1genesisdiem
:Goals for 2024:
* The week of Feb 18, I will reach my goal of reading on Kindle at least once a week for 5 years straight. Not difficult to achieve since there are only a few weeks left.
* Try to read the 6 Emma Fielding books and compare them to the movies. And I should do this with at least 1 Marple and 1 Poirot.
* Get through the stack of paperbacks on the bookshelf tbr pile: nonfic and fic.
* I still have about 100 magazines to get through and a stack of items to catalog. I don't know if I will ever get around to adding all of my Amazon to LT though. But I should also be able to clear about my newsletter email box.
* Overall, add more mystery and nonfic to my reading.
So, Here's a great year of reading for all of us!
* The week of Feb 18, I will reach my goal of reading on Kindle at least once a week for 5 years straight. Not difficult to achieve since there are only a few weeks left.
* Try to read the 6 Emma Fielding books and compare them to the movies. And I should do this with at least 1 Marple and 1 Poirot.
* Get through the stack of paperbacks on the bookshelf tbr pile: nonfic and fic.
* I still have about 100 magazines to get through and a stack of items to catalog. I don't know if I will ever get around to adding all of my Amazon to LT though. But I should also be able to clear about my newsletter email box.
* Overall, add more mystery and nonfic to my reading.
So, Here's a great year of reading for all of us!
2Sergeirocks
Good Luck, gd. Happy Reading, ☺️.
3genesisdiem
Fiction 1
Mystery Romance
The Secret of Shutter Lake, Amanda Stevens, 2023 (not in LT yet)
Girl goes back to the hometown she left after her mother went missing because her stepfather is ill and needs help with the business. Her old boyfriend is there investigating a case about a missing boat when he finds a car deep in the lake. They start asking questions about the missing woman and someone makes attempts on their lives. All is resolved in the end.
Overall, not a bad story. It was well written but there wasn't much romance at all and the investigating was left up to the authorities for the most part. It was just an ok afternoon read.
Mystery Romance
The Secret of Shutter Lake, Amanda Stevens, 2023 (not in LT yet)
Girl goes back to the hometown she left after her mother went missing because her stepfather is ill and needs help with the business. Her old boyfriend is there investigating a case about a missing boat when he finds a car deep in the lake. They start asking questions about the missing woman and someone makes attempts on their lives. All is resolved in the end.
Overall, not a bad story. It was well written but there wasn't much romance at all and the investigating was left up to the authorities for the most part. It was just an ok afternoon read.
4threadnsong
Hello genesisdiem, and much success with your 2024 reading. And congrats on your achievement with your Kindle reading!
5genesisdiem
>4 threadnsong: Thank you!
6genesisdiem
Fiction 2
General Romance
Fake Engagement with the Billionaire, Ally Blake, 2023
Girl goes back home in Australia to help her parents save a failing art gallery. There she runs into her late brother's best friend, an ex-sports star and now philanthropist. Paparazzi catch them in a misleading photo, so to avoid scandal they pretend to be engaged. Then they fall in love.
I didn't realize this was book 2 of a trilogy but it can stand alone. I will probably read book 3. The conflict was a misunderstanding that was easily resolved. It was well written and easy to follow the plot.
General Romance
Fake Engagement with the Billionaire, Ally Blake, 2023
Girl goes back home in Australia to help her parents save a failing art gallery. There she runs into her late brother's best friend, an ex-sports star and now philanthropist. Paparazzi catch them in a misleading photo, so to avoid scandal they pretend to be engaged. Then they fall in love.
I didn't realize this was book 2 of a trilogy but it can stand alone. I will probably read book 3. The conflict was a misunderstanding that was easily resolved. It was well written and easy to follow the plot.
7genesisdiem
Fiction 3
General Romance
Cinderella Assistant to Boss's Bride, Ally Blake, 2023
Guy doesn't realize that he's in love with his secretary until she quits. So he tries to figure out why and she is patient with him. All is worked out in the end.
This was book 3 and I felt like it was very rushed, given all of the typos. The story didn't flow as well and there were some inconsistencies as well. The epilogue was a good wrap-up for the series though.
