ALC Book Review: Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.

Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone , but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.

So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever .

Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.

But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…

A swoon worthy and utterly gorgeous romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and fall completely in love. Fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Abby Jimenez won’t be able to put this down!

Thank you Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

GREAT FOR THE SEASON.

I binged this one in a day and had a good time reading it. It took me a little to get into (which may be my own issue with reading one too many fake dating tropes), but once I started to feel the connection between Christian and Megan I was involved.

There were plenty of cute forced proximity moments and once again I adore the setting. I was feeling all of the winter and holiday vibes and was easily swept away. I liked the build between Christian and Megan and that it was dual POV!! I think we definitely needed both sides to the story to really understand all of the feelings. I thought the families were wonderful and I always love seeing those aspects. There’s some good growth and I just genuinely enjoyed this!

I do think the spice felt a little off to me. As if there was more than necessary? I didn’t love the forced vibe, but if you’re looking for a spicier holiday romance, this is Walsh’s spiciest book to date.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door

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Book Review: The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Romance
Length: 302 pages
Author: Joanne Bischof
Publisher: Mason Jar Books
Release Date: August 1st, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two worlds collide when the circus comes to Victorian-era Virginia.

Raised amid the fame and mystique of the Big Top, Charlie Lionheart holds the audience in the palm of his hand. But while his act captivates thousands, it’s away from the spotlight where his true heart lies. Here he humbly cares for his pride of lions as if they were his brothers, a skill of bravery and strength that has prepared him for his most challenging feat yet—freeing an orphaned infant from the dark bondage of a sideshow. A trade so costly, it requires his life in exchange for hers, leaving him tarnished by the price of that choice.

As the circus tents are raised on the outskirts of Roanoke, nurse Ella Beckley arrives to tend to this Gypsy girl. All under the watchful eye of a guardian who not only bears a striking resemblance to the child, but who protects the baby with a love that wraps around Ella’s own tragic past, awakening a hope that goodness may yet reign. When their forbidden friendship deepens, Charlie dares to ask for her heart, bringing her behind the curtain of his secret world to reveal the sacrifice that gave hope to one little girl—boldly showing Ella that while her tattered faith is deeply scarred, the only marks that need be permanent are his own.

TOOK ME BY PLEASANT SURPRISE.

I saw this around recently and felt drawn in enough to give it a go. And Y’ALL. It surprised me in the best ways. I truly ended up loving this romance and story.

The circus setting was perfect. I liked how the good and bad was shown in the historical context of the time period. I thought things were handled with care and I loved learning more about how things were run with traveling circuses and all of the great people you can meet along the way.

Romance wise, I was swooned away by Charlie. It’s a fast paced romance (when they commented on the time that had passed I was shocked it had been so quick). Yet, the insta love nature was drawn out in the right ways that I did still feel the connection between Charlie and Ella. They were super sweet together and both had a lot of character growth.

There are clear Christianity aspects that I thought aligned well with the tone of the plot. Many aspects of forgiveness and realizing your true worth in the face of things out of your control. There’s quite a few hard topics that are addressed and I think both sides of this merged well.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Romance
  • Langauge: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: rape (happened prior to book, but mentioned and vaguely recounted), loss of a baby (briefly mentioned)

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Book Review: Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Angela Montoya
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: October 31st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A spellbinding romantic fantasy about a powerful witch who will do anything to escape the remote island she’s being held captive on, including blackmail a notorious, charming pirate who washes up on shore, from debut author Angela Montoya.

Rosalinda is trapped on Sinner’s Isle, an island filled with young women like her—Majestics, beautiful witches loathed by society for their dangerous magic yet revered by powerful men who want to use them. 

For years, she has been kept under the watchful, calculating eye of Doña Lucia. Now eighteen, Rosa will be the prized commodity at this year’s Offering, a fiesta for the wealthy to engage in drink, damsels, and debauchery. That is why she must flee—before someone forces the vicious phantoms within her to destroy everything she touches. 

Handsome, swashbuckling Mariano has long sailed the high seas as the Prince of Pirates. Then the king’s fleet attacks his father’s infamous ship, leaving him marooned on Sinner’s Isle with only an enchanted chain meant to lead him to his heart’s desire. Instead, he falls into the hands of a brazen (although) bewitching headache—Rosa.

