Katherine
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booket-of-books.bsky.social
Katherine
@booket-of-books.bsky.social
180 followers 770 following 19 posts
Reader, occasionally cosplaying as a reviewer
📍Austin, TX

https://linktr.ee/Booket.of.books
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In my HR reading journey, there was Before I read Judy Cuevas/Judith Ivory, and After. I’m only sad that as I continue to read from her relatively small number of books, her back catalogue on my TBR dwindles
Romancelandia University winter session 2025 book report. Objective: mood reads. Vibe check/rating: 5 stars. The cover of the book Bliss by Judy Cuevas is shown. Thoughts: Being a Judy Cuevas/ Judith Ivory superfan, my expectations were high going in and thankfully this book did not disappoint. I adored Nardi, the stereotypical self-sabotaging French artist who is struggling with substance abuse (his substance of choice being either) after his career has peaked and he's no longer the darling of the art world. In Judy Cuevas's hands, the writing is stellar and anything but sterotypical. I was a little baffled by the contradictions of Hannah, who is both saavy and, we're told, more than what she seems (a woman with a body so banging that she is hypersexualized by almost everyone around her) as she has a keen intelligence and drive in her budding career as an art appraiser. Her behavior is also, at times, that of a frenetic, impulsive naif, but l've had to suspend disbelief for more far-fetched characters. I loved that Nardi was so committed, he was was ready to bite the bullet and jettison the arranged marriage that would financially save him and his family, alienating his loved ones. if it's not choosing love over duty resulting in a life of relative poverty, I don't want it 😤 Hannah was firm that Nardi was the only one who could change his behavior and curtail his ether abuse, and trusted him to remain steadfast in his committment to her. The crumbling chateau lost by Nardi's family both sets the events in motion and creates a wonderfully romantic setting that I can't wait to explore further in Dance 😍
March 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
Mary Balogh redemption tour canceled
Romancelandia University winter session 2025 book report. Objective: buddy reads. Vibe check/rating: 3 stars. Thoughts: I had high expectations for this book after loving A Matter of Class. I thought this RU semester might even have a Mary Balogh Redemption objective, but alas, this book was a dud. It felt pretty formulaic for a book that was written in the 2000's and it just became a chore to finish. Although I love a marriage of convenience, the "will they, won't they?" make it a real marriage failed to keep me invested, as it was too prolonged and began to feel like a bit of a charade. This might have worked better as a novella or with another external conflict. The stroke of realization that led to the HEA was a bit forced/unearned, although it felt like it took forever to get to, as I had checked out by that point. I'm still interested in reading MB's other works, but I don't foresee finishing this series.
March 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
Still need to finalize my syllabus but loving my winter session RU reads thus far! Another new to me author, Amanda Quick’s 1998 book With This Ring was a satisfying HR mystery
Romancelandia University winter session 2025 book report. Objective: new to me author. Vibe check/rating: 4 stars. Thoughts: I was so stoked to get this audiobook and hear the Grand Dame herself, Barbara Rosenblat, narrating. To say I’m obsessed with her is an understatement. When the central mystery started to drag 3/4 of the way in and overshadow the romance, her voice propelled me through. Otherwise I mostly enjoyed my first book by Amanda Quick, starring Leo and Beatrice as they track down the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite, an antiquity whose reapearrance results in the murder of Bea’s uncle. Leo is starchy, rich and has a menacing reputation that doesn’t scare Beatrice, a widow who secretly writes Gothic novels and suffers no fools. Leo immediately gets on board with Bea’s quest and just as easily falls for her. Loved their relationship, and for readers who want a tidy resolution, this mystery was solved, the bad guys dispatched and it was all wrapped up with a great big HEA bow
March 9, 2025 at 6:11 AM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
Back on my BS
February 26, 2025 at 4:36 AM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
@veryromance.bsky.social @yourbookishbff.bsky.social
Romancelandia University winter session 2025 book report. Objective: buddy reads. Vibe check/rating: 4 stars. Thoughts: I read this for the Ungovernables FB monthly read and, going in both blind and having never read Patricia Gaffney, I was pretty pleased. Unusually, this was a book where the MMC really outshines the FMC. Michael is the “lost man” being studied by Sydney’s anthropologist father. Sydney is a wet rag, and it’s Michael and his lack of conditioning, his authenticity and respect for nature that make him the civilized one and a breath of fresh air compared to Sydney’s peers in Chicago’s upper crust society. I really enjoyed the major conflict and subsequent trial, and Michael’s reunion with his family made my eyes misty. The writing was not exactly exceptional, but I was entertained and at times moved, and I wouldn’t mind checking out more of Gaffney’s work in the future.
February 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
Posting here for my fellow RU students! Still need to finalize my syllabus but let the reviews commence @yourbookishbff.bsky.social @veryromance.bsky.social
Romancelandia University winter session 2025 book report. Objective: series I’ve started. Vibe check/rating: 4.5 stars. Thoughts: I think this was a combo of decent book + right mood. I had to take a breather after reading the first 4 books of the Hathaways series, as I was burned out on the audiobook narrator, but I think that made returning even better. I loved the setup and the epistolatory element, and I LOVE a cynical, battle-worn MMC. Quirky/unconvential animal-obsessed FMC is definitely a trope bordering on total charicature (hello Pandora and Penny from Wallflower Wager) but I’m fine with it every once in a while. The third act conflict was entirely external and also kind of underwhelming, and Beatrix’s pilfering didn’t seem to be resolved?? But other than that I enjoyed this series finale.
February 18, 2025 at 3:40 AM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
TIL Bluesky has the option to require Alt text before posting!
Screenshot of the Bluesky Accessibility tab under Settings. Alt text is a header and underneath is the option to require alt text before posting, with the toggle switched to the “on” position. Beneath are further options to display larger text badges and disable haptic feedback.
January 25, 2025 at 5:07 AM
booket-of-books.bsky.social
On DNF’ing
January 22, 2025 at 4:30 AM