Review: Hera by Jennifer Saint

Hera by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

The narrator was wonderful in this portrayal of Hera as told by Jennifer Saint.  

I've really grown to love Saint's Greek mythology retellings from the female perspective.  When I was growing up, all of the Greek mythology featured the male heroes and gods.  I don't think I realized how terrible the gods and heroes were, or maybe I was reading more sanitized versions of the myths.  Hera was always portrayed as bit of a villain especially when it came to Zeus and Heracles.  She was one of my least favorite goddesses of the pantheon.  Saint's version paints Hera in a different light and explains the motivation for many of her actions.

This tale begins with Hera, Zeus and the others overthrowing the Titans and takes us through her reign as queen of Olympus.  She has always been painted as cruel and vengeful, however we learn that her rage and cruelty was not without purpose and motivation.  Hera never wanted to be Zeus' wife or the goddess of marriage.  We come to find out how that came to pass, and that she wasn't just a petty and jealous wife, she was always plotting against Zeus for making her less powerful instead of his equal.  Her schemes to overthrow him and hurt the things he loves always seem to fail, yet it doesn't stop her from trying.

I really enjoyed this.  It takes us through many of the well known myths and features all of the well known gods and goddesses from Greek mythology as well as some lesser known stories and characters.  I really appreciated Saint's comprehensive look at the creation of the Olympus and the Olympians through to it's downfall.  We walk with Hera through her traumas, her joyful moments, her anger, her frustration, and many other emotional moments on her journey to find a purpose and heal from the hurt Zeus has caused her.

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Review: Forbidden Romeo by Katana Collins

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

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Literally Yours PR, all opinions are my own.

This is the conclusion of the Shattered Hearts Trilogy, and I'm really happy with how things wrapped up. This doesn't read as a standalone, you really need to read the series in order 1. Broken Romeo 2. Rebel Romeo, and finally 3. Forbidden Romeo to really understand what happened between the main characters Kate and Holden. I feel you can get away without reading the companion novellas from Kate's perspective during their time in college (Shattered Juliet and Ruined Juliet) but they do add some details that you don't get in the Romeo books. I would recommend reading all of them in publication order so they make sense.

As with the previous books in the series this is told from Kate/Katherine's perspective current day and Holden's perspective 5 years ago via journal entries when they were in college together. This picks up where book 2 left off with Kate reeling from several major blows to her professional and personal lives as those around her continue to try to break her and her newly rekindled relationship with Holden. All of the secrets, lies, and betrayals are finally revealed between the present day scenes and Holden's journal entries. We finally learn what happened between Kate and Holden that was so terrible that they hadn't spoken for 5 years prior to their current production and why everyone is so hell bent on ruining Kate's future as an actress.

This was such a fitting conclusion to the series! We finally learn about the tragic ending to Kate and Holden's relationship in college and we get to see them rekindle things and face everyone that got in their way in the present. I really liked the character development we get from both Kate and Holden throughout the series, but we really get to see how far the have both come in this final installment both personally and professionally. If you are looking for a good enemies to lovers with a Romeo and Juliet theme, give this series a go. I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was adorable and if I could visit Boneyard Key as a tourist I would!  I love Halloween and all things spooky, so this sounds like my kind of town.

This follows Cassie, an Orlando native, who recently moved to the small town of Boneyard Key, where tourists flock to visit for the towns local haunts pun intended.  Nick runs the local coffee shop, and he happens to have a very special roommate, Elmer is the original owner of Hallowed Grounds and loves to tell Nick what to do.  Cassie and Nick don't get off to the best start, but her frequent trips to the coffee shop quickly turn things around as they get to know each other.  Her laptop won't charge and it is a critical part of her work from home job, especially now that she has a mortgage.  Everything checks out with her electricity, and her laptop charges fine at the coffee shop or when someone else plugs it in at home, so she turns to the paranormal experts in the Key to see if there is something else wrong in her house.  Turns out Cassie has an unexpected roommate too.  Her house is famous around Boneyard Key, but it turns out the stories aren't exactly true, Cassie is determined to find out the truth about the Hawkins House and learn more about her spectral roomie.

