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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Book Review: No Dumb Questions by Jason and Travis Kelce

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Non-fiction
Length: 240 pages
Author: Jason and Travis Kelce
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Jason and Travis Kelce – brothers, Super Bowl champions, and New Heights podcast hosts – tackle their first book, No Dumb Questions, where the 92%ers get in on the fun to ask questions about sports, science, relationships, and whatever category “how many holes does a straw have” falls into.

This fraternal duo has dominated the football field and the podcast charts alike. Now, they take on a new opponent—life’s greatest mysteries—with spirited answers to their fans’ most burning questions such

What is a “down”? (Is it, like, dropping the ball?)IN THE Why don’t players squirt their own water? What would you do if you lived in a split household who root for rival schools? Which brother lifts the heaviest weights in the weight room? Do you pour the cereal into the bowl first, or the milk? MAD If you could make one of your body parts detachable, which would you choose? And so much more…
Packed with a slew of famous guests, insider football knowledge, and everything fans have wanted to know about growing up Kelce, No Dumb Questions perfectly captures the Kelce brothers at their wisest and funniest, no matter the subject.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

YEAH, I’M NOT SO SURE.

I’ve listened to many episodes of this podcast but I’m not an AVID listener. I just catch things here or there so I feel like that helped me not be totally annoyed by this audiobook.

So let me explain.

This audiobook is a bunch of podcast clips put together. There’s a forward from both Jason and Travis but besides that, they didn’t actually WRITE anything. I’m curious what a physical copy of this looks like because of this fact. It ended up feeling like I was just listening to a bunch of reels in a row. Since I happened to have not seen most of these before I still gave me some enjoyment and chuckles.

I feel like if you listen to this podcast regularly there’s no point in you picking this up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Nonfiction
  • Language: mild

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Book Review: The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Megan Bannen
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy comes a new heartwarming fantasy rom-com with an opposites-attract twist set in the delightful world of Tanria.

Immortal demigod Rosie Fox has been patrolling Tanria for decades, but lately, the job has been losing its luster. After one hundred and fifty-seven years of being alive, everything is beginning to lose its luster. When Rosie dies (again) by electrocution (again) after poking around inside a portal choked with shadowy thorns only she can see, she feels stuck in the rut that is her unending life.

Thanks to Rosie’s meddling, the portal’s inventor, Dr. Adam Lee, must come in person to repair the damage. When all the portals begin to break down, he declares an emergency evacuation of Tanria. In the mad rush to get out, Rosie and Adam end up trapped inside the Mist. Together.

And uptight Adam Lee in his bespoke menswear seems to know a lot more about what’s happening than he lets on….

Rosie is determined to crack the shell of his cool exterior. But the more she learns about Adam, the more she realizes that they both have personal histories as tangled and thorny as the plant that has them trapped inside the Mist. Maybe two people who have found themselves stuck in this life can find a way to unstick each other … just when their time on this earth seems to be running out.

GOT ME IN THE FEELS.

This series is delightfully quirky with just the right level of heaviness balanced with heart and humor that make me love this writing style. I liked having the time jump before the start of this one and seeing the evolution of Tanria and what some of my favorite characters have been up to.

The set-up for the plot led to a small cast with all the forced proximity you could want (with a bonus side character romance too!!). I really enjoyed the smaller cast. It felt like a very tight knit found family and I fell in love with each one of them.

And I loved the dynamic between Rosie and Adam. His dry wit combined with her more effervescent nature was the perfect blend. Slowly getting Adam’s backstory was fantastically executed and I loved how that mystery unfolded. There were so many memorable moments and key scenes that made you think and ponder life and the price of immortality.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one

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ARC Book Review: To Have and To Fold (Love Stories in Sheet Cake, Texas #5) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Single dad and former football star Tank Graham has watched his children find love in the town of Sheet Cake, Texas. Now, it’s his turn.

Theodore “Tank” Graham has spent the years since his wife died investing fully in raising his children and helping them find their happiness. And, more recently, buying and revitalizing the town of Sheet Cake, Texas.

Now, it’s time to find his own happiness.

But turning his focus to himself is easier said than done when he’s spent so long putting others first.

That is until a building issue leaves Rose Roberts, the newest baker in Sheet Cake, without a kitchen or a place to sleep.

Tank steps in to help–but only because as the owner of the building where she lives and works, it’s his duty.

But duty isn’t why he finds himself giving up his own loft for her or buying every baking supply Rose could possibly need while her commercial kitchen is out of commission.

Tank finds himself lingering in her presence, prolonging conversations, and thinking about her far more often than he should. Especially when he has a new grandbaby to fuss over, a collapsing house to renovate, and Wolf Waters to support in his mayoral race.

Still–the pull toward Rose becomes hard to resist. And why should he? For the first time since he lost his wife, Tank is feeling something big.

It’s been literal decades since he’s been in a relationship, but Tank has always lived by a go big or don’t even think about going home philosophy.

And now … the idea of home doesn’t sound complete. Not without Rose.

To Have and To Fold is a later in life love story that concludes the Love Stories in Sheet Cake series. You’ll get strong family vibes, all the charm and quirk of a small town, laugh out loud humor, and tender moments with plenty of sizzle but no spice. It is a closed door romance with kissing only and no explicit language.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

DARLIN’.

I am going to miss the Graham family y’all! I had the best time with this book. It’s soft, there’s not really any tension and there doesn’t need to be. Emma mentioned this kind of feeling like an extended epilogue and that is the vibe (complimentary). I didn’t know how I felt about Tank getting a romantic story line but never fear, I quickly fell in love with him and Rose.

I thought the quick pacing was just right. I liked all of the moments they got together. I’m obsessed with this entire family and their dynamics. I loved the swoony and sweet moments. And there were some pull on your heartstrings tender moments too.

Not to mention Wolf??? I could have 1000% read a full novel about that guy. I loved that he was included and got his own little sub story too. This town is full of all the small town charm and shenanigans you can ask for.

Loved the themes and sentiments and the way everything was approached and communicated. A beautiful book from start to finish.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: arson, discussions surrounding grief & loss of a spouse

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