Wreck the Halls by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Wreck the Halls

Author: Tessa Bailey

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 10/03/23

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Adult, Romance, Holiday Romance

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

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

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite–the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything–the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.

Content Warning: blackmail, parental abandonment

Tessa Bailey does it again with her spicy rom-coms, but this time I felt like it had a Daisy Jones & the Six inspiration which I loved.

Beat and Melody’s mom hate one another. The two women were bandmates decades ago and recently with their song going viral again years later, everyone wants a band reunion. Beat and Melody only met once when they were teenagers and basically it was love at first sight, especially for Melody. The next time they meet they are adults, and Beat signed up to do a reality show about reuniting the band, so he could make some money.

I was invested! I never read Daisy Jones & the Six but I did watch the show and Beat and Melody’s moms being part of a band made me think of Daisy Jones for some reason. I think because both women had a reputation and so much drama between them, it is such the typical rock star problems and it makes for a great story. So I wanted to see how the reunion would take place! Also I love Octavia and Trina as characters, their bickering made me laugh. Octavia the lead diva and Trina the wild child, they were great!

The romance is hot and spicy. And Beat’s kink? He likes to come to the edge of pleasure and be denied. I don’t know how I felt about it! The lead up and build up is great but I was feeling Melody’s confusion and feelings of loneliness about it when everything was said and done. But the reason for Beat’s preferences have a deeper meaning and I think that’s why I love them even with the whole insta-love, love at first sight situation because they see each other next as adults where a lot has happened to them both. They’ve grown in ways, some good and bad, but I love that they feel so familiar to one another without really knowing each other. I was rooting for them hard!

Now did it give me Christmas vibes? No, it’s definitely not Hallmark movie worthy, it doesn’t have all the holiday cheer and cheese that I expect out of a holiday romance. The band reunion is set to happen during the holidays and there is an epic snow fight but other than that I felt like there wasn’t enough to remind me the story was taking place in December.

Tropes: insta love, forced proximity, one bed, strangers to friends to lovers

Why you should read it:

you like a hot and spicy holiday romance
to see if the band reunion happens, Octavia and Trina’s drama

Why you might not want to read it:

I had to get used to Beat’s name lol…I get it’s because his mom is a musician (Beat and Melody) but I kept asking “why?”

My Thoughts:

Not quite the holiday romance I was expecting meaning I wanted more holiday themes in it but I was fully invested in the band reunion because Octavia and Trina’s drama was classic rock star drama! There was a lot of spice in this one but I like that it was balanced with Beat and Melody’s love story even if it was insta-love. I think they would naturally be curious about one another because their mothers had such a public past so maybe meeting one another felt familiar because of the limelight. Overall, I did love them together and that this has a happy ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Secretly Yours by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hook, Line and Sinker by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It Happened One Summer by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Forget Me Not by. Julie Soto | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Forget Me Not

Author: Julie Soto

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/11/23

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Chick-Lit, Romance, Second Chance Romance

An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

He loves me; he loves me not…

Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…

Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did.

When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there’s a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot’s hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

Content Warning: fear of commitment

I was so excited to read Forget Me Not because I was seeing it every on blogs and I was seeing good things about it! Now that I’ve read it I can see why people loved it so much.

This one is a second chance romance and I love how we are introduced to Ama and Elliot then get peeks into their past. I like how the past scenes built with the tension going on between them in the present day. Also, I love a wedding planner kind of story because it reminds me so much of the movie, The Wedding Planner, which was such a cute rom-com! This story is obviously different from that, but I love the whole wedding planner thing.

And I really love Elliot as a florist! I don’t blame Ama for falling for this guy who is so knowledgeable about flowers and so talented with installations. Yes, he is Mr. Grumpy and she’s Miss Sunshine and I love how she got past his defenses. Their past story is so cute and the heartbreak was sad but I could totally understand both their point of views. I think it makes their second chance romance story even more sweeter! The sparks are there between them and never really went away. They do have some spicy scenes which just adds to their chemistry – but I love the little awkward scenes between them too – I had some laugh out loud moments.

