Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: A Letter to the Luminous Deep (The Sunken Archive #1) by Sylvie Cathrall

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Sylvie Cathrall
Publisher: Orbit Books
Release Date: April 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

‘An underwater treasure-chest to be slowly unpacked, full of things I nosy and loving families, epistolary romance, gorgeous worldbuilding, and anxious scholars doing their best to meet the world with kindness and curiosity’ Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

A charming fantasy set in an underwater world with magical academia and a heartwarming penpal romance, perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and Emily Wilde’s Encylopaedia of Faeries.

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

Thank you Orbit Books for the gifted ARC.

LOTS OF THOUGHTS.

I honestly don’t know what quite to do with this one. I almost DNF after the first 30 pages because good heavens this was slowww. And not in a way you can skim, this is a, read every word, kind of mystery. After being convinced to try again, I admittedly found myself liking the book more. The writing is all in letters and heavily academic. Once you’ve found your footing with it, things seem to flow a bit better.

I was intrigued by the world and how it was set-up. I thought it was interesting and the concept of living underwater was something I rarely read. The scholars and researchers and fanatics all kind of coalesce into a myriad of sub-plots that fill the larger story. I have a very hard time calling this a romance. Honestly I wouldn’t (so nobody sets themselves up right off the bat for disappointment). There’s a sweet little love story that’s woven in, it just doesn’t have everything I was expecting/hoping for when I picked this up.

The ending has me wanting to read book two. I am genuinely curious where people ended up, what the Structure is and why we care about it.

It appears that the audiobook has a full cast and I think that will make this book more enjoyable to those curious about trying it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + some romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Objection to Love (Greenbank Romances #3) by Karen Thornell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 295 pages
Author: Karen Thornell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One thing is for sure… law school was way easier than love.
September Miller has a ten-year plan for success, and it doesn’t include a personal life. So why does it hurt that her colleagues think she’s a bore and never invite her anywhere? And, more importantly, why is she enlisting her new next-door neighbor to fix that?

Garrett has barely moved in but somehow he’s already caught up in helping his neighbor learn how to have fun. It’s selfless of him and has absolutely nothing to do with finding the uptight lawyer attractive.

But maybe agreeing to spend every Saturday together wasn’t the best plan for either of them. September’s plans can’t be abandoned and there’s an expiration date on how long Garrett will be around. So what are they supposed to do when more than just Saturdays start to look appealing?

Objection to Love is a sweet romance with plenty of laughs and a happily ever after. It is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone.

SO CLOSE.

This was SO FLIPPIN’ CLOSE to a five star read for me. I loved 85% of this book. The banter was perfect. Had me laughing and smiling along with Garrett and September. I even liked all of the lawyer puns. They were woven in really well and the writing had me wrapped up in this romance. I looove that Garrett had big golden retriever energy and wanted to help Em realize there is much more to life than working and trying to continually please your parents.

There were many little adventures and dates that had me swooning and loving every minute. I liked the adventure atmosphere and the combination of all of these little things that brought these two together.

BUT THEN. There was a third act break-up that honestly made me so cranky. I can’t get behind a single reason Em had for needing to end things with Garrett. Frankly, I’m still salty about it. Everything wrapped up fine after that debacle, but at that point my love had been lost. It’s a good book and if you don’t mind a traditional third act then I’d say go for it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kissses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mention of loss of a father, references to child birth (side character), fetal surgery (side character), small physical injuries (i.e. sprained ankle)

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ARC Book Review: The Roads We Follow (Fog Harbor #2) by Nicole Deese

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Fiction + Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Nicole Deese
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: April 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As the youngest daughter of a country music legend, Raegan Farrow longs to establish an identity away from the spotlight and publish her small-town romances under a pen name. But after her dream is dashed when she won’t exploit her mother’s fame to further her own career, she hears a rumor from a reliable source regarding a tell-all being written about the Farrow family. Making matters worse, the unknown author has gone to great lengths to remain anonymous until publication.

Raegan chooses to keep the tell-all a secret from her scandal-leery sisters as they embark on a two-week, cross-country road trip at their mother’s request and makes it her mission to expose the identity of the author behind the unsanctioned biography. But all is complicated when she discovers their hired bus driver, Micah Davenport, has a hidden agenda of his own–one involving both of their mothers and an old box of journals. As they rely on each other to find the answers they seek, the surprising revelations they unearth will steer them toward their undeniable connection and may even lead them down the most unexpected of paths.

Thank you Bethany House Books for the free copy.

BEAUTIFUL.

I really enjoyed this story. I was captivated from the get-go and there’s something about Nicole Deese’s writing that draws you in. I loved all of the themes of forgiveness, finding where you belong and reconnecting with your family. This felt authentic to me and I think that’s why it resonated so well. I could feel the complicated family dynamics and sometimes the backwards journey it takes to find balance and a place of peace with loved ones.

The romance was tender and sweet. It’s more instant attraction than I’m generally drawn too but I didn’t have that issue at all here. I felt that connection and that click between Raegan and Micah. I loved that they had the tough conversations, moments to breath, and some good kissing scenes too. This was also dual POV (which y’all know I love) and only added to the story getting Micah’s side and reasoning behind his choices too.

I loved all of the road trip antics. How the journey was up and down and ultimately ended exactly where I hoped it would. I loved all of these characters and watching the relatable nature that is life bring this family together.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: None
  • Romance: Kisses
  • Violence: Low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of using diet pills/unsafe weight loss, loss of a parent, divorce, depictions of grief, alcohol consumption

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ARC Book Review: Romancing the Grump (Appies) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart?

Nathan Sanders didn’t earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always he completely ignores her.

But Summer is intrigued by the surly center, and she won’t be deterred quite so easily. She’s convinced that the ones with the hardest shells on the outside are often the softest underneath. And she’s determined to prove it.

Romancing the Grump is a closed door grumpy sunshine hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but no spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. Books in the Appies Hockey Romance series connect to Just Don’t Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books stand alone and can be read in any order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC and gifted copy.

THIS BOOK.

Gosh, Jenny Proctor, DOES NOT MISS. I have been anxiously waiting for another Appies books and this was incredible. An all consuming kind of romance with the push and pull angst that leaves you breathless. And the kissing scenes??? YES PLEASE.

I loved Nathan and Summer (yay for dual POV!). Their chemistry was so easy to see and you just felt that draw between them. I loved how Nathan’s struggles with relationships were handled and that he had space to work through his own trauma to find love with Summer. And I loved how brave and bold Summer was. She leaned into the fear of not knowing how the situation would unfold and I loved that for her. The dialogue and banter was, as always, swoony and fun. And I can’t get enough of the strong friendships and families throughout. I love the support the other Appies players provide and the comradery between everyone.

I could go on and on about how many scenes I adored (why yes, we get another JERSEY SCENE Y’ALL) and the sweetness of the relationship between Summer and Nathan. I loved everything about this.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: workplace harassment, death of a parent (recounted, alcoholism)

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