Falling into Place by Allison Ashley | Book Review

Posted August 22, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Falling into Place by Allison Ashley | Book ReviewFalling into Place by Allison Ashley
Published by Montlake Romance on August 19, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 319
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (Mail)
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Finding a date for a reclusive bachelor is her job. It’s also a risk when she becomes the perfect match in an emotional and hopeful romance by the author of If Tomorrow Never Comes.

Accountant and freelance personal stylist Carly Porter, daughter of a compulsive gambler, knows the personal cost of a bad bet. But when she partners with her best friend, Sasha—publisher of a floundering fashion magazine—Carly can’t resist. The highly publicized makeover of an Oklahoma City bachelor could boost sales and be Carly’s ticket to her dream profession. The bachelor in question is none other than Sasha’s older brother, Brooks.

Hardly the party boy Carly remembers from high school, Brooks is now an antisocial, work-obsessed physician still struggling with a devastating loss. But if it means helping his sister, he’s in. It’s Carly’s job to get him out of those lived-in scrubs, style him to the nines, and bring Brooks back to life. But so far, the only real connection is between Brooks and Carly—and falling for a client could cost Carly the career she’s worked so hard for.

To move forward, they’ll both have to overcome their painful pasts. And whatever the risk, maybe even take a chance on love.

I’m an Allison Ashley fan, so when I was given the opportunity to review her latest release, Falling into Place, I jumped at the chance. Especially when it was pitched as “Bachelor-style matchmaking” with the best friend’s brother trope. Both are like candy to me! And this story was so, so sweet. I loved Carly and Brooks together. Their chemistry is out of this world, and the entire premise of the story is so charming and wholesome. Carly is working two jobs, but her real passion is the side hustle, aka personal shopper and fashion stylist, that she wants to turn into a full-time career. Her best friend, Sasha, wants to breathe new life into her struggling fashion magazine and reaches out to Carly with an opportunity that will help them both further their careers. Sasha wants Carly to give her brother, Brooks, a makeover so the magazine can do a little matchmaking and find him the love of his life. Brooks is a lonely doctor who loves his cat and his garden. He’s not really interested in finding love, but the magazine’s success is just as important to him as it is to his sister. Their mother built it from the ground up, and now that she has passed on Brooks and Sasha want to further her legacy. So this antisocial workaholic says yes to a highly publicized journey of dating to find his person. He and Carly begin working together to get him looking snazzy for all these dates. I’m sure you know where this is going, because this is a romance novel after all!

Like I said, this was such a sweet story. I loved watching Carly and Brooks become friends and confidants. They knew of each other in high school, but weren’t in the same social circles. Carly had a crush on him, but he didn’t really notice her. He was super popular and sounded like a player, but he’s changed and now he’s noticing Carly for who she is. So you’ve got a little bit of a friends to lovers thing going on with some history, and they have such fun flirtatious banter that I really enjoyed. Neither of them is looking for love, especially Carly who is fresh out of a relationship that ended due to proximity issues and not a falling out of love, so they’re reluctant to let those sparks fly. Their romance is also sort of forbidden. Carly isn’t allowed to get involved with a client and Brooks has to keep dating other women for the magazine, so this adds a very interesting layer of complication to the mix. There’s some heavier issues that come up, which they share with one another, and I love how Allison Ashley is able to juxtapose the heavy with the light. I was never depressed or sad, just hopeful right along with these two cinnamon rolls. I loved their slow burn romance. Some people complain about a slow burn, but I just love it. It feels so realistic to me because I am a very slow burner myself. It also made so much sense for Carly and Brooks for various reasons. I also really appreciated the fade-to-black romance because sometimes I’m not really in the mood to read the spice and want to focus more on the emotional connection.  It was all just so much fun!

I really liked that this book focused on platonic relationships as well. I loved Brooks’s sisters and their relationship with Brooks. What a sweet family trio. Brooks’s relationship with his high school coach was also really nice. But, of course, Brooks and Carly stole the show for me. And that epilogue. Everything was tied up into a swoony little package that I adored. It was lovely watching these two work through their personal issues together and fall for one another in such a deep and meaningful way. I loved how everything shook out, and I’m definitely an Allison Ashley fangirl now. I can’t believe I haven’t read If Tomorrow Never Comes (I’ve seen the cover and heard the title, but for some reason never realized who the author is!), which is set in the same world as this book, so I need to go back and do that! Bottom line, Falling into Place was adorable and wholesome and very, very sweet. Highly recommended.


