Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Magical Realism Mystery + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings.

But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery.

The town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

I THINK THIS IS HER BEST.

There was something about this writing style that fit Adrienne Young so perfectly that I had a hard time putting it down. From the first few chapters I was wrapped up in the wildness of Saoirse island and the stories it held.

I did like the multiple points of view. I think it works well for a story like this and gives those extra angles needed to fully understand motives and desires. I do wish there was a touch more from Lily. I had a hard time believing her reasoning behind her choices, but that’s a small complaint compared to how much I loved everything else.

The second chance romance brought the pain. I wanted these two to make up and move forward because I loved them so. They push and pull of that cord that finally snapped between them was everything I want in angst and slowburn style romances.

Mystery wise my inklings were on the right track but I liked that some stuff was still surprising too. I loved the atmosphere and the small town witchy vibes. I wanted a bit more closure in the ending (a personal preference), but otherwise, fantastic. Can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Magical Realism Romance + Mystery
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: 2ish scenes; low explicit
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple murders, arson, attempted murder, blackmail, loss of a parent(s) (recounted), grief depiction

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ALC Book Review: The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Zoe Allison
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
 
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she’s just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.
 
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
 
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.

Thank you to PRHAudio for the gifted audiobook.

HARD NO.

Honestly, I don’t even want to write this review, but also, it’s my due diligence to give my thoughts for this. Definitely not going on any of my 2023 holiday recommendation lists.

Things started off fine, I was liking it overall and curious to where things were going. Enter in, Sam’s girlfriend. Who was there for 75% of the book. And then proceeded to cause chaos. I saw what the author was trying to accomplish with that relationship, but to me it didn’t come off well. She was cruel to be cruel and add drama that didn’t need to be there. This entire book is ONE BIG MISCOMMUNICATION. That if it had been solved by 30-40% would have been fine.

I also liked Sam until the third act where he used the for your own good break-up line and I laughed at my audiobook thinking NO WAY IS THIS HAPPENING AT 90%.

Maya was fine. A BIIIIIIG conversation/conflict avoider. At all costs. And that got old because every plot line began to drag out longer than necessary.

I’m just cranky. This book made me cranky.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting and emotionally abusive girlfriend

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Book Review: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Ally Carter
Length: 304 pages
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear.

That’s easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe–dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Avon books for the gifted copy.

PURE FUN.

This is outside of my usual romance reads and I LOVED it all the more for that fact. I like mixing it up sometimes and this was the perfect thing I needed.

I thought our two mysterious leads stole the show. I loved the banter. I loved all of the running and hiding aspects. Having to fake date and find safe spots together. Learning more about each other. It’s so good. And you kind of get swept away in the speed of their romance alongside the speed of the plot.

The reveals were awesome. I liked the bit of unreliability that came with the narration and watching the chips fall where they may as the plot thickened. It’s a short book, definitely fast paced and a book I truly adored.

Overall audience notes:

  • Mystery / Contemporary Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, near death experiences

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Book Review: Bewitched by You by Kendra Mase

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 340 pages
Author: Kendra Mase
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Luella Pierce is having a mid-witch crisis.

Her best friend is top of her class and currently on a fast track to land her dream job. Her coven members have all found their passions in life and are excited to start their next chapter. Even her arch nemesis and Barnett University’s star football player, Ryan Gardner, has future plans. Sure, they’re to become a permanent nuisance in her life, but still. Everyone else seems to have life figured out except her.

Lu’s big plans? Procrastinating the future by throwing all her energy into creating the most fantastic Samhain–Halloween–celebration BU has ever seen. That is, if she can convince the student council she won’t perform any satanic rituals.

Cue the eye roll.

But when Ryan sustains a career-ending injury and Lu receives an offer from her sweet yet meddling coven matriarch that causes her to rethink everything, Lu also begins to question if the strongest magic may be taking a chance on love.

And herself.

Bewitched By You is a standalone new adult contemporary romance featuring a handsome, people pleasing football player and a quirky yet disheveled modern day witch finding home in a small college town. Perfect for readers who can’t resist the charm of Practical Magic or the sweet swoons of a romantic comedy with an emotional happily ever after.

IT WAS ALRIGHT.

I’m a sucker for these types of covers and I admit to this being a total cover download. I did like it overall in the end at least.

The romance is really one note and very much what I would expect to see in a college relationship. I liked Luella and Ryan. They were sweet on one another and I felt the chemistry between them. It was lacking in any form of angst (something I like even a dash of) as they steadily moved through their relationship. There were some truly good moments between them and I enjoyed the support they gave each other as life landed on them.

Plot wise it’ll give you all the whimsical and fall season vibes. There’s not much past that, buuut I know that’ll be a hit with others looking for something simple. I didn’t like the mean girl moments or some of the drama that resulted from it. But I did find it a quick read that put me in the mood for all things autumn.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: one brief open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: bullying, loss of a mother (recounted), season ending sports injury

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