Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Danica Nava
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, author of The Truth According to Ember.

Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.

Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.

It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I was a wee bit hesitant to pick this one up but Y’ALL. REDEMPTION. I will absolutely be continuing to read Danica Nava books. I loved the fish out of water trope in this one. And celebrity?? Who am I reading so many celebrity romances recently??

I loved seeing Avery discover herself and her roots and all the things in between. She genuinely wanted to learn and I felt all the emotions on her journey. The impact of our own mistakes and how we can progress after those.

And the romance was good! I think I would have liked a little more *something* from them, but the heat and true slow burn nature was so nice to read (and he’s a cowboy so…..). The chemistry and tension between them was just right.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: one open door; 1-2 almost scenes
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: toxic parents, racism, addiction, loss of family members

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Book Review: The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 354 pages
Author: Katherine Arden
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world—in this dazzling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.

Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, her lands, and her body forever in the hands of her enemies.

But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany.

Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France’s greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with diviners.

The forest of Brocéliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost faerie queen. But magic is long gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and one critical quirk: This ancient forest is completely hostile to divination.

While pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Brocéliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret.

Or so she thinks.

In this rich and epic novel, the author of the acclaimed Winternight trilogy turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

I should have expected nothing less because I have loved every one of Katherine Arden’s books. This was another absolute amazing read. I devoured the audiobook (highly recommend). It’s the exquisite kind of historical fantasy that locks you in with gorgeous writing and story telling. Anne of Brittany was beautifully crafted and I loved the exploration into her story and character with a fantastical touch.

There is a small romantic angle if you’re curious. It’s not the point of the over arching story. But it adds to Anne’s tale and I was kind of swept away by the forbidden-ness of it all. I loved Anne’s strength and tenacity. She’s fiercely loyal to her family and her country. The magical elements involving unicorns and other things I shouldn’t say because spoilers, only increased my love for this book.

It is not one to miss!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 2ish vague, low explicit open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Ellie Palmer
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the beloved author of Four Weekends and a Funeral, a nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to burn like wildfire.

Twenty-nine year old Charley Beekman is thriving. Is she financially strapped, languishing in her legal career, and very likely the youngest divorcee at the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on a Friday night? Yes. But, now that she’s accepted the inherent flaws that lie in all romantic relationships, she finally has life all figured out! She’s definitely due for an upswing.

So when her free-spirited sister announces her plan to elope with her messy on-again-off-again childhood sweetheart, Charley knows she has to stop the wedding, even if it means road-tripping into the northern woods of Minnesota in a camper van with her childhood best friend, Ethan, who’s as gorgeous as he is chronically unreliable.

But when their cozy journey ignites a spark she’s tried to ignore for years, Charley tries to write off her feelings as fleeting. Because after failing at marriage so spectacularly with the most responsible man she’s ever known, Charley definitely shouldn’t risk it all for her non-committal, nomadic, musician best friend . . . right?

TIS A BIT FRUSTRATING.

I LOVED Ellie Palmer’s previous book so I knew I had to read this one, and I while I did like it (I did, promise), there were a few more frustrating things in here that I can’t move past. The way Charley treated Ethan rubbed me the wrong way a few times. When he was clearly trying to have a conversation and she was clearly trying to run away, it got old quickly.

There were a lot of good scenes and moments though. I loved the soft wilderness adventure, it felt very summery in all the best ways. And I liked the inner monologue from Charley [mostly]. It was humorous and sassy and hit those type-A personality moments well. I enjoyed the quibbling sibling dynamic and both of them coming to understand each other.

It was a quick read and I’ll still pick up EP’s next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: divorce

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Book Review: Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Lexi Ryan
Publisher: Storytide
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Forbidden romance, mysterious prophecies, and the battle to save the fae realm come to a captivating conclusion in the #1 New York Times bestselling saga begun with Abriella in the These Hollow Vows duology and continued with Jas and Felicity in Beneath These Cursed Stars.

Princess Jasalyn has eleven days to live.

Jasalyn is facing the repercussions of a deadly bargain. Her life, and the future of the shadow court, are forfeit on her birthday unless she can stop the evil fae king Mordeus. She needs to face her greatest fears and find him before she runs out of time, but even after everything, Kendrick won’t let her face this alone.

Shape-shifter Felicity has vanished.

Felicity disappeared from King Misha’s dungeons, and her friends have been searching for her to no avail. But even if she’s found, Felicity will never be able to escape the oracle’s tragic prophecy for her and her family. In her lonely battle with fate, Misha is the last person she can ask to stand by her side, but the first one she’ll need.

WELL THIS GOT ME.

I fully admit that after book one I wasn’t totally invested in picking this one up. I knew I would, I just wasn’t EXCITED. And for the first half of the book that’s how I felt here too. Not bad, not stellar, another new (these aren’t young adult) adult fantasy romance to check off the list.

BUT. Something clicked in that second half. I became genuinely attached to the characters and romances and the themes of the story that I was engulfed in knowing what was going to happen next. I love the way Lexi Ryan writes complicated romances that have this all consuming nature about them. That soul mate level quality of interaction that makes you truly believe these couples are meant for each other.

I loved the audiobook and the cameos from previous characters. I will absolutely be picking up whatever Ryan writes next!

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: vague fade to black scenes
  • Violence: moderate – high

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