelle!

Quanto mi è piaciuto questo libro! Ho avuto la fortuna di leggerlo in anteprima grazie a @valentine_pr_ e devo dire di essere stata più che soddisfatta. Poteva essere un romanzo banale e invece Close Knit risulta essere una voce fuori dal coro!
Prima di tutto, finalmente un romance che parla effettivamente di sport - e da quello che vedo sarà la costante di tutti i volumi sui fratelli Hastings, anche se ognuno si focalizzerà su una disciplina diversa - che non viene messo giusto come bel background per avere l'etichetta sul genere in cui inserire il libro, ma risulta parte integrante della storia. Non sono una fan del calcio, ma devo dire che le Stone sono state brave a descriverlo senza risultare noiose, e a puntare anche sull'importanza della squadra dentro e fuori dal campo.
In questo romanzo si affronta ampiamente il tema della salute mentale e dell'importanza della terapia per superare determinati traumi oltre che dell'imparare man mano a tornare ad aprirsi agli altri in maniera sana e positiva. Ed è interessante la scelta di rendere forse Cameron il più fragile nella coppia, nonostante anche Daphne abbia i suoi alti e bassi a cui far fronte. Ho apprezzato come si parta da una instant attraction che però viene fermata subito per alcuni motivi e poi si riparta praticamente da capo con una graduale conoscenza che poi porta alla vera e propria relazione. Anche lì, però, con grande concretezza, Kels e Denise tornano ancora a puntare sul fatto che un rapporto di coppia deve essere portato avanti da due persone ed entrambe devono essere nella condizione di farlo. Non siamo i salvatori di nessuno e nessuno deve portarci a fondo con sé, perchè non è giusto. Per quanto possa sembrare duro o triste, questo messaggio è assolutamente reale. Qui sì che ho visto una maturazione, una voglia di crescere e portarsi a uno stato emotivo tale da poter essere in grado di stare con qualcuno sul serio e volerlo rendere felice davvero. 

E chi meglio di Daphne può incanalare questo messaggio, nella sua solare gioisità e nella sua infinita bontà, inserite in questo piccolo corpo curvy caratterizzato da dei deliziosi capelli lilla che ho invidiato dal primo momento?

Se si parla di calcio, abbiamo anche una buona fetta di spazio dedicata anche al lavorare a maglia. Anzi, l'idea di mettere un'intera squadra di football a sferruzzare mentre guarda reality show continua a divertirmi alquanto!😂Ma non credete sia solo un elemento per far ridere: ho apprezzato molto come il lavorare ai ferri abbia aiutato Daphne a gestire l'ansia legata all'essere stata bullizzata in passato e la sua voglia di trasmettere questa sua passione agli altri. Anche il suo essere un'influencer è stato descritto in maniera concreta e per niente offensiva per questo tipo di professione, altro elemento da non sottovalutare, visto che spesso viene lasciato alle antagoniste della storia, magari anche un po' svampite. 

Detto ciò, io spero di rivedere questi personaggi anche nei prossimi libri, anche se temo sarà solo in maniera marginale, con l'augurio che ciò comprenda qualche ritorno della squadra di Cameron perchè credo ci sia più di un personaggio interessante di cui mi piacerebbe leggere di più😏. Who knows! 

 

 

E le vostre letture come sono andate?

Se volete fateci sapere nei commenti 💖

 

 

Read More

Review: "NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES" by Lynn Painter

Hello readers!

Today I'm here to talk to you about Nothing Like the Movies, the sequel of Better Than the Movies that will come out 1st October!

Thank you so much Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing me with an arc of this book!

Title: Nothing Like the Movies

Author: Lynn Painter 

Publishing date: 1st October 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Pages: 448

Price: $19.99

Plot: For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process. 

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him. 
Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend. 
Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

Series:
1. Better Than the Movies
2. Nothing Like the Movies 

Review:

4 stars!

If Better than the Movies is a fun and romantic book, with many references to rom-coms, Nothing Like the Movies is a more mature and sad book. There is this underlying sadness that pervades the whole story and the happiest and rom-com moments happen much later in the narrative. 

We find Liz and Wes changed from how we remembered them, two years have passed and many events have led them to be different. This is especially noticeable in Liz, who has lost a bit of her romantic nature and closed herself off. In Wes the change is less noticeable, because reading this novel I realized that I knew him very little. Thanks to his POVs, which alternate with Liz's, his character reaches a whole other depth and I almost feel like saying that he is the real protagonist of this book. 

The story focuses more on re-introducing the characters and telling us what happened to them in these two years. The events that led to their breakup have left marks on both of them and they need to be able to overcome this if they want to give each other a second chance. This brings them to spend a lot of time working on themselves and so little together. The author gives a lot of importance to these moments and their overcoming, but this leaves very little space for the romantic side of the story, which also seems a bit rushed. There are two or three funny scenes, but with this underlying sadness always present they can't leave you with a feeling of joy like the previous book. 

