Smashbox Twenty

About

I’m Kelly, or as my derby team calls me “Smashbox Twenty” or “Smash.” I’m an avid book reader that loves sharing my love of books with others! I’ve been in the independent bookshop world since 2024, and I love the indie bookstore I work for. In my free time I love reading and reviewing books, rollerskating and playing roller derby, and connecting with others about books. I’m a “crazy” cat lady, a mom of an awesome kid, and a wife to an amazing lady. My thoughts and opinions are all my own, and may not everyone’s cup of tea.

Book 2 of 2026: One Night In Hartswood by Emma Denny ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🏳️‍🌈🎧Half-truths, omissions, deceit… and love? This book wandered through the historic countryside weaving a tale of forbidden attraction. The slow burn romance had a lot of tension, but the spicy scenes felt realistic and tasteful. I loved watching Penn’s confidence grow through the book. I felt Raff’s character development was a little lackluster, but he was still well enough developed for me to grow attached. It was easy to want to root for Penn and Raff, but I was left wanting more of the side stories of their siblings- especially Ash and Jo. Good thing Denny has 2 more books in this series! Overall I felt this historic romance was sweet (with just a little spice) and a good winter time tale. Book 1 of 2026: Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A country gentleman’s daughter with a sordid secret and a newly named Viscount trying to rebuild his family’s name and estate share feelings…. But he’s broken her heart once, and she believes her remaining feelings must be ignored. Until they can’t be. This sweet Regency romance was a little predictable, but had enough originality to make it a fun read. The character development was great, and I loved the quirks of Simon’s younger siblings. There was a great Jane Austin vibe, definitely “Sense and Sensibility” inspired. Overall, definitely a book I’d recommend for someone looking for a non-spicy romance with a lot of heart. I received this as an ALC from @librofm , but my thoughts are my own. Book Club members & bookish friends! One of the @bellevillebooks book clubs, Friends of Dorothy, is hosting a Book Swap THIS SUNDAY 1/4! It’s a great chance to get some new reads for the new year! On New Year’s Day, we binge watch Lord of the Rings and eat like Hobbits! This year, I created a menu ahead of time to make sure our meals felt balanced and we wouldn’t be too stuffed. I also grabbed the perfect LOTR binge watch Lego set to build while we watch! 2025 is wrapping up, and 2026 is only hours away…. Reflecting on 2025 was hard- I had my second major orthopedic surgery in under 2 years. Rehab has been the name of game. 2025 also had a lot of really cool things going on, and I am celebrating them all! Book 69 of 2025: Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve been a Pendergast fan since “Relic,” but some of my favorite parts of this series are the views into the agent’s past. This prequel gave me more of the history I love so much! Pendergast is a probationary agent in the New Orleans Field Office where he is paired with a grief ridden senior officer that seems to just be going through the motions. Of course the case is just what fans can expect- a little “weird,” a little twisty, and a revelation that is unexpected. I loved getting to learn more about Pendergast’s and Proctor’s pasts, and what led Proctor to be in Pendergast’s employment. In previous books, Pendergast is often left unchecked, and it was interesting to see push back on his unusual investigative tactics. My only wish is that I could’ve gotten more of his inner thoughts through the book. Book 68 of 2025: A Heart for Christmas by Sophie Jomain ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I couldn’t resist the TikTok famous Advent Romance book… but it left a lot to be desired. The story was cute- very YA (which I do enjoy), but felt very superficial. I know this was translated from French, and I wonder if something got lost in translation. I felt April’s character was well developed, but the other characters fell flat. Even the love story felt superficial. The only thing that I felt was well done was April’s growth and self acceptance to start enjoying life after medical issues. Hoping that the next advent book I pick is more exciting! Merry Christmas from Smashbox, @darthskater66 , & family! Great night at the Collinsville Lighted Parade with @confluencecrushrollerderby ! One teammate made an amazing 8’ tall lighted leg lamp and I helped create “skate laces” and we wrapped the truck in 6 strands of mini lights. It was a chilly night, but we definitely had a great time! I was most grateful for being able to ride along in the truck 😉