Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 623 pages
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I loved this book.

I loved the depth of the characters, even the side players had so many layers to them. I liked seeing new sides, understanding decisions, and making new connections. While at times frustrating, heart squeezing, or sobbing, I loved feeling all the things as I binge listened.

This book slowed things down, but still brought plenty of action. I liked the slower pace and still getting to see a lot of aspects of Violet’s second year at Basgiath. Things felt more on edge and I felt like every page turn had me on pins and needles. And the DRAGONS. They are still one of my favorite aspects about this series and seeing even more of their internal politics and the BANTER between Tairn and Andarna sent me. They are my favorite.

I loved the complex romance too. Xaden and Violet have a lot to work through and everything is not easy going while in the midst of so many betrayals and war looming. I liked that things were hard, because I finally felt like I saw new sides to both of them. Xaden’s lines had me in a puddle practically every time he spoke.

The ending laid me out and I will be in panic mode until I get my hands on book three.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, loss of life, war themes

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Book Review: A Billionaire Inventor for Christmas (Dexington Christmas Billionaires #1) by Dobi Daniels

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 204 pages
Author: Dobi Daniels
Publisher: Luxhaven Publishing
Release Date: June 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He might just be the Christmas gift she needs to heal.

Sarah Nash has no time for romance. She’d been emotionally scarred from her last relationship and has just managed to pay off the mountain of debts she was saddled with.

Now all she wants for Christmas is to rediscover Christmas joy—no love in the equation, and what better place than her hometown Dexington where she recalled spending the happiest times of her life. She is determined to stick with her plan and not even a chance encounter with Phillip—billionaire hospital heir and inventor, and the town’s most eligible bachelor—can change her mind.

Until she discovers he is the boy she kissed in high school.

Phillip Dexington is finally about to launch a new medical device after having his last invention stolen by his former girlfriend and sold to his archenemy. He’s determined that nothing must go wrong this time around—which means avoiding a relationship at all costs—and is content with spending Christmas with the children at the orphanage.

But when Phillip runs into Sarah Nash, the girl who stole his heart in high school, his world flips upside down. She’s only in town for Christmas, and the time before the launch party is Phillip’s only chance at determining if she is the one.

Will they open their hearts to the fullness of Christmas and give love a second chance, or will their trust issues rob them of a happily ever after?

This is a sweet/clean emotional scars Christmas medical billionaire romance with no cliffhangers and a guaranteed HEA.

TOO EASY.

This book started off fine, but since it was super short, it tanked quickly.

Everything was simultaneously too easy and too dramatic. There were true attempts at working through forgiveness and listening to someone’s story before making assumptions. All good things at the core, buuut, with no further conversation after it made those deeper moments feel shallow.

And things got dramatic. I can barely remember the exact details at this point because I already felt through with the book.

It wasn’t for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, near death experiences

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Book Review: A Not So Fictional Fall (Sweater Weather #6) by Savannah Scott

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Savannah Scott
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I live for happily ever afters.
And I’m finally meeting my favorite romance author in person! Only, all this time, I thought author, Amelie De Pierre, was a woman. It turns out, Pierre Toussaint is the man behind the books that make me weak in the knees.
He could be the consummate book boyfriend with his dreamy hazel eyes, strong jawline, and those black-rimmed glasses. Not to mention that accent. Oh, that French accent. When Pierre speaks, I feel like I’m curled in his arms on a riverbank being fed chocolate-dipped strawberries. Not Pierre’s arms, of course. We barely just met. And I’m just me. And he’s Pierre, internationally renowned romance author. Seeing Pierre in person has me stammering and blushing—two things I don’t usually do. Imagine my surprise when I receive a call a few weeks after meeting Pierre—from his agent—proposing marriage. Not that I’d marry his agent. They want me to marry Pierre.

DID NOT WORK FOR ME.

Something rubbed me wrong about a lot of this and I could never get myself to connect with the characters or the story. I didn’t like how heavily this felt like the author was leaning into stereotypes rather than a natural inclusion. The forced nature kept pulling me out of the story.

They’re some cute moments and the modern marriage of convenience worked well enough. I liked the main characters and found it a fast paced read. I was looking for something more in the end and too much was missing. There’s still the great fall setting and some good family moments too at least.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: House of Eclipses (House of Eclipses #1) by Casey L. Bond

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 380 pages
Author: Casey L. Bond
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Capture his heart.
Steal his crown.

Noor is the unwanted, unloved third born of the Aten, chosen vessel of the sun goddess, Sol. While she has no chance at inheriting her father’s title, what she truly longs for is peace from his unrelenting hatred. Hope builds that she may finally be able to claim that reprieve when a missive arrives from the House of the Moon.

The new Lumin, chosen of the moon god, Lumos, seeks to broker peace with the Kingdom of Helios for the first time in ages. He envisions open trade routes and an end to archaic rivalries. His dedication to this cause extends to visions of a union between the two families by marrying one of Aten’s daughters, if one of the matches is a fit.

Driven by his own twisted agenda, Noor’s father is willing to sacrifice his daughters as pawns to steal the crown for him to further his despotic reign, pitting sister against sister in a brutal battle for power. But Noor must come out the victor, either by capturing the Lumin’s heart or stealing his crown. For whomever wears the crown of moonlight, holds the power of the moon itself. With such strength at her command, she could finally defeat her tyrannical father.

Yet this endeavor cannot be accomplished without great sacrifice. As Noor learns more about Lumin Caelum, guilt over her betrayal consumes her, burning hot as the sun itself. If only he wasn’t kind, and selfless, and exactly what she wanted. If only she had greater dominion over her heart…

Can Noor carry out her plan and end her father’s vile reign? Or will unlikely alliances allow a new day to dawn?

NOT FOR ME.

I would have DNF this book pretty quickly if it wasn’t a book club read that I knew I had to get through.

The romance was lackluster and dry. It was very insta-lovey and not in a way I could get behind. It all felt too easy and there was no true conflict or anything between them. I’m not saying I need a third act breakup but I do want to see some tension and working to be with one another.

I also hated Noor’s sister. She was whiny, pointless and over the top. Moving on.

The plot was boring. I spent a lot of time skimming over things and hoping to see some true action and FANTASY elements. Instead I had the love interest throwing Noor a surprise birthday party that did not fit the tone of the novel.

This was my second, and last book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse

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