Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: Borrow My Heart (Borrow My Heart #1) by Kasie West

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.

Wren is used to being called a control freak. She doesn’t care; sticking to the list of rules she created for herself helps her navigate life. But when a cute guy named Asher walks through the door of her neighborhood coffee shop, the rulebook goes out the window.

Asher is cute, charming . . . and being catfished by his online crush. So Wren makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision—she pretends to be the girl he’s waiting for to save him from embarrassment. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing.

It’s not long before Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she’s not who she says she is? Wren’s not so sure. . . . After all, rules exist for a reason.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREW ON ME.

I admittedly got into this and realized that maybe this book wasn’t going to work for me. Luckily, by the end I was pretty charmed and at least appreciated that this fit into a true young adult category and that that audience could enjoy it.

All of the dog content was adorable. I loved the shelter work and seeing Bean find his new home. The romance was sweet. I thought Asher was the cutest cinnamon roll and he and Wren got along well. There is a third act break-up, but I felt more forgiving in age context and I liked how both side apologized and made amends.

It’s a short book that’s light and fluffy but also filled with good themes and conversations. I didn’t LOVE all of the Tiktok content (that might be my age showing). All in all, maybe I’m not past my Kasie West era…yet.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment

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Book Review: A Cowboy for Keeps (Colorado Cowboys #1) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Western Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Greta Nilsson’s trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He’ll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt’s ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revolutions arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

GIRL STOP.

I’m still on a quest to find a western cowboy romance that moves my soul. This was good, but there was one major element that brought this book down two stars y’all.

And that would be our female main character: Greta. She would NOT STOP COMPLAINING. Her entire inner monologue surrounded her not being a burden, and I can understand that in the beginning where we’re setting up for character growth arcs. What I can’t get past is that this still went on until the last pages when Wyatt is like, I LOVE YOU, and Greta is still saying, are you sure I won’t be a burden?? If you’ve read the book you would know both sides were OBVIOUSLY past this type of conversation.

Otherwise, loved the setting. Tiny historical Colorado town. There’s some faith elements that I don’t think were heavy handed either that I enjoyed. I did think Greta’s sister came off a bit young for her supposed age but I did like the aspects she added to the story.

I’m going to try book two, we’ll see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Western Cowboy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, animal violence, a child with consumption, robbery at gunpoint

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Book Review: Spark of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #1) by Penn Cole

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 440 pages
Author: Penn Cole
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers epic is perfect for lovers of magic, dragons, angst, and banter and will appeal to fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, Gild, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

READ THIS ONE.

I’m always out on the hunt for great indie fantasy romance books and this one was SO DANG GOOD. It was balanced incredibly well between dialogue, world building, politicking, etc. that I never felt it was slow. Beautifully paced and completely engaging. I had a hard time putting this down.

I LOOOVE in fantasy romance series where the romance is a slowwww burn. I want to get to know the characters, I want to understand the world, choices and dynamics before running head first into a romance. I loved the way this played out and the subtle weaves being woven. I am smitten, I am here for it, and I HAVE THOUGHTS that I need confirmed in book two ASAP.

Diem was a great main character. I loved seeing her flaws and mistakes highlighted along with her strengths. She rights wrongs, takes in new information, and I love the passion she has for healing.

THE EPILOGUE THOUGH. I am once again sitting here saying GIVE ME ANSWERS. I can’t wait to read the next book and highly highly recommend getting your hands on this one!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 2ish brief and vague
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, explosions, physical and weapons violence, loss of loved ones, injury descriptions, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: When Kingdoms Fall by Callie Dahl

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 473 pages
Author: Callie Dahl
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Men feared monsters. Yet fear made men do monstrous things.

The gods are gone, leaving three races divided, broken, and without balance.
All that remains is a curse.
One to haunt and devour the mortals for their unholy betrayal.

A Mortal Girl. . .

Traifton has two rules: Never leave the safety of the walls and never enter the Wylan Woods. Those who enter never return.
Willa Thesalor is left with an impossible choice. Be killed by the monsters hiding beneath pretty lies and faces, or enter the woods and face its woes.

An Elf Prince. . .

Kauis Sylpetor is a prince with no kingdom to rule. He can feel his immortality and magic slipping slowly from his grasp. When the royal elf finds himself back in the cursed land of Kalandrae, he discovers something more addicting than his plans for retribution. Power. But to attain it, he must make a bargain and risk sacrificing all he has ever known and loved in the process.

A Fae Prince. . .

Sorean Valkian is a troubled prince with rare and unruly magic. He is days away from becoming the king of a hidden realm. Before taking the crown, Sorean must confirm the whispers about the worsening Wylan Woods. And why his mother has kept their kingdom off of the maps for centuries. But heavy is the bearer of a secret crown once Sorean uncovers more questions than answers within the god’s tainted lands.

When Kingdoms Fall is a New Adult Fantasy series intended for audiences 18+ and older. This is book 1 in a series

IMPRESSED.

Took a chance on this fantasy debut and I am HOOKED. I enjoyed this one so much!! It was interesting, had a romance set-up that I love and a story line I’m very curious about.

For the romance, I actually love (especially in a series) when there isn’t a rush to adding steam. It’s a very slow burn here, frankly I don’t know quite where it’s going and that’s my favorite part!! I’m getting to know the characters and dynamics and it makes my attachment level deeper. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

The plot kept me engaged and this seems to set-up the series really well. I liked the multiple points of view. I liked the conflicting sides of humans vs. elves vs. fae. The world building was spaced out well and the magic system connects well too. My only little ‘eh’ thing was the first half of the book I thought the chapters felt a little choppy. Each new chapter jumped kind of oddly and it took me a bit to get the groove. I do think this went away in the later half of the book.

I’m excited for book two and think this was a fantastic debut. I hope this review convinces you to take a chance too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two super brief scenes
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, kidnapping, creature attacks, near death experiences, physical and magical altercations

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