This was such a fun book as we learn about the history of the town and Cassie and Nick get to know each other.  I really like the way the author had both of them communicate with their ghosts, it was really creative and something I don't think I've seen before.  Nick and Cassie take their time getting to know one another, and it seems like every time they take a step forward in their relationship something gets in the way and sends them two steps backward.  I actually appreciated this, because while you knew there was going to be a romantic element between them it didn't take center stage and they actually got to know each other a bit first and got to have some serious conversations before making big declarations.  I love a slow burn romance when done well and I really enjoyed this one!  This is low on the spice scale.

I don't believe I've read anything else by the author in the past, but I am certainly in if there are more books in the series and I'll be checking out more books.  Overall I loved this small town romance with a paranormal twist.  It was really unique and I really enjoyed the creativity the author brought to the table with the plot and the characters.

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Review: This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

This follows Elise, musical prodigy and eldest living child of the Saint vampire aka reaper hunting empire. She returns home from studying piano in France to visit her family to find Harlem more dangerous than when she left. Her father has named her younger sister heir to the empire, but Elise wants nothing more than to protect her sister, so she makes him a bargain he can't resist. This puts her in harms way and back in touch with her former best friend Layla who was turned several years ago. Layla has a vendetta against the reapers, but when she is framed for a crime she didn't commit she must work with Elise to uncover what is going on in reaper territory and causing chaos on her turf. The former friends uncover more than they bargained for as they learn about what happens behind closed doors between the reapers, the Saints, and those with deep pockets to keep the city running.

I found this to be a bit too long, and while I can appreciate a longer book with a slow burn plot this didn't keep my interest. There wasn't enough action, character development, or paranormal elements to keep me invested in listening to the book. This had all of the elements of a novel I would normally be very interested in vampires, a mystery element, morally grey characters, a romance; however the execution didn't work for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between Layla and Elise, I would have preferred the repair their friendship before delving into a romance.

Overall, I think this has all of the elements to be a great book and series, however it missed the mark for me. I think younger readers will really enjoy this. I think the slower pace paired with the author trying to tackle alot of topics in one book made it hard for me to focus on what was going on. The author does tackle some heavy and important topics, but I lose track if there are too many at once. This book reminded me quite a bit of These Violent Delights as it has some similar elements and is about the same length. I really enjoyed These Violent Delights, and while there are some major differences between the two tales if you liked one of these you may enjoy the other.

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Blog Tour: Forbidden Romeo by Katana Collins

 

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives? No offense, Shakespeare… but not this time. Not if I have any say over it.

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

Love is a four-letter word in Holden Dorsey’s family.

And I finally see why. For once, all the secrets locked away in this family surface. All the betrayals.

On the eve of our Broadway debut together, Holden’s ex comes back into the picture to drop the biggest secret of all.

She thinks she can ruin everything. The show. My career. My relationship.

But the only thing that would be more tragic than losing Holden… would be losing myself.

This time, I’m rewriting my ending. I refuse to fall on that knife for anyone ever again.

This time, Juliet not only lives… but she thrives.

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xk0Pgv  

Add Forbidden Romeo to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/frkcgr    

Start the Shattered Hearts Trilogy today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

https://amzn.to/4e1Abtu

Keep reading for a look inside Forbidden Romeo!

      There are moments in life when the world slows down like a movie. Moments that I know, no matter what, will replay in my head over and over, imprinting on me.

      Sometimes they’re moments I never want to forget. Other times, like now, I just know I’ll have to live this nightmare over and over again.

      So when the beautiful brunette exits out of Holden’s dressing room, I know in my gut she’s going to change my life irrevocably. She’s wearing jeans, a simple button down top, and a nervous smile as she glances between Missy and me. “I thought we were meeting with Holden?” the woman asks.

      “We will,” Missy says calmly. “But first, I wanted you to meet Kate. Kate, this is Megan.”

      Confused, I give the woman a slight nod as a hello. Who is she? Why is Missy bringing her out to meet me now?”

     “Katherine?” Holden’s voice on the phone tries to get my attention, but my focus is locked on Megan and I can’t bring myself to answer him. “Katherine, please,” Holden begs. “Are you there?”

