No Room in the Inn by Gracie Ruth Mitchell - Book Review

 

 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres:

Christian Fiction, Christmas Romance,

RomCom, Christian Romance,

Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance

Blurb:

My Granny leaves me two things when she passes away: her dilapidated old inn and a letter encouraging me to have a Hallmark-worthy Christmas here in Woodfield.

But I’ve seen enough Hallmark movies to know this isn’t one. Because the inns in Hallmark movies? They don’t have squatters. The heroines of Hallmark movies? They never burn their gingerbread cookies. And even though all Hallmark films are about the joy of family, I’d rather stick my head in a snowbank than reconcile with my parents. Nope; Granny’s last requests are going to have to go unfulfilled.

And the town Santa Claus, who's way younger and way more attractive than any Santa should be? He's going to have to stop his flirting. Otherwise, I'll never want to leave this place.

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“I’m nice,” he says quickly. He looks over at me, his smile softening. “I’m nice.”

And the air between us seems to thicken suddenly, not because he’s touching me or close to me but because of the way he’s looking at me.

Gracie has done it again! I fell in love with her first book, Eye of the Beholder, and I most DEFINITELY fell in love with this book as well!! And most of y'all probably know this, but I loveeee watching Hallmark movies...so I was very excited for the Hallmark "not Hallmark" aspect of the book's plot. Spoiler alert: it didn't disappoint. 😉

points to you if you know what hallmark movies this is from...

Nixon was as swoony as they come, and poor Willow was a perfect clumsy/awkward hot mess lol--one that I could totally relate to. I'm so happy we got to see both of their POVs; I feel like that really added to the story! And what a STORY. Obviously, the main plot is "cliche" but there were little twists and turns that kept things interesting/enjoyable. 👀🙌

i was totallyyyy there for it lol

It's timeeeeee for some highlightsssss!!

Nixon turns to look at me when I enter. He pauses in the middle of loosening his tie. It’s a strangely intimate sight, and weirdly attractive.

📖

“Willow,” he says from behind me. I stop, but I don’t turn around. “I’m sorry,” he says, sounding frustrated. There’s a beat of silence, then, “I just—I’m not the person who’s going to tell you what you want to hear all the time. You asked what I thought; I answered truthfully.”

👀👀👀👀👀

📖

A minute or so later, Willow speaks again. “You good?” she says, her voice soft.

My heartttttt. This part was so precious.

📖

What I want is to throw the whole vegetable tray in the trash to make room on the table for more brownies, but that feels like overstepping.

YES. GIRL. YES.

📖

Guilt pierces me yet again, and I find myself wishing I could just hold her. She’d never let me, of course. Not now.

📖

Although he’s awake when they come, he spends the entire time in silence, doing nothing but glaring at them while he sucks down two mugs in a row of hot chocolate.

📖

“It’s pretty bad,” I agree. “Green’s not my color.”

“Nah, green looks great on you,” he says absently, surprising me.

Note: I loveeee when guys absently make comments like thatttt

📖

Someone needs to say something. Someone needs to look away. Someone needs to break this weird stalemate thing we have going on.

Note: Awkwardddd lol

📖

I sigh, reaching over and turning off the light. “Your granddaughter is kind of a pain,” I say into the darkness. I know Granny’s gone, but I direct my words to her anyway. I swear I almost hear the old woman chuckle.

Once again, I could share SO many more highlights...BUT YOU JUST NEED TO READ THIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF.  👏 👏 👏

As far as content goes: No language! There were some mild innuendo/suggestive comments, including a remark about not being a "one-night-stand kind of girl." Remarks about "fetishes" were also made. At one point, Willow mentally realizes that Nixon is going to see the bare skin of her back/the exposed portion of her lacy red bra. Willow's best friend's abusive ex is mentioned in a negative light, but there weren't any triggering details. Nixon was shirtless several different times (I personally was fine with those moments, but I know other readers may not feel the same way). Grief and resentment are two major feelings that are experienced in the story; and even though the book is considered Christian fiction, the "religious elements" weren't overbearing.

While the ending felt a bit rushed, I absolutely enjoyed this sweet (with a touch of spice 😉) Christmas story! Nixon and Willow's chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning...and I loved how they helped each other grow despite their differences/insecurities. I definitely recommend that you add this one to your TBR!!

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About the Author:

Gracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance and romantic comedy are her passion.

Falling for My Nemesis by Tia Souders - Book Review

 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres:

Contemporary Romance, YA Romance, YA Fiction, YA Contemporary, Sweet Romance

Blurb:

Spending time with my nemesis never felt so good.

Carson Brooks has been my enemy since the day he moved to Sweet Water and tried to drown me in a rogue wave.

Not only are we enemies, but we're not quiet about it either. We're polar opposites. Where I'm a perfectionist and methodical in all things, he is carefree and the life of the party.

While Carson tries to trip me in the halls on a regular basis, I'm busy glaring holes through his disgustingly thick skull. Oh, and did I mention I'm best friends with his little brother? Talk about inconvenient.

But it's our senior year and my life is unraveling. My parents are at each other's throats, I have yet to hear back about early admissions at the college of my choice, and I have no date to the Snowflake Ball. So, when Carson whacks me in the face with a basketball during gym class, I snap. I go for his throat--literally.

Now Sweet Water's principal is giving us a choice: face suspension or find a way to work together on the holiday Angel Project.

Great. As if living in a warzone weren't enough, now I have to spend time with the enemy.

But as tensions rise and we begin spending time together, I realize there's more to Carson Brooks than his cocky exterior. Maybe I like him more than I thought. Maybe a little too much. 

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"Sorry about your eye,” he murmured, his gaze drifting over my face.

“Yeah, you look really sorry.”

