Kristy Brown: Cinderfella

 Read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41022694-cinderfella

Ash (short for Ashley) is our Cinderfella in this book, he is a sweet, caring and nurturing guy he was adopted at a young age and while he had a caring family when he was young that all changed when his mom passed away.  His adopted father at that point turned to alcohol and began to treat Ash as more of a servant also encouraging his two biological sons to do the same.  Ash has been pushed out of the house and sleeps in the barn going to the house after his family leaves for the day for food from their housekeeper.  

Ash works the farm by himself including bottle feeding his piglet Gus, who sleeps in the barn with him.  One night everything changes when he meets a strange elderly man named Gerry who asks for help with his car, he goes to fix it for him and gets him on his way then later receives another unexpected visitor a beautiful girl Elle who is secretly a princess and is running from a ball where it was announced she would have to marry a complete stranger, tired of following all the rules and not having any say in her life she runs losing her shoe in the process and ends up on a farm (the farm where Ash lives naturally).

I enjoyed that Ash remained kind and caring he wanted to be a doctor and was often at the local hospital volunteering even though he was tired from his farm work.  Ellie is offered multiple times by Ash for a cab to be called to pick her up and take her home but she declines and ends up staying and helping around the farm for several days she likes that he doesn't treat her differently due to being royal, he doesn't even know who she really is as there is no TV in his barn.

I felt some of the dialogue was awkward it started off feeling like a movie from the 1950's but then you knew it was supposed to be modern times due to having modern cars mentioned, lap top computers, what was on TV and Ed Sheeran.  

Gerry is found to be Ash's Fairy Godfather assigned to him to correct a wrong, but he leaves more questions really as he shows up sporadically to help him and tell him that he's "doing things at the wrong time" but doesn't often tell him when the right time is either until he shows up way late asking why he isn't doing something... how was he supposed to know what to do?  

Ellie knows she needs to go back to the palace eventually and Ash finds out who she really is when he goes in the house and sees the news report on TV that the princess is missing and there is a reward for her safe return.  Some drama occurs when the evil step brothers find out where Ellie is leading Ash to have to make some tough decisions since a poor farm boy and a princess could never actually be allowed to be together right?

Was a cute quick read that had a lot of the same story we know and love from the original Cinderella but with some twists before our couple gets to their happily ever after 

*Indie author  *gender-bent Cinderella  *fairy tale retelling  *closed door  *some adult language 

*insta love  *young adult  *happily ever after  

Trigger warnings:  abduction/captivity, alcohol over indulgence

Kenadee Bryant Fear of Falling

 Read in 2025

Falling book 1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217776480-fear-of-falling

Josie Scott is a photographer/journalist who works for a life style magazine that focuses on local businesses and events.  After coming home one evening she ends up stuck in her apartment buildings elevator with Wyatt Boone he's a local hero as one of the cities hottest hockey stars.  Since they are stuck for hours waiting for rescue they chat about everything and form a bond.  

Wyatt has had his share of playing the field and from experience knows that not all women want to be near him for the right reasons in fact several have liked what he can get them (fame/higher social status, luxury items) it's hard to meet someone who really just likes him for him and not Wyatt the hockey star.  Josie is sweet, beautiful and fun to talk to if he had to be stuck in an elevator for hours he's lucky it was with her and he can't get her off of his mind... which his friends and family tease him about.

Josie has had a handful of bad relationships (history of DV) and isn't really looking for anyone but when Wyatt lands in her path she can't help but start to fall for him he's sweet, handsome, loyal, and driven to succeed, he had a recent injury and he's already back playing for the NHL, he's seriously the catch of a lifetime and she would love to get to know him better... but most likely will just see him in passing he does live in her apartment building after all. 

This is a bit of a whirlwind relationship where Wyatt finds out what apartment she lives in and invites her to come to one of his upcoming games, they have a few dates and get closer to each other.  They are sweet together.  After a few short weeks he invites her to meet his family (mom and brothers), I adored his younger flirty flirt brother Mateo he's a high school football star and super funny.  

Lower drama with some paparazzi issues that were resolved quickly.

If you don't like books that are more insta love (everything kind of happened in less than a month)... this might not be for you.  The story was somewhat predictable but I wasn't upset about it, I felt it was cute story with likeable lead and side characters and set up for some future books.  

This is the debut novel for this author and the second book is out now, I plan to read this soon.  

**I'm also hoping that the writer will do a time jump for a future book and do Mateo's love story  (Kenadee if you ever see this hint hint)

Have you read this book or the second one?  what did you think of them?  