General Romance
Cinderella Assistant to Boss's Bride, Ally Blake, 2023
Guy doesn't realize that he's in love with his secretary until she quits. So he tries to figure out why and she is patient with him. All is worked out in the end.
This was book 3 and I felt like it was very rushed, given all of the typos. The story didn't flow as well and there were some inconsistencies as well. The epilogue was a good wrap-up for the series though.
8genesisdiem
Fiction 4
Suspense Romance
Beauty and the Badge, Julie Miller, 2009
Girl arrives home from work and gets attacked by a burglar in her home. She escapes to her new neighbor's house and is lucky to find out that he's a cop. He watches out for her as the attacks continue and realizes the attacks might be related to a case he's working on. Everything is worked out in the end.
This book was ok but I did figure it out early on. The sex was mostly behind closed doors and not used as filler. I was put off a bit by the insta-love and the age difference but it wasn't a hinderance to the plot. I would probably read more by the author. Overall, it was a decent afternoon read.
Suspense Romance
Beauty and the Badge, Julie Miller, 2009
Girl arrives home from work and gets attacked by a burglar in her home. She escapes to her new neighbor's house and is lucky to find out that he's a cop. He watches out for her as the attacks continue and realizes the attacks might be related to a case he's working on. Everything is worked out in the end.
This book was ok but I did figure it out early on. The sex was mostly behind closed doors and not used as filler. I was put off a bit by the insta-love and the age difference but it wasn't a hinderance to the plot. I would probably read more by the author. Overall, it was a decent afternoon read.
9genesisdiem
Fiction 5
General Romance
Married by Arrangement, Lynne Graham, 2005
Poor Girl has to share custody of her niece with her BIL. BIL is, of course, billionaire royalty. He demands marriage, she falls for him, he finds out the niece is not DNA related, but he has fallen for her. The end.
The writing was good, the plot just ok. Typical harlequin.
General Romance
Married by Arrangement, Lynne Graham, 2005
Poor Girl has to share custody of her niece with her BIL. BIL is, of course, billionaire royalty. He demands marriage, she falls for him, he finds out the niece is not DNA related, but he has fallen for her. The end.
The writing was good, the plot just ok. Typical harlequin.
10genesisdiem
Fiction 6
Mystery Romance
Return to Stony Ridge, 2005, Dani Sinclair
Book 4. Girl goes undercover trying to find her nephew and tracks him to a women's shelter in an old house with lots of secret passages. A local handyman agrees to help her so that he can figure out who she really is. The house isn't as secure as everyone thinks and everything goes crazy when someone is discovered breaking in. Everything is worked out in the end.
This had me hooked just trying to sort out the secret passages. The romance was just so-so and the ending was rushed. I think it might have been part of a series because there were references to other characters, events that weren't explained but it mostly worked as a stand alone. Overall it was well written and a good read.
Mystery Romance
Return to Stony Ridge, 2005, Dani Sinclair
Book 4. Girl goes undercover trying to find her nephew and tracks him to a women's shelter in an old house with lots of secret passages. A local handyman agrees to help her so that he can figure out who she really is. The house isn't as secure as everyone thinks and everything goes crazy when someone is discovered breaking in. Everything is worked out in the end.
This had me hooked just trying to sort out the secret passages. The romance was just so-so and the ending was rushed. I think it might have been part of a series because there were references to other characters, events that weren't explained but it mostly worked as a stand alone. Overall it was well written and a good read.
11genesisdiem
Fiction 7
Mystery Romance
The Firstborn, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 1. Girl returns home to claim her inheritance and finds everything in disarray. She gets help from the blacksmith doing repairs on the property. Someone is out to kill her but is it her family or the help.... All is worked out in the end.
This book fell flat for me. It did include a schematic for the house I mentioned in >10 genesisdiem: but it didn't mentioned any secret passageways. Also, the girl is "firstborn" of a set of triplets, so does that really apply? The romance was weak and the mystery was solvable in the early chapters. I am going to read book 2 and 3 just so I can figure out more about the house though.
Mystery Romance
The Firstborn, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 1. Girl returns home to claim her inheritance and finds everything in disarray. She gets help from the blacksmith doing repairs on the property. Someone is out to kill her but is it her family or the help.... All is worked out in the end.
