Review: The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun by Eli Snow

The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun by Eli Snow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This follows the head gardener at the Divine Gardens and an aspiring gardener will ill intentions.  Cyprin longs to enter the gardens to find the man who abandoned her in her time of need, but she also longs for the beauty of the gardens.  Purcell aims for perfection in all that she does, and the pressure is on now that she is head gardener and sees directly to god.

I found this to be confusing at times as the chapters jump from Cyprin to Purcell's POV, but they weren't always seamless.  There are parts of the plot that I still really don't understand and felt like weren't explained well.  The world is unique and the author uses alot of quirky descriptors throughout the book that sometimes made sense and other times didn't quite work.  As for the plot, there is supposed to be a budding romance between Purcell and Cyprin, but they don't like each other.  Saying "she's hot" does not build chemistry or a relationship, and I found that was the case here.  At no point did I feel that they ever truly liked one another.  All of their motivations seemed to be about one upping the other to push the plot forward.  We don't actually get to understand what is really going on with the world and the religious system until the end of the book, then things started to make sense.  

Overall this story just wasn't for me. 

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Review: Make Me: A Second Chance, Marriage of Convenience Romance by Adriana Locke

Make Me: A Second Chance, Marriage of Convenience Romance by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This follows former flames Mira and Hartley.  They were mentioned or side characters in the prior books, but this reads as a complete standalone.  If you want to get to know the other couples and characters mentioned I highly recommend reading the previous 3 books as they are all equally great!  I love the series and the setting of Sugar Creek.

Mira has moved away and runs her own social media business.  Hartley runs his family farm and hasn't really left their hometown of Sugar Creek.  Losing her parents at a young age has caused a sense of wanderlust in Mira that she hasn't been able to shake.  She never truly dealt with her grief and doesn't really want to or know how.  Her wonderful grandmother, who has always been able to see what Mira needs, decides to meddle a bit and decide to leave Mira an inheritance she can't refuse, but there is a catch.  She and Hartley have to marry and stay married for 1 year.  Grandma is hoping that Mira finally deals with her grief and feelings for Hartley.  Harley has never stopped having feelings for Mira, and the whole town has been trying to get him settled down since Mira left.

I love it when Addy writes a grandparent character into her books, and this one was hit.  Mira's grandma was loving while being funny at the same time.  Because Hartley and Mira grew up together and had a romantic relationship previously, I didn't mind that things picked up quickly when they reunited during their marriage of convenience. It never felt like insta-love or insta-lust, it felt like they naturally fell back into something that was always there after desperately trying and failing to stay apart.  You always knew that they would fall back in love and I appreciated that there wasn't a third act breakup and no miscommunication trope.  This had the authors trademark banter, humor, lovable main and side characters, with a sprinkle of seriousness mixed in.

I loved the narrators.  They were both new narrators for me, but they were wonderful as Mira and Hartley.

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Review: Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin

Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is a compilation of volumes 1-5.  The art is stunning.  The storyline follows introverted teenager Cassie who loves to write fanfiction about her favorite show.  She has has dedicated online fans who love her work and give her feedback as well as friendship that she lacks in real life.  Her mom is worried about her and her school mates think she is strange.  Things do get a bit strange when the main character of her fanfic, a vampire named Jessica shows up in real life and things take off from there.

I'm not a big fanfiction reader, but you don't have to be to enjoy this.  The creators do a great job with the storyline and art to explain what you need to know about fandoms, tropes and anything else to understand what is going on.  I appreciated that they took familiar tropes and character arcs and explained the history of the Mary Sue character and created a whole fantasy world around it.  There is more to this graphic novel than just fanfiction, there is friendship and self-reflection as well.  This does end on quite the cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go with Cassie and Bennett in the future.

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Review: A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the third book in the series, and while you could probably read this as a standalone, I do recommend reading the series in order as there is information in the first two books that will be helpful in understanding Din and Ana and their abilities and the world they operate in.  Their investigations however are unrelated.  

This particular investigation sees our quirky investigators on a murder investigation that seems cut and dry.  At first glance it doesn't seem to warrant the skills that our pair possess, but given the location of the crime and the families involved they are sent to deescalate and provide an unbiased eye.  The very simple case becomes very convoluted and complex as Din begins asking questions.  Ana's ability to uncover the unseen and strange in a crime uncovers a strange plot involving fungus that no one could have imagined.

I love Din and Ana, and this series just keeps getting better and stranger.  The author masterfully crafts this strange world with wonderful characters.  It is weird and dark at times with just a touch of humor.  I love getting to know Din and Ana a bit more in each book and watching them work together.  We get to know him a bit better in this book as we meet his sister and learn a bit more about his family.  Ana is such a strange character, but she makes me laugh and she is always able to put everything together so neatly in the end.  

I absolutely love this series and can't wait for another installment!

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Review: Jem and the Holograms Book One

Jem and the Holograms Book One by Kelly Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

When I saw this as a review option on the monthly offerings from Boom! I knew I had to read it! As a child of the 80s, I loved Jem and was a loyal watcher of the animated series. This graphic novel takes the beloved characters and storyline and brings it into the present day while giving nods to some favorite pop-culture nods to the 80s. Fans of the 80s and those like myself who grew up in the 80s will appreciate the references to other 80s series and movies.

This begins as an origin story for Jem and the Holograms and sets up the rivalry with the Misfits another already established band. The storyline keeps alot of the elements of the original show, while adding some unique twists and bringing the band into the present day. We have social media and the internet that wasn't even a thought back in the 80s. There are lyrics present on the pages to represent the music we used to get in the show. The graphic novel delves into the relationships between the characters in each of the bands, the music, and the developing rivalry between the

I absolutely loved this. Jem was a staple in my after school routine in the 80s. The art style captures the bright colors from that time and captures the darker punk style to represent the Misfits and the lighter pop rock style to represent the Holograms. This graphic novel made me so happy! I loved the storyline and I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.

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Review: Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay by Lex Croucher

Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay by Lex Croucher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

This was a fabulous discussion of mental health and PTSD, that being said this lacked what I loved so much about Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.  This lacked the banter between the characters and the fun personalities that were so present in the first book.  This is appropriately somber given the topics and the aftermath if the battle they fought in the first book.  I was hoping that our two couples while dealing with their struggles of grief, anxiety, stress, and more would show a bit of their former selves especially as they quest for the famed holy grail.  It was quite the deviation from the first book and that really threw me off.

