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Book Review: The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology #1) by Holly Black

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: January 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

I AM INVESTED.

I do admit to thinking that this was going to be from Oak’s perspective??? Or at least dual. Sadly that was not the case. BUT I did love Suren. She was feisty and intense. Full of every emotion and just wanting a safe place to land and be loved. I am wholly invested in her journey and can’t wait to see how it further twists in Elfhame.

Oak is just flat out adorable. In his murderous rampage + golden retriever personality ways. It’s a fantastic combination that worked beautifully for me. I love these two together. And I actually like that they have a different vibe than Jude/Cardan. I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading a repeat kind of storyline/personality dynamics.

As usual, I still think these books are too short. I did like everything else though. There’s a good amount of action and plenty of twists that are hard to see coming. This is an adventure tale with lots of travel but doesn’t feel stagnant or drawn out. Another truly good read from Holly Black.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, attempted murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, weapons and physical violence

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Book Review: Testing Times (Wayfair Witches #15) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 157 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 18th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wanda is truly in the midst of some testing times. Her boyfriend is still trapped in another world, and her exams are being constantly rescheduled. The latest change of plans, though, was for a very good reason – the examiner has died.

The death seems to have been a natural one – after all, the woman was ill. But her familiar, an owl called Minerva, is convinced it was murder, and Wanda wants to help – even if Minerva seems determined to go it alone.

There are other problems for Wanda to contend with. Her friend Gretel is growing in clumsiness and losing her confidence. As for the new Max, he is becoming dangerously accident prone.

Can Wanda solve all of these problems, catch the killer, and pass her exams? And can she ever bring the real Max home?

ALMOST FINISHED.

I can’t believe I’m a book away from finishing this series!

This installment was (as per usual) a good one. I enjoyed the mystery and that things were still progressing with the larger plot. I do feel like there’s a lot that’s supposed to be wrapped up in the last book which makes me nervous for seeing how it all comes together.

Who does Wanda end up with? Are all the foes vanquished? This is such a fun series that hits all of my cozy mystery love and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something to switch things up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Cozy Mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder

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Book Review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

BETTER THAN I HOPED.

After book two I went into this with low expectations, no pre-ordering, nada. And HALLELUJAH this was something I really enjoyed.

I absolutely adored Jack. He was a swoony love interest. I wish I had a physical copy to highlight many passages where he let out all the feels. I loved the way he pushed Elsie to choose herself and to see herself as someone of worth. Elsie and her super people pleasing ways hit me too. I could relate to that a lot and thank heavens she broke that unhealthy cycle. I loved watching her growth.

The academia politics and scholarly drama was all very interesting to me. It floated well in the background letting the romance shine but I still wanted to know what would happen with Elsie and her quest for a new job and the security she craves (and deserves). Truly a great rom-com. I laughed, cheered, swooned and fell in love with Jack and Elsie!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door; high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexism, chronic illness (Type 1 Diabetes), death of a parent recounted

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Book Review: Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout #1) by Lucy Score

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemorary Romance
Length: 572 pages
Author: Lucy Score
Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing
Release Date: January 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.
Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

THIS HAD A HOLD ON ME.

I kept going back and forth on my star rating because I do have some thoughts about this.

4.5 stars for the absolutely grasp this had on me for two days. I didn’t want to do anything else but pick this up and read. The writing style was fantastic and I was very much into this grump and sunshine duo from the first chapter. Not to mention, I laughed many times at the banter and snark between Knox and Naomi. I was very much here for all of the broodiness and protectiveness & bad boyness that Knox brought to the table. And that Naomi learned a lot about herself and to allow others to help her too.

4 stars because I tried so hard to understand and get behind the third act breakup and I just couldn’t reach it. It definitely added drama, but I think the suspense element could have still been there without the break up too. And I did notice it start to feel a bit long winded as well.

OTHERWISE THOUGH. I will without a doubt be picking the new book up. I loved this whole town. The close friendships and rekindling of familial bonds squeezed my heart. I also adored Waylay. She was the best little addition to the book and I want nothing more than to give her the biggest hug.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very strong (too much in my opinion)
  • Romance: Multiple open; high explicit
  • Violence: moderate
  • Overall audience notes: gun violence, physical altercations, loss of loved ones, substance abuse, parental abandonment, child abuse and neglect, kidnapping, domestic abuse recounted

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