Together they must outwit each other and their enemies before the Offering ends and it’s too late to escape the perils of Sinner’s Isle.

Thank you GetUnderlined #GetUnderlinedPartner and PRHAudio for the #gifted copy and audiobook.

GREAT DEBUT.

I have been eying this book since I saw the gorgeous cover and the inside did not disappoint. This really grew on me and if you lean into a bit of insta-love then I think it would be enjoyable for others too.

The banter was my favorite. It made me laugh and I liked the snark between Rosalinda and Mariano. There fated meeting to then helping each other escape the island brought a daring adventure. I love pirate books and this was no exception. It’s a fast paced journey that brought on some good twists, betrayals and even a shock moment that I LOVED. I was even really attached to a lot of the side characters too.

I like that this rounded out this specific story and left room for potential future books in the same world (of which I would absolutely read). I loved the pirate and witch romance, the strength of friendships, and the commitment to bettering the path that was never your choice. This felt fresh in the genre and I look forward to future books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, near death experiences, weapons and magical violence, loss of life

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2023

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Finally felt a little bit of cooler weather this month. I got a lot of reading accomplished this month and I am so excited it’s about to be NOVEMBER.

Favorite Books:

  • Flame & Shadow
  • Vengeance of the Pirate Queen
  • The Ballad of Never After Reread
  • A Not-So-Distant Love
  • Shadows of You
  • Drift
  • Absolutely Not in Love
  • The Fragile Threads of Power
  • The Sunlit Man
  • A Court of Wings and Ruin Reread
  • I Got You
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow
  • A Winter in New York
  • Sinner’s Isle
  • A Court of Frost and Starlight
  • The Right Move
  • The Hurricane Wars
  • Counting the Cost
  • The Woman in Me
  • A Curse for True Love
  • The Getaway List
  • Cabin Crush
  • Fourth Wing Reread

Least Favorite:

  • Witch of Wild Things
  • The Matchmaker
  • The Agaped Bearer
  • None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
  • [ARC] Flame & Sparrow (Court of the Marr #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • [ALC] Vengeance of the Pirate Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #3) by Tricia Levenseller
  • [Reread] The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber
  • [ARC] A Not-So-Distant Love by Heidi Kimball
  • Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
  • [ALC] Shadows of You (Lost & Found #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] Drift: Willa & Koy by Adrienne Young
  • Curious Tides by Pascalle Lacelle
  • [ARC] Absolutely Not in Love (Sweater Weather #7) by Jenny Proctor
  • A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
  • A Not So Fictional Fall (Sweater Weather #6) by Savannah Scott
  • Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
  • The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh
  • A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies #1) by Stacia Stark
  • The Fragile Threads of Power (Threads of Power #1) by V.E. Schwab
  • Unleashed Holiday by Victoria Schade
  • The Forest Grimm (The Forest Grimm #1) by Kathryn Purdie
  • Beachside Kisses With My Bodyguard (Hallmark Beach Small Town Romance #1) by Kristin Canary
  • The Brothers Hawthorne (The Inheritance Games #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • The Memory of Glass by Brenna Lauren
  • The Sunlit Man (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird
  • [Reread] A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • I Got You by Stacy Williams
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
  • A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
  • [ARC] Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya
  • [ARC] The Ruined (The Beautiful #4) by Renee Ahdieh
  • [Reread] A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • The Right Move (Windy City #2) by Liz Tomforde
  • The Agaped Bearer: Wishing Stars by Hannah Lindsey
  • The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars #1) by Thea Guanzon
  • Lake of Glass (Archives of the Warden #1) by V.K. Dixon
  • Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar
  • The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly
  • Beyond the Filigree Wall (Rivenwilde #1) by Melissa Wright
  • The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
  • A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3) by Stephanie Garber
  • [ARC] The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Mayers
  • [ARC] The Getaway List by Emma Lord
  • Eragon (The Inheritance Games #1) by Christopher Paolini
  • Cabin Crush (Gift Wrapped Romance) by Kasey Stockton
  • [Reread] Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
  • [ALC] Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

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