Tag: peter pan

Book Review: Out With the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 353 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This isn’t her idea of home, but she’s quickly becoming mine.

I’m Never Harbor’s neighborhood best friend. Along with being the middle child in a loud family of seven, I’m accustomed to being everything to everyone. But after moving into my new townhouse by the sea, my world has suddenly grown too quiet.

But then she moves back to town.

Marina Starkey is my landlord’s daughter with nowhere to go. She needs a place to stay for the summer, and thankfully I’m just the kind of guy to offer.

Hello there, new roommate.

She’s gorgeous and cheeky with a stubbornness that matches my own. (Don’t get me started on the shared bed situation.) Summer days pass in soft touches and afternoon swims, and my heart sinks deeper with every stroke.

I’m not a temporary fling kind of guy, and Marina has no intention of staying past the summer.

She doesn’t want to fall in love with her hometown, and I’m basically Mr. Never Harbor himself.

But my home is quickly becoming wherever I’m with her.

THIS AIN’T IT.

After really enjoying the first book in this series I have no idea why this one fell completely off the rails??? I wanted to love it and there were definitely some good and charming scenes but the extreme lack of character and plot consistency ruined this for me.

Cassidy is an absolute sweetheart and made me smile throughout the book. I liked his optimistic nature and the way that he took little notes on the people he loves to remember their favorite things. It was kind and heartfelt.

Marina on the other hand couldn’t decide what she wanted to be. She hid unnecessary information, ran away instead of having one conversation and seemed clueless at times when her education would have led me to believe otherwise.

And then the whole relationship was very physically focused. It kind of became the only thing about them. Add in a plot that never made sense and this one lost me.

I’m hoping book three is better???

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 411 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I need a nanny, but I may need her more.

I know about my reputation as Never Harbor’s secluded single dad. But I have everything I need: my imaginative son, my dog, and our remodeled cottage by the sea.

That is, until my nanny quits.

My brother’s ex-fiancee, Wendy Darling, is an elementary school teacher with a free summer. The last thing I need is to get tangled in his mess, but my family thinks she’s a perfect fit for the job. Turns out, she fits in better than I could have imagined.

Wendy is nothing like I expected. She’s kind and adventurous, with a beautiful laugh that washes my worst nightmares away. She pushes past my silence and sees more of my true self than anyone has in years. And my six-year-old son is falling for her just as quickly.

Being with Wendy can never happen. Not when my younger brother is her ex-fiance. Not when she’s so close to our family. Not when our small coastal town gossips the way that it does.

But after so long in the dark, Wendy makes me feel something. Falling for her feels a lot like flying instead.

I know happy endings only belong in fairy tales, but I’m close to stealing one for myself.

I WAS HOOKED.

Julie Olivia is an author I often sleep on but at the behest of a buddy read I jumped right in and adored this book so much.

Jasper is the SOFTEST GRUMP EVER. I loved him so much. There was moment after moment that showed how deeply he cared and his desire to prove himself worthy of being with Wendy. He was the best single dad in a rough situation and I could not get enough of him.

And I liked Wendy too. She was soft and feminine with a strong will that showed up at just the right times. Her loyalty roots ran deep and I thought there was an undeniable chemistry between her and Jasper.

As someone who’s only seen Peter Pan maybe once in my life, even I was able to notice the retelling aspects and how expertly woven those pieces were. I had friends who noticed even more and it was fun seeing all of things come together.

I do wish there was a little bit less ex-relationship talk. But that was the only thing that really bugged me. I can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), grief depiction

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Book Review: Dust (Heirs of Neverland #1) by Kara Swanson

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Urban Fantasy Retelling
Length: 348 pages
Author: Kara Swanson
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Release Date: July 21st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real—since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan—and herself.

PRETTY GOOD.

I’m new to Peter Pan retelling and this one was alright! I thought the concept was interesting and I liked how it was woven into a urban fantasy style plot. The dual POV with Peter Pan was great because it added another layer to the depth of the story.

The entire book just felt slow though. I kept waiting for *something* to pick up and I’m not sure it ever truly did. Seeing all of the other characters for the original story was cool. I liked how Swanson adapted them and the roles everyone played.

I’m undecided on the romance. I once again was wishing more something more to it. There’s some sweet romances and the expected conflicts. I don’t know yet if I’ll read book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy Retelling
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, physical and magical altercations, loss of life

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ARC Book Review: The Never Heir (The Otherworlds #1) by Courtney Millecam

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 340 pages
Author: Courtney Millecam
Publisher: Laurel Ink Press
Release Date: May 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Charlie ‘Tootles’ Tulane risked everything to break the spell binding the lost boys to Pan and escape Neverland. Now seventeen and living in 1923 London, Charlie’s freedom from the land of Faerie has never felt better. But even the noblest of actions have consequences. Neverland demands a leader, and without one, chaos spills into the mortal world.

Spending his nights as an amateur boxer, Charlie meets the ‘Bright Young Things’ of London’s upper class. Part of that group is Evie, a girl whose ravings about mermaids abducting her sister got her sent to an asylum. Now that she’s back among polite society, Evie’s under strict orders from her mother to avoid any further scandal and to attract a suitable match. But that proves difficult when Evie’s friend and confidant from Faerie turns demanding and sinister, forcing her into a deal she can’t refuse: In exchange for locating Pan’s lost relics of power, the Fae will return the one thing Evie wants most.

When Charlie learns his past betrayals set off a chain reaction resulting in the abduction of Evie’s sister, the two must return to the place of Charlie’s nightmares in an attempt to set things right. But this time, the price for rectitude might prove too steep for either one of them to pay.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Courtney Millecam for the eARC.

A FANTASTIC RETELLING.

I’m pretty sure this is my first Peter Pan retelling and it did not disappoint!! I had a great time reading this and absolutely loved the combination of fae and 1920’s London. Historical fantasies are a new favorite sub-genre of mine and this is one that must be read by all!

I really liked the main characters Evie and Charlie. Both out there doing their best and also making some mistakes. I enjoy seeing flawed characters and the ups and downs of progression throughout. Romantically, I loved the slow burn between them and thought it was all very sweet and I am rooting for them come book two!

There were many interesting plot twists and turns and I would be curious to see more of the fae lands in the next book. I didn’t always love the frenemies group that Charlie and Evie ran around with though. They just weren’t my favorite.

It’s a fantastic debut and series starter book. I liked the pacing and that I felt engaged to the story the entire time. The little historical tidbits like boxing, speakeasy’s, and more rounded out this book incredibly well.

I’m so curious what will happen next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, physical altercations, light blood depiction

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