I was provided an ARC of this book via Edelweiss, all opinions are my own.
What did I just read? I know there was a message here, but I struggle to understand what the author is trying to tell me. Our main character Dawn was struggling with grief, oppression, poverty, and so much more. I struggled with the pacing of the book and the way the chapters jumped around in the timeline. At 50% into the book I felt like nothing had happened and I was struggling to understand the various plot elements that had been thrown at me and had yet to be resolved. The chapters told in random points in Dawn life that eventually tell the story of various traumas she has experienced that explain some of her despair, but the random paranormal elements aren't explained well and felt out of place.
The synopsis of this book promises a horror book, but I struggled to find the horror elements. There are some random paranormal elements in the book that are symbolic of Dawn's pain and suffering. This doesn't have the suspense and scares that I was anticipating from a horror novel, it is more real world, real person horror. I really felt that the paranormal aspect could have been expanded and explained a bit more.
Overall, I think Chartrand's writing is very poetic and beautiful, and I would like to see more of it in the future but this story didn't fit my preference for a horror novel.
I was provided an ARC of this book via the Berkley Besties program and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This follows down on her luck screenwriter Collins after a horrible breakup sends her back to her hometown in Ohio. She had big dreams to make it big in California and leave Ohio behind. I can totally relate to that, I said I was never coming home when I left for college and I live an hour from where I grew up. Collins former best friend, Nate, happens to life in the same housing plan as her parents and is a successful realtor and a member of the HOA and he takes his duties a little too serious sometimes. Nate and Collins had a falling out in high school and they both are holding on to some deep rooted feelings that have had a long time to fester. Collins loves nothing but to get under Nate's skin, and in her latest attempt to rattle him she decides to run for the recently vacated HOA president position. As they try to outwit and undermine each other at every turn, they start to get to know each other again and rekindle their friendship and chemistry they had as teens.
This was a cute frenemies-to-lovers second chance romance read. It was quick and had some fun banter. I really loved Collins relationship with her parents and her friendships with Ashleigh and Ruby. Collins read a little immature and petty for my personal taste in a main character Some of her behavior and the way she spoke was more relatable to a teenager or college student than an adult in her late 20s or early 30s. Nate on the other hand takes himself too seriously. I think for some it will add to the comedy of the book, and it will appeal to a broad range of readers. I do think that having a war over the HOA president position is hilarious. That is certainly a plotline I haven't read before and it made for a nice backdrop for our main characters to get to know each other again and rekindle their feelings for one another.
If you are looking for a fun rom-com that you can devour in a weekend pick this up. I enjoyed the quirky characters and comedic situations we find out characters in throughout the book.
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Grey’s Promotions, all opinions are my own.
This was such a cute holiday romance. It is a novella so if you are needing something short and sweet look no further!
This follows Iris, a super creative and successful designer who has been recently unlucky in love. Her meddling hockey player brother suggests she get away for a few days in a quaint mountain cabin to distress and reset before the holidays. What she doesn’t know is that he also gave the same advice to his best friend and teammate Kyler who is struggling with an injury and the rest of his season may be on the line. Kyler and Iris are complete opposites, but being forced to spend a few days together during a snowstorm might just be what they both needed.
I really enjoyed this. Kyler and Iris are truly opposites but they balance each other nicely. They start out as enemies but they quickly call a truce due to the forced proximity. She is a little bit of a brat and he’s a little bit of a jerk but they are both quick to call each other out on their respective nonsense. They had good banter and while I’m not usually a fan of an insta-love type story it works well here in the novella format and as the basis to see where things go. I appreciate that “I love yous“ weren’t thrown around after a few days together, instead a promise of let’s see what we can make of this connection is made.
If you are a fan of romances with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, meddling brothers, and the holidays this novella has it all. It is perfect for the upcoming holiday season when you need something cozy to read.
I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgally, all opinions are my own.
This book picks up right where The Luminaries left off. You are going to want to read that first or you will be completely lost reading this. Book 1 sets up the entire backstory of The Luminary society and how we got to this point in the storyline. The Hunting Moon continues on with major plotlines that were introduced in the first book.
