Tag: berkley romance

Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

FULL OF HEART.

I’ve seen this compared to The House on the Cerulean Sea and is definitely a comparison I can follow. This had a lot of those vibes but in a new story that I adored all the same.

I loved the found family between the girls, Mika, and everyone else in the house. Mika needed most to find somewhere to belong with people who knew everything about her and wouldn’t have to leave. I love that she got that chance and how we saw the ups and downs of allowing someone into our lives. It’s not always steps forward, but it’s worth it in the end for the right people.

The romance could have used a little more oomph for me. I did like it, but I thought it was missing something. Maybe a bit more between them would have helped me feel fully connected to Mika and Jamie.

I liked the plot and it moved with a steady pace for a read like this. There were some surprises and a great ending that was filled with sweetness and hope in new beginnings. I’d love to read another book by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open but then fade to black
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of death of parent, emotionally detached parent, sibling abuse

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Book Review: The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Ali Brady
Publisher: Berkley Books
Release Date: June 14th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. They have one summer to set the record straight.

When twelve-year-olds Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at Camp Chickawah, they have an instant connection. But everything falls apart when they learn they’re not just best friends—they’re also half-sisters. Confused and betrayed, their friendship instantly crumbles.

Fifteen years later when their father dies suddenly, Kat and Blake discover he’s left them a joint inheritance: the family beach house in Destin, Florida. The two sisters are instantly at odds. Blake, who has recently been demoted from regular nanny to dog nanny, wants to sell the house, while social media influencer Kat is desperate to keep the place where she had so many happy childhood memories.

Kat and Blake reluctantly join forces to renovate the dilapidated house with the understanding that Kat will try to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. The women clash as Blake’s renovation plans conflict with Kat’s creative vision, and each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance. As the weeks pass, the two women realize the most difficult project they face this summer will be coming to grips with their shared past, and learning how to become sisters.

IT GOT BETTER.

I admittedly was not sure I was feeling about this for a good half of the book. It leans towards fiction with a dash of romance and I’m really hit or miss on that type of read.

Blake was the bee’s knees. I adored her and all of the progress and growth she overcame dealing with family that never wanted her. There was a lot to process and I thought the addition of Noah on her team was what Blake needed to move forward. She worked on herself and accepting what was and wow did she make me want to take on all the house projects. I loved listening to her learn and try new things.

Kat bugged the living daylights out of me. Frankly, I still don’t like her all that much. The constant mentions of her influencer lifestyle and her hatred of Blake that didn’t even have a solid base made me roll my eyes. I will admit she DID exhibit some good character change and thank goodness for her love interest too.

The ending gave me all of the warm fuzzy feelings. I did love how everyone came together to fix the house. That all the needed conversations and emotions were thrown on the table. It turned out to be a sweet and emotional read that I’m glad I picked up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: brief open door; low explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, loss of a mother, a grandparent with Alzheimer’s

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ALC Book Review: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 352 pages
Author: Ashley Poston
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: stay busy, work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I AM A MESS.

I received a DM saying to read this book and so I downloaded it ASAP and here we are a day later and I LOVED READING THIS SO MUCH (please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the end for some heavy topics).

The romance was DIVINE. It was this mix of wrong timing, second chance, when will I see you again magical realism that had me in a chokehold. Every time the nickname Lemon was uttered I melted all over again. This undeniable chemistry and sense of this is my person was off the charts. I love them. I love them so much and so happy they found a way to each other.

The way grief was woven in broke my heart. It was beautifully written and spoken about and I felt many of those sentiments in my soul. There was healing and finding the light and hope that surrounds us, that sometimes is hard to notice.

I devoured this audiobook. Absolutely recommend that reading option. The narrator brought the entire story to life and made this book even more phenomenal.

I loved this one and need all of y’all to go read it too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; low-vague explicitness
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide (recounted, grief and thoughts discussed throughout)

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Book Review: A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Bridget Morrissey
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 21st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After a decade of silence, Dee and Ben reunite for a road trip they once promised to take. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Dee Matthews is the cohost of the smash-hit podcast Did I Forget To Tell You?, where she interviews family, friends, and past lovers. Nothing is off limits, except for one man (known on the show only as Name Redacted) who happens to be her high school best friend Ben. During their senior year spring break, Dee and Ben took a road trip to visit Ben’s grandma. They buried a time capsule in her backyard, pledging to return in ten years to open it. Then their friendship fell apart in spectacular fashion. They haven’t spoken to each other since.

Ben Porter’s life since that moment has been unexciting but comfortable, until his grandma reveals a family secret that flips his whole world upside down. Her dying wish is for him to stop doing what is safest and go after what he really wants. He starts by showing up on Dee’s doorstep with every intention of fulfilling their long-ago promise. Despite her reservations, Dee can’t say no. This trip could be her chance to give her listeners the Name Redacted interview they’ve been begging for–and finally put her unresolved feelings for Ben to rest.

As the miles fly by, Dee and Ben’s friendship reignites. But the closer they get to reaching their destination, the more apparent it becomes that their attraction to each other cannot be ignored. Their last adventure ended in disaster, and they’re about to find out if any hope of a future together is in the rear view mirror.

MEH.

I’m writing this review only a few days after finishing this book and can hardly remember it. And that’s pretty much the crux of anything else I say after this point. It was fine, but not all the endearing.

I never liked the FMC, Dee. Something about her continually rubbed me the wrong way and I hated how she handled a lot of her interactions with Ben. Ben should have dropped his promise and moved right along. Admittedly, I did think there were some sweet moments. Those were very much overshadowed by everything else.

The podcast chapters were annoying. I didn’t think they added anything to the story (except for maybe the last one). It took me out and I just wanted to get back to the road trip. I did like the dual POV line-up because I love both sides of a tale.

And I think I’ve basically ran out of things to say, it was okay y’all. Moving along.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: infidelity mentioned, grief/loss depiction, death of a grandmother

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