AHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD!! Such an addictive read that I could not put down. I honestly had the absolute best time reading this. I have been itching for a fantasy read to grip me like this and I am so glad I finally gave this one a chance. Also, Miss Kemmerer, hello?! Consider me in awe that this is your first foray into adult fantasy cause you nailed that shit lmao.

This easily could have been another run of the mill love triangle between a princess, the king she's been ordered to marry, and the assassin (aka her best friend who she has always had feelings for) or even an MFM where she gets to be with both of them, but I LOVE what the author did with their dynamic. The way she wrote their chemistry and the unique relationship dynamics between, not only Jory with each of them, but also the developing connection between Ky and Asher?? Incredible. The tension was a palpable thing between all of them but also distinctly differed within each of their separate relationships with each other. It was absolutely fascinating and so well written.

I also really enjoyed the world building and the political intrigue - and I knew I would. I enjoyed her Defy the Night series and love the way she writes her fantasy worlds. It scratches just the right place in my brain - they're just intricate enough for me to hold my attention without overwhelming it. Accessible, enjoyable, and interesting, imo. The plot was fast paced and honestly had me invested the entire time. It was equally as important to me as the relationship development and as a girlie who loves character driven stories, that's a rare thing for me to say lmao.

Jory, Ky, and Asher were all compelling main characters in their own ways. Jory's bravery and her inner strength despite years of being sheltered and belittled were such admirable qualities of her. Also, the contrast of her naivety and inexperience paired with a bold willingness to dive right in was a surprise in the best ways. Ky was my favorite kind of mmc - fierce, commanding, and kind in the most gentle ways that only those closest to him would ever know. A misunderstood king that completely won me over. Asher was a bit of a lone wolf with all of the reasons to be skittish and distrusting. His backstory tore me to pieces, but it certainly soothed the ache to see him treated with the care and kindness he always deserved.

Last thing I have to talk about.. THE SPICE. Listen, it's a bit of a slow burn but there are definitely plenty of small moments to tide you over. The tension, the subtle touches and glances, the charged moments!!! They were just as good as the actual spice. Literally had me screaming. But the actual spice itself, so worth the wait. It was hot while also being so intimate and wonderfully tender. I was beyond giddy lmao. And that's cause they barely scratched the surface of what they can do.

Anyway, if it's not clear, I absolutely loved this. I thought the other book was out already so I am dying about that, but that just means I'll get to reread this in a couple of months and I can't wait!! I did this on audio by the way and HIGHLY recommend. Each narrator was fantastic.

Thank you to Ki Stephens for the ARC!

I was absolutely delighted to be back in the small town of Blue Willow with all of these characters. The charm, the cozy elements, the whimsy!! I love it all so much. Jack and Isla completely won me over in this book and I was rooting for them the entire time.

I love a good marriage of convenience so I was absolutely sat for this. Especially because it's so clear from the very start how much of a goner Jack is for Isla. Who doesn't love a man who is down bad for his own wife? We love to see it!! Jack was the most patient, compassionate, and generous man. The way he cared for Isla in all of the specific ways she didn't even know she needed only spoke to how intimately he knew her. To be loved is to be seen and this man definitely saw her. His love for her was patient, kind, and beautiful. It was also filled with him teasing and challenging her. It was everything.

Isla was my favorite kind of fmc - a little prickly, guarded, funny with a quick wit, and a huge heart. Her love for Mirabelle was apparent in everything that she did. She poured her heart into her orchard and worked so hard for it - it honestly was really moving how much it meant to her and how steadfast she was in protecting it. While she was entirely capable of doing it all on her own, I loved nothing more than seeing Jack come in to help share that load with her. I completely understood why her shared history with him made her a little standoff-ish at first. It was realistic, but I'm glad the she was able to eventually get to a point where she trusted him implicitly. It was a process that was worth the wait.

Aside from how much I loved the romance between Jack and Isla, I also really enjoyed the overarching plot with the grant and the grant committee. It was such a great way to bring Jack and Isla together, but it also made me super curious about Beau!! I love a good redemption arc and I sense a possibility for a second chance romance?? I don't know, but I hope I'm right lol.

I loved that we got plenty of Elsie and Wells in this - it made me so happy to see them thriving and living happily after their book. I am also dying for Winnie's book - I'm so here for whatever this connection is between her and Reid. He seems sweet and is so good with Goldie.

Anyway, definitely recommend! This is such a cozy series and I definitely see this being a comfort series that I will certainly revisit.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

There is something really special about a book that can make me both laugh out loud and quietly cry my eyes out in the same day. Dolly All the Time was effortlessly funny, poignant, and the perfect read for this summer. Annabel Monaghan knocked it out of the park with this book.

The small coastal town vibes were perfect. Whitfield was perfectly imagined in my head and I wanted nothing more than to be able to visit it myself. It was idyllic and filled with a lot of charm.

