Title: Phantasma
Author: Kaylie Smith
Series: Wicked Games #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Spice: 4 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 497
Length: 13h 14m
Narrator: Laura Horowitz
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I absolutely adored PHANTASMA. It read as a dark gothic romantasy. Yum! I thought the levels of Phantasma were a creative nod to Dante’s Inferno and the nine circles of Hell.
I loved the characters, especially Blackwell and Poe (even though Poe’s just a cat). I thought Smith’s depiction of Ophelia’s struggle with OCD was very realistic and enlightening of how true OCD affects its victims.
While some of the spicier scenes made me roll my eyes, I really adored the banter and tension between Ophelia and Blackwell. (I’m sorry but no guy’s penis is so big around that a 5’9” woman can’t grab it without encircling it completely. Well, unless she has such small hands that that’s all people would notice about her.)
Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment.
The Night Swim
Author: Megan Goldin
Series: Rachel Krall #1
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 344
Length: 10h 25m
Narrator: January LaVoy, Samantha Desz, Bailey Carr
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: Dark Corners
My Thoughts
I thought THE NIGHT SWIM was an interesting look at the United States justice system in regard to sexual assault cases. The story felt very real, and the characters and situations seemed believable. I also thought the connection between the current case and the 25-year-old cold case was interesting.
Even though the book is billed as a thriller, I thought it was more of a mystery as I didn’t get that edge-of-my-seat feeling like I do with thrillers. I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know if the perpetrators were convicted and the victims received justice.
First-Time Caller
Author: B.K. Borison
Series: Heartstrings #1
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 437
Length: 11h 55m
Narrator: Hathaway Lee, E.J. Bingham
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
FIRST-TIME CALLER was such a cute Sleepless in Seattle type romance. I adored everything about it. I loved both Lucie and Aiden, and Lucie’s make-shift family. I loved the banter, the spice, and even the parts where I cried. I’m so glad I chose this as my February Book of the Month pick.
I listened to the audiobook, even though I have the physical book. I loved the audio! E.J. Bingham, who voices Aiden, sounds so much like Neil Patrick Harris.
Not In Love
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Series: Not in Love #1
Genre: Romance
Spice: 4 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 379
Length: 11h 55m
Narrator: Callie Dalton, Jason Clarke
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
I think NOT IN LOVE is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book. I loved the characters, especially Rue and Eli. I loved their story, chemistry, and banter. I loved the premise of the story.
Even though it’s a rom-com in the sense of enemies-to-lovers and a happily ever after, the story deals with a lot of hard issues. I thought the hard issues gave some meat to an otherwise fluffy, extremely spicy, story.
Phantasma
Author: Kaylie Smith
Series: Wicked Games #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Spice: 4 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 497
Length: 13h 14m
Narrator: Laura Horowitz
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I absolutely adored PHANTASMA. It read as a dark gothic romantasy. Yum! I thought the levels of Phantasma were a creative nod to Dante’s Inferno and the nine circles of Hell.
I loved the characters, especially Blackwell and Poe (even though Poe’s just a cat). I thought Smith’s depiction of Ophelia’s struggle with OCD was very realistic and enlightening of how true OCD affects its victims.
While some of the spicier scenes made me roll my eyes, I really adored the banter and tension between Ophelia and Blackwell. (I’m sorry but no guy’s penis is so big around that a 5’9” woman can’t grab it without encircling it completely. Well, unless she has such small hands that that’s all people would notice about her.)
Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment.
Love, Theoretically
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 389
Length: 12h 33m
Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
I seem to go through a reading slump for a couple of months each year. Only when I force myself to start reading an old favorite or something fluffy do I successfully banish my slump to “The Upside Down.” LOVE, THEORETICALLY is that book for me this year.
LOVE, THEORETICALLY was a fun, compelling story with fantastic characters. I really loved this enemies-to-lovers romance. There was so much chemistry between Elsie and Jack. It made for a super cute read with a fair amount of spice. I definitely didn’t want to put the book down.