Review: The Rival Pact by Olivia Hayle

The Rival Pact by Olivia Hayle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a unique rivals to lovers, that finds James who is the quiet, stoic member of the Billionaire group menaced by Florence a government representative who is overseeing the restoration of his historic estate. James became a Duke at a young age, and he and Florynce went to boarding school together as young kids and again at university. They always competed to get the best grades and highest praise from their teachers. Neither one of them likes to talk about emotions or communicate their desires or needs, but when she is forced to stay on premises to oversee the historic renovation, they learn to communicate in an unexpected way.

I really enjoyed getting to know James and Florence. While they started out enemies, it turned out they were similar instead of opposites. We learn slowly why James was mean to her as a child and why he is so closed off as an adult. It all makes sense after things are explained. Florence on the other hand, is a constant overthinker and doesn't know how to communicate her innermost desires. Through their forced proximity and completely by accident, they find common ground where he has experience in the exact subject she wants to learn. I didn't think I would enjoy the BDSM aspect of the novel as I have not enjoyed previous reads where that was an aspect, however I thought the author did a good job explaining the rules of play before, during, and after as well as mutual trust needed for such an arrangement to work between partners. The spice is off the charts, and while BDSM is still not my thing, I thought it was well done here. It also set the stage for good communication, which I always love in a romance novel between characters.

You can read this completely as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books. It will introduce you to the other billionaires and their partners, with the exception of Alex. Alex's book is next and I can't wait.

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Review: Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts

Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the first book in a new magical trilogy from Nora Roberts following two witches who have met in past lives beginning at the Salem Witch Trials. This book sets the stage for the rest of the trilogy as Neve and Caden explore their powers and their role in what looks to be a much larger battle between good and evil. Neve lives with two other witches who are essentially her aunts and have always been with her through time. This life is different as both she and Caden begin to remember things from the past and are tasked with finding things that will help them defeat the enemy. They both live separate lives, but they know that eventually their paths will cross and everything they do leads to them working together in the end.

This was a bit of a slow burn as the story unfolds. We see Neve and Caden in the present and the past. In the present they are both building successful businesses, spending time with loved ones, and training. In the past they are reliving scenes from their past lives, some where they have met and others where they haven't. Our leads don't meet until the end of the book, so there is still alot of story left to be told in the trilogy and there is still much more to be revealed. That is going to annoy some readers and completely turn them off to the series because it ends on a cliffhanger. On the other hand this may to hook you with the interesting characters and premise like it did for me. I enjoyed getting to know each of them individually knowing that there is going to be more to the story, plus I'm intrigued by stories with witches and witch trials. Now that our couple has met I'm interested to see where things go, while there is almost no romance in this book, there is promise of one coming between Neve and Caden in the future. I love the aunts and Caden's family and I look forward to seeing them as the story grows.

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Review: Midnight Mooring by Samantha Young

Midnight Mooring 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 4th and final book in the Scottish Isles series, which are all interconnected standalones. There are events and characters mentioned in this book that might make sense if you read all of the books in order, but the author does a good job giving you enough information to either remember what happened or if you started with this book to understand what is going on. The only thing that really won't make sense if you haven't read the previous books is the 2nd epilogue which is a nice wrap up of all of the couples and a where are the now at the end of the series.

This is probably the darkest book in the series, please read the trigger warnings if needed and take care of yourself first as this covers some dark topics. This follows Cameron and Forde as the main characters, who if you've read the previous books have had an enemies to lovers vibe going on for years. She's his best friend's younger sister, which at surface level seems like what is keeping them apart. Turns out it is so much deeper than that. Cameron has been traveling for several months, which has allowed both of them to do some soul searching and maturing when it comes to what they want in life and relationships. What neither one of them expected was to be pulled into a murder investigation and a stalker that no one is taking serious.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cammie and Forde. They have been pushing each other's buttons for years, and when finally given the chance to air their grievances and true feelings things are explosive. Of course there are years of trauma to sort through, so there is a lot of angst especially when it comes to the murder investigation and stalker. Young really delivers on the suspense aspect here and takes us on a couple of different trails that make wonder who is at the heart of all of our couple's turmoil. I also appreciated all of the detail she put into the descriptions of the island and the surrounding areas, as I've been reading her books over the years it cements my desire to visit Scotland. If you want something with great banter, dark suspense, and wonderful characters give this a chance. I love this and the entire series and can't wait for the Montrose series!