*hockey romance  *Sports romance *more of an insta love  *strangers -->friends --> more  *some spice  *dual POV *she's different from the other girls  *Indie author  *first book by this author

*forced proximity  *found family  *no third act break up

*trigger warnings: mentions of DV & emotional abuse, death of a parent/grieving and loss 

Belle Ami Tuscan Time

 Lost in time series book 3 read in 2025 --> I would recommend reading these books in order there is a lot to the story line you might miss if you start out of order.  

The third and final book in this time travel romance series follows the last friend Gabriella as she remains in the modern world waiting for her friends to show up at the museum and beginning to worry as it's well past their meeting time as she's wondering if she should wait longer or just head back to her friend Emily's place to wait for them she ends up getting pulled through the 3rd painting in the series by Marco in order to now become part of the plan to save Marco and Iris from an evil countess set on destroying them and their love by keeping them apart.  

Following in line with the first two books Gabriella lands back in time (1902 Italy) where she is very near the edge of a cliff where the most handsome man she's ever seen rescues her after she falls over barely holding on to a branch.  Jack manages to pull her up and bring her back to his aunts home that she runs essentially a bed and breakfast out of... drama starts right away when the chef is too drunk to work thankful for rescue modern day chef Gabriella gets to work in the kitchen creating fabulous meals and making everyone wonder where she came from... of course she can't tell the truth so she plays up that she has a bit of memory loss.

Jack and Gabby are attracted to each other but Jack has big issues his evil cousin talked his father into disowning him while he was abroad and now holds his title the Earl of Witton and Marquis of Bainbridge, he needs money to fight his cousin to get back what is rightfully his by birth.  He turns to the idea of marrying a wealthy lady in order to make this happen and even makes the offer for Gabby to be his mistress... she of course is horrified by this and as she should turns him down flat.  

Jack's aunt Kitty has invited several guests to her Villa including the young lady (Cynthia) that Jack is considering for marriage her aunt (by marriage) who is very clearly up to something, Iris (undercover again) with her American friend from the second book Constance, and Gabby's friends Emily and Jenee plus their husbands and an art expert who is helping with the search for the final remaining painting that Iris and Marco need to obtain to end their curse and finally be together.  

A lot of the story takes place at the Villa so there is not as much history as the first few books and a lot of the book has the lead characters fighting their attraction and running away from each other (more or less) because of his current financial predicament.  When Gabby magically finds the missing painting by master painter Marco, Jack now has to figure out what to do with this find selling this painting could mean that he would be able to follow his heart and possibly marry for love instead of money... what to do?    

Some drama at the end and I felt that everything was wrapped up pretty quick but I enjoyed the series over all.  I liked that the ladies we started out with at the beginning of the series ending up finding each other again even though they were back in time.  

What is your favorite time travel romance?  

*time travel  *insta love/lust  *Brooding MMC  *happy ending  *chef   *some spice 

 *house party (kind of they are at a villa together)  *scholarly (Jack has a passion for archeology)

Dhara Shah: Hitched in Hawaii

 read in 2025

The author gave me an advanced readers copy (ARC) version of this book so maybe some of these kinks are worked out.

Dev is a billionaire on vacation in Hawaii he left home to get away from his parents trying to set him up in an arranged marriage.  First day of his trip he is looking at the scenery and sees a couple taking photographs but shortly after this he notices that the couple has an altercation and the lady storms off in tears throws her ring in the ocean then goes and sits by a fountain closer to his balcony.  Dev is a caring guy and doesn't want to see her hurting so he gets dinner then sits by her at the fountain... magically at this point he realizes that it is his elementary school friend Emily he hasn't seen her since 2nd grade but knows it's her because of her "honey brown" eyes (this is a main plot point as it is mentioned multiple times).  After his first dinner he invites Emily to second dinner which she accepts.  

Emily and her husband to be have split up instead of calling off the wedding because none of her family/friends coming have met him yet anyways Emily decides the next best thing is to simply find another groom for her wedding in 10 days named David or Dave... something similar (prediction... Dev sounds like Dave).  Dev agrees to be the groom because it will help solve his issue of avoiding a family arranged marriage and he is at least having a say in who he marries.  

What I did like about this book is it has multicultural representation and I appreciated that aspect of it.  The marriage of convenience trope is a hit or miss for me and I think this one is a miss for me but other people might enjoy it.  While Dev's family is a close group and sometimes meddle in his affairs they welcome Emily with open arms and begin to teach her their customs (Indian).  On Emily's side pretty much only her grandma is there for her and her grandma is ill her dying wish is to see another member of the family get married and Emily wants to make this happen for her.  

