27.7.20

Nostalgic & Adventurous: The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Loved the trip back in time and the friendship!

THE MALL
by Megan McCafferty
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication Date: July 28th 2020 by Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans...

Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.

This 90s-inspired novel transported me completely to The Mall. McCafferty had me wanting more from the 90s and wanting to be born a little bit earlier than 1994.

Cassie cannot wait to head out of New Jersey and straight to New York at the end of the summer. In the mean time, her plan is to work alongside her boyfriend, until that plan fails. Her boyfriend dumps her and she ends up getting fired. She ends up finding a job at a boutique, owned by her ex-best friend's mom. Soon, the girls put aside their differences when Drea pulls Cassie in on a treasure hunt around The Mall.

This novel was adventure-filled and had me glued to its pages! Cassie is a quirky and fun character I enjoyed. Being inside her head was lots of fun. Drea was a character I adored! I want this girl's self-esteem. She embraces herself and doesn't care about the rumor-mill.

This friendship was the highlight for me in the story. You guys know I love to read books with romance. Basically, if it doesn't have romance, I don't want it. Let me tell you that this book had me forgetting it didn't have romance, and had me rooting for the friendship, the treasure hunt, and just everything! I honestly couldn't stop reading this wonderful masterpiece. I loved the tribute it gave to the 90s, with the jean jackets, the pins, the music, the mall itself.

Speaking of which, I felt like The Mall was its own character. I don't know how the author did it, but she managed to have me caring for a building. I was never once bored with the setting just being the mall. It actually enhanced the reading experience because a lot could be touched on with depth, instead of brushing it off.

I was still excited about Barnard and New York City, about seeing what life beyond Pineville had in store for me. Yet, part of me wondered if everything I really needed to know--about family and friendship and love and loyalty and betrayal and sisterhood [...]--I had already learned that summer at the mall.

Aside from friendship, this book also focused on finding oneself. Cassie had a lot of soul-searching to do, and I think this book touched on everything it needed without it feeling too much. Cassie slowly grew throughout the novel and in the end, she ended up becoming "the best possible version" of herself.

Overall, The Mall is a nostalgic and adventurous 90s-inspired novel with a lovely focus on friendship and discovering oneself.

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

20.7.20

Cheery & Profound: High Heat by Annabeth Albert

Such a cute and lovely story!

HIGH HEAT
by Annabeth Albert
Series: Hotshots #2
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Publication Date: July 27th 2020 by Carina Press
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: ★★★½
Goodreads | Amazon

Smoke jumping is Garrick Nelson’s life. Nothing, not severe injuries nor the brutal physical therapy that follows, is going to stop him from getting back with his crew. But when a lost dog shows up on his front porch, he can’t turn her away, and he can’t take care of her on his own. Thankfully, help comes in the form of his new sexy, dog-loving neighbor. As they work together, trying to re-home their little princess, Garrick can’t resist his growing attraction for the other man, even though he knows this guy isn’t the staying type.

Rain Fisher doesn’t take anything too seriously. He dances through life, one adventure at a time, never settling in one place for too long. When his hot, conveniently buff, neighbor shows up on his doorstep, dog in tow, Rain’s determined to not just save the adorable puppy, but her reluctant owner as well. He never expects their flirtation might tempt him into stay put once and for all...

From the first moment I met Rain, I knew I was in for a treat!

"There's not much I wouldn't do for you. We're totally hide-the-bodies friends."

Garrick was a smoke jumper until an injury left him in a wheelchair. His focus is getting through intense physical therapy so he can get back out in the field. He should not be focusing on his new pet and the eccentric neighbor.

Garrick's story tugged at my heart-strings. Even though the story doesn't really touch on this, I felt he was just not okay with anything in his life. Reading about him always had a somber tone to the story, which is why I'm so glad Rain came in his life!

Rain's a breath of a fresh air. I can honestly say I haven't met a character like Rain. I loved just how much he embraced his fashion sense, down to the silver shorts and his lacey underwear. I loved his femme said, his silliness, his outlook on life. He brought so much cheer and lightness to the story, just what Garrick needed.

I loved how much these two characters balanced each other out. They're literal perfection for each other. Their conversations would take a somber or profound one minute, and mild, light the next minute. Their friendship was adorable. I really believed their connection was real.

