Review: All Folked Up by Penny Reid

All Folked Up by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I've been waiting for Isaac Sylvester's book for years! He's been in Penny's books over the years glaring at everyone, but if you have kept up with the going's on in Green Valley you know he was an undercover agent as a member of the Iron Wraith motorcycle gang and went by the name Twilight. Now he's on a new mission to bust an evil man trafficking women and children, who happens to frequent the local gentlemen's club. No one really knows Isaac, why he disappeared when he was 17 or who he is now. He doesn't talk much, and he's kind of intimidating unless he is around Hannah. Hannah is the new manager of the Pink Pony, she has just retired as a dancer but the night she meets Isaac things go sideways. He needs her help to catch his man and she agrees. Due to a misunderstanding their relationship doesn't get off to a great start, but once lines get uncrossed they start to get to know each other and realize they might actually like each other. Things get kind of steamy from there.

I was so happy to be back in Green Valley with so many of the Winston's and other beloved characters. Isaac has been a man of mystery for so long, but we finally get to understand his back story and how he got to be so scary. Not only is there great banter in this book between Hannah and Isaac, but there is alot of emotional content too. Hannah and Isaac have some great conversations, Tina is a great surprise and a wonderful side characters, Jenn and Isaac finally have their reckoning, and we get some great Cletus moments. I loved the action and the humor in this as well as the more serious moments.

This can be read as a complete standalone. I realized when I was reading this that I haven't read Folk Around and Find Out yet (Hank's book), and I was able to follow along just fine. I just finished all of the Smartypants universe fall releases and it was fitting that I wrapped up with an actual Penny Reid book, she is and always will be one of my favorite authors!

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Review: The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
My rating: 3 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 an emotional second chance romance.  Both Eli and Georgia have some hang-ups when it comes to relationships and self-worth.  Instability in their childhood has caused lasting trauma.  They have known each other since high school, and their best friend Adam is about to marry the love of his life.  Unfortunately for Adam and his bride to be everything that could go wrong does, and Eli an Georgia need to step in and save the wedding.  Their friendship turned romance has been on frosty terms since their breakup several years ago, but they love Adam and will do anything to make his special day be as perfect as possible.  Unfortunately, the universe has other plans for everyone.  The day is one to remember, but the journey to get there is one too.  Georgia and Eli skirt around old issues and messy feelings for the week they rush around putting the wedding together.  It quickly becomes clear that they still have feelings for one another and they will have to face all of those feelings and unresolved emotions from their breakup.

This was fun, but it was missing something for me. The wedding disasters were funny and the couple had good banter.  While I understand why Georgia felt the way she did regarding abandonment and worthiness in her relationships it seemed to overtake her entire personality.  I wanted to get to know her as a person outside of her lists and trauma.  The same goes for Eli, I needed more than the workaholic guy who broke Georgia's heart.  Maybe it was a bit too angsty for me.  I did like how the author brought it all together and resolved things for everyone.  I enjoyed the side characters, the brought in good support for both characters.

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Review: Wolf and Bare It by Anne Marsh

Wolf and Bare It by Anne Marsh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book in the Wolf Brothers series and is a reimagining of the Winston Brother's series by Penny Reid with a paranormal twist.  This is a reimagining of Grin and Beard It, and if you have read the original series you will notice similarities between the characters and settings.  Marsh has done a good job making Moonlight Valley and the characters uniquely her own while keeping true to the source material that we all know and love from Penny.  This can be read as a standalone.

This follows Sonnet, a successful actress and writer who also happens to be part Fae and part witch.  She is in Moonlight Valley to shoot her latest TV series when she runs into the charming, bearded professor Maverick Boone.  Maverick has a shady past, but he has cleaned up his act and has spent the last 5 years atoning for his past mistakes.  Did I mention he's a werewolf?  He and Sonnet immediately hit it off and quickly learn about each other's paranormal secret.  Neither wants to upset each other's life, but they can't deny their feelings for one another.  I enjoyed watching how that played out as they navigate small town life and Hollywood's expectations.

My biggest issue with this book is that it is far too long.  It is over 550 pages, I prefer my romances to be under 400.  I had the same issue with book one, it was too long.  There are long periods where the plot isn't moving forward or the focus isn't on Sonnet and Maverick and I found myself losing interest.  I did enjoying getting to know the other Boone siblings and I expect that the author will continue moving forward with retelling each of their stories in the future.  I thought Sonnet and Maverick had great banter back and forth, which I love in a book.  I look forward to seeing how she reimagines each of the Winston's as Boone's and their lady loves.

