The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule...

Book: The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn
Published: June 27th, 2006
Pages: 384
Genres: Historical, Romance, Rom-Com
Format: Kindle
Date Read: April 4, 2011
Rating: Five Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

"There were rules among friends, commandments, really, and the most important one was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend's Sister."

I read quite a few books in this series many years ago but with the show airing I find myself wanting to re-read them and enjoy these amazing characters again and again.

I love Julia's writing style and the chemistry between her hero and heroine. I loved this book, plain and simple. Such a great, fun read!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack

Hi all! I'm so sorry for the long absence! I am now a mom of two (my youngest is going to be a year soon) so I'm hopeful that I will now be able to begin reviewing again!

I am currently going through the website as a whole and trying to make it better so bare with me. Fun changes are coming!

Vivian's List by Haleigh Lovell

Her brother's best friend. A list. A love story.

After ending a horrible, scarring relationship, Vivian embraces her freedom by making a sexual bucket list. When her brother's best friend, Liam, finds it, sparks fly and hearts open.

Can Vivian heal one steamy encounter at a time?

Book: Vivian's List by Haleigh Lovell
Published: September 13th, 2013
Pages: 290
Genres: Romance, Freebie on Amazon, New Adult, Erotica
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 16-22nd, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I really enjoyed this book - it was very ewll written and wasn't boring by any means. The reason for me giving this book a 3.5 was that is just ended. Things were finally looking up, they were finally on the same page and boom - book over. I know that this is just to get you to read the next one, I know, but I can't stand cliffhangers.

Other than that I had no complaints about this book. Good read!

Lost and Found (Love in New York #1) by Elle Casey

Sometimes engagement rings can get lost and then found. Sometimes people can too. All it takes is a heavy-duty dose of karma and the magic of Manhattan to make it all come together.

Leah is a financially destitute new age hippy. James is a wealthy surgeon with a trust fund. She's awkward, he's poised. She's completely crazy, he's way too sane. People might say they have nothing in common, but they'd be wrong. They both live in Manhattan, they both have no idea how to change a baby diaper, and they're both lost … until they find one another.

Book: Lost and Found (Love in New York #1) by Elle Casey
Published: December 25th, 2014
Pages: 401
Genres: Romance, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 12th-13th, 2018
Rating: 4 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔

First of all, I just want to say I love how some books just come together so perfectly that everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end. This book was definitely one of those!

I loved both James and Leah - so different and imperfect but fate kept intervening and bringing them together. I loved reading every page of this book, truly.

I have nothing but good things to say about this book - the characters were perfectly flawed, I loved the secondary characters as well! I just loved everything about this book from cover to cover.

Bound By Honor by Cora Reilly

A modern mafia fairytale.

Born into one of the leading mob families in Chicago, Aria Scuderi is a mafia princess known for her beauty. What many consider a gift means her doom when she’s forced to marry Luca Vitiello to bring peace between two mafia dynasties. Luca is the future Capo of the New York Famiglia, a man known for his brutality—and for crushing his cousin’s throat with his bare hands.

Aria is terrified of marrying a monster like him. He may be one of the most sought-after bachelors in New York, thanks to his good looks, wealth and predator-like charisma. But Aria knows the bad boy aura isn’t just a game; blood and death lurk beneath Luca’s striking gray eyes and arrogant smile.

In her world a handsome exterior often hides the monster within; a monster who can just as easily kill as kiss you. Yet, there’s no escaping the arranged bond, much less a man like Luca. He’d follow her to the end of the world. Her only chance to survive in a marriage with Luca is to gain his affection and work her way into his heart—even when rumor has it that Luca doesn’t have a heart to begin with.


A mafia princess known for her beauty given to a monstrous man.

Even monsters have a heart.

She has every intention of working her way into his.

Book: Bound By Honor by Cora Reilly
Published: December 14, 2014
Pages: 253
Genres: Romance, Mafia, Erotica, Freebie on Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: November 10th-12th, 2018
Rating: 3 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I have loved other books by this author and while this was a good read and I read through the pages eagerly, I felt like there wasn't enough build up between the characters. They went from hating to loving each other and I couldn't understand why. There weren't enough special moments or anything for me to see that's why it was leading in that direction.

I did enjoy the cast of characters and am interested to see how the rest of the series turns out. If the book was longer I'm sure there would have been more moments between the main couple.

Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Grave

When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.

Book: Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Graves
Published: August 25th, 2015
Pages: 340
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: July 3-6, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

I am a huge fan of this author to begin with, I LOVED On The Island, so its no surprise that I was immediately pulled into this book from the first page. I love this authors writing style - it flows so nicely that you are always able to "see" everything happeneing in the book, just as she meant it to.
From the first time Ian and Kate met I was rooting for them - I loved their interactions and the way they just went back and forth so effortlessly. I love how Ian is flawed but makes no apologies for it - he is who he is and he's not going to change. I love how Kate just wants to do something to help people - so sweet and courageous of her. I just love these characters so much.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something you will not want to put down. This author's writing style just makes it so hard to stop reading because she weaves such wonderful tales that suck you in.

I'm off to go get book 2 in this series!