This book fell flat for me. It did include a schematic for the house I mentioned in >10 genesisdiem: but it didn't mentioned any secret passageways. Also, the girl is "firstborn" of a set of triplets, so does that really apply? The romance was weak and the mystery was solvable in the early chapters. I am going to read book 2 and 3 just so I can figure out more about the house though.
12genesisdiem
Fiction 8
Mystery Romance
The Second Sister, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 2. So twin one decides she doesn't want the house and gives it to twin two. The lawyer handling the paperwork is a bad boy from twin 2's teen years that she still has feelings for. The remodelers (guy from book 4) find a secret room and the girls start to find hidden stairways around the house when their "evil" stepmother is caught trying to steal things. Then the threats start. Is it the evil stepmother or someone from the bad boy's past?... Both sort of. The evil stepmother is clearly up to something but the threats come from an old rival that thinks twin 2 saw him commit a murder. Turns out it was the secret "twin" 3... so now book three is likely resolving the mother's murder, introducing the third sister, and who knows what else. But at least the house stuff was more interesting this time. Really this whole series could have been one book instead.
Mystery Romance
The Second Sister, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 2. So twin one decides she doesn't want the house and gives it to twin two. The lawyer handling the paperwork is a bad boy from twin 2's teen years that she still has feelings for. The remodelers (guy from book 4) find a secret room and the girls start to find hidden stairways around the house when their "evil" stepmother is caught trying to steal things. Then the threats start. Is it the evil stepmother or someone from the bad boy's past?... Both sort of. The evil stepmother is clearly up to something but the threats come from an old rival that thinks twin 2 saw him commit a murder. Turns out it was the secret "twin" 3... so now book three is likely resolving the mother's murder, introducing the third sister, and who knows what else. But at least the house stuff was more interesting this time. Really this whole series could have been one book instead.
13genesisdiem
Fiction 9
Mystery Romance
The Third Twin, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 3. This one was probably the worst of the lot. Over half of it was the girl lying about who she was, the answers to the mystery were just thrown together, and there wasn't a whole lot about the house. But I did see why book 4 was written as sort of an epilogue.
If I understood it all: the mom had an affair with the neighbor and married the "dad" in haste. The "dad" was selling babies out of his MD practice, and sold one of the triplets. The FIL found out and was killed. The mom found out and was killed. The mom who bought the baby found out and was killed. The "dad" who sold the babies was killed by the evil stepmother to hide their crimes. The housekeeper who tried blackmail to protect the missing baby was killed. Dad who bought the baby found the blackmail money and was killed. The evil stepmother who was the nurse helping to sell the babies was killed. Other people involved were killed. But it's all wrapped up in the end, because the girls all have a wedding together and the neighbor claims them so they have a family and the house gets turned into a women's shelter... This really read more like a bad 80s saga.
Mystery Romance
The Third Twin, Dani Sinclair, 2003
Book 3. This one was probably the worst of the lot. Over half of it was the girl lying about who she was, the answers to the mystery were just thrown together, and there wasn't a whole lot about the house. But I did see why book 4 was written as sort of an epilogue.
If I understood it all: the mom had an affair with the neighbor and married the "dad" in haste. The "dad" was selling babies out of his MD practice, and sold one of the triplets. The FIL found out and was killed. The mom found out and was killed. The mom who bought the baby found out and was killed. The "dad" who sold the babies was killed by the evil stepmother to hide their crimes. The housekeeper who tried blackmail to protect the missing baby was killed. Dad who bought the baby found the blackmail money and was killed. The evil stepmother who was the nurse helping to sell the babies was killed. Other people involved were killed. But it's all wrapped up in the end, because the girls all have a wedding together and the neighbor claims them so they have a family and the house gets turned into a women's shelter... This really read more like a bad 80s saga.
14genesisdiem
Fiction 10
General Romance
Claiming his Convenient Fiancée, Natalie Anderson, 2017
Girl's family home gets sold before she can collect her things. So since she still has a key, she goes back to get them and gets caught. The new owner lets her off the hook if she agrees to pose as his fiancee. She falls in love and gets pregnant but he isn't interested so she leaves. But then he misses her and they work it out.