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Review: Mark of the Warrior by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Mark of the Warrior by Shannon Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the second book the the Breathmarked duology and picks up where book 1 left off. I do not recommend reading this as a standalone as there is quite a bit of setup and explanation in the first book.

This was such a wonderful conclusion to the duology. If you love martial arts this is a great novel. This delves into different fighting styles, I'm not sure if they are real or fictional, and how they are used to combat other styles. We finally learn how the twins Jun and Sai are connected and why they are so talented. I had my suspicions reading book 1, and the authors give us the answers about the brothers and the scrolls of Heaven and Earth that readers are looking for. This has plenty of action balanced with politics and drama to balance it out.

This has a nice found family vibe on Jun's side. The friends and allies he made in the first book are still travelling with him as he tries to find the stolen Scroll of Heaven. He also wants to reunite with his estranged brother and stop the war that is brewing if opposing forces get the Scroll of Earth that Sai aka High Keeper Mirror has been entrusted to guard. The brothers who used to be so close have to come to terms with the fact that fate has different plans for them. Unless they can figure out how to work together war will devastate the lands that they both want to unite and protect.

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Review: This Shattered Tempest: A Novel by Thea Guanzon

This Shattered Tempest: A Novel by Thea Guanzon
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 and final book in the Hurricane wars series. This book cannot be read as a standalone, as the prior books provide so much information that lead up to this one. There is so much set up in the characters and the plot that would leave the reader lost if they started here.

This picks up where the last book left off. Talasyn and Alaric are both struggling with their feelings for each other after their political marriage has lead to something more than enemies with benefits. They are also struggling with their duties to their respective countries and the promises they've made to keep their people safe. It is clear that one if not both of them are going to have to betray the other and the fragile cease fire that their marriage enacted is quickly going to end. While we get to see Talasyn and Alaric's relationship develop, we also get Talasyn's inner monologue about how she truly feels about him and about what she is supposed to do and how that is going to impact their relationship. They have wonderful tender moments and passionate angry ones as well. There are well described action scenes with magic and warships. And as we have seen across the series political maneuvering by each and every player on the chess board, the question is can Talasyn and Alaric physically survive, and can their love transcend all of the pain and hurt that everyone, themselves included will cause before it is all over?

This was full of yearning, betrayal, action, emotion, magic, and dragons! I wasn't sure how Guanzon was going to end this without complete tragedy a la Romeo and Juliet or with everyone dying in complete apocalypse which they just stopped, but I was pleasantly surprised with the way she took it. It didn't feel rushed or like anything was left out. The author took her time appropriately addressing the betrayals from trusted insiders, explaining things she could have left alone for the reader to ponder, and giving us a really satisfying ending. I really loved this series!

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Review: Mortal Things by Marie Lu

Mortal Things by Marie Lu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the first book in a new YA series by Marie Lu. I assume it is a series, there are still alot of things left open. It is a unique take on gods and the powers they wield over humans and how they interact with the human world. Rose has been chosen by the god of death, and she hates her job and her patron. She wanted to be a doctor before she gave up her life to be a Harbinger of Death. She wanted to save lives, not take them. She constantly challenges her patron, but in the end she does what she is told. The harbingers of the gods only have each other as friends and family after they are chosen, so when one of their own is murdered in front of Rose and Étienne regent of the god of lies they are naturally driven to find out what happened. Death's own regent was recently killed and Rose is set to be promoted, but the gods call for her to tested first. Rose knows there is more to her test and the murders than anyone is willing to say, and Étienne who is always challenging her seems to be at the center of it. It doesn't help that he is administering her test and as much as he annoys her she is completely attracted to him.

This was great! There were parts that were a bit repetitive. I did get annoyed with Rose with her almost obsession with her former best friend Laine. I think that was a choice to show Rose's trauma of being given up as a baby and never feeling like she belonged, so when she finally had someone she latched on for dear life. I would like to see Étienne and Rose's relationship develop more. They don't actually spend alot of time on the page together doing couple things to build up the yearning and chemistry in my opinions. The scenes during the test were cool and getting to see his powers in action was very well done. We see his feeling for her on display, but not so much her feelings for him develop or them develop together. The display of all of the different god and harbinger powers was really cool, and Lu's writing shines in this department. We get lots of good world building.

I forgot to mention that this is told in alternating timelines from the current timeline when Rose is being positioned and tested to be the Regent of Death and the past when she was human before she knew anything about the gods and she had just met her best friend Laine who she sacrificed her life to save. I actually thought she an Laine were in a romantic relationship for most of the book the way those chapters were written and the way Rose obsesses about her. We come to learn that there is more to Laine, more to Étienne, and more to Rose and that her suspicion was correct that there was more to the story than anyone was letting on.



