en-US Sun, 11 May 2025 15:42:22 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7192392397 Sun, 11 May 2025 15:42:22 -0700 /review/show/7192392397 Sheyla ✎ gave 5 stars to Come Fly With Me (Kindle Edition) by Camille Di Maio
bookshelves: 2025, audible, audiobook, fiction, historical-fiction, romance, suspense, to-read, 5-fangs, arc, netgalley, publisher, women-s-fiction
I got transported to the 60s and to "America's Airline to the World".

Judy Gooman has a plan to leave her abusive husband. She has filled out the paperwork to become a stewardess for Pan Am Airlines. She knows the chances are slim, but with the help of her friend and neighbor, she is hoping for the best. Her prayers are answered when she’s selected as one of the few to begin training in Miami. Only 30% of trainees graduate, but Judy is resolute to be among them, eager to trade her small Pennsylvania town for the freedom of the skies.

Beverly Caldwell, a New Yorker from a wealthy family, faces pressure from her father to marry a Wall Street man like himself. Determined to forge her own path, Beverly sees Pan Am as her ticket to independence.

Despite the fierce competition for limited spots, Judy and Beverly form a friendship during training, and their bond only deepens over time. The story captures their triumphs and struggles, mirroring the ups and downs of real life.

Come Fly with Me transports readers to this vibrant era and the pinnacle of Pan Am’s legacy. Camille Di Maio’s meticulous research shines through, offering rich details about the flight attendants’ experiences—from their uniforms and makeup to the rigorous selection process and challenging training.

The novel vividly portrays the golden age of a legendary airline, highlighting the coveted nature of these roles and the extensive requirements stewardesses faced. The descriptions are vivid, and the main characters are likable in their distinct ways.

I’ll eagerly read another book by Camille Di Maio without hesitation.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

| | | ]]> Review4817498305 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:13:41 -0700 /review/show/4817498305 Sheyla ✎ gave 3 stars to Black Heart (Detective Dan Riley, #1) by Anna-Lou Weatherley
bookshelves: 2025, audible, audiobook, fiction, series
A good beginning to a new series!

Two years ago, Detective Dan Riley lost everything he cherished when his pregnant girlfriend died in a car accident. Still grieving, he’s decided it might be time to start dating again.

Balancing work and a love life hasn’t been an issue, as he’s thrown himself into his job. When a man is found dead in a hotel suite with his wrists slashed, Dan senses something’s off. The clues lead him to a woman who calls herself Goldilocks—and she may not be finished killing.

This was an intriguing start to a series. Some elements felt a bit far-fetched, but I’m curious to see what happens next with Dan and his future cases.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

| | | ]]> Review6239039923 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:13:32 -0700 /review/show/6239039923 Sheyla ✎ gave 4 stars to Worst Wingman Ever (The Improbable Meet-Cute, #2) by Abby Jimenez
bookshelves: 2025, audible, audiobook, cute, favorite-authors, fiction, romance
A chance encounter!

Holly, a hospice nurse, is caring for her own grandmother in her final days. The job is emotionally draining and deeply personal, leaving Holly with little time for dating. But when she finds a note left on her car by mistake, she begins an unexpected correspondence with a stranger, exchanging messages that spark a connection.

John, a handyman at an apartment building, is asked by his brother to leave a note on a car. He accidentally places it on the wrong one. To apologize, he leaves another note, signing it “the Worst Wingman Ever.” This mix-up ignites a relationship with an unknown woman through their written exchanges.

Could these two strangers meet? Could they become a couple?

This story was heartwarming, and I was thrilled with the ending. Abby Jimenez’s rom-coms are unmatched! She makes me care deeply about her characters and root for their happy ending.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

| | | ]]> Review7468238389 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:12:43 -0700 /review/show/7468238389 Sheyla ✎ gave 3 stars to Rosie and the Dreamboat (The Improbable Meet-Cute, #3) by Sally Thorne
bookshelves: 2025, audible, audiobook, fiction, romance
A meet-cute story in a horrible setting for someone with a fear of enclosed spaces.

