Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost (Clairvoir Castle Romance #4) by Sally Britton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Holiday Romance
Length: 253 pages
Author: Sally Britton
Publisher: Pink Citrus Books
Release Date: November 21st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An Irish miss and a duke’s son have little in common, but Christmas at the castle has a way of bringing the most unlikely people together.

Isleen Frost wishes her family had stayed in Dublin for Christmas but understands it would have been folly to decline an invitation to the Duke of Montfort’s Christmastide house party. Isleen refuses to allow the opulent castle and powerful duke to impress her. But the duke’s eldest son, Lord Farleigh, is another matter entirely.

Raised as the heir to a duke, Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh, has learned to project a calm self-assurance despite an inner fear he will never be as confident a leader as his father. When a friendly wager and a spirited Irish lady challenge all his unspoken thoughts, he determines to prove her wrong—and ignore the growing attraction between them.

Christmas celebrations at the castle are always full of surprises, but Isleen and Simon are not at all prepared for the feelings the season inspires between them. An Irish miss and a duke’s son have no business falling in love. But the magic of sleigh rides, snow-covered hills, and mistletoe might change their minds…

This novel is a sweet Regency romance and can be read as a stand-alone, though readers of the previous books will enjoy seeing old friends again.

SWEET FOR THE SEASON.

Another enjoyable read in this series. I’ve been saving this book for the holiday’s and it did not disappoint! I like how easy these books feel and give off the cozy historical romance vibe that will make you smile.

I adore this whole family and love all of the castle adventures. There’s cute moments between the main couple, Isleen and Simon. I liked their banter and their willingness to admit wrongs and how entirely cute they were together.

It’s a sweet and quick read that if you’ve liked the rest of the series you’ll love this one too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Crystal Seitz
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: October 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Belladonna meets Norse mythology in this gorgeous dark fantasy debut that follows a teen who accidentally awakens an imprisoned draugr and must follow him into a deadly magical forest to rescue her grandmother.

Never go beyond the stave church.

Within Tiveden Forest, bloodthirsty monsters known as draugr lurk behind every tree, and secrets run through the soil like twisted roots. When her grandmother vanishes into the forest, Astrid won’t let Crohn’s disease get in the way of finding her. But in searching for her lost loved one, Astrid soon uncovers an even greater mystery:

A conflict that’s haunted her village and family for generations.
An ancient blood oath her ancestor made to protect them.
A deadly draugr imprisoned for centuries…who Astrid accidentally awakens.

Newly revived, Soren first mistakes Astrid for her ancestor, his ex-lover turned enemy. Astrid can’t tell if he would rather kill her or kiss her. But Soren knows the forest better than anyone, and Astrid quickly realizes that she’ll need his help to rescue her grandmother.

The deeper they venture into Tiveden, the closer Astrid gets to the cold, alluring Soren and the truth behind her grandmother’s disappearance. To save her home, a dark ritual must be performed before Midwinter—and only Astrid can fulfill her ancestor’s blood oath…or break it.

That is, if Soren—or the forest—doesn’t break Astrid first.

NEEDS MORE LOVE.

I really enjoyed this book y’all and at present, I’m the only one I know who has read it. Help me change that!! I loved the audiobook narrator but I will say that there’s some flashback aspects to this and the distinguishing narration was barely visible and at times I was confused on which time period I was listening to.

For a standalone though, this packed a lot of content and wrapped up the story well. I was surprised it was a standalone and I think the length helped contain aspects of the world building and character relationships needed to shine. I enjoyed the FMC, Astrid, and the Crohn’s disease rep too.

The romance was a little bit of a miss for me (I think I needed a bit more to be convinced), but it wasn’t a big issue. It’s a bit gruesome and dark and full of good twists and steady pacing.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: loss of a parent, grief, ritualistic self-harm, allusions to cancer and suicide

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Book Review: The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction + Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Noelle Salazar
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The discovery of a hidden label on a famous gown unearths the story of a talented young seamstress in this glittering novel of family, love, ambition, and self discovery by the USA Today bestselling author of The Flight Girls.

2023, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American A costume conservator is preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As she gingerly places a gown once worn by Greta Garbo on a mannequin, she discovers another name hidden beneath the designer’s label, leaving her to wonder—who is Zora Lily?

1924, Poverty-stricken Zora Hough spends her days looking after her younger siblings while sewing up holes and fixing hems for clients to bring in extra money, working her fingers to the bone just to survive. But at night, as she lies in the bed she shares with one of her three sisters, she secretly dreams of becoming a designer like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin.

When her best friend gets a job dancing in a club downtown, Zora is lured in by her stories of music, glittering dresses and boys. She follows her friend to the underground speakeasies that are at once exciting and frightening—with smoke hanging in the air, alcohol flowing despite Prohibition, couples dancing in a way that makes Zora blush and a handsome businessman named Harley. It’s a world she has only ever imagined, and one with connections that could lead her to the life she’s always dreamed of. But as Zora’s ambition is challenged by tragedy and duty to her family, she’ll learn that dreams come with a cost.

LOVING THIS AUTHOR.

This is my third book by Salazar and I can easily say I have genuinely enjoyed everyone of her historicals. I loooove that this was set in the 1920’s. The speakeasy’s, Hollywood, and all of the design content was amazing.

I was very much attached to the slow burn romance and watching it unfold. I adored Zora and Harley. They were this match you weren’t expecting but had fantastic chemistry and conversation from the get-go. I do wish I could have seen a little more conversation between them in those closing chapters so I felt like I had some deeper understanding of the third act.

Watching Zora find her place and get the things she had worked so hard for was inspiring. She was a fantastic main character and one that you wanted to see shine. I love the side characters and friends, I loved her big family and the story really kept me captivated.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, illegal alcohol consumption, loss of a sibling, depictions of alcoholism

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Book Review: A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak (Girl’s Guide) by Laura Taylor Namey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Laura Taylor Namey
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this highly anticipated companion to the New York Times bestseller A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, Flora Maxwell heads to Miami to find a path for her future… and finds her heart along the way.

Winchester, England, has always been home for Flora, but when her mother dies after a long illness, Flora feels untethered. Her family expects her to apply to university and take a larger role in their tea-shop business, but Flora isn’t so sure. More than ever, she’s the chaotic “hurricane” in her household, and she doesn’t always know how to manage her stormy emotions.

So she decides to escape to Miami without telling anyone—especially her longtime friend Gordon Wallace.

But Flora’s tropical change of scenery doesn’t cast away her self-doubt. When it comes to university, she has no idea which passions she should follow. That’s also true in romance. Flora’s summer abroad lands her in the flashbulb world of teen influencer Baz Marín, a Miami Cuban who shares her love for photography. But Flora’s more conflicted than ever when she begins to see future architect Gordon in a new light.

Laura Taylor Namey’s newest novel navigates heartbreak that feels like a hurricane in a city that is famous for them.

I LIKED THE ENDING MOST.

Y’all know me, I’m not big on love triangles and I feel like I got lost in this one for a bit. Though I will admit to enjoying how things worked out for all parties in the end. It was way less dramatic and felt a lot more realistic and genuine.

I liked seeing the ups and downs of Flora’s journey. She definitely made some quick decisions that left her in hot water, and as those reasons unfurled you saw a very hurt soul who needed a safe place to be. I love that in the end she recognizes her need for help and admittance of things to work on. Character growth will always be my favorite.

It’s a fast read with a little bit of swoon and fake dating, LOTS of great photography content and a sweet group of people who are growing up.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: death of a mother from dementia

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