Review: Among the Heather by Samantha Young

Among the Heather by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an audio and print ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own. The narrators were fantastic! You can't go wrong with either either format. I find Samantha's books hard to put down no matter what form they come in and this book was no different.

This is book 2 in the The Highlands series, a spinoff of The Adair Family series. It does however read as a standalone. If you have read the previous book in this series, you will have met our main characters North and Aria and you will know that there is something between them. What you don't know is why they rub each other the wrong way. If you haven't met them yet, don't worry, each book in the series is a complete standalone and works as a companion to the other novels with the familiar setting of the Ardnoch Estate and the Scottish Highlands as a background and familiar characters that we've met in other novels that have their own novels and some characters that may be main characters in the future.

Aria Howard runs Ardnoch Estate, an exclusive members only club for celebrities to escape when they need a break from the public eye. She is daughter of a supermodel and Hollywood director, so she is well aware of the lifestyle patrons of the estate live and want to escape for a time. After several bad relationships with actors, she has vowed to never date another actor again. Enter North Hunter, a successful Scottish actor who has recently gotten some bad press for something that happened when he was a teenager. Hollywood and the media immediately judge him guilty without all of the facts, so he hides out in Ardnoch until he is ready to make a statement and deal with the fallout. Aria is immediately attracted to him, which makes her blood boil, so she is uncharacteristically judgmental and mean to him at every turn. This is more about her insecurities than North himself, so when her little sister intervenes and forces them to talk to one another, Aria finally lets her guard down a little and gets to know him a bit. Turns out he isn't like the other men she's dated in the past and might just be worth breaking down the walls she's constructed. North is patient, kind, and willing to go at her pace to make things work but at every turn external forces are determined to undermine what they are building.

This like the other books was great! It had a ton of emotion between the two main characters and great character development. This also has a good level of spice when the time comes, so if you are reading out and about or listening to the audiobook beware it is NSFW at times. Aria has alot of trauma to work through with past relationships and insecurity about her body. With North's help she slowly regains confidence in her appearance, trust in her relationship with him and her family, and confidence in herself. Like the other books this has a bit of a suspense subplot for each of our characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed North and Aria and cannot wait for Theo and Sarah's book out in February.

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Release Blitz: Broken Romeo by Katana Collins

 I was looking for a job, not a Romeo… 

Broken Romeo, an all-new enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and the first book in the Shattered Hearts series from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!

I’ve got three hundred bucks left in my bank account, two jobs, and one final chance to make it as an actress in New York City.

After years of being a chorus girl, I arrive at my first Broadway audition for a leading role thinking I finally have a shot at making it...until I come face to face with the director, Holden James—the rich quarterback from college who broke my heart and stabbed me in the back three years ago.

But I’m not the same girl I was in college. And unlike three years ago, I now know just what—and who—I’m dealing with. This time, I know how to play the game. In this cutthroat business, I need to remember the truest theatrical lesson of all:

For never was a story of more woe... than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3VS7BSV

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/brokenromeo

Add Broken Romeo to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3W2mCBK

For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website: 

https://katanacollins.com

https://www.patreon.com/KatanaCollins

Review: Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I don't know why but I love King Arthur lore.  I originally thought this was retelling, but it is not.  It certainly is a nice twist on Arthurian lore and I really like what the author did with this.  

Gwendoline is the daughter of the current king of Camelot and betrothed to Arthur, descendent of the famous King Arthur.  Gwen and Arthur can't stand each other, but their parents have decided that they should spend the summer together getting to know each other before they wed.  Shortly after his arrival, Gwen and Arthur discover secrets about one another and devise and advantageous plan that will help both of them.  You see Arthur definitively likes boys, and while Gwen has no experience liking anyone she very much feels some sort of way about Lady Knight Bridget.  They agree to play up their engagement, while seeking the company of their preferred partner.  Antics ensue.  In the meantime, Art and Gwen slowly develop a truce as they get to know one another.

This was a really cute coming of age story as the characters have to work together to save Camelot from those who seek to overthrow the King and seek love at the same time.  Arthur was hilarious and always up to something ridiculous.  Both Gwen and her brother Gabe were raised to believe in a set of rules and expectations that they had to abide by, whereas Art just did whatever he wanted no matter the consequences.   Art really inspired them to step out of their comfort zones a bit, break some rules, and make some new ones.  

