ARC Book Review: Bring Me Home by Ashley Weston

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 409 pages
Author: Ashley Weston
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes the unexpected is just what we’re looking for…
Jasper Mason
I should have known something wasn’t right the moment I was told someone was coming to see a piece of the land. Our land.
Marlow’s Boys Ranch started as a dream, but easily became reality. That reality was as tranquil and peaceful as a sunset.
Until she got out of the car.
Mia Evans, as I live and breathe. It’s been fourteen years since I’ve seen her, and not a day has passed that I haven’t thought of her, or wished things could be different.
And now she’s here to take more than just a tiny slice of land. She’s the mom of one of our own.
The signs were there, I should have seen it. Maybe I didn’t want to. But now, I can’t have a moment of peace with her constantly around, winning over every person here.
How will I ever survive her leaving for a second time?
I can’t. I won’t. I have to keep her at arm’s length until she leaves. Then, and only then, can I go back to my peaceful life. Just the way I like it.

Mia Evans
I’m finally free of the disaster of my marriage, and ready to find the freedom for my son and myself. Question is, at what cost?
Before I dropped my boy off ten months ago, I never thought I’d be back here. It’s been since the summer before freshman year of college. The summer I fell in love. And the summer I got my heart broken for the first time.
My son is safe, and that’s all that matters to me. At least, I thought so.
When I open the car door, I know what I’ll find. I know Jasper works here and I know he’s been providing a roof over my son’s head with no explanation.
What I don’t know. . . is how I will react to being near him again after all this time. Opening up our past is the last thing I need. Though my heart is saying differently.
Bring Me Home is all about love, heartbreak, healing, and most importantly, second chances.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GOOD BONES.

Once upon a time I DNF this author’s first book, but found myself saying yes to reading an ARC of this because I was happy to give this story a chance. I am currently in my cowboy era and was intrigued by this second chance romance. There are a lot of good bones and themes here. Of forgiveness, and the strength to carry on. Making hard choices and to let go. And even getting a chance to fall in love all over again.

I loved the ranch setting and all of the boys. Some of the dialogue choices (like “bruh” and “cap”) just didn’t feel necessary even if that’s how some teens speak today. It’s like in a book I want to disassociate from that? They were sweet guys though and I loved the idea of a boys ranch to help them find a safe space to be and grow.

There’s plenty of good swoony moments between Jasper and Mia. I loved that they got to know each other again and had the right kind of arguments and conversations to get there. It’s the kind of non-linear story I enjoy most. The touch of suspense was good and I liked how the ending brought everything together.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: kidnapping, domestic violence (recounted; physical, emotional, verbal)

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Book Review: Realm Breaker (Realm Breaker #1) by Victoria Aveyard

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 576 pages
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Orion Publishing
Release Date: May 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Save the world or end it.

A strange darkness is growing in the Ward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

Fate knocks on her door, in the form of a mythical immortal and a lethal assassin, who tell Corayne that she is the last of an ancient lineage—with the power to save the world from destruction.

Because a man who would burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army unlike any seen before, bent on uprooting the foundations of the world. With poison in his heart and a stolen sword in his hand, he’ll break the realm itself to claim it. And only Corayne can stop him.

Alongside an unlikely group of reluctant allies, Corayne finds herself on a desperate journey to complete an impossible task, with untold magic singing in her blood and the fate of the world on her shoulders.

ALRIGHT LET’S DO THIS.

This book has a 3.62 average on Goodreads and I’m convinced I read a different book. GRANTED. I am always here for multiple POV’s, complicated plots and villain story lines. Though I swear if this screws me over like Red Queen I will riot.

I thought this was interesting. It’s a complex world with spindle and magic and immortals and kings and queens and I loved how they all worked together. You have some of the usual tropes mixed in with things I didn’t know I needed: aka, the villain romance. YES PLEASE.

There’s so many characters and I liked the beginning of everyone’s story. I can’t wait to see how these further twist and turn over the series. The banter is great, the subtle possible romances have my attention and the found family is definitely building.

I didn’t feel the length of this (could be due to the audio) but I’m also cool with the big books. Can’t wait to see what book two holds!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, battle/war themes

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ARC Book Review: Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lucy Jane Wood
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.

Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you’ve been waiting for.

Thank you Berkley Pub for the gifted copy (Berkley Partner).

WELL.

I think this ended up mostly being a me issue. I’m realizing I’m more hit/miss on cozy reads. I think this needed a bit oomph, just something else to break up the day to day monotony of Belle learning how to use her magic. I didn’t find it as charming as I believe it was inteded.

There’s nothing wrong with the writing. It accurately paints a picture of a cozy fall vibe. There’s a bookstore, quirky side characts and a little bit of self growth. I did enjoy seeing Belle finally stand up for herself in the end. I wish the little sub-plot of romance had a bit more time in the light too.

It’s got good bones and the core of the story is good. There’s a bit of a pick up towards the end when some truths and mysteries are solved. It stands well as a nice standalone for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Mirror of Beasts (Silver in the Bone #2) by Alexandra Bracken

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 496 pages
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

With the dream of Avalon in ruins, Tamsin and her friends are all that stands in the way of Lord Death’s plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living. As the Wild Hunt carves a bloody path across continents, Tamsin is mustering allies, tracking down powerful artifacts, and traversing into new otherlands in search of a way to stop him.

Legend tells of a “Mirror of Beasts,” powerful enough to trap even Lord Death in its accursed glass, but the mirror is not all that it seems. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets if she hopes to tap the mirror’s strength to defeat her enemies.

Arthurian legend bleeds into contemporary action, and scars of the past are torn open anew by a starcrossed love that refuses to go quietly. This riveting conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology will hold you in its thrall until the very last page.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted copy.

THE SECOND HALF WAS BETTER.

The first half of this book was really drawn out. I know it was building to the conclusion, yet I felt like most of it didn’t go anywhere. And this isn’t a romance book, which isn’t a bad thing, but I thought it would play a bigger part and it didn’t. I did like what I got from it, though I needed more to truly fall for them. The found family aspects were great though. I think I was more invested in them and even one of the side romances than I was the main story line. I love endearing side characters.

A bit of a rambling plot that led to a honestly strong ending. I loved the action and climax of the moment and seeing how the downfall of the antagonist came to be. There were a few good reveals that I didn’t see coming and I was ultimately satisfied enough with the ending.

And while urban fantasy usually isn’t my favorite, I felt like this wasn’t urban enough to be an issue. It definitely was heavier on the fantasy and I loved that dynamic too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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