This book was about half sex, which is unusual for a Harlequin Presents. It was like the author started off with a good plot and then ran out of steam and started writing filler. I finished it because it had a neat house with hidden areas but that plotline also fizzled out. Overall, a blah book.
General Romance
Claiming his Convenient Fiancée, Natalie Anderson, 2017
Girl's family home gets sold before she can collect her things. So since she still has a key, she goes back to get them and gets caught. The new owner lets her off the hook if she agrees to pose as his fiancee. She falls in love and gets pregnant but he isn't interested so she leaves. But then he misses her and they work it out.
This book was about half sex, which is unusual for a Harlequin Presents. It was like the author started off with a good plot and then ran out of steam and started writing filler. I finished it because it had a neat house with hidden areas but that plotline also fizzled out. Overall, a blah book.
15genesisdiem
Fiction 11
General Romance
Lifelong Affair, Carole Mortimer, 1983
Girl and guy are named as guardians to their nephew and get married despite his family absolutely hating her. He stands up for her and she stands up for herself (mostly) and it's HEA.
*sigh* This book was just very much of its time: Submissive, whimpering virgin. rape and domestic violence jokes. over the top family drama from the 80s. etc etc. I usually like this author but this one was a fail.
General Romance
Lifelong Affair, Carole Mortimer, 1983
Girl and guy are named as guardians to their nephew and get married despite his family absolutely hating her. He stands up for her and she stands up for herself (mostly) and it's HEA.
*sigh* This book was just very much of its time: Submissive, whimpering virgin. rape and domestic violence jokes. over the top family drama from the 80s. etc etc. I usually like this author but this one was a fail.
16genesisdiem
Fiction 12
Mystery Romance
Cold Case Sheriff, 2023, Tara Quinn
Girl's guardian dies and she finds an address in a safety deposit box. So she goes to find out what it means and someone tries to kill her. The sheriff protects her whilst trying to solve the mystery. All is worked out in the end.
This book dragged on and on and on.... It was also pretty easy to solve early on. But it was a decent plotline. The romance was pretty non-existent; just kind of behind closed doors instalove that seemed added after the fact. Not sure if I would read more by this author.
Mystery Romance
Cold Case Sheriff, 2023, Tara Quinn
Girl's guardian dies and she finds an address in a safety deposit box. So she goes to find out what it means and someone tries to kill her. The sheriff protects her whilst trying to solve the mystery. All is worked out in the end.
This book dragged on and on and on.... It was also pretty easy to solve early on. But it was a decent plotline. The romance was pretty non-existent; just kind of behind closed doors instalove that seemed added after the fact. Not sure if I would read more by this author.
17genesisdiem
Fiction 13
General Romance
The Dimitrakos Proposition, 2014, Lynne Graham
Poor girl marries rich guy to gain custody of her friend's baby (he gets full ownership of his company). They fight, have a lot of sex, an ex tries to stab her, and then they declare their love.
This book just dragged on and on. Also, it was creepy how he just loved that she was so tiny and feminine. Overall, probably a wasted read.
General Romance
The Dimitrakos Proposition, 2014, Lynne Graham
Poor girl marries rich guy to gain custody of her friend's baby (he gets full ownership of his company). They fight, have a lot of sex, an ex tries to stab her, and then they declare their love.
This book just dragged on and on. Also, it was creepy how he just loved that she was so tiny and feminine. Overall, probably a wasted read.
18genesisdiem
Fiction 14
"Historical" Romance (written in a very contemporary style)
Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter, 2022, Sofi Laporte
Spinster sends a letter to an old friend in London. But friend has moved and Guy at the house responds. They keep up their letters for three years when Girl goes to London to chaperone her sister's Season. Then antics ensue with revealing their identities. All is worked out in the end.
This was a very contemporary Regency but it was cute and funny. The "mystery" of the identities did drag on for a little bit. But overall a decent afternoon read.
"Historical" Romance (written in a very contemporary style)
Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter, 2022, Sofi Laporte
Spinster sends a letter to an old friend in London. But friend has moved and Guy at the house responds. They keep up their letters for three years when Girl goes to London to chaperone her sister's Season. Then antics ensue with revealing their identities. All is worked out in the end.