This book is set in a historical setting but uses more modern language.  I think that is important to note as it will throw some readers off.  There are a few more violent scenes toward the end not related to the tournament that feel a bit out of place compared to the overall cozy nature of the book.  Overall though, I really enjoyed this.

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2023 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

In 2023 I'm going to try some different reading challenges.  I'm adding The Alphabet Soup challenge hosted by Dollycas to my repertoire this year.

You can sign up and find all of the info on Dollycas' blog post here.  This one sounds really fun and encourages using books you are reading for other challenges for the 

I'll be posting updates as I finish titles.  I always try to plan out my books in advance, but if the Popsugar and Book Riot reading challenges have taught me anything, it is that I almost never read what is on the plan.  Anything with a link has a review posted, so feel free to check out my thoughts.

Link to my google spreadsheet

A - The Angel Maker by Alex North

B - Begin Again by Emma Lord

C - Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati

D - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

E - Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

F - Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

G - The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

H - Hex You by PC and Kristin Cast

I - Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

J - Joy by Mike Bond

K - Kiss Me Forever by Anna B. Doe

L - Letter Late Than Never by Lauren Connolly

M - Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman

N - The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert

O - Only You by Samantha Young

P - Phaedra by Laura Shepperson

Q - The Quiet Tenant: A novel by Clémence Michallon

R - Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

S - Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame by Meg Long

T - This is How We Do It by Kevin Hart

U - Unseelie by Ivelisse Houseman

V - The Vinyl Frontier by Lola West

W - The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

X - Ex Libris by Matt Madden

Y - You Wouldn't Dare by Samantha Markum

Z - Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones

Review: Broken Romeo by Katana Collins

Broken Romeo by Katana Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the Author and LiterallyYours PR, all opinions are my own.  I did purchase a copy on release day.

This is the first book in the Shattered Hearts series and follows Kate and Holden as they navigate Broadway as well as deal with the fallout from their days acting in college where they met. I didn't realize there is also a prequel Shattered Juliet, which I have not read yet. I do plan on reading that soon to gain additional perspective. Broken Romeo is told from Kate's perspective in the present and 5 years ago from Holden's perspective via his journal.

Kate is a down on her luck actress. She's never really broken onto the scene despite being extremely talented. She's gotten some small parts, but she is at her breaking point. She is broke and about to get evicted when her agent calls about one last audition that might just be "the one". When she finds out her ex who singlehandedly broke her heart and ruined her career is directing the show she isn't so sure about the role. Holden has had a ton of success on the stage despite the fact that he was never destined to act. As a senior and a football player, he was short on credits and took a theater class to get an easy A and the credits he needed to graduate. There he meets innocent freshman Kate and gets the lead in the production of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Kate and Holden have chemistry both on and off the stage, and we learn through his journal entries about his developing feelings for her and the expectations put on him from his parents. Present day we are told upfront that Holden betrayed Kate at some point during their time in college but we never find out what exactly he did. When they reunite 5 years later during his directorial debut, Kate and Holden still have that same chemistry but it is fueled by her rage at what he did. We slowly get bits and pieces of the backstory with more to come in the next book.

This first book gives us insight into both characters in the past and where they are at today. Kate's character only just begins to show backbone I wanted to see from her when book 1 ends. I hoping we see more of that from her in book 2 as things are sure to heat up as the show progresses and more personality conflicts arise. The same goes for Holden. We've got alot of conflict brewing and he is in the middle of all of it. I'm looking forward to seeing how their characters develop in the next installment.

This does end on a cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Rebel Romeo, which comes out in February 2024. Fortunately we don't have to wait very long to find out what happens to our star-crossed lovers.

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Review: We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull

We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I listened to the audiobook as I did with book 1. As with all of my reviews, all opinions are my own.

This picks up a few years after No Gods, No Monsters with the world still reeling after the revelation that the supernatural monsters from myth do exist in the real world. Activist groups form for and against monsters living within society and the politics parallel what we see today regarding various minority groups. The author does a great job using the supernatural and horror elements in this series as allegory to discuss very real social commentary issues. The world building is very well done.