Rosie Whittaker uses her savings to treat her sister to a spa day after her sister earns a promotion. Rosie imagines a relaxing day together, and the spa owner even shows them a new device recently imported from Japan—a flotation chamber they’ll be the first to try. Unfortunately, with Rosie’s typical luck, she gets stuck inside. Trapped in a tank that resembles a toilet, she requires firefighters to intervene. They debate whether to contact the device’s creators in Japan for an alternative solution or resort to the jaws of life. Meanwhile, they leave her with Leo, a firefighter tasked with keeping her calm as they work to free her.

At times, the main characters come across as a bit childish. I didn’t particularly care for Rosie’s sister either. Rosie grapples with insecurities, feeling like an ugly duckling next to her sibling. Despite these flaws, I overlooked them, and the story ultimately succeeded in entertaining me.
Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

| | | ]]> Review7468241006 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:12:02 -0700 /review/show/7468241006 Sheyla ✎ gave 5 stars to The Fall Risk (Kindle Edition) by Abby Jimenez
bookshelves: 2025, 5-fangs, audible, audiobook, favorite-authors, fiction, novella, romance
Loved it!

As a huge fan of Abby Jimenez's books, I was delighted to find this gem in my audible recommendations.

The main characters are Charlotte and Seth. Charlotte, an accountant, works from home—not by choice, but because she has a stalker. She’s been moving frequently to evade him, yet he always manages to track her down. Seth, meanwhile, has just finalized his divorce when he meets Charlotte. Due to an error, a set of stairs has been removed, leaving them stranded with no way down over the weekend. It’s Valentine’s Day, and neither had plans. Spending time getting to know their neighbor doesn’t sound bad at all.

It's a cute novella with so much heart! It features engaging main and secondary characters, and the narrators—both personal favorites—make it a delight. A total win-win!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

| | | ]]> Review7457723245 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:10:59 -0700 /review/show/7457723245 Sheyla ✎ gave 4 stars to Back After This (Hardcover) by Linda Holmes
bookshelves: 2025, audiobook, arc, netgalley, publisher, romance
Very well written!

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer. She used to do a podcast with her ex-boyfriend, but when he dumped her, she lost her home, her show, and her lover.

A couple of years later, and at her work, things are tense. There are rumors that they might be letting some people go. Cecily's boss calls her into his office to tell her that they have a new idea for a new podcast, and Cecily will be the one running it. She will also be the main feature. His boss wants her to partner with an influencer who is now a dating coach. The dating couch is setting her up with twenty blind dates, and she assures Cecliy that she will find love by the end of the dates. Cecily has never seen herself as someone who will want to do this, but she hopes that if this goes well, no one will lose their job, and it may help find her a companion. Yet, the universe has another idea. Just before the new podcast begins, she meets Will, a photographer who is trying to catch a great dane that was running away. Sparks fly between them after they keep on bumping into each other. What is Cecily going to do when she is not supposed to see anyone else who is not part of the podcast?

I fell for Will and Buddy, the great dane, right away. In my head, there was no reason to go on other dates. I was rooting for Cecily to pick them.

This was a nice rom-com with likable, down-to-earth, and relatable main characters.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

| | | ]]> Review7431713331 Sun, 04 May 2025 17:10:38 -0700 /review/show/7431713331 Sheyla ✎ gave 4 stars to The Boyfriend (Paperback) by Freida McFadden
bookshelves: 2025, audible, audiobook, fiction, serial-killer, suspense, thriller
So many red herrings!

Sydney Shaw is a young accountant living in New York, dating to find the right guy. In her last serious relationship, she dated a cop but broke up with him because he never had time for her.

Though she’s open to dating regularly, she hasn’t had much luck finding the one. Her mother’s constant pressure to get married and have babies doesn’t help. To make matters worse, Sydney feels left behind. Her friend Bonnie says things are getting serious with her current boyfriend, and her other friend Gretchen is already in a relationship.

Then she meets Tom. He seems perfect: a doctor, attractive, and generous enough to pick up the bill when they dine out. But something feels off. Women are being murdered, and the police suspect an unidentified man who’s dating them. Sydney begins to suspect Tom.

The Boyfriend was entertaining from start to finish. Freida McFadden kept me guessing the whole way!
I listened to the audio version and thought both narrators did an excellent job with the dual timelines.

I’ll definitely check out more books by this author.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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