      Megan opens her mouth to speak, regret seemingly washing over her features. “I really think we should wait for Holden in the other room.”

      We.

      Right then, a young boy steps out from behind her frame. He must be about eight years old or so.

      He has Holden’s dark hair. Holden’s high cheekbones. And most notably, his amber brown eyes.

      “Megan,” I whisper. As in Holden’s ex-girlfriend.

      I drop the phone to my side as Megan shuffles herself and the little boy backwards toward Holden’s dressing room.”

      Missy leans in behind me, whispering, “Can’t you just see the headlines? A Comedy of Errors: The Secret Lovechild of Holden James!” I squeeze my eyes shut against the burning pain in my sinuses as she adds, “All you have to do is give me your part and all this can go away.”

      Only it can’t go away. It won’t. Because I’ll always know the truth.

      This… this changes everything.”

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

https://katanacollins.com

Review: The Arrangement by Adriana Locke

The Arrangement by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

The narrators were excellent.  They did a great job bringing Jason and Chloe to life.  They brought the emotion and banter to the forefront and I couldn't put the audiobook down.

This reads as a complete standalone, but it does mention other characters that we have met previously in earlier books.  It isn't necessary to read those prior to reading this, however if you want to get to know everyone and get the full backstory about what happened with Jason's dad, you will want to read Foxx and Bianca's book Flame.  We first meet Renn and Blakely in the Proposal, but again it isn't necessary to read either of those to understand the plot of this book.

This follows Jason, a pilot, former member of military special forces, and current CEO of Brewer Air.  He is capable, charming and handsome.  It is no wonder his assistant Chloe has had a crush on him for most of her life.  They grew up together and now work together.   Chloe is a great assistant, but she is struggling to make ends meet as she works as Jason's assistant and tries to take care of her ailing grandmother.  

Jason and his brothers are always competing and making bets, so when a bet regarding relationships and marriage is on the table, it might just be a way for Chloe to dig her way out of her financial hole and for Jason to win a bet with his brothers.  It also doesn't hurt that Jason and Chloe and scratch that itch that they both feel when it comes to the attraction that they both feel.  I loved how Jason and Chloe complimented each other.  They both like taking care of the people they love in different ways.  Chloe isn't used to being taken care of, but Jason is determined to spoil her and make sure she and her grandmother are cared for in the hopes that their marriage of convenience becomes a marriage of permanence.  

This is a fast paced read, and I really enjoyed getting to know Jason and Chloe. I'm also a sucker for a great grandparent character.  If you like Adriana's other family series, this is fun one and I look forward to reading about the other Brewer siblings.

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Release Blitz: Forbidden Romeo by Katana Collins

 

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives? No offense, Shakespeare… but not this time. Not if I have any say over it.

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

Love is a four-letter word in Holden Dorsey’s family.

And I finally see why. For once, all the secrets locked away in this family surface. All the betrayals.

On the eve of our Broadway debut together, Holden’s ex comes back into the picture to drop the biggest secret of all.

She thinks she can ruin everything. The show. My career. My relationship.

But the only thing that would be more tragic than losing Holden… would be losing myself.

This time, I’m rewriting my ending. I refuse to fall on that knife for anyone ever again.

This time, Juliet not only lives… but she thrives.

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xk0Pgv  

Add Forbidden Romeo to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/frkcgr    

Start the Shattered Hearts Trilogy today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

https://amzn.to/4e1Abtu

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

https://katanacollins.com

Review: The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program.

This is a zany story that follows Ember as one little white lie on her resume snowballs into more lies than she can keep track of.  Some of them are innocent, while others start to get serious and impact her life, relationships, and even her new job.  I didn't have an issue with her fibbing about her ethnicity on her job application. I know that is a real thing that happens and I wish companies would stop asking those demographic question.  None of that actually matters when it comes to job performance.  I had an issue when she started lying about her cat allergy and continues to lie about completely stupid stuff and then lies about stuff she knows is unethical but does it anyway.  I know it was supposed to add an element of humor to the book, but the humor didn't always hit.  It felt like she kept making a bigger mess of things instead of trying to straighten things out.

