Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)

Christmas in Austenland by Shannon Hale | DNF Book Thoughts

Posted June 1, 2026 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Christmas in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Series: Austenland #3
Also in this series: Austenland, Midnight in Austenland
Published by Bloomsbury on September 22, 2026
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Pages: 376
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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DNF

Kestrel Klein has always been too much. Too much for her mother to manage or for any path in life to actually work out. Too much for her sweet Hank--the guy she thought was her soulmate, before he broke her heart. Itching for a big change, Kestrel enters a contest and wins a vacation to Pembrook Park, an immersive Austen experience. Bonus: it’s during Christmas, the one holiday where being too much is the whole point.

Once inside Austenland, Kestrel feels . . . dare she say, happy? Is it the cozy hearth fires warming her jaded heart? Is it the fun of gentlemen attempting to woo her under the mistletoe? Is it the instant friends who bring her into the fold? She's always worried that unless she can tamp down her too-muchness, she’ll never find that found family she craves. Just as Kestrel begins to let down her well-honed defenses, an unexpected visitor disrupts the holiday celebrations. Perhaps it’s the chance she needs to find out if her one true love really was meant to be. But now that she finally feels at home, is he still what she wants?

The third book in this utterly delightful series gives readers the chance to relish all the fun of Regency romance, from the comfort of their modern lives.

This pains me. This pains me greatly. Austenland was the first book I ever reviewed as a brand new baby book blogger 16 years ago, and I loved it. It’s one of my favorite books! Midnight in Austenland was also fun, but Christmas in Austenland is the one I expected to love the most! If you know me, you know I love Christmas. I was so, so excited to read this book that I jumped in the moment I downloaded it from Edelweiss. But… my goodness, it’s terrible. I ended up DNFing it at 15%. I normally don’t write DNF reviews, but I wanted to in this case because I had such a strong reaction to it and wanted to warn people who might have been just as excited as I was. The synopsis leaves something out that, in my opinion, is pretty important.

Things started off promising! Kestrel arrives at Pembrook Park on Christmas Eve night, before all of the other guests arrive, and before the 12 Days of Christmas event is to begin. The employees think she’s the newly hired maid, and she doesn’t realize she’s not meant to be the maid (because she thinks this is her character’s part in the event) so she agrees that she is. They have fun getting to know each other and being silly all night and it’s all very festive and cute. On Christmas morning they find out she’s actually a guest, not the maid, and the mood changes. All of a sudden, they’re supposed to be putting on a show for her and they need to get her set up to play her role as a regency lady. Then the other guests arrive and the clunky playacting begins. The men are excessively drippy with their flirtations and I think my eyes might have rolled out of my head and onto the floor. Kestrel is starved for any and all attention, and the only other guest I met before quitting is a smug little brat.

Pembrook Park has changed for the worse. It’s lost all the charm it had before, and the magic of putting a solid divider between modern-day reality and regency England isn’t there anymore. That divider has turned transparent, and I did not feel like I’d been transported back in time. The characters talk about modern things and they talk like it’s modern day. Pembrook Park is co-run by two women. One is a rude stick in the mud, and the other one is an over-the-top, flamboyant ball of quirky nonsense who calls herself Charming and has the most obnoxious on again off again partner. Even though she’s in supposed to be charge, she lets him make all the decisions and since he pretty much hates Pembrook Park his decisions are not good ones. The dialogue between all the characters is weird and overly cheesy. Everyone is trying to act, but coming off as very bad at it. But what I hated the most were Kestrel’s “Before” segments. This girl grew up in a cult and has clearly been traumatized. She was separated from her mom, who was fine with it, and these sections made me incredibly sad. She’s also been hurt by people and struggles with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. I cannot go back and forth between zany fake regency shenanigans and Kestrel’s trauma dumping. There is nothing in the book’s synopsis that prepared me for this, and it gave me emotional whiplash.