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Review: The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Overall I really loved this series, and this is a fitting conclusion to Winnie Wednesday's story.  This installment was my least favorite of the three in the trilogy.  I felt like the story was a bit scattered and the plot jumped around alot.  Certain lines are repeated over and over again as Winnie tries to figure out what is going on in Hemlock Falls and save her loved ones.  The pacing was inconsistent, and there were parts where I was super interested when things were action packed and fast paced and parts where my interest waned as the plot dragged.

As I listened to this on audio, I found this hard to follow at times when Winnie was reciting countdowns or timestamps different situations, that probably made more sense in print and didn't translate well to audio.  The narrator was great and did a great job otherwise.  

Again this is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy and I feel it wrapped things up nicely.  This is a great series or YA readers as things don't get to graphic or gory when it comes to the fighting or the romance.  This is a great mix of fantasy, romance, and mystery.  There are great discussions about self-discovery, vulnerability, fitting in, friendship, and family.  There is plenty of action to keep the reader interested and now that the series is finished you can read all three books with out waiting to find out what happens next.

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Review: Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really fun holiday romance.  

I was looking for something short to listen to, so I grabbed this from Kindle Unlimited.  It is part of an Amazon Original 5 novella collection called Under the Mistletoe, written by some of romance's most popular authors available in print and audio.  I'm a big fan of these collections when I need something on the shorter side to read or listen to and I can get them all with my KU subscription and there is something in every genre.  I haven't picked up the others in the collection yet, but there's plenty of time before Christmas.

This particular book was really cute and I loved the characters.  Evie is a comic book illustrator and spends long hours working on her art.  She has a crush on her upstairs neighbor, but she forgets her people skills when he is around.  Theo equally has a crush on Evie, but awkward moments and missed signals have them on the wrong track.  The apartment holiday party is the perfect place to air their romantic feelings and get things moving in the right direction.

The audiobook was about an hour and a half, but it felt like a complete story.  You knew who the characters were, what their intentions were, and how things ended.  There was a nice amount of spice, but it wasn't overly graphic. If you are looking for a fun holiday romance, this is a good option.

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Review: Once Upon a Christmas Tree by Lulu Moore

Once Upon a Christmas Tree by Lulu Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a really fun and spicy holiday romance. It was also a nice introduction to Moore's new series coming out in 2025.

Shane East is one of my favorite narrators and he plays Alex perfectly. CJ Bloom is a great narrator as well and has narrated several books I've loved. She plays a perfect Haven. They both capture the spirit of the holidays, or in Alex's case his dislike of the holiday season, which I very much related to. Not everyone loves Christmas, and while I love holiday baking, building gingerbread houses, and spending time with family, like Alex Christmas and the holiday season can be upsetting. Haven on the other hand was like the president of Christmas as she inherited the family Christmas tree farm and the local Christmas Shop selling all sorts of holiday gifts and decorations. She spends her time helping out at the other local businesses and spreading the holiday cheer to the tourists and locals.

This is a prequel to The Valentine Nook Chronicles and introduces us to the Burlington brothers, who are all members of the British aristocracy. This installment follows Alex as he and his brothers escape to Aspen, Colorado when the eldest of the brother's wedding is cancelled mere hours before they take their vows. Alex hates Christmas, but while in the winter wonderland the brothers take time to have fun together and he makes a connection with local Haven who's entire livelihood revolves around Christmas. Haven and Alex have instant chemistry, and they have some heated encounters during their short time together. This book gets very spicy!

This left Haven and Alex's story unfinished, however I'm hoping that they get a proper novel in the series or as the series progresses we find out where their relationship ends up. This was a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go. I've never read Lulu Moore before, but this has me hooked and I the little bit I've learned about Valentine Nook has me intrigued.

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Review: Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and Berkley/Ace, all opinions are my own. In full transparency, I had already purchased the audiobook and ebook prior to the book being picked by Berkley/Ace, and this has been sitting on my TBR for 2 years so the rerelease was the perfect motivation to finally pick this book up.

This follow Faraine, the oldest of several sisters who has been sent to live at a convent when her courtship goes awry due to her gift. Each of her siblings has a magical gift, hers tends to make her ill when she is overwhelmed with the emotions of others. Having failed to make an alliance, she is sent away only to be called back to help her younger sister forge a new alliance with the Shadow King. Her sister Ilsevel is everyone's favorite, and Faraine has been brought home to convince her that this alliance is necessary to save their kingdom. Faraine meets the intimidating King Vor and finds him to be kind and respectful, they have an instant connection but they both know that duty comes before desire. When Faraine is forced to take her sister's place, she is not eager to deceive Vor, but again she must fulfil her duty. Both Vor's kindgom and Faraine's kingdom need each other to survive, but can their marriage survive the deception despite their undeniable connection?

