Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail | 
pickA blurb from romance author Lana Harper praises Ashley Herring Blake for writing characters with “great depth and compassion.” I think that‘s exactly right. Even “unlikeable” characters are redeemable in her deft hands. And a crumbly, old, purportedly haunted Victorian home will do it for me every time! My only substantial criticism is that I could‘ve done with a bit more of The Blue Lady. 💙👻
so-soI didn‘t find this to me as impactful as Delilah. Maybe I was just in my feelings because I related to Delilah so much, & I did at times, in my type A bitchiness, relate to Astrid but like… the plot became really Hallmark-y & there were way less dramatic ways to solve the conflicts.
Drunk putt-putt though. I need that in my life.
#20in4
I don‘t know if this is a spoiler really because it happens right at the beginning. And I‘m NOT done but it‘s irking me so I‘m going to put rant-y spoiler in the comments
pickOof, this book got deep into Jordan and Astrid's emotions and I'm Here For It. Their connection was delicious, and I loved that the third-act blow-up didn't end in a prolonged separation like so many other stories do. And they didn't let the people they had problems with off scott-free! So good. #contemporaryromance
pickAstrid redeems herself in this second installment of a series. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#astrid-parker-doesnt-fail-bright-fal...
My favorite book of January was definitely this queer romance. This series is becoming one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to the next installment
#readingbracket2023
I‘d make more progress reading if I wasn‘t blowing my nose every 20 seconds. 🤧
pickThe second book in the Bright Falls series was even better than the first. Jordan is book girlfriend goals. Astrid, who we met in the first book, is trying to find herself after years of following her mother‘s instructions. After a rough first encounter, Jordan and Astrid find themselves working together. A spicy enemies to lovers romance ensues.
#sharreadathon
pickFinished my first book for #joyousjanuary - this one is a soft pick for me, maybe 3.5⭐️. The romance was cute, but the second half of the book had some very weird plot choices. I enjoyed the first book in this series, Delilah Green Doesn't Care, a lot more.
pickI loved this one so much! After she calls off her wedding, Astrid is struggling to keep her life in order and her big break comes in the form of a renovation design show. But she starts out on the wrong foot with the lead carpenter Jordan, who's got her own baggage. Their story was lighthearted yet full of emotional healing. Astrid learns that it's never too late to discover your passions in life and in love
#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65
pickDelightful! Loved this queer romance with a tv decor show setting. The characters were great-complicated but kind and so much fun to root for! I liked this one even more than the first in the series. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #audiobaking #JoyousJanuary @Andrew65
January is a great time for a readathon, so I'm joining on on #joyousjanuary hosted by @Andrew65 . 📚
How it started ➡️ how it's going
My day has been blessed with all of the cat snuggles. Perfect on a gloomy Sunday 🌧️
#catsoflitsy #benthecat #camothecat
pickAfter how much I loved Delilah Green, I couldn't resist the urge to immediately go back to Bright Falls for the sequel. I loved getting to know Astrid better, but in hindsight I probably should have paced myself so that I wasn't constantly thinking about Delilah 😂. Still an amazing romance, and I will be anxiously waiting for Iris' turn (and literally any other book that Blake writes!!) 😍
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 - I unfortunately didn‘t like this book as much as the first, however I did enjoy it for what it was. Although I really wanted to wack a few characters with a bat. And I‘m still madly in love with Delilah Green. And I am furious that she doesn‘t exist and is not my girlfriend. The audacity.
pickI adore this romance series. This is the second book and it was just as good as Delilah Green Doesn‘t Care.
pick4.5/5
Since canceling her wedding, things have not been great. Now she can at least get her career back on track with an opportunity to be on Innside America as the lead design for the renovation of a local, historic hotel. Unfortunately, she and the lead carpenter, Jordan, immediately clash over her plans for to modernize the hotel. It's a wonderful romance between people who need this to figure out what they actually want in their lives.
pickAfter enjoying the first book in this Bright Falls series, I was happy to get an advance copy of this one. This is a light, predictable LGBTQ2+ romance that revolves around a renovation show...and is perfect for escapist reading. My only complaint is I would love to see this made into a movie so I could see the designs for the Inn come to life. I will be sure to grab the third one next year for another break from real life. 4/5 stars.
pickA sequel that fully lived up to the first book in the series. This book follows Astrid Parker, the overachiever perfectionist stepsister to Delilah Green who we met in book one. I loved the sort-of enemies to lovers story, the reality tv storyline, Astrid's later in life discovery of her sexuality when she falling for Jordan, the carpenter for the restoration Astrid is designing. So excited for the next book about Iris!
1. Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail, Life Ceremony, and Scattered All Over thr Earth
2. Delilah Green Doesn't Care
3. Usually just whatever sounds good unless I need to read something specific for work
#WeekendReads
"Astrid Parker looked perfect."
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