I was so excited for Christmas to explode on Pembrook Park. I wanted an old fashioned Christmas: traditional Christmas carols, wassail, roasting chestnuts, and snowball fights on the front lawn. I wanted swoony male characters, wooing the ladies in a way I couldn’t tell if they were pretending or not. Kisses under the mistletoe, fake feelings becoming real ones, and to be enveloped with feelings of comfort and warmth. I wanted a festive vacation to yesteryear that I could cozy up with and read every December by the light of my Christmas tree. I didn’t get any of this. Does it get better? Maybe. Maybe all of this comes later, but I can’t continue slogging through this in the hopes that it does. So I’m done. And if there’s another Austenland installment in another 10 years, I probably won’t be reading that one either. I’m so disappointed!

DNF

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren | Book Review

Posted August 2, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Published by Gallery Books on May 17, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession… or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.

Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.

But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.

Any kind of outdoorsy, survival sort of story immediately piques my interest. I don’t know what it is about stories like these. I’m not the least bit outdoorsy. I don’t hike or camp or even go outside if I don’t have to. LOL. I’m much more a fan of being inside and out of the sun and the bugs. Maybe that’s the reason I like these stories! Who knows? But when I saw that a new Christina Lauren book was coming out that sounded a little different than we usually get from them, I was pretty excited! Treasure hunting, second chance romance, and a little suspense? I am in. I ended up loving it, and it’s one of my favorite CLo books now! I read this over a year ago and am just now finding time to review it, so I’m keeping things nice and simple with just a list of my thoughts this time.

1. This book starts off with a bang. Shortly after Leo’s bro trip with his buddies begins, something happens. What started out as a fun little fake treasure hunt turns into a full-blown race through treacherous terrain to find a real treasure. And danger could be lurking within every shadow.
2. I loved the local lore surrounding Lily’s father’s hidden treasure in the red rock canyons of Utah. It added a level of mystery and excitement I wasn’t expecting.
3. Lily and Leo end up breaking off from the other members of the group, so the bulk of the book is their adventure together. There’s more suspense, heavy discussions about their pasts both individually and the one they shared, survival aspects, and romance. I loved the blend of all of these things.
4. There’s a lot of action in this book, which was a fun change from what I’ve come to expect from CLo.
5. Leo and Lily are such a great couple. She’s strong and independent and seriously guarded. He’s sweet and caring. They made such a great team, deciphering clues and navigating this dangerous hunt together. There’s only one tent, guys… and only one sleeping bag. I will say no more. These two ooze chemistry.
6. I had so much fun. There’s banter and shenanigans and the danger was there, but written in a way that felt fun and exciting. It’s not something that will keep you up at night for any reason other than being hooked on the story and needing to know how it all ends.
7. In the interest of full disclosure, my initial attempt at reading Something Wilder was in audio format and I do not recommend it one bit. I live in Utah, where this book takes place. We do not speak with a twang here. I thought maybe this was the narrator’s choice, but then I read where Nicole’s (one of the secondary characters) twang is mentioned. We don’t have twangs. I later learned that Nicole is originally from Montana (I missed how old she was when she left), which some might argue makes this more accurate. But no, they don’t have twangs there either. People from Montana can sound a little Canadian, if anything, but not twangy except for maybe a very subtle one here and there in the more rural areas. The cowboy-wannabe twang the narrator chose for Nicole was so, so wrong for someone from either of these locations. Anyway. I returned the audiobook very early on and switched to my eARC, which was a very good choice for me.

All in all, I loved this! It was fun and fresh and different from the typical rom-com. I had so much fun on this adventure, and would love for Christina Lauren to write more out of the box rom-coms in the future!

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren | Book Review

Posted May 15, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
on May 14, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents — his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

I was so, so excited for this book. If you know me, you know that The Unhoneymooners is one of my favorite books ever and I was so excited for another fake dating CLo book set in a tropical location. The Paradise Problem seriously had all the makings of a favorite book for me, but I ended up being so disappointed in it. Here are a few of my very unorganized thoughts on this book so I can move on and away from this.

