Review: Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins

Rebel Without a Claus 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.

You might be thinking it is far too early to be indulging in Christmas romcoms, but this was adorable.  I related to Luke so much.  I'm a bit of a grinch  myself.  Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Christmas the snow, the lights, the peppermint everything, but the holidays can also bring with it some bad memories and a lot of family drama.  

Eve is the queen of Christmas, she is home for the holidays from making Christmas movies in LA and she loves nothing more than helping her parents out at their during festival time.  Winning the festival's grand prize would really help out Eve's parents as their inn has been struggling since a chain hotel has moved into town, but Christmas and competition are what make Eve thrive.  Enter Luke, a local reindeer farmer who hates all things related to Christmas, and for good reason.  The holiday brings bad memories with it for him and while none of it is Eve's fault he associates her with that terrible time.  Something is different this year and if Eve wants to win Christmas and save the inn she is going to need Luke's help.  Armed with candy canes and cheer, Eve manages to melt Luke's icy heart and they both discover why their town and the holiday is so special.

If you love grumpy sunshine, friends to lovers, small town holiday romances this was so cute!  It embodied what Christmas and the holidays are all about!  Helping your friends and neighbors, making people smile, spreading joy,  spending time with the people you care about, new beginnings, and so much more.  I thought Eve and Luke had great chemistry, even better banter, and the humor was spot on.  I loved the meddling townsfolk and the chaotic reindeer.  

   

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Review: The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This was a delightful follow up to [book:The Teller of Small Fortunes|207611551], and can be read as a complete standalone.  Originally I thought the books were related, however they are not, which is why I make that statement.  It isn't a series, but if you have read and loved The Teller of Small Fortunes and loved it as I did, you are sure to love this one as well.  This has the same cozy vibe, a sweet romance, magical hijinks, and two witches who discover their true path and purpose along the way.

Certainty is a novice who desperately wants to rise to the ranks of Mage.  She showed promise when she entered the Guild for training, but she hasn't been able to pass the exams to become a full blown Mage.  Her magic allows her to speak with inanimate objects and determine their purpose, which isn't very useful to the Guild.  She is wearing out her welcome unless she can finish a task and be granted the title of Mage.  She will be assisted by a somewhat prickly Mage who is known for being unliked and icy toward her peers.  Mage Aurelia is all business as they set out to the small town of Shpelling to store unwanted magical artifacts in the unmagical town.  Upon their arrival the townsfolk are wary of those with magic and for good reason.  As Aurelia and Certainty work to make their lodgings livable and catalog the artifacts in their care, they learn why the people of Shpelling dislike magic and those who wield it.  Certainty is determined to sway them to her cause and uses her abilities and the slightly magical artifacts at her disposal to help instead of harm and bring the town back to life.  Aurelia is not onboard at first, but she quickly sees the good that can be done and her frosty demeanor quickly thaws and the two work hard to bring joy to the people of Shpelling and help wherever they can.

I loved the interactions between Certainty and Aurelia as they grew from prickly to friends to more.  The farmer and the aristocrat made for a nice balance as they learned from each other and Certainty gave Aurelia reality checks often but with kindness.  Their interactions with the people of Shpelling were humorous as were the conversations Certainty had with the artifacts.  I really loved watching the town bloom as the "lady mages" did their work.  I also appreciated that we get to see both girls interact with their parents and deal with their sense of self worth as part of the conflict resolution arc.  While they both had very different upbringings they both felt failure in different ways and their interactions with their families brought that to light.  

This was full of hope, garlic, magic, and all the cozy things.  There is a bit of romance but it doesn't overtake the book.  This is the perfect book for fall to curl up in a warm blanket with a warm drink and a snack.  I loved my time with Certainty and Aurelia and can't wait to read what Julie Leong comes up with next!

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Blog Tour: Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins

 

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. 

He’s one grinchy cowboy.

Rebel Without a Claus, an all-new grumpy/sunshine, second chance, small town romance novella from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!

Eve Winters lives for Christmas—the twinkling lights, the festive music, the over-the-top holiday magic. So when her parents need help running their Christmas-themed inn, she’s all in. The only problem? Luke Dawson—the town’s broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. Unfortunately, he’s also the one providing the reindeer for the town’s biggest holiday festival, which means Eve is stuck working with Mr. Bah Humbug himself.

Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.

But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?

 

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZU5GjY 

Add Rebel Without a Claus to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/rwacgr    

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

https://katanacollins.com 

Release Blitz: Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins

 

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. 

He’s one grinchy cowboy.

Rebel Without a Claus, an all-new grumpy/sunshine, second chance, small town romance novella from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!

Eve Winters lives for Christmas—the twinkling lights, the festive music, the over-the-top holiday magic. So when her parents need help running their Christmas-themed inn, she’s all in. The only problem? Luke Dawson—the town’s broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. Unfortunately, he’s also the one providing the reindeer for the town’s biggest holiday festival, which means Eve is stuck working with Mr. Bah Humbug himself.

Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.

But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?

 

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZU5GjY 

Add Rebel Without a Claus to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/rwacgr   

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

https://katanacollins.com 

Review: Red City by Marie Lu

Red City by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

I've been a long time fan of Marie Lu's YA works and was excited to see that she was writing an adult fantasy series. I loved this from beginning to end! It is dark and violent and has adult situations which is to be expected, though the spice is fairly tame compared to today's romantasy standards. There is romance, but it takes a back seat to the alchemical underworld that our main characters are a part of.

