Rachel Reads & Reviews

Sharing books for everyone

Ranking Feminine Pursuits

To continue the journey of historical romances with non-traditional leads, Waite’s Feminine Pursuits trilogy celebrates women loving women, and the their fight for rights and respect in their occupations. It’s also interesting as these can be read as stand-alones rather than a trilogy. Sure, characters pop up from other books but it is not very…

rachelbeerwoman

May 31, 2025

Rankings

#avonromance, #femininepursuits, #historicalromance, #oliviawaite, #queerromance, #rachelreads&reviews, #regencyromance, #thecareandfeedingofwaspishwidows, #thehellion’swaltz, #thelady’sguidetocelestialmechanics
Kathryn Lasky Interview

Kathryn Lasky is the prolific NYT-bestselling author of Guardians of Ga’hoole, Tangled in Time, Georgia O’Keefe mysteries and many other books in various genres. She graciously took the time to answer my questions about inspiration, world-building and more. Enjoy! It’s sort of six in one half dozen of the other, but by and large, I…

rachelbeerwoman

May 19, 2025

Interview

#animalbooks, #faceless, #fantasy, #georgiaokeefemysteries, #guardiansofga’hoole, #historicalfiction, #kathrynlasky, #middlegrade, #rachelreads&reviews
Ranking Seducing the Sedgwicks

I know, it’s been so long since I’ve done a ranking, but I’m glad to start the first ranking of 2025 with Cat Sebastian’s sweet and steamy Sedgwick trilogy. Lots of alliteration there. Much like Herrera’s Las Leonas trilogy, it dives into the forgotten bits of history aka gay people have always existed and managed…

rachelbeerwoman

May 15, 2025

Rankings

#agentlemanneverkeepsscore, #avonromance, #catsebastian, #historicalfiction, #historicalromance, #ittakestwototumble, #mlm, #queerrep, #rachelreads&reviews, #regencyromance, #romance, #seducingthesedgwicks, #tworoguesmakearight
High School AUs

What is it about them that draws people in? Is it that there is a enclosed space where you have your friends, enemies, and frenemies all in one place making it a perfect breeding ground for conflict and hijinks? Is it because it harkens to the author and readers’ nostalgia of the glory days? Is…

rachelbeerwoman

May 14, 2025

Book Suggestions

#dcsuperherogirls, #disneydescendants, #equestriagirls, #everafterhigh, #gittydaneshvari, #goulfriends, #highschoolau, #jessicabrody, #lisayee, #melissadelacruz, #middlegrade, #monsterhigh, #monsterhighdiaries, #nessimonstrata, #perditafinn, #rachelreads&reviews, #schoolofsecrets, #schoolstories, #shannonhale, #suzanneselfors
Book of the Month: Murder by Cheesecake

When Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf–themed wedding Rose is hosting. Things are heating up, and not just because of Blanche’s hot flashes. Rose’s cousin is eloping to Miami, and Rose is playing host. If she can’t balance…

rachelbeerwoman

May 13, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#cozymystery, #disneyhyperion, #goldengirls, #murderbycheesecake, #mystery, #rachelelkstromcourage, #rachelreads&reviews
The Summer I Wasn’t Me Review

Lexi has a secret. She never meant for her mom to find out. And now she’s afraid that what’s left of her family is going to fall apart for good. Lexi knows she can fix everything. She can change. She can learn to like boys. New Horizons summer camp has promised to transform her life,…

rachelbeerwoman

May 10, 2025

Reviews

#contemporaryromance, #gayconversion, #jessicaverdi, #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders, #queerromance, #rachelreads&reviews, #thesummerIwasn’tme, #YA
Twisted Tales: Be Prepared Review

What if Nala was compelled to team up with Scar for a secret mission? Six months after the death of her best friend, Simba, Nala finds herself clinging to a rumor that the young cub might actually be alive. But the trip to Garamba is long and fraught with danger- it is definitely a journey…

rachelbeerwoman

May 2, 2025

Reviews

#beprepared, #disneyhyperion, #farrahrochon, #lionking, #rachelreads&reviews, #twistedtales, #YA
Hispanic Books

I know, I know, technically Hispanic heritage month isn’t until October but I read all of these at such a close period together, I wanted to put it out now. Besides it’s my blog, I can do what I want, and just in time for Daria’s final Primas of Power novel coming out at the…

rachelbeerwoman

May 1, 2025

Book Suggestions

#adishbestservedhot, #angelinamlopez, #annettechavezmacias, #avonromance, #bessiefloreszaldivar, #bigchicasdon’tcry, #contemporaryromance, #dialbooks, #fullmoonoverfreedom, #haileyalcaraz, #harlequinpublishing, #hispanicheritage, #kissmecatalina, #lgtbq, #libertad, #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders, #magicalrealism, #megmedina, #milagrostreet, #nataliecaña, #priscillaoliveras, #queensofmariachi, #rachelreads&reviews, #sleepingwiththefrenemy, #thegirlwhocouldsilencethewind, #upinflames, #YA
Book of the Month: The Viscount Who Loved Me

We’re continuing the read through Bridgerton, and come to one of the better books in the series. Some may say the best- Anthony and Kate! I’ve already discussed my thoughts on the book in my previous Ranking the Bridgerton series post- see tags, and not much changed. I love the sweetness of the romance since…

rachelbeerwoman

April 25, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#bridgerton, #historicalromance, #juliaquinn, #rachelreads&reviews, #theviscountwholovedme
X Marks the Spot Review

For Gemma’s whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking things: the news that her grandfather has just recently passed,…

rachelbeerwoman

April 14, 2025

Reviews

#comingofage, #contemporary, #contemporaryromance, #gloriachao, #penguinrandomhouse, #rachelreads&reviews, #xmarksthespot, #YA