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ARC Book Review: So True a Love by Joanna Barker

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator. But after one case nearly costs her everything, she makes the hard decision to hang up her hat and live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of a harrowing armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. While she appreciates his keen mind and quick wit on a case, his interference is muddling her progress—and her heart. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as she constantly bumps into Nathaniel, who is determined to keep her out of danger.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

LOOOOVED IT.

Joanna Barker is just my favorite. I love her books so much and this newest release was a gem too. I love the combination of historical romance + romantic suspense. There is the perfect air of mystery throughout that leaves you guessing and flipping the pages. Add in a lovely swoony romance and this is the ultimate combination.

I loved Verity! I loved how unique and dynamic she was. How clever and filled with a lot of tenacity to do things on her own and learning to let others in and find that trusting piece she had been missing. And of course I was smitten with Nathaniel. He melted me into a puddle and was protective and brave and wanted to be Verity’s partner. Not once trying to overstep. I loved the way the came together and the tender quiet moments they found along the way.

I enjoyed the side story that worked back into the plot (do I spy maybe a future story???). I loved the close friendships and getting to see Jack and Ginny again too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance + Suspense
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: brief gun violence, kidnapping

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Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 6 (The Unselected Journals #6) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 245 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Rhysdon Press
Release Date: November 29th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There is bedlam, and there is delightful bedlam.
This afternoon touched on the second, much to my pleasure.

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian’s. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Readers have compared The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion to Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse, L. M. Montgomery, and Jean Webster.

HOLY CLIFFHANGER.

Illegal cliffhanger alert, GOOD HEAVENS. I love it. I love it so much.

Another delightful read in this series that left me smiling, chuckling and shaking my kindle shouting KISS KISS KISS ALREADY. Because this is who I am as a person.

I love the more I read, the more I fall in love with these characters. The plot is a meandering of life happenings that slowly showcase how Emma is learning and growing. I love the journal style and I can’t wait to have my hands on the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kiss

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2024

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I’m just happy football is back. A big list of favorites this month!

Favorites this month:

  • Not Safe for Work
  • Ghostsmith
  • Delicate Escape
  • So True a Love
  • Better Than the Movies (reread)
  • A Heart Sufficient (reread)
  • Nothing Like the Movies
  • A Peculiar Combination
  • Quicksilver
  • Elizabeth of East Hampton
  • The Mist Thief
  • How to Hide in Plain Sight
  • Runaway Bride and Prejudice
  • Apprentice to the Villain
  • Demon Copperhead
  • Once Upon a Boyband
  • The Never Curse
  • [ARC] Drown Me with Dreams (Sing Me to Sleep #1) by Gabi Burton
  • The Fiancé Dilemma (The Long Game #2) by Elena Armas
  • Not Safe for Work (California Love #2) by Lindsey Lanza
  • Hearts That Cut (Threads That Bind #2) by Kika Hatzopoulou
  • [ARC] No Match for Love by Karen Thornell
  • The Mirror of Beasts (Silver in the Bone #2) by Alexandra Bracken
  • Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce
  • Songbird of the Sorrows (Myths of the Empyrieos #1) by Braidee Otto
  • [ALC] Ghostsmith (House of the Dead #2) by Nicki Pau Preto
  • [ARC] Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham
  • [ARC] Delicate Escape (Sparrow Falls #2) by Catherine Cowles
  • The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love (Love’s Academic #1) by India Holton
  • [Novella] Better Than Before (Better Than the Movies #0.5) by Lynn Painter
  • [Reread] Better Than the Movies (Better Than the Movies #1) by Lynn Painter
  • [Novella] Better Than the Prom (Better Than the Movies #1.5) by Lynn Painter
  • [ARC] So True a Love by Joanna Barker
  • [Reread] A Heart Sufficient (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir #4) by Nichole Van
  • [ARC] The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
  • [ARC] Serpent Sea (The Spice Road Trilogy #2) by Maiya Ibrahim
  • [ARC] Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies #2) by Lynn Painter
  • Black Tide Son (The Winter Sea #2) by H.M. Long
  • Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1) by Jen DeLuca
  • A Peculiar Combination (Electra McDonnell #1) by Ashley Weaver
  • Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy #1) by Callie Hart
  • Positively, Penelope (Skymar #1) by Pepper Basham
  • [ARC] A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
  • Elizabeth of East Hampton (For the Love of Austen #2) by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
  • The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas #3) by L.J. Andrews
  • [ARC/ALC] Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan
  • [ARC] How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes
  • The Maid and the Crocodile (Raybearer) by Jordan Ifueko
  • The Grandest Game (The Grandest Game #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • [ARC] Runaway Bride and Prejudice (Appies) by Emma St. Clair
  • [ARC] Bring Me Home by Ashley Weston
  • Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner
  • Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
  • Wisteria (Belladonna #3) by Adalyn Grace
  • [ARC] Once Upon a Boyband (Midnight Rush #1) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Never Curse (The Otherworlds Series #1.5) by Courtney Millecam

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Book Review: A Kingdom of Nomads (Outcast #2) by S.B. Nova

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 940 pages
Author: S.B. Nova
Publisher: Night Owl Publishing
Release Date: January 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As the darkness grows, so must the light…

Branded as enemies of the fae kingdom, Serena and her friends are on the run from the witch queen, Morgan. They reach sanctuary, only to discover shocking secrets that separate them.

Serena’s newfound destiny takes her to a land plagued by endless war. To survive there, she is forced to bloody her sword, escape an evil king, and confront a god.

But when her brother is captured, she faces her greatest challenge yet. She must harness a deadly magic and embrace the wild witch within. Not only to free her kin, but to save her mate and protect the realm from a queen who’d murder the world just to wear a crown.

WAY TOO LONG.

I don’t think I would have gotten through this if it wasn’t for buddy reading it and listening to it on audio. I just don’t know why this needed to be nearly 1,000 pages long? It’s basically one very long-winded travel story with out a whole lot happening until the last 20%.

Not to mention, I waited WAY TOO FLIPPIN’ LONG to find out more about how the romance is working out. I won’t say details for spoiler reasons. But I’m very conflicted and was hoping for a different angle. I don’t know, maybe book three will work this issue out.

There’s some good moments throughout. The plot did eventually move forward at a glacial pace. I still needed more action and more general things happening. There’s random POV’s of some of the side characters thrown in and I also don’t think this added to the story.

I have been waiting for this sequel for years and I really wish it had worked out as a better read for me. Will I read book three? Probably so.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle scenes, blood/gore depiction, sexual assault, murder, physical and weapons violence, loss of loved ones

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