Dev is shown as "sweet" ish throughout the book towards Emily, other times it feels like he is talking to her like a child (Now Emily swim away from the turtle, don't touch the turtle).  Dev mentions many times he wants to give a real relationship a try and hopes they can fall in love in the year time frame they decided on to make their marriage work.  Instead of talking through issues Emily tends to give the silent treatment and/or cry.  Emily has a secret that she hasn't told Dev and it's a big one but instead of talking to him about it she approaches his best friend and puts him in the middle cause she doesn't want to hurt Dev... which of course leads to hurting Dev.  

The writing felt robotic to me I had a hard time getting into it the dialogue felt unnatural and somewhat repetitive (Emily has had 5 serious relationships and Dev has had 3; Emily has lots of shoes Dev doesn't yep noted).  Dev said Emily's name  like every time they spoke (even if they were already in conversation) just doesn't feel like how a real conversation would go and took me out of the story.

Have you read anything by this author?  would you recommend any of their other books?  

*billionaire  *marriage of convenience  *Dual POV  *destination wedding 

 *friends --> More   *multicultural romance   *vacation romance  *reconnection of old friends 

 *insta love  *some spice   *under 200 pages *happy ending

More possible spoilers that made me almost DNF this book  --> 

Again not sure if this might have been fixed in editing but the book could have used some more research into different things the couple were doing together and different things happening in the book: some examples *they went snorkeling and they were diving down under the water but wearing life vests which doesn't make sense you can't free dive with a life vest.* The couple are adults but Dev seemed to not be aware there were other forms of birth control (other than the pill until he talked to his friend who is a doctor).  *If someone is on Hospice they would not be attached to a bunch of tubes and wires.  *People in the book are doctors but are talking about other peoples medical issues without a release being signed (HIPPA).  *At the end of the book there is mention of burning shoes inside of a home... burning shoes can release toxic chemicals depending on what it's made of and they were burning multiple pairs of shoes inside of a closed space.     

*possible spoilers/somewhat me on a soap box 

I had a hard time liking the main characters early on after they take a trip to the mall and Emily asks Dev's opinion on colors for bra and panty sets and he tells her she looks "fat" in green (ouch!)

Same trip to the mall Emily has located 3 David's working at different stores/food shops our lead characters describe one David as "bald, one having crooked teeth and one with a butt as big as Russia" ... none of them asked to be the new husband leave these David's alone!.  Maybe this is a me thing but describing your lead characters as basically having perfect beach bodies is fine (good for them) but having your lead characters body shaming others isn't cool.  

Possible triggers: body shaming 

Alanis Winters How to Fake (and Break) an Engagement in Seven Days

 read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227993504-how-to-fake-and-break-an-engagement-in-seven-days

Alex Carrington is a workaholic he and his family are very wealthy (Billionaires) and he has been set in his ways for a long time.  His family always has a trip the same time every year and it's coming up his grandma deciding it's time for him to settle down get married and have children (she's not getting any younger)  has put her foot down if he doesn't pick someone to marry soon she is going to pick someone for him in the heat of the moment feeling flustered on this call he says that he already has a fiance... only of course he doesn't the first person he can think of is the woman he spends the most time with his assistant Anika who isn't a huge fan of his at the moment.  His family is both pleased and shocked by the news and they want to meet her as soon as possible, in fact she needs to come on vacation with them.  

Anika Patel is a hardworking woman with a heart of gold, while she didn't want to go into her family business she spread her wings moved across the country and landed on her feet working for Alex who is a bit grumpy and overbearing at times but she knows him well enough now to work with him and predict his needs before he asks like bringing his coffee in the morning the way he likes it even when he doesn't ask... that being said she is completely unprepared for him to ask her to be his fake fiance for the week of his families vacation her first thought is 100% NO, but in order to get her to agree to this plan he offers to pay off her medical bills which racked up the year before after she had to have a surgical procedure.

Anika knows immediately this will be a mistake but she goes anyways how is she going to keep her feelings for him fake he's so handsome and she has been drawn to him in the past how will she be able to separate those feelings?  When they are so close together and enjoying their time on vacation lines get blurred and things begin to feel not so fake, could they actually make a real relationship work?  

I really loved some of the side characters like Alex's grandma is adorable!  his meddling family is a great bonus they are in love with love.  Some not so likable characters make an appearance as well for a bit of drama.  

If you are looking for a feel good book that won't take long to read  give this one a try --> this book is a really cute quick read (it's a novella) the main story is happening over a week long vacation but nothing feels forced because the author does a really good job with pacing and showing that while the couple is currently in a "fake relationship" they are naturally drawn together as they have worked closely with each other for several years and have had an office "fling" in the past.

Have you read any other books by this author?  which one would you recommend to read next?