He raised his hands in surrender, but one corner of his mouth tipped up in a crooked smile. “It was an accident, I swear."

Hate-to-love books are my jam, y'all. I want the tension, the banter, the mixed feelings...ALL OF IT! And Falling for My Nemesis DELIVERED. Plus, it was a Christmas read!

Carson was just...ugh, a dreamboat. Was he also an annoying, confusing pain-in-the-neck sometimes? Yes. But his sweet moments were just so incredibly swoony. And even though he constantly came across as an insensitive guy, he definitely had a gentle/caring side...he just didn't always show that in the best way.

As for Mia, her need to keep it altogether/be as perfect as possible really hit home for me (seeing as I'm a type one) and her struggles were just really relatable.

It's always interesting to see how the dynamic between a fun-loving/easygoing character and an uptight/responsible character is going to play out...and I loved how it happened for Mia and Carson.

i'm not a hardcore hunger games fan, so i feel like a little bit of a fraud rn...

Like most romance plots, there usually has to be some misunderstandings...and while a lot of people don't enjoy when the main leads don't communicate, I honestly enjoy it when it's realistic/done right, which was the case with this book. Mia and Carson held back from each other because of their insecurities and doubts, their hesitancy was understandable. The ending, however, wasn't my favorite. It really just felt rushed...and unresolved? There was an epilogue though, so that made me VERY happy!

i love epilouges lol.

Who's ready for some HIGHLIGHTSSSS?! 

The silence that followed stretched on so long I thought he might not answer, then he said, “Don’t you think we’re a little old for the fighting? We both leave for college at the end of the summer. We’re eighteen. We’ve had nine years of fighting. I don’t want to fight anymore.”

“Because?”

You like me. I wanted him to say it—urged him to say the words. And that desire both frightened and excited me because it was so full of possibility.

“Because I want to be your friend.”

📖

“Be here when I get back?” His eyes scanned my face earnestly, causing my stomach to turn inside out.

📖

“First of all, I know you more than you think, but if I don’t, it’s not because I don’t want to. Maybe I want to know you better. Have you ever thought of that?”

📖

She pointed toward the folder in Carson’s grubby paws, and I glared at him. The second we exited her office, it was mine. No way was he getting control of this entire thing. I was more organized, the responsible one.

Note: Relatableeee

📖

“You don’t always have to do what makes everyone else happy, you know. Sometimes you can say no. Do what you want.”

Gahhhh, the STRUGGLE.

📖

I glanced back at him to see his dark hair was messy like he had been nervously running his hands through it as I had wandered through his personal space, making my assessment. Did this make him nervous, I wondered? Me invading his privacy, staring at his things? Maybe he had secrets. The thought stirred my inner villain.

📖

But instead, he gently brushed a fingertip over the sensitive skin. I swallowed, frozen, and afraid this was some sort of mind game. Just in case, I couldn’t let my guard down an inch.

“Look, Mia, I—”

“Hey, Mia, when’d you get—” Ethan flung the front door open, cutting Carson off.

Note: GO. AWAY. ETHAN.

📖

Carson’s voice grew soft as he turned me around in his arms to face him. “But she puts too much pressure on herself to be perfect. And I hate that. It eats away at me when I see it.”

Note: Ahhh, gotta love fellow over-thinkers

📖

Carson laughed and reached out, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, sending shock waves up my spine. “Don’t overthink this, Mia. It will be fun.”

Note: Type ones are shaking

📖

I squared my shoulders and tipped my chin, ready for a fight. When he stepped closer, I couldn’t help myself as I asked, “Why’d you invite me here? Was it just to embarrass me? Because if that’s the case, then congratulations. You win.”

Carson exhaled and raked a hand through his thick brown hair. “I invited you because I wanted you here.”

“But why?”

“I wanted to see you. Outside of school. Outside of the Angel Tree stuff. But I didn’t think you’d bring Ethan. I mean, I guess I should’ve known. You guys do everything together, but. . .” He shrugged.

📖

“I don’t hate you, Mia,” he murmured.

I tried to shove him again, but he had nowhere to go, so instead, he pulled me closer. And as he slid his hands up and down my arms, I shivered. Even when he tipped my chin up to meet his eyes, goosebumps covered my skin everywhere he touched.

What was he doing?

Then he leaned down and whispered in the shell of my ear, “I’m sorry.” When he pulled away, his gaze was soft on mine.

I want to share sooooo many more highlights, but I don't want to spoil anything...SO YOU JUST NEED TO READ THIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF.

As far as content goes: Although there wasn't any language, I wouldn't personally consider the book an "all clean read." A possible "illicit affair" was mentioned. Voodoo dolls were mentioned. A flirty characters was described with having "ample cleavage" on display. "Stoners" and "crackheads" were mentioned. Streaking and skinny dipping were mentioned. Underage drinking happened at a party. A guy that Mia dated in the past was told that she was "secretly into girls." The phrase "pimpin' it" was used. A character cupped his crotch after being threatened by a: "you'll be one ball short" comment.

The kisses and chemistry were UNBELIEVABLY good, and the angst between Mia and Carson drove me crazy in the best "hate-to-love" way possible. 😉

Did I say that Carson was swoony? He was honestly just flat-out sexy. AND he also had the cutest vulnerable moments. Lastly...perfume. That's all I'm going to say. PERFUME.

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About the Author:

Tia Souders is a city girl turned country. If life on a farm isn't interesting enough, renovating a century home with her hubs has kept her on her toes. There's nothing like discovering a fried squirrel in your furnace to make life fresh again.

She's an unapologetic wine-loving, coffeeholic with a sweet tooth. In-between wrangling her two children and drinking copious amounts of coffee, she reads and writes stories that tug on your heartstrings.

Visit her at tiasouders.com and join her newsletter for sneak peeks and more!!