This is told in a non-linear fashion as the story unfolds and isn't always told in the same dimension as the author uses the concept of the multiverse to tell the story. I'm not sure if there is another book, I hope there is because I have alot of unanswered questions. You absolutely need to read the first book before diving into this book, as the world and way the story is told is complex. There is also a large cast of characters to keep track of so wouldn't start in the middle. I had a harder time keeping track of what was going on in this second installment as I did in the first book. The storyline keeps getting more and more complex. The ending is a bit open ended for my tastes, but I do believe this is a trilogy so I will patiently wait to find out how things play out. Turnbull is a masterful writer who uses fantasy and horror in a unique away to tell a powerful story.

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Review: Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert

Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an e-ARC and an Audio arc of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I appreciated having both formats available as there is alot going on in this book. There are multiple points of view and alot of characters to keep track of. Having the e-book handy to clarify plot points

This book is told from multiple points of view, and the audiobook is narrated by a male and female narrator who switch on an off depending on which POV. I think they both did a good job narrating their different parts and they did justice brining the creepy atmosphere that Markert dreamt up.

I jumped at the opportunity to read this early as I loved The Nightmare Man. This has that same creepy vibe and a balance of horror and thriller that I really like. If you are a fan of Stephen King like I am, I think you will really enjoy the way this novel is put together. While the story isn't a copycat in any way of one of King's novels, the way the book is constructed, the horror elements, the strangeness factor, etc remind me alot of some of my favorite King books. Why did I only give it only 3 stars you ask? The ending...the ending felt a bit rushed to me and unfinished. As we approach what I'll call the final battle, I had check if this was book 1 of a series because there was no way things could wrap up with only a small amount of pages left. While the book does end, I don't feel closure I like to have at the end of a book. Up until the last pages, I was really enjoying this book.

This follows Gideon after returning from a tour on active duty to his home town where strange things happen around the old train tunnel. Many a townsfolk have been maimed in and around the tunnel and no one can explain why. Gideon's own brother has been in a coma for years after entering the tunnel. Beth the local Deputy Sheriff is trying to explain the local uptick in violence in town related to the tunnel. Teddy hears voices that tell him to do bad things and along the way to do those bad things he collects others who do bad things. Teddy, Beth, Gideon and others who are all part of the story that culminates in the town of Herrod's Reach all have a part to play as the tunnel brings nightmares to life in this atmospheric and creepy story.

Overall, I thought the plot was unique and original. I really liked the use of the various creatures from mythology with relation to dreams an nightmares. The worldbuilding was well done and I enjoyed the interaction between characters. This is the type of horror book I enjoy where there is a sense of unease and a creep factor throughout. The only thing that kept me from giving this a higher rating was the ending. Perhaps there is more to this story, perhaps it was left more open ended on purpose for the reader to imagine what happens to the characters. I prefer to leave a novel with a sense of closure and I didn't get that here.

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Review: Flame by Adriana Locke

Flame by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Valentine PR, all opinions are my own. I immediately dropped this book and didn't put it down until I finished. I read it in two sittings and it delivered on all of the things you would have wanted from a series finale. It has all of the feels and spice to boot.

This is the long awaited series conclusion of the Carmichael Family series where we finally get to see the elusive Foxx Carmichael in his natural habitat. Foxx is the eldest of the Carmichael siblings, and while you don't have to read all of their books first, you are going to want to so you understand their family dynamics and all of the inside jokes. This is a complete standalone, so if you start here you will be perfectly fine. Those of us who have been longtime fans of the series, have been waiting to get to know the broody silent brother for quite some time. We met Bianca briefly in The Proposal as she is Renn Brewer's sassy sister. This is also where we get some major insight into what Foxx does all day when he isn't being tormented by Banks shenanigans. Don't worry you don't need to read that book either, but I highly recommend it!

This book opens with a classic Banks prank, if you know you know. If you don't know Banks, lets just say he lives for pulling pranks on his brothers, this time it is Foxx's turn. Foxx is saved by his best friend Jason and his sister Bianca. Foxx and Bianca have a complicated relationship which is code for they are attracted to each other but because of personal and professional relationships they haven't moved out of the friend zone. Bianca and her family have been dealing with the fallout of some very bad and possibly illegal decisions their father made and as acting president of the company she is very stressed and the target of those decisions gone wrong. Jason and Foxx convince her to stay with Foxx for a pseudo vacation while things calm down at home and she will be out of the spotlight. Her legal team is busy going over all of the contracts her dad drew up and they find one requiring Bianca be married by her next birthday or the family business she worked so hard on will be majorly impacted. She never wanted to get married, but when Foxx demands she marry him to protect herself it doesn't sound so bad. They agree to a marriage of convivence but quickly come to realize that their feelings for each other aren't so fake after all and things quickly heat up.

