4 Stars – Page 3 – Feed The Bookworm

Hook Line And Sinker By: Tessa Bailey

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

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Hook Line and Sinker is the 2nd book in The Bellinger Sister series by Tessa Bailey. I’m assuming that it is also the last book in the series since there are only two sisters. This book takes place right as the last one ends. I would recommend reading It Happened One Summer (you can read my review here) prior to reading this book, as Hannah and Fox’s dynamic is really started here.

Hannah and Fox have been texting non-stop since she left Wesport 6 months ago. Hannah is working as a production assistant to her director crush, and convinces him that Wesport will be the perfect place to film. With Piper’s guest room full, Hannah ends up staying with Fox, and the two spend the whole time trying not to bang.

This was a slow burn romance that could have used a Red Bull. It was frustratingly slow at times, which is why I knocked a star off. Overall a cute, feel good and happy romance. I liked it MUCH better than It Happened One Summer, and i find Hannah much less insufferable that I did Piper.

Tropes hit: Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity.

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy. Don’t be fooled by the cutesy cover, it has major blush potential.

One sale now, you can grab your copy here.

A big hank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC copy of this book.

The Recovery Agent: By Janet Evanovich

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

JE is one of my all time favorite authors, and Stephanie Plum is one of my favorite characters. Her other series, also phenomenal. So when I got the chance to read an early copy of the first book of her new series, I will admit, I did a fan girl dance around my living room.

This series reacquaints us with Gabriella Rose, who we met in another book already. It also introduces her ex husband Rafer, assistant Marcella, and a wonderful supporting cast of characters. It takes us on a river rapid ride through jungles and cities alike. A quick, funny and satisfying read, I cannot wait to read more from this series.

I will note, it’s hard not to make comparisons. Maybe because we first met Gabs in a Stephanie Plum book, but she’s the exact opposite of Steph. Literally, on every sense of the word. The same can be said for Rafer (still bad ass) but so much more laid back than Ranger, and for Marcella, who seems to be everything Lula is not (competent, organized, dependable). Both women manage to step in 💩 frequently, but luckily Gabs has bullets in her gun and knows how to use it!

Thank you to the author @janetevanovich @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy of this book!

Sian Evans: Maiden Voyages

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The Rundown: An indepth look at the history of ocean travel as told through the stories of the women who went to sea.

Written by Sian Evans, Published 2021

I have always been enamored with history, so I’m always looking for a good historical book that isn’t too dry. Sian Evans does a wonderful job of taking us on a journey through history via the monumental innovation of transatlantic cruising.

We begin in the roaring ’20s and move through the first world war, the depression that followed, the second world war, the aftermath, and finally the death of crossing the Atlantic due to the advancement of air travel. Women were not historically welcome on ships, but at the end of WWII, there was a shortage of men in Great Britain, where many of the women in this book hail from. Not to mention that many women were galvanized into the workforce when their husbands, brothers, and fathers went to war. Many were reluctant to give up the freedom they had achieved by earning a paycheck. And when the sea called, they answered.

We meet the “unskinable” Violet Jessop, who was a stewardess on the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic when they were damaged. The Olympic struck another ship, no fatalities, the Titanic, an iceberg (and we all know what happened there, ) and the Britannic when it was acting as a hospital ship and was sunk with 30 fatalities. Her stories are featured prominently through the book, as she published a memoir.

While Jessop was up working mostly with the first and second-class passengers, we also hear the story of Maria Riffelberger, who worked down in steerage with the 3rd class passengers, helping usher them into their new lives as American citizens. Many times she accompanied minors making the perilous journey across the vast ocean.

We also meet many women of leisure, refugees of the 2nd world war, political figures, and even the story of an Irish immigrant seeking a new life in America, whose son soars to the top of American politics.

All in all, I found this a very enjoyable, informative, and easy listen. It felt almost like I was taking a guided tour through the golden age of ocean travel. Evans was able to tell a story while keeping the reader engaged on what could be a dull topic. Her knack for storytelling while being descriptive and informative is much appreciated. A big thanks to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for my review.

This audiobook was provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio free in exchange for my review.

Sandra Brown: Thick as Thieves

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The Rundown: Twenty years ago, 4 people got away with a half million dollar heist. By the end of the night, one is dead, one is in the hospital, one is in jail and the last is missing, along with the money. The old crime comes back into the present when Arden Maxwell returns home.

Written by Sandra Brown, Published 2021

All hail Sandy B, the queen of twists. I’m a huge Sandra Brown fan, and I’ve read pretty much all of her books by this point. I was underwhelmed by her last two books, so when I picked this one I didn’t expect too much. Boy, was I wrong. This one felt like a throw back to her books of old.

Single and pregnant, Arden Maxwell moves back to her home town to raise her baby. When tragedy strikes and her plans fall apart, Arden makes new plans that revolve around renovating her old family home. She seeks out a number of different contractors, but eventually lands on Ledge Burnet. Ledge has his own reasons for wanting to stay close to Arden and the Maxwell home. 20 years ago, he was involved in the heist. He’s now a reformed, respected war hero.

Then you have the creeptastic Rusty, the ringleader of the robbery who has somehow made it to the position of District Attorney. He keeps popping up where he’s least wanted and most annoying. Not to mention the DA uses his power for evil, not for good.

Insert Arden’s meddling, well meaning, loaded sister Lisa, Ledge’s old girlfriend Crystal, her new flame, and you have all the makings for a sexy and twisted thriller. So buckle up your seatbelts for a wild ride to Payton, Texas. This book is a face paced, romantic thriller that will keep you guessing, and ends with a twist I didn’t see coming.

This book was borrowed from my local library using the Libby App

Evan Antin: World Wild Vet

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The Rundown: that hot vet from Instagram wrote a book about his travels

Written and Narrated by Dr. Evan Antin

Where to start, where to start. As you’ll soon find out, I’m a sucker for a book written and narrated by the same person. There is just something about when an author reads their own work that gives it that little something…extra.

Dr. Evan, aka “The Hot Instagram Vet”, won over the social media audience by posing with all kinds of animals. But as he’ll tell you, he’s been doing it long before social media was a thing. In fact, he was on a study abroad program in Australia when he rented a car and set out to find some of the countries coolest reptiles.

The doc will take you to some of the most remote, inaccessible places in the world and bring it to life through not only the stories of the animals, but the people he meets along the way. His guides through the wilderness are invaluable as Evan tries to negotiate the social customs of the places he visits. At one point, he had to drink a blood clot from a freshly slaughtered goat in order to avoid a local faux pas. I’ll admit, I shuddered a bit at that one.

Not only is Dr. Evan a vet and an animal lover, but he is also a conservationist, trying his best to bring the plight of endangered animals all over the world to his viewers at home.

The only reason I knocked a star off of this one is that some of the chapters in the audio book ended abruptly. Sigh. Now I’ll have to get the physical copy and find out what happened in chapter 4 when he met the Kimono Dragon.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to embark on a world wide adventure from the comfort of their own home.

This audiobook was borrowed from my local library using the Libby App.