Tag Archives: Sourcebooks

ARC — 10 Things That Never Happened — Alexis Hall — Material World #1

Genre: General Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Revolves around a fake amnesia. Describes a head injury and discusses grief, death of parents, and toxic relationships. Contains some sexual content.

Obviously, faking amnesia is never good, yet it made this book truly hilarious. “10 Things That Never Happened” follows Samwise (Sam) Becker, the manager of a bed-and-bath retailer branch, and Jonathan Forest, the owner of said bed-and-bath retailer stores. Sam’s branch is underperforming and that’s got to change—until, well, Sam has a tiny, little accident, bumps his head, and forgets any of their troubles existed? I mean, he didn’t, but he’ll say he did.

This audiobook had me giggling, alright? First off, the narrator, Will Watt, was absolutely amazing. His voice really held my attention and I couldn’t help but binge this audio. All the lying made me anxious, not gonna lie (no pun intended), but watching Sam and Jonathan get to know and accept each other was truly heartwarming.

This book is perfect if you’re looking for a queer romance book for the Holidays! Get it as a stocking stuffer or a full-blown gift (to others or to yourself), you won’t regret it.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

Enjoy the View — Sarah Morgenthaler — Moose Springs, Alaska #3

Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
Narrator: Elise Arsenault

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Narration: 5 mikes
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emojis (pretty closed-doors, I wasn’t made for these kinds of books, I’m exhausted)
Content Warnings: Describes animal cruelty and death, violence, and bullying. Mentions car accidents. Contains some sexual content.

“Enjoy the View ” follows River Lane, a Hollywood actress who’s now trying to make it as a director, as she films her first documentary—funded by the Alaskan government and aimed at the small town of Moose Springs. Little did she know that Moose Springs most definitely did not want to be filmed or showcased as a destination. With none of the permits she thought she’d have, she seta out to climb one of the mountains that surround the quaint town. This is where Easton Lockett comes in. As a mountaineer and search-and-rescue specialist, Easton is tasked with guiding them up the mountain. But one thing he did not expect was to fall for the director on the climb up.

Elise Arsenault comes back in to save the day. The only reason this book has a 4-star rating instead of a 3- or 3.5-star rating was because of Elise. I have loved how her voice seems different for every book, yet she keeps me paying attention. I wouldn’t change a thing about this narration.

Well, there’s definitely a theme here: a scruffy, local man falls in love with, unintentionally, with a beautiful outsider—betraying their locals-only rules that are being upheld by the townspeople in Moose Springs. Does anyone care if they date outsiders? No. But do they act like the world will absolutely fall apart if they do? Indeed.

“Enjoy the View”, as compared to the second book in this series, brings us back into the beautiful Alaskan wild. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, if you’re a fan of outdoorsy activities, wildlife, and remote locations, then you’ll adore Moose Springs.

This series as a whole reminds me of a milder, PG-13 version of the Wild series (I was really holing it’d get spicier with every book, but it didn’t). So, in other words, I loved it. I would highly recommend the Moose Springs, Alaska series.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right — Sarah Morgenthaler — Moose Springs, Alaska #2

Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
Narrator: Elise Arsenault

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Narration: 5 mikes
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emojis (this one was also pretty closed-doors, if you ask me)
Content Warnings: Mentions car accidents and death of parents. Discusses sexual harassment. Contains some sexual content.

“Mistletoe and Mr. Right” follows Lana Montgomery, a socialite that comes from a working multimillionaire family, as she tries to win over the town of Moose Springs, Alaska. She’s been coming to this quaint, little town for ages, but now that she has some pull in her family’s company, she’s looking to change things for the better for Moose Springs—the only downfall is that Moose Springs doesn’t want change; it doesn’t even want tourists, really. So when some angry men attack Lana after she announces a new condo development, and Rick Harding, the owner of a local pool hall, steps in to her aid, he immediately catches her eye anew.

Elise Arsenault is an amazing audiobook narrator. I think I partially enjoyed this book as much as I did because of her narration.