TokyoTreat Japanese Snack Box | Product Review

Posted August 21, 2025 by Jana in Product Review / 1 Comment

I have something a little different on the blog today, and I’m so excited about it! You know what I love more than books? Food. TokyoTreat reached out to me and thought I might like to give their Japanese snack box a try, and I jumped at the chance! My dad was in the Navy, and my family was stationed in Japan when I was born. My parents loved all the yummy Japanese foods, and I have heard about them my entire life (we moved away when I was 16 months old, so I did not get to sample the cuisine while there.). To this day, my parents reminisce about ramen and sushi and all the unique snack foods you could buy in brightly colored packaging. My dad’s entire Christmas stocking is filled with Japanese treats from our local Asian market each year, so of course I had to invite my parents to sample the treats with me! My review will include all the treats in the box as well as all of our opinions so hopefully you’ll get an idea if this is the right box for you.

Please note, this review contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase a subscription or one-time box, please consider doing so through my link. It will help me make more amazing content in the future!


My Review of the September 2025 TokyoTreat Box, “Snacktastic Moonfest”

My TokyoTreat box quickly winged its way to me, straight from Japan. I couldn’t believe how quickly it arrived! And, for the most part, it arrived unscathed. A few of the treats were broken or shattered inside, which was unfortunate, but that didn’t take away at all from the enjoyable unboxing experience or the yummy flavors inside. I was delighted to see such a bright and colorful box on my doorstep, and quickly brought it inside. Even though it was approximately 75,000 degrees outside, nothing was melted. It was a summertime miracle!

First off, look at how colorful and detailed this packaging is! As you know, I’m a graphic designer, and I drooled over this box when I first saw it. I’ve never wanted to keep a shipping box before, but this one is a work of art.

Let’s dive in, shall we? Please note, I will most likely get obnoxious about the packaging. I will try not to mention it too often, but let’s be honest here… I will be mentioning it, well, often. Look how pretty! I love the dark blue with the bright colors. And the packaging on the treats themselves? Don’t even get me started. It was so hard to rip into the packages because they’re all so much fun to look at.

There’s no English on any of the packaging, but the accompanying booklet tells you everything you need to know about the treats, including dietary restrictions (like alcohol) and allergen warnings (like various seafoods), as well as their significance. This book was so much fun to read. The pages are glossy and, you guessed it, colorful! There’s so much information inside, and I loved learning about Tsukimi, the Harvest Moon Festival that this box is inspired by. This festival is all about the full moon and cozy autumn vibes, which I’m all about. Fall is my favorite season and I love being cozy! The booklet includes the historical roots of the festival, moon myths, Moon Fest classic foods, Tsukimi traditions, Lunar fast food, and even hosting your own party. Not only is this box a treat for the tastebuds, but an opportunity to learn about a country and customs you might not be very familiar with. I’m picturing families gathering around the table snacking and learning together. What a fun evening that would be! Also included is a little polaroid photo with a note from the company CEO on the back, further highlighting the excitement of Tsukimi. I officially want to go back to Japan now and experience this for myself. It sounds like so much fun!

As you can see in this picture, this box is bursting at the seams. They got a TON of seasonal, autumnal, yummy goodness in here. There’s savory and sweet snacks, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. My dad avoided more of the sweet treats due to dietary restrictions and stuck to the savory ones, and my mom and I were happy to indulge our sweet tooths (sweet teeth? lol). We read about every treat we tried as we sampled it, which really enriched our experience. So, let’s get into all the treats! I’m reviewing them in the order we tried them.

The Treats

Honey Butter Puffs
My mom and I loved these so much. They were our favorite of everything we tried. The texture is super light and fluffy and melts in your mouth. They were very lightly sweet (kind of like the sweetness of Corn Pops cereal), which was perfect. My mom remarked that it was the sweetest Japanese treat she had ever tasted.

Choco Dream Star Bites 
Yummm! These little chocolate stars were nice, not too sweet, and light and fluffy. There’s an almost waxy texture to the chocolate coating, which I thought was very good. These kind of reminded me of the flavor of Cocoa Puffs cereal.

Heartwarming Harvest Cookie
This was delightful. My mom and I loved the light, crispy, layered pastry texture. There’s a tiny bit of sweet, which you can see in the shimmer on the cookie, and a tiny bit of salty. It was such a nice blend of both flavors. Unfortunately, this is one of the items that arrived broken but we didn’t mind.

Sweet Potato Wafer Rolls
This treat came in a larger portion size, which was really nice. The box contains two packs of five wafer rolls each, so they’re easy to share. You have to really love sweet potatoes to like this treat, because it tastes very strongly of them. My mom and I loved the texture (similar to Pepperidge Farm Pirouette Creme Filled Wafers), but we didn’t love the flavor. My dad, on the other hand, really liked them! He’s a huge fan of sweet potatoes and took the entire pack when my mom and I offered. He said he could taste a hint of some kind of sweet berry in them, which my mom and I didn’t pick up on.

Fall Butter Biscuit
This was my mom’s and my second favorite. We loved the very thin and crispy texture. We could taste the butter and a subtle hint of sweetness. It’s like nothing we’ve ever tried before, and we wished we had more.

Moontastic Pudding Mochi
I have heard stories of mochi! My parents got to see people making it in Japan. I was eager to try this, but it was a little odd to me. I wanted to play with it more than eat it because it was so soft and squishy. It felt so cool! The texture was very light and pillowy, with a kind of custard in the middle. I didn’t like the flavor at all. My mom said it was much different from mochi she had in Japan: less chewy, less dense.

Carrot Crunch Rice Puffs
These were very fun to eat, but there was not much to them. You have to eat multiple pieces at a time to get the flavor. They’re very lightly sweet, crispy, and have a distinct rice flavor. The portion was nice and big, so we were able to make these last for a while. And I loved the cute carrot-shaped packaging.

Fall Fruit Jelly 
This was probably our least favorite treat of the the bunch. They smell just like the Dimetapp cough syrup I had as a child. My mom didn’t try them at all, and I licked the jelly to see if it tasted like it smelled. Sure enough, it did taste just like Dimetapp. lol. It’s verrrrrry grape and had the texture of a runnier jello. The booklet recommends popping them into the freezer, but I chose to try them at a slightly refrigerated temperature instead. The packaging is adorable with all the little Pokemon characters on it.

Seaweed Salt Potato Chips 
My parents loved these and said they tasted like seaweed flavored Pringles. They’re a little spicy, salty, with a subtle hint of seaweed. My dad took the rest of the bag for himself. lol.

Harusame Full Moon Egg Soup
My dad loves soup more than anyone I know, so we let him eat this entire cup of soup himself. Right off the bat, it smelled fishy with a hint of crab. My dad could taste the egg, onion, and crab but said the crab is the strongest flavor (which he loved). It’s not fishy in a bad way, and the flavor is fine and subtle. The rice noodles are a nice consistency and pick up the flavor really well. My dad immediately had me go online to see if I could buy more. He wants an entire case of it!

Crispy Seaweed Bites
These were my dad’s favorite. They’re very crunchy, with a shrimp-like taste. He wished the bag had more than the three tiny bites, though. He said it had a good aftertaste that stayed with him.

Mini Matcha Baumkuchen and Mont Blanc Kit Kats 

I mailed these last two treats to a friend who loves Japanese munchies because my family and I do not drink tea or alcohol (the baumkuchen has green tea in it and the Kit Kats contain rum). The Kit Kats are the typical “fun size” and you get a whole bag of them! I love that I was able to share this fun experience with a good friend! I will be awaiting their opinions on the treats and will update my review when they get back to me!

Our Final Thoughts
  • Is TokyoTreat worth it? Absolutely! This was such a fun way to sample some unique Japenese treats that my family and I had never tried before. We highly recommend this box if you’re looking for a gift for your foodie friend or family member, anyone interested in trying new foods, and anyone looking for a fun way to experience a new culture. Buy a box and have a fun tasting night with your kids as a homeschool lesson, your significant other for date night, or a group of friends for a party.
  • It was so much fun gathering around the table and sampling these foods together. We laughed and talked about our day, and it was a nice way to spend time together.
  • With a lovely mixture of both sweet and savory treats, there’s something for everyone here. And you can always share if something doesn’t strike your fancy!
  • The portion sizes for some of the treats were smaller than we would have liked, but some of the others had larger portions so it all balanced out.
  • We loved the packaging and presentation of the box as well as the packaging of the treats themselves. The bright colors and wacky designs brought a smile to our faces and we had just as much fun looking through everything as we did sampling the foods.
  • We particularly loved the booklet that shared information about the Harvest Moon Festival and Japanese traditions. We also really appreciated the allergen and ingredient lists so we knew what we were consuming. With my family’s varying allergies and dietary choices, we felt safe and confident making our choices.
  • We do wish that nutrition facts (fat, carbs, sugar, serving size, calories, etc.) were included in the booklet. This is not exactly a diet-friendly box for that reason. If you’re on any kind of calorie or carbohydrate-restrictive eating plan, there’s no information that tells you exactly what you’re eating so you can work the treats into your diet.
  • It’s so much fun to be surprised, and we really enjoyed that aspect of the experience. We had no clue what to expect, and every treat was like opening a present. This is something to look forward to.
The Details
  • TokyoTreat subscriptions are available in annual, 6-month, 3-month, and monthly plans. The longer the subscription, the cheaper it is per month.
  • Whichever plan you choose auto-renews, but you can cancel at anytime.
  • Worldwide shipping is available.

Interested in subscribing? Use my link!

Thank you to TokyoTreat for providing my family with a fun afternoon of conversation and yummy treats! We really enjoyed this experience.


Top Ten Longest Books I’ve Read (by Page Count)

Posted August 18, 2025 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 21 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is all about books with high page counts, aka the doorstopper books! Today I’m sharing the top ten longest books I’ve ever read, from highest page count to lowest. Some of these surprised me! I had no idea how long some of these books were, which is a testament to how good they were (minus one, which I rage read**).

  1. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (886 pages)
  2. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (758 pages)
  3. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (756 pages)
  4. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (699 pages)
  5. The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson (684 pages)**
  6. The Inadequate Heir by Danielle L. Jensen (673 pages)
  7. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (629 pages)
  8. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (626 pages)
  9. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (624 pages)
  10. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (618 pages)

Have you read any of these books?

What’s the longest books you’ve ever read?


Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid | Book Review

Posted August 14, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid | Book ReviewNeanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City #1
Published by Cipher-Naught on July 1, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 404
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris:
1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved,
2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and
3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store.

To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—aka Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can't refuse.

I’ve had my eye on Penny Reid’s books for quite some time now, but I kept not reading them! There was never a big reason why, there were just always other books to read instead. Then I was talking with my romance book club about fun books and Penny popped up in the conversation and I knew it was time to make time for her! Neanderthal Seeks Human was a JOY to read!

What I Liked:

  • This. Was. Adorkable.
  • Janie is such a sweet and wonderful heroine, and might be one of the most unique characters I’ve ever read about. She has not street smarts whatsoever, but she makes up for it in book smarts. She knows every useless fact you didn’t know you wanted to know. Socially, she’s a little off and awkward… but get her talking about a topic she’s interested in and you can’t get her to be quiet. She comes up with some of the goofiest, most random questions and discussion topics. She spouts off the funniest thoughts. She’s also incredibly insecure, aloof, and has some of the worst luck ever. Oh, and she thinks cell phones are evil and will not use one. She just warmed my heart. I loved her because I could relate to and empathize with her.
  • Quinn is the large and in charge, burly, no-nonsense, gruff, cynical hero and I was here for him. He’s a man of very few words, with a lot of secrets, sarcasm, and snark. He’s a complete and total alpha and has no idea how to date someone because he’s always been the one-night-stand kind of guy. Everyone fantasizes about being wrapped up in some big teddy bear, and that’s what I think of when I think of Quinn. All he needed was to find a girl that he felt strongly enough about to motivate him to work through his crap and become the man he wants to be. He’s so sweet and loves all of Janie’s quirks. It takes a special someone to fall for an oddball, and he is just the right guy for her.
  • Together, Janie and Quinn have some of the best witty banter I’ve read. Their disagreements and debates are hilarious. Their deep and not-so-deep-but-full-of-useless-facts discussions plastered a smile on my face often. They’re just such a fun pair, and they’ve got amazing chemistry.
  • The knitting group… so funny. There’s a little drama and some trouble comes looking for Janie and Quinn, and the knitting group intervenes in a way you will never expect. I can’t wait to read the stories of the other women in this group. Janie has some wonderful friends, and I am so jealous!
  • Penny’s writing is awesome. And she’s incredibly smart to be able to write such a smart heroine! I didn’t know smart romances were my thing, but apparently they are!