This was a very contemporary Regency but it was cute and funny. The "mystery" of the identities did drag on for a little bit. But overall a decent afternoon read.
19genesisdiem
Fiction 15
General Romance
Trial By Marriage, 1994, Lindsay Armstrong
Girl is a school teacher on an Australian ranch. Guy buys the ranch. They circle each other, he seduces her, marries her, then she decides to leave him until she sees he's been in an accident. They sort of work it out and HEA.
I'm not into insta-lust. And the story was just ok. The writing was decent though.
General Romance
Trial By Marriage, 1994, Lindsay Armstrong
Girl is a school teacher on an Australian ranch. Guy buys the ranch. They circle each other, he seduces her, marries her, then she decides to leave him until she sees he's been in an accident. They sort of work it out and HEA.
I'm not into insta-lust. And the story was just ok. The writing was decent though.
20genesisdiem
Fiction 16
Mystery Romance
Sharp Evidence, 2023, Julie Miller
Girl is a theater professor being stalked, who finds a bloody knife in a prop box. Guy is a crime lab technician who's trying to solve his parents' cold case. She takes him the knife, he ties the two cases together and tries to act as her bodyguard until the case is solved. She falls for him and he for her. The case is solved.
This was book 4 in a series but it worked as a stand-alone. Good plot and good writing. Overall good afternoon read. (I don't understand the girl's hair on the book cover though bc it doesn't match the description in the book)
Mystery Romance
Sharp Evidence, 2023, Julie Miller
Girl is a theater professor being stalked, who finds a bloody knife in a prop box. Guy is a crime lab technician who's trying to solve his parents' cold case. She takes him the knife, he ties the two cases together and tries to act as her bodyguard until the case is solved. She falls for him and he for her. The case is solved.
This was book 4 in a series but it worked as a stand-alone. Good plot and good writing. Overall good afternoon read. (I don't understand the girl's hair on the book cover though bc it doesn't match the description in the book)
21genesisdiem
Fiction 17
General Romance
Blackmailed by Diamonds, Bound by Marriage, 2006, Sarah Morgan
Girl's sister dies tragically after seducing a married older man and stealing a priceless necklace. Guy is man's son and he wants the necklace back. The girl misunderstands the situation and tells him she'll only return the necklace if he marries her. He does. They fall in love, she learns the truth and sets him free, he comes for her.
This story was a mess. The girl thinks the guy had been her sister's lover and still she sleeps with him. Repeatedly, like half of the book was just sex. I'm not certain when they were supposed to have fallen in love. This is usually a good author but her books are really hit or miss sometimes.
General Romance
Blackmailed by Diamonds, Bound by Marriage, 2006, Sarah Morgan
Girl's sister dies tragically after seducing a married older man and stealing a priceless necklace. Guy is man's son and he wants the necklace back. The girl misunderstands the situation and tells him she'll only return the necklace if he marries her. He does. They fall in love, she learns the truth and sets him free, he comes for her.
This story was a mess. The girl thinks the guy had been her sister's lover and still she sleeps with him. Repeatedly, like half of the book was just sex. I'm not certain when they were supposed to have fallen in love. This is usually a good author but her books are really hit or miss sometimes.
22genesisdiem
Fiction 18
Modern Romance
Love on the Brain, 2022, Ali Hazelwood
Girl has to work with her nemesis and they fall in love.
I felt like this book was trying too hard to be hip & modern but maybe I am just too old. There was a girl scientist, a lot of complaining about being such, multiple people sabotaging her work, her unusual appearance and background, her lesbian friend, cats, social media, a guy who's mad about her with an unsupportive family and a widow friend with a kid. It was like the author just tried to check a lot of boxes. I found the characters really immature and the plot choppy. Not worth the price.
Modern Romance
Love on the Brain, 2022, Ali Hazelwood
Girl has to work with her nemesis and they fall in love.
I felt like this book was trying too hard to be hip & modern but maybe I am just too old. There was a girl scientist, a lot of complaining about being such, multiple people sabotaging her work, her unusual appearance and background, her lesbian friend, cats, social media, a guy who's mad about her with an unsupportive family and a widow friend with a kid. It was like the author just tried to check a lot of boxes. I found the characters really immature and the plot choppy. Not worth the price.
