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ARC Book Review: Night for Day by Roselle Lim

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Rating: ★☆
Audience: Magical Realism Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Roselle Lim
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 20th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two people destined to be together, but to never see each other again, fight against the greatest odds in this powerful and moving fantasy novel by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.

Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, and they are reminded of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try.

Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome.

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted book and PRHAudio for the gifted audiobook!

WTHECK DID I JUST READ.

There’s no way I would have finished this if I didn’t have a review copy to get through, it was an absolute hot mess. And since I don’t have positives to say, we’ll keep this short.

My ONE positive: The audiobook narrators were fantastic. They nailed it, loved that there were two of them for the dual POV and that had me hanging on by a thread to this story.

Y’all. I don’t even know where to begin. This book was pure chaos. Nothing made sense and there seemed to be no rules to anything?? Things would happen and I was sitting there going, but HOWW???? The romance was meh, and the entire book was really awkwardly lusty? That’s not how you bring the heat at all.

And the ending made me want to throw my book. I hate books with this set-up. With all of the low reviews already on this, I should have known. I took one for the team here, I do not recommend reading this book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Magical realism fantasy romance?
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 1-2 open; with awkward misplaced innuendo throughout
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Work of Art (Somerset Stories #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: July 23rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An Uncommon Beauty…
Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland — a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero…
Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her — and her heart — in more danger than ever?

STUNNING.

I just want to sit and read Mimi Matthews books all day. She is the QUEEN of closed door historical romances and I am obsessed.

This marriage of convenience story hit me in the feels. I adored our FMC Phyllida. She was filled with compassion and kindness and continually looked at the glass half full. All she wanted was a safe space to land and thank heavens for our unlikely hero, Arthur. Super swoony, PROTECTIVE (my kryptonite) and a wounded soul who found healing through love. And I love all of the heat that is still very much present without wide open doors. It’s tender and passionate. Everything I love seeing in romance books.

I thought the plot was interesting and I liked the little bit of mystery and intensity brought about by the awful Duke. I adored all of the dog content and how they played a true role in the story too. I just really love the way Matthews crafts stories. Her writing is gorgeous and fluid and brings about all of the emotions.

I am turning into a super fan and will not be turning back.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, war injuries, PTSD, gun violence, animal attacks, near death experiences

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Book Review: But He’s My One Regret (But H’es a Carter Brother #2) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 267 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I like to live my life with no regrets. The only exception? Levi Carter.

Five years ago we met on vacation and fell into an innocent flirtationship.

And like all the women in cliche romance novels–I’d know since I read them obsessively–I fell in love.

Then I promptly chickened out of admitting my way-too-soon-red-flag-feelings and left Levi behind, with nothing but his first name to remember him by.

I thought I’d never see him again, but then I walk into my new job as a police department therapist and … there he is.

He’s tall, handsome, and totally off-limits. Dating detectives is definitely against the rules, but Levi seems determined to break them.

But He’s My One Regret is a second chance, forbidden love romcom. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the second book in the But He’s a Carter Brother Series, a series based around four strong, protective brothers finding love

SWEET, BUT

I enjoyed this one, it’s got a good instant connection vibe and I am smitten with Levi. I thought the flashback chapters were sweet and helped show case the beginning of their relationship before they found each other again.

But I did struggle with some of the plot aspects. And even as I’m writing this I’m realizing a few other things that were never fully explained. The forbidden romance wasn’t all the way there (especially with how easy everything worked out) and I was confused by Dahlia being so incredibly stubborn. The book needed a bit more length for some explanations.

I like Annah Conwell’s writing style and I love this whole cast. I love a big family who look out for each other. There’s good friendships, a good sister relationship and some sweet moments that bring the swoon.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: very brief gun violence, grief depiction, mentions of loss of parents

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Book Review: This Cursed Light (The Last Finestra #2) by Emily Thiede

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Emily Thiede
Publisher: Wednesday
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the gods make the rules, the players must choose: Sacrifice their love to save the world, or choose love and let it burn?

Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can’t rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren’t finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.

Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight–a growing darkness that’s consuming her mind–and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?

When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world’s last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?

In This Cursed Light, Dante and Alessa face their most daunting challenge yet when the Gods demand they prove their worth by choosing the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity, once and for all.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

*sigh*

I hoped for more y’all. Did I have too high of expectations? I don’t know, but this didn’t hold everything I wanted.

Once of my biggest issues was lack of plot. It’s very meandering and didn’t feel like a lot of thought was given to it. And the world building and magic system still felt out of my grasp. As if I was missing some bigger explanation that would have made everything make sense.

There was some good banter (like book one) between Alessa and Dante. I do think they’re a great match even if I thought things were up and down. They eventually made some strides and the ending does put you through an emotional ringer (regardless of the fact I wasn’t too emotionally rung because of my other issues).

Not the conclusion I was totally after, but I felt like it did wrap things up well enough to give a solid ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some moderate
  • Romance: 1-2 closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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