Sam and Ari are both alchemists, at a young age they were both taken into warring houses to train and hone their talents. They became fast friends in school, but neither of them knew the other was a member of the enemy house until they were adults. Each of their syndicates rule with violence in an alternate Los Angeles where they controlling politics, the wealthy, and most of all the trade of an alchemical drug that each syndicate produces.

We get to see Sam and Ari grow up together and separately as their paths connect and diverge over the years. They always had a connection, but there were always secrets between them. Now that they are rising stars in enemy houses their loyalties are tested as the conflict between their houses escalate and become more and more violent. I really enjoyed getting to know each character as they learned alchemy and dealt with different relationships as they rose the ranks. This is filled with action, lies, betrayals, and it kept me on my toes the entire time. It is hard to for me to review without giving too many details. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I appreciated that while this has an open ending, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. Things are sent in motion for the next book, but it ends with a sense of closure.

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Review: The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel

The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I had no idea there were so many different types of bats.  While not a bat enthusiast myself, this was such a well crafted and detailed book about the creatures, their habits, habitats, and interactions.  The author is clearly passionate about their work and research and that shows through in the book.  I enjoyed learning about the various types of bats and how they are all very different.  I especially enjoyed learning about echolocation

At no point did I feel that the subject matter was too hard to understand or too academic.  I felt it was very well written to explain the science behind the research and any one could pick this up and learn about bats without needing a high level of understanding in science.  The author did a great job keeping the science content readable and interesting which I find is not always the case with non-fiction.

If you are interested in bats, or a very well written non-fiction about a topic you know nothing about this is a good one the pick up.  I certainly learned quite a bit of new information.  The audio is very well narrated.

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Review: The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was such a cozy return to the Quigley house!  I loved the first book when my book club read it several months ago, and I was very excited to see that there was a second book coming out to expand the sister's world.  I would recommend reading the first book before diving in as it explains the magic system and the talents each of the sisters possess.

This book finds the sisters reunited after having split up to pursue their own talents.  Violet is back from flying high at the circus, though an accident has shaken her.  Beatrix is back from her latest book tour, but she is struggling to write despite having a talent for words.  Anne as usual has mounting responsibilities, but she is struggling with running the tea shop and working for the council.  Now back together the sisters can lean on each other, but they are all a bit ashamed of their faults and hesitant to talk about what is bothering them.  Anne must enlist the help of her sisters if she is going to save the city, as they helped her with her last mission and it is only when they work as a team and embrace their talents that they find success.

I really enjoyed this cozy magical mystery.  I love the character development we get from each of the sisters as they work together and independently to solve the mystery.  I also liked that the author brought back Mr. Crowley and his unfinished task back into play.  We learn more about his story and relationship with Philip as well as learn more about their families.  Each sister has to go on a self-discovery journey, but their paths all circle back to the same central place.  It really brought things full circle and I really enjoyed being back in the manor with them.

I really loved this book and the series as a whole.  It was perfectly cozy and magical!

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Review: The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Set in the 70s, Tom and Alice set out on a road trip to visit the beauty of Canada's wilderness on their way to the Olympics in an effort to reconnect and heal after a tragic loss.  They Americans have planned their stops and activities at various RV parks and campgrounds and National Parks, purchased an RV, and have their tickets for the Olympics secured.  During their first stop they run into a young couple who appear to be hitchhiking, and in a kind gesture invite them to dinner and use of their spare tent for the night.  Tom being hospitable offers to give the couple a lift to their next stop.  Alice doesn't get a great feeling from the teens, but she decides to let it go for now as she's been trapped in a state of depression for a long time.  At a quick stop for gas Alice discovers that their passengers are on the run from the law and not who they claimed to be.  This puts Tom and Alice in danger and instead of a fun sightseeing vacation sets them on a dangerous flight from authorities with two very unstable teenagers.

This is told mainly from Alice's perspective, but we also get insights from Jenny, the pregnant teen who's boyfriend is holding Tom and Alice prisoner in their RV.  From Jenny we learn how she and Simon met and why they are on the run together.  We learn why she is so loyal to him and about her messed up home life, and her lack of knowledge about the world.  From Alice we get all of the tension about being held at gunpoint while her husband is injured and constantly threatened by a crazy teenager who is scared of being caught, but also has also unlocked his violent side and wants to protect Jenny in his own irrational way.  This is action packed, violent and gruesome at times, and the tension remains high throughout the book.  Alice plays her part to keep herself and Tom alive, but she is always looking for a way to escape, while trying to convince Jenny that Simon is not a good person.  The ending was unexpected.

This is my first book by the author and I very much enjoyed it,  I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!

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Review: Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen

Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the 4th book in the Evander Mills series, however I have not read the previous books in the series and was able to follow along.  There are references to cases and relationship elements in Evander aka Andy's past that could have used more context, but they aren't relevant to the mystery aspect of the plot.  If you've read the prior books, I assume you would understand those references, and while I was confused at times I was able to follow along and would consider this able to be read as a standalone.  I do think I would recommend reading the series in order though.

