Southern Lady Reads (2024)

05/12/2023

✨Book Review ✨ The Palace at Dusk by

RELEASE DATE: October 24, 2023

A QUICK SYNOPSIS:
Harvard-educated corporate attorney Jasmine promised herself that she wouldn’t date anyone at the office. From her busy work schedule to her prior dating history, she has plenty of reasons to ignore her boyish and handsome colleague Brad Summers when he enters her office. But when Brad asks if she’d like to grab a drink, his tousled hair and sparkling green-gold eyes convince her to say yes. Their conversation makes her feel alive, fascinating, and fun, and the lonely Jae can’t help but bask in Brad’s attention. Soon Jae is breaking her never-date-at-the-office rule. And when she later discovers that Brad has a wife and child, she finds herself breaking a much more serious rule.

After Jae spends years in love with a man who isn’t hers and jeopardizes her career in the process, a series of unexpected developments shake her awake and force her to confront the cost—and the future—of their affair. She needs to make a choice, but love stories are rarely black and white, and the right path isn’t so clear. With her head and her heart pulling her in opposite directions, Jae must somehow chart a course between them in order to find her happily ever after.

**Thank you for the advanced reader copy! All thoughts are my own! - SLR**

01/12/2023

✨ Book Review: ✨The Edge of Something New by

If you’re looking for an angsty second-chance romance in a tightly-knit small town - The Edge of Something New is exactly what you’ve been looking for!! Strong women are a wild breed. They take on every challenge head-on and set incredibly high goals for themselves... but when things happen that are out of their control? The last thing they want to do is go home again to a place that they ran from.. or see their super hot ex they just can’t quite get over...

When Alexis loses her fiance, job, and baby all in one blow heading home to a small town with a mother she can’t relate to - things don’t seem to be looking up any time soon. Especially since no one knows why she left in the first place....

**Thank you to Greys Promotions for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
https://amzn.to/3ZQ0rkb (Want the link? Take a screenshot - then long press on the link in the photo!)

29/11/2023

21/11/2023

Did you know Spotify has audiobooks now?! I’m all for consolidating apps - and now that Spotify has audiobooks I’m easily accessing books I want to read or music 💁🏻‍♀️

Makes it so much easier to deal with my ADD brain the less apps are on my Home Screen!

Find your next favorite book boyfriend, fantasy world, heart stopping thriller, or even a chill non-fiction / memoir to listen to 💕

17/11/2023

What happens when two complete and polar opposites attract? Explosive. Chemistry. 💁🏻‍♀️🌶️

✨ BOOK REVIEW: The Grumpy Billionaire by ✨

Thank you and Annika Martin for my !! This book was provided for free but all thoughts are my own. - SLR

QUICK SYNOPSIS:
I’m the most feared man on Wall Street…unfortunately, my best friend’s little sister hasn’t gotten the memo. I brandish equations like lightning bolts and shatter fortunes with mere scribbles on a whiteboard. People up and down Wall Street steer clear of me—or come to regret it. My walls are impenetrable as Alcatraz, and my self-control? Rock solid, my friend. Except when it comes to her. The woman I’ve secretly longed for. The only woman I can never have. My best friend’s little sister, Stella.

Download today or read FREE in
https://geni.us/CdMjSez ***if you take a screenshot and click that link your photos - the link will pull it up in Amazon!!**

REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - What I enjoyed most out of Martin’s story is that there are also elements of a second chance romance!! Not just a meet cute/meet sexy followed by a whirlwind romance. This couple couldn’t be more different and YET they find a way to make it work!!

NOTES:
- Workplace romance
- Opposites attract (sexy banter)
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Dual POV
- Easy read (perfect for my flights to/from Chicago!)
- 🌶️🌶️/5

14/11/2023

Need a historical fiction romance?? Say no more!! I give you ‘s latest : Never Met a Duke Luke You!

PUB DATE: November 14th, 2023

Thank you for the !!

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is beautiful, clever, and popular. Afforded every luxury as a duke’s daughter, she fills her days with friends, intrigues, and a self-professed knack for matchmaking. She may have sworn off love for herself, but she is rather excellent at arranging it.

Faced with an insolvent estate, the Duke of Greydon has no choice but to return to England in a final attempt to revive his family’s fortunes. He’s been gone for years, happy to have escaped his mother and the petty circles of the ton. To his dismay, not much has changed, including the beautiful and vexing heiress next door.