There are a bunch of fun side characters too – the couple who is getting married, Hazel and Jackie area cute couple. And I love how yes, Ama’s mother has had 14 marriages so she’s had a multitude of ex step-siblings, some that she employs! I especially love Mar.

Tropes: second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine

My Final Thoughts:

I love Ama and Elliott’s second chance romance. He’s grumpy, she’s sunshine and the sparks fly between them. I thought their love story was sweet and I love that there was a big wedding to plan while they tried to not bring up their past with one another. If you like wedding planner type of romance stories, you will definitely enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bittersweet in the Hollow by. Kate Pearsall | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Bittersweet in the Hollow (#1)

Author: Kate Pearsall

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/10/23

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Murder Mystery, Urban Legend, Romance, Thriller, Witches, Paranormal

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

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In this beautifully dark and enthralling YA, four sisters with unusual talents investigate a mysterious disappearance in their secluded Appalachian town. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls!

In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions–and a haze of nightmares that suggest there’s more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year’s events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn’t make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what’s hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth–about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family–she must question if some secrets are best left buried.

Content Warning: violence, vandalism, threats

There is so much I loved about this book. I love the Appalachian history of the small town that is Cabal Hollow. And the James women, especially the sisters, Sorrel, Rowan, Linden and Juniper, who have powers, but they are a tight knit group and I loved the sisterly bond between them. My favorite has to be Rowan, who has an outspoken personality. I thought Linden was a great character too though since the murder mystery revolves around her. I like how the suspect was hard to figure out and the explanation for their motives were interestingly tied to an urban legend, the Moth-Winged Man. Coincidentally, this is the second book this year I’ve read about a mothman!

I was intrigued with how curses, trades, magic, and consequences play a big role in this story. It starts off with one plea for life that ends up being a bargain that devastates people and families.

I also thought the childhood romance between Linden and Cole was so sweet. There was something creepy, yet heartwarming about this story once everything is revealed. I love the James family. And although they had powers and were known as witches, there isn’t a lot of witchcraft in this book but I thought it was a nice balance. I was really immersed in the story and I hope book two is about Rowan and Hadrian because the sparks between the two are off the charts!

Tropes: slow burn romance

Why you should read it:

the James women and their family bond – love how they are strong, capable women
the witchcraft and urban legend about the Moth-Winged Man, creepy vibes
intrigued from beginning to end

Why you might not want to read it:

this is being compared to House of Hollow but that book was darker than this one. I’d say this one is mild compared to House of Hollow and was more a mystery thriller. No body horror in this one.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though sometimes I struggle with mysteries. I like the pacing of this story, it wasn’t as slow as most mysteries and I love the James women. I love the sisterly bond, and how strong these women are. I also adored the slow burn romance between Cole and Linden even though it wasn’t a main focus of the story. I was invested in the urban legend and I hope we get more of Rowan and Hadrian in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Warrior Girl Unearthed

Author: Angeline Boulley

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 5/2/23

Categories: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Coming of Age, Thriller

Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for her Summer of Slack but instead, after a fender bender that was entirely not her fault, she’s stuck working to pay back her Auntie Daunis for repairs to the Jeep.

Thankfully she has the other outcasts of the summer program, Team Misfit Toys, and even her twin sister Pauline. Together they ace obstacle courses, plan vigils for missing women in the community, and make sure summer doesn’t feel so lost after all.

But when she attends a meeting at a local university, Perry learns about the “Warrior Girl”, an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives, and everything changes. Perry has to return Warrior Girl to her tribe. Determined to help, she learns all she can about NAGPRA, the federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. The university has been using legal loopholes to hold onto Warrior Girl and twelve other Anishinaabe ancestors’ remains, and Perry and the Misfits won’t let it go on any longer.