This is definitely a more adult novel and for this reason I also understand the ever-present sadness, because adult life sucks, but I think that many people (like me) expected a funnier and more romantic book and that's not what they will encounter. 

Nothing Like the Movies is still a good book, very smooth and enjoyable, but it fails to be unforgettable like Better Than the Movies.

- Camilla 

Read More

ARC Review: "THE EX VOWS" by Jessica Joyce

Hello readers!
Today we're talking about an upcoming release for this summer which, thanks to Random House UK, I've read in advance: The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. Please, be aware there will be spoilers because I can't talk about the themes discussed in the story without revealing some aspects of the book.

Title: The Ex Vows
Author: Jessica Joyce
Publishing Date: July 16, 2024
Publisher:  Berkley/Penguin Random House UK
Pages: 484
Price: $19.00 (paperback)

Plot: Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling author of You, with a View .
Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized. 
What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new.

Review:

Rate: 5 stars!⭐

**ATTENTION** SPOILERS

First of all, again, I huge thank you to the publisher for the free book. 

Secondary, together with Funny Story and From Lukov with Love, THIS goes absolutely at the first place of my book of the year chart.

I've discovered Jessica Joyce last year, when I spotted You, with a view between the summer new releases, and I fell in love with it. It wasn't just an enemies to lovers summer trip novel, but a story of multiple love relationships, some lost, others ready to bloom, in a perfect picture of life: not always happy, with painful moments, but real. I really enjoyed the depth Jessica put in her book, that's why I asked for The Ex Vows arc, and she didn't disappoint me at all.

Even if I appreciated YWAV and this author's writing style, I wasn't prepared to love this book SO much. Because it's so GOOD, readers, believe me. So good I can't stop myself being emotional thinking about it.

I honestly thought I would have read a more light-hearted story; instead, I found something that I'll cherish in my heart forever. I was already in love at the end of the prologue, really. As I've already told Jessica, maybe it was just the right time to read it, but this romance resonated so much with myself I couldn't not be affected by Eli and Georgia's journey.

We start at a point we readers know so well: the upcoming wedding of their best friend - and the phantomatic curse that seems determined to ruin everything - forces the exes Eli and Georgia to work together to save the event from an easy disaster. The main reason of their breakup is explained in the early chapters of the book, but it hides so much more, and we unravel it during the whole story.

From an external point of view, it's clear as day they love each other, and while it was so frustrating seeing Georgia pull Eli toward her and then push him away, Jessica was a master to make us taking time to understand why the path that will lead them back to each other isn't so easy as it seems. Because some inner wounds don’t totally heal, even after years, and the fear to be left heartbroken again isn't easy to ignore. And again, that’s not all. While Eli has already started a journey to be better for himself and the people he loves, Georgia has yet to face her faults in the ending of their relationship and her inner fears, before making another try.

I really appreciated that, after her comprehensible anger and hurt toward Eli, Georgia gradually acknowledges she could have reacted differently and that could have made a difference, both for her boyfriend and herself. But they were both spiraling in different kinds of anxiety and uncertainty and didn’t know how to get out those conditions, stop being miserable and see the person they love the most suffering. Their walls came up and, nonetheless they were a couple, they became lonely even before their breakup. That until Georgia decided to choose herself over a life of unhappiness. And my heart broke, not only because she felt she wasn’t worth Eli’s time and attention and not enough to push his resolution to stop an unhealthy working situation that was ruining his life, but also (and above all) for Eli's understanding her decision to escape that "dark whole" that their relationship became, at the point he didn't stop her precisely because he was choosing her happiness too, and it was with him.

How couldn’t I not love this guy?

Finally a male character who isn’t afraid of his feeling and is so good to communicate them (underlining the importance of therapy, of course), but at the same time always respects Georgia, waiting for her to be ready for a real confrontation. And that’s not all, because we’re talking about Eli Mora. He always gives Georgia space and time to express what she wants and, most of all, he searches her consent in every physical approach. He’s so patient with her and kind, as much as sexy in closed-doors situation I can’t complain AT ALL – thanks, Jessica.

The surprise for me was the more I read, the more I appreciated Georgia too. Her fierce love for her friends, her tenaciousness to do everything she can to save Adam and Grace’s wedding, the way she wanted to protect her group of people because she doesn’t want to make them suffer for her (or Eli’s) choices. Someone could have just been selfish and jump into this second chance without looking back, but it’s clear that a part of her puts the happiness of her loved ones even before hers. And if this isn’t already enough, her people pleaser attitude and the constant idea of not being enough for the people she loves wrecked me, reminding to much about myself. I could see and feel her fears to be left alone and put aside clear as mine, and I adored how, thanks to Eli, she arrives to show this part of herself to her friends, plus their reactions. This book has clearly one of the best healthy friendship relationships I’ve ever read about – not to mention Adam and Eli. Their little gestures toward the other were so sweet and true they made my heart clench. 