But when an accident of fate traps the friends-turned-enemies in an attic together, the explosive attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore and even harder to resist. They are total opposites and their lives don’t align in the slightest, but fate, the ultimate matchmaker, appears to have other plans . . .

09/11/2023

Life has been really good lately which is why I haven’t posted as many book reviews - but sometimes it’s ok to step back 💕

So who am I when I’m not posting book reviews? Still the girl who loves pink (and basically any shade of red or purple), parties, hiking, home decor and to laugh as much as possible. 🥂 💕

A few things about me:
1. I’m 5’9” so I’m usually always squatting in photos so that I don’t look giant 😂
1A. I’m usually in heels at events and I don’t care that I’m taller than most men I meet 😂😂 my hubs is 6’3” so that’s really all that matters 😘
2. I work in a lab but I loathe being asked to explain my job. It either sounds pretentious or boring. I mean… Work was work? I’d rather be in the House of Wind with books at my leisure and learning to be a bada$$ with the other Valkyries… but here I am ya know? 💁🏻‍♀️
3. I’m highly pragmatic and if you ask me something I’m gonna be totally honest. Even if it hurts your feelings a lil… because you might need it.
4. My husband and I remodel/flip houses on *the side* - i.e. takes over our life sometimes but I honestly love the feel of a blank canvas (AKA usually the worst house on the street)🔨
5. I have a giant German shepherd who is the biggest sweetie pie unless you wear hats in the yard…. Or you’re the water meter man! 😂🐾 🐺
6. I only started reading again a few years ago but I love that I did! I was obsessed as a kid.
7. I don’t drink coffee in the mornings…. At all. Naturally bright eyed and bushy tailed by 7AM everyday! I DO drink fru-fru sugary sweetness infused with a lil coffee when I’m in B&N though.. ☕️
8. Since I turned 30 a few months ago - I have decided I’m no longer doing things I don’t want to do. Including chasing after lackluster friendships, worrying that my personality is too loud for some people or that wearing too bright of colors will make people think I’m extra. ✨News Flash: I AM EXTRA😂✨

Sending much love into the Bookstagram community because I’ve received so much in return this last year. Book people are forever my favorite people! 😘😘😘

*This little stinker isn’t mine which is why I’ve blurred out her face but overall she’s the cutest. 💁🏻‍♀️

08/11/2023

I know everyone is obsessed with Iron Flame today but for anyone who’s not a fantasy reader - take a chance on Last Night At the Hollywood Canteen!!!

Happy Publication Day to !!! (November 7th, 2023)

A SHORT PREVIEW:
Annie Lawrence is a playwright looking for a fresh start. Drawn in by the glamour and fame of Hollywood in the 1940s. Surrounded by plentiful attractive United States servicemen and a demanding job.. she really just needs friends. Things quickly take a turn when a play critic is found dead and she doesn’t know who to trust!

One of the best parts about this book is the dark humor. If you’ve followed my reviews you’ll notice I end up loving anything with dry British type humor 😂😂

: Will you get to see sunlight Monday -Friday (or on your workdays) during the winter??

I quite literally don’t see the sun Monday - Friday unless I take my lunch team walk!! 😭😭😭

04/11/2023

Are you doing anything fun this weekend?? 🍁 ☕️

I wanted to share the book review but also what a slice of unfiltered happiness looks like on a Friday afternoon of a long week (scroll to the last slides) 💕💕 Instagram is a weird place sometimes. The algorithm doesn’t help you out unless you dance and shake your butt lol so this is my reminder I do it for fun!!

This book was dark but I love shows like with our chilling portrayal of types?? Do we ever even know people? Is everyone’s inner monologue that hilarious? Do we all have such wild intrusive thoughts? Would I help a vigilante? Lol running through my brain after reading 💀💀

P.S. i hope you have the best weekend and you get in a few of those wheezing belly laughs 😂💕

29/10/2023

I haven’t annotated a book this much in a long time!!

Something about these short stories was so fun to contemplate in their bit sized pieces. I don’t normally read short stories so reading with was a fun exercise beyond just the content!