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Review: The Blood Queen by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

The Blood Queen by Sara Raasch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the sequel to The Crimson Throne and you cannot read this as a standalone. This picks up where book 1 left off and there is too much information and setup in the first book that would leave the reader completely lost if they started with this one.

Alyth and Samson, knowing who the High Blade is now are trying to gain the help of the fae to save Scotland from her plans and her Red Cap army. They must evade the High Blade and prevent her from entering the fae court before all is lost. The fae princes, Alyth's father included, will only help so far as their own interests are threatened. The lovebirds can only trust each other as both sides seek to use them for their own gain.

I really enjoyed the lore that the team of Revis and Raasch wove into this story. If you have read my reviews before you know I love anything related to any kind of mythology or folklore. This leans into Celtic lore and their version of the fates, which I had never seen depicted this way. You always hear about the Roman/Greek fates, and the similarity of the weaving aspect of the Celtic trio was even mentioned in the book. I thought that was really interesting. I thought the authors did a great job mixing the historical court politics in with the fantasy elements of the fae and magic with the lore and romance. This was action packed and kept me engaged the whole time. I really loved this duology and hope to see more from this author duo in the future.

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Review: The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1 by Natsu Hyuuga

The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1 by Natsu Hyuuga
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided a digital review copy of this book via RB Media's Listening Circle Program, all opinions are my own.

This is the audio recording of Volume 1 of the Light Novel. If you have watched the anime it basically covers season 1 from beginning to end. If you haven't jumped into the show or the manga this is a great place to start. It explains the politics of the inner palace where our apothecary Maomao lives and works and how she came to be there. We also get a bit more of her backstory in the light novel than we do in the manga or the show. The narrator captured the humor and awkwardness of Maomao the lady-in-waiting and apothecary to one of the emperor's valued consorts and all of the things she gets up to helping around the palace. Her skills with plants and their medicinal uses prove handy in all sorts of mysterious situations and she becomes a valued asset to Jinshi. It also captures Jinshi's frustrations with her as she seems oblivious to his flirtations and never does what he expects.

I love Maomao's character. She is smart bringing her apothecary knowledge learned from her father as well as her street smarts learned from growing up in a brothel to the palace. She isn't a polished and poised lady like the other ladies in waiting who have trained to serve the consorts, but that allows her have different priorities and to see things with a different lens. Jinshi is some sort of secretary to the emperor, taking care of accounts and making sure the business at palace runs smoothly. I can't quite figure him out, as he clearly has some sort of feelings for Maomao but she either ignores them or doesn't see it. Their dynamics are hilarious and I can't wait to see how things play out as the solve more mysteries and divert more catastrophes. I love the show, the graphic novel version, the manga, and now the audio version of the light novel and can't wait for the rest of them to be released.

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Review: Witches by Brenda Lozano

Witches by Brenda Lozano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Edelweiss, all opinions are my own. It has been quite a while since I received the ARC and the book was published, so I opted to listen to the audiobook.

This was actually an interesting read. It follows Feliciana, who's character was inspired by a real woman, who practiced the healing arts and traditions of her people in rural Mexico. Then we have Zoe, a budding journalist, who lives a more American inspired life and eventually interviews Feliciana about her practices and ceremonies. The novel alternates between Zoe's and Feliciana's perspectives as we learn about their lives from childhood to adulthood, their families, their loves, their losses, and eventually to their meeting.

This was not what I expected at all. I really enjoyed getting to know these women and learning about their culture and their lives. Feliciana's life is impacted by the people around her, mainly her family and the healing practices that were mostly taught to men. Feliciana showed at an early age that she had a gift for practicing what she referred to as "the language" which some refer to as intuition, while others refer to as magic. Zoe's mother always had strong intuition, always knowing things well before she should, so naturally connecting with Feliciana was important to her. Both women were well written and this story covers alot of different topics from gender fluidity, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, grief, to love and motherhood.

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Review: The House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas

The House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I love a good gothic horror and this delivered. This follows Minerva, a teenager from a poor, abusive family who decides to leave her home one day and find a job. She finds work as a lady's made for a widow who has ties to the loyalist political group. This is set in what resembles a colonial Mexico, but the country is never named outright. Minerva's patron is surly, but she has her convictions and she has saved her from a terrible life and given her a home. When a political change takes place putting the Viceroy back in power who happens to be cousin of Minerva's Lady Encarnación del Valle, they retreat to the family home. The home is ancient and has been inhabited by the del Valle's for many years but Minerva finds that they were not the original owners of the estate. When Lady Encarnación dies unexpectedly in front of Minerva, she learns that there may be something else living in the house other than the del Valles lurking in the shadows.

