Tag: Book Review

Book Review: One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fiction + Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Laura Hankin
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Natalie and Rob couldn’t have less in common. Nat’s a messy artist, and Rob’s a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends—who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob’s best man.

Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.

When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they’ll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they’re forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices—and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.

Thank you to Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the gifted book.

I LOVED THIS.

I wasn’t expecting to love this and I’m oh so happy I did. I did know prior that this is not a ROMANCE, but a fiction story with a side of romance. With that set in my mind I could really enjoy Natalie’s journey. I actually liked the time jumps in this one. The story telling was fantastic and that I didn’t feel like we were slogging through details that had happened, but instead pushing the story forward. It kept things from dragging and I had a hard time putting my headphones down for this book.

And even though this wasn’t a romance, I still loved the slow burn between Natalie and Rob. They both have to grapple with a lot that life throws at them. I liked that this felt true to life without being overly dramatic or feeling like it was nonsense. I could understand the thoughts and feelings and it is a book with such readability that it was easy to fly through.

I loved Natalie’s path. The ups and downs. Making mistakes and righting wrongs. Holding tightly to friendships and realizing the love of her life was so close to her for so long. It was a beautiful story and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content Warnings: cancer (side character), a parent develops dementia

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Book Review: Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 506 pages
Author: A.C. Hobbs
Publisher: Counterpoise Press
Release Date: January 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Demetrius Raske strikes a deal with the Devil to stop a monster stalking the city, but he may have unleashed another villain entirely…

The Capital of the United League of Nations glitters like jewels on a dame’s neck—a city of wicked splendor and possibility. The deals struck in the Senate are as ruthless as the ones struck in the city’s criminal underbelly. No one knows this better than vampire politician Demetrius Raske, who walks both worlds.

Demetrius fights for a bill that will grant humans and vampires equal civil liberties. But many citizens don’t share his sentiment, especially after the murders begin. Body after body, drained of blood, appear throughout the city, threatening the League’s tenuous peace treaty between humans and vampires. If Demetrius’s bill doesn’t pass the Senate, his campaign for a united future will be crushed. Only one man has the ability to apprehend the bloodthirsty monster—a man known simply as the Devil. And rumor has it, he isn’t a man at all. Together, they strike a deal to catch the murderer before Demetrius’s bill fails—a disaster that would push the League to the brink of civil war.

But Demetrius’s calculated moves don’t go unnoticed. He catches the attention of Gabriella Rose, a journalist whose hunt for her next big headline pushes her right into the murderer’s path, costing her everything she holds dear. Now something dark grows within Gabriella—a power her allies wish to control and her enemies want to exploit.

The only way Demetrius and Gabriella can save themselves—and the city they love—is to strike another deal with the Devil. But their villainous partner is playing his own game. And soon they will learn how the Devil earned his name.

I FOUND IT.

It is historically known I am not a lover of vampire books. BUT I have found a second book that gets all the stars from me AND has vampires!! This is an absolute must read. I loooved the dark and dramatic atmosphere. It’s gritty and full of mettlesome people trying to accomplish what they think is best. I loved the politicking and secrets and conversations in the dark waiting to see what next big thing was going to happen.

This has short chapters and this beautifully engaging writing. From the moment I picked it up I was enthralled. The magnetic story pulls you in and makes you want to know what happens next. I loved that it was multiple POV. There’s a mix of characters that you get views from that all build out this world and keep that sense of mystery.

And while it is in no way a romance book, there are two subtle ones that you get to see small aspects of throughout. I am in a chokehold over one of them and gosh dang I can’t wait to see that continue to grow in this series.

I loved it all. This is a hidden gem, you definitely need this book, kind of read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: July 30th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

FANTASTIC READ.

I binged this book hard. I adore Catherine Walsh’s writing. She has a way of entrancing me with her words and swoony men that make me want to devour the book as fast as I can.

One night stand tropes are not really my thing. I did like how this one went about (without adding spice just because it’s this trope). There were some good forced proximity moments and I would have loved even more. I just thought Declan was the swooniest guy and needed him on page as much as possible. He really didn’t put up with Sarah’s stubbornness and I like that that made Sarah realize some things about herself too.

The third act had me a bit miffed, buuut I’m glad it worked out well. I had a good time reading this and sometimes that’s what you want most. I hope to continue reading more of Walsh’s books because they are full of swoony Irish men.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: fade to black / closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: absent mother, divorce

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ARC Book Review: A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now, working alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her people—and for love.

Wessex, AD 878

Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.

It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the king’s newest warrior.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the gifted ARC.

LOVED THIS.

I love when I really feel the intersection of history and fiction in stories. It’s why I continually come back to the historical genre. I loved how well researched and intricate this story was and I am always here for unique historical settings.

The romance between Aisley and Brecc was really sweet. I liked that this had a little bit heavier romantic presence too. I loved how they came together and the tender chemistry between them. The romance has great tension and watching them combat outside battles only made the connection stronger. I loved both of these characters separately and together (which is always a high mark for me).

I enjoyed learning more about this time period and battles. I feel like I read a lot of Viking books but not much of the other groups that were around in this era. I loved finishing this and immediately wanting to learn more about the King and the setting and battles. It satisfied by history nerd tendencies in all the best ways.

This is officially my new favorite Sian Ann Bessey book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: battle scenes and war themes, loss of life, near death experiences

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