I love a good quest story especially if it deals with Arthurian lore.  This while extremely well written and developed was too slow and too sad for my tastes.  The world around me is too bleak, and I don't personally like reading sad stories right now.  I can deal with a bit of realistic emotion and plot in books, but I need fun and fast paced action to balance that out.  Part of the reason I love fantasy is that provides an escape from reality and this didn't provide the experience I was looking for despite the great social commentary and excellent writing.  This is going to be a smash hit for alot of readers, but as much as this is a great book it didn't land with me the way I had hoped.

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Review: Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This follows Annie on another investigation, this time she has been called to investigate the death of a snake preacher by his estranged daughter.  His death while not strange as he handled poisonous snakes regularly isn't out of the realm of possibility, everything that followed including the funeral was wrapped up in less than 24 hours.  His daughter wasn't notified and has alot of questions, while they hadn't spoken in years, he was still her father.  Annie, having ties to Appalachia herself, takes the case.

As Annie begins her investigation around the small town she begins to learn that not everything is as cut and dry as it may seem.  Her own memories of growing up in a similar environment begin to surface, especially as she becomes a target and it becomes clear that someone wants to stop the truth of the preacher's death from coming out.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, however I felt this one missed the atmospheric element that The Witch's Orchard had.  You don't need read that book first, the books read as complete standalones.  I did enjoy the tangled mess that the small town aspect the storyline with everyone being in everyone else's business and Annie getting everyone stirred up the more questions she asks.  This also didn't have the folklore aspect that pulled me into the other book, instead it had a dream element that wasn't really explained and a heavy focus on the religious element of the community.

As far as a thriller goes, this felt more procedural and was your standard detective story.  I prefer a little more atmosphere and want to feel a little scared in my thrillers, and this was a bit lacking in that department.  I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes in the future.

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Review: Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik

Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I did end up listening to the audiobook borrowed from my library.  As always all opinions are my own.

Based on the synopsis and comparisons I expected to love this book, however I did not.  I'm torn between giving this 1 and 2 stars.  This is supposed to be a romantasy, but there is no chemistry between the main characters and the plot was really lacking to keep me interested in the fantasy side of the storyline.

Riela is a mage who has no control over her magic.  She finds herself in a forced proximity situation with fae king Garrick who can help her learn how to control her power, but all she can think about is sex and how sexy he is.  Garrick thinks she is some kind of spy but can't help but lust after her too.  I didn't really like either of them.  I can see readers who have no interest in fantasy but are here for the spice loving this, but I'm a fantasy lover and I need a plot to keep me interested.  The lack of explanation of the magic, character development, plot, and world building didn't work for me.  

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Review: Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

I found this book one night while scrolling Facebook or TikTok from Meg's Tea Room.  She recommends alot of  cozy books, and I believe she has an imprint under Bindery Books.  She was talking about Twig's Traveling Tomes in one of her videos and I immediately went to see where I could find it and it was available for early review.  If you are a fan of cozy fantasy with a found family and cute romance this is a great read.  

This follows Louella Twig, a book witch who may not provide her customers the book they came in asking for, but they always leave with the book they need.  Louella feels more comfortable with her books, but she longs for companionship at times.  She never finished her studies, which causes her magic to  overwhelm her and make socializing uncomfortable sometimes.  When her old mentor and a handsome rouge land in her shop needing her help she finds herself forced to socialize and tackle some uncomfortable situations.  As Louella agrees to help her mentor she finds herself surrounded by new friends and falling for the former thief Everett, and learning that she was always enough just as she was and there was nothing wrong with her magic.

This was a lovely story about self-acceptance and finding your own happy.  This is so warm and cozy and the characters were wonderful.  There is a sweet, slow burn romance between Louella and Everett with some humor mixed in as the group tries to recover the lost grimoire for the cooky wizard.  I loved every minute I spent reading this.

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Review: The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This bounces between present day and the 60's when 4 women took place in a groundbreaking experiment for the time.  In the present the only surviving woman from the experiment hires a caretaker in the wake of her husband's passing, but her home and life experience is still stuck in 1964.  She doesn't talk to her neighbors or know about cell phones or the internet.  When Riley comes to work for Betty she isn't sure what to think of this lovely woman who seems quite capable of taking care of herself but doesn't know any current events, but makes a mean martini.

As Riley gets to know Betty, she learns about her time at Marquis University where she and 3 friends were part of an experiment to measure physic abilities.  As the women showed more promise, Dr. Trimble the head of the experiment kept pushing their abilities, which not only stressed the women physically and mentally but their relationships with their husbands.  Not much is known about the experiments, but Riley is determined to find something or someone for Betty to connect with.  As she pushes forward with her research, she finds that someone may be trying to recreate some of Dr. Trible's more horrible experiments which may have caused dire consequences for 3 of Betty's best friends.

I thought this was very interesting.   I know studies on abilities like Betty's have been done, perhaps not exactly like those done in the book.  There is no denying that sometimes you get a feeling or some people have better intuition about things.  I thought the concept was intriguing and the characters were easy to connect with, I also love a good conspiracy.  This was a bit different than the other books I've read from the author as it wasn't a straight up domestic thriller and I liked that deviation.  You weren't sure who was a good guy and who was a bad guy until the end.

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Review: Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Immortal Game by Allison Saft
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This was an interesting tale about a teenage chess prodigy, who's entire life has been consumed by playing chess to get her sister back from the Fae King.  Shea's older sister is married to the king, and Shea has been under the impression that he "took" her even though she said she wanted to go with him.  Now a chess grandmaster at 18, the King is hosting a tournament where the winner  will be granted a boon, and Shea intends to ask for her sister back.  The stakes are high for all of the players but for Shea, she has dedicated her entire life to beating King Midir and getting her sister back.

I found it hard to connect with the main character and the love interest.  I didn't feel the chemistry between them unless they were discussing chess, I didn't really feel the romantic spark between them.  I'm also not a big chess player, I've tried learning but I can't see the board more than one move ahead, so while it was a unique element to use as the basis for the high stake competition.  I'm not sure if the strategies and moves are real or pure fiction but I appreciated the effort and research the author had to have done to make it realistic.  The plot overall fell short for me.  I liked the lore aspects and the different challenges, but the fantasy elements and mystery elements weren't to my taste and everything wrapped up to easily and neatly at the end.

Overall I think there are going to be people who really love this book, and while I found it just OK, I think there are others who are going to love the slower pace and the unique world the author has built for the tournament.  

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Review: Twilight Tides by Samantha Young

Twilight Tides by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This does read as a standalone but I do highly recommend reading the series in order as it will give some context and background to the other characters in the book and several events that happened in those books that are mentioned in this novel.  The author always does a great job giving a nice recap of what happened so you don't feel lost or like you missed something, but the series is great and I feel like you will have a much richer reading experience if you start at the beginning.