I really enjoyed following Minerva around Casa de la Gardenias. The author did a wonderful job making the estate atmospheric and creepy. The gothic elements really came through in both the descriptions of the estate, the people, and time period. She also did a great job explaining the political atmosphere and while the del Valles had their opinions and loyalties on politics and played their parts to keep their lavish lifestyle, you could feel the tension that politics played in the country and the impact it had on everyone in the book. You could also feel the caste system that was in place not only within the aristocracy but in those who worked for them between the various levels of servants. I appreciated that all of the people in the book were realistic, Minerva isn't some superhero main character, she is surviving the best she can given her circumstances and her actions aren't out of the realm of possibility. You can feel her fear coming off the page. I loved the paranormal aspect, I won't go too much into it as it would be a spoiler, but I felt it was well done. It develops slowly but all is eventually explained.

This is my first book by the author, but I will certainly be checking out more from her. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it!

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Review: The Court of Venus by Bel Banta

The Court of Venus by Bel Banta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This follows childhood rivals Bianca and Roland, both magicians blessed at birth by the alignment of the planets. They were raised and mentored in the king's court by a great magician with the king's heir, but Bianca was always left out. Hal and Roland were always leaving her out as children, but as they got older things changed. After years away Bianca has returned to court desperate for information on the inner workings at court as madness has taken over. Roland is now the King's right hand and still just as insufferable as ever, but if she wants to find out what happened to her mentor and to the heir she must team up with him. Her magic is unique and paired with his they make an unstoppable pair.

This book has alot going on. There are alot of characters to keep track of and they all have a different planet sign which determines what type of magic they have. At the heart of it there is court intrigue masked by a strange magical competition which really has no bearing on the storyline, but it does introduce you to the players and some of the terrible things they can do with their magic. Everyone is vying for the throne as the king is aging and descending into madness. With no heir, the line passes to another family. I struggled with what this book was supposed to be. At times it focuses on the politics and scheming, then it is all in on the romance, then it is all about the magic. i think it was trying to tackle too much and didn't deliver enough of any one thing. I never felt the chemistry between Roland and Bianca, for a "slow burn" romance they were just eventually in love without ever having any of those scenes that make you feel the feelings. I really liked the premise of the magic system being aligned to a planetary alignment, but we don't really get much development or explanation other than that for how the magic works. We get alot of descriptions of things and alot of dialogue which is well written, but I feel like I wanted more of some things and less of others.

This does end on a cliffhanger but there is no indication that this is the start of a series.

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Review: The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C.L. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the 3rd novel in the Antique Hunter's series, and while I feel you can probably read it as a standalone, there are parts of story that will make much more sense if you read the first two books in the series. The author does a good job giving the reader enough information to go on if they haven't read the prior books or if it has been a while since reading the previous books to jog the memory. I do highly recommend reading the series in order to have the best reading experience.

This installment follows Freya and the gang on another mystery this time in Scotland. This time Bella has disappeared and called Aunt Carole for help. When they arrive at the castle she was scoping out, they discover a murder and the castle might be holding some of the artifacts Arthur was investigating prior to his untimely death. Working against the Scottish winter and with limited information the ladies with the help of FBI agent Phil use their knowledge of antiques, artifacts, and art to find their friend and solve the murder. Their ways are unconventional and certainly not by the book according the the FBI, but they are fun and they get the job done in the end.

This is a fun cozy mystery with great characters. I'm not sure if there will be more in the series, but if there are I'm here for them.

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Review: Find Me Where It Ends by Cassandra Khaw

Find Me Where It Ends by Cassandra Khaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is a strange little novella that not only tackles death and mortality , but living life. Our main character Antigone and all of the women in her family have known when they are going to die because a black dog appears as a companion. Unlike those who came before her, she invites her dog in and treats it like a beloved pet for the months she has left.

This is dark and deals with sobering topics like mental health, death and suicide. As Antigone has an idea of when she is going to die, she has to come to terms with that and it puts her life into perspective. Her best friend Vera is aware of the curse that befalls the women in Antigone's family and is there to support her, but obviously doesn't want her bestie to die. I enjoyed their relationship and she added some levity to the story. The writing is beautiful and heavy which matches the subject matter.

