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Book Review: Garden of the Cursed (Garden of the Cursed #1) by Katy Rose Pool

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Katy Rose Pool
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

n this thrilling YA fantasy/mystery duology from award-winning author Katy Pool, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with one of the most powerful nobles in Caraza City to gain entry into an illustrious—and deadly—society that holds clues to her mother’s disappearance. Perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron.

Since fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best godsdamn cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow’s old friend and scion of one of Caraza’s most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother’s case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she desperately seeks is to help Adrius and return to Evergarden society—even if it means suffering through a fake love affair with him to avoid drawing suspicion from the conniving Five Families.

As the investigation draws Marlow into a web of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, a shocking truth emerges: Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance may just be clues to an even larger mystery, one that could unravel the very foundations of Caraza and magic itself.

SAVED BY THE ROMANCE.

This was a good series starter. I really enjoyed it and loved the audiobook.

I do think the world building and magic system needed some more explanation. I still feel a bit confused at how everything works and why. It kind of had a dystopian vibe? historical? fantasy? some combination of all three.

The FMC was great though. I liked her character and her perseverance to find out the clues to her mother’s disappearance. I especially loved the romance. Old friends to enemies to fake dating to wanna be lovers to enemies again?! YES PLEASE. So much tension and heat between them. I can’t wait to see where this romance goes.

Just a truly good read and an easy book for me to recommend. It had a lot of elements I continually enjoy seeing in YA books and the ending has me on pins and needles for the conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: light (but strong)
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and weapons violence, magical manipulations and violence, low blood/gore, murder

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ARC Book Review: Delicate Escape (Sparrow Falls #2) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 378 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: August 22nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Trust doesn’t come easily when you’ve been running for as long as I have, which is why moving in with a man I barely know is such a bad idea.

Shepard Colson is all golden-boy charm and devastating good looks. But I know what it’s like to be taken in by easy smiles and the promise of forever—I have the scars to prove it.

Only the handsome contractor won’t stop coming by the bakery and prying little truths from my lips. Those amber eyes of his seeing far too much. And when all the secrets come crashing down, he’s determined to keep me safe. Even if it means moving into my rundown cabin to do it.

Now, Shep isn’t just rebuilding the walls of my home, he’s working his way into my heart. Suddenly, he’s everywhere: shirtless in my garden or in a towel coming out of my bathroom. And my resolve is no match.

Only it’s more than his golden looks. It’s him. The way he watches for my wounds but tells me I’m stronger than anyone he’s ever known. And I can’t help but fall.

But I should’ve known better than to think I could be happy. Not when a ghost from my past still has me in his sights. And when he finds me, he’ll do anything to tear my life apart, even if it means ending it for good…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for the gifted copy!

MY LOVES.

I know it’s not really a surprise but I LOVED this book y’all. It’s actually the first physical book I highlighted and it brought me so much joy to mark the things that stood out to me most. I adore Thea and Shep. They had perfect chemistry. Thea showcased incredible strength and resilience and I could not get enough of the way that Shep let Thea take everything at the pace she wanted. I loved the way they took care of each other and laying that foundation for the life they want together.

And I’m obsessed with the whole Colson family. HOW COULD YOU NOT BE? I love the unique and intricate personalities and the clearly loyal and loving way they band together and keep an eye out for each other.

The suspense completely got me again. I went from saying I KNEW IT, to then realizing I was horribly wrong and it’s my favorite place to be in a Catherine Cowles novel. I think this book tackled new things I haven’t come across in her previous stories and I liked the complexity of the situations and the conclusions reached.

You must get your hands on this one!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: scattered moderate throughout
  • Romance: 3 open door; light innuendo
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: attempted murder, gun violence, spousal abuse, gaslighting, partner abuse, putting private pictures/videos online

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ARC Book Review: Drown Me with Dreams (Sing Me to Sleep #2) by Gabi Burton

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Gabi Burton
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Release Date: August 20th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the second book in this dark and seductive YA fantasy duology, a siren must decide if saving her kingdom is worth betraying the boy she loves.

Saoirse Sorkova is on the run. Accused of several murders, her siren identity compromised, even the newly crowned King Hayes can’t protect her if she’s caught. The only way to save her life is to send her on a dangerous mission across the magical barrier that surrounds the kingdom.

Forced to travel with Carrick – once her best friend, now her greatest betrayer – she begins to unravel multiple plots that threaten the safety of her family, the livelihood of the entire kingdom, and her future with Hayes. And the more time she spends with Carrick, the harder it is to keep hating him . . .

Soon, Saoirse is forced to what if Hayes isn’t the right ruler for the kingdom? And if he’s not, is she willing to betray her king – and her heart?

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy series is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.

Thank you to Colored Pages Book Tours and Bloomsbury YA for the gifted copy.

VARIED THOUGHTS.

I went up and down with this book y’all. I will put at the top of this review though that I would love to try another series by this author. I think there’s potential for some great reads, even if I was mixed on this conclusion.

I loved a lot about Saoirse. Her dedication to her sister and how much she LOVED her. I loved the protective nature and the strength and will to survive in a land that doesn’t want her. I wish Saoirse had shown a little more growth in being able to trust others and not to lean so heavily (for the entire book) on scheming and manipulation. At least with those close to her.

The romance lacked chemistry and aspects felt forced. I wanted to love the forbidden and heated interactions, yet, the sporadic nature of their proximity didn’t build up the fragile connection they started with. I was way more invested in Saoirse’s story line with Carrick.

I liked the side characters. They added complexity and turmoil, politicking and good betrayals throughout. I feel like that whole group held up the book for me. The book lacked some direction and pacing became an issue too.

Like this review entails, I was back and forth on things I loved/struggled with. It’s still a book I would recommend and now that it’s a completed duology an even better time to try this out!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: heated make-outs with light touching
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Ali Brady
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters have one summer to crush their comfort zones and save their grandmother’s legacy in this sweet, sexy, and heartfelt novel by Ali Brady, author of The Beach Trap .

Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless—until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems—but there’s a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program.

Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister’s behalf. They’re both making good progress—until Hannah’s first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she’s supposed to be setting up with her sister.

Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they’ve always counted each other. With their company’s future on the line, they can’t afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path?

I ENJOY THIS AUTHOR.

Second book by Ali Brady and I am once again very much a fan. I love the way that sister relationships are combine with romance and self discovery and everything in between. Libby and Hannah both had to learn to stand completely on their own and I looooved seeing that journey for them.

I really liked the romances! Both are totally different and brought a great angle to the general story. There were a lot of tough conversations and heartfelt moments + a little bit of spice. Everything was squeezing my heart and I was very grateful for the HEA at the end.

It’s a fantastic audiobook. It’s a great story. The romance plays a significant role. Just all good things. Looking forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: light strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; low-moderate explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: side character with a parent who has a degenerative disease, mentions of parents divorce, weight/body themes

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