Early Book Review: The Plus One (A Brush With Love) by Mazey Eddings

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings is the third book in the Brush With Love series and is currently schedule for release on April 4 2023. I have nor read the previous books, and while those that have will have a head start on knowing the characters, I think newcomers can easily enjoy this book as a stand alone if they wish. 

On paper, Indira has everything together. An amazing job, a boyfriend, and a car. What more could a late twenty-something ask for? But when she walks in on her boyfriend in an amorous embrace with a stranger, that perfect on paper image goes up in flames. Jude has nothing together. A doctor that’s spent the last three years traveling the world to treat emergencies and humanitarian crises, a quick trip home for his best friend’s wedding has him struggling to readjust. Thrust into an elaborate (and ridiculously drawn out) wedding event that’s stressing Jude beyond belief and has Indira seeing her ex and his new girlfriend far more frequently than any human should endure, the duo strike a bargain to be each other’s fake dates to this wedding from hell. The only problem is, their forced proximity and fake displays of affection are starting to feel a bit real, and both are left grappling with the idea that a situation that couldn’t be worse, is made a little better with the other around.

The Plus One is a fun and engaging read that talks about mental health with respect and realism. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing them get to know each other again. This book combined some of my favorite tropes; forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and brother's best friend, and did it well. I enjoyed their interactions and the bickering was very entertaining. I did not read the previous books, and did not even know it was a part of a series until I was already reading and realized it must be part of a larger series. However, it did not effect the love story between Indira and Jude, only the larger family and friend group. I thought the portrayal of both Indira and Jude's mental health was handled with a great deal of honesty and respect. I really liked that the reality of how different things effect us all differently and that being aware of the issues at hand does not automatically remove their impact on our emotions and lives are important things for us all to remember. 

The Plus One is a well written and engaging romance. 

Book Review: Skin Deep (The Prescotts) by Tara Wyatt

Skin Deep is the eight book in The Prescotts series by Tara Wyatt. While having read the previous books will give readers an edge with character knowledge and backstory, I think newcomers to the series will still be able to fully enjoy the read. 

Violet MacAllister is no stranger to rejection. Growing up with dyslexia, she was bullied mercilessly, making her feel as though she would never be good enough. And she believed it—until she found art and a new way of expressing herself. But her wounds run deep, and even though she’s been pining over her best friend Hudson for years, he has no idea, and she intends to keep it that way. He’s everything she could ever want—sensitive, artistic, hard-working, smart, and so, so hot—but she knows they’ll only ever be friends. Hudson Prescott has been through a lot. He lost his father as a child, his fiancée jilted him, and six months ago, he was in a terrifying motorcycle accident that could’ve cost him his life. The one bright spot through the dark times has been his friend and co-worker Violet, who’s talented, driven to help others, and a total sweetheart. She’s his closest friend, and he’d be lost without her. But one emotional night, everything changes, and suddenly Hudson’s seeing Violet in a different light. One that has him questioning how he could’ve been so blind to what was in front of him this entire time: Violet, with her curls, and tattoos, and her laugh that feels like sunshine. So when Violet has a proposition for him—one that involves her painting a nude portrait of him—he agrees. Because now that his eyes are open, he’ll do anything to make her see she’s the one for him.

Skin Deep is a contemporary romance that does a good job of tackling some tough topics with honesty and sensitivity but still keeping humor and hope in the story. I thought the walls Violet had built for herself were realistic and well portrayed. I liked the dynamic between Violet and Hudson, and the support the rest of the circle of family and friend offers. I enjoyed the arch of the story, and thought it was engaging and entertaining. My only disappointment was with the ending. To be honest, I expected one more twist to the story and thought it all balanced too quickly and neatly. 

Skin Deep is a good edition to the series, and a well done friends to lovers romance. 

Book Review: By a Thread by Lucy Score

By a Thread by Lucy Score was an accidental reread for me. I saw the cover on Netgalley and I thought it looked familiar, but requested it any way. I should have trusted my instincts, but it has been awhile so I went with it. 

I got her fired. Okay, so I'd had a bad day and took it out on a bystander in a pizza shop. But there's nothing demure about Ally Morales. She proves that her first day of her new job, which just happens to be in my office. And I can't fire her, because it's my mother the CEO who hired her...technically, Ally doesn't work for me, and she makes it clear she doesn't have to listen to me either. So maybe her colorful, annoying, inexplicably alluring personality brightens up the magazine's offices that have felt like a prison for the past year. Maybe I like that she argues with me in front of the editorial staff. And maybe my after-hours fantasies are haunted by those brown eyes and that sharp tongue. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to be the next Russo man to take advantage of his position. I might be a second-generation asshole, but I am not my father. She's working herself to death at half a dozen dead-end jobs for some secret reason she doesn't feel like sharing with me. And I'm going to fix it all. Don't accuse me of caring. She's nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. If I can get her to quit working here, I can finally peel away all those layers. Then I can go back to salvaging the family name and forget all about the dancing, beer-slinging brunette.

By a Thread has a lot going for it. I like the humor and the heat. The exchanges between Dominic and Ally are great, and the sense of community she forms with those around her was fantastic. I love some good enemies to lover banter- and found family- so all of that works great for me. I thought the handling for Ally's situation and her father's health was done well and realistically. I thought the secondary characters and non-romance of the story were just as engaging and entertaining as the heart of the story. I have to be honest though, I really do not like Dominic, at all. He is painted as the alpha hole with the heart of gold, but even in the epilogues continues to do the one thing Ally asked him not to- make big decisions for her or with no conversations about it. He never learns to respect that one boundary- but because she is just so in love with him and can't think around him she just keeps letting it happen.  That kind of takes the shine off the story for me, because there was the opportunity for him to change that trait- and it never happened. 

By a Thread definitely has some entertainment value and serious heat. 

Early Book Review: Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung

Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung is currently scheduled for release on September 6 2022. It is the story of Debbie Tung’s struggle with anxiety and her experience with depression. She shares what it’s like navigating life, overthinking every possible worst-case scenario, and constantly feeling like all hope is lost. In this graphic memoir, Debbie aims to provide positive and comforting messages to anyone who is facing similar difficulties or is just trying to get through a tough time in life. She hopes to encourage readers to be kinder to themselves, to know that they are not alone, and that it’s okay to be vulnerable because they are not defined by their mental health struggles. The dark clouds won’t be there forever. Everything will turn out all right.

Everything Is OK is a great read for anyone that has struggled with any kind of depression or anxiety, or loves someone who has. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone, that there are others that have been through similar struggles and come out the other side gives hope and a bit of peace. I think this graphic memoir does a great job of illustrating one person's struggle- both in accepting that their problems are enough to deserve help. I also like that it seems clear that eveyone's experience and journey dealing with mental health can be different. I agree with the idea that none of us really know what we are doing, and feel inadequate, awkward, or simply bad about ourselves sometimes. It is learning how to treat ourselves with the same care and respect we give others, and giving ourselves the grace that we would give our loved ones, that allows us to keep moving forward and be happier, better people all around. We are enough, each and every one of us. It is sometimes had to believe about myself, but it is soothing to know I am not alone in that doubt, and that I can make steps to do better in caring for myself.

Everything Is OK is a powerful, engaging, and relatable read. Those suffering from depression and/or anxiety can see some of themselves in the story and those that want to better understand how those of us dealing with it feel so they can better empathize and support the people in their lives that do.