I liked the choice of a male narrator. It was almost as if Antigone's friend, I don't think he was ever named, who shows up later in the novella to support her was telling her story. The narrator was excellent!

This is a bit different than Khaw's other horror books as it doesn't have violence or gore. There more of a paranormal or mythological aspect to the book. It is much more based in reality and facing your fears scary.

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Review: Victorious by V.E. Schwab

Victorious by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the conclusion to the series and follows several different characters we've met along Eli and Victor's journey and some new characters are introduced in this installment. This is told in alternating timelines, bouncing back and forth between the present and the past which at times was hard to follow along via audio, but it got easier as the book progressed and it became clear that things were leading up to something big. We spend much of our time with Sydney and Mitch and a new "villain" while Eli and Victor continue to evade each other. You know that when they finally do meet it will be explosive. I would have liked to see more of both of them on the page, as this series is so centered on the both of them

I loved Vicious and always felt it stood well on its own. I didn't love book 2 but I do love this morally grey world that Schwab has created and the concept of certain people being able to come back from death fully functional but with super human abilities. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and feel that it brings things together nicely and gives a sense of closure to the series. I do feel like the pacing was a little off, with the long build up to the "final battle" if you will, and then its over pretty quickly.

I did love the narrator and felt he did a wonderful job with the many characters he had to voice.

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Review: The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace, Vol. 1 by Minoji Kurata (Artist), Natsu Hyuuga (Original Creator)

The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace, Vol. 1 by

Minoji Kurata (Artist),

Natsu Hyuuga (Original Creator)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

I'm a huge fan of season 1 of the anime, I'm waiting for season 3 to fully release so I can catch up on what is happening. I have not read the manga or the light novel yet so I can't compare them to this version.

This volume captures the humor and awkwardness of Maomao the lady-in-waiting and apothecary to one of the emperor's valued consorts and all of the things she gets up to through episode 9 or 10 of the show. Her skills with plants and their medicinal uses prove handy in all sorts of mysterious situations and she becomes a valued asset to Jinshi. If you haven't watched the anime (not a prerequisite), this is a great place to start as it gives you insight into what The Apothecary Diaries is all about. Every chapter finds Maomao solving another problem and driving Jinshi crazy.

I love Maomao's character both on the page and in the show. She is smart bringing her apothecary knowledge learned from her father as well as her street smarts learned from growing up in a brothel to the palace. She isn't a polished and poised lady like the other ladies in waiting who have trained to serve the consorts, but that allows her have difference priorities and to see things with a different lens. Jinshi is some sort of secretary to the emperor, taking care of accounts and making sure the business at palace runs smoothly. I can't quite figure him out, as he clearly has some sort of feelings for Maomao but she either ignores them or doesn't see it. Their dynamics are hilarious and I can't wait to see how things play out as the solve more mysteries and divert more catastrophes.

This also includes a bonus short story not found in the light novels set prior to Maomao's time at the Inner Palace.


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Review: A Confederacy of Dunces by Albert Monteys

A Confederacy of Dunces by Albert Monteys
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

I have not read the original novel, and I wonder if something was lost in translation. I felt like I was missing something, but perhaps that is the nature of the storyline.

The art was great and depicted the story well. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the storyline at all. I didn't find this humorous at all, which is supposed to be the draw of this satirical novel. I thought a graphic adaptation would be a great way for me to finally tackle this. I didn't like any of the characters, which I think is the point and I'm not a fan of those types of books as a preference. I need someone to connect with and even if everyone is a villain, I still need someone to root for.

I give Monteys so much credit for adapting this and feel the art was very well done. Unfortunately, Toole's original story wasn't for me. If you are a fan of satire and social commentary this is a great option.

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Review: In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power

In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley ages ago as part of the paperback releaes campaign.  I listened to the audiobook in an effort to clear my shelf, as always all opinions are my own.

I found this a bit confusing.  I wasn't really clear on how the magic worked and because there were so many characters it was hard to keep up at times.  I like a book with court drama and political intrigue and this has quite a bit of that, but I wasn't always sure what was going on.  I kept forgetting who was aligned to which plotline, but it didn't really matter in the end as this is full of rivalries, betrayal, and who can out maneuver who plotlines.

The writing was good, but I would have liked more character development as I still don't feel like I know the characters well.