I have mixed feelings about this book, because the Lana we see in “Mistletoe and Mr. Right” is definitely not the same Lana we met in “The Tourist Attraction”. And I loved this new Lana, but really disliked the inconsistency. She wasn’t as selfish or shallow this time around—she did not seem like the type of person that would leave their best friend alone, in a bar, in an Alaskan town her friend has never been to. You know, just saying.

I’ll leave a similar endorsement as I did for the first book in this series: If you’re a fan of outdoorsy activities, wildlife, and remote locations, then you’ll adore Moose Springs. And if you’re a sucker for mutual pining, then you’ll adore Lana’s and Rick’s love story.

This book kind if reminded me to a milder, PG-13 version of the Wild series. So, in other words, I loved it. I would highly recommend the Moose Springs, Alaska series.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

The Tourist Attraction — Sarah Morgenthaler — Moose Springs, Alaska #1

Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
Narrator: Elise Arsenault

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Narration: 5 mikes
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emojis (pretty closed-doors, if you ask me)
Content Warnings: Describes animal cruelty and death, violence, and bullying. Mentions car accidents. Contains some sexual content.

“The Tourist Attraction” follows Zoey Caldwell, a middle-class hard worker who’s best friends with a multimillionaire who lowkey owns a small town in Alaska called Moose Springs. This leads to Zoey taking a vacation in said town and meeting Graham Barnett, the owner of the unintentionally touristy diner called The Tourist Trap—they immediately hit it off. But it makes no sense. Graham hates tourists, and although he is friends with Zoey’s bestie, Zoey is definitely a tourist… So why does he keep wanting to hang out with her?

This is the first book I’ve listened to that’s been narrated by Elise Arsenault, but it won’t be the last—first, because the other books in this series are also narrated by her, and second, because I absolutely loved her voice.

This is your classical Grump-Meets-Sunshine trope love story, but now in an Alaskan setting. I don’t know who I loved the most, if Graham or Zoey, but what I do know is that they were destined to meet (and I would date them both).

If you’re a fan of outdoorsy activities, wildlife, and remote locations, then you’ll adore Moose Springs. And if you’re a sucker for grumpy guys who’ll take care of you when you’re drunk or defend you when assholes are around, then you’ll adore Graham Barnett.

This book kind if reminded me to a milder, PG-13 version of the Wild series. So, in other words, I loved it. I would highly recommend the Moose Springs, Alaska series.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC — When Life Gives You Vampires — Gloria Duke

Author: Gloria Duke
Narrated By: Meg Sylvan

Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 stars
Narration: 5 mikes
Content Warnings: Discusses fatphobia, crash dieting, infertility, and kidnapping. Describes fires, death, drinking blood, and hate crimes. Includes some sexual content.

“When Life Gives You Vampires” follows Lily Baines, a 25-year-old New Yorker that was turned into a vampire by a virtual stranger against her (and his) will. Lily meets Tristan at a bar and they hit it off pretty quick, but Tristan did not mean to turn her—that’s actually against all vampire laws. That’s why, now, they’re being threatened and hunted down by, lets say, the president of vampires. How will they fight this double death that is knocking on their door? This and more is what this amazing story has to offer.

This book is fun and funny. It’s about vampires without being pretentious—it might even be a bit satirical when it comes to our young generation’s perception of vampires. I loved how they broke the fourth wall here and there. I did not want this book to end, it was the light-hearted, suspenseful read I needed.

Also, I had never heard a book narrated by Meg Sylvan, but I can honestly say I will be following her work from now on. Her voice really kept me engaged, which is actually a really big feat when it comes to me—my mind is all over the place when I’m listening to audiobooks, yet Meg’s narration really caught my attention.

Don’t expect this book to be life-changing, because it isn’t, but it does touch on important topics like loving yourself, body positivity, and trusting family and friends. It also has quite a cute love story, with all its ups and downs.

