Sunday, January 31, 2021
Review: A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This comes out Febraury 2, 2021.
I really enjoyed this. It blends two of my favorite genres in a fairly complex storyline. If you have read Neuvel's work before you will notice a similar feel with the mixed media style of writing and his own brand of humor. There is that same type of format here, where there will be traditional paragraphs of writing then it will break in to dialogue between characters. I actually really enjoyed that, but that format is not something everyone likes and is worth noting.
This follows Sarah and Mia, a mother-daughter pair, who come from a long line of mother-daughter pairs not of this earth. They are the Kibsu, women who live by simple rules but who are always at the forefront of technology and discovery. Sarah has positioned Mia to be part of the space race, and with her brilliant mind and ability to convince other scientists to do her bidding Mia is able to get the smartest men from Germany and Russia to build rockets for her. Meanwhile, Sarah and Mia always have to be on the lookout for the Tracker, an unknown entity that is constantly hunting them.
We slowly learn about the Kibsu, who they are and what they are doing on Earth. There are plenty of unanswered questions, but Sarah and Mia carry out their mission though they aren't always sure why. For generations the women of the Kibsu have done as their mother's have bid them, but Mia is trying to break that mold a bit and wants answers to questions math, science, and her mother can't give her. She doesn't want to continue running and hiding from an unknown enemy. She does however want to see her ideas and rocketry designs make it to space. The character development is complicated in this book, as we have Mia who wants to break the mold, but there is only so much she can do to get away from who she is at a base level. Sarah has similar feelings, but at the end of the day she must follow the rules all Kibsu women have for generations. While we don't see much from the perspective of the Tracker, he also has a bit of a struggle with mission over personal choice. This is all set in the real world, during real events beginning in the 40s, so the world building is done very well.
I highly recommend reading the "Further Reading" chapter, as it is basically an author's note and summary about all of the research he did to write this book. As many of the events in the book are historically accurate, I really appreciate the care he took with the history while also weaving a really wonderful science fiction take around them. I'm a huge fan of this era of history as well as science fiction and I feel that that Neuvel did a great job blending the two. That being said this book is not going to be for everyone. I absolutely loved it, however sci-fi fans who are not big on historical fiction may not and historical fiction fans may find the science and math a bit too technical.
I'm hoping this is a series, as Goodreads now has this labeled as if it is one. I went into reading it as though it were a standalone. It ends as if it could go either way. No major cliffhanger, but definitely room for more. I'd especially like to know more about the Kibsu, I felt like we only learned part of their story and there is so much more to it. If there is more to this story I'd gladly read more.
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Friday, January 29, 2021
Review: Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chada
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Thursday, January 28, 2021
AUDIO RELEASE BLITZ PACKET: The Romantic Pact by Meghan Quinn
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Review: Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 5
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Monday, January 25, 2021
Review: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not nearly as good as Ready Player One, but I did end up really enjoying it. The first half was pretty slow, but the second half really picks up and you find yourself back in a similar situation to the first book filled with cheesy humor and pop culture trivia of some of my favorite movies and books as the High Five team up on another quest. There are still plenty of video game references, but it isn't as game reference heavy as book 1. I appreciated that as I am not and have never been a big gamer.
After finishing this I now feel like I need to finally read my copy of The Silmarillion, go watch 16 Candles, listen to Prince's greatest hits, all while wearing my best 80's cosplay. Much like book 1 this brought back tons of memories for this child of the 80's.
Overall, while the pacing was off, and the quest kind of felt like a repeat of the first book, I still thought this was fun.
As always Wil Wheaton did an awesome job with the narration of the audiobook
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Friday, January 22, 2021
Review: Steal My Magnolia by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Blog Tour: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills
“Madden-Mills masterfully handles the protagonists’ insecurities and traumas to produce a love story that’s equal parts tantalizing, gut-wrenching, and sweet.” --Publishers Weekly
Not My Match, an all-new sports romance full of smoking hot chemistry from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills, is available now!
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and
sexy romance about a professional football hottie and the girl he’s sworn to
never touch.
Homeless and heartbreakingly innocent, Giselle Riley walks
into my penthouse and chaos follows.
I shouldn’t have invited the girl
genius to live with me, but it’s clear she needs my help—not only for a place
to lay her pretty blonde head but in finding real love, which she’s not going
to get with the crazy men she picks up online.
Too bad she’s a
twenty-four-year-old virgin and I’m a bad boy wide receiver. She’s off limits
for a hardcore player like me—and we’re just friends.
Instead, I’m her
matchmaking service, no matter how jealous it makes me when I tag along on her
dates.
I can keep my self-control. Right? No way will I give in to
everything inside me that dreams of a girl like her in my world.
I may be
the best wide receiver in the country, but how could I hold on to a girl like
her?