This installment follows London and Murray, who we've met in the previous 2 books.  London is a chef and Tierney's best friend from New York, and Murray is a successful local fisherman.  London left the US to escape an abusive relationship.  She's now working as the chef at Tierney's bed and breakfast.  Naturally she is working through her trauma and figuring things out as she moves on, but when her ex won't leave her alone and her visa renewal is being threatened it makes things much harder for her.  Murray's life situation while different isn't much better.  His ex-wife is making his life hell and she is putting him through a terrible custody battle making things difficult for their daughter.  Murray suspects that his beloved 14 year old may be neglected and possibly in danger by his ex's lifestyle but he needs proof and the legal system is slow.  A marriage of convenience may not be "legal" but it would help out both London and Murray, it also helps that they have both been attracted to one another from the day they met.  Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, especially since their previous ones ended so badly, but they can't deny that there is something between them.

As they spend more time together, Murray and London learn that they have lots of things in common but they have a hard time talking to one another initially.  Through their love of music they find common ground and a way to break the ice.  They both have precarious situations to deal with that become much easier to bear when they lean on one another.  This only makes things heat up more between them.  Determined to protect each other and the ones they love, London has to deal with her ex harassing her and Murray has to deal with a crime family trying to infiltrate his business.  Things heat up not only in the bedroom but on the shores of their island community.

I really loved getting to know London, Murray, and the rest of the group.  They have both been through alot, and we get to see them both be vulnerable for the sake of Murray's daughter Kelly and for each other as they learn to trust one another.  I appreciated that while they were attracted to each other there was a bit of a get to know you period before they acted on anything.  There is a good bit of discussion about domestic abuse and verbal abuse, so take care of yourself if that is a trigger.  I also appreciated that there was good communication between several different characters in the book.  Overall, I really enjoyed London and Murray's story and I can't wait for the next one!

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Review: The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions

The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is geared more toward C-suite and executive leadership and how to get your company to adopt AI, but I still found some interesting takeaways.

We are starting to adopt AI at work, but not everyone has a full license to use the tools yet.  The author addresses how to get your teams excited about adopting AI.  We are all excited to use the tools, however we are limited in capability by the license issue and by the data it has access to because of the type of work we do.  The author addresses these types of issues which made me think a bit differently about how I can use the tool in my day to day.  He also addresses better ways to use AI and how to learn how to use it to start getting the returns you want.  It works better if you start asking it the right types of questions using it as a thought partner but you have to know how to harness it.

Overall, this gave me some ideas on how to think about using AI tools in the future.  While I'm not in an executive position, I can still use the framework Woods lays out to use in some of the work I do.

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Review: Wisdom Corner: A Novel by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Wisdom Corner: A Novel by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I didn't realize this was a follow up to Winter Counts, but I'm so glad I picked this up. I wouldn't necessarily call it a sequel, because it reads as a complete standalone.  But both books follow the same main character as he attempts to solve a crime on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

In Winter Counts Virgil Wounded Horse was more of an enforcer who took the law into his own hands when the Native Police and the FBI ignore the crime on the reservation or take too long to investigate.  Vigilantes like Virgil mete out justice as needed when someone steps out of line or wrongs his tribe.  In Wisdom Corner, Virgil has given up the enforcer life, but it hasn't quite let him go.  He is trying to do honest work, be a good role model, and help the tribe where he can.  When his mentor is found murdered he is determined to find out what happened and his former lifestyle and skill will come in handy.  His girlfriend, who doesn't love the enforcer lifestyle is always supportive of him, but she is running for the tribal council and is stressed as the election nears.  Virgil may not be better at enforcing than he is at detective work but he slowly gathers all of the pieces and puts everything together.

This was a great read.  It hits on the social commentary aspect of Native American culture and treatment historically and in today's society.  It also speaks to the Native boarding schools that tore families apart in the United States and Canada giving a historical and educational element to the book as well as educating the reader on the rampant drug and alcohol problems within Native society today.  The author does a wonderful job of weaving all of the elements of the story together in a seamless way while taking you on a thriller journey to find out  who is at the center of the crime.  I was immersed in the story, location, and connected to the characters.  While I enjoyed the fictional plot I also learned real things from this book as well, it is rare that an author can keep you entertained while teaching you something at the same time.  

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Review: Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi

Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was delightfully cozy.  The letters back and forth between Ms. Davis and Mr. Clarke definitely reminded me of Divine Rivals.  Our main characters begin writing letters to each other under pen names when Josephine Pinova can't find a book at the magical library as she studies for entrance into the Institute of Magic.  Aufidius Reid happens to have the book Josie is looking for as he too is studying for entrance into the Institute, and they begin exchanging letters about their studies and experiments with magic.  They fall for each other through their letters, but when they meet it is not the meet cute you would expect.  Reid works at one of the last magical apothecaries where Josie happens to be shopping.  Her knowledge is exceptional as is her customer service, and he finds her infuriating.  Little does he know she is the sweet, kind, helpful Ms. Davis whom he has been writing to for months.  Josie and Reid must work together to save the shop from closing both financially and from the external dangers that threaten the shop.  If only they could work together like Ms. Davis and Mr. Clarke do on paper.

I can't wait for more books in this series!  I loved Josie and Reid.  You go in knowing who their pen names are and that they don't know each other's real identities.  You also know that it is only a matter of time before they figure it out.  I didn't expect the murder mystery aspect of the book to play such a prominent part, but it worked well as a plotline as Josie and Reid were figuring out their relationship.  I look forward to seeing what happens next in this world whether it be with Josie and Reid or different characters.  I love a good cozy fantasy, and this had a nice blend of other genres to keep the reader interested and the pacing was good as well!

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Review: The Gilded City of Dreams: A Novel by Luanne G. Smith

The Gilded City of Dreams: A Novel by Luanne G. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book in the Golden Age of Magic series, and while I do think you could get away with reading this as a standalone, I do think readers would benefit from reading book 1 first.  The first book sets up things in this book and the Fée Gardienne aka Fairy Godmothers that main characters Celeste and Anaïs are members is explained.  I think parts of this would be confusing if you haven't read the first book.

Celesete and Anaïs have found themselves in NYC on their way to Paris to return the elder staff to the new head of their order.  The staff is stolen shortly after their arrival in the busy city and the pair is split up when their ideas on how to get it back differ.  Celeste finds herself in the center of yet another magical mystery using her magical abilities and new acquaintances to help not only find the staff but Anaïs  as well.  Anaïs on the other hand has her own ideas as to how to get the staff back from the darker side of the city's magic users.  