I would highly recommend this read and this audiobook if you’re looking for a light-hearted but short and captivating read. With its strangers-to-lovers trope, it’s quite unique, I can’t think of any book to compare it to—but definitely grab this book if you like books with plus-sized main characters and if you won’t be offended by a joke or two about vampires.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, and published by Sourcebooks, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

ARC — Same Time, Same Place — David M. Barnett

“Everything is the same. But different. Just like Daisy said.”

Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Mentions harassment and family violence.

“Same Time, Same Place” follow Daisy Dukes (yes, that’s her name) and Nate Garvey, two security guards who work at the Museum of Social History. As Nate works the day shifts and Daisy works the night shifts, their days only overlap for a few minutes during handover—that is until things start going missing at the museum, for a few days at a time, before being put back on their museum display. Delving into how our past affects our future, and told through different points of view, this is a dynamic and engaging read that goes to show that our history doesn’t define us and that love can be born from the oddest of places.

Sadly, I didn’t connect with the characters in this book as much as I thought I would. I enjoyed the story and the quirky romance, but there was something too ficticios about the characters for me. I did like how they redeemed themselves and how the mystery came to fruition. Maybe 4 stars is too high a rating for characters I didn’t love, but David M. Barnett did such an excellent job with the writing that I couldn’t give it any less.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy both romance and mystery books, even if the publisher hasn’t categorized it under Mysteries. There isn’t too much suspense here, but mystery is definitely in the mix.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: June 07, 2022

ARC — Must Love Books — Shauna Robinson

“There’s more to you than just your book.”

Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, suicide, and suicidal ideation.

You know the feeling when all the things that could go wrong, actually go wrong? Well, that’s exactly how Nora Hughes is feeling after she finds herself stuck in a job that’s underpaying her and that’s in her dream field, but not even remotely close to her dream job—she’s an assistant editor at a publisher…..that only publishes business books written by middle-aged white men for middle-aged white men. She dreamed of editing the next big American novel, but that couldn’t be further from her reality. So when they cut her salary even further, making it so she can’t even afford rent anymore, she will have to resort to some slightly unethical practices to survive.

Don’t let the cover misguide you. The publisher does not classify this as a romance book, and they’re right at that. “Must Love Books” is not a romance per se, even though there are some romantic scenes and sexual tension here and there. It, in fact, does not bang (like, they do bang but we don’t get to see any of that).

On another note, I found it a bit off-putting how the narrator went about addressing race. I feel like she put so much focus on people being white, judging them instantly at times. And I get it, I’m latinx and I’ve been underestimated by the way I look, but in Nora’s case, it was mentioned too much, especially in the beginning of the book.

Putting those things aside, this was a great book. I mean, what reader doesn’t love a book about books? The characters were charming and the story engaging at all times.

I would recommend this book to readers who’ve enjoyed books by Sally Thorne and Emily Henry. I mean, to be honest, I will probably be recommending this book all year round. It’s that good.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can pre-order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: January 18, 2022

ARC — The Girl Who Knew Too Much — Tiffany Brooks, narrated by Stephanie Willing

Genre: Mystery and Thrillers, Young Adult
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses murder and pedophilia.

“The Girl Who Knew Too Much” follows Riley Ozment as she joins 19 other teenagers in a Survivor-style reality show that’s located on a deserted island off the coast of Brasil. Riley’s hoping to redeem her past and succeed in her future by winning on the show but, mostly, by finding the hidden treasure that’s been lost in the island for hundreds of years.

This is a perfect YA novel. And by that, I mean that the plot is entertaining and different, and the main character is an immature teenager that’s just figuring out who she is. Childishness aside, this is a great (fictitious) adventure book.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to listen to the audiobook of this novel and I must say I loved Stephanie Willing as a narrator. I will definitely be looking at other audiobooks narrated by her. I rounded up the rating from 3.5 stars to 4 stars in Goodreads just because of this awesome voice actor.

I would recommend this book to young adults (and YA-literature lovers) who enjoy outdoorsy adventures and reality TV. I can’t recommend this book based on any other book I’ve read before, because it’s that unique. But remember: it’s YA. It is far-fetched at times, and it is ridiculous, but that’s also what makes it fun.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can pre–order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: January 1, 2022