Tag: harlequin blog tours

Blog Tour ARC Review: The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman- Julietta Henderson

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Title: The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman

Author: Julietta Henderson

Publisher: Mira Books

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5

When you’re twelve years old and your best friend dies life can be very hard. Norman Foreman loses his best friend Jax suddenly and he is left with a empty hole in his heart. Jax was an amazing kid. He was caring, outspoken, and he helped Norman come out of his shy and quiet shell. They had a five year plan set as a comedic duo. You see, Norman and Jax loved comedy and they made sure to always put on a show. Their dream was to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Even Sadie, Norman’s mom, misses Jax. Not only was he an amazing friend to her son, but he made her home lively with his presence, often getting into little schemes. Being a single mother, Sadie lost her dad (whom was also a comedian; not so successful though) a year before she had Norman. Her grief and heartbreak led her to questionable behavior, such as drinking and having one night stands. As a result, she doesn’t really know who Norman’s father could be. She often feels she’s not a great mother, considering she can’t do anything to get her son out of his misery. It doesn’t help either that her boss is a pain in the butt. After she spills all her woes on her co-worker, whom comes up with a plan to help Norman and Sadie look for his real father.

This book was simply amazing. It’s a story about friendship, love, family, and never giving up. The way Julietta brought the characters to life was refreshing and she really takes you on an adventure with all the different characters she brings aboard this road trip. Huge thanks to Mira books, NetGalley, and Harlequin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Harlequin Blog Tours ARC Review: The Code for Love and Heartbreak- Jillian Cantor

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Title: The Code for Love and Heartbreak

Author: Jillian Cantor

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5

I’ve yet to read Emma or any of the Jane Austen books so, I can’t make any comparisons with this book as everyone else has. We meet Emma Woodhouse whose a math whiz and does coding. She simply lives for numbers. She has a bff named George Knightly for a coding project. With their creative minds they come up with a great concept. They come up with a dating app called: “Code for Love”. The app consists of algorithms to calculate your match.
George isn’t feeling the whole app thing and controlling people’s lives. Emma doesn’t pay attention to that though. She knows what she’s doing and the numbers never lie. The app turns out to be successful and people start to match. However, some things start to go awry with the app (you have to read to find out what they are). I really thought this book was a cute read and I lived for the LGBTQ+ representation, friendships, and romance in this story. The main characters and side characters had great stories and I enjoyed learning about them. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Blog Tours, and Inkyard press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase “The Code for Love and Heartbreak” in hardcover, audiobook, and kindle format here. You can also follow the author at their social media platforms:

Twitter|Website|Instagram

Harlequin Blog Tours ARC Review: The Last Story of Mina Lee- Nancy Jooyoun Kim

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Title: The Last Story of Mina Lee

Author: Nancy Jooyoun Kim

Publisher: Park Row Books

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5


‘The Last Story of Mina Lee’ is one of those stories that sticks with you long after you finished reading it. A mother/daughter story always tugs at my heart strings. When Margot calls her mother while on a road trip to L.A. and she doesn’t pick up, she immediately feels like something is wrong, and she’s not wrong. The story is told from two perspectives, Margot and her mother (Mina). Margot feels there’s more to the story of her mother’s mysterious death. Her curiosity and grief lead her to start investigating what went wrong. 

This story is amazing and shows the struggle of being in immigrant in the United States, falling in love with the wrong person and where it leads to, and also the struggle between a mother/daughter relationship. I love books that show people’s struggles that have arrived to a new country (not in a bad way), because we’re all human and have to adapt. Just like myself and countless others. Thank to Harlequin Blog Tours, Park Row Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can purchase ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee’, (which comes out September 1, 2020) here -Kindle, Hardcover, and Audiobook available for pre-order.

