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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