Using all of their skills and resources, the Misfits realize a heist is the only way to bring back the stolen artifacts and remains for good. But there is more to this repatriation than meets the eye as more women disappear and Pauline’s perfectionism takes a turn for the worse. As secrets and mysteries unfurl, Perry and the Misfits must fight to find a way to make things right – for the ancestors and for their community.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter comes a thrilling YA mystery about a Native teen who must find a way to bring an ancestor home to her tribe.

Content Warning: missing girls, violence, abduction, murder, references to sexual assault

Angeline Boulley is becoming a must-read author for me because she writes stories with Indigenous characters and that’s one area that is sorely lacking in the young adult book world. In her books I learn more about the Ojibwe tribe, the culture, the issues they are dealing with in present day. I listened to this as an audiobook and I loved hearing their language because I would have not pronounced any of those words correctly in my head at all. The story takes place 10 years after Firekeeper’s Daughter so Daunis does make an appearance in this book, which was nice.

Perry is one of my favorite characters I’ve read this year. She IS a warrior girl, personified. She has a twin, Pauline, who is the studious and smart one but Perry is physical, bold, makes friends easy and doesn’t hold back her thoughts (which can get her into trouble) but she is genuine when wanting to help. She has such a love for her culture and community. She’s the type of person who wants to take action and I thought she was pretty awesome. Perry grows a lot from the start of the story to the end of it and I admired her.

A few things are happening in this book which is a mystery/thriller. Perry is doing an internship as punishment for wrecking a car and she didn’t want to do it but she has no choice. The internship opens her eyes to an issue not even I was aware of. Her job is to work with a man, Cooper, who is a museum curator trying to take back indigenous items from other local museums. A fire is lit in Perry and she becomes determined to help bring her ancestors and the items that belong to their people back to them.

Another thing that is happening in the story is that a girl has gone missing. There is a whole mystery with that ends up being a thriller at the end of the book. I do feel like while listening to the story that the first part was a bit slow. Perry is restless and wants to go fishing and she meets a boy Eric and there is a potential romance with him but I was very much interested in what was going on with the missing girl and her internship job. The second half moves quickly since there really is someone out there abducting girls and Perry figures it out almost too late.

My Final Thoughts:

I love how this author can put together a story that is educational, informative, emotional and have characters I am invested in, like Perry. I loved seeing Perry’s growth from beginning to end of this story. I loved learning more about the Ojibwe tribe and my eyes were opened to anthropological practices that deal with indigenous artifacts – seriously give it all back to them! Give the bones back, let them lay their ancestors to rest! This is a wonderful follow-up to Firekeeper’s Daughter and honestly cannot wait to read more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Firekeeper’s Daughter | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

King of Wrath by. Ana Huang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: King of Wrath (Kings of Sins, #1)

Author: Ana Huang

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 398

Publication Date: 10/18/22

Categories: Adult, Series, Contemporary, Romance, Arranged Marriage

She’s the wife he never wanted…and the weakness he never saw coming.

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—
until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He’ll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: now that he has her…he can’t bring himself to let her go.

***
Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn’t her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy billionaire/arranged marriage romance. It contains explicit sexual content, profanity, and mild violence. Recommended for mature readers only.

Content Warning: violence, robbery

I have seen this book everywhere, even at the salon where my son was getting his haircut – the receptionist was reading this so I thought it was time I pick it up too. And I can see why this book is addictive!

What’s so addicting? Well the tension between Dante, a hot, billionaire, alpha male who is possessive and Vivian, a beautiful, successful, dutiful young woman is electric. They have some good spicy scenes between them. I felt there was a nice balance though between the spicy scenes and the actual relationship part of their story which spans the time they are engaged which is about a year. They go from strangers, to fake dating, and then to growing feelings for one another. So it was nice to see the affection building between them after being instantly attracted to one another at first.

As for Vivian, I related to her sense of duty towards her family. But I really can’t stand how his dad treated her. I think it was nice to see Dante put him in his place though and protect Vivian the best he could. Families are complicated and there are many examples of it in this story alone. I feel like Vivian and Dante had some difference but were alike in many ways as well in how they loved their jobs, love their families and and had a good group of friends.

