Tag: librofm

Book Review: Dawn of the North (The Ashen #3) by Demi Winters

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 588 pages
Author: Demi Winters
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

STILL GREAT.

I am loving how good this whole series has been. I’ve missed epic, longer series with multiple POVs, romances and complicated plots that keep me locked into the story from start to finish.

I can’t talk a whole lot about the characters in this one because I don’t want to spoil anything but I do continue to enjoy the trajectory of all of the situations. There’s fantastic swoony and protective moments and if you love higher spice, that’s here too (I do think it started to get out of pocket for me).

The plot continues to twist and turn while being easy to follow. I love the politicking and intense action and the complexity of everyone’s character arcs. The rotating POV’s work well and the audiobook is a great listen. I can’t wait for the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 6-7ish open door
  • Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: Start at the End by Emma Grey

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Emma Grey
Publisher: Zibby Publishing
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This powerful sliding-doors novel asks the Are our futures already determined? Or are we able to change fate? A searingly emotional novel about love, loss, grief, and hope from the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You.

Thank you Zibby Books for the gifted copy.

WELL THIS WAS A SURPRISE.

I’ve enjoyed Emma Grey’s previous two books so I didn’t even bother with reading the summary before diving into this one and let me tell y’all…don’t read it. Go in blind because it is a journey my friend. Did the whole journey work for me? No, but I had no troubles WANTING to listen to this book needing to know how the stories were going to wrap up.

I did think it was an interesting concept and idea to execute (the author’s note does a great job elaborating on this and helped more of the story make sense for me). The sliding doors moment was confusing but once I got a better handle on what was happening I was shocked. I liked seeing the flawed and realistic nature of going through a terrible thing and the fallout and echoes it leaves on each person.

I’m not sure I *liked* everything that happened or the way certain situations went. And that’s okay, it made me think and ponder a lot and I always like when a book creates that kind of thought process for me. It’s fairly fast paced and the audiobook was wonderfully narrated.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of a partner, self harm, grief, alcoholism

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Book Review: A Forbidden Fate (The Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 414 pages
Author: Kaven Hirning
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A centuries long war, an enchanted wood, and a curse.
Idalia leaves her castle to marry the new king of the Deep, certain that this union will be the final step in saving her kingdom. She must travel through the Florian Wood, a mysterious place shrouded in legend and myth. Things go awry when the Princess is captured by a band of thieves, and they soon discover that the stories of the Wood weren’t just stories afterall. To make matters worse, she is stranded in this nightmare with her rival; A shameless bandit who likes to talk and drink too much. Despite the dangers of the Wood, there is a threat far graver to the both of them–each other. Apart from their warring lands, they have also been cursed by the gods. They can never touch, or they will die and their entire kingdoms with them. Join Idalia and a group of misfits on this harrowing journey. One full of sorrow, terror, forbidden love … and plenty of drinks.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

This book went on and off my TBR for a long time and when I saw an audio copy I snagged it and here we are. I thought the concept was good and I liked that they couldn’t touch each other. It added a level of tension that built in a nice slow burn over the book.

I didn’t have any big issues with pacing (which could be due to audiobook speed that kept things moving). It’s a travel plot with many diversions throughout a haunted wood. Some of the side quests seemed forced, but in the end it worked out well.

I loved the romantic aspects and getting those necessary flashback chapters to understand the character dynamics and how everything began when the curse tore them apart. The found family was SO GOOD. I loooved the banter and the respect and care that went into every relationship. I’m curious what will happen next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 301 pages
Author: Jillian Meadows
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A sweet and spicy holiday romance between a spirited artist who returns to her small town for Christmas, and her older brother’s best friend, a serious architect who pushes all her buttons—but whom she can’t seem to stay away from. 

Lena’s plans are simple. Surprise her family for Christmas, don’t tell them she lost her job, and most importantly, spend the week relaxing with the people she cares about.

But when she arrives in Juniper, she discovers she’s not the only unexpected guest this year. Her older brother’s best friend, Gavin, is back after disappearing three years ago without a word. He has the kind of charm Lena has always been drawn to, but she knows he’s also the kind of temptation she needs to stay far away from.

Gavin has built his architecture career out of planning strategies for dealing with the unexpected—but he didn’t have a strategy for the possibility of seeing Lena again. Though he’s been dreaming of her since the day he left, he can’t risk giving in to his feelings when they could upend the only family and home he has ever known.

New try to be friends again. Just friends.

But as the pieces fall into place about why Gavin left, staying friends is the last thing on his mind…and on Lena’s. All the plans they’ve made might end up completely wrecked. And for once, maybe they want it that way.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

EHHHHH.

I feel very mixed about this book. There’s plenty of holiday cheer and it definitely fits that vibe. I loved the rambunctious family dynamics and how much I wanted to be apart of Lena’s family too.

Gavin brought some swoon. I love a man obsessed and from the first chapter you could tell he was gone. And while I loved that, I do also think that angst was trying too hard. I wanted a bit more burn in those aspects and not feeling like I was playing catch-up.

And, as a personal preference, four chapters in a row (+ more later in the book) just really isn’t my jam. Add that in to the lets get it out of our system plot and I struggled with the physical intimacy throughout. Lastly adding in a third act that made me want to shake Lena a bit and it brought this book down for me.

So not all bad, but not all good either. I’m not upset I picked it up, but now I’m hesitant to read more from this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christmas romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: mentions and recounts of being in the foster system, a car wreck (no one is injured)

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