Download your copy or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kZF7mm
Amazon Worldwide:
http://mybook.to/notmymatch
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2SnXqpn
Amazon
Audio: https://amzn.to/3mXjbu9
About Ilsa Madden-Mills
Wall Street Journal, New York
Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for
her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.
Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
Connect with Ilsa
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nY2pxT
Instagram:
http://bit.ly/35xfNfo
Stay up to day with Ilsa by joining her mailing
list: http://bit.ly/2ZWaTYh
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2EESfM9
Bookbub:
http://bit.ly/2GaR6cn
Book+Main: http://bit.ly/2s4j9ci
Website:
https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com
Join her Unicorn Girls Group on FB, the
best way to keep up: http://bit.ly/37B6Nay
Sign up for phone alert for
book releases (max of 4) Text ROMANCE to 21000
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Release Blitz: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills
“Rife with uproarious moments and banter that sings, this scorching contemporary will captivate Madden-Mills’s fans.” —Publishers Weekly
Not My Match, an all-new slow burn friends-to-lovers sports romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is available now!
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy romance about a professional football hottie and the girl he’s sworn to never touch.
Homeless and heartbreakingly innocent, Giselle Riley walks into my
penthouse and chaos follows.
I shouldn’t have invited the girl genius to
live with me, but it’s clear she needs my help—not only for a place to lay her
pretty blonde head but in finding real love, which she’s not going to get with
the crazy men she picks up online.
Too bad she’s a twenty-four-year-old
virgin and I’m a bad boy wide receiver. She’s off limits for a hardcore player
like me—and we’re just friends.
Instead, I’m her matchmaking service, no
matter how jealous it makes me when I tag along on her dates.
I can keep
my self-control. Right? No way will I give in to everything inside me that
dreams of a girl like her in my world.
I may be the best wide receiver in
the country, but how could I hold on to a girl like her?
Download your copy or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kZF7mm
Amazon Worldwide:
http://mybook.to/notmymatch
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2SnXqpn
Amazon
Audio: https://amzn.to/3mXjbu9
Add NOT MY MATCH to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3l2SVfR
About Ilsa Madden-Mills
Wall Street Journal, New York
Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for
her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.
Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
Connect with Ilsa
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nY2pxT
Instagram:
http://bit.ly/35xfNfo
Stay up to day with Ilsa by joining her mailing
list: http://bit.ly/2ZWaTYh
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2EESfM9
Bookbub:
http://bit.ly/2GaR6cn
Book+Main: http://bit.ly/2s4j9ci
Website:
https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com
Join her Unicorn Girls Group on FB, the
best way to keep up: http://bit.ly/37B6Nay
Sign up for phone alert for
book releases (max of 4) Text ROMANCE to 21000
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Review: Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Review: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Game Changer's series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are some mentions of events that take place in Not My Romeo, which will make more sense if you read that first, however the author gives you enough background for it all to make sense. I loved Not My Romeo and highly recommend you read as well, and it is on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. Not My Match comes out on Tuesday January 19, 2021. Go grab book 1 while it is on sale and get caught up on Jack and Elena's story before Devon and Giselle's story releases. You can thank me later.
This follows brainy and inexperienced Giselle on her quest to finish her masters degree and PHD in Physics as well as find a suitable partner in life. So far she has be unlucky in love and as her next birthday approaches, she is sure that the "birthday curse" is going to strike yet again. Every year around her birthday something terrible happens and this year is no different, the only exception is that extremely hot football player Devon is there to rescue her and help her put the pieces of her life back together as it is falling apart. Devon is Jack's best friend. If you have read Not My Romeo, you will remember Jack as the leading man from that book, and you will know that Jack is married to Giselle's sister Elena. This takes place directly after Jack and Elena's wedding, while they are on their honeymoon. Jack, as the quarterback of the local football team, looks at Giselle as his own sister and has told the team to stay away from her, so when Devon finds himself undeniably attracted to her he tries to push her away. Unfortunately, Giselle is having a crappy week and Devon offers to help her out with a place to stay after her house burns down.
This is a fairly slow burn as Devon tries to stay away from Giselle, but after listening to her sci-fi romance that she's writing and getting to know her, eventually they can't deny what is between them. I actually appreciated the slower burn between them as it forced them to get to know each other. Both of the characters have some baggage to deal with, and they both had to lay their feelings on the table for this to work in the end. I also really loved that the author addressed the male chauvinism in STEM, there aren't enough brilliant women in STEM and the old fashioned "boys club" mentality has to go.
I also love the Daisy Lady Gang. This book has wonderful side characters and I hope to see more of them in the next book. I expect Aiden, the up and coming quarterback and Jack's frenemy to get a book in the near future. If you like a good slow, burn romance, with great characters, a little bit of humor, and some mild angst make sure to pick this up when it comes out.
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Sunday, January 10, 2021
Review: The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Review: Reputation by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Purchase links:
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Tuesday, January 5, 2021
BLOG TOUR: Reputation by Adriana Locke
Friday, January 1, 2021
Review: Lore by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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