It’s not an original story but these tropes are usual the type I have fun reading when I am reading a billionaire romance.

Tropes: arranged marriage, forced proximity, age gap, billionaire/heiress, interracial romance, alpha male

My Final Thoughts:

I can see why this book is popular in the romance world. It has all the billionaire romance tropes I enjoy and it’s actually nice to see Dante and Vivian’s relationship actually evolve in the story even though they were forced together into an arranged marriage. It has a nice balance between spicy scenes and actually dealing with relationship issues and it ends with a happy ending. I’ll definitely be reading King of Pride next, because I think Kai and Isabella would be an intriguing match!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Foul Heart Huntsman by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune, #2)

Author: Chloe Gong

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 560

Publication Date: 9/26/23

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Categories: Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Series

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

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

Content Warning: violence, medical experiments

Here we are back in Shanghai on the edge of turmoil! And can I say I love the book covers of ALL her books. I have to admit it took me about 10% into the book to get situated again in this world, and I was confusing Oliver for Orion and vice versa. THEN I got my bearings, and it was smooth sailing from then on out. I think it’s easy to get confused because there are a few romantic couples in this series. We have Rosalind/Orion, Celia/Oliver, and the one that’s not fully established yet, Phoebe/Silas. So, I was trying to keep them organized in my head. Is Alisa ever going to meet someone?

If you like spies and assassins , with some historical fiction happening in the background (Japan is threatening to invade Shanghai) then you will love this series. It’s got action, mysterious players, covert operations, sinister medical experiments, exciting get-aways and romance. There are also some surprises which I loved.

As for the romance, I love Rosalind and Orion who are too funny and cute with one another. There is actually a lot of love in this book between them and then the love struggles going on with the other couples. I feel like Celia and Oliver are okay but the other one I thought was a good development was between Phoebe and Silas. But I wanted more for them. I honestly didn’t realize this was a duology while reading it and felt like a third book could have happened just for Phoebe and Silas, but I think the story was tied up nicely. I still think this series could continue with another duology maybe for Alisa? And I love the found family between all of them.

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:

you love this series (These Violent Delights) and enjoyed Foul Lady Fortune
lots of action
lots of romance during all the tension and chaos in the city

Why you might not want to read it:

not into the series

My Thoughts:

Even though it took me a little while to get my bearings in the story, I locked in and enjoy the ride that is a Chloe Gong book! I think I’m starting to get used to the wild finishes of her books – it’s exciting and makes me want to read the next book from her. I love Rosalind and Orion’s romance, they can be so silly together which was fun. And I love the themes of family and friendship in the book. Great conclusion to this duology and I hope Alisa gets her own duology too.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Immortal Longings by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Lady Fortune by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our Violent Ends by. Chloe Gong | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Violent Delights | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Brothers Hawthorne by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Brothers Hawthorne (The Inheritance Games, #4)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 8/29/23

Categories: Young Adult, Series, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense

Four brothers. Two missions. One explosive read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns to the world of her #1 bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy, and the stakes have never been higher.

Grayson Hawthorne was raised as the heir apparent to his billionaire grandfather, taught from the cradle to put family first. Now the great Tobias Hawthorne is dead and his family disinherited, but some lessons linger. When Grayson’s half-sisters find themselves in trouble, he swoops in to do what he does best: take care of the problem—efficiently, effectively, mercilessly. And without getting bogged down in emotional entanglements.

Jameson Hawthorne is a risk-taker, a sensation-seeker, a player of games. When his mysterious father appears and asks for a favor, Jameson can’t resist the challenge. Now he must infiltrate London’s most exclusive underground gambling club, which caters to the rich, the powerful, and the aristocratic, and win an impossible game of greatest stakes. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for impossible.

Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, Grayson and Jameson—with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.

Content Warning: violence

I read this book to find out if there is any justice for Grayson and I may have to read the next book to see if he gets it there because man, is he being put through the wringer!

