Book Review - The Map That Leads to You

The Map That Leads to You by J.P. Monninger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"A romantic, vivid novel that takes place in the tender time of a young woman’s life: Heather has graduated from college and is traveling around Europe with her two best friends. She’s left school responsibility behind and adult responsibility is looming, but this is her one, ONE last summer to be free. Heather doesn’t expect to even meet Jack, let alone fall in love with him. Jack is an enigmatic Vermonter a few years older than she is, who is following his grandfather’s journal to various cities around Europe. But in the same way that forces are bringing Jack and Heather together, life and duty are pushing them apart. And Jack has a secret that is going to change absolutely everything."

I am willing to admit that I am a sucker for a good love story and though there were moments where I wasn't sure how I initially felt about the relationship between Heather and Jack, my heart was rallying for them in a big way.

Heather and Jack are such like-able characters. They have wit, charm, and a fabulous sense of humor. The dialogue/banter between them is enjoyable to witness and though it moved quickly, their love was beautiful to watch take shape. Of course, with every great love story, there is always something else lurking in the shadows. Jack's secret is that something else.

In addition to the sweetness of the Heather and Jack romance, you have the friendships that Heather has with Amy and Constance. How she speaks of her friends gives you everything you need to see how pure Heather's heart is and how much you want her to find her happy ending - whatever that may need to be.

Aside from the obvious love story, I also wanted to point out how beautifully the writer takes you through each city in this romantic European adventure. You are absolutely there with the characters, experiencing the culture in a new way.

This story flows naturally and does not disappoint. If you are a fan of NA/chicklit, I highly recommend this read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review - A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My rating for this book is 4.5 stars

This is my first book by Joshilyn Jackson and to be honest, I had not really heard of her prior to grabbing this book. However, the title, cover, and brief overview of the book seemed interesting enough, so I thought I'd give it a go. I sure am glad that I did!

I can get distracted easy, so for a book to really capture me, it's got to be good. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty not only captured my attention but left me thinking about the characters long after the story was over. When you reminisce about the characters, you know you have something special.

At first, I wasn't really too sure where the story was going but I have to say, I loved how it was written. The mystery of the baby bones in the backyard leaves you curious and sad all at once and the deeper I got in to the book and the search for the truth, the more I loved where it was going.

Written in three POVs, each of the three Slocumb ladies had their own style of telling their piece of the story and each was incredibly believable. Big, Liza, and Mosey are all special in their own right, even if you do not see the depth of each one straight away. I love that we get to see the strengths and vulnerabilities of each lady throughout the story.

I enjoyed this book greatly and I look forward to checking out more titles by Joshilyn Jackson.

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