Challenge Corner discussion

WHAT A GIRL WANTS

To survive her difficult childhood, Miss Hazel Lively relied on two things:a tough outer shell and a love of books. Now, at the age of twenty-eight, she’s finally realized her life-long dream of opening a school for girls. She’s hoping that the wealthy families who flock to the shore for the summer will entrust their daughters to Bellehaven Academy―and help pay the way for less fortunate students. All Hazel must do is maintain a flawless reputation and raise a good deal of money. It’s a foolproof plan…till a sinfully handsome earl strides into her office.

WHAT AN EARL NEEDS

Gabriel Beckett, Earl of Bladenton, has had a monstrous headache since the day his teenaged niece became his ward. She’s been expelled from two London boarding schools and is doing her damnedest to scare off his potential fiancée. But Blade has a plan of his own―enroll his niece at Bellehaven Academy, where she’ll be out of town and out of his hair. He just needs to convince the buttoned-up headmistress with the soulful brown eyes to take on his niece.

LEAD TO AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL

When Blade makes a generous offer to the school, it’s impossible for Hazel to refuse. But she has one non-negotiable condition: the earl must visit his niece every other week. Soon, Blade discovers there’s much more to Hazel than meticulous lesson plans. In moonlit seaside coves and candlelit ballrooms, their sparring leads to flirtation…and something altogether deeper. But the passion that flares between them poses a threat to Hazel’s school and Blade’s battered heart. They say a good thing can’t last forever, but true love? Well, it just might…

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RESTARTING MAY 20TH, 2023

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Just got my copy from the library!! I'm going to read two or three ARCs then start this one.

Hopefully will get this this one next week.

Started

Chapters 1-8 (view spoiler)[I'm really enjoying this one. I loved their kiss and how Hazel is opening up to him a little. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-15 (view spoiler)[I wasn't expecting him to propose so soon! But I hope she says no until he wants it all with her. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-22 (view spoiler)[I'm seriously questioning what she gets out of marrying him and why she wants to so bad. But love that he is willing to do anything for Hazel. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[The greenhouse and trapping them was actually a cute idea. I love how he just wanted her to have her dream because she loved him. And the letter getting ripped was perfect. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING OCTOBER 3rd, 2023

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Started book 1 tonight.



Chapters 1-8
(view spoiler)[
I'm enjoying this so far. I really like Hazel's character and her and Blade have great chemistry. Also, the antics the girls are getting up to are fun (that ensemble for the cat was hilarious).
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-16
(view spoiler)[
I was not expecting Blade to propose to Hazel so soon. It's clear they want different things, at least right now, so I'm glad Hazel didn't say no. I'm interested to see what causes Blade to change his mind.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 17-24
(view spoiler)[
I really enjoy Blade and Hazel together, I love how he quick he is to help her. I really hope she can talk some sense into him soon, they clearly belong together. But man, the girl he loved married his brother?! No wonder he doesn't want to love anyone again.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 25-31
(view spoiler)[
The girls colluding to trap Blade and Hazel in the greenhouse was adorable. I love how everything worked out after that.
(hide spoiler)]

Overall this was a cute read and I'll be picking up book 2 soon.

I'll be reading book two this week.

Actually I didn't get to it yet, so next week.

Reading this next.

Started

Chapters 1-9 (view spoiler)[I love these two together so much!! I love Poppy's character and while I knew she would go to London with him, I'm glad that she being open about him and thinking maybe there is more to him. Also love her costume for the ball! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 10-18 (view spoiler)[Well I was not expecting Poppy’s brother to be the one to try to kill him. And is this the same guy that we saw in book one? I’m so confused by them, but I loved their night together. I know he wants her, but why doesn’t she think she can be with him is strange to me, unless it’s just because he is a Duke? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19-27 (view spoiler)[Well I'm glad that the entire thing with Dane was cleared up, but I wasn't expecting Poppy to find out so soon. Also I cannot believe that his cousin was the one behind trying to kill him. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I liked the Keane let his cousin join the military. It really shows that he is still a decent person, especially with him trying to kill him twice. I think the ending was a little unnecessarily long, but other than that I enjoyed it. Also wish Kitty was in the book throughout instead of just at the end. (hide spoiler)]

Book 3 is Read Now on NetGalley, so I snagged that one today and will continue this series soon.

