Book Review: Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) by Kerri Maniscalco

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

WHAT A WASTE.

Oh the downfall of this entire series. I am annoyed beyond belief.

I had to have someone breakdown the plot for me because it was convoluted and not well mapped. New characters got added in, there were random flashback chapters? There was a whole thing with Pride? Multiple curses? I DON’T EVEN KNOW. And even once it was explained it was lame and uber convenient.

All the potential was there. But instead it was only focused on the physical aspects. Emilia basically had no other thoughts other than when she could bang Wrath again. This turned Wrath into a piece of cardboard. He was flat, boring, and not the same man who walked on page in the first book. Once again, what a waste of great character possibilities.

I think I liked Emilia’s sister the most? I have no clue when that happened, but at least the woman had motives and her decisions I could actually follow.

Out of place sub plots, spice that did not support the plot and made both characters lame, turns that didn’t make sense and I am done.

Will I read her next series? Honestly I don’t know.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: death, loss of life, abandonment, blood depiction, grief/loss depiction, kidnapping, war themes

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Book Review: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sarah Hogle
Publisher: Putnam
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a ridiculous collection of designer shoes and a stealthy addiction to CBD oils. That is, until her parents snipped her purse strings. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is: Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea.

Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backwards and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.

But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?

From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.

EMBRACE IT.

Oh my goodness, this book was wholly different than any other holiday read I have come across before. And I adored it???

We have a completely unlikable main character who has some major growth and things to work through. Enter in the book personification of Buddy the Elf and you have the love interest, Hall. I liked these two together! The reverse grump / sunshine trope worked perfectly here and I thought the ending was sweet.

Plot wise, I can’t say much was going on that I could gather. It’s a bit scattered for awhile and yet I burst out laughing more than once. The quips and one liners and all of the name drops somehow fit right in. The quirkyness of the story allowed a lot of free flow.

The spirit of the holiday season was brought to life. I loved many of the second half sentiments and now I feel like I am ready for all things Christmas after this book. Perfect for the season if you’re looking for something lighter and fun.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kissing
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of psychological abuse from a previous relationship

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ARC Book Review: A Holly Jilly Christmas (Love Stories in Sheet Cake) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance Novella
Length: 124 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: December 9th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My life is nothing like the movies we make at the studio where I work–especially not when it comes to relationships.
Which means that there will be absolutely NO romance between me and Case, the grumpy exec I’ve had a crush on from our very first not-so-meet-cute.
We’re simply two coworkers scouting the town of Sheet Cake, Texas as a location for filming.
That’s it.
Though, to be honest, I’m suspicious of why Case came on this trip at all.
Whatever the reason, there will be no Christmas magic, and definitely NO mistletoe kisses.
But when Case actually starts talking to me–gasp!–and reveals the humor and kindness buried beneath his gruff persona, my little crush explodes into something a lot harder to hide.
Except he’s harboring secrets of his own.
And I’m starting to wonder if his cagey behavior is because he’s planning to take credit for my (admittedly brilliant) idea to make this town our central filming hub.
He’s not that kind of man … right?
All I wanted for Christmas was a promotion, and now I’m falling for the man who might be trying to steal it.

A Holly Jilly Christmas is a grumpy sunshine Christmas novella set in the world of Sheet Cake, Texas.You’ll get all the chemistry and laughs in this closed door romance.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED SO MUCH.

I have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book and when it dropped in my inbox I was on cloud 9. Emma St. Clair books never disappoint and I need y’all to had this to your holiday TBR’s. It is a GEM.

I adored Jillian and Case. It was the perfect forced proximity set-up. A car break-down, small town shenanigans that lead to more? Give it all to me. ALL. This is beyond filled with the best flirtatious banter that had me grinning like a fool and swooning to a puddle. I LOVED IT. Everything was perfectly timed and I can not even with a guy falls first scenario.

There’s a small dose of the holiday season that slides in well between the romance. I loved seeing a few characters from Sheet Cake (and wow, every time I read a book in this series do I want to go make sheet cake ASAP).

This is simple, light, and full of all the feel goodness you want this time of year. I loved every dang page.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of parents

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Book Review: Miss Lattimore’s Letter by Suzanne Allain

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Suzanne Allain
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 10th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The woman who never made a match of her own is making matches for everyone else in this hilarious comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.

Sophronia Lattimore had her romantic dreams destroyed years ago and is resigned to her role as chaperone for her cousin. Still, she cannot sit idly by when she becomes aware that a gentleman is about to propose to the wrong woman. She sends him an anonymous letter that is soon the talk of the town, particularly when her advice proves to be correct. Her identity is discovered and Sophie, formerly a wallflower, becomes sought after for her “expert” matchmaking skills.

One person who seeks her out is the eligible and attractive Sir Edmund Winslow. As Sophie assists Sir Edmund in his pursuit of a wife, she wishes she could recommend herself as his bride. However, she vows to remain professional and uninvolved while aiding him in his search (especially since the gentleman surely does not return her affections).

Three unexpected arrivals soon show up at Sophie’s door—the man who once broke her heart, a newlywed who is dissatisfied with the match Sophie made for her, and the man madly in love with Sophie’s cousin—all wanting her attention. But when her onetime beau and Sir Edmund both appear to be interested in her, Sophie can’t figure out if she’s headed for another broken heart­­ or for the altar. How can she be expected to help other people sort out their romantic lives when her own is such a disaster?

NOT FOR ME.

For a quick audio book where I was hoping to have a cutesy regency romance play out.

This was not that case.

What I got instead was a mash-up of way too many points of view for a 250 page book. Every character was having their own storyline and while some of the moments were sweet, it just didn’t work. I felt like I didn’t know any of the characters on a deeper level before things were jumping to the next one and so forth. I think there were at least three different love stories woven in here.

I honestly don’t think I have anything else to say. I finished it in a day and don’t remember most of it now because it was easy to forget.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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