Tag: Book blog

Book Review: Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive #5) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Epic Fantasy
Length: 1330 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: December 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive―the iconic epic fantasy masterpiece that has sold more than 10 million copies, from acclaimed bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare―and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide―Adolin in Azimir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah at Thaylen City. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiants killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT?

This was arguably my biggest release of 2024. I have been waiting YEARS to get my hands on this book and y’all. It delivered and MORE. AND MORE. I honestly don’t even know how to put all my thoughts into coherent sentences. I’ll keep it vague so if you happen to read this without having read Stormlight yet, you’ll be okay. BUT ALSO GO READ IT.

I loved how Sanderson handled every single character in this story. The arcs are MAGNIFICENT. They are empowering and gives you hope and faith in something greater. I am in love with every member of this cast and I loved the flashbacks we received for a certain character this time and how that journey brought them to where they are now.

There were a few moments I had surmised or theorized happening (that did happen!!) and even more I could not have seen coming. And even more so, things I wasn’t expecting but am so happy to see. I laughed and cried, raged at the skies and shouted STORMS a few hundred times. I hugged this book trying to hug these characters.

Every single moment of the 62 hours I spent with this audiobook (okay less because I was listening at a 2.85x speed) BUT ANYWAYS. The longest book I have ever read was one of the best books of my life.

I just can’t even believe we’re here. The end of the first arc. THE END OF AN ERA.

(I’m excited about Sanderson’s next books but I don’t know how we’re supposed to all wait 10 years for arc two).

Overall audience notes:

  • Epic fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: A Sugar Creek Christmas (Sugar Creek #1) by Jenny B. Jones

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 196 pages
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Publisher: Sweet Pea Productions
Release Date: December 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes all love needs is a second chance.


Morning television show darling Emma Sutton has just been fired. The only way to get her job back is to find a holiday story to warm the coldest heart. So when her hometown of Sugar Creek, Arkansas, needs a Christmas event planner, Emma moves back, sure her story lies in the town’s desire to become a tourist’s holiday wonderland. The plan is perfect—until Emma meets her new boss.

Charming, handsome Noah Kincaid isn’t just Sugar Creek’s newest mayor. He’s also Emma’s ex-fiancé. Ten years ago Emma left Noah her ring and a goodbye note, but it’s haunted her ever since. The last thing Noah wants to do is work with the woman who broke his heart, but Emma’s desperate to prove to him that her bah-humbug ways won’t interfere with her work.

Emma finds it’s more than the mistletoe drawing her back to Noah. Whatever they had is clearly not over, but Noah’s kisses can’t protect Emma from a past that won’t leave her alone. As the snow falls and the trees glisten, love will come to Sugar Creek. But will it come in time to make all of Emma’s Christmas dreams come true?

TOO FAST.

I know this was a short book, but things can still be well paced. And this one left me reeling with how quickly things were moving. I don’t feel like the relationship had the necessary communication it needed before they got back together. Emma LEFT and Noah welcomed her back so dang quickly.

There’s lots of holiday cheer and a few quirky grandma’s to boot. If you’re looking for something quick, that has a light faith vein and a second chance romance, maaaybe this is for you!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of losing a mother to cancer

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Book Review: Merry Little Match by Celine Rachelle

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Christmas Historical Romance
Length: 406 pages
Author: Celine Rachelle
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this closed-door christmas regency romance follows Lady Clara Ashford as she turns her Yuletide house party into a daring scheme to save her family from ruin. When her plans clash with the infuriating and devastatingly handsome Nicolaus Croft, a battle of wits ensues—one laced with simmering attraction, festive chaos, and unexpected alliances.

An earl’s daughter should never be caught gasping at gossip, let alone cause it. But Lady Clara Ashford has always been a rule-breaker. Whispers of Clara’s scandalous schemes swirl through the drawing rooms of London’s elite.

Infamous for her wild antics—from clandestine book clubs devouring Byron’s most daring works to her perpetually muddied hems — Clara’s escapades leave every mother in the marriage mart clutching their pearls in horror. But her reckless freedom comes to a crashing halt when she returns home to find her father gravely ill.

Suddenly, her family’s earldom is poised to slip into the grasp of a conniving cousin. Clara and her sister Evie stand on the brink of ruin right as Christmas approaches. Before their cousin Rupert can force Evie to marry him, Clara must meddle her way into a love-match for her sister during the Yuletide festivities at their estate.

However, she didn’t account for someone determined to thwart her at every turn. When the infuriating Nicolaus Croft uncovers Clara’s plans to ensnare his friend, they are caught in a battle of wits.

As Christmas balls turn into scandalous disasters and mistletoe mischief abounds, Clara must battle both her cousin’s dastardly plans and her own attraction to Nicolaus to save her family before it’s too late.

NEW AUTHOR ALERT.

Well this was utterly charming and a great debut and an author I can’t wait to read more books from. I loved the holiday setting with the house party and all the moments in between. I often think a house party plot lacks something and I did not feel that here at all. It was well balanced with moments that kept you engaged.

The writing style did take me a bit to get into and I kind of wish it was all from one POV. It constantly rotated from paragraph to paragraph and it interrupted the flow a little. And I just found the antagonist to be trying a bit too hard.

I loooved Clara and Nicolaus’ romance and how swoony it was!! The kisses were HEATED and I was given a ball scene that made me melt. All top notches for me. I loved the little dash of enemies banter and how sweet and strong both characters were. There’s solid character progression and growth throughout.

Plenty of Christmas cheer and this is your friendly reminder that historical romances are worth the read!!

Overall audience notes:

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

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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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