becsbookshelf_

🗓 December

Better late the never right. In December I read 13 books and of those I had two five star reads.

• Big Nick Energy. Elizabeth always brings her A game, while this is a Christmas read you could read it any time of the year. If you love a grumpy sunshine, single parent, age gap, cowboy trope this ones for you!

• Sable Peak. Though 2023 I made my way through the Eden’s series and naturally devoured it. I’ve been waiting for Mateo’s story and my lord it didn’t disappoint. Small town, pilot, single dad, incredible family and some hot af tension! If you loved Yellowstone add these to your TBR stat.

What was your 5 star read/s for December? Or what was your biggest December letdown?

“I don’t think bad things happen for a reason. I think sometimes life is just s**tty, and sometimes it’s s**ttier for some people than it is for others. And I don’t think there’s any reason behind it besides where you just happen to be born. And you and me just happened to be born in different s**t piles.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

The one thing Levi never got over was his first love Savannah Shaw. Dealt the cards she never should have endured she’d crawl through his window for shelter and safety. He was forbidden to see her but his need to protect her was more important.

He lost her the first time and was so lucky to find her again, only for time to not be on their side. Years later Sav is now the rockstar she always wanted to be and he’s made a name for himself in their hometown though his business. Seeing her was a shock to the system.

His daughter is his priority, but when her idol happens to be in town fomo long a movie a chance encounter sets of a chain of events. She’s no longer the girl who needs his protection, she’s a woman who wants a love only one man could provide.

This was one of my last years for 2023 and it was so hard not to put it down. If it wasn’t the silly season I’d have finished it in a sitting, its a small town, one true loves, single parent, rockstar, second chance romance full of family drama, secrets and lies. I really need to read more of backlist in 2024!

“I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It felt like someone had slipped glass on my face. And that someone had given me permission to see.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Vera Gallagher craves nothing more than a simple life after years of running and forgetting. Determined not to waste another day of freedom Vera is setting herself up for the future.

The Eden’s have been nothing but welcoming since her uncle introduced her to his found family. She didn’t see Mateo Eden coming and from the moment she laid eyes in him her crush intensified. Though he doesn’t see her.

He’s handsome, smart, humble and a down right good person who loves his family. Vera falls back to the mind set of being to broken and damaged for a normal life and one night makes a drunken comment to change it all.

When I say I love this series, I mean it. Every book in this series is a ten and Mateo’s story didn’t disappoint. I knew it was going to be jam and the tension was hot! I’m sad this series has come to an end. If you’re looking for a remote small town series with Yellowstone vibes pick this up stat. now stocks these babies in Aus, run don’t walk.

 

Soaking up all the time with my faves over the last week 🫶🏻 Minimal reading, maximum memories.

Rounding out the last few reviews from 2023 with this little cute read.

Genre Young Adult
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Bailey starts a new job at a hotel water park and is taken by surprise when she sees Charlie there. Bailey met him a year ago on a flight after her parent’s divorce. Charlie’s temperament and commentary was infuriating.

As the polar opposites spend more time together they begin to rub off on one another another. They make a bet on on a couple getting together as Charlie is adamant members of the opposite s*x can’t be friends and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

As they track the romantic progress Charlie and Bailey bury their growing feelings. They decide to fake fate in order to shake up Bailey’s mums new relationship. And the rest is history!

This was a cute little read. On paper I should have loved it however I think my guilty pleasure genre of YA is slowly fizzling out. If you’ve loved Painter’s other books you’ll love this one too, it’s got the same great character evolution and story line. Thank you for the gifted copy. This is in stores now.

 

I should probably post some book content soon, holidays have just been too good. Visited the amazing with my internet friend from the UK, who I finally got to me in real life

Forever grateful for this platform and the incredible people I’ve become friends with 🫶🏻 hope you’re all enjoying your holidays.

Welcome to My top three reads for 2023

For me it’s impossible to pick just one favourite read for the year. I managed to narrow it down to these three, something in these books has stayed with me and these are ones I’ll always remember.

The Seven Year Slip. A story of love, life, loss, heartbreak, grief and doing what makes you happy. Please don’t skip the authors note in the book, it just adds to the real and raw emotions poured into it.