23genesisdiem
Fiction 19
Mystery Romance
Without a Trace, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl's niece goes missing and she has to pair up with the local sheriff to find her.
So this is part one of three. The niece goes missing in the old asylum ruins where her other aunt also went missing decades earlier. They do find the niece and then the main character gets kidnapped and rescued. But the author never actually tells you who kidnapped the niece nor solves the cold case. It was mostly just world building and filler. I'm going to attempt the second book but not sure if I'll make it all the way to the third.
I feel like the whole trilogy could have probably been condensed into one book but Harlequin Intrigue is really bad about making continuation series these days to sell more books. There aren't many stand-alones anymore.
Mystery Romance
Without a Trace, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl's niece goes missing and she has to pair up with the local sheriff to find her.
So this is part one of three. The niece goes missing in the old asylum ruins where her other aunt also went missing decades earlier. They do find the niece and then the main character gets kidnapped and rescued. But the author never actually tells you who kidnapped the niece nor solves the cold case. It was mostly just world building and filler. I'm going to attempt the second book but not sure if I'll make it all the way to the third.
I feel like the whole trilogy could have probably been condensed into one book but Harlequin Intrigue is really bad about making continuation series these days to sell more books. There aren't many stand-alones anymore.
24genesisdiem
Fiction 20
Mystery Romance
A Desperate Search, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl is a coroner investigating the death of her mentor, guy is a cop the mentor contacted for help.
This was book 2/3. There was minimal romance and the plot in general dragged on and on and on. The tie-in to book one was that this girl had seen the missing girl before she disappeared but they still didn't solve that case. This case was all about who murdered the old town doctor and why. There were red herrings galore but it was wrapped up in the end. Even the little clues in the books was kind of lame.
I'm going to hate read the last book but then I'll probably nix this author from my to read list.
Mystery Romance
A Desperate Search, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl is a coroner investigating the death of her mentor, guy is a cop the mentor contacted for help.
This was book 2/3. There was minimal romance and the plot in general dragged on and on and on. The tie-in to book one was that this girl had seen the missing girl before she disappeared but they still didn't solve that case. This case was all about who murdered the old town doctor and why. There were red herrings galore but it was wrapped up in the end. Even the little clues in the books was kind of lame.
I'm going to hate read the last book but then I'll probably nix this author from my to read list.
25genesisdiem
Fiction 21
Mystery Romance
Someone is Watching, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl is a late night radio host with a stalker. Guy is an FBI agent trying to solve a cold case.
Book 3/3. 0 romance. And the plot was so all over the place, it seemed like nothing connected or flowed very well. Almost like major pieces of the story were missing or random parts of different stories were just cobbled together.
The tie-in to the first two books was that this girl got away when her two friends were taken. The one of the two who got away from the kidnapper was in an asylum but she gets away and comes to the radio girl for help because the kidnapper is back. There's a crazy asylum roommate and an intrepid reporter as red herrings. Everything is solved in the end by basically the FBI agent saying "we caught the guy and he confessed" which is a lame wrap-up by an author rushing a deadline.
I'm definitely not interested in anything else by this author. This could have been so much better.
Mystery Romance
Someone is Watching, 2020, Amanda Stevens
Girl is a late night radio host with a stalker. Guy is an FBI agent trying to solve a cold case.
Book 3/3. 0 romance. And the plot was so all over the place, it seemed like nothing connected or flowed very well. Almost like major pieces of the story were missing or random parts of different stories were just cobbled together.
The tie-in to the first two books was that this girl got away when her two friends were taken. The one of the two who got away from the kidnapper was in an asylum but she gets away and comes to the radio girl for help because the kidnapper is back. There's a crazy asylum roommate and an intrepid reporter as red herrings. Everything is solved in the end by basically the FBI agent saying "we caught the guy and he confessed" which is a lame wrap-up by an author rushing a deadline.
I'm definitely not interested in anything else by this author. This could have been so much better.