And then, there’s Georgia’s terror toward her feelings for Eli. I think that what terrifies her the most was to feel hope about her and Eli together again, just to face a reality where he would still put work before her, back to spiraling in its anxiety, shutting her out, and she would feel small and too emotionally dependent on him. I totally understand it and I loved the fact that Jessica underlined the fact that someone have to be happy with themselves first to be ok, because if there’s something wrong (work related or not), if not faced and resolved, it could affect other aspects of their life, relationships included. Plus, several times during the story Jessica draw the attention to the importance of communication between partners. Georgia wasn’t able to express her unhappiness with Eli, because she felt she would become another burden on him so he’ll eventually leave her for someone better as her mother did in the past. At the same time, Eli didn’t face their problems with Georgia, focusing on keeping his job with the idea that the situation would become more bearable in the future. They didn’t talk, really, and so the only choice left was to break up.

Fortunately, Eli’s love for Georgia was stronger than what they both thought.

So, it’s obvious that to overcome all those elements, these two needed time (and tons of Eli’s patience). I won’t tell you how the novel ends, but I can say that for once an author gave her main characters the proper time and pages to arrive to an appropriate closure without rush.

At last, I also appreciated the idea of work presented: having a job is essential to live, we’re aware of that, but it couldn’t and mustn't become our entire life. Doing something we love is also a great bonus, and we should try new opportunities if they feel right to us, even if they imply some changes. Who knows what they could bring us.

Aaand that’s it. Thanks again to the publisher for this free book and Jessica Joyce for this heartwarming story. I needed it. And then thanks to you, dear readers, if you gave me some of your time to read this long review.

 

To the next one!

Chiara

 

Read More

ARC Review: "BRIDE" by Ali Hazelwood

 Hello readers!

I've promised you this review would arrive, and so here I am talking about one of my favorite books of 2023; I'm sorry for being late but these months have been awful. Anyway, despite time passed, I'm still shocked I received this arc from @prhinternational and I had the chance to read this book before the release😭

So, I'm sure, you already know this author for her StemNist novels, Ali Hazelwood, who changes genre without losing her "magical touch".

Here below the usual basic informations:

Title: Bride
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publishing Date: 6 February 2024
Publisher:  Berkley
Pages: 416 (paperback)
Price: 14,90€ (*according to Amazon.it)

Plot: A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Review: 

Rate: 5 stars⭐

Clearly, this book is very different from The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain and Love, Theoretically, and I'm aware it could be a huge leap of faith for Ali. So, I was ready to face a possible disappointment - no, that's a lie, I'm so in love with my favorite authors I always start with the idea that I would read and appreciate everything from them, even their grocery's list 😂 - but fortunately I immediately fell for this story, that kept me hooked until the end.

Readers, this book was SO good, I couldn't stop thinking about it!

First of all, the plot. When we talk about paranormal fantasy romance, I often see a lack on this side, to favor the romance element. And it's ok, but usually it means that the book could be good but easily forgettable. Bride is not like that. Ali Hazelwood has been a master to weave together these two aspects (a concrete story-line AND romance) making me root at the love story and, at the same time, keeping my interest on the main mystery always high. And even if I had my suspicions - and some of them were right -, I didn't manage to guess all until the very end. 

This novel has its center in the race discrimination and power plays, magnificently portraited with a sarcastic and ironic writing style I personally adored. Misery spent all her life being a pawn in the hands of her father, used to maintain peace between humans and vampires and hated because of it by both those races. That's why she doesn't trust anyone and is emotionally detached from the others. When you spend all your life being mistreated and insulted, you create your own armor; it's the only way to let your heart survive so many blows. So, Bride is also Misery's journey through the discovering to the real meaning of  "home" that happens among people belonging to a total different race from hers.
At the same time, I also appreciated Misery's hacker skills (that was freaking interesting!) and her strong personality, even with some insecurities that make her easy to empathize with. Anyway, she's clearly not a damsel in distress, but her own personal weapon, and she's always ready to fight for the people she really cares about. Finally, a smart heroine who's not stuck-up! 

