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TheAromaofBooks
Mistletoe at Moonglow | Deborah Garner
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Pickpick

Another soft pick, but this one is more on me than the book. I got this one as a free ebook a while back. It's a novella and even shorter than I anticipated because the last 30% or so of the book is actually recipes. Not much really happens in this story - some people come and stay at an inn. An old lady owns the inn and a younger woman helps her run it. The younger woman is sort of magical and floaty and literally, because I'm broken, I kept ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) wondering if she was smoking weed, because she kind of had a chill surfer dude vibe except without the “whoa dude“ jargon. 😂 I can see a lot of people finding Mist to be this inspiring, thoughtful character, but she low-key annoyed me with her constant life philosophies, her “silent footsteps,“ and the way literally nothing flapped her at all. A perfectly pleasant little read, but I don't see myself delving into the rest of the series. 3y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 (edited) 3y
See All 11 Comments
LitStephanie Mist sounds super annoying to me! 3y
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 3y
TheSpineView Fantastic! 📖📚😊 3y
TheAromaofBooks @LitStephanie - She just didn't feel like a real person at all. She's this strange floaty presence that always knows what everyone needs before they need it and does strange things like studying a stranger's eyes and deciding that they are “patina“ which isn't even exactly a color haha It was a really short story so she didn't bother me that much, but I wasn't interested in reading an entire series with her at the center! 3y
keys_on_fire I‘ve been reading this too, as you know, and I feel like Mist is completely unnecessary. I‘d rather Betty be the MC… 3y
LitStephanie @TheAromaofBooks good thing it was short. Yeah, patina is a finish not a color. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @keys_on_fire - I felt the same way! 3y
Jadams89 🎄🎅🏻 3y
51 likes11 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

Macomber is one of those authors whose books always sound like ones I would enjoy but somehow just don't hit the spot for me. This one was perfectly pleasant, but just a little too melodramatic somehow. It was very obvious what the Big Misunderstanding was going to be and I honestly felt like Finn was kind of a jerk about the whole interview situation. Still, a fast read even if it was on the soft side of pick! Also I got this copy secondhand⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) last summer and smelled SO strongly of cigarette smoke so I left it on my porch to air out and then forgot about it and it got a little weathered so now the covers are bent! So I felt like I really did have to read it, after all it had suffered for my sake! 😂 3y
keys_on_fire So cute! 3y
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TheSpineView Awesome job! 3y
kimmypete1 Great job! 3y
Jadams89 👍🏻🎄🎉🎁🎅🏻 3y
candc320 YES! I totally agree about Finn as a character and Debbie Macomber‘s books in general. I just finished this audiobook today and keep thinking that I must be the hardest person ever…I just really don‘t think these stories are very romantic and find the men to be big jerks and the women to be kind of pushovers. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @candc320 - I was just confused... like I understood why he didn't want her to do the interview at first, but when they became friends/romantically involved, and he knew how much it meant for her personally and professionally, I have no idea why he wouldn't have greenlighted the interview?? It made him come across as very selfish and made me not like him as much as I wanted to! 3y
candc320 @TheAromaofBooks exactly! Like he was playing some sort of game, testing her to see how she “really felt” while obviously not caring enough himself to try and help her career. Just childish and annoying. 3y
56 likes9 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

I read several of Thayne's books last year and really enjoyed them, so I was excited to read her newest, which happens to be Christmasy!! This one was due back at the library so I had to read it before #WinterGames begin, but it was actually just the piece of relaxing fluff that I need. I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoy romances that don't make you think too much 😂 It was also clean, which I like, plus it took me to Wyoming ⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) for both #SeparatedbyaPondTour and #ReadtheUSA2021 !! @Andrew65

This one checked off loads of prompts for my family's giant Christmas bingo card (13x13... we're filling in prompts with books and movies LOL) so it would definitely be a good pick for WinterGames as well!!
3y
Lizpixie I‘m so happy I‘m on the same #WinterGames2021 team, the #MistletoeManiacs🎄💚❤️💚❤️ 3y
TheAromaofBooks @Lizpixie - Yay!!! I'm getting SO stoked!! 3y
55 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
Well Matched | Jen DeLuca
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Pickpick

