When the Moon Hatched by. Sarah A. Parker | Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall, #1)

Author: Sarah A. Parker

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 718

Publication Date: 1/13/24

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Dragons, Fae

The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity’s grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons.

They certainly did not expect them to fall.

As a valued Elding Blade of the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve’s world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles—a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free.

Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore’s notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands.

The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can’t ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time.
However.
There’s more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths …
They’re too poisonous to swallow.

When the Moon Hatched is a fast-paced fantasy romance for fans of witty banter and strong, sassy protagonists. Beneath the cover is an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

Content Warning:

I saw this book all over booktok and wanted to try it but honestly the first few times I tried to start it, I wasn’t feeling it and put it aside. It was actually going to stay as a DNF but five months later, I decided to pick it up because I needed a long book to kill time and I finally pushed through 700+ pages to finish it and I have a few thoughts. At least once I got into a rhythm it read, fairly quick for 700+ pages.

Raeve has a past that she’s buried deep inside her because it’s so traumatic. She’s a cold assassin who is trying her best to survive but in her past she’s lost a lot of people she loved, including a dragon. Her lost is really heartbreaking when the story pieces everything together. Did I get frustrated when she pushed away the truth? Yes, I did but Raeve is going to come to terms and heal on her own time.

Kaan is a king who is trying to rebel against his ruthless brothers. He’s the good guy. I did like the banter between them because Kaan is an alpha male minus the a-hole tendencies which is nice. The two of them have chemistry but without revealing too much, there is much to unravel between them. There are some steamy scenes between them, but not a lot. They have some things to work out between them.

Story wise it’s pretty much Raeve trying to take down a ruthless regime who is oppressing the people. She finds out Kaan has the same goal also but she has some major personal issues to work out. The magic system and calling on different gods is interesting. I really loved the story about Raeve’s past, the people she lost and the dragons, that part did get me emotionally.

But I had a few issues with this book. First off, because the beginning is the story of creation about this world, I was already not connecting to the story because the info dumping, so did I skim it? I did. So for awhile I didn’t understand why the dragons became moons and then the moons would fall. Also – I don’t like the alternative spelling of words like Ma being Mah and Pa being Pah. Or day being Dae. There is a lot of world-building and it took me awhile to immerse myself in this world and learn about it.

My Final Thoughts:

I’m actually surprised I finished this book. I think there was an even amount of things that I liked and didn’t like. I did think it was too long and there is a lot of world building to get through. The way it starts didn’t catch my attention right away and it was almost a DNF for me but I pushed through and did enjoy Raeve’s story. I like the dragons a lot. I don’t know if I will continue the series though only because I’m not sure I have the motivation to read another 700+ pager in this series.

quotes from the book

“How can someone you love so much be here one moment, gone the next?”
When the Moon Hatched by. Sarah A. Parker

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Heavenbreaker by. Sara Wolf | Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Heavenbreaker (#1)

Author: Sara Wolf

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 5/21/24

Categories: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Series

Bravery isn’t what you do. It’s what you endure.

The duke of the powerful House Hauteclare is the first to die. With my dagger in his back.

He didn’t see it coming. Didn’t anticipate the bastard daughter who was supposed to die with her mother—on his order. He should have left us with the rest of the Station’s starving, commoner rubbish.

Now there’s nothing left. Just icy-white rage and a need to make House Hauteclare pay. Every damn one of them.

Even if it means riding Heavenbreaker—one of the few enormous machines left over from the War—and jousting against the fiercest nobles in the system.

Each win means another one of my enemies dies. And here, in the cold terror of space, the machine and I move as one, intent on destroying each adversary—even if it’s someone I care about. Even if it’s someone I’m falling for.

Only I’m not alone. Not anymore.

Because there’s something in the machine with me. Something horrifying. Something…more.

And it won’t be stopped.

Content Warning: grief, violence, murder

This is one of my most anticipated books this year and I bought the hardcover because it’s really gorgeous with the sprayed edges. Now, I did go into this book with a little bit of caution because it’s a space opera and I sometimes love that genre or I just don’t connect. With this book, my feelings landed in the middle.

I love the violent and full of rage main character, Synali. Yes, she should be angry that someone killed her mother and almost killed her. Yes, she should be raging against the injustice of the wealthy houses who don’t do anything to help the poor – she grew up poor and had to do all kinds of things to survive. And yes, she wants to take down her father’s house even if she dies trying.

