Tag: Book Review

Book Review: Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escapes #2) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Madi is counting on Paris’s reputation as the City of Love. Now she just needs to figure out if it’s old love or new love…

Madi

After two years and zero proposals, my relationship could use a little spark. Paris during the holidays seems like just the ticket—one perfect, final opportunity for my boyfriend to take things to the next level.

The fact that he’s rented me the tiny servant quarters in the apartment of a very good-looking Frenchman is . . . puzzling. And when he asks that Frenchman to take me around the city while he’s busy at work trainings? Color me confused.

Is this some sort of pre-engagement test? If so, I’m not sure I’m doing too hot.

Rémy

Offering to host my friend’s vacation rental means making sure the first review is five solid, sparkling stars. When the guest who shows up is a beautiful American woman, I’m thinking my task might be more enjoyable than I thought. Until I find out she has a boyfriend. Madi deserves to have an amazing time in Paris, though, so I’m more than happy to oblige when the guy asks me to show her the city.

It’s cool. I’m cool. This is all for that five-star review…

◆ Host for the Holidays is a closed door romance full of fun, chemistry, and a generous dash of the magic of Paris

ADORED.

Oh my goodness, this writing was magical!! I absolutely LOVED the Paris setting during Christmastime.

I knew this was the author’s first contemporary book and I think she nailed it. I would happily read more stories set in a modern setting from her easy. Keyes made Paris come alive and these characters had my whole heart.

Remy was absolutely adorable. I was swooned away by his kindness. He had the purest heart and his interactions with Madi were pure. They had chemistry from the beginning and I loved reading about them exploring Paris and falling in love. I think there was a great balance of plot and Christmas stuff that is exactly what I’m looking for in a holiday read.

I do wish the boyfriend to ex-boyfriend plot line wasn’t around as long as it was. And I did think it showed up at a few inopportune times.

Otherwise, great book. Can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: The Party (London Prep #5) by Jillian Dodd

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Rating: ★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 332 pages
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s my first week as an official student at Kensington School, and things couldn’t be more chaotic. I’m living in a hotel, trying to recover from the news of my parents’ move to London, and working to make things right with Harry, Noah, and Mohammad.

Mohammad says I’m back in the boys’ club.

Harry tells me that he wants me back in his life.

And Noah, well, he’s always been complicated.

But after a too-generous gift from Harry and a heated moment with Noah on my birthday, things seem to change. Noah is flirting with me again and Harry shows me he’s serious about us being friends when he asks me to be his date to his parents’ party.

Everything feels like it’s back to normal—until the party.

Because Mohammad somehow ends up with two dates.

Harry asks me to pretend to be his girlfriend for the night.

And Noah tells me he likes me. A lot.

In the midst of meeting Harry’s parents and helping Mohammad navigate a potential disaster with Naomi, Noah says that I need to show him how I feel. But what he’s really asking for is for me to make a choice.

OVER IT.

Five books.

That’s how long I made it through this love triangle.

I’m not typically a fan, but I really was into all of the drama. The push and pull, will they won’t they kind of nonsense. The first two books were great. Third, eh. Fourth, pulled me back, and now I can say I’m okay with putting this series down. Maybe I’ll read a spoiler of the last book (whenever that is) to know who the main character ends up with.

There’s some great friendship scenes and being there for those you love. I like all of the nuances of that and working together and enjoying each other’s company. This group is a mix of all different personalities and quirks and make for a good time.

Noah was even a big flirt this time (FINALLY). And I loved all of those moments too. I guess I was hoping for a bit more? The plot/layout of this book is unique so it reads somehow slow and fast all at the same time.

Anyways. I’m moving on!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: heated make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: underage drinking, mentions of abusive parenting

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Book Review: Morning Star (Red Rising Saga #3) by Pierce Brown

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sci-Fi
Length: 524 pages
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Red Rising thrilled readers and announced the presence of a talented new author. Golden Son changed the game and took the story of Darrow to the next level. Now comes the exhilarating conclusion to the Red Rising Trilogy: Morning Star.

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

WHAT AN ENDING.

I never wrote a review for this when I first read it (after release), so I’m back with a quick jot down of my thoughts.

OH HOW I LOVE THIS SERIES EVEN AS IT TEARS MY HEART OUT.

There’s a plethora of amazing scenes here that I can’t even begin to name them all. And what I wouldn’t do to have Sevro’s POV in this book. THE THINGS I WOULD DO FOR THIS Y’ALL. He’s my favorite. And his love interest is perfect. Sevro still remains my favorite side character of all time.

I loved Darrow’s progression and character changes. He goes through hell and back 1,000 times and still gets up and does it again. All for the people he loves and the world he wants to see in a better place.

The audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend that avenue.

I’d have a lot longer review but I really don’t want to spoil a thing about this because it’s better to experience it without prior knowledge.

JUST READ IT OKAY?

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: very high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: extremely high levels of blood and gore depiction, executions, suicide, loss of loved ones, mass murder, gun violence

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Book Review: Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) by Kerri Maniscalco

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

WHAT A WASTE.

Oh the downfall of this entire series. I am annoyed beyond belief.

I had to have someone breakdown the plot for me because it was convoluted and not well mapped. New characters got added in, there were random flashback chapters? There was a whole thing with Pride? Multiple curses? I DON’T EVEN KNOW. And even once it was explained it was lame and uber convenient.

All the potential was there. But instead it was only focused on the physical aspects. Emilia basically had no other thoughts other than when she could bang Wrath again. This turned Wrath into a piece of cardboard. He was flat, boring, and not the same man who walked on page in the first book. Once again, what a waste of great character possibilities.

I think I liked Emilia’s sister the most? I have no clue when that happened, but at least the woman had motives and her decisions I could actually follow.

Out of place sub plots, spice that did not support the plot and made both characters lame, turns that didn’t make sense and I am done.

Will I read her next series? Honestly I don’t know.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: death, loss of life, abandonment, blood depiction, grief/loss depiction, kidnapping, war themes

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