Quick Lit: March 2018

Quick Lit: March 2018

• Apr 6, 2018

I read 30 books in March – a record for me! I was on a major reading binge and didn't want to do anything else in the evenings. And that's the reason I barely posted anything on the blog in March, though I did manage to review Still Me by Jojo Moyes. If you're looking for more recommendations, check out the Quick Lit linkup hosted by Modern Mrs. Darcy.

I'm reviewing 9 of the 30 books in today's post, but I've got different plans for the others. In addition to the books below, I re-read Illumine and Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff before moving on to Obsidio, which I'll have a full-length review for soon. I also re-read Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Unite Me and Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi before flying through Restore Me. I wanted to talk about my experience re-reading that series + my thoughts on the newest, so that's coming soon (I hope haha!). Then, I devoured the Devil Riders series by Anne Gracie and Survivors' Club series by Mary Balogh – and decided to do something special for both. The last book I read was Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas, and I actually just forgot to add that to this post so I'll just include it in my next Quick Lit update. Okay, whew! 

THE DUKE AND I BY JULIA QUINN | At the beginning of the month, I found myself in the mood for some historical romance and decided to give the Bridgerton series a shot. It has a number of elements that sounded right up my alley, including a fake courtship that turns into something more, but it just didn't quite work for me. I hated the revenge element, and I was frustrated with the hero -- even though I knew I ought to feel more sympathetic. Then, the heroine does something infuriating and unacceptable... Although I liked the family and the humor, I was just So Okay With It overall. I was invested in the couple at all! And now I can't decide if I'll continue this series, but I am curious.

PRINCE IN DISGUISE BY STEPHANIE KATE STROHM | I love this cover and the summary definitely had my name written all over it, so I couldn't resist buying it when the Kindle edition went on sale. I was soon swept up in this delightful story! It combined so many fun things: Scottish castles, reality TV, pop culture references, complicated family dynamics and a sweet romance. It's a little cheesy/fluffy, but that didn't bother me. I laughed so much while I was reading, highlighted so many quotes and embraced the feeling of wish fulfillment that I got while reading. Teenage me would have eaten this story up -- and the adult me So Enjoyed It! Sometimes a cute, escapist read is just what you need.

THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, THE CROWN OF EMBERS AND THE BITTER KINGDOM BY RAE CARSON | I didn't listen to any audiobooks in January or February, but I knew I needed to get back in the habit. I finally decided on a re-read of the Girl of Fire and Thorns series – which I'd read and loved back in 2013 but had never revisited. I was immediately drawn in my Jennifer Ikeda's narration, and I'd happily recommend the audiobooks for that aspect alone! But, thankfully, the characters make the story worth reading, too. I enjoyed Elisa's personal growth, swooned over the romance, gasped over the twists and turns in her journey and cheered over its resolution. I So Loved It! 

ROOMIES BY CHRISTINA LAUREN | As soon as I started this book, I found myself unable to stop until I'd finished reading it. I gravitate towards marriage of convenience stories in historical romance, so it's no surprise that I loved this modern twist! The characters were charming, the NYC setting was perfect, the banter was adorable, and the romance was swoony. What more can you ask for?! It read like a rom com, which was exactly what I needed at the time. Plus, I loved reading about characters in their 20s going through (mostly) relatable things. I found a few things a bit crude (that's my Southern side showing, I suppose) but that's just a disclaimer rather than a complaint. I So Enjoyed It! 

MARRY IN HASTE AND MARRY IN SCANDAL* BY ANNE GRACIE | I just recently read and reviewed Marry in Haste, but I decided to re-read it before Marry in Scandal to refresh my memory because I've read so many other historical romances since then. And sometimes they start to blend together! I don't have anything new to say about it aside from the fact that I So Loved It just as much the second time. Cal and Emm have such a sweet story, and I was glad I re-familiarized myself with the family history. And when I read the summary for the second book and realized the hero was Cal's friend? That made me all the more excited to find out what would happen next! I do love Gracie's rakes.

I was excited for sweet Lily to fall in love and reform the rake, but the biggest surprise of the book was the way she stands up for herself! Her brother, sister and niece have such strong personalities that for me she always faded into the background when they were around. She certainly displays her strengths in this book! I loved that she saved herself from a dangerous situation, helped the hero find peace with his past, and began to find her identity outside of her learning disability. I was a bit less in love with the hero -- but that's just because it took him a long time to let down his emotional walls. I wanted a bit more relationship development between them, too, but I still So Enjoyed It overall.

DEVIL IN SPRING BY LISA KLEYPAS | I enjoyed the Wallflowers series last year but wasn't sure I'd read more from Kleypas. Her stories are just a bit too sexy for me personally, which means I end up skimming/skipping parts, but I do love her characters. So, I've been torn. But when I found out that the third book in the Ravenels series involved the child of a Wallflower, I couldn't resist! Gabriel and Pandora are so dang adorable, and I was so invested in their relationship! I liked the unconventional heroine, the witty dialogue and the Wallflowers references and cameos. I don't think I'll read the other books in the series, but this one definitely ranks as a So Enjoyed It. 

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

What have you been reading lately?