Foxx and Bianca were such a fun couple. He is broody and quiet, while she is talkative and goes a mile a minute. They perfectly balance each other. Their relationship took off really quickly, but they had a backstory so this doesn't have an insta-love feel to it because they were friends prior and know each other well. We've been waiting for a long time to get to know Foxx who typically communicates in grunts or one word sentences, and it was so nice to see him open up and have actual conversations with Bianca. At the same time Bianca is this powerful CEO who has her own personal struggles. She is strong supporting everyone else and the company and forgets to take care of herself, it was so nice to see her be embraced by Foxx's family unit and find the support she didn't know she needed. They had great chemistry and the spicy scenes will not disappoint. There were a lot of other great scenes but I don't want to spoil anything.

This was a great ending and a nice crossover book with the Brewer series with the next book out at the end of December. I loved the appearances with the other Carmichael siblings and their partners as well as their parents who are lovely. Damaris also finally gets her couch which I loved!
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Review: Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie

Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the Berkley Besties program and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  

This is a fast paced mystery/thriller following Syd, an archeologist working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  She uncovers tribal artifacts and remains and returns them to their tribal leaders to ensure they are handled with care and proper burial rights are performed.  She is reassigned from her current regional work to one closer to her hometown in Oklahoma when remains are found with her internship ID attached to them.  Syd has no desire to go home and revisit the trauma from her past, but upon her return she finds that her sister is missing and things just aren't adding up when she starts asking questions.

Syd lives with a lot of survivor guilt and rage from a traumatic event that occurred when she was a child.  She is driven by a sense of justice and vengeance in her adult life because she couldn't stop what happened that awful night.  Her sense of justice helps her with her day  job, bringing lost things back to their rightful owners and lost souls back to their families so they can gain closure and peace.  When she goes home, however her rage and need for revenge take over and her ability to think rationally are kind of thrown to the wayside.  I had a hard time connecting with her on that front, but I've never been in that kind of situation.  I think it is hard to say what I would do if I lost a loved one like that or dealt with some of the things she had to deal with.

I thought this was a captivating and well written story.  I did find it hard to follow at times as there are many characters to keep track of.  I also thought there were too many plot points to keep track of., however the author did a good job brining things together in the end.   I do appreciate that this novel is base in reality and it is horrible that drugs, crime, and corruption plague the indigenous tribes.  This does have a more true crime feel to it, so if you enjoy thrillers based on true stories this is a great read.  

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Review: The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I did end up listening to most of this book via audio via Hoopla in an effort to get my review up relatively close to release data. This book was released in early October, so my review is about a month late.

This book is a mashup of historical fiction and fantasy. It has an interesting magic system based on alchemy and historical alchemical practices. If you have read Baker's previous works, they are geared toward the young adult reader, however there are some dark themes and her work is not devoid of gore and violence. There is also a bit of a horror element to this much like there was with The Keeper of Night. There is a bit of a romance element, but it wasn't front and center and I didn't really feel the chemistry between the love interests.

This follows Fan Zilan, an aspiring alchemist from poor family and a poor village. Zilan was adopted by her aunt and uncle and she wants nothing more than to become a Royal Alchemist to send money home to support them and help them rise from poverty. She and her two cousins who she thinks of as her siblings, must travel to the city of Chang'an and take their civil service exams in the hopes of rising to a higher station and sending money home to their parents. Her cousins want to become scholars and Zilan who is self-taught wants to learn everything she can from the other alchemists. Upon arriving in the city they quickly learn that they can't trust anyone and that something strange is afoot at the palace.

I thought the characters were very immature at times. Zilan was insecure and reckless, then guilty about the outcomes. The Crown Prince, Hong, is also quite immature despite being next in line to be emperor and constantly in danger. I think younger readers will connect with these characters a lot more than I did. The world building was very well done and Baker did a great job on that front describing the alchemy and the monsters. There was quite a bit of court intrigue and she did a good job painting the picture of what was going on inside and outside the palace.

This does leave off on a bit of a cliffhanger, which sets us up for book two nicely. I do feel that we got closure for the most part with the storyline for book one, but this does leave us with some open questions on where the empire is headed and what Zilan will do next. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

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Review: An Ordinary Violence by Adriana Chartrand

An Ordinary Violence by Adriana Chartrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Edelweiss, all opinions are my own.