26genesisdiem
Fiction 22
Mystery
The Tuesday Night Club, 1927, Agatha Christie
A series of short stories featuring Miss Marple and a group of friends talking about local true crime.
I was familiar with most of these from various BBC shows. It was a good reread.
Mystery
The Tuesday Night Club, 1927, Agatha Christie
A series of short stories featuring Miss Marple and a group of friends talking about local true crime.
I was familiar with most of these from various BBC shows. It was a good reread.
27genesisdiem
Fiction 23
General Romance
Doukakis's Apprentice, 2011, Sarah Morgan
Girl's dad elopes with Guy's sister so Guy takes over Girl's company. They both realize there's more to each other as they work together on the merger. Then they end up together which makes for an awkward family dynamic...
I couldn't decide if I had read this one before or not. Either way, the author writes well and the story flows, but yuck at the dad and the sister.
General Romance
Doukakis's Apprentice, 2011, Sarah Morgan
Girl's dad elopes with Guy's sister so Guy takes over Girl's company. They both realize there's more to each other as they work together on the merger. Then they end up together which makes for an awkward family dynamic...
I couldn't decide if I had read this one before or not. Either way, the author writes well and the story flows, but yuck at the dad and the sister.
28genesisdiem
Fiction 24
General Romance
Wedding Deal with her Rival, 2023, Kate Hardy
Girl offers to step out of the competition for law partnership if her rival agrees to marry her in name only so that she can secure her family's estate. As they work together to sort things, they fall in love. Opposites attract and not quite insta-love.
Good writing and story flow. Funny in parts but repetitive in others. Not a bad afternoon read.
General Romance
Wedding Deal with her Rival, 2023, Kate Hardy
Girl offers to step out of the competition for law partnership if her rival agrees to marry her in name only so that she can secure her family's estate. As they work together to sort things, they fall in love. Opposites attract and not quite insta-love.
Good writing and story flow. Funny in parts but repetitive in others. Not a bad afternoon read.
29genesisdiem
Fiction 25
Historical Romance
The Earl's Mysterious Lady, 2022, Louise Allen
Girl leaves guy at the alter because it was an arranged marriage. Years later, they meet again but she is using a different name. They fall in love, he figures out who she is, they get over it.
This book was boring and took me forever to finish.
Historical Romance
The Earl's Mysterious Lady, 2022, Louise Allen
Girl leaves guy at the alter because it was an arranged marriage. Years later, they meet again but she is using a different name. They fall in love, he figures out who she is, they get over it.
This book was boring and took me forever to finish.
30genesisdiem
Fiction 26
Suspense Romance
Smoky Mountains Graveyard, 2024, Lena Diaz (not in LT yet)
Girl and Guy work for a private firm solving cold cases. They discover a serial killer's dumping ground and the killer retaliates. Both lead characters get hurt at one time or another in the fight until they win at the end. They also manage to fall in love.
So this was book 5 in a series but it mostly worked as a stand alone. The romance was a bit immature and the action scenes were a bit over the top. But it was a decent afternoon read.
Suspense Romance
Smoky Mountains Graveyard, 2024, Lena Diaz (not in LT yet)
Girl and Guy work for a private firm solving cold cases. They discover a serial killer's dumping ground and the killer retaliates. Both lead characters get hurt at one time or another in the fight until they win at the end. They also manage to fall in love.
So this was book 5 in a series but it mostly worked as a stand alone. The romance was a bit immature and the action scenes were a bit over the top. But it was a decent afternoon read.
31genesisdiem
Fiction 27
Historical Romance
To Wed a Wallflower, 2021, Carol Arens
Girl and guy share a crush as teens. Then years later, she is presented as a possible marriage match to his brother. They fight their love for one another and in the end, it's his brother who helps them get together.
This book was a little too cheesy (and a little too preachy) for me but it was a quick and decent afternoon read. Very Hallmark.
Historical Romance
To Wed a Wallflower, 2021, Carol Arens
Girl and guy share a crush as teens. Then years later, she is presented as a possible marriage match to his brother. They fight their love for one another and in the end, it's his brother who helps them get together.
This book was a little too cheesy (and a little too preachy) for me but it was a quick and decent afternoon read. Very Hallmark.
