Book Review: Poison in Their Hearts (Castles in Their Bones #3) by Laura Sebastian

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Laura Sebastian
Publisher: Hodderscape
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Follow three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Promised for marriage, now destined to die.

Since Sophronia’s murder, princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: they are pawns in their mother’s bid for the throne of Vesteria.

Separated with enemies on all sides, Beatriz and Daphne’s only hope are the few allies who stretch across the borders of Vesteria: Sophronia’s husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz’s missing husband, Pasquale, and his lover, Ambrose. But whispers of an ancient prophecy and secrets from their past follow every move they make.

With the magic of the stars, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DUOLOGY.

Mehhhhh. I admit to never feeling FULLY invested in this series, but I did feel it enough to want to finish it out. But for 600 pages I think this really should have been a duology. Many of the story lines seemed dragged out and you’d think with all of that page time the romances would have been more developed but I kept waiting for more and never found it.

There were some good scenes and I did love how fiercely loyal all of these sisters were to each other. I love good sister relationships like this. I enjoyed the characters and thought there were some good character arcs written in too. I just think the length really kept me from feeling these books.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1) by Sophia St. Germain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 476 pages
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Half-Fae Elessia could have had everything.

Literally.

Since her magic allows her to compel anyone to do her bidding by merely looking into their eyes, the world was at her feet.

But after a tragic accident, she is thrown into the Fae king’s dungeons and forced to swear a blood oath to him, binding her to his service.

Five years later, she’s living amongst humans in Ellow and has created a life for herself—as much as she can with the king’s promise to call in his debt looming over her.

When he finally comes to collect, she is made to infiltrate the human elections to determine whether the current regent is involved in the strange things happening in the land of Fae.

With the promise of freedom from the king’s claws, Elessia is determined to see it through. Liberty is within reach as long as she can keep the lethal Fae guard watching over her from eliminating her before she unearths the information the king seeks.

But as she grows closer to the brooding human regent and secrets begin to unravel, Elessia realizes greater forces may be at play.

And she might stand before the choice between her own freedom and that of a nation.

WHAT A STUNNER.

I had such a great time with this book. I’m glad I was convinced to pick it up because I will absolutely be continuing the series. I appreciate a well executed slow burn and this one delivered. I love romantic plot lines like this one and I think it has been set up well for the series.

The FMC had a slow character arc brewing and I loved the beginning of her journey. I love that there was a training montage of sorts so we actually got to see her learn to defend her self rather than automatic greatness.

There were many subtle moments that I think will clue in as the series progresses so I’m very excited to see where that leads. Some of the plot points dragged a little bit for me but that was only a small issue for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: torture, loss of life

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Book Review: Outshine (House of Oak #5) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 331 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing
Release Date: March 31st, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Time is not a river. It is a vast cosmic sea, where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface. Usually, the eternal ocean oscillates in harmony, all lives breathing up and down as one. But something has broken this equilibrium, turning the cosmic ocean into turbulent waters . . .

In 1828, Daniel Ashton, Lord Whitmoor, faces a problem of epic proportion—an earthquake has caused the time portal in Duir Cottage to stop functioning, disrupting the cosmic ocean and threatening Time itself. He needs a computer to crunch numbers and provide a solution. But with the time portal on the fritz, a computer is two hundred years in the future. So Daniel sets out to find the next best thing—an anonymous mathematical genius of legendary renown.

Fossi Lovejoy knows she is too odd, too intelligent, too old and too poor to ever marry. So she busies herself in her father’s ministry and her mathematical equations, choosing to focus on what she has, not what she lacks. But then Lord Whitmoor publishes one of her private theorems, taunting her to respond. Fossi is compelled to action—when you have so little in life, you defend the few things that are yours with ferocious tenacity. Even if it means matching wits with the infamous Lord Whitmoor.

Can two people past their youth find unexpected love?

FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.

I am in a big backlist mood as of late and I loved getting to check this series off of my list! I adore Nichole Van’s books and this has been a fun series. I easily think this is my favorite and I loved the emotional depth and journey Daniel and Fossi went on.

There were so many good swoony moments and these tender quiet ones where the trust was built and you could see how much faith they had in each other when the action filled ending came about. I loved their relationship. I loved that Daniel wanted to be with Fossi completely as she is, and that Fossi found a home in Daniel. They had a beautiful dynamic.

Overall audience notes:

  • Time travel romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of a son (recounted)

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Allison Ashley
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Finding a date for a reclusive bachelor is her job. It’s also a risk when she becomes the perfect match in an emotional and hopeful romance by the author of If Tomorrow Never Comes .

Accountant and freelance personal stylist Carly Porter, daughter of a compulsive gambler, knows the personal cost of a bad bet. But when she partners with her best friend, Sasha—publisher of a floundering fashion magazine—Carly can’t resist. The highly publicized makeover of an Oklahoma City bachelor could boost sales and be Carly’s ticket to her dream profession. The bachelor in question is none other than Sasha’s older brother, Brooks.

Hardly the party boy Carly remembers from high school, Brooks is now an antisocial, work-obsessed physician still struggling with a devastating loss. But if it means helping his sister, he’s in. It’s Carly’s job to get him out of those lived-in scrubs, style him to the nines, and bring Brooks back to life. But so far, the only real connection is between Brooks and Carly—and falling for a client could cost Carly the career she’s worked so hard for.

To move forward, they’ll both have to overcome their painful pasts. And whatever the risk, maybe even take a chance on love.

Thank you to BookSparks and Montlake for the gifted ARC.

ADORED.

Oh yes, this was everything!! I loved how sweet this story was. Gosh it was adorable. The low angst books are really hitting right now and I can’t get enough of them. I loved the set-up for this book. It was realistic and charming and there’s something about two people finding their passion and pursuits for the future that soothe the soul.

Carly and Brooks feel like soul mates. They have this beautiful chemistry that constantly brought them near each other and an undeniable need to be together. I think the heaviness of this book was balanced well between the flirting and dates and all of the sister moments. I didn’t feel weighed down by reading Falling Into Place, rather it brought hope that love (from family or a partner) can help us be better and accept that love in our lives. I sincerely loved Carly and Brooks as separate characters and together.

The audiobook narrator was good but it did bug me that this book didn’t have two because it was dual POV. I would occasionally have to remind myself who’s POV chapter I was listening to because it wasn’t obvious.

Anyways, another Allison Ashley book I just loved!!!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3ish vague/brief open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (multiple mentioned, on page and recounted), grief depiction

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