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Book Review: House of Pounding Hearts (The Kingdom of Crows #2) by Olivia Wildenstein

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 521 pages
Author: Olivia Wildenstein
Publisher: Self Publish
Release Date: January 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I MEANT TO CAPTURE THE PRINCE’S HEART . . . AND ENDED UP WITH A KING’S.

My desire to sit upon the Lucin throne led me to revive an ancient, winged monarch; one I deemed a friend until that friend duped and imprisoned me.

Lorcan claims he’s holding me captive for my own safety, but then he also claims I belong to him. Slumbering for five centuries has evidently given the Crow King severe delusions.

We may share an unfortunate mind-link, but we are still masters of our own destiny, and I intend to steer mine away from the Sky Kingdom and its prophecies . . . away from him.

I quickly find out there is no escaping the possessive male. In all honesty, I’m no longer certain I want to.

Get swept away in the second installment of a slow-burn shifter fantasy series full of heartbreaking deceit, wicked supernaturals, and alpha males.

POUNDING HEARTS INDEED.

I had seen a review before I started this that mentioned the FMC is a bit of a punk (more or less) for the first half of the book. I can agree with that sentiment and am glad I knew that going in because it allowed me to give her space to grow (even when I was frustrated). Here’s your sign to push through!

BECAUSE IT GETS SO GOOD.

There’s something really magnetic about Wildenstein’s writing that kept me enthralled. I usually like to juggle multiple books at once and you won’t find that here because I kept wanting to see this story progress.

I loooove Lore. He’s the perfect dark, broody lead that I know we all love. I thought there was great banter between him and Fallon and there was some solid relationship development too. I appreciated the slow burn aspect that let the characters shine first before steam was added in.

For a plot surrounding war I thought there would be a little more action (seems like it’s coming though!). I adore all of the friendships and tight knit group that has been formed over the first two books. This is of course a romance, but the other scenes play in so well that it helps surround the story with even more fullness.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, kidnapping, weapons violence, physical and magical altercations, battle themes

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ARC Book Review: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 187 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 21st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

Six Scorched Roses is a standalone fantasy romance novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, perfect for those who love dark, romantic tales with bite and fans of Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Carissa Broadbent for the eARC.

LOVE.

I devoured this real fast when it dropped in my inbox and I am not upset with my choices one bit. It’s an easy book to fly through and to get lost in. I love how romantic it was and how even with the quicker pacing, still felt natural and not rushed.

I adored Lilith. I felt like she tried to make the best choices she could and over the novella really found some new pathways forward. I loved the STEM vibes and the bloodwork that Lilith worked on to try to help her sister and town survive. Throw in some cranky gods dealing out punishments and I was sold.

The romance was so sweet!! I don’t know, this book is on the dark spectrum and yet, this romance was tender. It felt slow and moving as they went from strangers to friends to lovers. I love how Vale started to respond to Lilith and the back and forth grumpy/sunshine nature of their relationship.

Ending was fantastic. I am incredibly excited to see how these characters will interact with others in The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King.

**Note: This can be read as a standalone before the first book, but recommended to read it after The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, loss of loved ones, a disease endemic, physical and magical altercations, near death experiences

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Book Review: A Confirmed Rake (The Donovans #2) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 24th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Rebecca Russell’s brother marries, she finally has the opportunity she has been dreaming of: to leave the seclusion of her reclusive grandfather’s home and enter into Society. But when her inexperience has her making blunders and courting embarrassment, help comes from an unexpected source: the brooding, irritable brother of her chaperone.

Valentine Donovan is a rake, mountains of gaming debt and all. With his only hope for financial relief tied up in the Admiralty Court, he must temporarily rely on his father’s charity—and all the strings attached to it. His father demands Valentine show evidence that he is changing his ways, so when the engaging but naive young woman living with his sister presents a plan, he can’t refuse the opportunity to fulfill some of his father’s requirements, albeit reluctantly.

But Valentine is unprepared for Rebecca’s guileless optimism and how impossible he finds it to say no to her increasingly onerous requests—requests that put both their hearts and reputations in danger. 

LOVE THESE TWO.

I think this is my new favorite Martha Keyes book. I looooved Valentine and Rebecca.

Rebecca was the sweet naive woman who cracked me up multiple times at her learning the ways of society. I loved it. This wasn’t an annoying thing to watch unfold. I genuinely loved Rebecca and would want to be friends with someone so filled with light and hope. The juxtaposition between her and Valentine was perfect.

Valentine, my reformed rake, OH HOW I ADORE YOU. He was swoony and kind and I could not get enough of watching Rebecca slowly wrap her way around his heart. There were even some beautiful moments towards the end that about got me misty eyed. The sinner and saint vibes (without being preachy) was one of the best things about this book.

Some aspects towards the end seemed to extend the book a little longer than I was looking for, but that’s mostly the only issue I had with it. This has been a fantastic series so far and Rebecca and Valentine definitely hold a place in my heart now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent recounted

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Book Review: Oxford Star (Oxford Wild #2) by Laura Bradbury

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 338 pages
Author: Laura Bradbury
Publisher: Grape Books
Release Date: March 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Harry-Styles-famous rock star takes refuge from crippling panic attacks at Oxford University, only to find himself face to face with the crush whose life he ruined.

JACK
Rock stars shouldn’t suffer from debilitating panic attacks, but I’m barely hanging on by my famous fingernails. That’s why I leverage the name I despise to study my childhood love of astronomy. Just one term at Oxford? Problem solved.

Too bad my pre-stardom life reappears to haunt me in the form of Lucy Snow, the sharp-tongued, opulent-bodied woman I can’t seem to forget. This would be the perfect opportunity to make amends for stealing her fantasy four years ago, except Lucy’s love for me has turned to loathing.

When she refuses my financial help, I have a wonderful, dangerous idea…

LUCY
Jack Seary stole my dream of a singing career and made it his reality. When he trampled my heart, he also taught me a lesson: being selfless and hardworking makes me Cinderella without the goddamn glass slipper.

Now this infuriating thief of a man thinks I’ll pretend to be his girlfriend to dispel tabloid rumors? Ha!

Oxford Star is an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, second chance, celebrity / rock star romance with a plus sized heroine and panic / anxiety rep. Brace yourself for a SLOW-BURN (but steamy!) romance that explores the complexity of love, dreams, and redemption under the dreaming spires of Oxford University.

Thank you to the author for a gifted ecopy!

I WANT TO GO TO OXFORD NOW.

This was an enjoyable read! Easily binge worthy and very romantic. I loved the second chance romance and the unique twist on a rockstar and old friend.

I struggled a little with their connection at first, but the second half was reallllly strong in those aspects. I liked that Lucy and Jack got to talk a lot of things out and hash over some of the issues they needed to communicate to move forward. I LOVED Jack’s anxiety and panic disorder rep. It hit home in a lot of ways and I love that Lucy was always a listening and helpful partner in those matters.

Lucy’s growth was a little slower (which was fine). I liked that she learned that it was okay to take something for herself. After having to give and give for years, and finally being able to follow the career path you want? That’s monumental and the strides to that destination were great.

The Oxford setting was so fun!! I thought there was just enough of the history and dynamics I didn’t know about the school without overwhelming the fact that it was a romance book. There were maaany swoony moments (the dress scene? YES). I loved the body positivity and the way that was woven into Lucy’s story. There’s plenty of good things to be found in this read!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: panic attacks (on page), depictions of anxiety, loss of a father (recounted), comments on weight and body image, brief gun violence (the gun is never fired)

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