What did I just read?  I know there was a message here, but I struggle to understand what the author is trying to tell me.  Our main character Dawn was struggling with grief, oppression, poverty, and so much more.  I struggled with the pacing of the book and the way the chapters jumped around in the timeline.  At 50% into the book I felt like nothing had happened and I was struggling to understand the various plot elements that had been thrown at me and had yet to be resolved.  The chapters told in random points in Dawn life that eventually tell the story of various traumas she has experienced that explain some of her despair, but the random paranormal elements aren't explained well and felt out of place.

The synopsis of this book promises a horror book, but I struggled to find the horror elements.  There are some random paranormal elements in the book  that are symbolic of Dawn's pain and suffering.  This doesn't have the suspense and scares that I was anticipating from a horror novel, it is more real world, real person horror.  I really felt that the paranormal aspect could have been expanded and explained a bit more.

Overall, I think Chartrand's writing is very poetic and beautiful, and I would like to see more of it in the future but this story didn't fit my preference for a horror novel.  

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Review: Next-Door Nemesis: Fall in love with this delightfully steamy, enemies-to-lovers, small-town rom-com! by Alexa Martin

Next-Door Nemesis: Fall in love with this delightfully steamy, enemies-to-lovers, small-town rom-com! by Alexa Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the Berkley Besties program and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows down on her luck screenwriter Collins after a horrible breakup sends her back to her hometown in Ohio.  She had big dreams to make it big in California and leave Ohio behind.  I can totally relate to that, I said I was never coming home when I left for college and I live an hour from where I grew up.  Collins former best friend, Nate, happens to life in the same housing plan as her parents and is a successful realtor and a member of the HOA and he takes his duties a little too serious sometimes.  Nate and Collins had a falling out in high school and they both are holding on to some deep rooted feelings that have had a long time to fester.  Collins loves nothing but to get under Nate's skin, and in her latest attempt to rattle him she decides to run for the recently vacated HOA president position.  As they try to outwit and undermine each other at every turn, they start to get to know each other again and rekindle their friendship and chemistry they had as teens.

This was a cute frenemies-to-lovers second chance romance read.  It was quick and had some fun banter.  I really loved Collins relationship with her parents and her friendships with Ashleigh and Ruby.  Collins read a little immature and petty for my personal taste in a main character  Some of her behavior and the way she spoke was more relatable to a teenager or college student than an adult in her late 20s or early 30s.  Nate on the other hand takes himself too seriously.  I think for some it will add to the comedy of the book, and it will appeal to a broad range of readers.  I do think that having a war over the HOA president position is hilarious.  That is certainly a plotline I haven't read before and it made for a nice backdrop for our main characters to get to know each other again and rekindle their feelings for one another.

If you are looking for a fun rom-com that you can devour in a weekend pick this up.  I enjoyed the quirky characters and comedic situations we find out characters in throughout the book.

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Review: Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Grey’s Promotions, all opinions are my own.

This was such a cute holiday romance. It is a novella so if you are needing something short and sweet look no further!

This follows Iris, a super creative and successful designer who has been recently unlucky in love. Her meddling hockey player brother suggests she get away for a few days in a quaint mountain cabin to distress and reset before the holidays. What she doesn’t know is that he also gave the same advice to his best friend and teammate Kyler who is struggling with an injury and the rest of his season may be on the line. Kyler and Iris are complete opposites, but being forced to spend a few days together during a snowstorm might just be what they both needed.

I really enjoyed this. Kyler and Iris are truly opposites but they balance each other nicely. They start out as enemies but they quickly call a truce due to the forced proximity. She is a little bit of a brat and he’s a little bit of a jerk but they are both quick to call each other out on their respective nonsense. They had good banter and while I’m not usually a fan of an insta-love type story it works well here in the novella format and as the basis to see where things go. I appreciate that “I love yous“ weren’t thrown around after a few days together, instead a promise of let’s see what we can make of this connection is made.

If you are a fan of romances with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, meddling brothers, and the holidays this novella has it all. It is perfect for the upcoming holiday season when you need something cozy to read.

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Review: The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard

The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgally, all opinions are my own.