This does end with a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or there will be more than three books in the series. There is obviously another book planned as this ends with several open plotlines and sets us up for more excitement in book 3.
This book has more of a scavenger hunt feel to it and doesn't focus as much on the monsters and world building that we saw in book 1. The world building is still great, but this book does expect that you have read the first installment and builds on that knowledge. Winnie is trying to unravel the clues her dad left her claiming he was framed by the Dianas, the witches that are the enemies of the Luminaries. She is also trying to help reclaim Luminary status for her mom and brother by becoming a hunter. After getting bitten by a werewolf she is a bit of a celebrity, but no one else has seen the new nightmare she has deemed The Whisperer. She is determined to unravel the clues her dad left and figure out what this new nightmare. As her quest continues she finds herself teaming up with her former best friend Jay. Jay has his own secrets that Winnie would like to figure out. Turns out all of the secrets and clues are much more related than Winnie could have ever imagined.
This is action packed and fast paced. There are times that Winnie acts very immature and holds grudges. She doesn't want anyone to know what she is up to and that she is having a bit of PTSD from her experiences. Eventually she starts to let Jay in on her feelings but it takes her quite some time to get there. There are alot of secrets being kept in this installment and there were a few times I wanted to yell at the teenagers too knock it off. Having teenagers myself who want to solve all of their own problems and don't want any of the advice they ask for, they were acting fairly accurately.
As with the first book this is perfect for the YA reader. It deals with your typical teenager stuff like going to school, family drama, and figuring out what to wear while also dealing with their secret monster hunting society stuff. This has a bit of a romance plot. Winnie is dealing with alot and at times is a bit reckless, but she acts like a teenager faced with big problems. She also looks for a trusted person to help but also knows that it may put her family in jeopardy and has to weigh the consequences. I am anxiously anticipating the next book in the series as there are so many unanswered questions that need to be answered.
From #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a brand new enemies to lovers holiday novella (40,000 words) about finding love in unexpected places. Dear Sneaky Santa, I'd like to have a word about your sense of humor. Was it really necessary to stick me, a professional hockey player nursing an injury and avoiding the media, in an isolated cabin with a bratty, boot-designing princess who seems to have made it her mission to despise me? I mean, come on, what did I ever do to you? And let's talk about our first encounter. Was it your intention for her to barge in on me while I was enjoying a soak in the tub? It wasn't exactly my finest moment, and I'm sure she didn't appreciate the view of my massive body floundering around as I tried to grab a towel. Now, I'm stuck with her, thanks to a mutual acquaintance, in the middle of a snow blizzard, navigating through bear attacks, sketchy neighbors, and whole lot of tension. I had plans, Santa, plans to escape to Cabo and forget about the world, not to be trapped with a woman who thinks I'm unworthy of her time just because she can't stand hockey players. Oh, and speaking of our delightful Iris, she's stingier with her food than Scrooge was with his pennies! I'm not asking for a feast, but a guy's got to eat! And could you possibly turn her yippy dog into a reindeer or something? It would certainly add to the Christmas spirit and save my eardrums. I'm trying to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, and you throw me into this chaos? Is this some kind of test, or are you just having a jolly laugh up there in the North Pole? So here's my Christmas wish, Santa: sprinkle a bit of your magic and either get me out of here or be a Cupid and ignite a fiery, undeniable passion between us, because right now, this scenario is frostier than a snowman. Slapshotting Through the Snow, Kyler Blanchette
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances. A former high school English teacher and librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero. She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
First of all the cover of this book is stunning! It immediately drew me in, and after loving Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove I was excited to read this. Unfortunately I did not love this.
The plot is very unique with the concept of the magical flowers each providing some sort of magic to the user. They grow in unlikely places and skilled flower hunters must risk their lives to find the precious flowers to sell them to help their people survive. Our main character Irinya is very skilled at flower hunting as is her best friend Fardan. Fardan finds one of the most precious flowers, that might be the key to saving the kingdom from invaders if it gets to the right hands. If the flower falls to the wrong hands the consequences could be devastating not only to Irinya and her tribe but everyone in the country.