What I Disliked:

  • Ho boy, this book was HUGE and it dragged in a few places. I kept being amazed at the small dents I was making in this book as I read.
  • That being said, the book started off pretty slow but once things really got moving I enjoyed the ride.
  • Sometimes Janie’s thoughts and questions and ramblings went on a little too long. But I love her anyway.
  • At times I had a hard time believing what was happening because it just seemed too outlandish or over-the-top.

All in all, this was so cute and the kind of light-hearted fun I needed during this crazy time of quarantine. Janie and Quinn are a couple to root for, and I’m so excited to read about the rest of the women in Janie’s knitting group! I also can’t wait to dive into the sequel to this one, Neanderthal Marries Human, and read more about Janie and Quinn!


Top Ten Books Guaranteed to End Your Reading Slump

Posted August 11, 2025 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 15 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is: Books Guaranteed to End to Your Reading Slump. Which books would you recommend to someone (it’s me, I’m someone) dealing with the dreaded reading slump? No book is grabbing their attention or making them excited to sit down and read and they are suffering for it. What book would you hand them? And, if you’re feeling chatty, what qualifies it as a slump-ending book? I am struggling with reading right now. I’m currently reading my 13th novella in a row to catch up on my Goodreads goal. No full-length books are holding my attention. I need something amazing and I can’t find it! Below you’ll find the books that have worked for me in the past, and I might re-visit one of them to try and rip me out of my slump yet again. But I’m always looking for more recs, so I will be visiting many blogs this week in the hope you can help me!

What qualifies a book as a slump-ending book for me? Well, it’s usually action-packed. It grabs you right from the start and never lets go. You know those books that have large info dumps in the beginning that you have to get through before things begin? I don’t have the attention span for that when I’m in a slump. Maybe it’s the first in a long series I can binge so I don’t have to think about picking a book for a while. It’s easy to read, with flowing sentences and good dialogue. It doesn’t require too much deep thinking and there aren’t too many characters to keep track of. All my choices for this week fit at least one of these qualifications. Here we go!

1. The Promise of a Kiss by K.C. Bateman
If you love the movie The Mummy, you will love this. Plus you can read it in an hour or less!

2. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I was riveted.

3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
This entire series has both pulled me out of a slump and put me into a book hangover, so be careful with this one! Make sure you have the next book ready to go.

4. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Cozy, low-stakes, wholesome fantasy. If you need a hug, this is a hug in book form.

5. Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
This is a 90’s-style rom-com with subtle nods to While You Were Sleeping. I loved it!

6. Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
A twirly, springy, magical tale set in a comforting small town you can’t find in this world anymore.

7. Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise
There’s more to this historical romance than meets the eye. Danger and conspiracy abound, and it’s so exciting you won’t want to stop reading!

8. The Only One Left by Riley Sager
You will forget everything you need to attend to in your life while reading this creepy, spooky story. It grabs hold of you and never lets go. I still think about this book two years after reading it.

9. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
This is truly the most captivating, exciting, and inspiring historical fiction novel I’ve read.

10. Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
This was my first Lisa Kleypas book and it was the beginning of a reading marathon that took the better part of a year. I read the entire Ravenels series, the Wallflowers, and the Hathaways almost bak to back. It was a glorious time. I’m considering listening to Mary Jane Wells read the entire series to me now to try and end my slump!

So, any recs for me? What books have gotten you out of a reading slump?
Do you agree with any of my picks or plan to read them to try and get out of your slump?

Do reading slumps happen to you? I know not everyone experiences this!