Books, Life, and a Little Bit of Chaos with @ReaderLatte

💬 Life Lately | Weekly Update from the Road

Hi friends,

This weekly update is getting a bit of a refresh. Instead of posting twice a week, I’ll now be sharing one full post every week—just a real and honest look into what’s been going on in our lives. From family moments and books to the struggles of housing insecurity and everything in between, I want to bring you along on this journey with us.

If you'd like to support us in any way, you can follow our journey and donate here:
👉 https://linktr.ee/readerlatte

#BookReview: The Christmas Tree Farm (Dream Harbor #3) by @lauriegilmore_author @onemorechapterhc

From the author of the viral TikTok sensation, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes the only spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom you need this year!

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.

After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.

Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.

But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questionning why she refused help in the first place..

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

• grumpy x sunshine
• small town
• forced proximity
• one bed

#BookReview: The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche

Ancient sorcery. Magic gemstones. Only one woman can save a city in ruins…

1348. As the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after nearly a decade of lonely exile. Ginevra has a gift—harnessing the hidden powers of gemstones, she can heal the sick. But when word spread of her unusual abilities, she was condemned as a witch and banished. Now the same men who expelled Ginevra are begging for her return. Ginevra obliges, assuming the city’s leaders are finally ready to accept her unorthodox cures amid a pandemic. But upon arrival, she is tasked with a much different she must use her collection of jewels to track down a ruthless thief who is ransacking Florence’s churches for priceless relics—the city’s only hope for protection. If she succeeds, she’ll be a recognized physician and never accused of witchcraft again. But as her investigation progresses, Ginevra discovers she’s merely a pawn in a much larger scheme than the one she’s been hired to solve. And the dangerous men behind this conspiracy won’t think twice about killing a stone witch to get what they want…

#BookReview: Rules for Fake Girlfriends by @raeganrevord @wednesdaybooks

Rom-com obsessed but perpetually single Avery Blackwell abandons her plans to attend Columbia in favor of spending her freshman year at her recently deceased mother’s alma mater in a seaside town in England. On the train, Avery makes a deal straight out of one of her beloved romance books with a charming local girl named Charlie: if Avery will pretend to be her girlfriend to make her ex jealous, Charlie will help Avery solve the scavenger hunt her artistic, free-spirited mother left behind on campus decades ago.

As their quest takes them all over Brighton, Avery finally starts to connect with the mother she always loved but never really understood. Before long, pretending to be Charlie’s girlfriend starts to feel like more than just an illusion. But when long-hidden secrets come to light, Avery grapples with an uncertain future and whether or not love is worth the risk.

#BookReview: Fateless (Fateless #1) by @juliekagawaauthor @harpercollins

Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits—for one bold enough to steal it.

When seventeen-year-old Sparrow joined the Thieves Guild she made a vow of binding loyalty to their cause. So when a mission comes along from The Circle, a group of mysterious, dangerous beings who control the Thieves Guild from the shadows, Sparrow is determined to cement her place in the guild.

What ensues is a death-defying adventure that has Sparrow and her band of thieves venturing into the heart of the forgotten city of the Deathless King. The fate of Sparrow, her companions, and Raithe, the enigmatic yet alluring assassin Sparrow is forced to join forces with during their quest, all hang in the balance as they find themselves battling ancient forces within the tombs and facing the unwavering hold of fate.

Perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir, this new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa will sweep readers into a bold and exciting new world, where a twisted game of destiny has far-reaching consequences.

#BookReview: Pure (Covenant #2) by @jennifer_l_armentrout

You must stay away from the one who brings nothing but heartache and death. Know the difference between need and love, fate and future.

Alex would give anything to be a normal half-blood, but she can't escape her destiny: On her eighteenth birthday, she will Awaken to become the second Apollyon, which has only ever happened once before. And it didn't end well.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if her "other half" Seth weren't so infuriating…and somehow always around. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it doesn't stop Alex from becoming a target for daimons, half-bloods, and pures who don't want her to make it to her eighteenth birthday at all.

As if fighting for her life weren't bad enough, she also battles her heart as she tries to bury her feelings for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. But as daimons infiltrate the Covenants and a mysterious threat looms over Alex at every turn, it is clear Aiden will do and sacrifice anything for her. When even the gods get involved, Alex can't help but wonder―how many people need to get hurt in order for her to survive?

🎧 #BookishPlaylist: The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Hey bookworms! If you're anything like me, you love a good playlist to match the mood of your current read. And today, I'm sharing a fun and romantic mix inspired by The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams — a sweet, swoony, friends-to-lovers sports romance that had me grinning like a fool from page one to the last.

This playlist is all about pining, playful banter, slow-burn moments, and those heart-flipping confessions we all secretly crave. Whether you're reading the book, reminiscing about it, or just in the mood for some soft romantic vibes, this one's for you.