I found the world-building really creative and I was hooked in the beginning of the story. There is a futuristic jousting tournament every year where riders, ride a steed – but the steed is not a horse. It’s a huge (compared to a tall tower), alien like robotic body of some sort – even in my own mind, I had a hard time imagining it and was wishing this was a graphic novel. Anyway, the rider, rides the steed into the biggest jousting tournament of the year and the winner gets a favor from the king. Synali, is not a rider but she’s chosen to become one for a house that is not her own, all for the goal of revenge and hopefully destruction. The world that is created is really fantastic and there is a lot of history to learn about these steeds and what happened to Earth.

The secondary characters are very interesting like Dravik who has an ulterior motive and we don’t totally know how much of a villain he is yet but Synali is working with him because they both have the same goal in mind. Mirelle, who is Synali’s cousin and enemy, is an interesting character that shows us a little bit of what Synali longed for in a family. Synali sees what could have been if she wasn’t born a bastard. Rax, is her rival but so opposite in nature to her rage, yet Synali hasn’t scratched the surface of him yet. I think there is so much more to learn about all of these characters and I hope we get to see that develop in book two.

Some things that maybe disconnected me from the story? The sci-fi elements, because sci-fi does that to me haha, but I pushed through. The writing – and I usually like her writing because it’s straight to the point but this one was too much being straight to the point at times. The chapters are short, and sometimes the sentences are too, which for the most part I understand because Synali is just walking rage, no feelings except for mostly rage and grief for her mother. The short chapters does help move the story quickly though.

The romance between Synali and Rax has so much potential to be an amazing enemies to lovers but I felt like there wasn’t much emotion between either of because Synali is all about revenge and Rax is all about winning to survive his situation.

My Final Thoughts:

I read this book in one day because I was riveted by the world-building and Synali’s character. I felt like my attention waned a bit as I was rushing through to the end but maybe because I was hoping the romance would develop more but it’s definitely not the main focus of this story. I had my issues here and there with the story but it’s because I’m not a big sci-fi reader. Overall, I was entertained and I’m looking forward to book two and hoping for more development in some of the characters and their relationships.

quotes from the book

“I have my memories. The past isn’t pain – not all the time.”
Heavenbreaker by. Sara Wolf

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The Summer Swap by. Sarah Morgan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Summer Swap

Author: Sarah Morgan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 5/7/24

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Categories: Adult, Chick Lit, Family, Romance, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Canary Street Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The perfect summer novel—sharp, smart and so much fun!” —Viola Shipman, USA TODAY bestselling author, on The Island Villa

Cecilia Lapthorne always vowed she’d never go back to Dune Cottage. So no one is more surprised than Cecilia to find herself escaping her own seventieth birthday party to return to the remote but beautiful cottage on Cape Cod—a place filled with memories. Some are good—especially memories of the early days with her husband, volatile artist Cameron, before his fame eclipsed their marriage. But then there are the memories she has revealed to no one. Especially not her daughter, Kristen, who hero-worshipped her father.

For aspiring artist Lily, Dune Cottage has been a refuge, albeit an illicit one. After dropping out of medical school, she’s cleaning houses on the Cape to get by, guilt-ridden for disappointing her parents. Unoccupied for years, the cottage seemed the perfect place to hide away and lick her wounds—until Cecilia unexpectedly arrives. Despite an awkward beginning, Lily accepts Cecilia’s invitation to stay on as her guest, and a flicker of kinship ignites.

Then Cecilia’s grandson, Todd—and Lily’s unrequited crush—shows up, sending a shock wave through their unlikely friendship. Will it inspire Lily to find the courage to live the life she wants? Can Cecilia finally let go of the past to find a new future? Because as surely as the tide erases past footprints, this summer is offering both Cecilia and Lily the chance to swap old dreams for new…

Content Warning: cheating, marital problems, family secrets

+ This is a multigenerational story. Cameron Lapthorne is a famous artist who had just passed away and what remains is a family who is dealing with grief and some regrets. I liked seeing how they eventually come together as family secrets are revealed and healing can begin. There is another main character, Lily, who is connected to the family. Her storyline intertwines with Cecelia’s and I thought it was a nice way of continuing the love of art in the Lapthorne family.

