Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 (The Unselected Journals #3) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 230 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“It has been a day ordained by the fates, for how else could one explain the wholly cursed chain of events?” The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London Neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plan for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

CHARMING.

These books make me laugh and grin and I just love Emma’s voice every time. I love the world Emma Lion is creating for herself and how continually resilient and optimistic she is about what life has thrown her way.

There’s also this really sweet found family being created and I love that too. It’s so very different reading a historical fiction book as journal entries vs. how I usually read them. The journal entries are creative and you will be right there with Emma through the ups and downs.

And I might have spied the tiniest bit of romance brewing?? I know this series is planned to be very long and I am here for the haul. They’re quirky and light, filled with good messages too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: grief depiction, loss of a friend (recounted), mentions of war

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Book Review: Karma is a Witch (Deadlights Cove #5) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Devanna Bailey has worked her way up to Boss Witch since her teens, throwing herself into her witch supply shop, Carpe Noctem, no matter how the irksome mayor has tried to stand in her way.

Equally driven, it took Orion centuries to earn his post as Mayor of Deadlights Cove. This weird little town and its quirky residents are his life’s purpose, and he might lose it all. When a local witch is murdered and the human FBI arrives, nothing will ever be the same.

Shifters have been outed to the human world. Nergal, a powerful, ancient demon, is out to destroy Deadlights Cove. The angel realm is in turmoil. And Orion can’t save this town alone.

She’s a brat.
He’s a control freak.
Neither of them know the meaning of the word yield.
The only question is, who will break first?

GREAT CONCLUSION.

What an absolutely FUN series. I loved this whole concept, the world, magic, all of the paranormal people and the romance. It was a wild ride that brought a smile to my face every time I picked up one of these books.

I loved seeing Orion and Devanna AT LAST come together. The intense heat and passion between two unmovable forces could be felt through my kindle. While the spice wasn’t my personal cup of tea I know others will enjoy the more hate love scene/dominating style. I did love how fiercely protective they became for each other and how loyal once they let down a few walls.

The plot wrapped up really well and I liked seeing those final strings tied off. Getting the end of the larger story and seeing those HEA’s was so dang sweet. I’ll miss this entire cast.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; moderate explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: false imprisonment, battle themes, loss of life

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Book Review: Wishtress by Nadine Brandes

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Nadien Brandes
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It’s a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life–and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan’s powerful–and rare–Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she’s fulfilled her end of the deal, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.

They are on a journey that can only end one way: with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish–the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.

MISSING.

This book was missing quite a bit for me. I even realized in the first half that things weren’t going well and hoped for a better second, but alas. I’m left with more questions than answers.

Plot wise I felt like there were many holes. There were quite a few things that I kept wondering, why did that happen? What did it serve? And moments where sub plots just didn’t track. Even the ending was suuper open and didn’t satisfy anything I needed.

One good sub plot I did like was about mothers. The things mother’s are willing to do and stretch for to save their children, help them, or just be in the same space as them. A lot of these sentiments were great and maybe this as an adult book with more of that would have hit better.

The romance was super underdeveloped. I wasn’t even marginally invested and confessions of love were being thrown about. The villain’s were too obvious and one dimensional. And I’m not even sure the FMC did anything?! A bunch of stuff was happening to her, but she barely made any moves until the last few chapters.

The base of the writing was fine and the audiobook was great. This was not for me though.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of children (side character, off page but recounted), loss of parents, mentions of child prostitution

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ARC Book Review: Absolutely Not in Love (Sweater Weather #7) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 276 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 12th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My requirements for a man are simple. Must love books. Must NOT love hockey.

Which is why I will never be interested in my neighbor, the aloof and mysterious Felix Jamison, no matter how many books I see him hauling into his apartment. Unless he loses his pro hockey skates, I’m out.

But then he shows up at my symphony concert. And I catch the sweet strains of Bach floating across the hall. Have I mentioned how incredible he looks in his game day suit?

Still, my history with hockey is complicated. My older brother played, and let’s just say he stole enough limelight to land a plane at midnight. I was forced to be a part of that world for so long, now that I have a choice, it’s the last thing I want.

But something tells me Felix is about to change my mind…

Absolutely Not in Love is a closed-door hockey romcom with forced proximity, a bookish hockey goalie, a classical musician, and all the swoony chemistry you want.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED SO MUCH.

I was smitten from start to finish with this book y’all. There were so many little things I could pick out that I just ADORED. From the bumbling flirting, to taking care of each other, and my absolute favorite: that it felt adult.

Adult in the sense that there were actual important conversations Felix and Gracie had together and when things got shaky, there wasn’t wild miscommunication either. I love heartfelt apologies, acknowledging feelings and truly trying to create a relationship and a life together.

I loved Felix and Gracie together and apart. Both showed some layers of character growth and depth. I thought the apartment situation was perfect. The kissing scenes had that great balance of steam without the spice and I LOVED getting to see more of the hockey team (and maybe a future book with a certain best friend???).

It’s a short read, fast paced and full of heart warming goodness. There’s plenty of hockey aspects to actually call it a sports romance and the grand gesture was exactly where it needed to be.

Another Jenny Proctor GEM.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: social anxiety, strained parent relationships

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