This book picks up right where The Luminaries left off. You are going to want to read that first or you will be completely lost reading this. Book 1 sets up the entire backstory of The Luminary society and how we got to this point in the storyline. The Hunting Moon continues on with major plotlines that were introduced in the first book.

This does end with a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or there will be more than three books in the series. There is obviously another book planned as this ends with several open plotlines and sets us up for more excitement in book 3.

This book has more of a scavenger hunt feel to it and doesn't focus as much on the monsters and world building that we saw in book 1. The world building is still great, but this book does expect that you have read the first installment and builds on that knowledge. Winnie is trying to unravel the clues her dad left her claiming he was framed by the Dianas, the witches that are the enemies of the Luminaries. She is also trying to help reclaim Luminary status for her mom and brother by becoming a hunter. After getting bitten by a werewolf she is a bit of a celebrity, but no one else has seen the new nightmare she has deemed The Whisperer. She is determined to unravel the clues her dad left and figure out what this new nightmare. As her quest continues she finds herself teaming up with her former best friend Jay. Jay has his own secrets that Winnie would like to figure out. Turns out all of the secrets and clues are much more related than Winnie could have ever imagined.

This is action packed and fast paced. There are times that Winnie acts very immature and holds grudges. She doesn't want anyone to know what she is up to and that she is having a bit of PTSD from her experiences. Eventually she starts to let Jay in on her feelings but it takes her quite some time to get there. There are alot of secrets being kept in this installment and there were a few times I wanted to yell at the teenagers too knock it off. Having teenagers myself who want to solve all of their own problems and don't want any of the advice they ask for, they were acting fairly accurately.

As with the first book this is perfect for the YA reader. It deals with your typical teenager stuff like going to school, family drama, and figuring out what to wear while also dealing with their secret monster hunting society stuff. This has a bit of a romance plot. Winnie is dealing with alot and at times is a bit reckless, but she acts like a teenager faced with big problems. She also looks for a trusted person to help but also knows that it may put her family in jeopardy and has to weigh the consequences. I am anxiously anticipating the next book in the series as there are so many unanswered questions that need to be answered.

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Release Blasts: Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 

Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills is now live!

From #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a brand new enemies to lovers holiday novella (40,000 words) about finding love in unexpected places.

Dear Sneaky Santa, 

I'd like to have a word about your sense of humor. Was it really necessary to stick me, a professional hockey player nursing an injury and avoiding the media, in an isolated cabin with a bratty, boot-designing princess who seems to have made it her mission to despise me? I mean, come on, what did I ever do to you?

And let's talk about our first encounter. Was it your intention for her to barge in on me while I was enjoying a soak in the tub? It wasn't exactly my finest moment, and I'm sure she didn't appreciate the view of my massive body floundering around as I tried to grab a towel.

Now, I'm stuck with her, thanks to a mutual acquaintance, in the middle of a snow blizzard, navigating through bear attacks, sketchy neighbors, and whole lot of tension. I had plans, Santa, plans to escape to Cabo and forget about the world, not to be trapped with a woman who thinks I'm unworthy of her time just because she can't stand hockey players.
Oh, and speaking of our delightful Iris, she's stingier with her food than Scrooge was with his pennies! I'm not asking for a feast, but a guy's got to eat! And could you possibly turn her yippy dog into a reindeer or something? It would certainly add to the Christmas spirit and save my eardrums.

I'm trying to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, and you throw me into this chaos? Is this some kind of test, or are you just having a jolly laugh up there in the North Pole?

So here's my Christmas wish, Santa: sprinkle a bit of your magic and either get me out of here or be a Cupid and ignite a fiery, undeniable passion between us, because right now, this scenario is frostier than a snowman.

Slapshotting Through the Snow, Kyler Blanchette

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Meet Ilsa Madden-Mills

#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances.

A former high school English teacher and librarian, 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.

 

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Review: Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

First of all the cover of this book is stunning! It immediately drew me in, and after loving Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove I was excited to read this. Unfortunately I did not love this.

The plot is very unique with the concept of the magical flowers each providing some sort of magic to the user. They grow in unlikely places and skilled flower hunters must risk their lives to find the precious flowers to sell them to help their people survive. Our main character Irinya is very skilled at flower hunting as is her best friend Fardan. Fardan finds one of the most precious flowers, that might be the key to saving the kingdom from invaders if it gets to the right hands. If the flower falls to the wrong hands the consequences could be devastating not only to Irinya and her tribe but everyone in the country.