The author did a great job capturing the various types of aggressions that one experiences in an office environment.  I've never worked at a start-up but I've worked in the corporate world for almost 20 years and have certainly experienced or seen misogyny and other types of questionable behavior during my career.  Ember was really naïve and lacked experience, so  I kept hoping she would ask someone for help or mentorship, even if it were Danuwoa.  The two of them had great chemistry first as friends and then as a couple.  If she were going to trust anyone it should have been him.  It is addressed in the book why she has a hard time asking for help, and that makes some of her decisions and actions make more sense as we approach the end of the book.

I'm so glad that Berkley published this Own Voices Rom Com, and I hope to see more of them in the future.  

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Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
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.

If you like dark fairytale retellings this one is worth picking up.  I don't think I've ever read Goose Girl, but I'll be checking out the original tale this is based on.  I always like to read the original work when reading a retelling if I haven't read.  Kingfisher's retellings are quickly becoming my favorites and this is another one to add to your TBR.  She always puts her own unique spin on the original work and makes it her own. 

This is told from the perspectives of Cordielia a 14 year old girl who has basically lived her young life as a recluse, and Hester a 51 year old spinster set in her ways.  Their paths collide when Cordelia's mother decides she must marry a rich man to support them.  Hester immediately picks up that Cordelia's interactions with her mother are not normal, and that her brother is immediately smitten with the woman.  Hester is determined unravel the puzzle that is the the woman she nicknames "Doom" and her daughter.  Cornelia and Hester quickly become friends and team up to defeat Doom.  This is highly atmospheric and has worldbuilding I've come to expect from Kingfisher.  It has great fantasy and horror elements that aren't over the top.

Hester and Cordelia's parts in the audiobook are narrated by different people which I thought was a nice touch as they often switch POVs within a chapter.  I makes it easy for the listener to know who the main point of view is even when Cordelia and Hester are talking to one another.  Both narrators were fantastic and did a wonderful job brining this dark tale to life.

If you are a fan of Kingfisher or dark fairytales I highly recommend this.  I can't speak to the aspect of the retelling as I haven't read Goose Girl.  I found this highly engaging and entertaining

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Review: House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
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.

The narrator did a great job voicing the different characters and kept the pacing moving along wonderfully.  She did a good job adding emotion and tension in the right places.  

This was a really interesting phycological thriller.  It follows attorney Stella as she works a case to figure out the best custody arrangement for young client Rose.  Rose's parents have filed for divorce after their live in nanny fell out a window and it came to light that she was having an affair with Rose's father.  Rose has stopped speaking after the horrible events in her home, so it is Stella's job to put together the facts and determine what the most suitable and safe environment for Rose will be after the divorce.  As she gets to know the family, it is clear that they are hiding something and they know more about the nanny's death than they are letting on.  The closer she gets to the truth, the more likely it is that anyone of them could have murdered the nanny including nine year old Rose.  As Stella investigates the case, trauma from her own past surfaces, and she struggles to keep her own feelings out of the case she is investigating as her past overlaps her present.

This kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.  One second I was convinced it was the daughter, the next it was one of the parents, then it was the grandmother, then in the next chapters I changed my mind again.  The author does a good job providing the reader with a good amount of red herrings to keep you guessing but does leave enough clues lead you to the right answer.  I also enjoyed learning about Stella's background story, it had you wondering if it was a distraction from the main plot, if she was projecting her own trauma onto the case or if she was doing a better job because of her past.  I do think the addition of the romantic subplot was a bit unnecessary, it was a small part of the book so it wasn't that distracting.

Overall I enjoyed this, I thought I had great pacing, and while I normally don't like books with small children in them when it comes to thrillers this one was worth the read.

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Review: Bananapants by Penny Reid

Bananapants by Penny Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This reads as a complete standalone, but if you have been a Penny Reid fan for a long time you will recognize some of the characters that make appearances.  This follows Ava and Desmond, who happen to be children of Fiona and Greg and Janie and Quinn from the Knitting in the City series.  If you have read and loved that series, their are appearances from some of the other characters from that series. Ava and Desmond were best friends until he ghosted her at 15 and they haven't spoken in years.  They run into each other at a party where Ava is impersonating a friend of hers, and Des is working a job.  This kicks off a series of events full of comedy, discussions about mental health, and action packed Robin Hood type shenanigans as Ava and Des reenter each others lives.  As they get to know each other again, they fall right back into their best friend roles, only this time there is undeniable attraction between them.  Their romance is a little unorthodox, especially as they are both inexperienced in different ways, but they figure it out especially when they realize communication is key.  I loved getting to know them.