I hated how Anna was portrayed (like is she really this dumb and hopeless?). I am so tired of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and that’s what the authors tried so hard to have her be. The romance felt too rooted in lust, and this has way more steam in it than I’m used to in Christina Lauren’s more recent releases. There’s also way more language than I’m used to from them. I hated the main dude’s entire family. The family drama was seriously so over-the-top. What poor little rich people. I loved the setting. This could have been so good, but they took everything I loved from The Unhoneymooners and did a complete 180. Oh, and it is so jam packed with modern pop culture references that will not age well at all. This ended up being my biggest bookish disappointment of 2024.

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler | Book Review

Posted December 5, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 6 Comments

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler
Series: Heart of the Wilderness #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on September 24, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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Sarah Morgenthaler is back with a heart-mending contemporary romance featuring a single dad you'll fall for; a satisfying slow burn love affair; found family you'll root for; small town holiday magic; and all the quirky animals and snowy rustic scenes your heart desires.

Sienna Naples's family has taken care of their wild Idaho land for generations and Sienna can't imagine any other life. But at Christmastime, with her parents gone and her painful marriage finally over, it's full of memories...and incredibly lonely. Until a tall, handsome stranger and a little girl walk into her life and suddenly the holidays are alive again.

When single father Guy Maple shows up as the result of an ad meant to be a joke, the handsome Montana construction worker isn't joking. Money is tight this Christmas, and Guy's four-year-old daughter Emma has stage-five chronic kidney disease. She needs a kidney transplant, but if Guy can't prove that he can afford Emma's anti-rejection medications, his daughter isn't going to stay on the transplant list. Guy's willing to do anything, including marrying a stranger, to keep her safe. It's an impulsive marriage of convenience, and Sienna knows this isn't real, no matter how much she adores Emma, how well Guy fits in to the ranching life—or how much light and laughter is coming into their lives as a result. But the more time she spends with her new family, the more she fears losing the fragile, feisty little girl and the kind, devoted, hard-working, incredibly attractive man who is her husband—but is it only in name?

Ok. I’m going to be completely honest here and say that I was terrified of this book. I read that synopsis and quickly realized that this book was going to be different than the light-hearted rom-coms Sarah has published before. And honestly, if Sarah Morgenthaler had not been the person to write it I might have decided to skip it because I do not do sad and heavy, especially at Christmas. But I love her and her books and have followed her closely since her debut, The Tourist Attraction, which I adored. I knew I had to give this book a try, so I dove right on in this past summer (also out of character for me, as I save my Christmas reads for the last two months of the year). I am so, so glad I did. I’m sitting here now almost 4 months later, wrapped up in my Christmas blanket, and writing this review by the glow of my Christmas lights. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. You read correctly. It has, in fact, been 4 months since I finished this book and it feels like yesterday. I so vividly remember this story and how I felt while reading it, and that’s really saying something! I read a lot of books each year, and very few stick with me in such detail longer than several days. Usually I move on and become fully engrossed in my next read. The details blur and fade, and I feel a sense of fondness but can’t recall character names or many details. Sienna, Guy, and Emma wiggled their ways into my heart, and I still remember my journey with them today. That’s the sign of a truly amazing story and a truly amazing author.

2. Even though this book has the potential to rip your heart out, there’s so much of Sarah’s trademark humor and sweet moments. The Christmas You Found Me is a true romance, so I’m not spoiling anything by saying it ends with a very happy ever after. Do not be afraid to read this book. The journey of having a sick child is beautifully told and you might need some tissues (maybe don’t read the last 15% in public or at work), but it’s not the heartbreaking kind of cry. It’s the emotions of the characters and watching them navigate and process hard things. I also giggled a lot, swooned, and smiled so much. I panicked and worried and wanted to throw the book in the freezer (IYKYK), but I decided to trust the journey and trust Sarah and I’m so happy I did! I stayed up way too late and thought about it every second I wasn’t reading it. And I loved the ending. So go for it! You have the seal of approval from the person who avoids crying at all costs and is also one of the easiest criers on the planet. This is worth it, and you’ll be ok. You’ll feel everything!