I found this compelling and hard to put down. It is rare that immediately want to pick up the next book in the series, but that is the case here. It alternates between Farraine and Vor's perspectives. There are times when their chapters will rewind and recap events from the previous chapter from the other character's perspective. I didn't mind as one or the other character wasn't present in the scene taking place so we get to understand what was going on where they were, for other readers that will be and irritating style choice as the timeline isn't moving forward at all times. Some readers will not want to read the same thing twice, for me sometimes I felt like I was missing something in the prior chapter, but then we get that info in the next chapter from the other POV.

The spice is fairly low in this book. Nothing is overly graphic or descriptive, which is actually my preference when it comes to spice. I'm not sure if things get more detailed as the books continue, but I desperately want to dive right into the next book. I actually appreciated this was more of a slow burn and that the spice level was low considering the betrayal and deception. I thought the worldbuilding was great, we get good descriptions of the characters and their surroundings which I always appreciate. I still don't feel like I have a handle on what is going on with each of the kingdom's yet and the things they are fighting, but I suspect that there is more to be revealed in the next two books. I also expect more character development as the series continues, as I feel like I was just starting to get to know Vor, Faraine, and the rest of the characters when this ended. It says alot about how much I enjoyed this when I want to push aside all of the other books I need to read and review this week and read this series instead. The remaining books are set to be rereleased by Berkley/Ace in early 2025 but they are currently available on Kindle Unlimited and Audible. If you are looking for a fun slow burn romantasy, pick this up today! I absolutely loved it!

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Review: Golemcrafters by Emi Watanabe Cohen

Golemcrafters by Emi Watanabe Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a powerful look into both Jewish and Japanese heritage and the importance of connecting with ones ancestors and history.  The author uses family connection as well as adventure and a mix of  magic and fantasy to take a brother and sister on a fantastic journey onto a world they never knew existed.  With the help of their estranged grandfather and the stories of generations past they unlock their own strength and power to confront the very real issues they face in the real world today.

This is marketed as middle grade, however it has some very heavy topics and some very violent scenes.  Topics include racism, anti-Semitism, bullying, victim shaming, and it gets graphic at times.  If you have a sensitive reader, I would recommend reading this first or reading it with them or waiting until they are ready to tackle these topics and discuss in a healthy way.  I'm neither Jewish or Japanese, and I was left feeling very emotional about the brutal history captured within the pages of this book.  This isn't a very long book, but it was captivating and hard to put down.  It is certainly a worthy read and I'm so happy I picked it up!

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Review: My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book featuring one of the Darling siblings, however they read as companion novels and you can this as a standalone.  This follows Jane, who we did meet in My Darling Bride, a single mom who is trying to get her matchmaking business off the ground.  She has all the pieces, what she doesn't have is clients.  Enter superstar quarterback Jasper, who loves to irritate Jane every chance he gets.  He's friends and teammates with her brother in law, so they see each other frequently.  Jane basically only knows him on a surface level and what she's heard from tabloids, and she has judged him based on that, so when he asks to be her client she shuts him down.  When she realizes he is serious about settling down and that she is being unfair and that if she can get him to recommend her it may help the business, she aims to set him up with the perfect woman.  As they try to find the right woman their own attraction grows and things get a little blurry between them.

I really enjoyed getting to know Jasper and Jane.  They had good banter and I appreciated that they were vulnerable with each other.  This does touch on feelings of abandonment by a parent as both main characters have that in common.  They both had positive outcomes, but there is lasting trauma that not only shows up in the plot but helps them form a bond.  They don't rush into a relationship and things don't go exactly as planned but I really enjoyed their enemies to lovers vibe.

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Review: The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken

The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I did opt to mainly listen to the final production audiobook via my library.  

Like the first book this is a bit on the long side, clocking in at around the 500 page or 19 hour mark depending on your preferred format. The narrator again did a great job giving each character a unique voice so you can tell who is who when there is dialogue and she also did conveying emotion throughout the book.

This picks up where book one leaves off, so you don't really want to read this as a standalone.  You really need to read the books in order to understand what is going on.  Tamsin and her group are attempting to regroup after the events of book one.  With Avalon destroyed, they must search for the artifacts that will defeat Lord Death and the Wild Hunt before he unleashes hell on Earth.  Tamsin has to use her skills at solving puzzles and tracking to figure out who her allies are and where those items are hidden before Lord Death finds them or destroys them.  She and her friends find help in unlikely places and she uncovers some new information that is hard to swallow that will help them with their mission.

I feel like this book lacked the focus that the first book had.  This wasn't as much of a quest, which is what I really enjoyed about the first installment.  While there was action in this book, it didn't feel as well choreographed as the first.  We still get some dark and gory scenes though.  There were so many characters (maybe too many characters) but I still don't feel like I got to know any of them.  I wanted more character development and backstory in the first book, and I still don't feel like I got that.  For as long as this book is, I wanted more information and more answers.