Ashlyn wrote: "Book 3 is Read Now on NetGalley, so I snagged that one today and will continue this series soon."

Ohh nice, I grabbed that as well. I should be getting to book 2 sometime next week.

Probably going to start this next maybe.

Starting this next.

Started book 2 tonight.



Chapters 1-9
(view spoiler)[
I'm really enjoying this so far. I love Poppy and Keane together, their banter is cute. I wonder who tried to kill him? It seems they cleared the Marquess, so who's next on the list? I'm excited for them to go to the masquerade ball like Poppy wanted to.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished book 2 tonight.



Chapters 10-18
(view spoiler)[
I love these two together, I really hope Poppy lets go of whatever is holding her back. Also, I was not expecting hat Dane was the one who tried to kill Keane. I wonder how that came about?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19-27
(view spoiler)[
Well at least Dane had good intentions when he went after Keane so I'm glad that was sorted. But wow I was not expecting it was Keane's cousin who wanted him dead. Keane talked about him as if they were super close and the guy tried to kill him.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 28-34
(view spoiler)[
Teddy just had to make one more go at Keane. I'm glad he was shipped off to America and they don't need to deal with him anymore. I liked the ending, Poppy and Keane are good together. I'm excited to get Kitty's book next.
(hide spoiler)]

Picking up book 3 soon

Will start this by the end of the year.

Will start this next.

Starting this after I finish my library book.

Started

Chapters 1-6 (view spoiler)[Okay, so really loving this one so far. This just seems fun. I love that he really likes her and he’s afraid she doesn’t like him. But what I like even more is that he is willing to change things about him just so he can be around her and be the person he thinks she will like. Im excited to see how she tells him that he is fine just the way he was. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-14 (view spoiler)[ I really want these two to be together. He needs to open up about why he left and she needs to tell him that he’s perfect the way he is. This new person coming in is definitely going to stir up some trouble now that they’ve kissed. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 15-23 (view spoiler)[I’m glad she finally realized that she loved him. But I don’t know why they had to wait to talk. Anyways I wasn’t expecting that be what happened with his father, but it does make it interesting. I already know that she isn’t going to get the note. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this one! I just found it so fun. I’m glad that Leo finally learned more about how his dad had two wives. I wasn’t expecting his mom to have already know. I thought she would have found out in this book. But also I knew that he was going to mess with Kitty’s numbers! I can’t believe she trusted him, but maybe he did steal the letter that Leo left. Also I’m glad that Leo turned himself into a pirate and made that gesture that he cared for Kitty and always would fight for her. I felt like that was perfect for her to realize that he wasn’t going anywhere. And glad she got her building in the end. (hide spoiler)]

Read book 3 tonight.



Chapters 1-7
(view spoiler)[
I'm enjoying this so far, the whole rake lessons thing is a trope I like a lot. It's so obvious that Kitty is the one he's in love with, I wonder when she'll figure it out. I'm interested to see how this hole design contest thing plays out. Also, why does Leo seem to be so angry about his dad?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-14
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These two are perfect together, they just need to realize it. Or more accurately, Kitty needs to realize it. I have a feeling this new guy is going to cause trouble.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 15-21
(view spoiler)[
I know Kitty has issues due to how her parents died and the way her uncle originally was with her but man I feel so bad for her when she talks about how she won't love someone. I'm hoping Leo can convince her to go all in with him. Still not getting a good feeling about this other architect guy from London.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
I knew I had a bad feeling about that guy. I loved the grand gesture Leo did and that they were able to build her theater with someone else backing it. This was really cute.
(hide spoiler)]