I'm not sure if this is going to be a new series with the second generation of Knitting in the City characters, but if it is I'm here for it.  I absolutely adore Penny's books and will read whatever she writes.  Her books are always a mix of comedy, romance, emotion, and thoughtful subject matter.  In this installment we get the very real topic of bipolar disorder.  The author is very open about the representation in the book and the neurodiverse nature of her characters.  Make sure you read the author's note.  I always love the amount of research and care Penny puts into her books because I always learn something new and I get an entertaining read with wonderful characters.  I loved this and I loved that we got to revisit with some favorite characters from the past.

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Review: Northern Twilight by Samantha Young

Northern Twilight 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 by own.

This book like all of the other books in the series does read as a complete standalone, however it does feature characters that we have gotten to know over the course of the series.  Callie and Lewis were children in previous installments when we met their parents, now they are all grown up and we learn how they went from best friends as kids to high school sweethearts to not speaking to one another.  

Lewis and Callie both left Ardnoch after high school.  Lewis moved to London for university and is beginning his career as an architect.  He is beginning to feel the pull to move back home and be closer to his family, but he is still heartbroken over losing Callie.  She's recently moved back home to work at her mother's bakery after a stint in Paris studying pastry arts.  Callie was adamant she never wanted to leave Scotland and their small town, so naturally Lewis is confused by her actions and their breakup.  When they run into each other in London, all of those unresolved feelings come rushing back and they both let emotion and passion lead them.  

As with the other books set in Ardnoch this has a bit of a suspense element to it.  It doesn't overtake the main romance plot between Lewis and Callie as they navigate getting to know one another again, but strange things keep happening to them that threaten to upend their happiness.  I really enjoyed getting to know Lewis and Callie as adults.  I thought it was a nice creative touch that this was told in both the present and the past.  We get to know them both as teenagers when their romantic relationship was developing and as it fell apart and we get to know them as adults as they start dating again and re-establishing their relationship and navigate the things that tore them apart in the first place.  Callie has to deal with the emotional trauma from her past as well as all of the local gossips wanting to stir up drama for her and her family.  Fortunately she has a strong support system, and she and Lewis slowly ease their way back to what they once had only better.  This has a good amount of spice and was a great second chance romance!

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Review: The Dead Cat Tail Assassinsby P. Djèlí Clark

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  Listening to the audiobook was even better than reading the book.  The narrator was wonderful, she did an amazing job voicing all of the characters.  It was like there were multiple narrators with all of the accents and voices she created for this book.  It was such a rich listening experience and really brought Clarks vivid world and characters to life.

I read this back in April when it was originally scheduled to release in the spring, but I jumped on a chance to listen to the audiobook.  I absolutely loved the audiobook and highly recommend picking this up in whatever format you prefer.  This was originally supposed to release in April, however the publication date has moved to August. This novella is roughly 200 pages in print, bringing it to just over 7 hours of listening time.  I listened to it in a day and couldn't put it down.  It is a fast paced and action packed mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Each one if Clark's books mixes a bit of steampunk, science fiction, and fantasy into a unique story that you don't want to put down. The world building is excellent, and even in a short time you come to love the characters!

Eveen is a member of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins', they are a guild of undead assassins governed by contracts and godling laws. When presented with what appears to be a proper contract, Eveen finds herself unable to fulfil the contract which could bring down the wrath of Aeril, the goddess she and those like her serve, on not only herself bur her entire guild.

Eveen and her mark, set out on a mission to figure out how to undo the contract through time and space without destroying the entire city before the sun comes up. Eveen and Sky offset each other like night and day, while using everything at hand to figure out how to circumvent the contract and set things to rights. This had everything I would want from a great story, good humor, engaging plot, interesting characters, and it was a lot of fun!

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