Overall, High Heat is a colorful, cheery, yet profound story that serves great as a summer read or for cuddling in the sheets on a rainy, cool day.

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

9.7.20

Magical and Alluring: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

A 2020 fave for sure!

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC
by V.E. Schwab
Series: Shades of Magic #1
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult
Publication Date: January 19th 2015 by Tor Books
Format: Paperback | Hardcover Collector's Edition
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

I’ll start by saying that Schwab’s writing is magical and enthralling. From the very first page, I was lured in—it was as if the writing were a siren, luring me into a trap. And what a wonderful trap it was!

Also, why the heck did I never read this before?! I think this book is so hyped that I was scared I wouldn’t like it. I honestly never thought I’d read it, yet here I am, facepalming myself for waiting so long!

This story has four parallel worlds: Red London, where magic is pretty much worshipped and kept in balance; White London, where magic is taught over no matter the cost; Greg London, where people think magic just doesn’t exist; Black London, where the magic has taken control over its residents and now it’s hard to get into this London, but even harder to get out of. 

Magic was a living thing–that, everyone knew–but to Kell it felt like more, like a friend, like family.

Kell is an Antari, a magician who can travel among these London’s. He’s also someone who ‘smuggles’ items between the London’s in exchange for a token. These tokens can help him with his traveling. Where does he keeps these tokens and trinkets? In his multi-sided coat! Like, his coat has...a bunch of coats within! I was so mind blown by that! Just by this alone, I was hooked and wanted to know more! It was also interesting because Kell is basically adopted by the royal family in Red London, meaning he doesn’t need of anything, something his brother, the prince of Red London, knows and wants him to stop doing these dealings. 

It’s in one of these dealings, and meeting Delilah Bard, that things take a turn of events and boy, was it a fun adventure!

“Love doesn’t keep us from freezing to death, Kell, or starving, or being knifed for the coins in our pocket. Love doesn’t buy us anything, so be glad for what you have and you have because you may want for things but you need for nothing.”

Lila caught my attention from the start. She’s a smart, quick pickpocket who’s always looking for an adventure, something more. Her meeting with Kell was fascinating to me. The snark and banter was on point! She keeps Kell on his toes! Also, can we praise the fact that Lila wants to be a pirate?! Like, hell yeah, girl! Be your own person!

"I’d rather die on an adventure than live standing still."

Then we have Holland, a morally grey character. Did I mention I have a thing for moral key grey characters? Because I do. Give them all to me! Well, Holland was... Alluring all on his own. And I so wanted more from him!

Going back to Schwab’s writing, her world-building is astounding. Sometimes a fantasy novels tends to have a lot of word-vomit and more information than one really needs. I found that Schwab did a fantastic story-telling that was swift and eloquent. I tend to get a bit lost with fantasy novels, but that was never the case with this one. 

Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic is creative, alluring, enthralling, addictive, with magical prose, and remarkable and striking world-building. 

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

23.6.20

All the Swoon Feels: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

A 2020 fave for sure!

TAKE A HINT, DANI BROWN
by Talia Hibbert
Series: The Brown Sisters #2
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: June 23rd 2020 by Avon
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon | Libro.fm (Support independent book stores through this Libro.fm link! Get your first month free!)

Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral...

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

This is my first novel by Talia and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! It went on my list of fave reads of 2020 and a 5-star! You know how picky I am assigning those two classifications to a book, so yes, this book was that good!

"Oshun, I need a regular source of orgasms."

One of my top three favorite tropes is fake-relationship, and even better when they're already friends! This trope came about when there's a drill happening where Danika works and she ends up being stuck in an elevator. Zaf, the security guard managing this drill notices Dani never made it out. He goes in all macho-man, acting as if this was a real thing. He saves her from being stuck and proceeds to pick her up bridal-style and carry her out of the building. What they don't know is they're being recorded, and soon after, they go viral.

She found herself wanting to kiss the broad curve of his nose. In a purely abstract manner, of course. In reality, Dani would never do something so pointless. Faces were for sitting on, not for kissing.

Dani is dead-set on no relationships. From her experience, she's a robot, incapable of loving, tending and caring for someone else. So this fake-relationship which could possibly come with orgasms is just what she needs. What she didn't count on was how understanding, loving, and accepting Zaf is.

"When you ask me things like that, Danika, it makes me think someone hasn't treated you right."