26/10/2023

That last quote about did me in. I couldn’t breathe after finishing the last 25% of this book. I almost got bored right around the 40% mark tbh?? But as soon as Malakai Rhodes dropped the spicy talk… I was HOOKED.

Alt text: Baseball Romance, spicy romance, romance Bookstagram, Windy City series

20/10/2023

Book Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 on the writing style. (When it comes to memoirs I don’t believe I can rate someone else’s life experience so I only rate my enjoyment/fluidity of the writing. 🖤)

I love reading a book that absolutely shocks me. Sometimes I wanted to put down the more shocking parts of Godwin’s work but overall I definitely enjoyed!!!

Mixing in non-fiction works has become imperative so that I don’t experience burnout when reading!! Usually I try to read something dour alongside my romance/fantasy reads and it helps me brain so much!

Thank you to the team for including me in this fun reading pop up!!

14/10/2023

Sometimes you just need a book to funnel your rage into … and this was mine.

Literally SO good. Having been a sorority girl at one point in my life .. I can’t say I ever felt the way she felt ( 🔪) but I definitely have felt some of the same leanings as far as how people are treated/perceived!

Alt Text: Satire | Sorority Life| female authors | Booksta reviews | Autumn Reads | Unnamed Press | October Reads | Serial Killers

12/10/2023

: What’s the last romance you read?

Mia Sheridan’s writing has become a favorite! It’s so easy to like romances that are low stress. I don’t want too much angst and I don’t want too many third act breakups.

Grayson’s Vow is also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Have you ever read any of Mia Sheridan’s other books?

06/10/2023

Thank you so much for my gifted copy of !!! I so enjoyed this take on the end of the world through an unapologetic female perspective. 🖤🌎

There’s something about an unlikeable, unhinged female main character that people find uncomfortable and yet I find myself time after time loving those characters. Maybe it’s because we’ve been called dramatic, crazy etc for just wanting a piece of the pie? Whatever the reason - I’m loving it. And at the end of the world - who really cares?

I only included one quote this time because when I read it - I felt like it encompassed so much of ‘s book. Our world now is covered in so much plastic and waste - it should grieve us all. But to cope we make light of it and joke and share memes back and forth on our power sucking devices. C’est la vie I suppose?

So much of ‘She’s A Ki!ler’ surrounds how people would behave at the end of this system of things … and tbh sometimes it feels like we’re already there? People are gardening, homesteading etc more than ever now!! Which is great - but one must ask themselves why. How did we even get here?

Doomsday preppers used to be the ‘crazy’ ones…. But I’ve seen so many food storage, gardening and herbal medicine videos now on Instagram that I firmly believe we’re entering a different age.

03/10/2023

This was wild. Xiran Jay Zhao is an incredible writer!! The next book is coming out in 2024!! Are you going to read it??

🍂 📚📚📚

29/09/2023

Happy Friday!! Time for a book review 💕

This book was insanity.. I don't even know how people come up with inspiration for things like this and it was certainly NOT what I thought it would be after reading the premise.

As far as the content warnings go - I'm not sure this is one that I would personally recommend very often, but it's very well-written and a crazy shocking twist. Not recommending it doesn't mean I didn't like it.. more that it can only be recommended to a specific group IMO? If you truly like the twisted and the depraved.. this is the book for you.

It will probably become a movie at some point, and I will 100% get why. The shock value would leave people in aw!

27/09/2023

Sometimes there are books you read just because you needed to feel the emotions the cover was trying to portray. Ghosted is one of those.

The older I get - the more I appreciate just sitting with a book, however short, and just letting it impact me. I no longer need to feel some great adventure. I don't have to have perfect love. I just need someone to tell me that I'm not alone in thinking a certain way? Ghosted is that. Immaculate vibes and absolutely everything I needed it to be one melancholy weekend.

NOTES:
- Open door topics, but I don't consider any of it s3xual if that makes sense? It wasn't romantic. More just an explanation of a painful situation.
CWs: Child loss and grief

[Alt Text: A hand holding up Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth with text on image for book review]

26/09/2023

Have you ever wanted to get into the physical ARCS game but have absolutely no idea how? This was me a few months ago until I realized there was a method to the Bookstagram madness!

What it really boils down to is consistency, professionalism and a little elbow-sweat-equity-grease. (None of these things I’m perfect at but I’m working on it!) In the next few weeks I’m going to be doing a few reel series to help you get there. We rise by lifting others – so ask any questions you want about my process!!

