Book Review: The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Karina Halle
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them, from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.

Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.

And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.

But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.

I LIKED THE ROMANCE.

Which is a positive because this is a contemporary romance. The surrounding plot ended up being meh.

We have the quirky heroine who’s a bit of a hot mess who somehow ends up living next to the fictional versions of Harry & Meghan. While I do like the idea of the royals being a part of this story, I think it played waaaaay too heavily into being clones. So much so the characters from the book aren’t even memorable. I wanted them to feel like their own people.

The romance was charming. I’m not I’ve ever read a body guard trope? So that was definitely new and fun for me! There was plenty of tension and I did think the chemistry was there. I could have used some more time with just them rather than sitting over at the royals house all of the time, but it is what it is. I do like how Piper and Harrison’s story wrapped up.

I just disconnected from this story a lot. Some subjects felt preachy, like the push for not hating romance novels. Which, I mean, I’m reading a ROMANCE NOVEL, so, clearly, not against them (nor am I in general in anyway, romance all day every day). There was this continual by-line that there’s no need to hate romance novels and it came up so often I was getting frustrated. Just give me the romance.

Anywho, I digress, the book was fine. I liked how quick of a read it was and the HEA. I needed more from the surrounding stories and characters (only her Mom had a true personality, everyone else was boring). I am curious what the next in this series will be like!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses to multiple open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating recounted, anxiety, c-PTSD, a parent with multiple mental health disorders

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Book Review: Mirror Sight (Green Rider #5) by Kristen Britain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: High Fantasy
Length: 784 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Karigan G’ladheon is a Green Rider–a seasoned member of the elite messenger corps of King Zachary of Sacoridia. This corps of messengers, each gifted with a brooch of office that imparts a unique magical ability to its wearer, was founded over a thousand years ago during the terrible time of the Long War.
During that spell-fueled war, Sacoridia was besieged by the sorcerous armies of the Arcosian Empire, led by Mornhavon the Black. When Sacoridia finally triumphed, Mornhavon resorted to dark magic that rendered his twisted spirit immortal. Determined to keep the realm safe from this terrifying enemy, multitudes of Sacoridian magicians sacrificed their lives to build the immense D’Yer Wall, imprisoning the dangerous spirit of Mornhavon in Blackveil Forest, which uncontrolled magic had mutated into a perilous and unnatural place.

For over a thousand years, the magic of the D’Yer Wall protected the people of Sacoridia, but as the centuries passed, memory of how the wall had been built was lost as a traumatized nation turned its back on magic. And when a malicious entity cracked the massive wall, there were none left who knew how to repair it. Desperate to regain the knowledge and repair the ever-expanding breach in the wall, agents of the king scoured the kingdom for magical relics and information. Finally, in a last-ditch attempt to gain time, Karigan, whose Rider brooch enabled her to “fade”–sometimes traversing the layers of time and space–was able to catapult the spirit of Mornhavon into the future. But how far into the future was anyone’s guess.
Realizing that this might be their only chance to enter Blackveil and examine the tainted peninsula, King Zachary sends Karigan and a contingent of Sacoridians beyond the wall, along with an equal number of Eletians–the immortal race that eons ago lived in what is now Blackveil Forest. But in addition to the unnatural dangers of the forest itself, Karigan and her small delegation have been followed by a secret rebel sect–descendants of the original Arcosian invaders, and during a showdown between these two groups, Mornhavon suddenly reappears.
In the magical confrontation that follows, Karigan is jolted out of Blackveil and wakes in a darkness blacker than night. She’s lying on smooth, cold stone, but as she reaches out, she realizes that the stone is not just beneath her, but above and around her as well. She’s landed in a sealed stone sarcophagus, some unknown tomb, and the air is becoming thin.

Is this to be her end? If she escapes, where will she find herself? Is she still in the world she remembers, or has the magical explosion transported her somewhere completely different? To find out, she must first win free of her prison–before it becomes her grave. And should she succeed, will she be walking straight into a trap created by Mornhavon himself?

WHAT WAS THE POINT?

I will say first, I did enjoy this story by the end. I finally got on board with the characters the story and what was happening. That’s why I gave it four stars (and what I mention at the end of this review).

But I do have questions, because the ending made me concerned for what the whole point of this read was? I don’t know. I will remain hopeful that there’s more to this.

I adored Cade and loved that Karigan got a chance to find love and enjoy those moments together. She’s been rushed into growing up and I thought this was a great moment for her to slow down a bit, even amidst everything else happening.

It was interesting getting a look into the future and how things shook out after Karigan left through Blackveil. There’s a lot of terrible and scathing reviews for this book. And I honestly fully understand those comments. I think I lucked out by the audio book and not having to wait years and years for another installment. I’m choosing to hope the next book resets itself and this series and that this book seems to have a point by the end.