I adored Zaf so freaking much! He had me swooning throughout the entire novel. I think what helps is that he reads romance novels (I'm such a sucker for men who read them and aren't ashamed of admitting it) because he totally knew what he was doing. Zaf melted my heart. He has such a caring nature. He even has an organization called Tackle It to help young kids. Zaf is also special in my eyes. He shows so much vulnerability throughout the story, sharing his grief and anxiety. Even with his own stuff to deal with, he's still patient with Danika and supports her.

When the video goes viral, Zaf's family sees this as a way to bring attention to his organization. This is where we get introduced to his family, which I also adored! His niece, sister-in-law and friend are so amazing and supportive and motivate him to possibly fake-date Danika, the girl he's been crushing on for a while. I just love how Zaf is such a grumpy to everyone, except Dani. He basically melts at the sight of her.

"I'm the catch of the century on paper, if not in reality, [...] No one's going to believe you've been blessed with my affection if you stand there glaring at everything like the world pissed on your pillow."

The author definitely brought the diversity to this one. We have Danika, a black, bisexual, and curvy PhD student, and we have Zaf, a British Pakistani Muslim, who's a former Rugby player. Not only is it diverse, but I LOVE that Danika loves and accepts herself. She's the kind of confident I wish to be. She totally owns her body and her beautiful.

"For future reference, there's never any need to emphasize my attractiveness. As you say, it's already an established fact."

There's so much more I'd love to say about this novel, but I'll probably spoil it. This book definitely will live in my heart. There's so much to it: the diversity, family, friendship, acceptance, learning to take care of oneself, being open, mental health, etc. It really packs it all and flows so smoothly. Talia Hibbert has made me a convert. I now want to read everything she has ever written!

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

15.6.20

Heart-Pounding Page-Turner: A Woman Alone by Nina Laurin

This book had my heart pounding!

A WOMAN ALONE
by Nina Laurin
Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Publication Date: June 23rd 2020 by Grand Central
Source: Publisher via Mail
Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

A year after a brutal home invasion that left her traumatized, Cecelia, along with her husband and their three-year-old daughter, move into a new house with a complex security system that is supposed to make her feel safe.

But reality proves different as strange things begin to happen at home and the security system reveals that the house had a prior occupant: Lydia.

On her quest to discover the fate of the mysterious Lydia, Cecelia uncovers metaphorical skeletons in the closet, and she realizes that that no one's secrets are safe -- including her own.

Thrillers can be hit or miss for me. I'm happy to say A WOMAN ALONE was a complete hit!

Cecelia has moved into a SmartHome with her husband & daughter, thinking she would be safe. Unfortunately, this technology proves to have a hidden secret, and Cecelia won't rest until she uncovers it.

I get the luxury to be a housewife—if you can call it that, considering that machines and futuristic gadgets do everything for me.

Cece wasn't too keen on moving, but after being a victim of a home invasion and being approached by IntelTech to live in their secure high-tech SmartHome, she relents. Let me tell you, I was totally for the SmartHome. It does everything for you! It even prepares you a bath to the temperature of your liking! Unfortunately, this house starts "malfunctioning", calling Cece a name that isn't her own, messing up her coffee, her playlist, her bath, etc. That's when her quest to find out who lived in the house before her starts.

This novel definitely had me on a wild ride. We have an unreliable narrator, which heightened the suspense and thrill for me. My head was spinning in circles, trying to figure out what the heck was going on. I was so not expecting what happened and the secrets that came to light! I ended up reading this in a day! It completely sucked me in from the first few chapters. 🤯

Overall, A WOMAN ALONE is an intense, addictive, heart-pounding page-turner you won't want to miss out on!

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

9.6.20

Outstanding Friendship & Sweet Romance: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

I freaking loved this! The characters were phenomenal, especially the friendship of women!

THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT
by Farrah Rochon
Series: The Boyfriend Project #1
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: June 9th 2020 by Forever | Hachette Audio
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Je Nie Fleming
Length: 9 hrs 41 mins
Source: Libro.fm for Review
Rating: ★★★★½
Goodreads | Amazon | Libro.fm (Support independent book stores through this Libro.fm link! Get your first month free!)

In this witty rom-com, three young women bond when the live-tweeting of a disastrous date leads them to discover they've all been duped by the same man.

Samiah Brooks never thought she would be "that" girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: She's been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah - along with his two other "girlfriends", London and Taylor - have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men and no dating.

For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she's always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? But is Daniel really boyfriend material, or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?

WHAT A BEAUTY OF A BOOK! Farrah Rochon stole the entire show with this first installment in a new series!

The story starts off with Samiah finding out that her "boyfriend" has been basically catfishing her. She arrives at the restaurant where he is, ends things with him, and gains two friends that this bf was also catfishing. This ended up going completely viral, something Samiah wasn't too happy about and even questioned if she should not be friends with Taylor and London. I have to say that this portion of the book had me laughing and giggling so much! It really set up the premise for the rest of the book.

She wouldn't tolerate anything less than world domination.

Samiah's character is surely one to admire. Being a woman of color in the tech industry hasn't been easy. She has had to climb through hurdles and fight harder than anyone else. The perseverance and patience this woman has puts my nonexistent one to shame. She has unfortunately been the victim of people stealing her ideas and even then, she has been a pro at handling these situations). Because of this, she has kept a project of hers a secret. She wants to launch a "Just Friends" app, and doesn't want anyone stealing this baby.

He made her feel bold and playful and so many other delicious things.

Now let's talk about the hotshot tech! I kind of melted a lot a little with Daniel throughout the entire novel. There's just something about him that had me swooning at every second. And yes, I just swooned right now thinking about him! Okay, back to this PG review. *ahem* Daniel isn't necessarily all that he seems to be. Yes, he's totally a great guy (amazing!), but the reason why he's at Samiah's job is not merely because he needs a job. Of course, this is something he keeps a secret from everyone, including Samiah.

I totally understood why Daniel did what he did and why he kept it a secret. I give him props for truly trying to stay away from Samiah, but he just couldn't help but be so attracted by this fierce and gorgeous woman. I loved how genuine their friendship and then relationship was. It made me root for them so much! They talked! THEY ACTUALLY HAD GENUINE CONVERSATIONS! This spoke volumes for me. The author did a fantastic job with this relationship!

"I don't mind waking up at the crack of dawn if it means I get to spend the night with you."

Now let's talk about the female friendships! Taylor, London and Samiah couldn't be more different, but they just fit so well together! These ladies are true #SquadGoals despite of how they met. I admired how these ladies supported each others' endeavors no matter what. They truly believed in each other and I find that so beautiful for women who just met!

"I'm not sure we can call ourselves #SquadGoals if there's only one person in the squad reaching her goals. We better get our asses in gear."

Overall, The Boyfriend Project is a wonderful romance filled with outstanding friendship, a strong and fierce and independent heroine, an oh-so-sweet and delicious hero, and it also features talks on racism in the tech industry as well as for women of color. I truly enjoyed that the author had those talks in the book because it added to the depth-level of the story and the characters. Also, that ending has me so freaking excited for the next book!!

AUDIOBOOK IMPRESSIONS:

It was my first time listening to Je Nie Fleming as a narrator and it so won't be the last time! Her voice was so soothing and fit the characters so well. Her voice truly enhanced the experience for me and made me enjoy the story even more!

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

8.6.20

Badassery At Its Finest: Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A spoiler-free review on this second installment in The Harbinger series, spin off to Dark Elements series! (If you haven't read either, I highly suggest you do! Both are freaking phenomenal!)

RAGE AND RUIN
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: The Harbinger #2
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult Mature
Publication Date: June 9th 2020 by Inkyard Press
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences… Don’t miss book two of the fantastical Harbinger trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

I can always count on Jennifer L. Armentrout to bring it hard with an action-packed novel! This sequel is even better and will hook you from the start. I mean, I read 523 pages in a day. That's how hooked I was. I couldn't stop reading!

Rage and ruin had not corrupted me. They powered me.

➺ JLA sure knows how to create a sarcastic, witty and badass female character. Trinity shone so bright in this sequel! While Trin was great in the first novel, I felt like something was missing there, but things changed for this sequel. I enjoyed her character so much more. Because of her character and her point of view, there was a lightness to the story--lots of hilarious content--that I loved.

He stared at me as if he’d ordered a tender marinated filet, but instead had ended up with a cheap f lat beef patty. I was sort of offended. I was 100 percent organic Angus beef, thank you very much.