Fake dating is not always my favorite, but if anyone could get me to like it, it would be Annabel Monaghan, and she definitely made me [almost] reconsider my stance on this trope. The fake dating aspect was actually a lot of fun and I think one of the things that I truly appreciated was that she wasn't lying to her family or best friend about it (which is usually what I have gripes with) so I was able to actually enjoy it.

Their meet cute was not only entertaining, but it also perfectly highlighted their opposite positions in society. The differences between Stewart and Dolly were stark and it was kind of comical how often those differences were brought to light. They truly lived on opposite ends of a spectrum when it came to their financial means and positions in society - I mean, the whole damn town is named after his family lol. It was fun to see Stewart get a glimpse of how the rest of society lives - I love how it gave him some much needed perspective.

Dolly was the blueprint for the Eldest Daughter. I was in awe of how undeniably resourceful she was and the way she just took care of everything. It was also exhausting to see her stretch herself so thin. I loved how Stewart spoiled her (much to her dismay) and how Dolly got to live lavishly and selfishly for once in her life. I wanted nothing more for her than to enjoy it all.

Stewart was such a surprise. He came off a little entitled and spoiled at the start, but he came alive throughout this book. Dolly was such a good influence on him and it warmed my heart how, little by little, he started allowing himself simple pleasures like, enjoying a sunset picnic on his boat or taking a Saturday off to spend time with Dolly and Gus. His panic attacks and the pressure he was under killed me and Dolly couldn't have come at a more perfect time. He endeared himself to me the more he let her in and help ease some of that pressure. Seeing him fall in love with her was everything.

Which made the third act hurt so much more. My heart physically ached. Like, actual pangs. It was unbearable and I don't think I was excepting it to play out the way it did. I appreciate that it allowed the characters to grow separately and for them, mostly Stewart, to make such needed progress. I would have liked more groveling from Stewart, but regardless, I loved the ending. Dolly's own growth made me sob and I absolutely loved the way her character arc played through.

Also I'd be remiss not mention all of the side characters!! Dolly's family and Naomi specifically added so much heart to this story. I loved their characters and their interactions with Dolly.

Anyway, Annabel Monaghan has solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me. Truly the perfect read for the summer. Highly recommend!!

I had a theory early on about this book and didn't actually think it would come to fruition, but OUCH. It did and it was cruel, painful, and entirely unfair. Please note that I would not consider this a romance book.

The way the story unfolded and the manner in which it was told was masterfully done. Without revealing too much, I'll just say that the author wrote the timelines in such a sneaky way that allowed for the most emotional impact. If I hadn't known that this didn't have a traditional HEA, I wouldn't have expected it.

Carter and Evie's love could best be described as transcendent, boundless, everlasting. There was always this little invisible string binding them together and I loved the way we saw time and time again how connected they always were. Their story was one of love but also a lot of pain and heartbreak. I'm just so sad about the cruel turn of events and all the time they missed out on and could have had.

While I know Carter and Evie were the main focus (and don't get me wrong - I loved them) I think the part that moved me the most about this book was Steve's dedication as a father and the unconditional love he always held for not only Lainey (sp? I did the audio) but for Evie as well. Despite the tragedy at the end of this, the only tears I shed were with quotes from Steve where he showed how much he loved them. It was pure and heartwarming.

The ending was bittersweet. Indisputably devastating, but I also love how it brought Lainey and Evie closer together and how they honored Carter and Mayluna in such a beautiful way.

I listened to the audiobook and while I enjoyed the narrator for Carter, I don't know how I felt about the narrator for Evie. Her choice of narration style felt incongruent with the story at hand. It felt too upbeat and cheerful sometimes, which is fine, but I wanted more emotion during some of the more devastating moments in this book. It just kind of took me out of it - the energy did not match the words, in my opinion.

Ok this was a cute summer romance!! Sweet, quick, and filled with diverse characters with a lot of heart. I loved the sense of community and how the author incorporated different aspects of various Latine cultures into the story, especially because it felt true to the area of Florida they were in.

Indya was such a hard working, strong willed woman and I loved how she stood by her convictions. She was an incredible role model for Gia and though I understood her need for control and reluctance to ask for help, I'm so glad she eventually allowed Santiago in to help share the load. She deserved his love and everything he had to offer.

Santiago was the definition of a good man. Not only was he not here for all that machismo, toxic masculinity bullshit, he was also such a good dad. The way he was so dedicated to working hard for his daughter to bring her to the U.S. was beyond sweet. Every girl could be so lucky to have a dad like him. And the way he worshipped Indya!! Ugh, you love to see a man show a strong, independent woman the respect she deserves and love her more for her bossy attitude.

The pacing was just a little rushed for me. I would have wanted some of the relationship development between Santiago and Indya to have been expanded on just a bit. It felt like it went from their first time, to their first fight, then to their love confessions. There was a lot of potential there between them and they had such a solid foundation, but I wanted more from them. Other characters and plot lines also had a ton of potential but felt a little underdeveloped as well. Overall enjoyed this tho!!