Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: Lady of Basilikas (The Droseran Saga #5) by Ronie Kendig

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi Romance
Length: 327 pages
Author: Ronie Kendig
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s determined to prove this errant king unworthy. He’s determined to prove her wrong.

Under attack from without and within, Jherako teeters on the brink. Vaanvorn Thundred, suddenly in possession of a throne he never expected to inherit, will do anything to pull his kingdom from the edge, even if it means striking a marriage bargain with the formidable Faa’Cris. But a skycrawler opens Vorn’s eyes to realities outside his world, and his limits are tested.

Lady Valiriana has one goal when she is sent out from Deversoria: prove this Jherakan king, the one his people call the Errant, unworthy of an alliance with any Faa’Cris. When she exchanges her freedom for that of another, Valiriana finds herself under house arrest—in the king’s house. Determined to take advantage of her proximity, she delves into the depths of the king’s character. What she finds turns her mission on its head.

Vorn must decide: break a planet-wide Accord, risking his throne and life, or leave his country—his planet—vulnerable to threats far bigger than he ever imagined. And Valiriana grapples with unpalatable truths as she discovers the king is anything but errant, while her heart, on the other hand, is a different story.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Ronie Kendig for the gifted copy.

OOO I LIKED THIS.

Honestly, this wasn’t on my radar until BOMM reached out about reading it, and now I’m grateful because I very much enjoyed this and have plans to go back to the start of the series.

Let me explain, Lady of Basilikas is a prequel story. From my understanding it can be read at the beginning or end of the series though. The only issue I had reading it first was that some of the terminology for the world building left me a bit lost. It does start to make sense as things go along at least.

I thought the romance had a lot of great heat and I liked the will they/won’t they nature. Valiriana had many prejudices to overcome and Vaanvorn was learning how to be king. I enjoyed their journey and am curious to see how this connects back into the plot of the main series.

It’s a pretty fast paced read. I liked the action and politicking and I think this sci-fi world is intriguing. So even if you’re not a fan of this series [yet], I definitely recommend and I’m excited to see what the rest of this world is about!

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Brightest Sunset (The Darkest Sunrise #2) by Aly Martinez

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 286 pages
Author: Aly Martinez
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 27th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Bullshit.
Words destroyed me.
“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it.”
“Daddy, he can’t breathe!”
“There’s nothing more we can do for your son.”
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Lies.
Those syllables and letters became my executioner. I told myself that, if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and the fear, they would have no power over me. But, as the years passed, the hate and the anger left behind began to control me.
Two words—that was all it took to plunge my life into darkness.
“He’s gone.”
In the end, it was four soft, silky words that gave me hope of another sunrise.
“Hi. I’m Charlotte Mills.”

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I liked the way thing wrapped up in this one. It once again kept me totally enthralled and I needed to know that there was going to be a happy ending or I might have thrown this book across the room.

What I didn’t love was Brady. He was awful the entire time and while I understood it was there to create the tension, it did eventually start to feel a bit over the top and redundant.

I once again still love Porter and Charlotte. They are really there for each other and it’s sweet. I like that neither of them gave up and actually found a way to work together for a solution that would make everyone feel satisfied.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance; multiple open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of kidnapped baby, recounting of an attempted murder-suicide (side character), physical altercations, grief and depression

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ARC Book Review: Sincerely, Secretary of Doom (High Court of the Coffee Bean #2) by Jennifer Kropf

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy + Romance
Length: 410 pages
Author: Jennifer Kropf
Publisher: Winter Publishing House
Release Date: May 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The High Court of the Coffee Bean returns with a sassy, wicked streak.

Months after the deadly assassins-turned-baristas left the Four Corners of Ever behind for good, Doom comes knocking at Mor Trisencor’s door. And it’s wearing stilettos.

When the Fairy Post gets an unexpected, grand following in the human realm for its vintage feel and whimsical words, Mor gets busier than ever typing out articles, following up on leads of fairy mischief, and everything else that goes along with being a faeborn reporter. But his heavy workload comes to a screeching halt when he spots someone in the human realm that shouldn’t be there—an old foe of his. One he thought he would never see again. One he’d prayed to the sky deities that he wouldn’t cross paths with after the day Mor abandoned the Shadow Army, leaving a trail of flames and destruction in his wake. For the first time since the Fairy Post was published, the newspaper gets put on hold and Mor goes hunting.

Mor can think of nothing else but stopping this foe before ripples of doom begin to stir up the human realm.

Violet Miller is a journalist with a mysterious past her amnesia forbids her from remembering. But when she gets let go from her job at the most prestigious news station in the city, her unexplained past becomes the least of her problems. She thinks it’s all over for her as a journalist, until she sees a job posting for a secretary position at a niche, laughable “old school style” newspaper called the Fairy Post.

The day Violet shows up at Mor’s house—or, creepy, dark cathedral is more like it—is the day that everything changes for her. Before Violet even has a chance to ask about the job, she’s mistakenly marked as Mor’s lover by his “enemies” and she finds herself in the crosshairs of a battle of inhuman creatures who’d rather “stab first and ask questions later.”

This marks the beginning of a love-hate relationship (mostly hate) between a fae assassin born of the Shadows, and a lipstick-wearing, mascara wielding human born to be in the spotlight.

While reading this second installment of the High Court of the Coffee Bean series, you may find yourself craving macaroons, listening to the wind for signs of fairy magic, and wishing you had a “creepy, dark, creaking, abandoned cathedral” of your own to call home.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Jennifer Kropf for the gifted copy.

A DELIGHT.

I think this series is so much fun. I love how unique it is in the urban fantasy sphere and the cozy vibes really play well into the story. I love this entire group of fae and they crack me up with the antics and shenanigans.

I’m not usually one to read an amnesia book, but this is definitely an exception to the rule. I loved how it played out and how the flashback chapters wove into the present timeline. There’s a good amount of backstory that makes so many things make sense as you go along.

The romance was sweet and I liked how it unfolded. I think I would have loved just a bit more romance, but I digress. I loved all of the banter and sass and even the nine-tailed fox.

I’m definitely looking forward to book three!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Urban Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate

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Book Review: Arsenic and Adobo (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #1) by Mia P. Manansala

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Cozy Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Thank you Berkley #BerkleyPartner #Berkley for the gifted copy.

IT WAS FINE.

I thought cozy mysteries were my jam, but maybe not right now? Or after reading the Aunties series I saw many similarities and this hardly felt new. I have no big feelings towards the book, nothing I outright disliked, I just felt even toned about it all. And the plot was repetitive.

I think many would like this as there are some funny comments and also very serious themes that balance off of each other. I thought the sweet romance was cute and I liked the friendships and close family connections too. There’s lot of delicious food that definitely made me hungry while listening.

I don’t have plans to continue the series though.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Mystery
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, domestic violence mentioned, drug abuse, police intimidation

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