I really enjoyed this audiobook.  I loved the first book, and while Celeste does maintain a level of innocence and naivety in this she shows a level of confidence and capability that was missing in the previous installment.  Now that she has proven herself she has really come into her magic and abilities.  She is much more sure of herself.  Anaïs being the much older mentor, is very confident almost to a fault, and always has a plan for every situation.  I enjoyed watching these two women work together and separately to find the staff and figure out what was going on.  I also liked that while there was a romance element to the book, it wasn't the main focus.  

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Review: The Children by Melissa Albert

The Children by Melissa Albert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book.  This follows Guinevere aka Guin for short in the present as an adult as she releases her memior about growing up with a famous author for a mother and being the muse for one of the main characters in her mother's beloved books.  Guin paints a picture that everything was great and living off of her mother's estate she is the picture perfect face of her mother's beloved legacy.  She hasn't spoken to her brother Ennis since they were orphaned as children, and as he announces a secretive art show, her facade begins to crumble.  Guin's carfully crafted persona begins to crumble as people begin to ask questions about their childhood that are off limits and she desperately seeks out her brother ahead of his show.  

As Guin spirals in the present we are alternately taken back to the past where we find Guin and Ennis running barefoot through the forest playing make believe and fending for themselves most of the time.  Their mother is holed up in her writing room or throwing lavish parties, while their father is trying to make a comeback in acting or the arts.  Those who spend too long in their farmhouse experience strange dreams and recognize that there is something strange about the house.  As adult Guin faces these strange events in her childhood she realizes that they were the key to her mother's success as and author, and perhaps the key to her brother's eerie success as an artist.  

Overall I liked the concept of this book, but there were parts that dragged on for me where nothing happened.  The narration was very good, but every time I put this down, I found myself not wanting to pick it up again, but then something would happen to pull me back in.  The reveal at the end, while creative and interesting, I do feel could have been don't earlier and flushed out a bit more.  The author always does a great job building a great atmosphere in her books and did a great job building up to the reveal, letting the reader know that while the children were being neglected by their parents, something just wasn't right.   I wanted more time with the house and the gothic aspects of the past versus present Guin trying to find Ennis to figure out what he was going to reveal in his art.  Overall this was good, but didn't check all the boxes for me.

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Review: The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I loved this historical fantasy centered around the Duchess Anne of Britany.  Anne is such an interesting character both in the book and in history.  The author went to great lengths to make clear Anne's love of her country and people.  The afterword gives some historical context about the real Anne, and the historical influences used in the book.  This is not the first book I've read about the Duchess, and they all paint Anne as a strong willed, intelligent, and courageous woman and as Arden mentions there is always an air of romance about any tale I've read where she is involved.

I loved the lore that the author wove in to the historical aspects of the story surrounding Anne and her impending and unwanted marriage to the King of France.  Anne and her most trusted inner circle plot to out maneuver the French at every turn to delay the marriage as long as possible and find a better solution and keep the Duchy out of France's hands.  She tempts the king's lackey with a unicorn hunt in the Lost Lands, only to find that the mythical creatures are in fact real and might just be the aid she is looking for to evade the French.  Blessed by the unicorn, Anne and her entourage are determined to utilize the Lost Lands to their advantage only to find themselves not only in a political game but one of sorcery as well.  Anne finds herself questioning who she can trust at every turn as well as questioning if magic is real and if she can save her lands from going to war.

This story was so well written and the characters were so well crafted.  The myth and lore was woven throughout while taking place in lands inspired by actual people, places, and events that once occurred.  I  love historical fantasy when it is based a bit in reality and a bit in fantasy.  I loved Anne from the very beginning and while it took me a while to warm up to Orleans, he eventually won me over.  Their romance was slow to develop, but worth it in the end, and I really appreciated the ending.  There was also a great supporting cast, Elsebed and her cat Butter were my favorites!

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Review: The Final Target by Nora Roberts

The Final Target by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This follows Arden from publishing her first book through her successful career as an author.  As she is gaining success she meets Dustin, an eager fan with a bit too much enthusiasm.  He sets off all of the alarm bells after coming to one too many events, and oversteps the line of fan to stalker very quickly.  After things take a violent turn, Arden moves across the country to seek the peace, quite, and safety she so desperately needs.  She also finds community and support in the small Oregon town.  While Arden is putting her life back together, Dustin is building their life together in his head after he gets released from psychiatric treatment.  Can her found family protect her or has she built up the skills she needs to protect herself from the privileged stalker when he comes for her a second time?

I really enjoyed getting to know Arden, her friends, and her family.  The author did a really good job with her character development and did a great job making Dustin's character horribly creepy.  His personality and ideals were something to behold, and not in a good way.  The cast of characters was well developed, and I love a good found family element to any book.  There is a nice romance element but it isn't over the top.  January LaVoy's narration as always is phenomenal.  Her work is always top notch.

I did find this to be a bit formulaic and predictable when compared to a few of Robert's more recent novels.  The plot and characters were similar in nature to a few of her books in the last few years.  Does that mean it wasn't entertaining?  Absolutely not, I still enjoyed it and the characters were engaging.

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Review: Transmentation / Transgression: Or, a Spark on the Eve of the Five Hundred Year Burn: The Formation Saga, Book 2 by Darkly Lem

Transmentation / Transgression: Or, a Spark on the Eve of the Five Hundred Year Burn: The Formation Saga, Book 2 by Darkly Lem
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This follows a large cast of characters across the multiverse, which at times makes this hard to understand.  Some of the characters hop bodies from their original body in their home word to other bodies across time and space to accomplish their job or a mission.  It gets confusing at times as there are so many characters and plotlines to follow, but the book is very interesting and well written.

You cannot read this as a standalone, you need to read the 1st book as it sets up quite a bit of ground work for this book.  This picks up where the 1st book leaves off with the understanding that you already know what is going on and who everyone is.  I wish I had reread the 1st book prior to reading this to get reacquainted with the concepts and characters as it had been quite a while and I think it would have been beneficial to my understanding of the happenings in this book.  I have a pretty good memory, but the concepts are very complex when it comes to the politics and multiverse, and a refresher would have made things a bit easier for me I think.  

This is not an easy book to read, however I do this this book and the series as a whole is totally worth it if you like science fiction, fantasy, and multiverse type stories.  This has political intrigue, interesting characters, and the various worlds are well crafted.  I'm not sure if this is the end of the series or if there are more books, but I'm here for whatever the team of Darkly Lem comes out with next!

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Review: Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth

Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a great start to a new dystopian series!  The audio has a full cast narration and follows several different characters which made it really easy to understand who's perspective you are following.  This follows two women who's countries are at war, and who's lives are intertwined by the same prophecy.  The prophecy indicates that one of them will lead their people to victory, but doesn't state who will win.  It also states that their lives will be impacted by the same man.

This was a great blend of sci-fi and fantasy.  I love a good dystopian story, and this really delivered for me.  Some people develop abilities if they survive the deadly fever that plagues one colony, while the other colony is highly advanced in technology.  Both of our female characters are very capable soldiers, and there is quite a bit of political and military posturing and maneuvering going on as their nations wage war and negotiate peace with one another.  

This was action packed and had great world building and character development.  There are quite alot of characters to keep track of but again the multi-narrator cast really helped with the audio as it was really easy to keep track of what was going on and who was the focus.  There are also several different plot points going on that all converge.  In addition to the prophecy and the ongoing war, there is also what seems like an unrelated plot to meet others from outside their universe, but that becomes very related to the central plot as things come together.  I really liked how the author brought things together and laid things out.  I'm really exicted for the next book in the series and wish I had it now.  

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Review: A Woman of Whispers by Carey Caffrey

A Woman of Whispers by Cary Caffrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an Audible code via the author, all opinions are my own.

The narration was fantastic! There are alot of characters and the narrator did a wonderful job with accents and differentiation between all of the various characters.

This follows Little Wolf, a sort of halfling who is part Skarrowyn which is a kind of water people and part human. She is a mercenary and travels with a group of mercenaries. We meet her after she wakes up not remembering who she is or anything about her past. As she regains her wits she slowly beings to regain her memories especially as she reunites with her crew.

Wolf has some interesting relationship dynamics within her crew, which only get more complicated as new characters are introduced. Wolf is not a fan of feeling her own emotions, and frequently uses sex as a distraction whenever those pesky feelings creep up. That being said, she is eventually forced to face her fears and feelings and shows good emotional growth within herself and her relationships as the story develops. There is good action and world building as the crew takes on a job that involves a witch. Wolf doesn't believe in witches or magic, only her abilities and the silver delivered when a job is done. As they complete the job she learns that sometimes things you can't see actually exist.

Overall this was a good setup for the series.

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Review: The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Mercy can speak to ghosts.  She doesn't know why or how she has this ability.  She can't remember her past, but she makes her living working for a local triad boss dealing with angry spirits that inhabit the city she lives in.  A new and powerful ghost is wreaking havoc around the waterways of Hong Kong, leaving messages for Mercy hoping to jog her memory of the past and make amends for her past deeds.

This is told in both the past and present as Mercy tries to uncover what is happening in the present and as we find out what happened in the past.  We also get to know the ghost who is haunting Hong Kong and how she is connected to Mercy and why she is so angry.  This novel is full of lore and myth and ghosts.  It is a puzzle that slowly puts itself together over time as the characters tell us their stories.  As Mercy begins to remember her past, she slowly beings to understand what she must do to make amends despite.  This by far is one of the more unique ghost stories I've read in a while and it certainly touches on vengeful spirits and generational trauma.  There is alot of emotion between the pages as both women are unsettled and looking for something to bring them peace, contentment, connection, forgiveness, etc.  

Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job with the narration as always.  She is an amazing narrator and among my favorites!  

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel

The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out for a while, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner. 

I am really enjoying this series.  Freya and her zany Aunt Carole are off to another adventure, this time on a cruise around the Red Sea ending in Jordan.  Once again Arthur has left clues for the pair to uncover and thwart "The Collector" once and for all.  With help from some familiar faces Freya is able to use her antique's knowledge and her ability to solve puzzles to put together the clues to figure out who is behind the trafficking of the artifacts.

This was another fun, cozy mystery as Freya tries to establish herself as an expert in antiques recovery.  Carole is up to her antics again trying to matchmake Freya and the FBI agent as well as make friends everywhere she goes.  This had a fun cast of characters that keeps you on your toes wondering who the shady Collector is.  Arthur's clues weren't as present as they were in the first installment, but they were there and as always his orchestration is key to the plot.  This is a fun read and I am looking forward to getting to the third installment and seeing what Freya and Carole get up to next and who returns to aid them and who is still getting in the way.

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Review: The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This book was like an intense fever dream. You were never quite sure if main character Macy was actually experiencing the things happening or if she was having a bad dream that she can't quite wake up from. Down on her luck after the passing of her father and unable to keep a good paying job to support herself and her teenage sister, Macy is desperate. She finds a weird add on Craigslist for what turns out to be a housesitting job with some strange stipulations, but the pay is too good to pass up. She figures she can follow the weird rules for 3 days, she can really use the money. Her younger sister doesn't want her to take the job, but they need the cash.

This quickly takes on the unreliable narrative as we get to know Macy and her backstory. You aren't quite sure if the anxiety and dread she is feeling is actually happening or if it is a side effect of her grief and depression. This book is atmospheric and leaves you with that feeling of isolation and tension that you want from a psychological horror/thriller. You never know what is coming next and every time you put it down you are left with questions of "what did I just read?" and "what is happening?" especially at the end! The worldbuilding is done so well to leave the reader with the doom and gloom feeling and the feeling that the house and the woods are just as much of a character as the "visitors" and Macy are. If you are looking for suspense and madness this is a great read.

This book is a great lesson for not taking weird Craigslist jobs for homes in the middle of nowhere with weird rules, no matter how good the pay is and no matter how desperate you are.

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however as this has been out a few years, I opted to listen to the audiobook in an attempt to get my review posted in a timely manner.  The third book in the series has recently come out and I have all three books for review and I wanted to start at the beginning of the series.

This is marketed as a thriller/mystery but it definitely leans more on the cozy side!  Freya Lockwood loves hunting for antiques and her passion is making sure they return to their rightful owners, but long ago her mentor betrayed her and her passion was taken from her.  This really impacted Freya's identity, and she has spent the last 20 years in an unhappy marriage and in a job she doesn't really love.  Her Aunt Carole, who is eccentric and wonderful, has called to let her know that her mentor Arthur has died suddenly.  While Freya has no love for Arthur any longer, she loves her Aunt like a mother and is quickly thrust back into the world of antique hunting and mysteries that she swore off when Arthur betrayed her.  With Carole and Freya on the case they are sure to find out if there was foul play involved and what Arthur was really up to all those years ago.

I really enjoyed getting to know Freya and Carole as they navigate the eccentric cast of characters and the darker side of the antique trade.  The writing is a bit repetitive at times, but overall I enjoyed Freya's character development and her search for the truth.  This was a nice mix of humor, history, and cozy mystery.  I look forward to going on more adventures with Freya and Carole in the future.

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Review: Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young

Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book set on the small island community of Leth Sholas.  While this does read as a complete standalone, there are things mentioned that will make more sense if you have read Half-Light Harbor prior, though they aren't critical to Quinn and Taran's story.

Taran has returned to the island she grew up on to take care of her ailing mother and her affairs after moving away for college and having her heart broken.  The cause of her heartbreak still lives on the island and wants to pay his respects and make amends after 19 years.  Quinn was never good at sharing his emotions when they were younger and he realizes that it may have been what truly caused him to make the biggest mistake of his life.  He and Taran still have unresolve feelings for one another and alot of unspoken words to say if she ever will give him an opportunity to say them.  It is pretty clear if they can come to terms with their emotional baggage their second chance romance might just be the happy ending they were both looking for and the whole town has been rooting for.

I love a good second chance romance especially when the couple is willing to talk things through.  While it takes both Taran and Quinn a bit to get there, they slowly come around to laying things out on the table and be honest with each other.  Fortunately for both of them they have good support systems in place as they come to terms with their feelings and where to go next.  This is also important as the suspense aspect of the book takes place as Taran and Quinn are harassed in and out of town.  The suspense aspect was minimal, taking backseat to the romance.  I thought the reveal was a bit obvious compared to some of the other more complex suspense plots we've seen from the author in the past, it worked given everything else that was going on in the book.  

Yet again, Samantha Young has me longing for a trip to Scotland with her descriptions of the lovely people, the landscape, the music, the food, and more.  I hope to one day travel there with my love and see it for myself.

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Review: We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a sad one, but it also contains hopeful moments as Don and Rodney face the end of the world.  Be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting this one and have a box of tissues nearby as this one gets quite emotional, especially at the end.

Don and Rodney have been together for over 40 years, and as the world faces annihilation they have a promise to keep that will take them across the country during Earth's last days.  They are opposites with Don being friendly and outwardly caring, while Rodney is gruff and a bit of an introvert.  Their journey not only has them personally facing their own emotions and reflecting on their own lives, feelings, and regrets; but they also meet a host of people doing the same.  Some are good people just wanting to share space and live their best lives with other good people as things come to an end, while others just can't comprehend what is happening and act in unexpected ways.

This book asks the question "did I do the best I could, and was it good enough?" which as a parent I really related to.  I really enjoyed the vast cast of characters the couple encounters along their journey.  They really cause them to reflect on their feelings and charge forward with their mission.  As the story unfolds we find out their true goal, and it truly is lovely but this is an emotional rollercoaster for sure.  As always TJ Klune knows how to break you in such a beautiful way.

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Review: A Spot of Tea and Sorcery: a whimsical, cozy romantasy by Sylvia Mercedes

A Spot of Tea and Sorcery: a whimsical, cozy romantasy by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was adorable. This follows a former dark sorcerer who has decided to change his evil ways and open a sweet and sensible flower shop. Nigel has moved to a small town where his type of magic is illegal, but green magic is allowed and he uses what he can to nurture his plants. Not one for gardening like his father, he does what he can for the plants and hopes to live a simple life selling flowers and staying out of anyone's dark plans.

Luna has been branded for use of illegal magic because some second cousin or other was involved in dark arts. Luna is a tea witch and has never done anything sinister in her life. She is breath of fresh air and the sunshine on a cloudy day, especially when it comes to Nigel Grimm. She literally blows through his door during a storm, and Nigel is quite enchanted with her even in her bedraggled state. She can tell there is something magical going on in the flower shop and is drawn to it despite her fears of getting caught up in sorcery. All is going well until she finds out about Nigel's past and an unruly tiger lily escapes its pot and things get interesting.

I loved this first installment of this serial. You can tell Nigel is already a goner for Luna, and I'm looking forward to their relationship developing. This was so fun and at times funny. I love serial novellas, and this one was cozy and magical. I loved that the flowers had some personality with a little bit of autonomy, but they were still flowers. Luna and Nigel are great characters. She is such a people person, willing to listen and solve any problem usually with a cup of tea. He is more reserved and introverted. If you are looking for a sweet, fun, cozy read go grab a cup of your favorite tea and give this a go.

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Review: How Not to Fall in Love by Karla Sorensen

How Not to Fall in Love by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This was such a sweet romance.  Archer has a reputation as a bad boy quarterback, but underneath all that anger and attitude is a heart of gold and trauma from his daddy issues.  Remi is a single mom who tries to do it all.  She takes care of her grandpa, raises her son, runs an animal shelter, and so much more.  Remi is her own worst enemy when it comes to fun and relaxation as she is always putting everyone and everything before herself.  Moms single or in a relationship can relate as most of us feel that, as there is always 1000 things to do and we are always exhausted.  When Archer comes crashing into her life, literally, she is not happy about it.  He's gruff and grumpy but he's willing to pay his penance and make amends.  The more time he spends at the shelter doing his community service the more sparks fly between Archer and Remi, but they are both determined to keep things professional.  This leads to a slow burn romance as the emotional moments build and they get to know one another.

I'm a sucker for a great grandparent character, and Remi's grandpa was awesome.  He raised Remi, and now that he's gotten older and has some heath issues, he needs some help.  He still gives her hell and advice when she needs it.  I loved him.  I also loved Remi's best friend Ness, she was funny and always on Remi's side.  Archer's younger sister was sweet despite being raised by such a cold father, and as the story unfolds we get to see her and Archer open up and learn more about their backstory.  Archer's teammates are great as well, they tentatively offer support to their standoffish QB, creating some silly scenes and much needed comradery.  There isn't much actual football in this sports romance, but it is mentioned a few times.

I mainly listened to the audiobook, and both narrators were awesome.  They truly brough Remi and Archer to life.  This book got emotional at times and it really came through in the narration.  The humor also came through as there were also really funny parts.

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Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  I also received a paperback of this book via a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a really fun YA murder mystery, especially if you like escape rooms.  I thing escape rooms are fun, but every time my family does one we end up fighting.  The book captured the dynamics of and escape room team pretty well.  Someone ends up taking the lead, someone ends up solving alot of the puzzles, someone feels left out, and other people mill around helping where they can.  In this case everyone was super good at solving puzzles and doing escape room stuff and the teams were crafted for their TV presence and social media views as the game was televised.  The teams weren't necessarily put together for the best chemistry, however our main characters on Team Helsing despite being set up for failure the entire game, end up working together pretty well.

The Escape Game is in its Fifth Season despite tragedy striking last season when a contestant was found murdered on set.  There were many suspects, the main suspect being her sister and fellow competitor Sierra who is back for season 5.  No one was charged with the murder, but Sierra is back to find out whodunit and find justice for her sister and win the prize money she was promised.  Along with her teammates Beck, Ari, and Carter; Sierra is able to uncover more clues to what happened that night.  But at every turn there seems to be some obstacle or missing puzzle piece that keeps them from finding the truth.

This was a little on the long side for me and parts of it were a bit slow.  I did enjoy it overall.  The games were very detailed and creative when it came to solving the puzzles and math sequences.  Some people will love that, while I think others will not.  I thought the plot was fun, and there are plenty of red herrings to throw you off the trail of who the real killer was.  I really liked how the relationships between the team evolved.  They started out a bit standoffish, but they really developed into a found family which I always love.  This does leave off on a tiny cliffhanger, which mainly indicates that there will be another book for our team to have another adventure.  For the purposes of this book, the story does end and the plot wraps up nicely.

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Review: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is told in alternating points of view and alternating timelines interwoven with tales of ghost stories and Japanese lore.  Lee lives in the present and has cone to visit his father in Japan after taking a break from NYU.  He knows something happened with his roommate, but he's in a haze of pills and can't quite remember what happened.  He's hoping for a respite in his father's home in Japan, a chance to detox and remember what happened with the comforting meals that his dad's girlfriend cooks.  Instead Lee finds that the house is strange and a strange woman walks around at night brandishing a katana.

Sen lives in 1877 and her father is one of the last remaining samurai after their excile in Japan.  He came back from war a changed man, but is determined to keep samurai traditions and teachings alive.  Sen is desperate for his approval and will do anything to be considered a samurai in his eyes.  She too sees a strange white man from time to time walking around her home and grounds.  

As the story unfolds, you get the feeling that something is amiss but you aren't quite sure what it is.  The story takes on the air of an unreliable narrator at some point but the telling is so well crafted you don't even notice that it happened.  Both Sen and Lee are connected by a strange door in a house that that carries history and memories.  He is trying to figure out the trauma that occurred in his past, while she is awaiting the trauma in her future.  The slower pace worked well here as the story unfolds and the characters move between time to uncover what happened in each of their timelines.  Terrible things happen in both of their lives, which Baker describes with atmospheric and vivid detail.

This is full of twists and turns and takes you on a wild ride.  I loved the horror elements and the historical elements.  This was excellent!

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Review: The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again by Mary Claire Haver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Thank you Dr. Haver for writing this book.  I've been living in the zone of chaos for atleast 2 years and I wish this book had been available then so I knew what questions to ask and what was available as treatment.  I knew something was wrong and sought help over the last 2 years, but I kept getting the brush off, I was too young, needed to exercise more, lose some weight, had anxiety, was stressed, relax more, etc. As Dr. Haver explains these are the common answers women get when they try to seek help in middle age when they don't feel well and can't pinpoint why.   She goes on to explain that many women are gaslit at this stage of life either because of lack of training, lack of time, lack of research, and more.  My doctors certainly didn't look at all of my symptoms or me as a whole person or even try to understand why my labs suddenly changed after no change in routine and years of them being stable.  Dr. Haver explains this is a broad problem that women experience, when treatment is available and can prevent other more debilitating ailments as we age.

After finishing this book I feel so seen and validated.  I feel better prepared to have a real conversation with my providers and not back down with regards to my own care.  I am only 45 and have alot of life left and alot of things I still want to do.  You put the medical terms and science into examples that I could understand.  You reference real studies and give recommendations of things to try and discussions to have with your personal provider.  There are diagrams and charts for the visual learner to understand what is going on.  There are lists of blood tests and why and what they are looking for that you can take to your doctor and discuss.  This process doesn't need to be so hard and while there is more research and training needed there are things we can do now.  This phase of life can make us feel out of control and it isn't something we can control, however there are things we can do to make it easier.  I appreciate Dr. Haver laying out the options and discussions we can have with our providers 

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Review: Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen

Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This was an interesting concept, a smuggler and a mage both happen to be onboard an airship when it crash lands on a deserted island during a storm.  The smuggler happens to have some very dangerous cargo onboard that escapes after the crash.  The mage is being escorted to be tried for crimes he claims he didn't commit with his magic bound, but he might be the survivor's only hope to get off the island and back to safety.

I didn't really understand why Pearl and her Aunt were smuggling the dragoness in the first place.  I'm not quite sure if that was ever explained.  I really liked the concept of the dragoness.  She was a unique being with unique abilities.  Unfortunately her whole purpose seemed to be to prey on the humans and get defeated.  I was hoping her character would be more involved in the plot and explored more.  I have so many questions about her kind that didn't get answered and why she was there.  I thought the magic system was interesting as well, where mages have to find an anchor to use their magic and sacrifice that thing each time they use their power.  I liked that the author tapped into that "there is a cost for using" magic concept.  

As for the characters, the book mainly focuses on Marken the mage and Pearl the smuggler.  Though there are many other side characters throughout they mainly fade into the background and Pearl and Marken work together to figure out how to get off the island or get back to civilization.  There are other twists, turns, and reveals as the story progresses but most of the other characters weren't relevant to the story.  Pearl's character gets a bit darker and colder in the second half of the book.

Overall this was a fun YA fantasy.  Reintgen is a favorite author, and while this isn't a favorite he has written some of my favorite books in the YA and middle grade ranges.

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Review: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai
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.

This was a unique YA fantasy that follows a priestess who guides the dead back to their loved ones for their last rites.  Kang Siying's most recent client is an important one with a generous commission that her family desperately needs.  She must travel to the most recent site where the two warring territories solders have fought to find the missing prince, reanimate his remains, and return them to the king's palace to receive her payment.  When she performs her rituals, things go awry, and the prince doesn't just reanimate, he returns to life but with weakened qi.  Siying must find a way to restore his qi, or Prince Ren will truly perish.  In their travels Siying must balance her duty to her family and her contract, while also educating Ren on all of the things he doesn't know about life outside of the palace.  As they complete more tasks and meet more people as Ren restores his qi, he realizes that there is much he doesn't know about his father the king and his beloved brother.  He has much to learn about politics and the unrest in their land.

I really enjoyed the narration, and it worked well as Siying and Ren went on their adventures.  There was a lot of emotion going on between the two as they get to know each other and as she bites her tongue about how people live and barely survive and the illness that plagues her family.  She often scolds Ren about his place in the royal family and his naivety about what is truly happening.  His cluelessness and carefree attitude was a nice balance to her more serious demeanor.  While there is a bit of a slow burn romance element, it is very clean and sweet.  The spirit element  would be more disturbing for young readers than the romance, but even that isn't very gory.  I thought the pacing was good and the lore and magic had a purpose and explanation.