You can also find the author at her social media platforms:

Twitter|Instagram|Website

Harlequin Blog Tours ARC Review: Here to Stay- Adriana Herrera

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Title: Here to Stay

Author: Adriana Herrera

Publisher: Carina Press

Pages: 393

Rating: 4/5

Here to Stay is my first novel from Adriana Herrera. It was really cute and different from what I’ve been reading lately. Julia is a New Yorker by all standards, but for the last year she’s been living in hot Texas after she moved for her boyfriend’s job. Shortly after the bf up’s and leaves her for his ex and Adirana’s world comes crumbling down. She enjoys her job, but she doesn’t know how to feel now that she’s been told that her company may be on the chopping block. The person to make that decision is the ever so handsome Rocco, who she can’t seem to stop thinking about. 
Rocco also feels the same way, but both of them know that they shouldn’t be feeling like this. It just won’t work, but pretty soon they both give into their desires and the flame burning between them only intensifies. Especially after Adriana starts a group for relocated New Yorkers. 

The family trope in this book was amazing. There’s nothing better than reading about families whose bond is so strong. It makes me happy while reading. I wouldn’t mind seeing some backstories from everyone because it’s just that interesting. The chemistry between Rocco and Adriana made the writing so much better and dynamic. Herrera did a great job and I wouldn’t mind reading more form her. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Carina Press, and Harlequin Blog Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: Ordinary Girls- Jaquira Diaz

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Title: Ordinary Girls

Author: Jaquira Diaz

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5

“Some girls grow up to be the kind of women who fall for men like their fathers. Some girls grow up to be just like them”
-Jaquira Diaz

Ordinary Girls is a gut wrenching memoir from Jaquira Diaz. Growing up in Puerto Rico in poverty, along with a schizophrenic mother, drug dealer father, and a sick brother was no easy feat. She knows what it’s like to struggle and be lost without a way. As a young girl she spent her time in the streets hanging out with the wild crowd, and getting into trouble. She had no-one that cared for her or her well being, except for her grandmother, but even with that she couldn’t completely trust that she would always be there for her. Half the time her mother prostituted herself for her guilty pleasures.

Jaquira and her family moved to Miami to see if being in a different area would somehow make life a bit better, but life was just the same if not worse. Consistently moving around, Jaquira turned alcohol, sex, drugs, and other things that were normal in her life. She also was in and out of jail. Her life was bound to stay a continuous disaster if things didn’t change quickly. Diaz felt lost without no support. School was never her forte either so she didn’t even have that either. So how did a young girl with such a horrible life make it to her passion as a writer? You have to find out for yourself. 

This was such a great memoir. I’m so glad Diaz was able to take some control of her life and used it towards her writing. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Harlequin Blog Tours ARC Review: Mayhem- Estelle Laure

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Title: Mayhem

Author: Estelle Laure

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5

I wanted to love this book, but there was something missing for me. I don’t hate it. I liked what the author was trying to do however. I’ve seen the comparison to certain movies such as ‘The craft’ and “The Lost Boys’. I haven’t seen The Craft but, I’ve seen snippets of The lost Boys and the similarities are there…ALOT…so I guess that turned me off because I felt it wasn’t authentic enough. Roxy and her mother decide to escape Santa Monica, California and the abusive ways of Roxy’s dad… Lyle. However, Roxy’s mom did a 360 and started relying on alcohol and drugs to escape the bad memories. Big mistake. Lyle’s abusive ways have gone unhinged even further.

Mayhem has the opportunity to learn more about the family she never knew about. At the same time she’s learning about her family’s history. There’s another thing brewing in their quiet little town. A serial killer is on the loose and hurting young women. It’s freaking everyone out, especially Mayhem and her mother. Leaving them wondering if all it is really worth it, especially going after the killer. Thanks to Wednesday Books, Netgalley, and Harlequin Blog Tours for an opportunity to obtain a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Harlequin Blog Tours ARC Review: She’s Faking it- Kristin Rockaway

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Title: She’s Faking It

Author: Kristin Rockaway

Publisher: Graydon Press

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5

This is my first book from Kristin Rockaway and I absolutely loved it. Bree Bozeman feels like crap. She has a job at Grubgetter as a delivery driver, she has a crappy car that finally died on her while making a delivery and ignoring her check engine light that started flashing 3 weeks ago, she lives in a crappy space on top of someone’s garage, her last relationship failed, and one of her professors from college said to her that she doesn’t have what it takes for med school. Something that made her leave school. Life is just really hard for Bree and she just wants something good to happen for once.