This book just wasn't for me. I found the pacing too slow and the main character to be too irrational when it came to making decisions. I am all for a strong, independent female main character, but Irinya tented to act first and think later. She made alot of decisions that didn't go well for her and doesn't learn from her mistakes throughout the book. Everyone forgives her poor choices easily and lets her continue on her journey. Understandably she was the one who had to be the hero, but from the beginning she didn't rely on anyone to help her. I tend to enjoy plotlines where the main character has a good support system to rely on and support them. There are a few twists within the plot, but like the flower hunters wandering around until they find a treasure, I felt as the plot did the same. It kind of meanders until there is a twist or an action scene.
Overall, I'm really sad that this didn't work for me. The worldbuilding was great and the magic system was very unique, but the lack of character development and slow pacing left me disappointed. I do think that YA readers are really going to love this. It does have a very sweet friends to romance element, and while it didn't work for me I think there is an audience that is very much going to love it.
Love Matched, an all-new charming opposites attract historical romance from Laney Hatcher, is available now in Kindle Unlimited!
There are three things you need to know about Lady Cassandra Fields:
1. Despite being beloved, this diamond of the first water has yet to land a husband.
2. Her bold personality and giving heart help fuel her charitable endeavors.
3. She’s looking for adventure--something beyond ballgowns, drawing rooms, and her ladylike skill with needle and thread.
Thus far, Cassandra’s abysmal luck has kept her from reaching her goals. With no husband and no household, she’s beginning to wonder if she has a future at all. A surprising encounter with a cunning thief brings more to light than Cassandra is prepared to handle. But the lady has never backed down from a challenge, and it seems this mystery man might have finally met his match.
When circumstances, once again, threaten Lady Cassandra’s dreams, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her careful plans for the thief who has stolen her heart.
‘Love Matched’, a Penny Reid Universe Reimagining, is a full-length historical romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #3 in the London Ladies Embroidery series, Smartypants Romance Out of this World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
The fire was banked but my bedchamber was warm. I wandered in the relative darkness over to my dressing table and deposited my elaborate mask. Folding my shawl, I placed it on the cushioned seat before hearing a quiet tap on my balcony doors.
Something instinctual within told me who I would find. My heart accelerated with expectation rather than fear.
Moving cautiously, I went to the closed window overlooking the garden and down into the mews. I peered sidelong at the dark form standing just outside my exterior doors, on the second floor of my home.
Anticipation bloomed eager and hopeful, and I threw open the latch. Alexander stood sentry on the small balcony, his hair slightly tousled, expression guarded. His eyes dipped once again to my bodice, but returned admirably after just a moment.
“I was not ready to say good night,” he admitted, finally acknowledging his presence here in my home.
“Somehow I don’t imagine the lock would have posed a challenge for you.”
“I thought it better to ask permission rather than forgiveness.”
“That doesn’t sound like you at all,” I quipped.
He smiled, a weak and wounded thing. “Perhaps I am trying to be more respectable.”
I reached forward and tugged the lapels of his jacket. “I wish you wouldn’t.”
As we moved within, I felt him smile against my lips before he reached low around my thighs and hoisted me up. His boot lifted and he pushed the balcony door gently shut. Then we were shuffling, in the dark, toward my bed. Alexander didn’t bother turning down the coverlet. My back landed softly and he followed, lips still caressing mine.
His weight was a delicious press in the darkness. I felt both bound and safely ensconced. My legs were wide but the bunch of my skirts inhibited full contact between us. I felt his tongue ease forward and lick into my mouth, the heat and movements slow and seductive. One large hand still clutched my outer thigh while the other supported his upper body where he hovered above me.
I broke away from his mouth and squirmed in his arms, reaching for a candle and a match on my bedside table.
“Leave it,” he begged, voice rough and strained. “If I clearly see your face, your body, I’ll come to my senses and climb down your trellis, calling myself every kind of fool for forgetting my place.”
“Your place,” I said, “is right here. With me.”
About Laney Hatcher
Laney Hatcher is a firm believer that there is a spreadsheet for every occasion and pie is always the answer. She is an author of stories that have a past, in a language of love that’s universal. Often too practical for her own good, Laney enjoys her life in the southern United States with her husband, children, and incredibly entitled cat.
An Ordinary Violence by Adriana Chartrand
