The Night We Met (Say You Remember Me,#2)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything...

 
For Larissa, it came when choosing who to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great friends, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy. 

But she didn’t choose Chris to drive her home all those months ago—she went with his best friend, and he became her boyfriend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. How can something that feels so right be absolutely impossible? 

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Abby does it again! 

This is why Abby Jimenez is one of my favorites. I’m so glad that I discovered this author last year. I had a feeling I was going to love this, yet I was still not prepared for how much this story would affect me. The Night We Met is my new favorite by Abby Jimenez. I can’t get this book out of my mind. The Night We Met was filled with so much emotion and passion, and it makes you feel everything that Larissa and Chris are going through, especially Larissa. I felt for her and how hard she had to work to support her family. 

Chris, what is there to say about him? Except that I wish that everyone were as caring as he was. He was one of my favorite MMCs I have read about. It was so heartwarming the way that he cared about Larissa; the way that he looked out for her. Chris did so much more for Larissa than her own boyfriend ever did. I was waiting and rooting for Larissa to figure out that Chris is the one she should be with. I was rooting for them throughout the book. I loved how Larissa and Chris took care of the dog together, and it was clear how much they loved him. 

Mike was the character I had complex feelings about; I still do. There was part of me that wasn’t happy with the decisions he made, but he also had good qualities. There were so many mixed emotions that went through me while reading this book. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and a few times I didn’t even realize how late it had gotten. Although I loved Xavier and Samantha’s story in Say You Remember Me, I loved Larissa and Chris’s story even more. There is something about those two characters that I know I will never forget. A story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Summer State Of Mind

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina. 

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start. 

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. 

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Somehow, I knew I was going to love this author; from the moment that I read my first book by her in 2023: Summer Of Songbirds. Her novels are both heartbreaking and soothing. Once you pick up one of Kristy’s books, you’ll fall in love with her stories. I’ve been wanting to read Summer State Of Mind since she announced it on her Instagram. If it weren’t for the long wait list at the library, I would have read it the day it was released. Out of the books that I have read by Kristy, Summer State Of Mind in my opinion is the most emotional one that I have read. I think that Summer Of State Of Mind is one of those stories that needs to be told and read. 

Daisy and Mason : What is there to say about them, except that I loved them from the moment that I met them. What those two did was heartwarming and so inspiring. They gave that little girl, Maisy, what she needed the most: love. I adored how Daisy and Mason formed a bond with Maisy. However, I was worried about how attached Daisy got to Maisy, especially since I had a feeling of what could happen if parents came forward. I loved the relationship between Mason and Daisy; it didn’t take long to see how much they care for each other. I loved the way Mason’s family treated her like family from the moment that they met her. 

I loved the small community and the way that they took care of each other. I enjoyed reading the book about three characters. Each of their stories was so powerful. Even though I didn’t always agree with their choices, I related to them. I found myself rooting for their happily ever after. I ended up finishing this book at 4:00 am because I needed to see what would happen. Summer State Of Mind is the story that you're eager to see how it ends, but at the same time don’t want it to be over. What an outstanding story.

An Infinite Love Story.

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

  Thank you to publisher, Berkley Publishing Group  for providing with Earc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

 

 07.07.26 

 

When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door. 

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars. 

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.

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This is the book I’ll think about for a while. 

I'm thinking about the story as I am writing this. It's a heart-wrenching and remarkable story. I was hooked from the first page, and when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it. I've read most of Chanel Cleeton's books and even got to meet her at a signing when The Lost Story Of Eva Fuentes was released. I shouldn't be surprised, and yet Chanel had me on the edge of my seat once again. I loved the book that features space, and read a few books based on it; however, this one, I loved that it was about an astronaut's wives, and how it affects them. Every page in this book will have you captivated, craving for more. 

An Infinite Love Story was such beautiful love story. I fell in love with Viv and Joe from the moment that they were introduced. I knew those two belonged together from the moment they met; I was just waiting for them to realize it. It’s not hard to see how much Viv loved Joe, but how hard it was to be an astronaut’s wife. I can’t even imagine enduring what she had. I adored Viv. Despite everything that was happening, she stayed strong, and she didn’t give up on her husband. I cried multiple times while reading this book, but I couldn’t pull away and found myself turning the pages. 