***If you haven’t already watched my series on how to make NetGalley work for you - make sure to start there because I reference that information quite a bit!

Thank you to all the tagged publishers! I’ve received so many great ones in the mail recently and I’m excited to start reading the ones I haven’t yet started. (These are just a few of the one’s I’ve received!)

-Bright Young Women & (Published 9-19-2023)
- Pulling The Chariot of The Sun (Published 8-1-2023)
- She’s A K1ller (Published 10-10-2023)
- Last Night At The Hollywood Canteen (Published 11-7-2023)
- A Death In Malta (Published 11-7-2023)
- Being Henry (Published 10-31-2023)
- The Resort (Published 2-13-2024)

👣

24/09/2023

I really loved this one!! Not at all what I thought it would be - but those are always my favorite kinds of stories! So many quotable lines and moments for reflection!

Book Blurb:

When Shek Yeung sees a Portuguese sailor slay her husband, a feared pirate, she knows she must act swiftly or die. Instead of mourning, Shek Yeung launches a new plan: immediately marrying her husband’s second-in-command, and agreeing to bear him a son and heir, in order to retain power over her half of the fleet.

But as Shek Yeung vies for control over the army she knows she was born to lead, larger threats loom. The Chinese Emperor has charged a brutal, crafty nobleman with ridding the South China Seas of pirates, and the Europeans―tired of losing ships, men, and money to Shek Yeung’s alliance―have new plans for the area. Even worse, Shek Yeung’s cutthroat retributions create problems all their own. As Shek Yeung navigates new motherhood and the crises of leadership, she must decide how long she is willing to fight, and at what price, or risk losing her fleet, her new family, and even her life.

A book of salt and grit, blood and sweat, Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is an unmissable portrait of a woman who leads with the courage and ruthlessness of our darkest and most beloved heroes.

IGNORE THESE NOTES:
Hand holding up a book for minimal book review of historical fiction tale Deep As The Sky, Read As The Sea. Book reviewer, book published by Bloomsbury Publishing

21/09/2023

I almost loathed Poppy.. but I realize that she learned from her mistakes and isn’t that all we ask for from our heroines?

Emily Henry does a great job writing characters that have so much more depth than we realize. I really thought it was going to be so shallow but in the end I loved it. Not fancy people… not a healthy romantic life - just two people really trying.

When I say there is cheating involved… I mean that in the sense that there are some guys who will always tell you something isn’t a big deal and then later you realize it was ✨in fact✨ a big deal. sort of feels like the “SEE! I told you so!” Type of moments and I realize that could be deeply emotional. It was for me! But I loved Poppy’s growth and having to figure out what she really wants!!!

IGNORE: Hand holding up a book for a minimalist book review & book ratings (Spicy contemporary romance books | romance novels )

19/09/2023

Happy Publishing Day for Jessica Knoll & Kerri Maher!!!

Both ‘Bright Young Women’ and ‘All You Have to Do Is Call’ are historical fiction and based on true events!! Even though so different in their storytelling – the time frames are both withing the 60 years in the United States. Loving reading these perspectives!!

Thank you to the publishers for my ARCs!!
Bright Young Women - &
All You Have To Do Is Call -

**These books were provided for free but all thoughts are my own!

14/09/2023

3 star ratings aren’t bad ratings. They’re just… *meh*. Could be me.. could be the book.. just overall wasn’t a spectacular experience. I should hesitate wanting to pick up a book!

But overall – we don’t disrespect author’s life works.

If you really want to see books I haven’t liked – you can follow me on Goodreads lol that’s the only place I leave reviews of books I didn’t like and my reasoning can be more clearly laid out. IG just doesn’t have the space or layout for a clear discussion IMO?

06/09/2023

Saying goodbye to all of my favorite characters from the series!!!

These books were long - but enjoyed every second!! And Lucian Rollins will forever be my favorite 🥰🥰🖤🖤🥹🥹

I also feel like Sloaney Baloney’s character was my favorite of our three heroines. I connected to her the most and I loved every second of her sassy self!!! 😭😭
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[ Hand holding out a paperback book by author Lucy Score and another hand holding my out a digital/ e-book advanced reader copy of a newly released contemporary romance novel ]

04/09/2023

✨Book Review: Falling Hard For The Royal Guard✨

Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 🌶️/ 5 (Almost none - more just a really sweet romance!)

