Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Check the Halls (The Ottawa Otters #2) by K.M. Gillis

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin Publishing
Release Date: October 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She thought her future was set…until her past skated back into her life.

On paper, Madelyn Clairmont has it all: a dependable fiancé, a dream job in a new city, and a bright future planned. But when she comes face to face with the man who stole her heart a decade ago, she’s left wondering if the “perfect” life she’s planned is the one she’s meant to live.

Ben Michaels is known for being a player, both on and off the ice. But lately, the all-star NHL defenseman has been working hard to clean up his act. A chance encounter with Madelyn—the one who got away—only confirms what he’s always known: he never stopped loving her. Unfortunately for him, she’s engaged to someone else.

When Madelyn needs a host for her Christmas charity gala, Ben doesn’t hesitate to step in—as a friend. But their time together stirs up old feelings and unanswered questions. She’s afraid of repeating past mistakes. He’s determined to prove he’s not the same man who let her go.

Love doesn’t always go according to plan and this holiday season, their second chance might be a real game changer.

WHERE WERE THE HOLIDAY VIBES?

I had a good time with this book. My favorite is the first one [for now] but I still had no problem picking this up and reading it as fast as I could. I love this hockey team and I’ve missed hockey romance!

I loved that the flashbacks only took up a few paragraphs each time. I don’t like long winded flashback chapters and this delivered on the little glimpses of the past and how they fell in love. And how communicative Ben was??? Good heavens YES. I LOVED IT. The man is so down bad. Y’all know that’s my kryptonite.

I did miss the holiday/Christmas moments. There were a few mentions but it definitely didn’t stick out enough in the plot to necessarily call this a holiday romance.

I’m still dialed into this series and I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey Holiday Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia #3) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Bramble Romance
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods. Features beautiful case art and a detailed map.

In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption… or a dark love that defies the gods themselves

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire – her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the very death god she’ll help resurrect.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness – and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

GOOD, BUT REPETITIVE.

I loved being back in this world and seeing Mische again. I adored her character from the first duo and was looking forward to seeing her journey through this book. And I totally did enjoy it, buuut I also had some issues with this one too.

My main issue was that the plot seemed repetitive. I thought each layer started to blend together and the same creature was attacking over and over again. There were good and softer (and spicier) moments woven throughout the journey that I looooved. I just wish we had more of those. Or a different kind of action.

BUT THE ENDING? I am a forever fan of wild cliffhangers and this one DELIVERED. It very much hyped me for the next book and I can’t wait to see what chaos ensues now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate – high
  • Romance: 1-2 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: discussion of grooming and child abuse

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Book Review: The Arrow and the Alder by Barbara Kloss

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 460 pages
Author: Barbara Kloss
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Josephine doesn’t trust authority, particularly that of the immortal kith. They’re devious, cruel, and as far as she’s concerned, they deserve the curse that’s plagued their kingdom with mists and monsters. So when the High Lord visits Josephine’s village, looking for an enchanted coat—a coat she discovers buried beneath the floorboards of her home—she’s unwilling to hand it over. She wants answers the High Lord won’t give. When he threatens her family, she flees with the coat to protect them, accidentally stumbling into the cursed kith kingdom itself, and into the hands of a mysterious stranger.

The kith prince, Alder, has been imprisoned for two years, and only just escaped. He wants nothing more than to return home, but he’s a disgraced prodigal, and to show his face in the Weald Court again, he must earn back the queen’s trust. When he overhears the High Lord speaking of an enchanted coat that contains the very light stolen from their lands, he knows it’s his chance for atonement. But obtaining the coat from the mortal girl is proving more difficult than anticipated. She’s the only one who can touch it, but journeying with her could expose secrets he wants to keep hidden.
With the High Lord in pursuit, Josephine and Alder must work together, and the more Josephine learns about the coat, the more she questions everything she’s ever believed about her heritage, and the kith. Meanwhile, the curse is spreading into mortal lands, and if they don’t uncover how to release the coat’s power soon, there will be nothing left of either kith or mortal worlds.

THE ARROW AND THE ALDER is an upper young adult, closed-door romantic fantasy. This enemies-to-lovers tale features a rebel huntress, a fugitive prince, and a curse that will consume their worlds.

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

I’m a huge Barbara Kloss fan and have been impatiently waiting for her next book and once again, it absolutely delivers. I loved this one!!!! If you’re a standalone reader, PICK IT UUUUUP.

I loved the heated chemistry between Josephine and Alder. Good heavens they were MADE for each other. The glances and banter and protectiveness all coalesced into this beautiful romance that I was feral to read.

The pacing is on point and there’s never a dull moment. The rise and fall of different scenes created effortless movement. I couldn’t believe how much was packed into a less than 500 page fantasy. FLAWLESS OKAY.

I’m obsessed. This is easily one of my new favorite fantasies of 2025.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Only in Your Dreams (The Mountains Are Calling #2) by Madison Wright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Madison Wright
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 27th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Finley Blankenship is tired of always coming up short. When her long time boyfriend dumps her because he isn’t ready to commit, only to announce his engagement to someone else months later, she’s had it. So when her now ex comes to her flower shop to check how she’s doing after hearing the news, she lies and tells him she’s moved on. Only for her brother’s best friend to walk in at the same time and get roped into her story. Committed to playing the part, she reluctantly agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with the one man in their small town that would never actually date her.

Grey Sutton has been in love with Finley for fifteen years, but he’s never thought he had a chance. After all, he’s an honorary member of the Blankenship family because his own is so dysfunctional. He has no idea how to give Finley what she wants. Especially since he was offered a job out of state, and Finley is as rooted in this town as the trees.

But as their relationship starts to feel less and less like a charade, it leaves them with more uncertainty than ever. Lines start to blur, and Grey and Finley have to decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts to have everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

SWOONY.

I love a man obsessed (and with a secret tattoo no less) and Grey’s dedication to Finley was everrrrrything. I loved their relationship. It’s a delicious slow burn with a lot of soft and heated moments throughout. I loved being back in this small town. There’s something really comforting about this writing style.

I did struggle a bit with Finley’s aspect of the third act. But that was my only issue. The book is short and the audiobook narration is great. I’m officially a fan of Madison Wright books and look forward to continuing her stories.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door

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