ARC Book Review: The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 382 pages
Author: Danica Nava
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Chickasaw woman who can’t catch a break serves up a little white lie that snowballs into much more in this witty and irresistible rom-com by debut author Danica Nava.

Ember Lee Cardinal has not always been a liar—well, not for anything that counted at least. But her job search is not going well and when her resumé is rejected for the thirty-seventh time, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets “creative” listing her qualifications and answers the ethnicity question on applications with a lie—a half-lie, technically. No one wanted Native American Ember, but white Ember has just landed her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (Oklahoma City, that is). Accountant Ember thrives in corporate life—and her love life seems to be looking up Danuwoa Colson, the IT guy and fellow Native who caught her eye on her first day, seems to actually be interested in her too. Despite her unease over the no-dating policy at work, they start to see each other secretly, which somehow makes it even hotter? But when they’re caught in a compromising position on a work trip, a scheming colleague blackmails Ember, threatening to expose their relationship. As the manipulation continues to grow, so do Ember’s lies. She must make the hard decision to either stay silent or finally tell the truth, which could cost her everything.

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

SO MANY LIES.

I desperately wanted to love this book, but I could not get past all of the lying. It was rampant, it was over done and I felt like Ember deserved what was coming to her because of it, some I understood, and then it just spiraled. I do think there were a lot of important topics and discussions throughout and I felt like I learned a lot.

I had kind of the same thoughts about the romance. I liked some pieces of it, I thought Danuwoa was sweet and endearing and easily my favorite person in this book. I loved his honest demeanor and the way he cared for Ember.

The audiobook is well done and if you’re interested in trying this book I would easily recommend that format. While everything didn’t come together for me, I would like to read another book by this author. I think the potential is there for future books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Content Warnings: racism, racial slurs, cultural appropriation, abandonment, classism

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Book Review: The Sacrifice of One (Camilla Crim #1) by Emily Fortney

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 353 pages
Author: Emily Fortney
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 26th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Camilla Crim runs her calloused fingers over the mutilated skin on the inside of her arm. This is where she’s been branded with the Warwick W – marking her as little better than a slave. It’s been twelve years since Quinten Warwick invaded her territory and turned its vast wooded land into a national, standardized farm big enough to feed the whole country.
Now seventeen, Camilla’s days waste away on the farm, where discipline is enforced with whippings and beatings. Her reward? A pitiful payout of money rings, most of which goes to cover her father’s drinking habit. Camilla’s life is bleak, but it’s all she knows.
When her only real family, her brother, Tuor, is arrested by Warwick Militia for a heinous crime she knows he didn’t commit, Camilla is shaken. She must discover the truth and free her brother. But as Tuor’s demise draws near, will Camilla find relief in learning the truth surrounding her brother’s crime? Or will she accept that one must be sacrificed for the good of many?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

NOT QUITE.

I was intrigued by the opening scenes of this book, but ultimately a repetitive plot had me wishing for more. I liked Camilla as the FMC, mostly. She was strong willed and really loyal to her brother. Sometimes it led her to do some ridiculous things, but maybe that starts to change in future books? Hopefully so. I think most of the characters needed more development because I closed this book not feeling truly connected to anyone.

The very very subtle potential romance had my attention. I liked the initial dynamics and think that now the truth is out there could be some good development there as well too. I think that a lot of the bones were good, even if I don’t feel pulled to pick up the next book. I missed the world building and better understanding of what was happening. When some reveals happened I was confused as to how they fit the actual magic system.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: An Empress of Air & Chaos (An Empress #1) by Noelle Rayne

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 532 pages
Author: Noelle Rayne
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 10th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Under the light of the approaching Blood Moon, Emara Clearwater finds herself thrust into a world of supernatural magic. When her village is torn apart and everything she has ever known is shattered, she must navigate through a new world alongside her best friend, Cally. Meeting Witches with elemental magic, Shapeshifters and strikingly handsome Demon Hunters, it’s like she was always meant to find this world.
The Blacksteel brothers, members of a ferocious Clan of Demon Hunters, are bound by both blood and ancient oath to protect the kingdom from an army of demons. As the brothers grow closer to Emara, they will stop at nothing to protect her.
On her path of self-discovery, Emara finds herself questioning everything she has ever believed and must come to terms with some dark truths about her family’s past. Not only is she torn between what world she belongs to, but she also finds herself questioning matters regarding her heart. There is something about the Blacksteel brothers that unlock a part of Emara, that she kept suppressed for so long and she is finally beginning to feel it stir.
But there is a rising darkness…
A darkness that threatens to consume the Kingdom of Caledorna. An Army of Demons are on their way from the Underworld, instructed by their ruthless dark God, to find ancient relics that are the key to unlocking him from his cage.
And no one is safe.
Especially not Emara.
Emara must step into the light of the magic world or be swallowed by darkness forever.

NOT FOR ME.

I tried. I tried to enjoy this book but there were some issues that I just didn’t click with. I’ll be brief.

The writing itself was perfectly fine, BUT it came across as making the main characters seem much more juvenile and modern. The way some phrasing and style choices were used that I didn’t love.

And the love triangle romance seemed to be between the main character and two brothers. That’s got to be my least favorite iteration of this trope.

I will not be continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: assault, murder, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 7th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done.

Done thinking about him.

Done worrying about him.

Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn’t want to be found.

Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo.

BETTER OVER TIME.

I was worried for a bit that this might become my new least favorite MZ book. Luckily I do think the second half saved the day and I was pretty smitten with this story.

Jonah was something else. Oh my goodness I adored him. I looooove how he came in, tried his best, apologized for his transgressions and made an honest effort to love and support Lena and the situation before him. And those small jealousy and protection moments? MY FAV. I did like Lena a lot too. While I wish she didn’t cuss so much in the first half (it really felt out of control), I liked seeing her character progression too. A loyal and loving woman who was impressively open to what would be best for her circumstances.

I felt like there was a bit less romance than I was expecting or hoped for? It didn’t give me as many swoony moments as my heart wanted. And the first 50% of this book was SLOW.

The ending was absolutely heart squeezing good and even made my tear up. ALL THE FEELS.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very strong
  • Romance: 2 open; high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, loss of a loved one

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