After a month of thrillers and mysteries, I was in the mood for something fluffy. The latest book in the Well Met series had come in for me at the library, so it felt like the time was right!! While I did enjoy this one, I have to say it's a soft pick for me, mainly because April is sooo bitchy about everything and everyone. I felt frustrated with her because she kept going on about how excited she was to "finally" be an empty-nester and how ⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) she couldn't wait to sell her house and get out of the small town where she's lived for the last almost-18 years raising her daughter. Like I get that you weren't expecting to be a single mom and that you've had to sacrifice a lot to give your daughter a good life, but it felt SO insensitive to her daughter, Cait, who actually isn't even 18 yet and is just leaving for college, not genuinely moving into her own house or anything, to be ⬇ 3y
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) basically gleeful about selling the house, moving out of town, while still reassuring your daughter that you'll make sure your new place has a “guest room“ for her when she's home on breaks!? For someone who claims to be so close to her daughter yadda yadda yadda, April's attitude about “finally“ being free really got on my nerves. There were also multiple conversations between multiple adults in this story about how none of them EVER ⬇ 3y
TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) wanted children because children just cramp your style and ruin your life and it's cool for other people but not for us because we've got this awesome life and don't want it getting all messed up - it really rubbed me the wrong way.

BUT I still gave this a pick because I absolutely loved Mitch, really enjoyed the fake relationship aspect, liked the way things were handled between Cait and her dad, and enjoyed revisiting the characters ⬇
3y
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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) from the earlier books. These books are fun, fluffy, and sexy, and even if I don't always agree with some of the background philosophy (for lack of a better word haha) I still enjoy reading these stories and love the Renaissance Faire background a lot. 3y
TheAromaofBooks #Scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick - not even remotely a themed read haha
#SeriesRead2021 @TheSpineView
#ReadtheUSA2021 - Maryland
#Screamathon - 7550/8000pgs @4thhouseontheleft
#Spookoween - 26/25bks @TheSpineView - I'm into bonus books for my goal!!!
#24in4 - 3/4bks @Andrew65
3y
Andrew65 Looks fun 👏👏👏 3y
TheSpineView Fantastic 3y
72 likes3 stack adds7 comments
blurb
aperfectmjk
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Here's another updated challenge #ReadtheUSA2021 from the beginning of the year. Added Rules of Prey and Pieces of Her so these will also be added to my #Scarathlon2021 numbers for #TeamSlaughter.

I don't think I'll get this one finished. I'll have to try better next year.

@TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

TheAromaofBooks Last year I managed 38 states, and this year so far I have hit 36, so probably won't visit all 50, but may manage to beat last year's record!! 3y
Clwojick You've got this! 3y
24 likes2 comments
blurb
aperfectmjk
Needful Things | Stephen King
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GHABI4ROSES I cannot remember if I have read that one. Do you love it? I have my copy right here, just waiting... 3y
TheSpineView Haven't read yet. Hope you enjoy 3y
Addison_Reads This is a favorite of mine that I'm currently rereading. I can't wait to see what you think. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Good luck!! 3y
32 likes4 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
The Third Victim: A Novel | Phillip Margolin
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Pickpick

Good news: I finished another book. Bad news: Apparently I also accidentally started another series 🤣 This was a decent read. Margolin always keeps me engaged & for once I didn't have to get out a note card to keep track of all the characters. Despite enjoying this one, it somehow didn't hook me as hard as his writing usually does...but this didn't stop me from reserving the rest of the series at the library!

FINALLY got a #BookSpin BINGO!!!

Bookzombie I have accidentally started series several times. It‘s sort of annoying, but not annoying too. Lol. 3y
TheSpineView Fantastic 3y
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Clwojick This cover looks so familiar. I think I almost downloaded it, but realized it was part of a series. I might have to start a series challenge in 2022 😅 3y
TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick - SAME! How did I end up in the middle of so many!? 3y
robinb Sarah, do you think this series needs to be read in order? I have a chance to read a new one but don‘t want to be helplessly lost. 🤣 2y
TheAromaofBooks @robinb - Weeeeelll I haven't read any of the other books yet so I'm not sure how much they build on each other 😂 When I read this book I definitely felt like it had that “setting up a series“ vibe, but I'm not sure that you would have to read it to grasp who the main characters are and how they work together. But since I haven't read any of the others, I'm not sure where everyone goes!!! 2y
robinb @TheAromaofBooks I hear ya! Some series you‘re OK to jump into at any point, some you‘re like “what the heck is going”. LOL 2y
57 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
The Ex Hex: A Novel | Erin Sterling
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Pickpick

This really was just the perfect bit of fluff to read between mysteries. Don't worry too much about the world-building or major character development, just go along for the ride. Snarky, sexy, and sassy, I overall enjoyed this one even if I don't see myself reading it again. I also could have done without all the casual f-bombs; I'm not a huge fan of being bombarded with vulgar language in my fluff reads.