*Indie author  *Billionaire  *workaholic  *some spice  *2nd chance  *office romance *dual POV

 *fake fiance/relationship  *one bed  *forced proximity  *novella  *Grumpy MMC *happy ending

*has footnotes to read 

Lola Glass: Heat and Hard Candies

 Read in 2025

Book 3 in the Survival of the Mated series  

This is a Novella and the last in the series which I was disappointed about even though the first two books were similar I was really drawn to these books and read the whole series over a few days.  Since you have most of the same Fae competing (minus the one that won the season before) it would have been nice to read some of the other guys stories... maybe with a little bit more drama.  

It's almost like the author is just vaguely touching on the story and not getting into it too much since the books discuss that all these Fae males are "too" savage and possibly too dangerous for the Bachelorette version as these Fae are closer to their death, if they do not get a mate by a certain point in time they will fade from existence but none of the Fae males on the Island seemed all that dangerous in fact they seemed pretty mellow.  The story focuses on Kyle who in the first book is kind of like a "bro" who is kind of obnoxious but over the course of the first two books the reader comes to find that Kyle is a loveable guy who is even helping other Fae get to the end even if it means sacrificing a possible match for himself in the process. 

Launa is the new female lead of the sixth season of this survival show and she has watched all the other seasons and knows who she wants and hopefully if everything goes to plan she will end up as Kyle's mate in the end... hopefully he didn't win the previous season so he will still be there for her she has gone out of her way to get on this show instead of on the bachelorette like the Fae originally wanted her to be on.

Kyle wins the first task easily like he has during all the previous seasons of the show and intends to work with Launa to help her get to the end with the Fae she wants then he plans to enjoy his remaining few months with his family and see his little sister get married... that is until Launa is bold and tells her the guy she wants is him... this is unbelievable since he thinks that human women just don't like him. 

Since this is a novella it is super short and everything happens pretty quickly it's kind of an insta love situation, immediate steam on the first date, the tasks are pretty much the same as from the first few books which again was disappointing it's almost like the author didn't want to think of new challenges for them (and even at the end in the authors note she writes about how she wanted Kyle to get his story but couldn't really think of a longer story for him so it came out short and sweet).  

Even with the similarities throughout each book I enjoyed the series and would pick up a book by this author again.  

*novella  *short and sweet  *happy ending  *insta love  *fae *romantasy  *survival game show 

*Virgin female  *age gap (obviously since he's supposed to be like 300 years old)  *some spice 

possible spoiler:

There is really no drama, not really any conflicts in fact a lot of the guys don't even care about winning the date challenges since Launa spends time ignoring them when they are alone together on their date... pretty predictable and several days on the island and vote off of contestants is just a brief sentence.  It was a bit disappointing that the author didn't really seem to put more time into Kyle's story since it could have been a lot better with some changes.  

Lola Glass: Glamour & Gumballs

 Read in 2025

This is book 2 in the Survival of the mated series where we find human females dropped on an Island with 12 handsome eligible Fae bachelors.  

Erin is our lead female in this book and she isn't happy to be on this show where she is the end prize, Rhett from the first book is back again only instead of being the guard and host of the show like he's used to being the Fae leadership has pulled a swap on him behind his back not wanting to see Rhett fade from existence his friends mom (Cameron from book 1) and leader of the Fae has placed Rhett in the game as a contestant to find a mate.

Erin is immediately drawn to Rhett he is handsome and brooding he wants to be there on the Island for survival about as much as she does... which is not at all.

The Fae men returning to the game and learning from the first season that anyone who gets too close and friendly with the female ends up getting voted off try a new tactic of ignoring Erin as much as possible... how is Erin supposed to get to know anyone and make a huge decision to choose a mate when no one will get close to her.

Rhett becomes a safe option to spend time with everyone knows that he is perfectly happy losing the game and fading away.  Rhett has been burned before in a bad relationship with a human and rather than spend life in another bad relationship he's fine never getting close to anyone again... that is until Erin lights a fire inside of him she might just be the best thing that's ever happened to him.

Erin getting closer to Rhett wants to get to the end with him and to pick him as her mate but begins to question if she is just imagining their chemistry together and if it's one sided, what if she chooses him but he declines?  should she start looking at the other guys as actual life partners also what if her plan is found out and the other guys vote Rhett off? 

While I enjoyed this book, I did find it very similar to the first book almost like a control C control V situation from the first to second book in the way that the survivor tasks were basically the same in the same order and not described just kind of a summary of "then this happened" and the couple goes on their date together.  I haven't seen survivor in many years so maybe some seasons are like that where not much happens, or similar things happen (?)... I don't know I guess I felt more could have been done with the tasks and rewards some of that could have been changed up.  

I would still recommend the book to others it was a cute, quick read with a happy ending.

What is your favorite paranormal romance?  

*Fae  *Paranormal  *Survivor game  *Broody LMC  *Dual POV  *Spice  *forced proximity