➺ Zayne *dreamy sighs*. I fell harder for Zayne. I felt disconnected from him in the first novel (even though I loved his character), but in this one, HE STOLE MY HEART! I was all in my feels because of him. From the start, his feelings for Trinity are so palpable from the pages. I will always love the bad guy, which is why I was Team Roth in the OG series, but man, Zayne is surely fighting Roth for that second place in my life (second place, because Rhysand will always be first).

"You're under my skin and in my blood. I can't get you out."

I love how in awe Zayne is of Trinity. He truly admires her strength, even when all she sees is weakness. He pushes her to be better, to embrace her eyesight issues. He's always there to support her. Unfortunately, this romance is forbidden. No one really knows why it's forbidden, but boy was it delicious to read this forbidden romance and the electrifying chemistry between them! 

"I knew there was a risk for us—and there is an us. I also know that you're worth the risk. That we're worth the risk."

➺ Speaking of our favorite Crown Prince of Hell, the gang from Dark Elements series continues to appear in this spin-off, and I couldn't be happier! Roth, Layla, Cayman and a certain familiar come back again, and I firmly believe the novel wouldn't have been the same without them. All of them brought even more badassery to the story, yet also showed that this gang is loyal 100%. 

"I don't know about you guys, but this sharing-and-caring moment makes me feel like we're a real team that can get stuff done. Like the Avengers, but more evil."

➺ This action-packed novel had my heart racing a thousand miles per second! I knew JLA could write action, but dear goodness, she threw this one out of the ballpark. Not only was the action phenomenal, but there was always something happening, never a dull moment.

JLA did a fantastic job in building up the tension, slowly amping up everything to the point I seriously thought my heart would burst out of my chest! And guys, while I kiiiind of figured out what being was behind everything that was happening, I was also shocked by who it was! COMPLETELY SHOCKED! And then! Jennifer has to go and write a scene that broke my heart in its entirety (I don't know how I'm breathing right now). AND THEN! There's a cliffhanger that had my jaw dropping to the floor. I still can't believe that that happened! 

It definitely makes you want to read this in one or two sittings. It didn't feel like it was 608 pages. It all flew by so fast! I still can't believe I have to wait a year to read the next book! 😭 You hear that? That's my heart shattering to pieces.

"I'm the tool of retribution and you're the weapon of destruction."

➺ Overall, Rage and Ruin is a badass, witty, absolutely phenomenal addition to this spin-off series. You don't want to miss out on this action-packed novel filled with humor and feels!

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

3.6.20

West African Folklore Fantasy: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

A fantasy by a Black author, with Black characters, with West African folklore, and a plot for the princess and a refugee to murder each other. COUNT. ME. IN!

A SONG OF WRAITHS AND RUIN
by Roseanne A. Brown
Series: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication Date: June 2nd 2020 by Balzer + Bray
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: ★★★★½
Goodreads | Amazon

The first in an immersive fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction—from debut author Roseanne A. Brown. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Renée Ahdieh, and Sabaa Tahir.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a heart-pounding course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

At the very beginning, I was kind of wondering where everything would go in the story and how it would come to fruition. But then, the world building sucks you in! It's very developed, not confusing at all, and intriguing from the start! There's lots of intrigue and suspense to keep you on your toes, which I loved!

Each patron deity ruled over a single day of the week, and when a child was born, the midwife would carve the emblem of one of the seven gods into their left palm so every person could know their Alignment.

This fantasy surprised me because it portrays Mental Health, one that's so close to my life, so I was able to relate in that aspect with Malik. I loved that while the MH is talked about, it's not the forefront of Malik's character. It also ends up being such a strength! I loved the twist the author did on this.

"This is my mind. I am the strongest person here."

While this has romance, it's not FULLY the focus. There's also a focus on the family. Malik and his sisters have such a bond that they'd do ANYTHING for each other! 😭 Right from the start, we get Malik and his sisters. Slowly, we start getting introduced to them and their story. And when something happens, it shows to what length these siblings would go to protect one another.

Speaking of romance, boy was I feeling the chemistry! It definitely kept me wanting more! It was really good, even with the added fact that they want to kill each other without the other knowing. 😍 We mostly get just the tip of the ice berg of the romance, but I adored what I got, and I'm so looking forward to see how it all plays out in the sequel!

