Tag: Book blog

ARC Book Review: Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2) by Rachel Gillig

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy with some Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Rachel Gillig
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: October 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she’s wrought – perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson’s The Year of the Witching.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth’s head. The Nightmare. And he’s not eager to share any longer.

Thank you Orbit for the eARC.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.

“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”

Duologies are a delicate balance. And Rachel Gillig knocked it out of the park. Y’ALL. This is it. This is how to finish a duology. I flew through this. It’s a shorter fantasy that even when you’re not trying to speed, the need to know what happens next will keep those pages flying.

There’s multiple points of view that lend all sides of this dark tale. And the new romance absolutely SENT ME. I am deceased. I am kicking my feet in the air, wide eyed giddy at the romance in this book. The romance isn’t the forefront of the plot, and that’s totally fine because the plot is SO GOOD. I love this magic system and the world building. The Nightmare cracks me up, and one the best morally gray crafted souls I have read about. I loved every single characters arc. Everyone landed right where I hoped and right where they deserved.

That’s kind of all I want to say because I don’t want to spoil anything. There’s everything you could hope for in this sequel. The build was insanely good and I can easily put this as one of my favorite reads in 2023.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, physical/weapons/magical violence

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Book Review: The Make Up (Falling for Franklin #2) by Hailey Gardiner

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 268 pages
Author: Hailey Gardiner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 21st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Thou shalt not lie, steal, cheat, or…fall in love with your best friend.

When my best friend, Hunter Ward, offers me the opportunity to star alongside him as the lead love interest in a music video he’s directing, I’m torn between taking the gig and risking my heart. My job? To look and act like I’m in love with Hunter…without revealing my true feelings for him.

I’ve seen the man in action and watched him work the room. I’ve witnessed countless women fawn over him and practically swoon in his presence. And now that the full force of his charm is being worked on me, I’m supposed to drudge up the grit to resist him? Impossible, I tell you.

He’s breaking down the fences of friendship we’ve kept in place for so long, both on and off camera. How am I supposed to make it out with all of the pieces of my heart still intact?

A laugh-out-loud, friends to lovers, closed-door romance with heart, humor and sizzling chemistry. Books in the Falling for Franklin series are full length stand-alone novels and can be read in any order.

ADORBS.

I needed something light, fun and endearing enough to keep my interest. This hit those marks for me.

The writing style was entertaining and filled with amusing anecdotes that caused multiple smiles. A well set-up friends to lovers romance with a country music video at its center. Hunter and Chloe had clear chemistry from the get-go and the handful of flashback chapters added more depth to their overall story.

I loved how swoony Hunter was and how he continually endeared himself to Chloe. Actions really do speak louder than words and he showed off those actions with flair.

The scoliosis rep was amazing and I appreciated seeing that and learning more about a condition I only understood the bare minimum of. It was beautiful and I loved the support Hunter continually gave Chloe.

This was super cozy and perfect for fall. I look forward to reading more of Gardiner’s books!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of divorce, panic attacks, and death of a parent

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Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 (The Unselected Journals #3) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 230 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“It has been a day ordained by the fates, for how else could one explain the wholly cursed chain of events?” The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London Neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plan for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

CHARMING.

These books make me laugh and grin and I just love Emma’s voice every time. I love the world Emma Lion is creating for herself and how continually resilient and optimistic she is about what life has thrown her way.

There’s also this really sweet found family being created and I love that too. It’s so very different reading a historical fiction book as journal entries vs. how I usually read them. The journal entries are creative and you will be right there with Emma through the ups and downs.

And I might have spied the tiniest bit of romance brewing?? I know this series is planned to be very long and I am here for the haul. They’re quirky and light, filled with good messages too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: grief depiction, loss of a friend (recounted), mentions of war

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Book Review: Karma is a Witch (Deadlights Cove #5) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Devanna Bailey has worked her way up to Boss Witch since her teens, throwing herself into her witch supply shop, Carpe Noctem, no matter how the irksome mayor has tried to stand in her way.

Equally driven, it took Orion centuries to earn his post as Mayor of Deadlights Cove. This weird little town and its quirky residents are his life’s purpose, and he might lose it all. When a local witch is murdered and the human FBI arrives, nothing will ever be the same.

Shifters have been outed to the human world. Nergal, a powerful, ancient demon, is out to destroy Deadlights Cove. The angel realm is in turmoil. And Orion can’t save this town alone.

She’s a brat.
He’s a control freak.
Neither of them know the meaning of the word yield.
The only question is, who will break first?

GREAT CONCLUSION.

What an absolutely FUN series. I loved this whole concept, the world, magic, all of the paranormal people and the romance. It was a wild ride that brought a smile to my face every time I picked up one of these books.

I loved seeing Orion and Devanna AT LAST come together. The intense heat and passion between two unmovable forces could be felt through my kindle. While the spice wasn’t my personal cup of tea I know others will enjoy the more hate love scene/dominating style. I did love how fiercely protective they became for each other and how loyal once they let down a few walls.

The plot wrapped up really well and I liked seeing those final strings tied off. Getting the end of the larger story and seeing those HEA’s was so dang sweet. I’ll miss this entire cast.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; moderate explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: false imprisonment, battle themes, loss of life

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