Great big beautiful life by Emily Henry

Format: 416 pages, Paperback

Published: April 23, 2025 by Penguin Australia

Fiction

Library

Seriously, what do people categorize this one as? Because it certainly is not a romance. Yes there is romance, but is more romantic fiction  if that even. I enjoyed it, but this is my second Henry book and neither has been romance, and still...oh I do not know.

This is a book about two journalist competing about who can write the tell it all book about a famous socialite. And see that is the story, Margarets story. She tells about her family, and her life. Alice is a side character who gets to listen, and when she is not listening she runs into Hayden and sparks does fly in the end. Byt yes to me this is truly The Ives family story.

Romance, well I would say there is as much romance between these two as there are between others in the book. Margaret does tell about a lot of people.

The book was good, I really enjoyed learning the Ives tragic story. Did I agree with some choices they made, no, but that was life.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.

Audio: Assistant to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

By: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Series: Assistant to the Villain, Book 1

Length: 13 hrs and 54 mins

Release date: 08-29-23 by Tantor Audio

Fantasy/ received from publisher

Wait,  this was first a viral tiktok thing? I really need to check that out.

This one was funny, and this villain is more like grumpy meets sunshine. I know he is supposed to be evil, but aww, he just awww. And then he kills someone, but aww.

Evie takes care of her sick dad and her little sister. And she needs money so an accident makes her meet the dreaded villain. But he is hot, and she needs a job. She becomes his assistant.

There are other people to at his Evil castle. The dragonkeeper, a healer who loves pink, someone in the office that she butts heads with and she will meet more. She is sunshine and happiness, and clumsiness. She also speaks faster than she thinks.

And the villain just can not say no to her.

But something evil is afoot, and it is not the villain.

Great narration. She kept a good pace and brought everyone to life.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Caroles Monday

Author: Mary Wine

Title: Between a Highlander and a Hard Place

Series: Highland Weddings #5

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 320

Published:  November 6, 2018

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Athena Trappes thinks she's in love...until she discovers the scoundrel only wanted her as his bit on the side. Enraged, she does what any spirited Englishwoman would set fire to his belongings, incur his dangerous wrath, and flee—immediately. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks freedom in the wilds of Scotland.

Highland Laird Symon Grant lost his wife years ago, and it's his duty to find another. Athena is not exactly what the clan has in mind for him, but Symon's heart burns with unexpected passion for the woman who would risk everything to be free.

Review:

Weee Symon's story!!!

Here we continue with seeing Symon finally find love after an arranged marriage. It's his duty to marry and provide an heir, but no one seems to fit what he wants...until he meets Athena Trappes. Athena thought she was in love until she discovered that he only wanted her as a mistress since he had his eyes on a richer prize. She runs away and seeks a new life. 

This was all unrealistic and sometimes silly, but for some reason it all seemed to be crazy enough to work. 

I liked Symon and Athena. They were perfect for each other. I loved the fact that Symon fell hard first and fell fast. Athena was worried...but look at happened when she thought she loved someone? So I get her taking time and made Symon do the work to woo her. 

The external and internal struggles worked very well. I loved the whole scene with the King near the end. I was unsure how everything was going to play out. Bless you Brenda! You are the darling of the clan!

The ending left on a HUGE cliffhanger........what are they going to do? EEEE *requests the next book to the series right away from the library* I gotta know. 

My biggest issue with the book.............Athena's name. The probablity of a 16th century English woman having that name is slim to none. It bugged me. Maybe there was one or two but one of nobility? Eeeee not sure about that one captain!

All-in-all, just a couple little bugs that annoyed me, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. The last couple have been just okay, but this was much better and worth wading through the others to get here. 4 stars from me.

 

Favorite Character(s): Brenda

Least Favorite Character(s): Esme......

 Challenge(s):

- Library Love #14

2025 Audiobook Challenge Mid-Year Check-In

 

I am doing a mid year check in :) Here is what I have listened to so far:

1. A sorceress comes to call by T.Kingfisher

2. Written in red by Anne Bishop

3. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

4. Wilde abandon by Jennifer Ryan

5. Vision in silver by Anne Bishop

6. Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

7. The secret daughter by Anne Gracie

8. The Bennet Inheritance by Jann Rowland

9. One thing leads to a lover by Susanna Craig

10. The mystery of the Spanish chest by Agatha Christie

11. Laird of Misrule by mary Wine

12. The two of us by Lori Foster

13. The river knows your name by Kelly Mustian

14. The never list by Jade Presley

15. Master of Mayhem by mary Wine

16. Still hung up on you by Liz Maverick

17. One of those flings by Lauren Blakely

18. Bryony and roses by T.Kingfisher

19. In love with the Viscount by Julianne McLean

20. A wizards guide to defensive baking by T.Kingfisher

21. Guarded by the warrior by Eliza Knight

22. Sweet talk by Cara Bastone

23. Booked for the holidays by Liz Maverick

24. Cowboy under the mistletoe by Elena Grace

25. Swordheart by T.Kingfisher

26. Assistant to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

27. Apprentice to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer