Tag: Book blog

Book Review: The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 366 pages
Author: Rachel Moore
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn’t uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.

Not literally, of course. She doesn’t believe in ghosts. Going to her dad’s school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.

But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe—probably—definitely—a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.

When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library’s secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.

Except following her father’s footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren’t just myth. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.

UNBALANCED.

I couldn’t decide where this book was trying to go or trying to be. It young adult, and written in a younger YA style, yet the language and make-out content would be considered somewhere in the older side of the spectrum. This constantly pulled me out of the book because I could never find the right vibe.

Mostly I thought the idea was intriguing. A haunted school, and a mysterious book, etc. I never felt like all of the pieces clicked together though. It was gratefully a quick audio listen and I never hit a hate reading status, just a this isn’t working mode.

Can’t even tell you if this is one to give a try regardless of my rating. If you’re looking for a paranormal (not fantasy) young adult read, hey, maybe this one?

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: some clothes removed make out
  • Violence: moderate-high

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ARC Book Review: The Fur Trader’s Lady by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

To escape her guardian’s plans to marry her, Lady Charlotte Fairfax steals away to Montreal to locate Reid McCoy, a fur trader who owes her fiancé a debt for saving his life. Even though European women are forbidden from entering the interior, she is desperate to get to her fiancé deep within the northwestern wilderness.

Reid McCoy has worked hard for fifteen years to become a shareholder in the North West Company and is on the brink of realizing that goal. Taking Charlotte into the interior will not only put her life at risk, but it could also jeopardize his dreams. Honor bound to repay his debt, his only option is to have Charlotte dress as a man and enter as his assistant clerk.

With Charlotte’s guardian close on their trail and a personal rival willing to do anything to keep Reid from becoming a shareholder, they will embark on an epic journey that will test not only their strength and endurance, but their hearts, as well.

Christy Award winner and bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents a new and thrilling historical adventure series set in the heart of the North American wilderness.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

COVER LOVE.

I don’t know how many times I’ve said that I’m obsessed with this cover, but once again, LOVE IT SO MUCH. And I love Gabrielle Meyer’s books a lot too.

This was a great read about a time period and setting that I knew little about prior. The complicated history and dynamics out on the trail and backwoods was interesting to learn about and sparked talking points and thoughts about the story.

I enjoyed the romance. It’s sweet and heated and alllll of the forced proximity is forever my favorite. I loved Charlotte’s tenacity to see herself to a better future and how tender and protective Reid was about caring for her.

This did start to feel a little long and there were a few plot things that didn’t quite work for me, but I thought it was a good start to a new series and I look forward to more stories and characters.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, murder, gun violence, physical altercations, near death experiences

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Book Review: Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 530 pages
Author: Lauren Asher
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Julian
If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile.
So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer.
At least until my meddling mother exploits my savior complex.
The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town.
But while I was busy getting rid of Dahlia, I overlooked one potential issue.
What happens if I want her to stay?

Dahlia
People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one.
Julian Lopez—my childhood rival and family frenemy.
I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer.
Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits.
Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years’ worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions.
Giving into our desire is inevitable…but falling in love?
That isn’t part of the plan.

Love Redesigned is a steamy, small town romance about two family friends-turned-childhood rivals. It is the first book in the standalone Lakefront Billionaires series and has a happy ending.

LACKED PASSION.

I don’t know y’all, this one felt…formulaic? As if a trope was chosen, a scene was written, repeat and smashed together to be called one book. While I totally love some of those tropes and the scenes were pretty good with them, I feel like I never FELT for these two like I wanted to.

There’s some enemies-ish banter and I loved the small home town setting. I liked the cast of characters and goodness, I really did love Julian. For a 500+ page book this was easy to fly through.

I’m also not a fan of any kind of benefits situation. It feels like a device used just to add more spice when the relationship hasn’t been fully built quite yet. Nor do I feel like some aspects were dived deep enough into. Bleh, a mixed bag all around.

While this wasn’t a winner, I’m hopeful for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), grief and depression depiction

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Book Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Non-fiction Essays
Length: 293 pages
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: May 18th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A deeply moving and mind-expanding collection of personal essays in the first ever work of non-fiction from #1 internationally bestselling author John Green

The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet – from the QWERTY keyboard and Halley’s Comet to Penguins of Madagascar – on a five-star scale.

Complex and rich with detail, the Anthropocene’s reviews have been praised as ‘observations that double as exercises in memoiristic empathy’, with over 10 million lifetime downloads. John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection about the shared human experience; it includes beloved essays along with six all-new pieces exclusive to the book.

THIS WAS REAL GOOD.

Y’all know I’m not a non-fiction gal, but once in a blue moon I can be convinced that I should read one and this has had some rave reviews from friends. I think it absolutely lived up to the hype.

My brain loved how this book functioned. Short chapters + history + rating? Loved. It flowed fast and succinct and I had a blast listening to such a wide variety of topics. I loved that John Green narrated this himself because it brought an even higher level of personal connection that made this book resonate.

Easily a non-fiction book I’d recommend to all!

Overall audience notes:

  • Non-fiction
  • Language: low

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