Book Review: The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 412 pages
Author: Cathryn Carter
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Parker Montgomery was once America’s sweetheart. She took her first steps in the Capitol when her father was a congressman, and starred in his senatorial campaign ads. But in high school, during his first bid for the White House, she disappeared from the political limelight, leaving her home and best friend, Fitz, behind.

Known for his grit and unwavering determination, Fitzgerald Rhodes is a seasoned quarterback who has just led his team to the Super Bowl. But the bigger win is a chance reunion with his childhood partner in crime, the now sitting-President’s daughter, and–unknowingly to Parker–Fitz’s greatest love.

Reunited, Parker turns to Fitz when a question of inheritance involves not only a wedding, but a return to the spotlight she had been banished from. Seeing this as an opportunity to come clean about his feelings, Fitz agrees to help. But their mutually beneficial relationship grows less convenient as he begins to do just that.

In prime election season, Parker’s revenge on the political dynasty that harmed her unearths not just unrequited love, but secrets and scandal leaving Fitz and his career as collateral damage.

——

The Americana Playbook does include information some readers might find sensitive including: struggles with OCD, highlighting the troubled-teen industry, emotional abuse, details (though not graphic) of physical and emotional abuse as well as sexual harassment.

OH THIS HAD ME.

The things I get for not reading the summary and getting to enjoy all of the tropes and turns this book took (!!). It had me in a chokehold from the first chapter and I haven’t binge read an ebook like this in a long time. IT WAS GLORIOUS.

Fitz and Parker represented my favorite version of childhood friends to lovers. I LOVED that Fitz has been down bad for years and the angst was ramped up every time they were on page together. This was heated and tense and a bit on the heavy side but it worked really well. This was my first book by this author and I highly doubt it will be my last. There’s even football content?? BLESS.

Parker was a tad too oblivious about Fitz for me (and now that I’m thinking about it, the same goes for Fitz about a few other things). I spent most of my time wanting to shake her and I wish that had been resolved sooner. I was at least obsessed with the protective and control vibes that Fitz continually presented. It’s an easy book to fall head over heels for. I could not get enough.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: child abuse, false imprisonment in an institution, sexual assault, loss of life, abusive coach (verbal/emotional), abusive parents

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ALC Book Review: A Forsaken Prophecy (The Artisan Trilogy #2) by Stacey McEwan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Stacey McEwan
Publisher: Simon Audio
Release Date: July 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a world of high-class magic and gangster grit, a star-crossed couple must decide where their loyalties lie in the sizzling romantasy follow-up to BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s New York Times bestseller A Forbidden Alchemy.

In Belavere Trench, the Artisans and the Craftsmen are at war. Patrick, the last Alchemist, and Nina, the world’s only known earth Charmer, have been captured by the Artisans, putting Patrick’s rebel union in a precarious position.

Though he hasn’t forgiven Nina her betrayals, Patrick has other things to worry about. He is finally reunited with his father, a prisoner of the Artisans, and the group lands a narrow escape only with the help of Nina’s first love, Theo. Decoding an ancient prophecy, they set off in search of an infinite supply of idium that will determine the course of the war, should it prove more than a myth. Fleeing across Craftsman towns on the brink, they will encounter old friends – and enemies – in search of answers.

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I LIKED IT.

But not as much as book one. Something was missing.

🎧: I do like that this book had three separate narrators. That helped with the POV switches. I thought they did a good job and I liked listening, easily recommend this format.

Alright, back to the book itself. I do really appreciate that this wasn’t a spice forward romance. There’s still a lot of tension and will they/won’t they slow burn that I liked seeing between Nina and Patrick. I did NOT love that the love triangle-ish?? was present from the first book. This kind of story doesn’t need it.

I thought most of the pacing and movement was fine. I don’t know if the addition of new POV’s or the mostly travel based plot caused the detriment, but alas, I was hoping for a bit more. There’s a lot of action and intensity that helped a lot too. Some good reveals and turns as well.

I’ll absolutely be reading the conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kalie Cassidy
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

FANTASTIC DEBUT

This wasn’t initially on my radar but I’m so happy I read it!! I love a siren book and this was such an interesting concept and had a few siren aspects that I don’t think I’ve read before which made for an engaging listen an a book hard to put down.

The romance had an edge of insta-adjacent that was hard for me to get on bored with initially but I’m grateful that this grew on me. I loved the darker edge to the story, it made the chemistry all the more heated and ambiance immaculate. Mixed with complicated political moments and some intense action the writing style was beautifully executed. I will absolutely be back for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Mikayla Bridge
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: July 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Prepare for a deliciously dark standalone, set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, their empires, and the fate of a lost god.

On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister’s death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.

Thank you to Storygram Tours for the book, Fierce Reads for the eARC & Macmillan Audio for the audiobook – gifted.

NOT QUITE.

Alright so I loved the first book from Mikayla Bridge (Of Flame and Fury, go read that one). Imagine my disappointment when I STRUGGLED through reading this one. The effort to pick it up was nowhere to be found.

One thing that basically always bugs me is when the ex-partner is way too involved with the story. This is a standalone and I didn’t need 60%+ with Inna’s ex being deeply ingrained to the plot. She took up much of the page time I think could have been dedicated to Inna and Rylan’s relationship. This is a standalone and a short one at that.

Also I feel like much of the world building was MIA. I don’t know if it was hinging on the fact that you’ve read the previous book? They are set in the same world and I do like the world but I guess the vast areas have vastly different magic systems and that’s where I ended up lost.

I do think the interactions between Inna and Rylan were good. I liked seeing them learn to work together. The ending is super quick and leaves some things unexplained. I’m bummed out this second book didn’t work for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of a sibling, snakes, physical altercations

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