If you enjoy King Arthur retellings, this was an entertaining duology.  It doesn't strictly stick to Arthurian lore, but the characters and setting are certainly inspired by it.  While I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed book 1 it was still fun, and tied things up nicely for our characters.

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Review: Wild Goose Chase: A Slow Burn Small Town Romance by Kilby Blades

Wild Goose Chase: A Slow Burn Small Town Romance by Kilby Blades
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

As with all of the books in the series this can be read as a standalone.  There are characters mentioned from prior books, however you don't need to read those to follow along with the storyline here.  This installment focuses Chase who runs a local farm and hosts a successful farm to table supper club.  He transitioned to being a chef after taking over the farm and retiring from firefighting after the death of his best friend Todd.  When he's not cooking or tending the land, he is spending time with his godchildren and Todd's widow Violet.  Chase and Violet have been friends long before she met Todd, and he's always had feelings for her, but he would never betray his best friend even after his death.

Violet has been doing her best to keep it together as a single mom.  She feels like she wants to get back out there in the dating world, and now that she is ready to graduate from college she wants to try her hand at running her own business instead of running things on Chase's farm.  Chase obviously wants her to stay on as she has made the business a booming success, and from a personal perspective whether platonic or romantic he wants her in his life no matter what.  Their lines get crossed when it comes to romantic feelings, especially when Chase is pulled back into firefighting service to investigate the fire that killed Todd due to suspicious circumstances.  He can't tell Violet what he's up to, especially because it may impact her own court case with her insurance company.  With emotions on high alert they both have to face their grief, as well as their feelings for each other.  

I really enjoyed this slow burn romance.  It deals with PTSD, loss, grief, and sense of self in such a sensitive and respectful way.  Both characters had to pick themselves off the ground and put their lives back together, but they had each other and a good support system to lean on while do it.  I also appreciated that they took their time examining their feelings before taking action.  If you like a slow burn or a friends to lovers, give this one a read.

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Review: The Invitation by Adriana Locke

The Invitation by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I was also provided an ALC of this book via the author, and the narrators were fantastic in the audio version! They captured the banter, emotion and humor between Ripley and Georgia perfectly.

This was hilarious! I love a good enemies to lovers, and this did not disappoint. Ripley and Georgia have known each other since senior year of high school. Something happened that made them fight like cats and dogs every time they see each other, which is fairly often as their best friends are engaged. Georgia's best friend needs a female lead in a reality dating show when the actors she hired pull out at the last minute. Unfortunately, Ripley has been slated as her date to film the pilot. Both of them are too stubborn to back out, and they both have their reasons for wanting to make the show a success. As they "fake" date for the cameras and actually talk to each other for once, they finally get to know each other and begin to wonder why they have been fighting all these years.

This had great banter and it was so fun getting to know Ripley and Georgia. They both have some baggage to work through, but they are there for each other. They also both get to the bottom of why they started fighting all the time back in high school. I always appreciate when couples actually talk about what is bothering them and support each other.

As with all of the books in the Brewer family series, you can read this as a standalone. If you want to get to know the rest of the family, I highly recommend reading the other books in the series and to understand what is going on with their dad as those events have taken place in other books and are only mentioned briefly here.

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Review: Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand

Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

This installment follows Farrin, who if you have read book 1 you will remember as the oldest of the Ashborne sisters.  The first book followed Gemma, and if the trilogy follows this trend I expect the next book to follow Mara, the third sister.  That being said I don't feel like you can really read this as a stand alone, you really need to read the first book in the series, as it sets up events in this book and introduces you to many of the characters.

This was hard for me to get through as the main character was very hard for me to connect with.  She was so angry all of the time.  The audiobook is just shy of 23 hours, so you really need someone you can root for.  I felt like she never wanted to solve the problems and only wanted to whine and wallow in her own issues and block everyone from moving forward.  She never actually had any suggestions to move the plot forward and always acted emotionally, admitting that she let her emotions get the best of her in every situation.  That being said this is very romance heavy and I found that the romance between Farrin and Ryder lacked chemistry.  She is always so mean and distrusting of him that I found it hard to believe their attraction and affection.

I liked the plot and the setting, but the length of the book and the lack of connection with the characters really had me putting this book down more often than I wanted to pick it up.  I really enjoyed the fantasy elements when we get them, the creatures and lore are really unique in this series.  Much like the first book this is more character driven and there are long periods where the characters are interacting or having inner monologues and the plot isn't advancing.  Then there are periods of fast paced action where alot happens all at once and you learn quite a bit of information.  I'm interested to see how the series concludes as I actually enjoy the plot, and if Mara is the focus I think she will make and interested main character.  

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