This is set in the 50s when being openly queer was not acceptable, and while Andy has set up is private investigator business and found a home with people he can be his true self around in San Francisco the same is not true for everyone else.  He is hired to find some missing persons by a member of the secret Mattachine Society, a queer rights society.  The case takes him to his home town of LA where he runs into some unsavory characters and reunites with his mom.  His mother is a nurse who happens to work at a mental health clinic whose methods are not very humane.  Andy has kept alot from his mom, but he has to balance the case, his own true nature, and his love for her and his own morals before the end.  

I mainly listened to the audiobook and between the writing and the narration, this felt like an episode of Dragnet, a police procedural set in the 50s in LA, which I watched when I was kid.  While Andy is no longer a cop, I thought the author did a great job with the investigative elements and making this queer in a time when being queer was not OK in society.  

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Review: The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill

The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is not the typical type of book I read, however I do think that the author did a wonderful job evoking emotion and capturing family dynamics.  This was well written, and while not the type of topic I'm drawn to, the characters were well developed and the topics were well thought out and explained.  Please do check your triggers as this discusses religion, abortion, cheating, suicide, grief, and guilt quite heavily.

This follows the Ryan family as they get together for Thanksgiving in their Long Island home.  The story is told from the perspective of the three Ryan sisters who all have their own secrets and priorities.  The entire family harbors guilt, resentment, and other emotion but because of the way they were raised no one talks about anything.  Their closed off nature causes issues in their relationships with each other as well as their relationships with others.  It is also why they never speak about their late brother who took is own life.  Now all back in the same place, the sisters are all overwhelmed by their own issues, and everything bubbles over when everyone is stressed at the holidays.  Cait the eldest has flown in with her twins from England, and she is only focused on meeting up with her high school crush Luke.  She isn't the greatest mom, daughter or sister, but her trip home brings alot of things into perspective for her.  Alice the middle sister is overwhelmed by life.  As a stay at home mom she not only cares for her husband and kids, but she takes on the role of caretaker for her aging parents, and having recently gone back to work she realizes that she can't do everything.  She gets some surprising news that may upend her whole world, but she too gets some advice that sheds light on her situation.  Maggie, the youngest, is finally brave enough to bring her girlfriend home to meet her devout Catholic mother, but she is harboring a secret that is bigger than being accepted by her family that may stop her relationship in its tracks.  The Ryan family has a whirlwind Thanksgiving that causes them all to have many uncomfortable conversations that not only clear the air but bring them closer together as a family.

I had a hard time getting into this book mainly because I had a hard time connecting with the sisters.  I hated Cait for much of the book as she was really selfish and self-centered, she makes some really questionable decisions but eventually comes around in the end.  Maggie refuses to take accountability for her actions, and Alice's inability to ask for help irked me, all turns out well in the end when their realize they aren't alone and they have each other.  As the book went on I began to understand why no one in the family talked to each other about what happened and how they are feeling.  In the first half of the book, the author sets up the emotional turmoil they are all facing, then in the second half we find out more about events that took place in the past and why they felt they needed to hold their emotions in instead of working through them together.  The author does a great job of capturing the stress of a large family gathering when there are kids needing something every 2 minutes, loud conversations, people stressing about food and the weather, people causing drama, and others not feeling welcome.

This would be a great choice for a book club discussion as it covers quite a few sensitive topics but would also generate great conversations amongst the right group of people.  I was surprised to find out this was a debut novel, it is very well developed and the writing is that of a seasoned author.  

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Review: CORBIN: Wild Wolf Pack from the world of Gallize Shifters by Dianna Love

CORBIN: Wild Wolf Pack from the world of Gallize Shifters by Dianna Love
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book in the Wild Wolf Pack series, however it reads as a complete standalone.  It is also connected to the League of Gallize, however you don't have to have read that series either.  There are characters from that series present, but the author does a good job giving enough information for the reader to understand what is going on.  If you are familiar with those books, you'll already know what's going on and who some of the characters are.

This was an entertaining read with a nice mix of action, romance, and suspense.  This is more focused on Corbin connecting with his wolf and reconnecting with Eirene a girl from his past who he always believed was his mate.  After having been apart for many years and both holding a grudge since high school, their relationship felt a bit insta-love like and all was forgiven without much thought after a short conversation.  I did appreciate that there was no more angst between them after that though, once they were together that was it.  There were other factors trying to get in their way.

I always look forward to seeing what Love has in store for us when it comes to shifter romances.  This one took me a while to get into, something about the dialog between the characters bothered me but I can't pinpoint why, but overall I found it entertaining

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Review: Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan

Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I love Greek mythology, and I'm a huge fan of the retellings that have been coming out recently.  This follows Daedalus, who is often mentioned as a side character in other tales.  This novella focuses on Daedalus' relationship with Icarus, but it also weaves in the tales that Daedalus supports.  We get to experience the creation of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, the invention of his famous wings and loss of Icarus, and his journey through the underworld in a new light.  The author takes some liberties with this retelling when it comes to Daedalus and his choices, some where creative and supported the darker narrative and other's were questionable.  I enjoyed the portrayal of the Minotaur in this retelling.

I found parts of the story confusing as the timeline shifts back and forth in time and between 1st and 2nd person POV.  The present time is during Daedalus' time in the underworld with the past being during his time in Crete under Minos' rule.  The story is told by Daedalus to Icarus after Icarus flies too close to the sun.  Daedalus is an unreliable narrator as he tells the story of Icarus' life from birth through childhood, his death at this hands of his father's invention, and then Daedalus explains his slow descent into madness due to his grief.  Icarus was a beloved child and his loss drives his father to make some questionable decisions especially after his own death.  Daedalus ultimately wants to know "why" Icarus flew too close to the sun, which drives him to reflect if he was a good man and a good father?  I enjoyed the dreamlike way the author develops Daedalus' version of his history to Icarus, in which he defends his actions as a way to deal with his grief.

Overall I enjoyed this.  The cover is stunning and the audio narrator was excellent.

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Review: A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal

A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This picks up where book 1 leaves off so I don't recommend reading this as a standalone. Much like in the first book, this follows the same group of characters as they struggle with their new reality. There was alot of information revealed in the first book which left the reader with quite a few unanswered questions. This book answers those questions as Arthie, Jin, Flick, and Matteo plot and maneuver to expose the Ram and defeat her sinister plans. I don't want to spoil too much if you haven't read the first book. This has a ton of plot twists and some very emotional moments, some that will make you very happy and some that will make you want to throw the book across the room.

The pacing is a bit inconsistent and certain phrases are used repeatedly. Parts of the book are very fast moving especially at the end and feel rushed while others are a bit on the slower side and almost feel like they take too much time. I think part of that is because there is alot of character development especially with Flick. Much of the storyline centers on Flick and her feelings toward her mother and her life before she met Jin and Arthie. Arthie and Jin are also coming to terms with their new reality and what that means for their relationship and future. Arthie has always relied only on herself, but now she has people she trusts to help her execute her plans. Trust doesn't come easy for her but through the found family aspect, we really see her come to lean on her crew to thwart the enemy.

Overall I really enjoyed the conclusion to this YA duet. I love Faizal's writing style and the characters she creates.

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Review: What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the 3rd novella in the Sworn Soldier series, and follows Alex Easton to America to assist long time friend Denton to find a missing person.  Denton's cousin Oscar has gone missing while mining coal in West Virginia, and from Oscar's last correspondence something strange and possibly paranormal is going in in the mine.  Denton and Easton have faced plenty of horrific things in war, but even more strange things at Usher house (book 1).  Despite Easton's reluctance to visit America, they are the best person to solve the mystery of what is going on in the strange mine and where Oscar has gone.

As Easton and their crew search for the missing Oscar, they uncover strange things in the mine.  The atmosphere is claustrophobic (as it should be) and the horror elements are unique and well executed.  The characters have great banter adding a hint of humor to the mystery and horror vibes.  I don't want to say any more or it would spoil the story.

Each of the novellas follows a different plotline and can be read as a standalone.  The characters overlap and there are elements from previous books mentioned, however you can read each of them independently.

The narrator is excellent, and does a great job voicing Easton and the other characters in the novel.  Avi Roque has narrated all 3 novellas to date and always brings the eerie and creepy vibes and the right emotion into every scene.

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Review: Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

If you are a fan of the Letters of Enchantment Duology (aka Divine Rivals) this is a prequel, that delves into the lives of the gods that are frequently mentioned in those books. We get the background leading up to events that occur in Divine Rivals, however this does read as a standalone and you can read Divine Rivals before or after reading this. This follow Matilda, herald of the gods and goddesses and a goddess in her own right. In this world there are two different sets of gods, those of the Underling and those of the Skyward, Matilda is unique as she belongs to both and is the only one that can traverse the two realms in addition to the mortal world. She has befriended a mortal boy named Vincent in childhood through her dreams, and after a long separation they reunite in person as adults.

The first third of the book sets up the world nicely and describes who the characters are. We have a good understanding to this point who Matilda is, how the magic system works, and who the players are, but the plot is only just beginning to be revealed at this point. The plot really starts to pick up in Act 3, when the conflict between Vincent and his uncle kicks off and the gods pick sides in this familial war. This book is a bit on the slower side as we spend most of our time with Matilda, but some of the chapters are in Vincent's POV. Matilda must decide where her loyalty lies and come to terms with new abilities she uncovers as the story unfolds. She must make alliances, make deals, and call in favors to help Vincent and his people, all while performing her duties. As she aids Vincent, their friendship turns in to something deeper, and they must grapple with their differences while war rages on around them and the plans fate has laid out for them.

I'm a huge fan of Ross' books and this is no different. The writing is beautiful, and while the pacing is a bit on the slower side it fits the plot. We spend time with Matilda, who as a goddess is immortal and time doesn't really matter to her and very few things can hurt her, so we spend more time with her on her tasks and developing plotlines and strategies. For Vincent, time is limited and as a human his body is fragile, so our chapters with him tend to be faster paced. I loved how their relationship developed, and if you like a relationship with yearning, look no further.

I loved the audiobook and the multiple narration is wonderful.

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Review: Resisting You by Katana Collins

Resisting You 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.

I'm a bit behind on reviews, but this was delightful. I loved that Noah and Rosa were already friends for a long time and already had chemistry between them. That eliminates the awkward we just met and now we're married situation after a night of debauchery. Noah had been asking Rosa out for years, but she always turned him down, despite liking him. She had her reasons, which become very apparent as the book unfolds. Now that they are married and tabloid fodder, these two friends turned spouses decide to use this marriage to their advantage as it might help both of their careers. Plus it helps that they actually like each other, I mean really like each other. Everything starts off well in their "marriage of convenience" until Rosa's overbearing parents show up demanding she have a proper wedding, inviting people she doesn't know and people Noah can't stand to their wedding. The happy couple is determined to make their marriage work until traitors in their midst make it known that they are determined to tear them apart. Will the couple survive the tabloids and the paparazzi?

Noah and Rosa were such a fun couple. They had great banter and chemistry. I also loved that they adopted a puppy! I love dogs. We get alot of character development from our couple as they both have to deal with alot of outside pressure from family and the media in the wake of their accidental marriage. Rosa grew up with famous parents and she doesn't like being in the spotlight. She wants to do her job and be successful on her own merit, and when her credibility gets questioned she completely shuts down. I think her reaction was completely reasonable and realistic, but I loved that she had a friend to support her. I also appreciated that she had a conversation with her father about how she felt. I would have liked to see a similar conversation with her mother, but overall I thought the conflict resolution was done nicely on Rosa's side. As for Noah, relationship's aren't really his thing, but you can tell he's be holding out for Rosa this whole time. He has some family stuff to deal with, and I loved how that was all handled in the end and his interactions with his siblings especially his twin sister.

This reads as a complete standalone, however it is related to the Maple Grove series. I've read a few of the books in the series out of order, and I can attest that you can read them in any order. The Tripp family is worth getting to know and Maple Grove is 100% a place I wish was real because I want to live there. I can't wait to read Callie's book!

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Review: The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I loved this time travel, historical romantic comedy!  This follows Tess Bright, a Teen Choice Award winning actress who has recently been cast in an adaptation of Northanger Abbey opposite very serious method actor Hugh Balfour.  Hugh is classically trained, and wants nothing to do with Tess.  He has heard the rumors of why she was fired and believes all of them and doesn't believe she is qualified to star in this production.  Little does he know that Tess is actually a very good actress and Jane Austen has been part of her life for a very long time, and this is her chance to be taken seriously as an actress.

When an accident at craft services sends Hugh and Tess back 200 years, they will get to test their acting skills in the actual Regency period.  They find themselves on the Balfour estate with Hugh's ancestors, and they must put all of their knowledge of the time to use to fit in and find a way to get back to their own time.  As they navigate the Balfour estate and the social customs of the Regency era, Hugh and Tess slow down and really get to know each other.  With time to put away external gossip, hair and makeup, and call times for the movie, they learn they have much more in common with one another than they ever thought.  Quickly a bond forms and sparks start to fly.

I really loved all of the characters and getting to know them.  I love a good enemies to lovers and this was just that.  This had good banter, a unique plot, great side characters, and was just fun overall.  This touches on grief and ailing parents, I thought that was portrayed in a sensitive yet believable way.  Both of the characters were dealing with grief in  different ways but were able to connect with their feelings on the topic.

This was a wonderful debut and I really enjoyed it.  

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Review: An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum

An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love by Lauren Appelbaum
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

This follows Mallory in the wake of her grandmother's passing.  Mallory has a nice quite life in Seattle where she works from home, does online yoga, and rarely has to interact with other people.   During the reading of the will, Mallory finds out that she has inherited her grandparent's cottage under the condition that she keeps an eye on her grandfather who lives in Florida.  Determined to turn the cottage into a rental property, she takes a quick trip to Florida to see what needs to be done and hire a property manager and check in on  Gramps.  There she finds out that the cottage needs quite a bit of sprucing up before it can be turned into a rental.  Gramps enjoys having someone to chat with and help him out with things

I didn't really understand why Mallory was classified as introverted, socially awkward for sure, but  Mallory does not like spending time alone in fact she seeks out contact with people even if she says the wrong thing sometimes.  At times she is completely outgoing, but she is completely clueless and when it comes to certain basic life skills and adult situations.  She gave off a more scared to try new things and not be perfect vibe than introvert.  I did enjoy her relationship with Gramps!  Mallory's initial attempts to connect with Gramps were a bit insensitive and pushy, her heart was in the right place.  Once they started to connect, their relationship was actually quite lovely.  The romance that develops between Mallory and property manager Daniel was OK but lacked the tension and chemistry I wanted.  She kept pushing him away because she was always going back to Seattle "the next day" then changing plans.

Mallory's work from home situation really irritated me, because it hit close to home and I'm going to step on a soap box for a second which I normally don't do in reviews.  As someone who has worked remotely since Covid, and worked from home several days a week for years prior, I know it is a privilege that I don't take for granted.  I know I am very lucky but I am also very aware of our company policies, she didn't even seem to know that there was a company policy for working remote which I find strange because most places have them.  I have worked with people like Mallory in real life that threaten that privilege daily, because they work where they aren't supposed to without permission, don't complete their tasks in a timely manner, or they get caught doing something else on the clock. In this case, Mallory was already fired once from a remote position and didn't get the hint that she actually has to do her work and got mad when her boss checked in with her about progress.  No one wants to be micromanaged, but a simple conversation with her manager about her family situation would have sorted that whole situation out, made this whole thing believable (in my opinion), and given Mallory a sense of maturity that she was missing.  To be clear most remote positions can actually be worked from anywhere depending on the company you work for, but there are tax implications if you work out of your "home base" for more than 30 days so there is accounting paperwork that could have been done with a quick conversation with a manager or HR, which her HR person mentioned when they noticed Mallory was using her VPN in Florida instead of Seattle, which if undocumented is a fireable offense at most companies.  If she had just asked to work in Florida or taken a leave of absence it would have made so much more sense, plus her job didn't have anything to do with the plot.  That's why this bothered me so much, because this could have been portrayed so much more accurately, but instead situations like this is why companies want to take away remote work, because employers think we are painting and installing flooring on company instead of doing our actual jobs.  End rant.

I think this book will work for alot of people but the whole work from home thing really took me out of the book because it is something I face everyday.  It is kind of a "this is why we can't have nice things" situation that those of us that work remotely face constantly and it hit really close to home and took away from my enjoyment of the story.  That paired with my inability to connect with Mallory on other levels didn't help.  For alot of readers that will not be an issue, so take my review with a grain of salt.

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Review: The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez

The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is being marketed as a sapphic romance between the maiden and the monster, however the romance takes a backseat in the novel until the very end of the book.  For much of the book main character Malka is terrified and fairly nasty to the golem Nimrah.  Their interactions are not romantic at all until the very end of the book, and they don't have any romantic chemistry in my opinion.  Malka is a healer, and the forest surrounding her village is known to take young girls who never return.  The golem is rumored to have done terrible things under the control of magic, which Malka has been taught to fear.  I feel like the romance aspect was completely unnecessary.  The action, lore, and magic was enough to keep me entertained, and had they learned to respect each other and work together (which they did) that would have made more sense to me.

I believe this is a retelling of the Golem of Prague, which I plan to read soon.  I loved the folklore, the magic, and the worldbuilding.  I thought the magic system and the creation of monsters and forest were explained well.  We also get a good explanation of the politics and religion going on in the world.  While I found Malka to be an unlikable character, that is part of her character development arc.  Her core is deeply rooted in her faith, and that is shaken on her journey to save her mother and her people.  She learns that not everything she was told is true and she has to come to terms with that in her own time.

Overall, I thought the book was well written and developed.  I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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Review: The Summer War by Naomi Novik

The Summer War by Naomi Novik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was such a rich novella.  At only around 150 pages it packed a complete story.  This follows Cella, the youngest of 3 half siblings.  Being the youngest she has been sheltered from much of the world while her older brother Argent has been trained as a soldier.  Her middle brother Roric is tolerated, but mostly ignored, but when she accidentally curses Argent, she and Roric only have each other and they form an alliance.  Through this alliance they come to genuinely care for one another and come up with plans to break Argents curse.  Cella only found out about her magic when she cursed Argent in a fit of rage, and sorcery has been long dormant in their world.  Given that this is a novella, this isn't explained in great detail or how her magic suddenly came to be.  I would have liked more information about her magic and them magic in general, but the rest of the story is well developed so it gets a pass.

While Argent is off soldering and Cella and Roric are planning, the King, his sone, and the King of the Summerlands are also plotting.  The royals have long been fighting a ware between the humans and the fae, now that Cella has magic she is caught in the center of a new plot.  Unfortunately for the Kings, Cella is strong, smart, and doesn't do as expected.  This has the beautify writing I've come to love from Naomi Novik with a fairy tale atmosphere.  It has lessons to be learned and interesting character dynamics to move the plot forward.  If you are interested in trying Novik's work for the first time, this novella is a great place to start to see if you enjoy her work.

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Review: To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

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

This is the 2nd novella in the Curse Bearer series.  I'm not sure if there will be more to the series, but I hope there is.  This was fast paced and action packed.  I highly recommend reading the first novella to understand the dynamics at play and the character interactions.  It has been quite a while since I had listened to the first novella, and I wish I had taken the time to listen to When Among Crows before jumping in to the sequel to refresh myself on the world.  The author does do a good job reminding the reader of what is going on and giving you enough information on the lore and characters so you aren't completely in the dark.  The Slavic lore is front and center in the novellas and it really works well to develop the plot.

Like the first installment this is narrated by Dymitr, Ala, and Niko, we also get a few chapters from Elza Dymitr's sister.  In this tale, Ala and Dymitr work together to find something for the Baba Jaga, while Dymitr attends a wake for a fallen member of his family in his hometown in Poland.  Niko on the other hand is on a mission to kill a very dangerous member of Dymitr's family.  Dymitr has secrets he needs to keep from his family and his feelings for Niko complicate things.  His dynamic with his sister is interesting as well.  

The narration is excellent, with each POV being voiced by a different narrator.  I always appreciate when I can tell who is speaking when I don't have a copy of the book in front of me and the narrators did a wonderful job with accents, emotion, and character interaction.

I really enjoyed this novella, and hope that this is the beginning of a much longer series for these characters.  I really love the lore and the concept.  The character dynamics are interesting between the blood family loyalty and traditions and the found family.  I'm interested to see where this goes in the future.

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Review: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ARC and an ALC of this book via Netgalley.

This is a tough book to read.  It follows Lucy, a teenager who has had a very rough childhood and has navigated the foster system for the last five years since her father passed away.  Lucy has done what she needed to do to survive.  She has been lied to and betrayed by the people she trusted, including her father, and now based on decisions she made to protect herself she is being followed to protect the secrets she has uncovered.  

This reads like a companion novel to Boulley's debut [book:Firekeeper's Daughter|199437737].  It has been several years since I've read that and I have not read Warrior Girl Unearthed yet, but I was able to follow along with this easily and recall many of the events that occurred in that book with the context given in this book.  We reunite with Daunis and Jamie from book 1 as they nurse Lucy back to health after a terrible "accident" at the diner where she worked.  There they explain to Lucy about her Native American heritage and their connection to her late sister.  This story is told in both the present during Lucy's recovery from a broken leg and her research in to ICWA (Indian Children's Welfare Act), and during the past beginning when she was 6 through her father's battle with cancer and her journey through the foster system after his death.  The timeline eventually meets up in the present when she is 18 living with Daunis and Jamie, when she finally explains to them what she is running from and who is after her and why.  Lucy's story is filled with twists and turns and is truly heartbreaking as we learn of her experiences in the foster system, some good, some terrible.  

I enjoyed reuniting with characters from the previous books and how the story ended overall.  It really brings to light how Native Americans are treated and how children of all backgrounds are treated in the foster system.  This book is an emotional rollercoaster that brings to light important topics.

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Review: Play Me by Adriana Locke

Play Me by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 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, however it is connected to the Brewer Series.  You don't need to have read any of the book in that series to read this, but if you want to understand who Renn is you will want to read The Proposal.  Astrid has been present in several of the Brewer books in the past as she works her magic as their assistant who can organize an event and have anything delivered at the last minute.  If you've read the Brewer series you know she likes to give them crap for bothering her with their crazy request at the last minute, but she secretly loves the challenges they throw her way.  She loves making order from chaos, and her new assignment is no different.   Now that Renn owns his own rugby team, he has given Astrid a new assignment.  He wants her to assist a new player who comes to the team surrounded by rumors but full of talent.  Their first meeting does not go well, and they immediately hate each other.  Gray is looking forward to a fresh start under Renn's guidance, but he does not want Astrid as his babysitter.  Unfortunately for them both, they have to learn to work together.

Unbeknownst to each other, both Gray and Astrid have some baggage from the past the grate on each others nerves, but when a trip to Gray's hometown has them both relaxing into their natural personalities and sharing some truths they realize they don't have to be enemies.  They are able to break down each others walls and find comfort in each other.  I really appreciated that this wasn't an insta-love connection.  Their relationship built from an enemies situation, to a pseudo friends situation, to something more.  This was filled with all the things I love about Addy's books, it had good banter, a fun friend group for both characters, an emotional connection between the characters.  This has some spicy scenes but it isn't over the top.  I really enjoyed getting to know Gray and Astrid.  I'm hoping the side characters mentioned in the book get books in the future.

This was a such a fun enemies to lovers book with a grumpy rugby player and his super organized assistant.  

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Review: Bitten by Destiny by S. Young

Bitten by Destiny by S. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a much anticipated ending to the True Immortality series.  Echo is a vampire who has discovered that her maker is not the loving father she thought he was.  He has manipulated her from a young age and she has had enough.  She won't let her younger "sister" be manipulated and turned under false pretenses like she was, but in order to protect her, she must track down and partner with the fae she is supposed to eliminate.  Elijah is living the high life as a rock star.  He has known about his warlock abilities for a while, but he hasn't dipped his toes very deeply into the paranormal world.  He knows it exists, but when Echo shows up claiming he is fae he thinks she is insane.

To save the world and the people they love, Elijah and Echo have to find the other fae, who we have met in the previous books.  While this installment does read as a standalone, it does bring elements and characters together from the previous books.  I do think it elements from the overarching storyline are important to have as background and recommend reading those before jumping into this book as a starting point.  The author does do a great job giving background information and catching the reader up on past events as the last book came out 5 years ago and many of us haven't revisited this world in quite some time.  I was quickly able to remember who everyone was and what happened in their part of the story.  Each one of the fae born has a part to play in, and Elijah finds out that he and Echo are part of the bigger picture.  The are also extremely attracted to one another, but Echo has reservations especially when she is convinced she can't have anything good in her life.  Elijah is able to show her that being a vampire does not automatically mean she is evil.  There are some spicy scenes, but overall they are able to show each other how they feel and that they have each other's backs.  Not only do Elijah and Echo work as a team, but they work well with the other couples to save the world from impending doom.  It was nice to connect with the other couples for the final battle, and I also really appreciated the epilogue that closes out the storyline for each couple.  

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Review: The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard

The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I loved all of the 90s pop culture references in this!  The X-files references made me smile, I loved that show when I was in high school.  Kids today will never understand having to use dialup or use AIM or ICQ to message their friends but that warmed my heart because that's how we communicated in the late 90s and early 2000s before everyone had cell phones.

This follows Freddie, a somewhat unknown member of her high school, who as a rule follower reports some kids disturbing the peace one evening.  Those kids happen to be from the rival high school, and she just got herself involved in an ages old prank war.  Now pulled in to the popular crowd with her best friend, she pretends that her good deed was in fact a master prank and hijinks ensues.  What she didn't account for is that the her hero and neighbor, the town sheriff, has a nephew at the rival school who happens to also be part of the pranks and he happens to be very attractive.

As Freddie and Theo bond over the prank wars, they also uncover a strange series of murders in town possibly tied to a curse.  Freddie channels her inner Dana Scully uncover the truth behind the curse and figure out what the heck is going on in her town, but she quickly finds herself in a Fox Mulder situation.  Unlike Mulder and Scully (in the original series), Freddie and Theo quickly give into their attraction despite going to rival schools.  

