ARC Book Review: Starling by Isabel Strychacz

GoodeyReads3 Comments

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Isabel Strychacz
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Release Date: November 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Edward Scissorhands meets When the Moon Was Ours in this enchanting, lushly romantic novel about two teen sisters who fight to protect the mysterious stranger who literally fell from the stars and into their backyard.

Strange things have always happened in the small town of Darling…

​Yet Delta Wilding and her sister Bee are familiar with the peculiar. Raised by an eccentric father always on the hunt for the spectacular, they’re used to following weather patterns that twirl onto strange paths, a car that refuses to play any artist but one, and living in a sentient house with whims of its own. But when a mysterious boy falls from the stars into the woods behind the Wilding sisters’ farmhouse, nothing can prepare them for the extraordinary turn their lives are about to take.

Extraordinary, and dangerous.

Starling Rust is not from this world and his presence in the Wilding home brings attention. As the terrified locals, Delta’s ex-boyfriend, and the unscrupulous mayor descend onto the Wilding’s home, both Delta and her sister go to incredible lengths to protect their mystical visitor—especially as Delta’s growing feelings for Starling could prove the greatest risk of all.

Filled with atmospheric prose and lush and vivid descriptions, Starling has the spectacular waiting with every flip of the page.

Thank you to the author for an eARC from winning a giveaway.

THE ATMOSPHERE.

Let me tell you I was GIDDY when I found out I won this giveaway. I’ve been hyped to read this book after following this author on Instagram for years. And y’all, get ready to add another book to your TBR.

The lush atmosphere of the town of Darling will transport you. I’m not usually one for a lot of prose and detail, but the way this was written had me captivated. I truly felt like I was there and that all of the detail I was getting was inherently important. The rotating multi-POV narrators captured many angles of the plot and really showed off some intricate characters who felt incredibly real.

Who knew I would highly enjoy an alien romance? Somehow over the course of just a few days I was allllll in the feels for Delta and Starling. They had this sense of magic about them and I loved all of the tiny interactions. It was an immediate connection that play the more “instant attraction” trope well.

The ending blindsided me. I realized just how emotionally invested and connected I was to Starling. I was wrapped up in the fray of chaos occurring and how those final scenes played out. THANK HEAVENS for an epilogue that gives me the hope and light for new horizons.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses to one implied closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: missing Father, slut-shaming, gun violence, house fire, breaking and entering

Instagram || Goodreads

Book Review: Manor for Sale, Baron Included (A Romance of Rank #1) by Esther Hatch

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 247 pages
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: February 25th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She has everything Lord Farnsworth wants, including his manor.

Lord Farnsworth would rather rot in debtor’s prison than sell the one place that feels like home to him—his mother’s manor. That is, until he meets the woman who wants to buy it. Sally Duncan is beautiful, intelligent, and as rich as a baron—a rich baron, not a cash-strapped one like Lord Farnsworth. She’s the solution to every one of his financial problems and is bewitching to boot. All he needs to do is sell her his beloved manor and then charm her to the altar, and the manor will be his again. Simple, right?

But nothing is simple when Sally starts tearing apart his ancestral home and renovating it in a way no one would consider tasteful. She is wreaking havoc on everything, but he cannot give up on owning his mother’s estate again, nor can he imagine anyone but Sally as his wife.

And so he sticks with his plan.

What a horrible mistake. 

ADORABLE & FUN

I had a good time with this one! It was a quick regency read that put me in a good mood and had me smiling throughout. The love interest, John, was ridiculously goofy, but also very endearing. I loved Sally and I thought it was amazing that she was a business owner and extremely independent. They were a great mix of opposites attract.

This was a new story in the regency world for me too. It was great having Sally purchase a house and a gentleman who had to work hard to prove himself to her. I feel like usually it’s the other way around, or at least the whole idea of everyone wants to be with a baron. This really turned it on its side and I looooved that. Not to mention, I really liked all of the boxing aspects!

Not very long, but just the right length. I thought some communication would have solved some of the problems. Yet, I do think the resolutions at the end came together. I understood why John and Sally both had to work through some things before being able to be together. Charming and sweet, I can’t wait for the next story!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: physical altercation
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, a neglected sibling

Instagram || Goodreads

Book Review: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Urban Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: March 26th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Layla just wants to fit in at school and go on a date with Zayne, whom she’s crushed on since forever. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister–and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla’s kiss will kill anything with a soul–including him.

Then she meets Roth–a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it’s tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she’s the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

ROTH.

There’s your takeaway.

I see why everyone loves him. He is flying up my list of book boyfriends as well, so hopefully this all turns out well by book three.

Also, incredibly happy I enjoyed this because JLA books are super hit/miss for me. This was a hit. I’m ready for more. Writing this review is making me want to download book two, ASAP. I’ll probably have that review out soon too.

This was an urban fantasy that worked really well. Sometimes I have a difficult time suspending reality for an urban read. This didn’t happen here and I LOVE that. The pace was steady and full of just enough action. Combined with quiet moments and getting to know one another. It was fantastic. I found myself continuously wanting to pick this up to continue. I definitely think the wonderful narrator was to blame too, they did a fantastic job and I’d recommend the audio all day.

Things exploded at the end and many reveals were tossed out. I look forward to seeing the exploration of these plot lines and how they come back together. I heard a love triangle brews too? I’ll probably have some thoughts on that soon as well. I’m already fully for Roth and this backlist JLA is charming my soul.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy
  • Language: little
  • Romance: one brief open scene
  • Violence: physical and magical altercations

Instagram || Goodreads

Book Review: The Ex Hex (Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆1/2
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

PERFECT FOR THE SEASON.

If you’re looking for something that’ll give you spooky vibes, but not be overwhelming + a cute rom-com, this would be a good pick. It’s a short, quick read that gives a sweet HEA.

I liked the set-up and the withy/paranormal aspects. The hexing of the ex made me laugh (and think of that one episode of Friends..). A second-chance romance nine years later? Here for it. The characters were all good and fine, but I felt they were very shallow. I remember thinking the side characters didn’t have any layers and even with the main characters not so much. I’m sitting here now trying to think of nuanced personalities and coming up mostly blank.

There’s quite a bit more spice than I expected, which wasn’t for me (I know others love this though so take note!!). Things get heating pretty quickly and there’s a lot of innuendo throughout. That was the bigger focus rather than the more of everything I needed. More background, more build-up, etc.

The banter was fantastic and I liked the larger plot of fixing the ley lines and the moving curse. It’s a light-hearted story with perfect witchy goodness and I love how it fit the autumn season well.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong throughout
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: car accident (no one w/life threatening injuries), death of a parent recounted

Instagram || Goodreads