This book is two stories: one about Jameson and the other about Grayson. I think the story could have been split into two books but in this case, it did work pretty well because the story moves seamlessly and tightly that I wasn’t bored with one story more than the other. I definitely was more interested in Grayson’s story but there were some fascinating things happening with Jameson’s story also.

Jameson is antsy and is looking for something more. Something his own that doesn’t involve the help of his brothers, or Avery. He starts off with Avery in his journey into a secret underground club called the Devil’s Mercy and honestly, the two people that intrigued me a lot was Rohan and Zella. I want to know more about them! Jamie was being his reckless self but he did achieve what he wanted. There wasn’t much romance between Jameson and Avery and I was team Grayson so…I guess I’m glad there wasn’t much romance between them lol.

Grayson. When will Grayson catch a break? His challenge was a bit more involved with the past story of the Hawthornes and all the drama that got them to where they are but this time he gets to meet more family. And I love his half sisters, Gigi and Savannah. Gigi was the bubbly personality he needed in his life though, so I loved their interactions. I do wish this book was only about Grayson since Jameson got the girl (Avery)…but it’s not meant to be for Grayson for now – which breaks my heart for him still. He better get something good happening in his life in the next book!

There wasn’t a lot of Nash or Xander in this book but they were definitely helping more with Grayson than Jameson. Gigi reminded me of Xander though, they are both the fun characters. As for Eve…I don’t know what I think about her right now but I’ll wait to see what role she plays in book two.

My Final Thoughts:

I think this book is the transition or build-up for what’s coming in book five but I was hoping more good things to happen for Grayson but that wasn’t quite the case, except for meeting his sisters. I need Grayson to fall in love, leave Avery in the past, leave Eve there too because honestly…he needs something new. Jameson’s journey was mostly interesting because of Rohan and Zella who come into the story. I’d love for them to have their own story or series – I can see many storylines happening with the Devil’s Mercy being at the center of it. Overall the book was as entertaining as the other books in the series and fits very well. It’s fast-paced, has all the mystery, puzzles, riddles, and suspense as the other books and I look forward to reading book five if only to see Grayson come that much closer to achieving some kind of happiness.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Inheritance Games | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hawthorne Legacy by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Final Gambit by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Her Radiant Curse by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Her Radiant Curse

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 8/29/23

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Categories: Prequel, Series, Fantasy, Family, Young Adult

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

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Content Warning: violence

I don’t know what I was thinking when I started reading this book, or I wasn’t thinking and just wanted to read an Elizabeth Lim book because she is an amazing storyteller. But this is the prequel to Six Crimson Cranes and I didn’t realize it until halfway into the story! This is Raikama’s (Channi) story, Shiori’s step-mother who was such an intriguing character in Six Crimson Cranes. Now we get her backstory.

The story telling as always with this author is magical. It just seems so effortless! The story takes us on an adventure through what feels like South East Asia. The climate is tropical, with tigers and snakes and food ingredients that I recognized because they are used in Filipino cooking like, pandan! That was a nice surprise!

Channi is cursed with a snake face, whereas her sister, Vanna shines like a jewel. When the witch/demon who cursed Channi comes to claim her sister as promised, Channi fights like hell to save her with a few allies. This was such a beautiful story about sibling love, it broke my heart in the end.

And I love Ukar, Channi’s snake friend! He was such a loyal friend and I love Channi’s connection to him and the snakes. The message of the book was beautifully conveyed too. Channi was cursed with snake scales on her face and she lived a life of struggle because of it. And Vanna is born with beauty but she too endures a few personal struggles even though she’s given everything. So they both were unhappy, beautiful or not. Also, Angma’s story is heartbreaking, even though she is the villain. It goes to show be careful what you wish for because the consequences of it can be unknowingly devastating.

I wanted more romance between Channi and Hokzuh but that’s just because I love romance in my fantasies. Their story is a bit of a tragedy though, which was sad.