3. The dog is fine. Don’t worry about him. I was stressed, because his old age is discussed so much, so I wanted to put this in here.

4. Sienna has a heart of gold. I would love to be friends with this woman. Her selflessness and courage and willingness to help two total strangers was inspiring to read about. She makes the most impulsive decision ever and it ends up being the best decision of her life. Maybe I need to take more leaps of faith!

5. Guy. Oh my goodness, this man has my heart. What he wouldn’t do for his little girl. He’s the best girl dad I’ve ever read about. He knows the ins and outs of Emma’s health issues and how to keep her as healthy as is possible, considering her rapidly failing kidneys. He works so hard and still has time to care about the people in his life that he loves. I can’t imagine living with the level of stress he’s had to endure, and I love that his trials in life haven’t made him bitter and closed off. He’s got so much love to give and finds joy everywhere he can.

6. Emma, Guy’s four-year-old daughter, is so cute. I usually don’t like reading romances with kids who play a large role in the story, but I fell in love with Emma. Chronic health issues make you grow up quickly, and she’s got this maturity and grasp of things someone her age should never have to understand. Her bond with Sienna’s dog is the cutest thing ever.

7. I love marriage of convenience stories, but this one hit harder for me because of the reason for the marriage. It’s not to gain an inheritance or mend a bad reputation or get meddling matchmaker family members off the characters’ backs. It’s because Emma needs medical insurance so she get life-saving treatment and surgery. Guy and Sienna’s meet-cute that sets everything in motion is so, so cute. lol. And awkward and cringey, but so heartwarming and wonderful. I loved how quickly they grew close, how deeply they felt for one another, and how healthily they worked through challenges together. They leaned on one another when they needed to, opened up when it was hard but right, and quickly formed the most amazing care team for Emma. When Emma is awake, it’s go, go, go. They prepare her bland food, Sienna takes care of her all day while Guy is at work, they take her to doctor appointments, they stress over her together, and they have family dinner before tucking her in. It’s nap times and night times when Guy and Sienna can talk and actually get to know each other. They have some very deep and touching conversations about their individual lives and the new life they’re sharing together. There are some incredibly romantic and swoony moments, although everything fades to black. There’s no on-page spice.

8. The struggles and tough times all felt very real, but not too heavy. Emma’s health plays a critical role throughout the story, but it’s not the focal point. Sienna’s former relationship is also discussed, as is Guy’s. Some other obstacles get in the way, but overall there’s a lot of hope and positivity. Forgiveness, rolling with the punches, resiliency, healing from the past, and being grateful for what you have. I felt uplifted and contemplative. Guy, Sienna, and Emma make the sweetest found family. They really knit themselves together, and I loved that so much.

9. There’s also so much light and fun. There are some really wonderful secondary characters, major Christmas vibes, the cutest old man of a dog, beautiful mountain scenes, sexy pull-ups and nighttime workouts, secret cookies, snow, quirky animals, arts and crafts, a party, and more.

All in all, I loved this. I pushed myself a little out of my comfort zone since I usually avoid books involving chronic health issues (hello, I’m a spoonie and like to escape my own health), but this book did it so right. I would have loved to have someone remind me that this is a romance and it follows the traditional romance formula, but I read this so early that nobody could do that. And I was on pins and needles for most of the book. lol. So I am that friend for you. This is wholeheartedly a romance, and it’s one of the most tender and heartwarming ones I’ve read in a long time. Sarah’s writing is amazing. She really knows how to touch your heart and make you feel. The Christmas You Found Me is going to stick with me for a very long time, I think.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves | Book Review

Posted March 1, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves
Published by St Martin's Press on March 26, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Women's Fiction
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves takes readers on a life affirming journey, where two lost souls find the unexpected courage to love again.

Thirty-four-year-old Wren Waters believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But her worldview shatters when the universe delivers two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. No one is more surprised than Wren when she discovers that geocaching―the outdoor activity of using GPS to look for hidden objects―is the only thing getting her out of bed and out of her head. She decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.

