Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Emerald of the Sea by Kimberly Pearl

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 330 pages
Author: Kimberly Pearl
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Backstabbing pirates. Extravagant dinner parties. Falling in love with the one man who’s out of reach. Seventeen-year-old Emma doesn’t know who she is or where she came from. The not-exactly-legal merchant ship she was raised on is the only home she’s ever known, and she’s had enough of the captain’s lies. Her plans to break free from her three-masted prison are thrown off course by a deadly mutiny, and she finds herself on the run with a target on her back. A charming naval officer becomes her unlikely companion, and though they’re constantly running from danger, Emma is even more afraid of the feelings she’s developing for a man she’ll likely never see again—if she can ever make it home. Maggie’s only friend in the world is the kitchen boy who works in her manor. When Maggie’s mother dies, she’s left to be raised by a controlling father whose only concern is marrying her off to the highest bidder. But when Maggie returns from finishing school, she finds that the kitchen boy isn’t a boy anymore, and he’s starting to feel like much more than just a childhood best friend. How can she choose a husband from the upper crust of society when her heart lies with the boy downstairs? When Emma’s and Maggie’s fates collide, the secrets from the past begin to unravel. But when danger finds them, will they regret pulling the thread?

FANTASTIC STARTER.

I am 100% invested in continuing this series. I loved how the dual POV was written for this book and seeing how the story unfolded. I kept having many different thoughts on how it would all come together and let’s just say I was blindsided on many fronts and I LOVE when a book can do that.

I love all of these characters (and I’m purposely trying to stay vague because I think this will be best to go in blind if you can) and feel emotionally attached to them. I NEED ANSWERS. This was a big high seas adventure with plenty of action and some really sweet moments too.

For a short fantasy I think not having a magic system worked as a strong positive. You get the world building that’s necessary but I wasn’t left wanting with explanations of other things. I look forward to seeing the world expand in the next book.

NEED THE NEXT BOOK.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, weapons violence, ship wrecks, near death experiences, loss of life

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ARC Book Review: A Heart Sufficient (The Penn-Lieths of Thistle Muir #4) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 430 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Indie Published
Release Date: February 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tristan Gilbert, the autocratic Duke of Kendall, has a clear plan for his future—destroy his father’s memory, obliterate his enemies, and become Prime Minister. Fortunately, he can accomplish all three goals by convincing Parliament to prosecute the Scottish Earl of Hadley. Once Hadley is vanquished, surely the Queen will recognize Kendall’s readiness for the role of Prime Minister.But in order to succeed, Kendall must first conquer his own unnerving attraction to Hadley’s hoyden of a daughter—Lady Isolde Langston. No matter his efforts, Lady Isolde lingers in his blood, a sort of love-potion madness Kendall struggles to suppress.Lady Isolde Langston knows impulsivity will be her downfall. Case in point, her heedless actions triggered the Duke of Kendall’s current vendetta against her father. Isolde needs to right the wrongs she caused and force the duke to surrender before Hadley ends up jailed. To do this, she decides to torment Kendall at every turn—at balls and musicales and even in his own library. The arrogant Sassenach will rue the day he crossed her.But when an unfortunate accident fractures both their lives, Kendall and Isolde unexpectedly face a future neither of them wished. Adrift, they are forced to call a truce. As their romance deepens, can Kendall change his heart sufficiently and Isolde forgive past hurts in order to form a love all their own?

Thank you to Nichole Van for the eARC.

ONE OF THE BEST.

This is without a doubt, one of the best books I have read and will ever read. It was one of those soul altering books for me y’all. This redemption arc for Tristan is everything I was hoping to see and then blew all of those expectations out of the water.

I will say, I think this book is best read blind and after reading the previous books in the series. The way things came together to provide this beautiful and engaging story of hope, grief at a loss of childhood, and the acknowledgement that you are worthy of love.

When I read, I’m not really a highlighter and I marked 10x more passages than I have with a book in a long time. The amount of moments that made me swoon, want to cry, and made me kick my feet giddy all deserved to be tabbed so I can return to this story again and again and again. This is a reread book.

