Tag: audiobook

Book Review: The Reigning and the Rule (Surviving Time #2) by Calia Read

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 479 pages
Author: Calia Read
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 17th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Étienne Lacroix and I had a fire I thought would never die.
Our love was timeless.
An irreversible decision sent me back to the present day with a family I barely recognize, but I am determined to find a way back to Étienne.
I can survive time. But I can’t survive life without him.
Time bends to no one’s demands, so I must fight with everything I have to return to the past. However, I am terrified that the past I once knew might not look the same, and the man who once called me his surviving trace will no longer be waiting for me.

Time bends to no one’s demands but sometimes love does.

OH THE DRAMA.

I still stand by this series could have probably been one book, maaaaybe two. But I just finished book two and I’m invested enough to see this through to the end.

This did once again, go outside my spice comfort level (didn’t affect my rating but wanted to note). Things once again get steeeeammyyyy. So if that’s your thing, here ya go!

I liked that there was a bit more explanation behind the magic working with Serene as she goes back and forth between time. I like having a general explanation of the rules of the world and this gave me more answers I was seeking. I love the historical aspects and seeing how things continue to change as Serene makes life changing decisions around and around.

That ENDING was wild. I have a million plus questions and NEEEEEED to know where it goes so I’m hoping to get back to finish this series ASAP. This book is a bit long, yet it does have a decent pace that will keep you moving. And if you love high angst moments, this delivers on them.

Ovearll audience notes:

  • Time Travel Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, near death experiences, loss of life, mentions of domestic abuse

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Book Review: Love on Camera (The Wonder Boys #1) by Dana LeCheminant

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Dana LeCheminant
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Madi doesn’t have time to date. Oliver has all the time in the world.

When wedding photographer Madi is challenged to find herself ten dates in three months, she turns to her older brother’s three best friends to be her stand-ins. It helps her win the challenge without having to deal with the stress of dating. What could go wrong?

Oliver hasn’t had much to do since selling his company, and helping Madi has given his life meaning again. But when she asks him to pose as her boyfriend—more than just a date here and there—he suddenly finds himself questioning his feelings toward the girl he always saw as a little sister. Feelings that would get him murdered by his best friend.

No one sees the real Oliver the way Madi does, and Madi has never been as comfortable around anyone as she is with Oliver. With the fake part of their relationship feeling less and less fake, they both have to decide if they’re brave enough to take that first step toward something real. Is a chance at love worth risking a lifetime of friendship?

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS CUTE.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it! I definitely want to try some more in this series.

As this was an audiobook I do have a few thoughts on narration: I loved the female narrator except for when she was actually voicing Madi. It came off like she was much younger (almost teen like) and it took me a long time to get used to it. The male narrator did a great job on their end though.

I thought Oliver and Madi were reallll cute together. I liked the slow burn friends to lovers and seeing the inner conflicts on both sides. Oliver works through a lot of loneliness and understanding his worth while Madi is finding her own footing too. There’s some sweet fake dating moments and I liked how the third act was handled.

A sweet story and a quick read to make you smile.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: workaholic parents

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Book Review: The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kimberly Duffy
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe’s strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. But at his unexpected death, she loses everything she’s ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham for America in hope of finding the mother she’s just discovered is still alive.

Isabella Moreau, the nation’s most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. When her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, Isabella is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

In this evocative novel from Kimberly Duffy, the meaning of strength takes center stage as the lives of three circus performers become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden.

INCREDIBLE.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It kept me completely entertained and I wanted nothing more than to continue picking it back up. I loved the setting and the storyline and all of the themes woven in.

Mabel was a wonderfully beautiful FMC. I loved the exploration of beauty and strength and what it means to work hard and find your home. I loved every side of her and seeing her growth throughout the book brought out all the feels. Alongside that, Mabel’s romance with Jake? LOVED IT. A perfectly angsty slow burn build of these two recognizing all of the feelings they had for one another. When that moment finally came together I was giddy. I love books like this.

Isabella’s post partum depression rep brought me to tears. The way it was portrayed in a time period that wasn’t as forgiving squeezed my heart. It felt raw and honest and I loved seeing her journey too. It wasn’t all sunshine and high places and I appreciated every facet of her point of view too.

The circus setting was really cool and I loved the way it was used for the characters deeper stories. The passion the performers had and the strength it took to find that balance in life. I loved every minute of this book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father, brief assault, physical altercations, near death experiences, loss of a spouse (recounted), post partum depression and general depression depictions

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ALC Book Review: Dark Water Daughter (The Winter Sea #1) by H.M. Long

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: H.M. Long
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: July 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stormsinger and pirate hunter join forces against a deathless pirate lord in this swashbuckling Jacobean adventure on the high-seas.

Launching the Winter Sea series, full of magic, betrayal, redemption and fearsome women, for readers of Adrienne Young, R. J. Barker and Naomi Novik.

Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection – and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary’s dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.

Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary.

Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.

Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.

Thank you to RB Media and Titan Books for the ALC.

SAVED BY THE SECOND HALF.

Audiobook review: LOVED. I loved the narrators. They kept this book going for me. I loved that this was dual POV. Great audio read!

For the first half of this book I wasn’t quite sure where things were going. There was a lot of chasing Mary around as she was captured back and forth between pirates. Not a lot going on at the moment. Fortunately the second half picked up the pacing in a multitude of ways and now I’m curious where book two will lead.

I liked our two main characters, Mary and Samuel. They are both on different sides of the current conflict and slowly find out that they might actually be allies (and that there might be a romance in the future??).

What really kept me going was the vibes. If you’re looking for a high seas, pirate filled book, this will give you that. I thought the magic system was interesting and there were just enough twists in the second half that had me going, well what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kiss
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted murder, kidnapping, brief sexual assault (unwanted kissing and touching over clothes), near death experiences

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