Jo|Ruth Reads's Updates

Jo|Ruth Reads added 'The Summer I Stayed'

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:54:24 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads gave 4 stars to The Summer I Stayed (Midlife Meet Cute Series) by Bella Greene
This was a sweet, quick forced-proximity romance. Maggie returns to her lake house, the one she and her late husband owned, not quite sure if she’s staying for good. Enter Jake, the quiet, guarded contractor hired to help with the renovations. What starts as a house project slowly turns into something more, as both Maggie and Jake find themselves healing in unexpected ways.

I really enjoyed the fixer-upper setting, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and the meddling but well-meaning friends. The romance was cute, though I wish the pacing had been a little more balanced...it felt like it could have used a few more pages to let things develop. Still, a sweet, fun, read overall.

I received a complimentary copy, and this review reflects my honest thoughts.

Jo|Ruth Reads added 'The Collector of Burned Books'

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 07:29:34 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads gave 5 stars to The Collector of Burned Books (Paperback) by Roseanna M. White
I’ve been diving more into historical fiction lately, and this book was everything I wanted and more!

In The Collector of Burned Books, Corinne Bastien and Christian Bauer form an unlikely friendship during Nazi-occupied Paris, fighting to preserve forbidden books that could change the course of history. With danger lurking at every turn, their friendship (and the sparks flying between them -> chef's kiss) becomes a quiet act of rebellion and totally has you rooting for them! The suspense in this book had me hooked from start to finish, each page turning faster than the last as I found myself holding my breath. Praying they stay safe, praying their secrets aren't uncovered, wanting all to work out, lives to be spared, books to be spared.

This book made me appreciate my ability to read freely today even more, especially knowing how hard so many people fought, and continue to fight, for that right!

These quotes really hit home:

“𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒚. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕?

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”

And here's another one...

“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔—𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒚.”

If you love suspense, history, and characters you’ll root for, this one is for you!

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Jo|Ruth Reads is 66% done with The Collector of Burned B

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:17:08 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads is 66% done with The Collector of Burned Books.

Jo|Ruth Reads liked a userstatus

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 06:33:28 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads liked Ashton Dorow's status update

Ashton Dorow is on page 100 of 369 of Waterfall

Jo|Ruth Reads started reading 'The Collector of Burned Books'

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:17:08 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads started reading The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White

Jo|Ruth Reads added 'Forbidden Bonds: A Sweet Opposites Attract Forbidden Romance'

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:58:10 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads gave 5 stars to Forbidden Bonds: A Sweet Opposites Attract Forbidden Romance (Forbidden Love Book 1) by Rose Fresquez
This story is incredibly unique, full of Ugandan culture, deep emotions, and the challenges of a hidden romance. It features classic tropes like forbidden love and feuding families, but with a fresh twist... cultural traditions and family duties add even more tension and drama.

Lucy returns home for a school break and quickly falls for Fred, a man from her family’s village. Their connection is instant and intense. But their future is complicated. Lucy plans to go back to school and isn’t ready for marriage. Fred, on the other hand, is expected to marry his late brother’s widow to honor tradition.

Their love feels real and heartbreaking. They try to steal precious moments together, even though life keeps pulling them apart.

This book truly pulled at my heartstrings. I can't wait to read the next one and see what’s next for Fred and Lucy!

I rated it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Jo|Ruth Reads liked a review

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:47:18 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads liked Michaela | Reading in the Heartland's review of Forbidden Bonds: A Sweet Opposites Attract Forbidden Romance (Forbidden Love Book 1):

""Anchored by traditions and responsibilities, how can I channel this magnetic attraction?"

Enter this YA, with touches of faith, romance in a village in Uganda. With Romeo and Juliet tones, this romance takes place in an unfamiliar environment for me. It was unique to dig deep into Ugandan village life and get to experience it through the pages of this book. While so much is different from my life and experiences, emotions and dreams common to all bridge the gap and that, coupled with a deep enjoyment of all I was learning, kept me super interested and devouring this book. I can’t wait to read more. I love how this book was inspired in reality.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review."

Jo|Ruth Reads added 'Beauty and the Grease'

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:38:46 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads gave 5 stars to Beauty and the Grease (Midlife Meet Cute Series) by Stephanie J. Scott
It's not often that I give a novella five stars, but Stephanie completely won me over with this one... I absolutely loved it! Honestly, Second Chance romances aren’t usually my go-to trope, but she made me a believer with this story. I binge read this one!

I don’t want to spoil too much, but here’s the setup: Jenny and Chase annulled their marriage years ago. Now he’s unexpectedly back in her town, getting his car towed by her company, and about to attend a career-defining (or possibly career-ending) retreat. What could possibly go wrong? Cue the perfect mix of second chance romance, forced proximity, a tornado, and even a bit of fake dating. All of it throws Jenny and Chase back together... and makes them question what's next for them?

I genuinely enjoyed every minute of this story. I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Jo|Ruth Reads wants to read 'A Weather Girl's Guide to Love: A Thunderously Sweet Christian Romcom'

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:28:27 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads wants to read A Weather Girl's Guide to Love: A Thunderously Sweet Christian Romcom by Cassandra Joelle

Jo|Ruth Reads liked a review

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:27:18 -0700

Jo|Ruth Reads liked Amanda (BookLoverAmanda)'s review of The Summer of You and Me:

"The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter
5 Stars
BLOG POST:

Set in North Carolina, Maggie has been grieving the loss of her husband the last five years. She is taking pictures one day with her little girl at the amusement park one day and thinks she sees someone who looks like her late husband. Her brother-in-law, Josh, helps her figure out this odd mystery....and who the man is that looks like her late husband. Soon...feelings happen and they try to navigate them, through grief and how to handle the romantic feelings that are happening.
Loved Josh's character so much, he was a great guy. This is a clean romance, with no language. There are not many faith elements (couple of prayers during moments of grief) as this is just a clean read. Audio narration is great!

The way the grief in this book was explored was beautiful and the ending had me in tears with the revealing of everything in the mystery aspect. This felt realistic in many ways.

- Clean summer romance books
- Light mystery elements
- Childhood friends
- North Carolina setting
- Death of husband / grief storyline
- Toxic relationship with mother/daughter
- Single Mom Trope
- Great dialogue

Definitely recommend!"