I liked that it took place during 1960’s Space Race, and what made this story unique is that it was told from POV of astronaut’s wife. The “now” and “then” timelines intervened wonderfully; making the story so much more intriguing to read. I could talk about this book for hours, and even recommended to few of my friends. There’s a reason that Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorites. An Infinite Love Story is a must read.

Other People's Summers.

 

 

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In school, Milly Beckett and Nicole Raven were as close as sisters. Now, years later, a gulf separates them, and not just because of the different spheres they inhabit. Nicole is a global superstar with the world at her fingertips, but when scandal breaks, she turns to the only person she trusts. 

Fresh from a painful divorce and struggling to balance her work and raising her daughter alone, Milly is tempted to refuse her friend’s plea for help. Nicole wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and that’s hard to forgive. But Nicole is desperate and Milly agrees to give her the sanctuary she needs. 

Against a stunning Lake District backdrop, stilted small talk gradually gives way to soul-deep revelations as the two women slowly find their way back to one another. Living with Milly gives Nicole a glimpse of a different path for herself, and Milly starts to see a life beyond her divorce, including the possibility of a new romance. But Nicole can’t stay hidden forever—and neither can the secret she’s been keeping from Milly, a secret that threatens both her future happiness and the fragile bond between them.

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I love Sarah Morgan's books and was excited when my friend recommended we read it for a buddy read. What I love about her books is how heartwarming and powerful they are. I love books about friendships and family. What Milly and Nicole have is true friendship. I liked the way Sarah portrayed their friendship, showing how it was challenged. From the first chapter, when Milly went to get Nicole, I wondered what had happened between them. Despite what Milly felt, I knew that Milly still cared about Nicole; based on the fact of what she did, how she tried to help Nicole. I hoped that Milly would put the past behind them and forgive Nicole. 

Other People’s Summers was such captivating and moving story. The writing is one of my favorite parts of her books; it takes you away to the story that you don’t even realize how much time has passed. Nicole has been through so much, I can’t even begin to imagine going through everything that she had to face. The moments between Milly and Nicole were bittersweet, heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking. I was rooting for the two of them to get their friendship back on track. I liked how realistic this book was; it dealt with issues that happen in real life. This story will stay with me for a long time. 

As always, I love her setting and wish I could go there. It seems like the perfect place to escape and relax. I loved everything about this book: characters, storyline, setting, relationships. I have a feeling that I will be returning to this book in the future. Highly recommended.

A Pair Of Aces.

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

 

4.5★  

 

 Thank you to publisher, Berkley Publishing Group  for providing with Earc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the Mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone. 

Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all. 

Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.

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What a powerful and inspiring novel! 

I have so much to say about this book. I have been excited about this book since Victoria announced at the book signing I attended; that she and Marie are writing a new book together. I was even more excited once the title and the cover were revealed. I have read Victoria Christopher Murray & Marie Benedict ’s The Personal Librarian and have read their individual novels as well. I fell in love with that story, and A Pair Of Aces wasn’t any different; the way their writing flows together makes it impossible not to fall in love with the story, especially the characters. I loved escaping into the world of Polly and Eunice and watching how their stories intertwined. 

I wasn’t sure about Polly when she was first introduced, but as the book progressed; I found myself rooting for her. Polly was a strong woman because, despite everything that she was facing, she didn’t give up. You could tell how important her girls were to her, and how she would do anything to protect them. Eunice, I loved her determination, her courage. The elements, the details in this book, are phenomenal. Once I finished the book, I wanted to go back and read it again. The dual perspective gives the reader a glimpse into two very different women. I liked the way the relationship between Eunice and Polly transformed throughout the story. There is part of me that wonders what happened after.  

 

A Pair Of Aces is a story that you won’t forget, and a story that will have you on edge of your seat until the end. I wondered about the title, and once I read the book – it made the perfect sense. Victoria and Marie are amazing at the historical details and pulling the reader into the story. This is their third collaboration. They make a great team. Highly recommended. I’m already eager to see what they have in store for us next.