Anyone who tried to take this city from her would soon discover that the Kestrel's daughter had talons of her own.

THE FOLKLORE! I learned so much and again, not confusing at all! It got me so intrigued to learn more about it. It gives you enough to want to search more for yourself. The West African folklore played a massive part of the entire story, to the point it almost felt like another character. Sometimes a folklore gets pushed back in the story, but Roseanne did a brilliant job in incorporating it from the beginning to the end!

This story portrays some form of racism and it totally resonates with what's happening right now in our world. I won't say more so I don't spoil, but I highly suggest you check it out for yourself!

He was the kind of person who could be arrested at any time for any reason, who could do everything the soldiers told him to do and still leave encounter harmed.

THE TWISTS! This book is full of unexpected twists and turns! So much so, that the reader forgets this book is long! I had no idea it was 480 pages! Everything flowed so well with enough intrigue to make you want to keep reading!

Overall, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is freaking fantastic and great read to kick off June. I'm so looking forward for more books by Roseanne A. Brown!

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

28.5.20

Whisper Reviews (3) | A Duke, An Earl, An Heiress

I read these three historical romances this year and I cannot stop thinking about them!

First, we have a friends-to-nothing-to-partners-to-lovers with a fake-engagement thrown into the mix.
Then, a slow-burn romance.
Lastly, a second-chance enemies-to-lovers romance!

NOTHING COMPARES TO THE DUKE

by Christy Carlyle

Series: The Duke's Den #3

Genres: Historical, Romance

Publication Date: May 26th 2020 by Avon

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads | Amazon

His Only Regret…

Rhys Forester, the new Duke of Claremont, lives his life by four words: Enjoy All, Regret Nothing. He’s devoted to the pleasure of his wild soirees, reckless behavior, and shocking the ton with his interests in trade. The debts that come with his title don’t fit the carefree lifestyle he’s created, and when he’s forced to return to his family’s estate, he’s also forced to confront his one and only regret: the beautiful girl he left behind.

May Be Falling in Love…

Arabella Prescott has been the belle of more balls than she cares to remember. After three seasons and five rejected proposals, she’s done with the marriage mart. Bella’s hopes to live a comfortable life, alone, come crashing down when her parents demand she marry. But her salvation may come in the form of the man she hates the most.

Bella has never forgiven Rhys for what he did to her, but desperate times call for fake engagements. With a few dozen rules, their scheme begins, but it’s not long before the former enemies find themselves breaking every single rule, including the most important of them all: don’t fall in love…

I hadn't read the first two books before starting Nothing Compares to the Duke, and I'm glad to admit I didn't feel like I had missed out, and was able to read without having any confusion.

Bella and Rhys used to be as thick as thieves until Bella, who had a crush on Rhys, found him with another woman. From then on, they never spoke until many years later when Rhys seeks Bella's help.

Bella [...] glanced over her shoulder at the man she should have slapped five years ago.

I greatly enjoyed getting a glimpse of these two being young and carefree, and having that specific scene when the encounter happens told through flashback, rather than from memory. It definitely felt more powerful and brought all the feels for Bella.

I appreciated so much Rhys owning up to what he did and putting his feelings on the table right from the start. He knew it was the only way for Bella to forgive him and move on from the past. Once that happened, I just loved their little banter, and the course of them going on a "detective adventure".

"I'd be more than happy to exchange favors, Bella." His smile was wicked, unlike any he'd ever offered her before. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

I was slightly surprised by the fake-engagement, but at the same time, I loved it! I'm such a sucker for this trope. When Bella proposed the idea, my heart got so giddy! I respected Rhys so much when he gave his answer to Bella. Rhys is just so perfect. *dreamy sigh* I especially loved all the conversations these two characters had. I will always prefer dialogue because it truly shows the reader that the characters are connecting, at least in my eyes.

Overall, Nothing Compares to the Duke is so lovely, enticing and marvelous! I loved the friends-to-nothing-to-partners-to-lovers trope mixed with fake-engagement trope. I'll be reading more books by this author! 