This book just wasn't for me. I found the pacing too slow and the main character to be too irrational when it came to making decisions. I am all for a strong, independent female main character, but Irinya tented to act first and think later. She made alot of decisions that didn't go well for her and doesn't learn from her mistakes throughout the book. Everyone forgives her poor choices easily and lets her continue on her journey. Understandably she was the one who had to be the hero, but from the beginning she didn't rely on anyone to help her. I tend to enjoy plotlines where the main character has a good support system to rely on and support them. There are a few twists within the plot, but like the flower hunters wandering around until they find a treasure, I felt as the plot did the same. It kind of meanders until there is a twist or an action scene.

Overall, I'm really sad that this didn't work for me. The worldbuilding was great and the magic system was very unique, but the lack of character development and slow pacing left me disappointed. I do think that YA readers are really going to love this. It does have a very sweet friends to romance element, and while it didn't work for me I think there is an audience that is very much going to love it.

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LOVE MATCHED by Laney Hatcher & Smartypants Romance BLOG TOUR

 

Love Matched, an all-new charming opposites attract historical romance from Laney Hatcher, is available now in Kindle Unlimited!

There are three things you need to know about Lady Cassandra Fields:

1. Despite being beloved, this diamond of the first water has yet to land a husband.

2. Her bold personality and giving heart help fuel her charitable endeavors.

3. She’s looking for adventure--something beyond ballgowns, drawing rooms, and her ladylike skill with needle and thread.

Thus far, Cassandra’s abysmal luck has kept her from reaching her goals. With no husband and no household, she’s beginning to wonder if she has a future at all. A surprising encounter with a cunning thief brings more to light than Cassandra is prepared to handle. But the lady has never backed down from a challenge, and it seems this mystery man might have finally met his match.

When circumstances, once again, threaten Lady Cassandra’s dreams, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her careful plans for the thief who has stolen her heart.

‘Love Matched’, a Penny Reid Universe Reimagining, is a full-length historical romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #3 in the London Ladies Embroidery series, Smartypants Romance Out of this World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

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Excerpt

The fire was banked but my bedchamber was warm. I wandered in the relative darkness over to my dressing table and deposited my elaborate mask. Folding my shawl, I placed it on the cushioned seat before hearing a quiet tap on my balcony doors.

Something instinctual within told me who I would find. My heart accelerated with expectation rather than fear.

Moving cautiously, I went to the closed window overlooking the garden and down into the mews. I peered sidelong at the dark form standing just outside my exterior doors, on the second floor of my home.

Anticipation bloomed eager and hopeful, and I threw open the latch. Alexander stood sentry on the small balcony, his hair slightly tousled, expression guarded. His eyes dipped once again to my bodice, but returned admirably after just a moment.

“I was not ready to say good night,” he admitted, finally acknowledging his presence here in my home.

“Somehow I don’t imagine the lock would have posed a challenge for you.”

“I thought it better to ask permission rather than forgiveness.”

“That doesn’t sound like you at all,” I quipped.

He smiled, a weak and wounded thing. “Perhaps I am trying to be more respectable.”

I reached forward and tugged the lapels of his jacket. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

As we moved within, I felt him smile against my lips before he reached low around my thighs and hoisted me up. His boot lifted and he pushed the balcony door gently shut. Then we were shuffling, in the dark, toward my bed. Alexander didn’t bother turning down the coverlet. My back landed softly and he followed, lips still caressing mine.

His weight was a delicious press in the darkness. I felt both bound and safely ensconced. My legs were wide but the bunch of my skirts inhibited full contact between us. I felt his tongue ease forward and lick into my mouth, the heat and movements slow and seductive. One large hand still clutched my outer thigh while the other supported his upper body where he hovered above me.

I broke away from his mouth and squirmed in his arms, reaching for a candle and a match on my bedside table.

“Leave it,” he begged, voice rough and strained. “If I clearly see your face, your body, I’ll come to my senses and climb down your trellis, calling myself every kind of fool for forgetting my place.”

“Your place,” I said, “is right here. With me.” 

About Laney Hatcher

Laney Hatcher is a firm believer that there is a spreadsheet for every occasion and pie is always the answer. She is an author of stories that have a past, in a language of love that’s universal. Often too practical for her own good, Laney enjoys her life in the southern United States with her husband, children, and incredibly entitled cat.

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