#WWWWednesday: 17 November 2021

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads23 Comments

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?

Post divider: What did you just finish reading?

Since last week I’ve managed to finish six books! The romances are really getting me through the month, friends 😂 It also helps that I’m taking a gaming break and I’m starting to finally feel motivated to read again!

Main Street Dealmaker (Holidays in Havenbrook #1) by Brighton Walsh ★★★★☆
This was my first taste of Brighton Walsh’s romances and I was hooked. I really enjoyed this opposites-attract small-town holiday romance and if you’re looking for the perfect holiday read to add to your list, this is the one! Check out my review

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian ★★★½
Getting into the minds of psychopaths has never been so… fun? This was an engaging and twisty wild ride and somehow you can’t help but root for these characters despite how terrifying they’d actually be to meet/know in real life?! Check out my review

#TopTenTuesday: Books to Read If You Like Small Town Romance…

November 16, 2021August 12, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads42 Comments

So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Books to Read If You Love/Loved X (X can be a genre, specific book, author, movie/TV show, etc.).

I wasn’t quite feeling this week’s topic because I’m not all that great at recommending anything to others whether it’s books, shows, movies, etc. I wasn’t sure what I would’ve gone with either but as I’m currently reading a romance series set in a small town, I thought why not just share a list of my favourite small-town romances? I know this is a pretty specific sub-genre but I love a good small-town romance especially when the town feels like its own character. There’s so much family and friendship history in these romances, plus, there are meddling townspeople that are usually well-meaning and endearing! With all the history there’s always lots of friends-to-lovers, second chances, enemies-to-lovers, and marriages of convenience—all of which are some of my favourite romance tropes!

Book Review: Main Street Dealmaker by Brighton Walsh

November 16, 2021August 13, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads15 Comments

Goodreads: Main Street Dealmaker (Holidays in Havenbrook #1)
Published: 28 October 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

_{(4 pandas)}

There’s no doubt these opposites attract, but there’s no way there could be any kind of a future for a wedding planner and a divorce attorney…right?

All Sadie Rollins wants for Christmas is a break. Three years ago, she stumbled into her dream job as a wedding planner, but she’s been so bogged down with the minutiae of inn ownership that she can’t even enjoy it. She and her twin sister might have been bequeathed the Starlight Haven Inn, but the bed and breakfast didn’t come with much more than extra-long hours and piles of debt.

Cole Donovan was looking for a fresh start when he moved to Havenbrook following the worst kind of betrayal. Instead, his reputation as a cutthroat divorce attorney preceded him–and tainted his introduction to the only woman he’s had eyes for since his own divorce. Too bad she can’t stand him.

When Sadie’s cousin offers her an opportunity to have the inn featured in the country’s leading wedding magazine in exchange for a bit of modeling, she jumps at the chance for some exposure. All she has to do is wear a wedding dress and pretend to be smitten with a stranger for a couple hours. The only trouble is the fake groom is no stranger, and as much as she loathes Cole, her body hasn’t gotten the message. Neither, it seems, has his…

Mini Romance Reviews: The Kinky & The Steamy

November 15, 2021November 17, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads11 Comments

I’ve still been reading an unsurprising number of romances lately because they’ve been the easiest to get into while I’ve been in this fickle reading mood. Some of these have seen me stepping out of my romance comfort zone but for the most part, I had fun with them! Well, except for one and that was a little disappointing cos it’s a pretty hyped title!

Games We Play (One Night #1)
Publication Date: 27 August 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

Jaclyn Love is a magnet for trouble – it seems to follow her wherever she goes.

Unfortunately for Kadan Davenport, she also seems to be a magnet for him – even after a disastrous first impression that leaves him – literally – black and blue.

Jaclyn is busy trying to find some sort of balance, and Kadan is just trying not to get swept up in the chaos.

In a small city like Blakewood, it’s hard to avoid each other… especially when each additional encounter makes them wonder if they really want to.

“I Think I Might Love You” is a first-in-series novella.

Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp

November 14, 2021November 14, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads14 Comments

We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

I’ll be spending my Sunday night in bed with Hometown Troublemaker! This is the second book in Brighton Walsh’s Havenbrook series and it’s the third book I’ll be reading by this author in the span of two days so I guess you can say I’m a fan? 😊 These small-town romances are sweet, steamy and so much fun!

Aurora “Rory” Haven’s life is in shambles. Her ex-husband’s living with the woman he cheated with, her oldest daughter blames her for the divorce, and she’s broke. To make ends meet, she partners with the too-young, way too hot local contractor she has absolutely no business fantasizing about.

Nash King is working overtime so he can take over the family business. He doesn’t need the distraction of his best friend’s sister, but the hot-as-hell, pearl-clutching divorcée barrels her way into his everyday life. He’s managed to ignore his attraction to her for a decade. What’s another couple months?

The summer heat and forced proximity has tempers flaring…and their chemistry sizzling. But Havenbrook’s gossip mill is churning full-force, and the last thing Rory needs is everyone speculating over her crush on a man eight years her junior. Except crushing doesn’t have anything on what’s really going on…

What would happen if the townspeople found out paint wasn’t the only thing being stripped?

What are you currently reading?

ARC Review: Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

November 13, 2021November 13, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads8 Comments

Thanks to Park Row for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: Never Saw Me Coming
Publisher: Park Row
Published: 08 October 2021
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Panda Rating:

_{(3.5 pandas)}

Meet Chloe Sevre. She’s a freshman honor student, a leggings-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. Her hobbies include yogalates, frat parties, and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her.

Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study for psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements.

When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey. As she races to identify the killer and put her own plan into action, she’ll be forced to decide if she can trust any of her fellow psychopaths—and everybody knows you should never trust a psychopath.

TL;DR: Never Saw Me Coming was an entertaining, thrilling and fast-paced murder mystery! I enjoyed following the three main character perspectives and thought that they were unique as they’ve all been diagnosed as psychopaths. While I’m sure we’re not meant to find these characters likeable, I still found myself rooting for them to survive and solve the mystery? 😂 From a ‘social’ perspective it was also really interesting to see their interactions, how they viewed each other and the people around them as well!

#NetGalleyNovember: Bingo & Other Possibilities!

November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads16 Comments

Seeing as we’re already well into November this post is coming in a little late and in all honesty, I kinda forgot that I said I wanted to join in this month-long reading challenge! 😂 I know I’m probably not going to slay all the titles on my NetGalley TBR but I hope to at least tick off all the prompts for the NetGalley November Bingo, so that’s what I’m focusing the main part of this post about. First, some information for those of you who don’t know:

NetGalley November is where we dedicated the month to reading just NetGalley books with the aim of smashing through our unread books and boosting our ratios.

This challenge is organised by Emma @emandherbooks and Lisa @tot_and_tales and the community (at least on the NGN Twitter) seems to be pretty active and engaging! Not only are there ratios to boost, but also prizes to be won, sprint reading and perhaps even new friends to make! They’ve also prepared some awesome templates, which I found on Emma’s blog so definitely check that out if you want to join. There’s still time, I say! 😉

So now on to the books that I’m hoping to tackle for my NetGalley November Bingo! There are nine prompts in total and surely, I can at least read nine books before the month ends, right?! Here’s what I’ve got:

Book published this year ☑

skin of the sea

your latest approval

You’ll be the death of me

beginning with ‘the’

the hand of the sun king

your oldest approval

the Vanishing season

book with a green cover

a people’s history of heaven

a debut author

she who became the sun

beginning with ‘n’

never saw me coming

a book yet to be released

how to love your neighbor

most excited for

chef’s kiss

There are a couple of other titles that I’m hoping to tackle this month as well. Considering my wonky reading mood I’m hoping that I’ll at least be able to tackle the graphic novels, poetry collections and short stories!

That’s a wrap from me, folks! Let’s see how much progress I make by the time November ends. Are you participating in NetGalley November too or do you just naturally slay your NG ratio? (teach me pls) 😂

#WWWWednesday: 10 November 2021

November 10, 2021December 5, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads19 Comments

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?