I love these characters eternally, I love this story with my whole heart and will be begging everyone that I can to read A Heart Sufficient. My review will never do it justice. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: child abuse (recounted), near death experience

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Book Review: The Shattered City (The Last Magician #4) by Lisa Maxwell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Fantasy
Length: 768 pages
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once, Esta believed that she could change the fate of magic. She traveled to the past and stopped the Magician from destroying a mystical book that held the key to freeing her people from the Brink, an energy barrier that traps all Mageus who cross it.

But the Book was more than she bargained for. So was the Magician she was tasked to steal it from.

Hunted by an ancient evil, Esta and Harte have raced through time and across a continent to track down the powerful artifacts they need to bind the Book’s devastating power. They’ve lost family, betrayed friends, and done what they’d both vowed never to do: fallen in love with the one person who could truly destroy them.

Now, with only one artifact left, their search has brought them back to New York, the city where it all began. But nothing in Manhattan is as they left it. Their friends have scattered, their enemies have grown more powerful, and as the deadly Brink beckons, their time is running out.

If they can’t find a way to end the threat they’ve created, then the very heart of magic will die—and it will take the world down with it.

I AM GOOD WITH THIS CONCLUSION.

I feel like I’ve worked really hard to get to this point because these books are THIIIICK. And here I am, finished. And I did like the ending a lot!! Things were wrapped up well and got plenty of happy endings for the entire cast.

What is still over my head is some aspects of the magic system. I can’t go into detail because of spoilers, but the time travel + magic artifacts + different timeline saga threw me through a loop occasionally. It mostly worked out enough at least.

I enjoyed these characters and I like the romance aspects weren’t locked up in miscommunication or third act break-up kind of stuff. Everyone worked together to defeat the evil terrorizing the foundation of magic and I love those kind of found family aspects.

If you’re in for a long haul series with multiple romances, historical fiction, time travel, magic, mayhem and more. Maybe try this on audio! I do love the audiobooks and it made some of the longer pacing balance out better.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Urban Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, homophobia, near death experiences, magical and physical altercations, kidnapping

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ALC Book Review: Ashes of You (Lost & Found #5) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 401 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five years ago, I nearly lost everything. But there was a glimmer of hope on that darkest night. There was him—a stranger I could never forget.

Now, I’m finally getting the fresh start I’ve longed for. But when I show up to interview for a nanny position in the small mountain town, the single dad has startlingly familiar blue eyes.

Eyes that have haunted my dreams for the past five years.

Lawson Hartley is everything I know I can’t have. Older, handsome, and my boss. Not to mention the shadows in his eyes that tell me he has demons, too.

Still, he seems to understand me better than anyone I’ve ever met. So gentle and careful of my scars, yet somehow making me believe I’m stronger than I ever thought possible.

And when his lips touch mine, I’m lost.

We find what we’ve been missing in each other. But the terrors of my past aren’t done with me yet, and this time, Lawson might not be able to save me..

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for the ALC.

WORTH THE WAIT.

Ohhhh I have been anxiously waiting for this final book for the Lost & Found series and I loved it, PER USUAL. It had all of my favorite hallmark Catherine Cowles moments and had me in a chokehold all day (yes, I listened to this in one day, I can’t be stopped — second note: these books are FABULOUS on audio). My favorite part of these books is the gasp, or I KNEW IT, that flies out of my mouth every time we get to that big reveal.

I loved the slow burn progression of Lawson and Hallie. Watching that soul mate type of bond cement between them was everrrrrrything. Gosh I loved it. And I am such a sucker for any and all protective hero types. And I got MULTIPLE scenes in that vein which made me a very happy reader.

The sub plots were touching and heartfelt and I loved how those wove back in to the main romance. I am in love with this entire family, all of these characters and I loved seeing everyone again.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: moderate strong
  • Romance: 2-3 brief open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: active serial killer, torture, near death experiences, weapons and gun violence, physical altercations

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