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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ARC Book Review: Flame and Sparrow (Court of the Marr #1) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 651 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 12th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On the eve of her twentieth birthday, Karys woke to the sight of a divine creature dying outside her home.

Two weeks later, her sister disappeared, leaving nothing but a trail of blood in her wake.

Convinced the gods were responsible for the disappearance, Karys has spent the past five years plotting her revenge with the help of a cutthroat band of likeminded elven rebels. So when Dravyn—one of her world’s most powerful deities—descends upon her kingdom in search of humans worthy of serving him, Karys knows what she must do. Earning a place at the god’s side will allow her to find out what truly happened to her sister…and then destroy the gods from the inside out for what they did.

Thrown into the dazzling but deadly world of the divine courts, she must navigate complicated politics, strange magic, and dangerous trials to prove herself worthy of standing among the gods.

Among the most dangerous of these trials is Dravyn himself.

Karys knows better than to trust the enigmatic God of Fire. The flames of passion that stir between them are only divine trickery. And yet, the more she learns about him, the hotter the forbidden sparks burn. The more she begins to question all she thought she knew about the world of gods and mortals and everything in-between.

And the more she risks betraying her own secrets, which may be the most dangerous thing of all.

This is a romantic epic fantasy with some adult language and spicy content. Though it’s set in the same universe as the Shadows and Crowns series—in the distant past—it can be read and completely enjoyed without reading any previous books in this world. Book two will end with a HEA, but beware the cliffhanger at the end of this first book!

Thank you to S.M. Gaither for the ARC!

FIRE.

I love love love this world building. It was my favorite aspect and I thought it was so interesting and perfectly complex. The layered worlds and gods and mortals and elves. I loved it all. I was continually fascinated at the construction and I thought the magic system worked well along side the story too.

Karys was a great FMC. I love characters that are strong, but also make mistakes and work towards making amends. Karys is open to new information about those around her and allowing her choices to come from a better stance. I loved watching her grow and with that ending I’m sure there’s more awesomeness to come.

The romance had one tiny thing I wished for more of. THEM. I felt the first half lacked general communication between Karys and Draveryn and I was hoping for a bit more before the physical aspects of the relationship started. They did really grow on me and I love how passionate they are about each other. There’s some [hopeful] foreshadowing that I can’t wait to see pan out in the sequel.

Fantastic side characters (as always) from S.M. Gaither. Even adding in more lovable creature friends too. Another wonderful fantasy romance by one of my favorite authors. I’m very excited to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: death, battle themes, emotional abuse/manipulation

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ARC Book Review: Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lyndall Clipstone
Publisher: Fierce Reads
Release Date: October 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A bloodstained tale of a girl torn between her vows and her heart, where falling in love may be the deepest sin of all…

Everline Blackthorn has devoted her life to the wardens—a sect of holy warriors who guard against monsters known as the vespertine.

When a series of strange omens occur, Everline disobeys orders to investigate, and uncovers a startling truth in the form of Ravel Severin: a rogue vespertine who reveals the monsters have secrets of their own.

Ravel promises the help she needs— for a price. Vespertine magic requires blood, and if Everline wants Ravel to guide across the dangerous moorland, she will have to allow him to feed from her.

It’s a sin for a warden to feed a vespertine— let alone love one— and as Everline and Ravel travel further across the moorland, she realizes the question isn’t whether she will survive the journey, but if she will return unchanged. Or if she wants to.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the eARC.

WELL.

I tried really hard to give this one a chance. It had all of the hallmarks of things I love. New adult, dark fantasy, enemies to lovers/forbidden romance. Buuut, I was missing some things.

Namely, the world building. The first chapter you are THROWN IN and it was chaos. And as the pages stretched out I never felt like I had a full grasp on the vespertine vs. warden situation. The fold area and why the magic involved bones and blood. Oh and vampires, why was there one vampire?

I did like the main character, Everline. She cared for those in her circle and fought to mend broken fences while looking for answers about her past. This is a standalone and I did think it wrapped up well that I felt satisfied in closing the book (besides the previous paragraph issues). The romance was a bit up and down. It grew on me, and there is some good enemies dynamics, I think with a standalone it felt more surface level overall.

This one didn’t quite click for me but might for others?

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: 3 brief/vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, loss of a parent, near death experiences, murder, battle themes

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Book Review: Court of Blood and Bindings (Fae Isles #1) by Lisette Marshall

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 436 pages
Author: Lisette Marshall
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They call him the Silent Death, because he kills without sound and leaves none capable of speaking in his wake…

When the empire’s deadliest fae murderer catches her wielding forbidden magic, twenty-year-old Emelin believes her hour has come. Instead, her inhumanly beautiful captor spares her life, but carries her off on his velvet wings – into the one place from which no human ever returns.

The heart of the Fae Isles. The treacherous Crimson Court, where the Mother of faekind has ruled unchallenged over fae and humans for decades.

The Silent Death is supposed to be the Mother’s loyal servant, her invincible warrior, her ruthless, soulless killer. But in the shadows he is playing a game of his own, and he needs Emelin’s magic to win it.

If she agrees to work with him, she could free all of humanity. But can she trust a fae male with so much blood on his hands? Worse, when his smouldering dark eyes and dangerous secrets reveal glimpses of the heart behind his murderer’s mask… can she trust herself?

Court of Blood and Bindings is the first book of the Fae Isles series, an enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring a strong-willed heroine and a broody, morally grey hero. This adult fae romance is perfect for readers of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Raven Kennedy.

Note: Court of Blood and Bindings contains a generous dose of smouldering glances, angry yearning, and midnight meetings of the illicit type, as well as other mature themes.

GIMME MORE.

Here I am, once again swept away by kindle unlimited fantasy books. I am definitely wanting to get my hands on book two soon and see what happens next. I loved a lot of the set up that I know is going to give away to an amazing storyline.

I hoped for a bit more build up between Creon and Emelin. Once I caught up to how fast they were moving I really enjoyed the relationship. I am very much committed to them now and like the push and pull they gave. There’s some good chemistry and enemies to lovers here. Add in some hidden secrets and untold stories and I now want it all.

The plot is filled with learning and action. I adored the sentient mountain and love quirky additions like that. I can’t wait to explore more of the world and magic because I feel like I was given enough info to continue, but definitely need more to be satisfied.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, torture, loss of loved ones, kidnapping

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