Underneath the Sycamore Tree. This book is for the sad girl and boys. Highly recommend, must read masterpiece. Get the tissues and please check the trigger warnings.

Lola in the Mirror. I honestly don’t know where to start with this one other than read it. It’s a big book with even bigger feelings. One I’ll never forget. A true Dalton masterpiece.

If you take anything from my reviews this year take these three and add them to your TBR if you’ve not read them already.

Happy New Years my honeys, here’s to another year of great reads, reading what you want to when you want to and dnfing more! No ones got time for books that you don’t enjoy!

Bec x

Top Ten of Twenty Twenty Three

This was a little harder than I expected it to be but alas here are my top ten reads for the year. I had 26 5 star reads equating to 12% of my reading total. Romance taking the win this year. In no particular order:

• Binding 13
• Wildfire
• Lessons in Chemistry
• The Seven Year Slip
• Underneath the Sycamore Tree
• The Stars are on our Side .jenniferhartmann
• The Fall of Bradley Reed
• What Might Have Been
• Lola in the Mirror
• The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding

What were your highlight reads for the year and what are you looking forward to reading in 2024?

Book Club number 12 for 2023. Some incredible reads and some not so memorable. Missing our Susy in this one 🫶🏻

January - Mad Honey ⭐️4
February - We Have Always Lived in a Castle 2⭐️
March - Ordinary Day 4⭐️
April - Hitchhikers Guide DNF
May - Dark Matter 3⭐️
June - The Alice Network 3⭐️
July - Wrong Place, Wrong Time 4⭐️
August - The Grace Year 4⭐️
September - The Nature of Witches 3⭐️
October - Eggshell Skull 4⭐️
November - Throttled 2⭐️
December - Mother Daughter Murder Night 3⭐️

Are you part of a Bookclub?

“You can’t sit around waiting for someone else to guess what you want. You have to ask for it, even if it’s scary”

Genre Mystery Thriller
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Lana Rubicon is a bad ass business woman who built her realestate her realestate empire. Cancer has her leaving her LA home to spend time with her daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack.

Jack finds a dead body while kayaking and quickly becomes the lead suspect. The Rubicon woman are thrown into the deep end and Lana thinks it’s time to play detective to prove her grand daughter isn’t the killer.

They unpack a whole lot of family drama and small down disputes to uncover an even bigger story. The women will stop at nothing to band together and ensure justice is served, bringing them closer together than they thought they would ever be!

I really enjoyed this story and the character dynamics. The three generations working together for some good old fashioned who did it fun. This will be a great movie or show. Perfect ending to 2023 Bookclub reads.

Spoilt rotten at book club today by the last .jenniferhartmann I needed to complete my collection and the new .hastings I’m excited to read!

Such an amazing day with my favourites 🤍

Some of the books I was lucky enough to get for Christmas! I cannot wait to use the kindle holder.

I need some book recommendations to spend my gift card on, what’s your favourite reads from 2023?

Merry Christmas book lovers 🎄

I hope you’ve all been spoilt with love and books today and get to eat and drink all the amazing things these holidays. For anyone not able to be with their loved ones today, thinking of you and sending you some holidays love.

Merry Christmas, Bec x

“She could have gotten frost bite.” “I did,” I told him, almost cheerfully. “Frost totally bit me.”

Genre Dark Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄🎄/5

Rachel left the place she grew up never looking back. She swore she’d never return once she made it as a journalist. But here she is. Scouting a story in her version of hell. The three reasons she survived just happen to still be there!

There were kids disappearing and the story was too big to miss it. Even if it meant facing her past and reliving the darkest parts.

This won’t be for everyone, please check the trigger warnings before you dive into this dark Christmas novel, this list is longer than Santa’s list. Recommended for mature readers 18+ If you’re on the naughty list, love Tate James and her signature flare don’t skip this one!

“How do you want me, Saint Nick? Are you going to use me like a good little ho, ho, ho?”

“But none of that matters because we know that we’re each other’s endgame. And that’s all that matters to me right now.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄🎄/5

Aspen Moore has gotten to her point in her career where she’s realised fame and money can’t buy your happiness. She’s a singer and actress who followed her dreams and made it big. But when a scandal derails her reputations she decides to head home for the holidays.

