Book Review: A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Tashie Bhuiyan
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: May 10th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Mina Rahman has a plan for her future:
• Finally win the Golden Ivy student film competition
• Get into her dream school across the country
• Leave New York City behind once and for all

Mina’s ticket to winning the competition falls into her lap when indie film star—and known heartbreaker—Emmitt Ramos enrolls in her high school under a secret identity to research his next role. When Mina sets out to persuade Emmitt to join her cause, he offers her a deal instead: he’ll be in her short film…if she acts as a tour guide to help him with a photography contest.

As Mina ventures across the five boroughs with Emmitt by her side, the city she grew up in starts to look different and more like home than it ever has before. With the competition deadline looming, Mina’s dreams—which once seemed impenetrable—begin to crumble, and she’s forced to ask herself: Is winning worth losing everything?

EXHAUSTING.

I adored this author’s first book and have been very excited to read book two. Unfortunately, this book left me feeling nothing but exhausted.

I was exhausted with the hateful parents (that we didn’t even get an ending or some kind of wrap up with??). A lot of this book was spent fighting. Over everything. And I thought the focus could have been a bit broader so character growth on all sides could be found.

Aaaand the romance. D*ickhead is not a term of endearment. I will not be accepting other opinions at this time. Full stop. I’ve overlooked smarta** in some books that have used it sparingly as endearing, buuut I can not even with d*ckhead. What started off as a name used when Mina and Emmitt get off on the wrong foot somehow turned into a “charming” word and I cringed every time I heard it. AND SHE WAS SO MEAN. That’s not how enemies/rivals/whatever to lovers is supposed to go.

It’s fast paced and they’re some good conversations about culture, expectations and passions. The small pieces in there kept this rating at a three star. I needed so much more from this than I was given and I too tired to continue.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotional parental abuse, depression, grief/loss depiction, death of a father mentioned

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ARC Book Review: Desire or Defense (Hooked on a Feeling #1) by Leah Brunner

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 275 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’m not the hero in this story.

I’m the villain…

The notoriously angry, grouchy, D.C. Eagles defenseman that just can’t keep his temper in check. The temper that leads to a fifteen game suspension from the NHL.

As if that’s not bad enough, I’m forced into a short term youth-hockey coaching gig. Which my manager swears will “rebuild my image.”

But what I didn’t expect was for a gorgeous, spunky blonde to stomp onto the ice on day one and lecture me about being rude to her little brother.

Something about this spitfire of a woman, and the boy she’s so protective of, has my defenses melting.

And if I’m not careful, I’ll burst into flames, forever melting the ice I’ve carefully kept around my heart.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

ABSOLUTELY LOVED.

This book has my whole heart and is Leah Brunner’s best book yet.

I LOVED Mitch. I loved his grumpy nature and his cinnamon roll center. The positive mental health conversations and therapy discussions were amazing and one of my favorite aspects. I also loved Andie. She was a wonderful FMC who did her best to look for things to be grateful for and was just someone I really wanted to be friends with.

All of the hockey dynamics were woven just right and I couldn’t get enough. Alongside the games was the best cast of side characters and teammates. I love them all and I loved every time they popped up. I’m already excited for the next book.

Noah was one of the sweetest kids I’ve read. I loved him too (see a theme?). He added so much to the story and I loved his placed between Andie and Mitch.

I need to address the third act too!!! It was PERFECT. Instead of a breakup that wouldn’t make sense it was more of a *take a breath* moment. I could rave all day just about this scene and the follow through. GAH THIS WHOLE BOOK WAS MAGNIFICENT.

Read and love it with me!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, scenes involving therapy, parental abandonment, an incarcerated parent, brief physical altercations, bullying

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Book Review: Let Love In (Canyon Cove Stories #3) by Marie Soleil

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 220 pages
Author: Marie Soleil
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There is one person on this earth I cannot stand: Ethan Taylor. Sure, he looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine, but don’t let his looks fool you. He is pretentious, arrogant, and self-absorbed. Unfortunately, he is also the son of a reality TV star, and designers who won’t even glance at my portfolio are on his speed dial.

But now he has a proposition for me: If I join him in New York City and pose as his date to his grandmother’s swanky benefit, he’ll take me to Fashion Week and introduce me to the hottest names in fashion. As an aspiring designer, I’d have to be crazy to turn him down. Except that means spending a week with Ethan. Pretending to date him. His hand pressed to my low back. His sweet grandmother fawning over me, imagining our future together.

If only my heart didn’t race a little every time he came near me, this would be a piece of cake.Let’s just hope I can remember all the reasons why I hate him…and keep myself from falling for him instead.

Let Love In is an enemies-to-lovers, sweet romantic comedy that keeps the romance closed-door. It’s book three in The Canyon Cove Love Stories but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to the author for sending me a gifted copy.

MIXED VIBES.

I’m not quite sure what to think of this one. It was my first book by this author, and I’d like to try another even with this not being my favorite.

The enemies to lovers angle made enough sense that I could work with it, but I think the book was too short to fully execute the necessary growth and changes within the characters and relationship to feel fully on board. Thea spent a lot of the time more mean than necessary, and Ethan spent too much time focused on the wrong things.

There were some sweet moments with Ethan taking care of Thea and I liked the softer conversations where some walls were let down. I would have loved seeing more of these and then that being put forth towards the larger arcs of the story.

New York Fashion week was a fun idea and I love a sweet and only mildly meddling grandmother. I liked the initial exploration of Thea’s relationship with Ethan’s Mom and the last moments with Ethan standing up to his Dad were wonderful too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warning: emotional abusive father, discussions on weight and eating disorders

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Book Review: The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia #1) by Sarah Beth Durst

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: September 20th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

NOT A BAD START.

I guess I must not have realized this was an adult fantasy? Which was totally fine, but the set-up was definitely different.

Starting out with the character at a young age, following her through an academy and then seeing what she does after can feel a bit long winded, and it did here. I don’t need to see every facet of the growing up phases, lets get into the action and move the plot from there.

I did find it to be a very easy listen (audiobook was great!). The world building made sense and I understood enough of the magic system to not feel lost as the pages turned. It’s an interesting set-up with evil forest spirits and the like, clearly something bigger is happening with them and I look forward to exploring that more.

While the character arc for Daleina is in progress, I did like where this book took her. Some of the other side characters like Ven grew on me too. What didn’t work was the romantic sub-plots. I’m fine with them being sub, but it felt haphazardly thrown together and when Daleina kissed someone I had to listen to it three times to make sure I figured out what was happening.

A good start to an older series, I do have plans to continue with the next book! The ending was absolutely wild and I didn’t mind the gruesomeness of it all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, descriptive explanations of loss of life, very bloody/gory, battle themes

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