Falling Into Us
By Denise Hunter
3.75⭐ Denise writes the most beautiful stories, and this book was the perfect way to kick off my fall reading! She paints a stunning, scenic picture of the farm and its surrounding small town, capturing a cozy autumn vibe without overdoing it. I loved Mason and Gabby, their relationship slow burning romance that kept the story moving beautifully without ever getting boring.
Mason’s family is incredibly kind, warm, welcoming. I’d love to be a part of it myself and it was wonderful to see Gabby find her place among them. Though she has a small, supportive circle of chosen family, she still carried a deep void from losing her mother and dealing with an absent father. Watching this love story unfold gave her exactly what she had been missing all along.
Ghalen A Romance In Black
By Walter Mosley
4⭐ I was a little concerned at the beginning because the writing style felt a bit confusing and hard to read. However, I switched to the audiobook around chapter 4, and everything clicked! I realized the story was being told from the perspective of someone with a learning disability or maybe even autism. This turned out to be a beautiful story about love, not just romantic love, but all the different types of love you experience over a lifetime. It’s not a romance novel, but it is truly a love story.
Loving someone whom society deems “different” is incredibly hard, and looking past the ridiculee specially from your own family is even more difficult. Yet, this book shows what it means to experience a beautiful, pure love. Galen was born from his parents’ own beautiful love story, but he was forced to grow up fast, enduring life experiences meant for someone twice his age. Following his journey and watching him grow into adulthood is challenging, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at the same time. If you are an empath, I apologize in advance before you pick up this book!
Stand Clear
By Scarlet Ibis James
3.75⭐ I don’t always read short stories, but when I do, It’s always Scarlet Ibis James! I absolutely love Scarlet’s writing style, it’s so beautiful, poetic, and immersive that you instantly feel connected to the characters. Even though I’ve never been to New York, the gritty, noisy atmosphere of the city is described so vividly that I could completely picture it.
Scarlet manages to pack an incredible amount of depth into a 90 minute audio program. I was immediately drawn into Julia’s world. Julie and Damon’s love story is a perfect example of how the choices we make regarding love, relationships, and career play out and shape our lives. Sometimes, finding yourself is more important than a career or a relationship at certain points in life, and making the right decision can ultimately lead to a happy ending. While I’m still not entirely sure if I would have made the same choice Julie did, watching her life come together and witnessing her final decision was absolutely beautiful!
The Pleasures Of Others
By Sasha Arden
4⭐ If you love a spicy read, this is definitely the book for you! It starts out bold and ends boldly. I absolutely love stories featuring women later in life, older characters who have truly lived and are still living out loud, rather than shrinking or disappearing with age. I highly recommend this not just to older readers, but to younger ones too. This is the perfect reminder that life doesn’t stop just because of a number on a clock!
Beignets and Big Feelings
By Leslie Gray Streeter
3.75⭐ What can bring a family together faster than a funeral, or tear them further apart? This book was a quick, fun ride through years of family drama that has left one sister, Mona, guarded and estranged from the rest of the crew.
Enter Grandma Olivia via her will, who is wonderfully messy. Her last wish is for her daughters to finally put their beef to bed, so she sends the family on a trip packed with shenanigans and long lost loves. I was absolutely here for all of it! As the family navigated their various ups and downs, the story managed to be both deeply emotional and incredibly funny, all set with the back drop of beautiful New Orleans . It is a sweet, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