+ Another big theme in this book is about marriage. It showed how the Lapthorne women in the book were overshadowed by their husband’s successful careers, and what it eventually did to their marriage. I found it all very relatable.

+ I thought it was refreshing that Cecelia’s grandson, Todd, gets to shine as he represents the younger generation of Lapthorne family. He’s sure of himself, and not afraid to follow a career of his choosing which all of them seem to admire. The romance surrounding him and Lily was cute. He and Lily definitely represent the generation who is allowed and more willing to forgo family expectations and do what their heart desires, even while struggling to achieve their happiness.

+ Only issue with the book was that it felt rushed at times. Todd and Lily have been mutually pining for one another for years but don’t even come together in the book to discuss this until the halfway mark so I wish they were together much earlier.

My Thoughts:

This is a great book about family and love and perfect to read at the beach or pool. The setting is lovely and definitely gives off summer beach vibes. It’s a quick story but I think had enough depth because of the multigenerational aspect which I enjoyed.

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BLOG TOUR} The Christmas Escape by. Sarah Morgan | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Author: Katherine Arden

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 325

Publication Date: 2/13/24

Categories: Historical Fiction, Paranormal, War

During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?

November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.

As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.

Content Warning: war, injuries, death

Laura and Freddie are siblings, both have been sent to the front lines, Laura as a nurse and Freddie as a soldier. And now Laura is trying to find out her brother and only family left, is dead or alive.

I found Laura to be such an intriguing character. She’s a nurse in World War I who was injured badly but survived, got sent home where she loses both her parents in one day and her only other family is out in the front lines. She’s alone but thriving and still holding hope that her brother Freddie is alive. Laura is not afraid, even with everything she’s been through, she’s ready to help the injured, she’s a good friend and a devoted sister. Personality wise, she’s not a warm person, but she’s efficient and was determined in her job being a nurse and trying to find her brother which I admired.

Freddie, oh poor Freddie, is in the bowels of hell and many times on death’s doorstep. In fact, where he is, we don’t really know. We meet a mysterious character Faland who is holding Freddie at some hotel which I think was symbolic of Freddie’s broken mind because of the war. I’m not sure – there were some parts of Freddie and Faland’s story that confused me for awhile until I just had to tell myself to go with it. I did determine that Faland was the devil and he was stealing souls, but for a time I thought maybe Faland was some mythical creature part of Belgium that I didn’t know about. Freddie’s story had a sort of surprise ending that I thought came out of nowhere. I see what the author was trying to do with the story but I definitely read the author’s note at the end of the book to get more insight. I’ll admit some of the times the story went over my head.

My favorite parts of the book were about Laura’s job as a nurse and her determination to find out what happened to Freddie. Even though all the war parts are gruesome and dark it’s real because war isn’t glamorous. I also like that this is set in World War I because it is a war we don’t hear much about, at least here in America. The historical fiction aspect of this story was really good.

My Final Thoughts:

For the most part I thought this was a pretty good book though some parts went over my head. I enjoyed the historical setting and it made me learn a lot of new things about World War I. In the end, I felt the full gravity about war being horrifying on both sides of enemy lines – everyone is in hell when they are in war, no matter what side they are on.

Quotes From the Book:

“Do not despair. Endings – they are beginnings too.”
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden

“The whole world’s made up of systems now. Systems that are too big for any one person to understand or control, or stop. Like the timetables. Alliances. Philosophies. And so now we’re here, even though no one wanted to be. “
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden

“That there’s no such thing as a coward, or a brave man – not out there. There’s no man’s will stronger than the war.”
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden

“But it was over. The fighting would stop. The killing would stop. And perhaps the world had learned. Perhaps this was the war that would end war. Perhaps.”
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden

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Bridesmaid For Hire by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Bridesmaid for Hire

Author: Meghan Quinn

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 4/2/24

Categories: Adult, Romance

Sometimes the wedding of the century calls for desperate measures.
And sometimes those desperate measures are to pretend the person you hate most is actually your boyfriend.

After years of working her tail off at her event-planning business, Maggie Mitchell is ready for a vacation. With nothing on her mind but R & R, she’s enjoying the warm weather of Bora Bora when in saunters Brody McFadden, her brother’s best friend and also her sworn enemy. Thanks to years of tension between the two—kicked off by a make-out session at her brother’s wedding that ended horribly—Maggie has sworn to stay away from the man. That is, until she finds out he’s in Bora Bora for his boss’s daughter’s wedding, hoping to use the trip to win a real future at the company.

Maggie promised herself she wouldn’t even think of work on the island, but as word spreads about the “wedding of the century” taking place in the midst of her vacation, she realizes offering her services as a bridesmaid and planner could bring her business to the next level. The only catch? She needs to pose as Brody’s girlfriend to get the job…while letting him stay in her peaceful bungalow.

Tensions rise, irritation flairs, and despite years’ worth of bickering behind closed doors, Maggie can’t quite squash the sparks building between her and her new fake boyfriend, especially when she learns the real reason their first kiss was cut short. But as the wedding day draws closer and everything starts to go wrong, it just might be Brody who sends Maggie’s business crashing down—and her heart along with it.

Content Warning:

This one started off strong. Maggie, and her brother’s best friend, Brody, had a moment during her brother’s wedding. But he left her hanging and she put that bad experience out of her mind. They meet again coincidentally in Bora Bora where Brody is trying to get in good with the head of the company he works for. Maggie, is a wedding planner and wants make some connection with Brody’s boss also, so she can further her goals for her company.

There are a lot of fun tropes in this one: fake dating, forced proximity, and mutual pining.

Maggie and Brody bicker so much and it’s really fun and funny at the beginning of the book. Then it just becomes a bit immature. Clearly the physical attraction between them is there and I love that Brody likes things about Maggie like her being driven, social, and just always making people feel comfortable. But I think Maggie only likes Brody for his looks because honestly…there wasn’t else much there about him to be attracted to. He seems like a fun guy, and with her brother Gary, they are ridiculous together. I felt like at times Maggie went overboard with trying to humiliate him too – even if it wasn’t “on purpose”, I was like okay…that seemed uncalled for? When they finally take things to the next level though, it gets steamy. They have good chemistry in bed and when they aren’t fighting.

I did think the book was too long. I was hoping for a quick, romance read and I thought it would be with how fast everything was happening in the beginning but by 60% in I was kind of losing interest. Also there were some typos in the beginning of the book which threw me off a little.

My Final Thoughts:

This one is a fun romp on an island with two characters who are trying so hard not to fall for each other but it’s so hard when they are physically attracted to one another and forced into one room for a few days. There is a lot of sex humor in this one. It’s a spicy romantic comedy that’s easy to read but for me it fizzled out at the end.

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A Not So Meet Cute by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Highland Fling by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Graham Effect by. Elle Kennedy | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries, #1)

Author: Elle Kennedy

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 498

Publication Date: 10/31/23

Categories: New Adult, Romance, Series, Hockey Romance, Sports Romance

Gigi Graham has exactly three qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine – a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder.

Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude . . . and sexy as hell. But he’s still the enemy.

Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another’s guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad.

The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.

Content Warning: traumatic childhood

I read the Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy back when it was first published almost 10 years ago – wow! I don’t remember if I read them all though and I for sure didn’t read any of the Briar U series but here is a new series called Campus Diaries and it takes place at Briar University. But this time the wild hockey boys from Off-Campus have grown up! The Graham Effect is all about Garrett Graham’s college aged daughter, Gigi. She’s a hockey player too is trying to make the Olympic Team but also having the most fun at college with the hockey boys and her best friends.

I thought this was a cute and spicy romance but also it was more than just a fluffy romance. Not gonna lie, I was expecting a fluffy and spicy hockey romance. This one is shy of 500 pages and I think it was a tad bit too long. But the story does give us a whole spectrum of Gigi and Ryder’s romance. I thought they had great chemistry and there are a lot of spicy scenes between them. Gigi is a good girl, good daughter and student – she was pretty much perfect. Ryder is the boy with the reputation for a bad attitude, but he is definitely the boy with the traumatic childhood. The two made a good couple because honesty was number one for them – no matter what. Loved that about them.