She reconnects with her first love Roman and so quickly they fall into a happy place, where she needs to reminder herself to keep it strictly friendly. She knows she’s not staying in Pennsylvania, LA is now her home. But their chemistry is undeniable. Would she give up everything for the shot at a normal life with Roman?

Let’s be real, I downloaded this for the incredible playlist attached and perfectly panned out for each chapter and it really blew my expectations out of the snow. The storyline was perfect, so much love and drama as damaged to unpack, the duel timeline flicking from the present to the past. Small town, best friends who missed their moment and life has just carried on! I didn’t want it to end.

Here I am with another christmasy romcom!

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄/5

There’s never really a great time to bump into an ex, when you’re almost naked is definitely not indeed. Maya is back in her home down after loosing her boyfriend, flat and job. Sam never left and has picked up a job on the side out of town to make some extra cash.

Sam wasn’t the distracted Maya was looking for but their old friendship came back instantly, highlighting how good they were and never got to be. A story of love, loss and finding your happy!

I did go into this thinking it was going to be a ex rivalry where they hated each other, though they never really dated in the first place. Cute, and for anyone looking for an easy Christmas read.

This review is for all my burnt out girls!

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄/5

Love a free audio Christmas book thank you , it was super cute and short and sweet.

I’m burnt out and so behind on reviews. So this is it.

Spoiler, she didn’t loose him.

“You sleep in the candy shop every night, and you want me to believe you’ve never thought of tasting the candies?”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄/5

Nikki is a grinch but even the grinch doesn’t like being alone at Christmas. She’s a strong independent woman who doesn’t have time to date.

Her sister’s engagement to her dream man sent her over the edge, so this year she decides it’s time to call in the big guns because she can’t spend this Christmas alone. Swiping on the newest dating app until she finds exactly what she’s looking for.

Her job gives her access to an endless list of actors to choose from and she settles on hiring a boyfriend to get her family off her back. Missing business and pleasure isn’t so easy when that Christmas magic behinds to rub off. Picking the perfect man comes to bite her in the butt!

A cute little Christmas read packed with family drama, friendship, relationships and lots of mistletoe! I didn’t realise this was apart of a series, luckily it can be read as a stand alone!

“There’s no escaping either of us, sweets. If you decide to run, we’ll follow.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄🎄/5

Reagan returns home for Christmas and the last things she expected was to reunited with her old best friends. It’s been years since they were together and seeing them awakens old feelings.

When their families decide to celebrated customer together the three of them take a trip to the mountains for a weekend of skiing. No one could predict the stop that hit them causing them to be snowed in with only one beds!

Hail the untraditional novel of giving and experimenting. This one was short and packed with spice, won’t be for everyone but was a nice spicy surprise! If you love a one bed MMF romance this ones for you!

*xchange

“The thing about the truth is, it never really goes away.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄/5

Melody is the daughter of one of musics biggest acts. She prefers to spend her time restoring books and staying out of the tabloids way. A producer approaches her with the offer of a lot of moves reunite her mother’s band on love tv. Mel isn’t sold until she sees Beat.

Beat is the total opposite to Mel, loves the camper is always in the limelight and will Cham the pants off of anyone.

Mel and Beat set off to try and make a Christmas miracle unfold. Getting these two power houses back together becomes a lot harder than they first anticipated, the past always comes back to haunt you at some point. Chaos brings them together and their spark is undeniable.

Not my favourite Bailey novel, I didn’t love the MC’s or the storyline. I’m a Bailey super fan and will still continue to read anything she writes. Bring on Fangirl!

Buddy read this one with .adventures.with.rach .and.pages .view a& .reads always my fav bunch of smutty murder lovers to discuss all things books with!

“He’d ruined me. Devastated. No one would ever compare and silly me, I hoped I wouldn’t have to find out.“

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄🎄/5

Cleo would rather have no Christmas than spend another year at her fathers holiday party, pretending life it perfect and smacking small talk with shallow colleagues and her step mothers click of trophy wives. She made the decision to leave and escape reality in the small town of Quincy.

Just when she begins unpacking and thought she’d finally gained her freedom Austin Myles knocks on the door and ruins everything. He’s the head of her fathers security and has been ordered to get her back to California for Christmas. Cleo puts her foot down and refuses to leave, the game of compromise begins and when they do eventually leave Quincy everything between them is changed.