Why you should read it:

the sibling love between Channi and Vanna
beautiful storytelling

Why you might not want to read it:

you didn’t read or like Six Crimson Cranes

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes! If you wanted to know more about Raikama, Shiori’s stepmother, then here is your chance because this is her story when she was just a girl named Channi who loved her sister Vanna so very much.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Arc Review: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2) | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Six Crimson Cranes by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dragon’s Promise by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Twin Crowns by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Twin Crowns (#1)

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 5/17/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Twins

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents’ murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn’t have a habit of causing trouble…

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

I wanted to read this book because Catherine Doyle wrote the Blood for Blood series which I was obsessed with back in 2015! So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Twin Crowns and also not super surprised because she was part of the writing duo. And I’ll just point out that I don’t love books about twins but maybe because it always feels like the same trope. In Twin Crowns, we get the twins who were separated at birth trope and one sister is coming for the crown that the other one is supposed to have. Sound familiar? Yes, because that’s what usually happens in twin stories so I was over it a few years ago.

I went in with low expectations, but I ended up reading this book in one day! There are two clashing sides: witches and non-witches. Wren was raised with the witches and Rose was not, she was raised on the side that killed witches. Wren is trying to take the Queendom back from a man called Rathborne, who killed their parents. But Rose still wants her throne and tries to fight for it. It’s a really fun story, even though Rose can be annoying because she’s the pampered princess. However, I felt like she had the dashing and charming Shen Lo (love him) to balance her out. He brought her out of her comfort zone, which I loved. As for Wren, I like that she is feisty and a strong character. Wren’s romance with Tor had more heat which I liked but I’d love to know more about Tor. I don’t think we know much about him at all. I think the sisters being separated and going through their own challenges kept the story moving and I liked that it was seamless despite it being told in two POVs.

One thing bothered me about the story – how did Wren know Rose’s routine and all of the people at the palace? Was she studying her for that long? I don’t think it ever says in the book unless I missed it and so at times it felt unbelievable that Wren would automatically know all the staffs’ names. I just went with it. At least she had magic to make her look exactly like Rose. I did like the times she slipped out of character though, just to see if anyone would catch her.

At times the story felt like it was meant for a younger YA audience but I think maybe because the whole story has a fun vibe to it? Anyway I was confused about how I felt about that but I guess I didn’t mind it since I finished it in one day.

Tropes: twins separated at birth

Why you should read it:

you like stories about twin sisters
Rose and Wren both have their own romances – I love Shen Lo
a fun story

Why you might not want to read it:

might feel like for a younger audience

My Thoughts:

This one was a fun read and I’m already reading book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by. Heather Fawcett | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries (#1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Narrators: Ell Potter, Michael Dodds

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 1/10/23

Categories: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romance, Fae

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Content Warning: violence

I finally got to finish this book by listening to it as an audiobook. I actually enjoyed reading it but I felt like it was going slowly and not in a bad way. I think because it’s such a cozy, slow moving story which I don’t usually like and I was getting bored reading, but not bored with the story. I just felt like if someone read it to me, it would hold my attention more and it sure did. The narrators are fantastic in this audiobook and definitely sounds like how I imagined Emily Wilde to sound like.

I found her interactions with Wendell so funny because they are such opposites. She’s driven, stubborn, headstrong and ambitious to complete this Encyclopedia of Fairies and Wendell is not. But Emily gets into some situations that become dangerous and she realizes she needs help.

The romance between Emily and Wendell is a slow burn and I thought it was cute when they both finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.

I do feel like there was more action in the end of the book so I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.

Tropes: slow burn

Why you should read it:

great narration
Emily’s investigations and researching of the Faerie world
Emily and Wendell’s slow burn

Why you might not want to read it:

might be too slow and boring for people not into cozy reads

My Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this one more as it was read to be through an audiobook. I actually got 20% into the ebook before I put it down because it was too slow, even though I enjoyed Emily and her adventures learning about the fae. I had a feeling it would work out better for me as an audiobook and I was right. The narrators did a fantastic job and I was much more engaged in the story and even finished it. I adored Emily and Wendell together. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel but if I am in the mood for a cozy read, then I’ll pick it up.