This was a great YA Paranormal Fantasy/Thriller.  It had great banter between the characters.  Freddie has a great best friend in Divya and the rest of the prank squad is pretty fun too.  This kind of reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where the kids are off doing stuff, with little to no parental supervision when it comes to the paranormal stuff going on.  Freddie does have parents whom she speaks with often, but not when it comes to the curse and her own investigation of the weird stuff happening in town.  I think that is part of why we loved teen dramas of that era, because we could for an hour once a week believe that we could fight the demons, break the curses, and lead a completely normal life on the side without our parents ever knowing we snuck out (and back in) to slay whatever came out of the hellmouth.  Freddie's and Theo's sells that same storyline, you can be the nerdy girl or boy, then become part of the popular crowd, investigate murders and curses on the side, and still be home for dinner with a little romance on the side.  I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Break Me Down by Anna Downes

Break Me Down by Anna Downes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

This was a unique audiobook.  The narration was very well done with a full cast, and this reads more like a play than a novel.  It has mixed media aspects with news reports, voicemails, and podcast episodes mixed in with main character's point of view.  The narration is interactive with each character being voiced by a different narrator which you tend to only see in graphic audiobooks.  This really made the dialogue interactive.  

The author has a background in acting and if you listen to the interview with the cast and the author, they discuss how accurate her portrayal of some of the crazy and inappropriate behavior portrayed in the book really is.  As I was reading I thought some of the things Georgia experienced with Marianna was a bit out there but the cast will tell you they either experience or have colleagues who experienced similar acting classes that were as out there as Marianna's.  They prey not only on your bank account but on your emotions under the guise of making you a better performer and like Marianna cross the line into abusive.

In my opinion this took far too long to get into the thriller aspect of the book.  Much of the book feels more like Georgia's autobiography while she was living in a cult, as she becomes obsessed with taking acting classes with her teacher Mariana.  Her boyfriend introduced her to the classes, and now she is determined to be the star pupil.  As a child star, Georgia is no stranger to acting, but after a long hiatus she wants to be back on top of the acting game.  Marianna's teaching methods are unorthodox, but Georgia feels challenged and ready to unlock her potential.  This has the feeling of an unreliable narrator at times as you are never sure if what Georgia is "remembering" is real or a fever dream of Marianna's making.  As the story unfolds we never truly find out what is real and what is fabricated, but we do learn that everyone has their breaking point and that with the right drive people can be driven (manipulated) do anything.

Overall the concept of this book was interesting, and I think I would have connected with the characters more if I connected more with acting.  It is a topic I'm not really interested in, and I'm not really interested in cult based thrillers where people are living their lives.  I am more of an action packed fast packed thriller person, and this was more of a slow descent into madness.

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Review: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

T. Kingfisher's retellings are slowly becoming my favorite books!  I love the dark spin she puts on the fairy tales we all think we know.  One of my favorite things to do when I read a retelling like this is to read the original if I haven't already to see how it compares.  The originals are often dark and these more modern takes often are closer to the original than the happy animated tales many of us grew up watching.  I love that there is room for both.

This was a darker version of Snow White and follows Anja, a "healer" who studies poisons and their antidotes instead of the more traditional healing arts.  She is what some would consider odd, but her unorthodox approach is why the King has summoned her to solve the riddle of why his daughter is constantly ill.  Anja's mind for puzzles, observant eyes,  and constant quest for information, makes for the perfect kind of person to find out what is going on with Princess Snow.  Healers, Nurses, maids, guards, and every other type of of person the king can think of can't figure out why Snow's health is failing.  Anja's more scientific methods and investigation uncover a magic mirror and mirror world that might be the reason Snow is getting sick.  Aided by her body guard, Anja's quest is filled with strange sights, dangerous foes, and things she never thought she would encounter.

I haven't read the original Snow White tale, but I will be very soon.  Kingfisher always does a good job taking the key points of the original tale and staying true to those key elements while putting her own unique spin on it to make something new.  I've really grown to love her reimaginings and this is no different.  Anja was a strong and independent character who didn't bow to societal norms.   Her father and family supported her and let her be her own person and pursue her passion for poison study.  The romance was a nice addition as it wasn't the focus and happened almost organically as Anja and Javier spend alot of time together exploring and debunking.  They complemented each other nicely.  

The narrations was really great as the narrator was able to pace the book nicely and do different voices and accents for the various characters throughout the novel.

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Review: Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This had a really interesting premise, but I found it hard to follow.  There are alot of characters with very similar names and I struggled to keep them all straight.  The timeline also jumps around alot from chapter to chapter which also makes the storyline hard to follow because you aren't really sure what part of the story you are in because it isn't consistent from chapter to chapter "when" you are.  There is some romance, however it is a secondary plotline and not the main focus.  It is more of a promise for more to come.  The magic system is interesting and Azul's dedication and love for her sister is compelling.

I would have liked more background info on the gods and how the magic is tied to them.  I love mythology and lore, but I like a bit of an explanation on how that all works together.  Hopefully there is more to come in book 2.  The pacing is a bit on the slower side for my preferences when it comes to fantasy, but the ending was interesting enough for me to want to pick up the next book and see where things go.  

The audio narration was excellent.  Ana Osoria does a wonderful job

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