Her sister Heather, whom has the best of intentions to help her sister, can come off as standoffish, judgmental, and annoying. With her obsessive organizing business and her husband being a orthodontist. Heather doesn’t need to worry about struggling. You have to admire Bree’s tenacity to better herself though. She may hate her job, but she does it so well. After finding out about a social media influencer, she decides to make her own Instagram and finally chase that lifestyle she so desperately was seeking. Her life seems to be going right on track including finding a hunky guy after creating her social media profile, but at what cost? I really enjoyed this beach read and definitely would recommend it. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Harlequin Blog Tours: ARC Review: Out Now: Queer We Go Again!- Saundra Mitchell

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Title: Out Now: Queer We Go Again!

Author: Saundra Mitchell

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 416

Rating: 3/5

I REALLY tried to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it for the life of me. Some stories were good, others lacked. With multiple stories like this, I like for the stories to have some sort of realism to them. I just didn’t get that from this book. I feel like I’m being harsh but, I’m just being truthful. I’ve seen people say the first book to this was better, so I might just give that one a go and see if I like it better. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Tours and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

ARC Review: Breath Like Water- Anna Jarzab

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Title: Breath Like Water

Author: Anna Jarzab

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5

As a person whose only known swimming all her life and wanting to be in the olympics, Susannah fears her body is slowing her down as she gets older. She thinks about the championship she won at 14 years old and if she can reach her potential again. Swimming demands so much out of young people and she’s scared to fail. Two people enter her life that will rearrange her life and career around. A coach that could help her reach that dream and a new fellow swimmer named Harry.

Susannah is such an amazing character. She’s mature, strong, and trying to fight those nagging demons in her head. Harry on the other hand is dealing with his own demons. He’s bipolar. Dealing with constant mood swings and anger throughout his life. He falls in love with Susannah but, he’s afraid his mental condition might scare her away.

This book is far from swimming competitions and the stress from it. It’s about friendship, hope, being opened to new experiences in life and trusting people. I loved how Susannah and Harry connected despite their differences. Sorta hit close to home as my significant other also is bipolar. What an amazing story of two young people and their struggles with life and family. I truly enjoyed the ride this book took me on. Special thanks to NetGalley, and Harlequin Teen/ Inkyard Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Harlequin Blog Tours-ARC Review: Sister Dear- Hannah Mary McKinnon

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Title: Sister Dear

Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Publisher: Mira Books

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5

Yet another amazing thriller that I have to add to my physical book library. Eleanor was raised by a toxic mother. She suffers from crappy self-esteem, she’s antisocial, and dislikes her body thanks to all the body shaming her evil mother has bestowed upon her. Eleanor has also lost the only person she’s ever known as her father to cancer. 

As she’s grieving him she finds out that he isn’t her father after all. She finds out her real father is a wealthy business man with a beautiful wife, and a daughter named Victoria. Of course her real father wants nothing to do with her. She’s instantly infuriated. She should should be living that great life, she should be in Victoria’s spot, she should be living that happy life. Instead, she lives in a crappy home with her mother and overall she’s just a unloveable miserable person. After finding out about Victoria, Eleanor vows to share that glamorous life with her sister…after all sharing is caring right?

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I definitely have found another thriller author who I will be reading more from. McKinnon has a way with words. Even though Eleanor was a bit cuckoo bananas you can’t help but feel sorry for her. That’s how well written this book was. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Mira Books, and Harlequin Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.