Since last week I’ve managed to read a little and finished 3 books. It’s been difficult to focus on reads lately so I’ve been sticking with some romances and well, most of them didn’t ‘wow’ me but at least I’m reading something? That said, I haven’t written reviews for any of these books yet but I think I’ll write mini-reviews for them (soon)!

A Lesson in Thorns (Thornchapel #1) by Sierra Simone ★★☆☆☆
There was so much hype around this book and so I was curious enough to pick it up when it was on KU. Turns out it just wasn’t my cuppa. It did have a few interesting discussions on sex positivity, virginity as a social construct and the queer rep was great! Sadly, the kink wasn’t my thing but I was also just really bored… I didn’t connect with the characters at all, so I didn’t care about the mysterious manor and chapel, or the ritual they had to do! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Games We Play (One Night #1) by Dana Isaly ★★★★☆
This was another popular title I’ve seen a lot over the last few weeks and I’m glad I picked it up! Some of the kink was not for me but overall, it was undoubtedly steamy AF. 🥵 It’s a novella so obviously, I didn’t expect much in the way of character or plot dev but I really liked Quin and Jack and thought their chemistry was H-O-T. I also thought it was interesting that it was all through Jack’s POV! I can’t wait to continue the series and learn more about these men!

Follow by Tessa Bailey ★★★½
So, I think it was Nick who said “this book is horny” and well, yeah. That’s basically it 😂 Will Caruso is probably the filthiest hero I’ve ever had the pleasure to read and I mean, go off, sir! Tessa Bailey once again absolutely slays in delivering these filthy mouthed alpha heroes who want nothing more than to spoil their women in every. single. way. This is a book where sex is a big part of the plot so you definitely read it for the smut, though the characters weren’t awful and there was a really adorable doggo too! 😉

#TopTenTuesday: Memorable Quotes from Recent Favourites

November 9, 2021August 12, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads29 Comments

So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Memorable Things Characters Have Said (quotes from book characters that have stuck with you).

I’m very bad at remembering quotes and I’m even worse at remembering to make note of those quotes while I’m reading but I decided to look at some recent favourites and share quotes from them! Some of them are more serious than others but one thing is for sure, I immediately wanted to pick up these books again because these quotes reminded me how much I loved these stories. 😍 I hope you enjoy these quotes, too!

ARC Review: Intolerable by Darcy Burke

November 8, 2021November 7, 2021 Dini @ dinipandareads4 Comments

Special thanks to Zealous Quill Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: Intolerable (The Phoenix Club #3)
Publisher: Zealous Quill Press
Published: 19 October 2021
Genre: Historical/Regency Romance

Panda Rating:

_{(3.5 pandas)}

Every three years, like clockwork, Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford loses his heart. Alas, he promised his father he wouldn’t marry until the age of thirty so that he’d be certain in his choice. When his best friend’s sister needs him to pose as a potential suitor to garner attention on the Marriage Mart, he’s the perfect candidate—if only he hadn’t kissed her in secret.

Lady Cassandra Westbrook can’t forget the incident between her and Wexford, and she’s having a devil of a time focusing on finding a husband. The fact that her father intimidates every gentleman has made her quest intolerable, and her two brothers who could help are proving completely worthless. But if she doesn’t settle on someone, her father will arrange an “acceptable” marriage by the end of the Season.

Finally, Cassandra has a chance at courtship, but, frustratingly, it’s not with the impulsive and irresistible Irishman her father detests and she desires. However, when Ruark sees the woman he passionately wants—despite his better judgment—swept into the arms of another man, the prospect of losing her becomes intolerable.

TL;DR: Intolerable was another very enjoyable addition to the Phoenix Club series! I was excited for Cass and Ruark’s story after we see a brief interaction between them in the previous book and I wasn’t disappointed by this forbidden older brother’s best friend romance! 😍 This was a sweet (although sometimes frustrating) love story between two tender-hearted characters. There was cheeky banter, sizzling chemistry and side characters you will also come to love!

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