Clwojick 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
aroc Haha! I was shocked my the amount of f bombs too! 3y
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TheAromaofBooks @aroc - I know everyone has their personal preferences, but I just don't enjoy it in my fluff reading especially, and these were multiple times per chapter, not just moments of intense emotion lol Ah well, still a fun little read!! 3y
marleed I agree. I can picture this series being adapted as a PG - PG13 effort - that‘s really where the fun parts of this story existed for me. A Hocus Pocus for the 2020s. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @marleed - Yes!! I would totally be into that. Goodreads says that this is the first book in a series, but a second book isn't listed yet. I would definitely be interested to see where the author goes with the concept, though! 3y
kimmypete1 This is my next print read. Can‘t wait to dive in! 3y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 3y
TheAromaofBooks @kimmypete1 - It was just the relaxation I needed after reading five detective novels in a row haha 3y
90 likes6 stack adds9 comments
review
TheAromaofBooks
Yours Truly, Thomas | Rachel Fordham
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this clean romance for the most part, but it was, frankly, a bit on the boring side. The ending also got rather melodramatic. But if you are just looking for something relaxing & sweet, this one should fit the bill. And it also knocked off Iowa for #ReadtheUSA2021 & #SeparatedbyaPondTour @Andrew65

63 likes1 stack add
review
TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

This one wasn't especially on my radar, but it was August's pick for #thatsclassic and seeing as it is quite short, I thought it was a great time to add another beautiful Penguin paperback to my collection!!

This is definitely a book that had me wondering how I would have felt about it if I hadn't known the spoiler. The writing is super atmospheric & I loved it. Stevenson is one of those authors that every time I actually read one of his books⬇️

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) I really enjoy it, yet I don't seem to go out of my way to find them!

This edition also includes a second short story called The Bottle Imp. I really liked that one, too, plus it took me to Hawaii (of all places) for #ReadtheUSA2021 and #SeparatedbyaPondTour ...as long as it counts that I “went“ there before Hawaii was actually a state!!

@Annie1215 @Andrew65
3y
LitStephanie Thanks for posting a review! I have seen a play of the story but never considered reading it before now. 3y
robinb Beautiful edition! 3y
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TheAromaofBooks @LitStephanie - It's a super fast read, too - less than a hundred pages. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @robinb - Thank you!! Lately, as I've been reading classics I don't already own, I've been purchasing a copy when I can do so reasonably, and I'm kind of in love with these Penguin paperbacks. The spines are pretty, too!!! 3y
robinb @TheAromaofBooks can I ask where you get yours? At a bookstore? Online? 3y
LitStephanie @TheAromaofBooks wow, that makes me want to read it more! 3y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 I‘ve not read this yet. 3y
TheAromaofBooks @robinb - I got it from Book Depository. For some reason, I find their website easier to navigate when I am looking for a specific edition. They also sell the UK editions of books, since that is where they are located, & I think these Penguin editions are all UK, not American, although I could be wrong on that one haha 3y
robinb @TheAromaofBooks I‘ve never shopped with them before. I‘ll have to look them up and browse. Thanks! 3y
TheAromaofBooks @robinb - It's my go-to for when I'm looking for a UK edition. Why does the UK get all the beautiful covers??? 3y
MemoirsForMe Great review! Now I really want to read this one. Hope you‘re enjoying your summer, Sarah! It‘s going by too fast! 🤗 3y
TheAromaofBooks @UwannaPublishme - Thanks, Donna!!! Our summer is great but soooo busy!!!! I'm a million years behind on all my penpal writing, too! I really love how summer is full of outdoors & garden stuff, but also am looking forward to the slower, cozier pace of winter. I'll try to write soon - I miss you!!! 3y
MemoirsForMe Ha! I think I‘m as far behind as you are! I‘m still answering letters from July! 😁 Miss you and #Bookspin! I may catch up this month. 🤞🏻❤️ 3y
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