Overall audience notes:

  • High fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: a lot of blood/gore
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: slavery, mass murder, physical and magical altercations, suicide (on page), kidnapping and torture, drugging without consent

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Book Review: In the Waves of Tristwick (Cornish Romance #4) by Deborah M. Hathaway

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: Deborah M. Hathaway
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: January 19th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What is a fisherman to do when he catches a mermaid in his net? Let her go—or fall in love?

A Regency Romance
Cornwall, 1815

As a well-respected fisherman in the Cornish seas, Trevik Honeysett provides a living for many poor families in the southwest of Cornwall. Despite the most powerful fishing companies attempting to cut off his own ability to fish, Trevik refuses to give up. However, when he discovers a mysterious, injured woman entangled in his net, things become much more complicated—especially when suspicions arise that she is, in fact, a mermaid. Knowing he might very well lose his workers to their superstitious beliefs, Trevik decides to uncover just who the woman is. The only problem is…she can’t remember.

In truth, Morvoren Hollow knows exactly who she is. She merely needs to keep her identity a secret long enough to accomplish what she’d set off to do. Fortunately, pretending to be a mermaid will keep Society away long enough to do just that. Her lie becomes harder to manage, however, as her injury takes longer to heal—and as the nosy but handsome fisherman reels closer to the truth.

The two clash head-to-head as Trevik refuses to believe Morvoren is actually a siren from the sea. But such a thing would be easier to imagine than what he finally discovers about her past. Fearful of what might happen next, Morvoren must decide her next step. She can either learn to trust again—or end up truly alone.

This is the fourth book in the clean Regency Cornish Romance series by Deborah M. Hathaway.

Although this romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.

Don’t miss the other novels in this series!
A Prequel Novella: On the Shores of Tregalwen (A Swoony Award Winner)
Book 1: Behind the Light of Golowduyn
Book 2: For the Lady of Lowena
Book 3: Near the Ruins of Penharrow
Book 4: In the Waves of Tristwick
Book 5: Coming Soon

ROMANTIC.

This had allllll of the romance y’all. Super swoony. Can’t believe I haven’t read any of the other books in this series. I must go remedy after enjoying this one.

It’s long for a regency (400 pages) and I would say I only noticed that a tiny bit. This is filled with plenty to keep the pages flipping. I liked the mixed of small quiet moments, and the bigger all out kind of scenes. A fun twist was the addition of mermaid lore. I loooove all things mermaid so this felt unique and fresh to the genre.

I adored Morvoren and Trevik. They had chemistry from the get go and the development was solid. Learning to build the trust between them as things piled against their favor. No ridiculous conflict to be found, but one that fit the actual premise of the entire story. I love a good reveal at the end, and Trevik showing Morvoren just how free she was, was absolutely precious.

Hathaway is one of my favorite regency authors and I love the way she tells stories!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: near drowning, loss of parents (off page, but discussed), manipulative caregiver

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Book Review: From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 11th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If Rika’s life seems like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale–being an orphan with two bossy cousins and working away in her aunts’ business–she would be the first to reject that foolish notion. After all, she loves her family (even if her cousins were named after Disney characters), and with her biracial background, amazing judo skills and red-hot temper, she doesn’t quite fit the princess mold.

All that changes the instant she locks eyes with Grace Kimura, America’s reigning rom-com sweetheart, during the Nikkei Week Festival. From there, Rika embarks on a madcap adventure of hope and happiness–searching for clues that Grace is her long-lost mother, exploring Little Tokyo’s hidden treasures with cute actor Hank Chen, and maybe…finally finding a sense of belonging.

But fairy tales are fiction and the real world isn’t so kind. Rika knows she’s setting herself up for disappointment, because happy endings don’t happen to girls like her. Should she walk away before she gets in even deeper, or let herself be swept away?

FANCIFUL.

I enjoyed this one! I don’t necessarily think it was intensely memorable or compares to some of the recent YA contemporaries I’ve read, but it had some charm and good moments.

The addition of Disney princess aspects was cute. Her cousins have princess names and the whole vibe of the book reads with different takes. I noticed Cinderella the most. It added a *magical* (no actual magical realism) touch to Rika’s quest.

One of my favorite aspects was Rika’s anger issues. That’s not something I’ve seen a lot of in young adult novels and I love the way it was approached. Many of the conversations made my teenage self feel seen. Rika may have struggle with it at times, but the support of those around her helped her see the strength of her passions. Other conversations such as stereotypes, being biracial, racism and fitting into the Asian community were also addressed.

For the romance, I was initially smitten. But the intense speed at which this flew had me trying to slam on the brakes. It went too fast, and took a turn I couldn’t get behind. Very sweet overall at least. Henry and Rika communicated well and really did lift each other up and I did love that.

It was an enjoyable read and one I would recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses to one closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, colorism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, parental abandonment, panic attacks, teen pregnancy (recounted)

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