Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: A Heart Devoted (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir #5) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 250 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing
Release Date: January 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Living happily ever after should be easy. After all, Tristan and Isolde Gilbert, the new Duke and Duchess of Kendall, have overcome obstacles, confessed their love, married, and are eager to sail off into the sunset of their glorious future. But, of course, life rarely offers smooth sailing. After their honeymoon tour, an unexpected return to London sends the new couple reeling.

Tristan struggles to balance his new Isolde-loving self with his former role as the autocratic Duke of Kendall. Upstart relatives and scurrilous accusations complicate his efforts to find a purpose and settle into his altered standing within the ton. Worse, the still-scandalous Isolde—who never expected to be at the center of Polite Society—now finds she has to navigate meetings with the Queen, dodge vile rumors, and fend off the jealous attacks of other aristocratic ladies.

For Tristan and Isolde, falling in love was simple. But merging two disparate former lives into one proves more fraught. Can the newlyweds find a way to remain both true to themselves and one another in their new life together?

Thank you to Nichole Van for the eARC.

OBSESSED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

You know when you have those FAVORITE characters? The story you can’t stop thinking about? And you would do just about anything to get more stories about them? THIS IS THAT BOOK. It felt like this beautifully crafted extended epilogue where I got to fall in love all over again with Tristan and Isolde.

Please please make sure you have read A Heart Sufficient (at minimum) before reading this book!

It was EVERYTHING. I soaked up these pages loving the communication and teamwork and the I would burn the world down for you vibes that only come from two enemies who became lovers (e2l supremacy). I appreciated how the conflict came from the outside and allowed Tristan and Isolde to only become closer as they leaned on each other to solve the problems before them.

And WOOOOO this was heated. In the best, closed door books can still be heated, kind of way. I just AHH. I can’t form the right words. I loved this story. I am obsessed with these two (A Heart Sufficient was the only book I read twice in 2024).

READ IT AND THANK ME LATER.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 (The Unselected Journals #4) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 208 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Rhysdon Press
Release Date: January 3rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“It all began very innocently. Truly.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans 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.

WHAT A DELIGHT.

Geez, I love these books. They are so fun!! I love Emma’s voice and I found myself laughing so many times at the dry wit and comical antics that she found herself involved in. Not to mention all of the swoony men in her life?? This is the slowest of slow burn, sub plot romances and I was attached to them all.

I love Emma’s strength of character and ability to make the best of whatever situation has found her. This was another fantastic installment in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • HIstorical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: maybe some subtle flirting?
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: grief depiction

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ALC/ARC Book Review: The Rival by Emma Lord

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Emma Lord
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: January 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

THE NOSTALGIA.

Emma Lord does an incredible job of making me feel nostalgic for my college aged years. Where things are confusing, live has a lot of new turns and you’re just trying to find out where you want to be and the goals you have to achieve to get there. I adore this setting so much and love that it’s set in college but still YA appropriate.

I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Seb. The banter was fantastic. The quips and pranks back and forth really sold me on how much they care about each other even though they have been ignoring those feelings for so long. The cute pancake dates and tender quiet discussions were sweet and impactful for the storyline.

It’s a genuine and fun read. I also adored the complex family relationships. That there was support and love but issues too. It’s not all sunshine, yet you know who’s in your corner. I love the authentic nature of these kinds of plots.

If Emma writes it, I’m going to read it and this is no different. Another gem and one I am so grateful I got my hands on early.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult contemporary romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: Of Flame and Fallacies (The Arterian Series #1) by Courtney Whims

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Courtney Whims
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Release Date: January 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Possession of dragon contraband in the Arterian kingdom is a guaranteed brutal execution.

When twenty-two-year-old Katerina Blackwind finds a dragon egg buried in her father’s grave, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. She must return the forbidden dragon hatchling—Daeja—north to the secretive Dragon where dragons roam free and a rebellion group resides.

But she can’t do it on her own – smuggling a dragon hatchling across the realm during a war between Arterians and rebels means she can be killed by either side. She knows there’s only one person she can truly trust, her old flame, Cole Ashbourne.

Yet, Cole is much different than the last time Kat saw deliciously chiseled in all the right places with a raw power lingering beneath the surface. Cole is torn between his responsibilities as a newly-promoted Captain in the King’s military, and his heart.

Kat works on a plan to get Daeja to the Dragon Lands while keeping a low profile at the military outpost. Though, having a room next to the sinisterly provocative Darian Raventhorn proves to be anything but easy.

Danger lurks at every turn, and as more secrets are unearthed, Kat is left to question everything she thought she knew about dragons, her family, love, and the kingdom.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS.

I went into reading this with the best on intentions because it genuinely seemed up my alley. And there were good pieces and aspects, but things were missing too.

The initial idea was there. I liked the chapters and the set-up for the plot. The writing itself was good (even though there were some standout plot holes). It felt like it needed a little more tightening up in a few areas to really sell the story. Because along the plot holes were TWO flashback chapters in the early pages and then that was it? I was supposed to garner some kind of chemistry from them and that did not occur. Which left me reeling when they reconnected so suddenly.

And there’s a love triangle dynamic that might have made me toss my kindle across the room. (**but for real someone else who has read this, PLEASE COME TALK TO ME**). I kind of liked the other guy? But, as someone who looks a dark, broody, and cranky character he came across MEAN sometimes and I think crossed a few lines. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t KNOW. I am befuddled by this book on so many levels y’all.

There’s a good ending. One that I admit to having peaked my interest but I’m going to need some more convincing to pick up book two. I’m intrigued-ish.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate – high
  • Romance: open door
  • Violence: moderate

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