I read this one out of order but it was amazing on its own. We love a forbidden romance and an independent woman who knows that she wants. I need more of this series!

Thank. You for gifting me this beauty I adore you 😘🎁🎄

“You start up that s**t again, I do not care if we’re playing this safe and slow, I’m throwing this f**kin’ tree on the ground, tugging your sweet sweatpants down, and spanking your ass until you drop it.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄/5

Connor Finch matches with a single mum on tinder and brings her along to Thanksgiving at his Fathers house, along with her two daughters because he refused to leave them alone on their first Thanksgiving post a bitter divorce.

When she arrives at the Christmas Fram she meets the tall, built, golden retriever cowboy who spills the beans on the elf in the shelf. Furious she thanks him for telling them about it as it’s another thing for her to add to the list.

Nick drives two hours every night to deliver the elf, move him and create some magic in their lives. What starts are something innocent very quickly becomes Nick winning her head and heart over. Oh and it’s spicy AF 🌶️

If you read one Christmas novel this year make it this one if you love a grumpy sunshine, single parent, age gap, cowboy trope!

If I were wearing pearls I would have clutched them so many times in this smutty little Christmas novel. I love your books and the real, raw and incredible stories you create. I’ve devoured this series and honestly cannot wait to read more of Morgan’s backlist in 2024!

I was lucky enough to be spoilt by this year. Sarah puts her heart and soul into this every year and it’s just gotten bigger and better every year! Sarah and I were lucky to meet in real life a couple of years ago now and have done so many fabulous reads and interviews with authors together!

This couldn’t be more fitting for me. The bonus and suprises were the cherry on top. I love this platform for giving such incredible friendship!

I adore you ❤️

Did you participate this year? Or will you be joining in next year?

“Ten years had passed since we’d met on a very different tarmac, and the sight of her still left me speechless.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Izzy Astor got on a plane to fly home what she didn’t expect was to meet the man in the seat next to her. Nate Phelan the dark haired, blue eyed man handsome man.

Their connection was instant and had them both questioning their future plans. Their smooth flight turns traumatic after take off as the plane goes down in the Missouri River, changing their lives forever.

Nate goes on to have a prestigious career in the military and Izzy finds herself in politics, a profession she swore she’d never go into. Despite their chance encounters over the years their timing never worked.

After not hearing from one another they have a chance meeting in the Middle East where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life. While they stay professional they realise their feelings were just pushed deep down and their hearts always will belong to one another. A story of chance encounters and true love.

If like me you’ve not had your fill of this year you might have found yourself reading her backlist like me and spoiler it’s not disappointed. Yarros has a way of ripping one’s heart out, like coho her books are my kryptonite. Looking forward to reading more in 2024.

 

“There’s a certain kind of beauty that can only exist because of darkness.”

Genre Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Esther Wilding drove home down the long coast one year after her sister walked into the ocean and disappeared. The last time she saw her sister she was walking along the shore to the sea. Her family have struggled to put the pieces back together.

Reluctantly she travels to Copenhagen in search of the truth. Esther needed this trip more than she ever could have realised. But finding answers to questions she was afraid of dug deep into her soul.

Aura left behind seven fairy tales which she also had tattooed on her body, another thing Esther wasn’t aware of. This moving novel is a story of family love, a sister bond, grief, courage and the power of healing.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book. I was cautious going into it because I adored Alice Hart so much but was blow away with how much I loved Esther. It was brave and heartbreaking, wholesome and healing. If you loved Alice I highly recommend this book. Bring on the next one

“We aren’t remembered for long after our deaths, only by those who carry us in their hearts.”

Genre Thriller Mystery
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Amelie knows her relationship holds many secrets, when she wakes up in a pitch black room, not knowing where she is or who put her there. Ironically she feels safer there than with her husband Jed.

Amelie has always been a survivor, loosing her parents young she’s no stranger to change and adapting to her environment. London was a huge change for Amelie, and meeting Carolyn had her swept up in the glamours London lifestyle. Until the glamour fades and the real monsters come out!

Secrets, scandals, survival and surprises, this thriller has you questioning right to the very end.