This was a very well done debut and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

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Review: Accidentally Marrying the Mafia Don: a smutty age gap romance by Evie Rose

Accidentally Marrying the Mafia Don: a smutty age gap romance by Evie Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This was a fun, mafia romance.  Silver fox and uncle of the bride Dante is determined to make sure his niece has the perfect Italian wedding.  When everything starts to go wrong on the big day the mafia boss improves and works with what he's got to make things go off without a hitch.  This is where junior hairdresser Ruby comes in, she is quick on her feet and available to stand in as a witness and bridesmaid when disaster strikes.  Ruby and Dante have immediate chemistry, but their 18 year age difference and her inexperience give him pause.  Fortunately for Dante and Ruby, his meddling sister believes in romance and love at first sight and make sure they get together by way of marriage certificate.  I thought that was a funny way to deal with forced proximity and instalove.  

As this is a novella, there isn't a ton of time to get to know our characters, but the author does manage to fit in a lot of information in a short amount of time.  There were a few statements about Ruby's relationship with her mom that I hoped were going to be expanded, but they were left unexplored.  I did appreciate that our characters don't just jump right into bed and get to spicy times together, they do spend some time getting to know one another a bit until things get down and dirty.  Things do get dirty if you know what I mean.  

This is the first book I've read by the author and there are other books in the series so I'm not sure if they are connected, but this does read as a standalone novella.  This was light and fun, and perfect for a 1-2 sitting read.  While the mafia is mentioned there is no violence, the focus is purely on the romance.

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Review: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was my first time reading from this author, and I don't know what rock I've been living under but they have a ton of fantasy works that I now need to check out. This is the first book in a new series following Maggie, who is from our world in the current day. She somehow ends up waking up in the middle of her favorite unfinished fantasy novel series. She uses her intimate knowledge of the series to insert herself into the politics and plotlines of the characters. This makes both allies and enemies for Maggie, but it also helps her put together a sort of found family to help and protect her as she moves through the story within a story.

This is full of all of the things you could possibly want in a fantasy novel. It has political intrigue, plotting, scheming, betrayals, assassins, magical creatures, mages, magic wielding families, and more. This isn't going to be for everyone. It is told in almost a flashback sort of format as Maggie often has to recap what she knows from her near perfect recall of the "books" to her allies and to prove that she is trustworthy to new people that she meets as the story progresses. She is treated as a seer or prophet since what she says almost always comes true in some fashion. The more she "helps" the more the timelines and events change, but the heart of the fantasy world she is living in stays the same. The character building and world-building suffer at the hands of continuing to tell the story within the story to set up Maggie's relationship with the world and the characters. I expect as the series continues, her knowledge is going to run out and she will experience the world organically. I enjoyed the relationships Maggie is able to build with her crew and how quickly she was able to operate in this strange land. I liked the pacing and the action and all of the political posturing and scheming. I was entertained the entire book. This does end on a pretty big cliffhanger, which sets up the next book. There are still alot of threads left to explore from the this book. We have yet to find out how Maggie got to Kair Toren and if she will ever find a way back to the "real" world. She also isn't really looking for the answer to that question.

I loved the narrator! There are a ton of characters in this book, and she was able to give each one of them a distinct voice. She narrated each character some with accents some without with emotion and tone appropriate to the scene. Fantastic job!

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Review: As You Wish by Danika Brown

As You Wish by Danika Brown
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 cute, small town romance.  This follows Honey Baxter, a rule following magical auditor sent to investigate a wishing well on the Hale farm.  Ethan Hale is a single dad doing his best to raise his three daughters and keep the farm afloat.  When Honey shows up to audit their wishing well chaos and compliance come together about as well as oil and water.  Ethan doesn't like people in his business even if he has known them all his life and they are offering to lighten his load.  Honey is a complete stranger from the government, and the last time the government set foot on his property it didn't end well for the Hale family.  With both Ethan and Honey trying to do what is best for the farm and the family, lines get a little blurry as her investigation progresses and feelings get involved.

This was adorable.  I love a good small town storyline, and this one was a bit on the cozy side.  The addition of some magic to the story was also a nice touch.  Honey and Ethan spend most of the book pining quietly for each other as they both have pretty thick walls up and don't easily let people in, but it was sweet to watch them slowly lower their defenses as the story unfolds.  They were a great opposites attract couple.  I enjoyed getting to know the people of the town, and hope to see more of them as the series progresses.  This is very clean with only a few kissing scenes, so if you are looking for something on the sweeter side give this a read.  

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Review: Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

Wolf Worm 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 another weird one from Kingfisher, but I expect nothing less at this point. If you are not a fan of insects, I would steer clear of this one as they are mentioned quite a bit in this book.  I'm not a fan of creepy crawlies myself, but as long as they stay in their environment and out of mine, I respect their place in the circle of life.

Set in the late 1890's in North Carolina, Sonia Wilson is looking for a job.  Her father has recently passed, and there isn't much work for women in general let alone a naturalist.  Sonia is a talented painter and scientific illustrator, and while her father had made a name for himself in the scientific community, Sonia's name does not carry much weight during this time period.  She has not had much luck finding gainful employment, until the cranky, reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position working on his unfinished book.  Halder's area of study is entomology, which is not Sonia's expertise but she needs the work and is quickly able to put her talents to good use.

During her stay at the Halder manor, Sonia begins to notice some strange things about the insects she is illustrating.  She asks scientific questions of her patron, and only more questions begin to bubble up.  She begins to question strange things she sees in the woods around the house, local stories and lore she hears from the housekeeper and the local healer.  The more answers Sonia gets the darker the truth seems to get.  Sonia isn't sure if it is her anxiety manifesting or if something truly sinister going on around her.

I enjoyed this gothic tale.  There is a slow buildup to the action, but once things start happening things start to speed up from there. This was a more atmospheric book, as I find most gothic novels to be, where you know something creepy is going to happen and things build up to that. I thought the slower pacing in the beginning worked well to help build to the reveal of what was really  happening and who the true villain was. It was an interesting mix of science, social topics, and horror.  The author does a wonderful job building out the world describing things in specific paint colors as Sonia would paint them from the eye of an artist.  I believe the author is an artist (former illustrator) as well so this was a nice touch.  This really amps up the ick factor as the horror elements are revealed in the second half of the book as things are described and the atmospheric elements really close in.  Again if you aren't into bugs and body horror, this isn't going to be for you.  Kingfisher did such a good job with the story and the descriptions.  

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