An adorably sweet romance set against one of London, England’s most notorious historical landmarks: The Tower of London. Did you know people still live there? I didn’t!!!

P.S. I didn’t know which photo I liked best so I’m sharing them all!

🍁

30/08/2023

I haven’t read a historical fiction I loved this much in a VERY long time!!! Thank you so much for sending me this book and doing a buddy read with me!

Such an amazing experience – It reminds me a lot of Hester: A Novel that I read and reviewed earlier this year in terms of compelling emotional prose. Both are equally great historical fiction / women’s literature. Make sure to see the next page for my favorite quote from the whole book!!

25/08/2023

Sometimes this is what self care looks like. Those 15 minutes just sitting alone in your car.. enjoying your grocery store sushi (which sometimes slaps btw!)… if you know you know.

Our Krogers have an actual sushi chef making fresh sushi every day and I eat it for lunch at least a couple times a month when I’m running behind 👏🏻👏🏻

Because I have an office at work. But some days… someone knocking on my door mid-sushi is just about my last straw. So I hid in my car and took a chill pill before I go bowling with a bunch of people tonight!!

[Keywords.. AKA Ignore: Lunch break with a book and grocery store sushi in my lap for self care | sushi | open book | reading habits ]

24/08/2023

If you want a deeper romance full of heartbreaking situations and reconciliation – Before I Let Go is your next read!! Book two in the Skyland series comes out in March 2024 – so def pre-order your copy. (I could also see the second book being a Book of The Month pick so we’ll see!)

**Right now, my Book of The Month tally is 30 Loves, 8 Likes, and 3 Loathed. Try it out with the link in my bio and get your first book for $5.

‘Before I Let Go’ by Kennedy Ryan | Book Review | Book Reviewer | Second Chance Romance | Contemporary Romance Book Review | Book of The Month Picks

16/08/2023

A book review and a few other shots! *please see the 5th photo for a shot of a semi that hit a bridge near where I work. There is a sign that literally says ‘No semis - bridge too short’ and it happens at least twice a month. 😂😂🫠

On to the review: Revenge based novels are my FAVORITE type of thriller!! I could not read this one fast enough. I liked the twist at the end and if you love Lucey Foley’s – you’ll love She Started It by

Taking place on a desert island – I would consider this to be one of my last ‘summer reads’! I’m starting to line up fall reads and my lineup is amazing. Including all 10 advanced reader copies I’ve officially finished for September!! (September is a great month for book releases because it feels like back to school!)

She Started It was also a Book of The Month pick for June 2023. So far my rating tally for my Book of The Month Club picks is:

30 Loves
8 Likes
3 Dislikes
(If you want to try it out – the link is in my bio!)

14/08/2023

Historical fiction is interesting because you find yourself feeling like it’s fantasy in it’s

‘other worldliness’ sometimes. But alas.. it really was only 200 years ago that women were being h4nged as witches for being barren. Yay for feminist literature in reminding us to take a moment to pause and reflect on our blessings now.

I’ve always loved a morally grey story and Outlawed has plenty of those along with moments of beauty.

11/08/2023

Happy Release Day!!! 🖤🖤

Tainted was such a fun read and I loved being part of your !!

Check out this on Kindle Unlimited today!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Tropes:
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy/deadly (because that’s definitely a trope in mafia romances 😂😂)

So much to love for a quick and easy read. Tainted would also be a GREAT audiobook for all of my fellow 9-5 commuter friends who need a little something spicier to start their days!

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Notes: German shepherd dog next to a book review on publishing day for Frances Blackthorns new book ‘Tainted’ with a floral cover in a boho neutral setting with golden hour lighting.

10/08/2023

Random note: My husband had his face stolen and used for a fake Twitter account that was being rude etc. It was wild while trying to get it taken down yesterday!?

Anywho - on to the book review! ⬇️⬇️

All My Rage is one of my most impactful reads in 2023! I think I’m putting it up their with Lessons In Chemistry in terms of books that affected and that I’ll remember for years to come!!
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Notes: Hand Holding Up A Book | Book Review | All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir | Book Reviewer

Southern Lady Reads