Tag: Book Review

Book Review: West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 331 pages
Author: Priscilla Oliveras
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: June 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A heart-stirring romance of star-crossed love, feuding familias, and the bonds of sisterhood by USA Today bestselling author Priscilla Oliveras.

Two familias in Texas, both alike in dignity, rivalries, and passion…

Having grown up in the nurturing household of Casa Capuleta, Mariana will do anything for familia. To solve her adoptive parents’ financial problems amid their rapidly changing San Antonio comunidad, Mariana and her younger sisters are determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands. That means competing against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and escalating a decades-old feud. It also raises the stakes of Mariana’s forbidden attraction for a certain dark-eyed mariachi who sets her heart racing.

To Angelo Montero’s familia, Mariana is also strictly off-limits. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing her. As their secret affair intensifies and the competition grows fierce, they’re swept up in a brewing storm of betrayals, rivalries, and broken ties. Against the odds, they vow to bring peace. But sacrifices must be made and consequences weighed for two star-crossed lovers to make beautiful music together.

BLEH.

I wanted to love this so badly y’all. SO BADLY.

The culture and setting? Absolutely loved those. The reason I gave it even 2 stars to begin with. Everything else made me wish I just hadn’t finished.

I think my biggest issue was the writing style. It was intensely focused on over explanation factors. The main plot points were repeated almost every chapter and it needed more substance than that. And anything to do with the characters was mapped out or shown many yards before the character actually did something.

The romance had some cute moments. I didn’t totally find it at fault. The love scenes (even including the kissing scenes) made me straight up cringe. Not smooth or engaging. Poor word choices that I was not a fan of.

Anyways, I’ll stop. This didn’t work for me. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t for you.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gentrification, a sibling who runs away, physical altercations

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Book Review: Love Redesigned (Some Kind of Love #1) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 297 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 23rd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Dani’s dream job working for an elite fashion designer in New York explodes in her face, she’s left broke, broken, and practically homeless. She only has one option: leave the city and go home to Charleston to throw herself on her twin brother’s mercy. The only problem? Alex lives in Charleston too.

Stepson to Dani’s former boss, Alex had good reasons for ghosting Dani, especially since she was still loyal to head designer Sasha Wellington—the woman trying to take his stepfather’s company down. But when Dani reappears in his life, his feelings quickly reignite, complicating everything.

Despite their reservations, Alex and Dani find plenty of ways to spend time together. (A wedding dress heist? Why not?) As they unravel the real reasons why Alex left New York—and Dani—will they be able to rediscover the happily ever after they always hoped for?

Thank you to Jenny Proctor for the gifted audiobook!

GREAT AUDIO.

Oh boy do I love a dual narration audiobook! I thought both narrators did a great job with their characters and really brought this book to life. At about 9 hours, it’s a quick read filled with a sweet romance.

I liked the second chance nature of this one. There’s some good give and take on both sides as I waited to learn why Alex left Dani a year ago. I do wish there would have been some more romantic interaction between them, but I did like what I got at least!

Dani had some good character growth. Initially she’s a bit naïve about her boss, and I liked the progression of Dani standing up for herself and figuring out the best way to take down those who were apart of some nefarious activity.

The fashion setting made me wish that I could see all of these beautiful clothes brought to life. I thought this was a unique idea in the sweet romance world.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents to cancer, embezzlement

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Book Review: One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1) by Rachel Gillig

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Gothic Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Rachel Gillig
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

GREAT READ.

This wasn’t on my radar until a few friends gave it glowing reviews and I’m here to add mine to the bunch. I thought everything got progressively better over the course of the book and now I’m definitely wanting the sequel.

I loved the fairytale vibes with a good dash of darkness (always here for some darkness). There was a magical quality to the writing that created a well formed story that I understood with ease. I loved the magic system with the cards!! It worked really well and was intriguing.

The romance grew on me. I thought the fake dating and tension worked well between them and I’m excited to see where that continues. It’s more of a well place sub-plot and the chemistry and dynamic is certainly there.

There’s some quirky demons who think they know best and a magical king missing from the game board. I thought the ending was WILD and can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: possession, physical and magical violence

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Book Review: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 492 pages
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

STILL GREAT.

This is a reread review.

I feel like every year a few book stick out to me that I desperately want to reread, and this year, that’s all of Pearson’s books. There is something old school YA fantasy about these that just sing to my soul. I loved getting to read this one again as it still maintains one of the best plot twists I’ve ever come across. If you saw it coming, I am impressed.

I do remember why I went with four star. There’s quite a bit of long winded traveling that I would have loved shortened, otherwise, this immaculate book holds all the nostalgia. And isn’t it amazing when a reread is positive?

I love these characters. This is a love triangle that doesn’t make me want to throw my book and the politicking and intrigue of it all builds the world with intrigue. Everything from the characters to subtle magic system is developed well. I can’t wait to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical violence, weapons violence, small battle themes, loss of loved ones, kidnapping

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