Tag: Book blog

ARC Book Review: Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lucy Jane Wood
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.

Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you’ve been waiting for.

Thank you Berkley Pub for the gifted copy (Berkley Partner).

WELL.

I think this ended up mostly being a me issue. I’m realizing I’m more hit/miss on cozy reads. I think this needed a bit oomph, just something else to break up the day to day monotony of Belle learning how to use her magic. I didn’t find it as charming as I believe it was inteded.

There’s nothing wrong with the writing. It accurately paints a picture of a cozy fall vibe. There’s a bookstore, quirky side characts and a little bit of self growth. I did enjoy seeing Belle finally stand up for herself in the end. I wish the little sub-plot of romance had a bit more time in the light too.

It’s got good bones and the core of the story is good. There’s a bit of a pick up towards the end when some truths and mysteries are solved. It stands well as a nice standalone for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Mirror of Beasts (Silver in the Bone #2) by Alexandra Bracken

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 496 pages
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

With the dream of Avalon in ruins, Tamsin and her friends are all that stands in the way of Lord Death’s plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living. As the Wild Hunt carves a bloody path across continents, Tamsin is mustering allies, tracking down powerful artifacts, and traversing into new otherlands in search of a way to stop him.

Legend tells of a “Mirror of Beasts,” powerful enough to trap even Lord Death in its accursed glass, but the mirror is not all that it seems. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets if she hopes to tap the mirror’s strength to defeat her enemies.

Arthurian legend bleeds into contemporary action, and scars of the past are torn open anew by a starcrossed love that refuses to go quietly. This riveting conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology will hold you in its thrall until the very last page.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted copy.

THE SECOND HALF WAS BETTER.

The first half of this book was really drawn out. I know it was building to the conclusion, yet I felt like most of it didn’t go anywhere. And this isn’t a romance book, which isn’t a bad thing, but I thought it would play a bigger part and it didn’t. I did like what I got from it, though I needed more to truly fall for them. The found family aspects were great though. I think I was more invested in them and even one of the side romances than I was the main story line. I love endearing side characters.

A bit of a rambling plot that led to a honestly strong ending. I loved the action and climax of the moment and seeing how the downfall of the antagonist came to be. There were a few good reveals that I didn’t see coming and I was ultimately satisfied enough with the ending.

And while urban fantasy usually isn’t my favorite, I felt like this wasn’t urban enough to be an issue. It definitely was heavier on the fantasy and I loved that dynamic too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch #1) by Elsie Silver

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 334 pages
Author: Elsie Silver
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue. Until she waltzed onto my property.

Billie is talented. She’s mouthy. And she’s so damn tempting. I can’t stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg.

I can’t stop thinking about her, period.

We clash from the moment we meet. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep your distance. It’s even harder to keep that friction from turning to fire.

But keeping my distance? That might be the biggest struggle of all. Because Billie is the whole package, whip-smart with a body I fantasize about when I’m alone, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business—and me.

She drives me crazy. In every sense of the word. Every smart-mouthed little comment—every game we play—I end up wanting more. Wanting her closer. With me. Under me.

I try not to let her get to me, but the more time we spend together the more I crave her. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart.

I want it all.

But at what cost?

Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.
I want it all.

But at what cost?

Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.

I LIKED IT.

This was my first Elsie Silver book y’all. And I enjoyed it! I don’t know if continuing this series is for me though?

What I loved was the story. I thought the horse racing concept was awesome. Totally unique for me and engaging. I liked the characters and their personalities. The side characters shown well and the book truly is good.

I just think that the spice might have leaped over the plot and the second half lost its touch. I’m a slow burn girl. And needed maybe a slightly longer book to really feel that chemistry between Billie and Vaughn.

It’s fast paced, and if you’re a spice lover I think you should try it! I don’t know where I’ll land on reading another Silver book but I do get the hype.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: very strong
  • Romance: 4+ open; high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: boss-employee relationship

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Book Review: Swift and Saddled (Rebel Blue Ranch #2) by Lyla Sage

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Release Date: March 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.

The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.

When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.

Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.

Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

Okay, I’m officially a fan of this series. The depression rep for Weston made me cry. I felt so scene by that and it deserves a lot of love for that alone. I feel like the overall story had a little more substance that book one and the romance worked well for me.

I adored Ada and Weston. And I am actually smitten with how the third act situation was handled. It came across much more realistic rather than dramatic and loved watching it play out. This is one of the few times I wish I had been physically reading rather than the audiobook (the audio was great!!) because I had so many lines I wanted to highlight.

I’m also very much attached this family now and look forward to the next book in this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door

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