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Review: Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a unique fantasy that uses magic for healing.  Students with with healing magic attend university for several years before the Grand Exam where they are paired together as a group to diagnose and heal a patient.  Passing the exam means the students can perform healing arts on their own much like a doctor passing medical school and residency.   In this years exam our group of main characters enter the exam to find one of the top students in their exam room dead and possibly murdered.  The unlikely group each has a specialty, and Ysabel knew it, which is why she knew they would make the perfect team to not only get to the bottom of the experiment she was working on but solve her murder if she didn't show up for the Grand Exam.

I really enjoyed getting to know each one of the characters.  Normally I don't like so many points of view, but Marske did a great job making sure each one of the five main characters got plenty of time on the page as well as had a sufficient backstory and plenty of interaction with the other characters.  We get to know each one of the characters and their personalities as they try to understand what is happening with their exam and what happened to Ysabel.  They each have their own unique skills and talents that make them suited to solve this puzzle and as they diagnose each ailment that becomes more and more clear what each of their roles are.  I also loved the use of singing as part of the use of magic when the group works together to heal a patient.  That was something that I don't think I've seen before, and it was a nice touch to keep the group connected and focused.

Overall I really enjoyed this.  It started out slow, but once you understand what is going on the plot picks up and I was completely invested in the characters and the storyline.

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Review: Until I Remember by Karla Sorensen

Until I Remember by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Amnesia isn't a trope I've come across very often, however I think the author did a great job using it with this couple. While Grant remembers everything, while Mercy has lost a year of her life and can't comprehend that there is a world where they would have gotten married and fallen in love. She remembers hating her brother's best friend, her brother's death, loving her job as a teacher, but nothing about something so significant as getting married and falling in love with a man she can't stand.

I enjoyed Mercy and Grant getting to know each other again. I really liked that he let her choose every step and take things at her own pace. She is initially very distrusting of everything he tells her and fights him at every turn. There are some moments when you can't understand what he likes about her, but I would be pretty adversarial and scared in her situation as well. Grant is so patient with her and my heart broke for him in those moments when she is mean, because he is trying to protect her and their relationship until she comes to the realization that they had something special even if she can't remember. Once she accepts that they could have had a real relationship and feelings for one another, Mercy lets down her guard and begins to get to know Grant again. While they have always pushed each others buttons, which leads to great chemistry in the bedroom, she realizes that there has always been something more simmering just underneath and she can have it if she wants it.

I will say that I thought it was strange that despite her having a pretty significant head injury and complete loss of memory there was no mention of any sort of therapy or medical intervention to help her recovery her memories. It wasn't ever discussed or brought up. They just kind of dealt with it and hoped or assumed that Mercy's memory would return someday. I didn't mind while I was reading the book, I enjoyed it, but as I was writing this and was doing a bit more critical thinking that thought came to mind.

Shane East was the perfect choice for Grant, one because he is one of my favorite narrators, and two because his English accent worked perfectly for Grant. Samantha Brentmore did a wonderful job as Mercy and the duet narration was excellent.

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Review: Beg Me by Adriana Locke

Beg Me by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a really fun addition to the Play Me series. Markie has been betrayed by all of the men that she has let into her life. Even her half-brother treats her poorly, with no respect and no consideration for her time or her feelings. He only calls her when he needs to her take care of business for him in town. She keeps holding out hope that maybe one day they can have a relationship, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The one thing she looks forward to every year is the town's pickeball tournament and she is the reigning champion. Her partner has been her boyfriend, but since he cheated on her, she is now without a partner in more ways than one. Enter Jory Plath, a professional rugby player, with pre-teen son who has the confidence of a CEO. Gus meets Markie at the farmer's market and decides to play matchmaker to get a little bit of freedom as his dad is a little overprotective. They are new to town and Jory is new to being a dad. Markie has sworn off men, but Jory is sweet and his looks don't hurt either. Turns out he is her brother's best friend from college and living in his rental property so one of those business items he asks her to take care of for him is to give Jory the keys for something in the house. From there she ends up tutoring Gus in math, because math just happens to be her thing and Jory agrees to be her pickleball partner in exchange.

Jory and Markie were really cute together. They had good banter, and despite her pushing him away he was patient. I loved revisiting with all of the other characters from the town and they made a great support group for not only Markie but Jory as well as they navigated each other and their situations. I know nothing about pickleball, but it was evident that they had chemistry both on and off the court. I also loved Gus, he was hilarious as he played matchmaker and he was so full of himself but in a funny way.

I always love Addy's recaps at the end of a series that bring each couple's story to a close. You spend so much time with them and it really gives closure to the series as they move on to whatever is next and you feel like you can let them go a bit easier or you can start over from the beginning right away or revisit old friends whenever you want. This was a great ending to a great series!

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