I loved seeing Gigi and Ryder’s relationship grow – and I love all the different characters we meet! Gigi has her best friends, Mya and Diana and Ryder has his close buddies and then some with his old and new teammates. There are a lot of names to remember but I thought each character stood out on their own pretty well. Do I think everyone needed to be introduced? Maybe not. Also, I know this is a sports/hockey romance and I like the sports stuff fine, but not so much of it. I really did feel like at some point this story kept going on and on. Another thing that I won’t spoil but something happens at the end of the book and I was like…why?! 😅 Why did that need to happen?

My Final Thoughts:

This is a spicy new adult hockey romance set in college. It’s got good looking and mostly nice characters (a lot of characters). Gigi is sweet, smart and athletic and Ryder is gruff, not a talker and athletic. They have a great chemistry and a strong relationship. I do think the story was way too long and some things could have been cut but overall still a very fun read.

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Misfit by. Elle Kennedy | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Bad Girl Reputation by. Elle Kennedy | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️

Good Girl Complex by. Elle Kennedy | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So Let Them Burn By. Kamilah Cole | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: So Let Them Burn (Divine Traitors, #1)

Author: Kamilah Cole

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 1/16/24

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Jamaica Inspired, Dragons, Romance, LGBT+

Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland.

Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors.

When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister.

As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.

“By turns hopeful and devastating, So Let Them Burn is a masterful debut with a blazing heart. I was captivated from beginning to end by Cole’s sharp, clever prose and by her protagonists—two remarkable sisters with an unforgettable bond.” — Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

Content Warning: violence

I thought the premise of this book was very intriguing – Jamaican inspired and dragons?

I love the sister bond between Faron and Elara. Faron is the Child Empyrean – chosen by the Gods, and gifted with power. She is the chosen but is the younger sister and makes a few mistakes in this books showing her immaturity. Elara is the older sister and is always in her sister’s shadow but longs to shine on her own. The sister are apart for most of the book but I think it helps to see them apart because Elara grows a lot from her new situation, whereas I think Faron alone needed her sister’s guidance.

I liked learning all about the dragons and the world-building is great. I would have liked more about the dragon academy since I think the best thing about this book was about the dragons. There is an interesting plot twist that occurs and I can see how this is going to complicate things a lot for the sisters. There are two romances happening for each sister, I’d say I was more into Elara’s building romance than Faron’s. But with everything that happened in the end of the book, I’m now much more curious how it’s going to end up for Faron. I think Gael Soto’s character is very intriguing and it will be interesting to see what happens to him in book two.

I did feel like this is more for younger young adult audiences.

My Final Thoughts:

Overall this one was entertaining and you definitely like it if you are looking for a younger young adult novel with dragons in it.

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The Fine Print by. Lauren Asher | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)

Author: Lauren Asher

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 431

Publication Date: 7/8/21

Categories: Romance, Adult Fiction, Billionaire Romance, Workplace Romance

Rowan
I’m in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don’t get happy endings.
Not when we’re destined to ruin them.

Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything.
Especially not us.

The Fine Print is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones following three billionaire brothers.

Content Warning: toxic parental relationship

I love the characters in this story – Zahra is quirky, but wholesome and comes from a good, loving family. She’s had a bad experience with an ex-boyfriend but overall, she’s strong, warm and people love her. She’s miss sunshine with a little bit of sass because she can definitely keep up with Rowan’s grumpy personality. I found their interactions and banter really fun!

I also love Zahra’s sister, Ani, who has down syndrome – she was so funny, cute and cool! I loved that she had her own little sass too and could keep up with Rowan. Rowan is the typical rich, handsome, grumpy guy trying to live up to family expectations but he has quite a past himself and is dealing with his mother’s and grandfather’s passing.

I thought the romance progressed really good from their first meeting and then all their interactions in between up until their conflict. I do think the story went on a bit too long and Rowan was being a jerk with ending things and then wanting her back right away. Like come on man, you are seriously stringing this nice girl along and she really didn’t deserve that. Yes, he has commitment issues and needed to work on them but yeah…even I was getting tired of it.

It did have a cute ending but it could have come sooner for sure!

My Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a cute one and I do love Zahra and Rowan together – he just needed to get his stuff together earlier so this could be a nice 350 page book. 😅 I don’t think we got a good feel of either of his brothers in this book but I’ll be reading their stories for sure.

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The Prisoner’s Throne by. Holly Black | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Prisoner’s Throne

Author: Holly Black

Format: hardcover (owned)

Pages: 359

Publication Date: 3/5/2024

Categories: Young Adult, Politics, Faerie, Series, Romance

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.

Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.  

With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ This is Oak’s side of the story, whereas The Stolen Heir was Wren’s story. Oak is such a complicated character. He’s gifted with tongue to persuade people to do whatever he wants which is dangerous but also makes it difficult for him to know who really knows him. He is charming, and acts so unaffected. His family has sheltered him all his life, well except for his dad, but behind the scenes he was making things happen in ways they were unaware of. Oak has killed, manipulated, lied, deceived, done things he didn’t want to do but would do for his goals. And Wren saw through his disguise of charm – straight to the imperfect parts of him.

+ Oak and Wren’s relationship is as real as it can get when both people come from messy backgrounds. They both came from dysfunctional families, though there is love in those families, there was a lot of feelings of fear and not being safe also. That’s what I love about their love for one another. They are both broken in their own way but together…everything will be alright even with their imperfections.

+ I love Cardan – he is too funny with his sassy self. His quips were just classic Cardan and nice to see in the story. Jude is in this story too and I liked that it shows her power as Queen but also her role as Oak’s sister and how she needed to learn to let him go and make his own mistakes.

+Tiernan and Hyacinth’s love story was a nice addition. They actually had the tension I was hoping Oak and Wren would have.

~ I do miss the tension that was present in The Folk of the Air series. I just love how dark, tense, and cutthroat it was whereas The Stolen Heir duology almost feels cozy. It might be because of Oak’s oozing charm haha, and his perspective being different than Jude’s of course.

~ The beginning was a bit slow but it picks up after the halfway mark.

My Final Thoughts:

Is this the end of this series? Because I swear once they mentioned the Undersea I was like…hmmm…Nicasia? Is there a story there waiting to be written? I wouldn’t mind because I love this world. Overall, I enjoyed this book though the second half was more action packed than the first.

Book Links:

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The Stolen Heir by. Holly Black | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by. Holly Black | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book of Night by. Holly Black | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Heart of the Sun Warrior by. Sue Lynn Tan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Heart of the Sun Warrior (The Celestial Kingdom, #2)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 11/10/2022

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Sequel, Chinese Mythology, Romance

After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation–to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love… even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin–the daughter of Chang’e and the mortal archer, Houyi–as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ What a gorgeous book cover! This whole series has some of the most beautiful book covers I’ve ever seen.

+ The story continues with Xingyin living on the Moon with the people she loves but she finds out there is a way to save her dad, who she thought was dead. Also another storyline happening is there is a traitor in the Celestial Kingdom who is making moves trying to usurp the Emperor, but Xingyin and her mother gets caught in the drama. I love the story about her parents and I’m glad there is a happy ending there.

+ I think the world of the Celestial Kingdom is so magical and ethereal. I was transported into the story with these celestial characters riding on their clouds, fighting with magic and there are even dragons.

+ Apparently I didn’t think too much of Wenzhi in the first book, which is surprising, because I liked him a lot in this book! I like how he’s trying to show Xingyin that he has changed, that he feels regret and remorse for doing what he did to further his goals. He doesn’t give up on her but also gives her space to figure out how she feels. I like how he helps her with what she needs even if he doesn’t agree with some of her plans. The ending gutted me though, I hated what happened to him.

~ The love triangle…I dislike it because I like both men. And she loves them both in their own ways also, which makes it even worse when it comes time for her to choose one of them. In the end I was rooting for Wenzhi but I was sad that things couldn’t work with Liwei because I loved their friendship turned into love. Unfortunately, his life as Emperor wasn’t what she would have been happy with. But I didn’t like how long it took for her to figure things out.

~ And speaking of the love triangle, this makes me want to point out that Xingyin was impulsive at times. She made frustrating choices. I know she wanted to save Liwei, and she wanted to save her family – she really didn’t have to always be the heroine. There were so many people who wanted to help her.

My Final Thoughts:

At times reading this book I thought that this didn’t have to really be a series and that Daughter of the Moon Goddess stands pretty good on it’s own. And though I didn’t love the love triangle situation, I’m curious to see what the ending means – since on Goodreads it says there is a third book to this series! Overall, this was entertaining, despite the little issues I had with it here and there. Also, the writing and the world building is beautiful. I’ll definitely read book three.