Then, Lowe. I loved Ali's idea to add, in a very peculiar way, glimpses of his point of view. Veery small (sigh!), but they're enough to fall in love with this selfless werewolf, who always puts the others before himself at the point where he doesn't feel worthy of someone's attentions and feelings. I adored how clever he is understanding people and how he treated Misery since the very beginning. Their closeness is gradual (the tension!!🔥) and will keep you hooked until the end of the book, because Ali loves to make us suffer 💙
That said, I would have loved to see even more of him, his story, his dreams - outside the Alpha's duty - and I hope there will be a book two where we can see more of him and of the secondary characters as well. In fact, comprehensibly, they don't have very much space, with a fast-paced narration full of events that constantly turn the tables, but that's still sufficient to understand the different personalities and tempers, and I'm quite sure some of them will be more prominent in the future. 

Special mention to Ana, because this little girl is ALL. I loved her since her very first scene, and I was enamored of her relationship with Misery and the small acts of affections they share to each other. 

So, if you like a steamy, entertaining and very captivating story, I warmly suggest you Bride. 

I hope you liked this review 💖
I'll have so more in the following days/weeks, stay tuned!
Chiara

 

Read More

[Arc Review] ONLY AND FOREVER (Bergman Brothers, #7) by Chloe Liese

Hello readers!💛
How are you?

Today we will talk about a book that we'll be released soon, closing a well-loved series. I'm sure you know the author well, since the great number of romance novels she has already published, but if not, let me present you Only and Forever by Chloe Liese - plus, as always, thanks for the free book PRH International💛

Title: Only And Forever  (Bergman Brothers, #7)
Author: Chloe Liese
Publishing Date: 2 April 2024
Publisher:  Berkley
Pages: 368 (paperback)
Price: 12,01€ (*according to Amazon.it)

Plot: Viggo Bergman, hopeless romantic, is thoroughly weary of waiting for his happily ever after. But between opening a romance bookstore, running a romance book club, coaching kids' soccer, and adopting a household of pets—just maybe, he’s overcommitted himself?—Viggo’s chaotic life has made finding his forever love seem downright improbable.

Enter Tallulah Clarke, chilly cynic with a massive case of writer’s block. Tallulah needs help with her thriller’s romantic subplot. Viggo needs another pair of hands to keep his store afloat. So they agree to swap skills and cohabitate for convenience—his romance expertise to revive her book, her organizational prowess to salvage his store. They hardly get along, and they couldn’t be more different, but who says roommate-coworkers need to be friends?

As they share a home and life, Tallulah and Viggo discover a connection that challenges everything they believe about love, and reveals the plot twist they never saw coming: happily ever after is here already, right under their roof.

Review:  

Rating: 4.5 stars  ⭐

First of all, thank you so much to Penguin Random House for the free book! It was an unexpected surprise since I’m a great fan of Chloe Liese, after reading Two Wrongs Make a Right and Better hate than never. So, I wanted to catch up with all her “The Bergman Brothers” series and I would have never expected to start with the last one, but I jumped anyway straight into it.

Only and Forever is an adorable grumpyxsushine romance, that focuses on self-acceptance, rediscovering love and stop thinking we’re always “too much” for others.

The entire novel revolves around Viggo and Tallulah in their personal journey as individual and as couple. It was so sweet, like a warm and soft blanket to cuddle into I didn’t want it to end. I appreciated the idea to make them meet years before the incipit of the novel, plus the fact that more time passes between their reencounter and the real start of the story. Nonetheless, it’s a sort of love at first sight story, yes, but due to the thick layer of insecurities from both sides, the romance is everything but fast paced. The attraction is clear, and I loved the fact Tallulah isn’t shy to talk about it, but at the same time I appreciated they decide to focus on something else so they could be able to built first a healthy relationship, where they can feel safe to show their personal vulnerabilities and support their partner. I adored how they learn to trust the other and how their closeness allows them to overcome fears and reach happiness.

Viggo is absolutely my favorite character. How could it be otherwise? He’s a warmhearted, caring man with a creativity I’m very envious of.  He likes to listen and helps his family and every person he meets; he’s sensible and, please pay attention, he reads and loves romance books. In a bookish world full of powerful, arrogant, self-confident male figures, where crying and open themselves to others is not a primary option, Chloe Liese portraited us another kind of male’s strength, where showing emotions and communicate are added values. I personally consider them one of the key elements of Only and Forever. Furthermore, this author always talks in every of her books about neurodevelopmental disorders and chronic diseases. I adore the (educational) message behind those stories, and I hope these representations will become more and more common in the near future.

Last, but not least, the presence of the other members (and partners) of the Bergman family was lovable and gave clearly a sense of acceptance and warmth. It always made me smile, even if I really struggled with all those names and relationship, since I haven’t read (yet) the previous books! I know, shame on me. 

That’s why my rating will stop at 4.5 stars, so I could add that missing 0.5 when I’ll re-read this novel after catching up with all the previous six books. I can't wait 😍.

Right now, my question is only one: what can we expect from Chloe Liese next? 

I hope you've enjoyed this little review, dear readers.
More to come in the next (and I hope less busy) weeks 💛

Chiara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read More