Enter Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. Though Wren initially rebuffs Marshall’s attempt at hiker small talk, she’s beyond grateful when he rescues her from a horrifying encounter farther down the trail. In the interest of safety, Marshall suggests partnering up to look for additional caches. Wren’s no longer quite so trusting of the universe―or men in general―but her inner circle might argue that a smart, charismatic psychologist isn’t the worst thing the universe could place in her path.

What begins as a platonic road trip gradually blossoms into something deeper, and the more Wren learns about Marshall, the more she wants to know. Now all she can do is hope that the universe gets it right this time.

When it comes to Tracey Garvis Graves’s books, I’ve come to expect a unique story, well-developed characters you can’t help but grow attached to, drama, romance, and a few twists and turns along the way. The Trail of Lost Hearts is filled with all of this and more. I’ve never read a book of Tracey’s I didn’t enjoy, and my winning streak continues!

We start out with Wren, who has gone through two major losses recently. She’s feeling adrift and sad and doesn’t know how to pull herself out from under this heavy pile of life that’s been dumped on top of her. She finds solace in the outdoors, and geocaching becomes her therapy. She decides to set out on a solo geocaching adventure and runs into Marshall along the way. Marshall, a psychologist, is also grieving a loss of his own and invites Wren to join him on his adventure. She’s adamantly against it at first, but changes her mind when she begins to understand what kind of person he is. Neither one of them loves the idea of traveling and hiking alone, so they team up. They go from strangers to friends quite quickly, and I really loved watching them get to know one another, laugh together, and start to catch feelings for one another. I loved seeing them both happy after being so sad. I loved traveling with them from location to location as they shared meals and eventually hotel rooms while hunting for caches in some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the USA. Tracey’s descriptions of the scenery were some of my favorite parts of the book. I loved reading about the places they went and what they looked like. Eventually, the trip ends and they return to their respective lives. But, of course, their minds continue to return to their time together.

Both Marshall and Wren go on very personal and individual journeys towards healing, but this book is predominately about Wren. I found myself weighed down at times by Wren’s pain. I’m an empath, and apparently even fictional characters send my empathetic feelings racing. She’s been through a lot, and is still going through a lot throughout the book. I craved those moments when she recognized her worth and her strength, and rejoiced as she made those leaps. Marshall was a bright light in this story. He’s one of the most caring and understanding men I’ve read about, and I would like to find a Marshall for myself. He never pushes Wren, never forces her to do or talk about anything she’s not ready for. He’s such a good listener, incredibly protective, and downright kind. He helps Wren wrestle with her thoughts, yet the more she opens up to him the more he closes himself off. He goes into therapist mode, focusing only on her and not participating in the conversation. This made me scream a little bit, but I get it. Everyone grieves differently, and sometimes it’s hard to apply your own advice in your own life. I was proud of him for taking the steps he needed to find healing in his own life. He’s such a sweetheart. Marshall’s and Wren’s story is quite complicated, yet realistic. It shows us that healing isn’t linear, nor is it the same process for everyone. It also shows us that placing the right people in our lives at the right time can change us in ways we never knew possible. Even though it was difficult for me at times, I loved watching Wren and Marshall find happiness in their own lives and in their life together. Their story is filled with twists and turns, bombshells, and ultimately growth. I’m glad I was along for the ride.

The ending was a bit abrupt, and I would have really loved an epilogue. I spent so much time with these two and then poof, the book was basically over without warning. I wish more time had been spent on Wren’s current relationship with Marshall rather than on her past relationship. I feel like I know more about her ex and their relationship than I know about hers and Marshall’s relationship. And I’m being so careful to not post spoilers, so this comment might not even make sense until you’ve read the book. Regardless of my small complaints, I really enjoyed The Trail of Lost Hearts! Tracey Garvis Graves is so good at grabbing you and sucking you in, and she had me from the first page. There was no warm-up, no gradual incline. The book begins, and you are in it. And I love that about her books. The writing is beautiful, like always, and I couldn’t read the pages fast enough. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to go on a journey, both in the literal sense and the figurative sense.