💕💕💕

THE EARL TAKES A FANCY

by Lorraine Heath

Series: Sins for All Seasons #5

Genres: Historical, Romance

Publication Date: March 31st 2020 by Avon

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads | Amazon

She’s looking for a nobleman to wed…

Though born out of wedlock, Fancy Trewlove is determined to fulfill her mother’s wish that she marry into nobility. Fancy’s keen intellect and finishing school manners make her the perfect wife for any gentleman—if he’s willing to overlook her scandalous lineage. But Fancy’s plans are thrown into chaos when an intriguing commoner begins visiting her bookshop—and she finds herself unable to stop thinking about him.

He’s looking to escape his title…

Widowed just a year ago, the reclusive Matthew Sommersby, Earl of Rosemont, has been besieged by women hoping to become his next wife. Desperate for anonymity, he sheds Society life to search for the peace that eludes him. Fancy’s shop is his one refuge, until the night their passion erupts into a kiss that nearly leads to her ruin—and leaves both longing for much more. 

Together, they discover an unlikely love…

As Fancy finds herself torn between her family’s expectations and her growing feelings for Matthew, secrets are exposed—secrets that force Fancy to question if she can trust her heart’s desire...

Matthew Sommersby and Fancy Trewlove stole my heart! I love how they slowly became friends and then more. (THAT SLOW-BURN!) Their romance had me swooning and feeling all the feels.

Fancy is a wonderful female who owns a book store. And she gives reading classes to children and adults, which I found to be super amazing from her part. She just wants to give back to the people. Then there's Matthew. My heart ached for him and all he went through. I was glad he had Fancy to help him with his emotions and his pain.

He found her to be so much like sunshine herself that she brightened the dullest moods.

This is a beautiful and heart-warming romance that will have your heart beating out of your chest, but the slow-burn will have you eagerly wanting more and more!

💕💕💕

AN HEIRESS TO REMEMBER

by Maya Rodale

Series: The Gilded Age Girls Club #3

Genres: Historical, Romance

Publication Date: March 31st 2020 by Avon

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads | Amazon

Can a scandalized heiress…

Beatrice Goodwin left Manhattan a duchess and has returned a divorcée, ready to seize control of her fate and the family business. Goodwin’s Department Store, once the pinnacle of fashion, has fallen from favor thanks to Dalton’s, its glamorous competitor across the street. But this rivalry has a distinctly personal edge…

And a self-made tycoon…

For Wes Dalton, Beatrice has always been the one—the one who broke his young heart by marrying a duke, and now, the one whose cherished store he plans to buy, just so he can destroy it. It’s the perfect revenge against a family who believed he’d never be good enough for their daughter—until Beatrice’s return complicates everything…

Find happily ever after at last?

While Goodwin’s and Dalton’s duel to be the finest store in Gilded Age Manhattan, Beatrice and Wes succumb to a desire that has only deepened with time. Adversaries by day, lovers by night, both will soon have to decide which is sweeter: winning the battle or thoroughly losing their hearts…

Love was much, much sweeter than revenge.

Beatrice and Dalton are both forces to be reckoned with. This lovely pairing used to be together in hiding in their youth since Beatrice's family was of a high ranking, and Dalton was not. When Dalton suggests for them to escape and start their lives, Beatrice knows she will lose everything so she decides to marry the man her family chose for her. Years later, Beatrice returns to her hometown as a widow to find out that Dalton has built a department story that rivals her family's story and could very well drive their business to the ground.

He didn't want her anymore. He wanted revenge and he wanted it more than anything.

This story was beyond entertaining. I enjoyed Beatrice and Dalton's antics. Both were dead-set on destroying the other, and would try to accomplish it, but sometimes feelings would slowly resurface and would make them question this rivalry. 

I loved the female representation. Despite it being the Gilded Age, Beatrice wasn't letting any man look down on her nor on the females in her town. I loved how they all banded together and fought for their rights. 

One would be wise to never underestimate two women united in their purpose, especially if it involved thwarting a man.

Overall, An Heiress to Remember is certainly a memorable, entertaining, loving story that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »

25.5.20

Whisper Reviews (2) | Hate-to-Love, YA Gay Romance, Historical Romance

Whisper Reviews is going to be a feature in the blog where I showcase books I needed to review eons ago (not that long, but kind of) and write a short review for each book.

Below, I have a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers rom-com between an engaged couple; a gay teen who met his dream guy, only for him to not be out of the closet; a historical romance where the heroine is expected to marry someone of rank, and the hero wants nothing to do with his title.

YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER
by Sarah Hogle
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: April 7th 2020 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: ★★★★½
Goodreads | Amazon

When your nemesis also happens to be your fiance, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiance: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves—and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

This was such a hilarious ride! Here we have a couple who has fallen out of love and basically hate each other. Since I couldn't remember the synopsis, I basically went in blindly, and because of the hate-filled banter, I was waiting for another male character to arrive for Naomi, but when the story kept going and the same characters stayed, I then knew what I was getting into. And I was here for it!

Like I mentioned, there's hate-filled banter, and it's probably my favorite thing! I was laughing like a hyena!

Naomi's character is another fave. How her mind works was a major bonus for me. She was the highlight of the story!

And Nicholas! Man, I loved how he gave back to Naomi just as much as she was giving it to him. These two will forever be memorable!

If you want fun and laughter, I highly recommend this beauty. Get ready to read an amazing lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance!

💕💕💕

ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED
by Sophie Gonzales
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publication Date: March 3rd 2020 by Wednesday Books
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: ★★★½
Goodreads | Amazon

When Ollie meets his dream guy, Will, over summer break, he thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After. But once summer’s ended, Will stops texting him back, and Ollie finds himself one prince short of a fairytale ending. To complicate the fairytale further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country—Will’s school—where Ollie finds that the sweet, affectionate and comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted—and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk.

Ollie has no intention of pining after a guy who clearly isn’t ready for a relationship. But as Will starts ‘coincidentally’ popping up in every area of Ollie’s life, from music class to the lunch table, Ollie finds his resolve weakening.

The last time he gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would have to be an idiot to trust him with it again.

Right?

Right.

What a cute story! I loved the entire cast, especially Ollie and all of his supportive friends.

Only Mostly Devastated is a super feel good story that you can't help but love. It's a light-read, perfect for times like these. Something that really stood out to me was the diversity, not only in characters, but in the important topics being talked about, such as sexuality (not only Ollie's but another character, whom I enjoyed meeting so much), a woman of color dreaming of becoming a plus-sized model, and fat-shaming. All of these were handled with grace, poise, and eloquence. 

I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!

💕💕💕

REBORN YESTERDAY
by Tessa Bailey
Series: Phenomenal Fate #1
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: March 16th 2020 by Tessa Bailey
Format: eARC
Source: Publicist
Rating: ★★
Goodreads | Amazon

A timeless love story with bite.

It was a night like any other for funeral home director Ginny Lynn, until the exceptionally handsome—and unfortunately deceased—young man on her embalming table sat up, opened his emerald eyes and changed the course of her life forever, making her feel quite fluttery while he was at it.

Humans aren't supposed to know Jonas Cantrell, or any vampire, exists. It's kind of a major rule. Despite his instantaneous bond with perfectly peculiar Ginny, he has no choice but to erase her memories of their one and only meeting.

That was the plan. Before a reluctant Jonas can wipe Ginny's mind clean, she reveals a secret that brings their worlds crashing together. Human and vampire. Past and present. Darkness and light. And while their love is strictly forbidden, it might be the only thing that can save them…

Reborn Yesterday is a standalone paranormal romantic comedy with a happily ever after.

I discovered Tessa Bailey last year and have been a major fan since then of her writing. She converted this soul into loving the real kind of dirty talk 😍 I hate that this is followed by a "but". But I was not completely impressed by this novel.

Here we have Ginny, who works at a funeral home, and is tending to one of the dead bodies, when suddenly, the eyes open and the person is totally alive! Jonas knows it was a prank from his roommates and he's ready to erase the memory of himself from Ginny's mind, but there's a strong pull there that he can't seem to back away from.

I think my major problem here were the characters. I found the entire story to be superficial. I was honestly getting bored at every turn. Ginny was a bland character I couldn't care for at all. Jonas was on the better receiving end from my feelings, but again, not much to say there.

Most of the time, I found the story going in circles and super repetitive. Not a whole lot was happening for the majority of the novel, which I was not expecting. In my opinion, this is more of a romance, with the slightest touch of vampirism added to it. Normally, I'd be all for the romance, but it wasn't even memorable.

I'm sad to say this wasn't a great read for me. I do hope the second book is better since the secondary characters had more of my attention than the main ones.

Follow Me

Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Read more »