Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: The Offer (Scoops #3) by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 303 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For the past nine years, everything in Jessica Valerie’s life has been about being with her high school sweetheart.

Jess has worked at Scoops By The Sea longer than any of her other coworkers, designing ice cream cakes and barely scraping together enough tip money to pay rent and her never-ending pile of bills. Picking up a second job managing Post Road Market’s bakery seemed like a decent solution—until her boss decided he’s closing the bakery and wants her stocking shelves instead.

After burning bridges with her family long ago, Jess feels stuck in a life that never seems to get any better. So when local bike shop owner Kevin Perkins comes to her with a promising offer, it seems a little too good to be true. The catch? Leave Charlie for good.

THE OFFER is a new adult romance featuring a girl’s journey of finding herself after years of sacrificing everything for the sake of “true love,” and a golden boy who secretly can’t get enough of her.

It is the third and final book of the Scoops Series, a trilogy of stand-alone romances featuring characters of Scoops By The Sea, an ice cream shop in the fictional town of Haverport, Connecticut.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.

Oh my gosh, this is easily my favorite book of the series (and I loved them all so this is really saying something). I have been chomping at the bit to get Jess’s story and it delivered IN ALL THE WAYS. And I really loved the new adult direction of this one too.

I am obsessed with Kevin. He is *THE* golden retriever. I could not get enough of his energy and goodness. It beautifully contrasted with Jess. The grump and sunshine was executed to perfection. There dynamic and chemistry, off the charts. I loved the slow burn tension. Waiting for the moment they finally came together.

And I adore this whole town. I love the intensely loyal friendships and getting to see Scoops one last time. I loved the themes, of knowing that love is out there, not settling, and reconnecting with family members. This is easily one of the best romances I have read this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low – moderate
  • Romance: fade to black

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ARC Book Review: Ash and Feather (Flame and Sparrow Duology #2) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 566 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The sequel to Flame and Sparrow.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GREAT CONCLUSION.

I really liked this sequel y’all. It felt like an epic journey through so many different areas. I love how complex this world is. With the layers of gods, mortals, elves, creatures, etc. It has intense world building that I think is easy to follow and makes for a system that I am continually intrigued by.

I loved that this was dual POV. Getting both Karys and Dravyn’s view points was the extra little something I have been craving. I loved seeing deeper into their thoughts and insights and how they care for each other too. I adore the side characters and what they bring to the plot too.

The deep support systems make this entire cast characters to love. I liked the political maneuvering and I felt like I was watching my back at each moment wondering who was going to make it out of the final battle. I loved that there were moments of reconnection and communication between certain parties and the emotional journey that this took me on.

S.M. Gaither continues to be one of my favorite romantasy authors!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3 open door scenes
  • Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: The Breaker of Stars (The Curse of Ophelia #3.5) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 220 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A war of fractured hearts.
A fate written in the stars.

Cypherion does not love recklessly, but he loves hard. And while his friends may have forgiven Vale’s betrayal following the Battle of Damenal, he has kept the Starsearcher at arm’s length.

That is, until his Revered commands the two embark on a quest to Vale’s territory in order to find the secrets hidden within her damaged magic. And with so many betrayals being exposed in her life, Vale has one goal: win him back, even if only as a friend.

With weeks alone, under the watch of no one but the stars, will Cypherion be able to continue protecting his heart, or will he find a fate that outweighs the risks of love? And if he does, will the eddies of war allow him to keep it?

The Breaker of Stars is a second chance fantasy romance with cunning political intrigue, sprinkles of celestial magic, and a dazzling love story. It is book 3.5 in The Curse of Ophelia series and contains important series details, recommended to be read between books 3 and 4.

Thank you to the author for the eARC!

GREAT ADDITION.

If you’ve been enjoying this series and are curious if it’s worth picking up the novella, I say it is! I loved being back in this world and getting to deep dive into two characters I have really liked.

I liked the pacing and story line. It really feels well woven into the larger plot while maintaining this as a personal story to Cypherion and Vale. I love this world and seeing another view point of it only added to the experience. There’s some good tender moments, a bit of spice and I am definitely curious how this will continue into book four.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: physical altercations, depictions of emotional/mental abuse and neglect, torture, physical ailments related to seizures

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ARC Book Review: Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Lexi Ryan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan comes a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a mission to assassinate an evil king collides with a fatal prophecy.

Princess Jasalyn has a secret. Armed with an enchanted ring that gives her death’s kiss, Jas has been sneaking away from the palace at night to assassinate her enemies.

Shape-shifter Felicity needs a miracle. Fated to kill her magical father, she’s been using her unique ability to evade a fatal prophecy.

When rumors of evil king Mordeus’s resurrection spread through the shadow court, Jasalyn decides to end him once and for all. Felicity agrees to take the form of the princess, allowing Jas to covertly hunt Mordeus—and starting Felicity on the path that could finally take her home.

While Jasalyn teams up with the charming and handsome Kendrick, Felicity sets out to get closer to the Wild Fae king, Misha. Kendrick helps Jasalyn feel something other than anger for the first time in three years, and Misha makes Felicity wish for a world where she’s free to be her true self. Soon, the girls’ missions are at risk right alongside their hearts.

The future of the human and fae realms hangs in the balance as fates intertwine. Between perilous tasks, grim secrets, and forbidden romances, Jasalyn and Felicity find that perhaps their stars are the most cursed of all.

Thank you Harper Teen for the eARC.

LOVE ME A CLIFFHANGER.

There’s something about a well executed cliffhanger that makes me all the more excited for book two. I think this delivered in that aspect. I saw one twist coming from the beginning (you will too), but the other one was this slow reveal that had me GOING. I can’t wait for the fallout.

I really enjoyed this spin off that follows Jas (and a new character). The romances had a bit of an insta vibe to them (or were lacking in general build up), yet they grew on me. I think it can be fostered even more in book two.

What I did notice was the lack of world building. This is really leaning heavy on the assumed fact you read the previous duology (These Hollow Vows). Which, since I have, was MOSTLY fine, I did stumble a bit trying to remember some of the court and politic dynamics that were created prior.

It’s still an engaging story and I enjoyed coming back to this book each time. I loved that the characters were someone I could root for that had weaknesses and strengths. There was a lot of beautifully tough moments seeing Jasalyn work through her past and facing some of those moments head on.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: past torture and associated trauma, murder

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