I’m a BA Paris stan and fell in love with her books when she released behind closed doors, this one was enjoyable but it missed the mark for me. I can’t wait to see what comes next in B.A’s thriller world.

 

“Before she knew it, she was crying on the floor in a bookstore. Actually crying. Snot ran out of her nose, and she wiped it on her own shoulder, and she wasn’t sure if it was possible for her to be more pathetic.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Everyone around Iris is in love, she’s happy for them all but also misses her friends and family because they are busy with their perfectly paired partners. The irony of it all is iris is a romance writer who’s lacking the spark, and the hard deadline approaching.

I’m a bid to find some content Iris heads or to a bar. What she didn’t plan on was meeting a s*xy stranger, who turns out to be the worst one night stand she’s ever had.

To get her mind off her night ahead tries out for a local play only to come face to face with the s*xy stranger, Stevie. Stevie begs Iris to pretend to be their girlfriend to get their friends off their back, in exchange for some dating content for her book.

Add in some catty theatre nerds, a spiteful ex girlfriend, a one night stand, fake dating, feeling and some good old fashioned stubbornness. There’s some deeper content and wholesome love in this small town filled with sapphic beautiful relationships.

Move over Delilah and Astrid, Iris has entered the chat. I loved everything about this book and the series. Ashley Herring Blake, bravo for these writing three incredible books. Will happily take another in this series.

“You’re terrible,” I informed him cheerfully. “You’re going to be my favorite mistake.”

Genre Dark Romance
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This dark fairy tale isn’t one for the faint hearted. The Romeo and Juliet like story follows a harmless kiss turned woman scorned and a man set out for revenge. He’s got a chess board and she’s just a piece of leverage.

Dumped by her betrothed she now is forced to marry this man. Rather than accept her fate she’s determined to rewrite her story and become more. It’s hot and heavy and was a perfect binge read for a Sunday afternoon.

“Books. Rain. Libraries. Driving alone at night with my favorite playlist in the background. Traveling—mainly for the food. But the historic stuff is decent, too.”

Marriage of convenience with a Romeo and Juliet vibe. It’s backwards but so damn perfect. Society’s elite and wealthy, woman traded as currency for status and family drama. I adored Darling Venom and knew I needed more in my life and simply loved it and my first Have you read any more of their work and can you recommend another read?

“Six months of your sitting on my lap. Wiggling around and laughing, no idea I wanted to f**k you through a wall. Don’t you dare call me a tease. I’ve been teased. I’m so f**ked up, I can’t hear your name without getting hard.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Series Broke and Beautiful Book Three
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Russell fell head over heels for Abby the moment he laid eyes on her. But never made a move because how could a woman like Abby, ever be happy with a man like him. The pair become best friends and those lines continue to blur.

Abby is some what oblivious to it all, she’s under so much stress and pressure to keep her families company running smoothly in the absence of her father. There’s never any time for her! After a huge scare Russell again comes to her rescue as her knight in shining armour and in that moment that two blur the lines between friends and more.

Self sabotage is nothing new for Russell and as much as he wants Abby he’s convinced he’ll never be able to make her happy! Sometimes it takes loosing all to really put life and the people in it into perspective!

I think this one too the leader board for best book in the end and it had a trope I loath in it. This little group of polar opposites were just perfection. But the pressure and need to people please from Abby really resonated with me. could honestly write anything into a book and I’ll still read it. I’d really love a short story on each of these couples ten years on!

Welcome to the Fanpage!

“His existence is a threat to my sanity.”

Genre Contemporary Romance
Series Broke and Beautiful Book Two
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Honey traded her cowboy boots for stilettos and university. Leaving her family and friends behind she set out to find more. She never expected to end up meeting her roommates and now best friends.

Honey is studying medicine and working hard to be top of her class. Until the day she gets sidetracked by her English Professor. The pair get locked in a dark closet and their chemistry is explosive. But when the lights come on and they discover who they were locked in the room with they know it cannot continue.

Neither of them can stop thinking about that night. Ben knows he can’t be with her but also can’t stay away. He does everything in his power to push Honey away from him. But in the end he’ll try as hard as he can to win back his girl!

Hot damn! That southern charm and daddy issues. This was hot and wholesome. The spice was perfection! I didn’t want this series to end. Lucky has a million more for me to go into!