What We Harvest by. Ann Fraistat | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: What We Harvest

Author: Ann Fraistat

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 3/22/22

Publisher: Delcorte

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Alchemy, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, 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 Delacorte for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Wilder Girls comes a nightmarish debut guaranteed to keep you up through the night, about an idyllic small town poisoned by its past, and one girl who must fight the strange disease that’s slowly claiming everyone she loves.

Wren owes everything she has to her home, Hollow’s End, a centuries-old, picture perfect American town. Tourists travel miles to marvel at its miracle crops, including the shimmering, iridescent wheat of Wren’s family farm. Until five months ago.

That’s when the quicksilver mercury blight first surfaced, poisoning the farms of Hollow’s End one by one. It began by consuming the crops–thick, silver sludge bleeding from the earth. Next were the animals. Infected livestock and wild creatures alike staggered off into the woods by day—only to return at night, their eyes, fogged white, leering from the trees.

Then, the blight came for the neighbors.

Wren is among the last locals standing. And the blight has finally come for her, too. Now, the only one she can turn to is the last person she wants to call: her ex, Derek. They haven’t spoken in months, but Wren and Derek still have one thing in common—Hollow’s End means everything to them. Only there’s much they don’t know about their hometown and its renowned miracle crops. And they’re about to discover that miracles aren’t free.

Their ancestors have an awful lot to pay for, and Wren and Derek are the only ones left to settle old debts.

Content Warning: Gore, Violence

You can kind of tell from the cover of this book that something sinister is going to be happening in this book.

Wren lives in a special town, where four founding families have situated themselves over a few generations and grow their miraculous crops and animals. Wren doesn’t know how it came to be her family grew rainbow wheat but she is next to inherit the farm except that now the farms are ruined with Blight. But this blight isn’t ordinary – it doesn’t only kill crops, it turns people and animals into zombie like creatures. So it’s a race against time before Wren can figure out not to get infected, turn into one of the Blighted, and save the farm – her family’s legacy.

This story is creepy, especially because the Blighted come out once the sun goes down. It has a lot of action too which was fun! There is even romance between Wren and boy next door or boy from one of the other founding families – her best friend since childhood, Derek. But they have broken up and now they have to rely on each other to stay safe and also to save their loved ones. There is also a f/f relationship with Derek’s sister Claudette and her girlfriend, Angie.

I liked the reveal of how the families got their source of magic to keep their farms growing the way they did. It’s horrific but I love that Wren does everything she can to undo it. The conclusion wraps everything up pretty good except for the parts where we don’t know what the government learned about the blight and what they will do with the information.

There were some parts that frustrated me about the book, like when Wren kept getting people hurt. That was partly Derek’s fault too but I was getting annoyed with her decision making. I mean I get she was half zombie at that point and couldn’t quite control herself though haha. I’m just glad things worked out!

Why you should read it:

story is creepy, thrilling and filled with action – I liked the reveal and conclusion
a quick, engaging read with just a few horror/gory scenes
zombies

Why you might not want to read it:

you are not into lite horror and gore or zombies

My Thoughts:

This is a gripping read and I was engrossed with seeing how everything played out with Wren and the blight on the farms. The tone was perfectly creepy, especially when the sun went down. If you like books like Small Favors and Burn Our Bodies Down, stories that take place on farms – you will enjoy this one!

📚 ~ Yolanda

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5)

Author: Holly Black

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 200 pages

Publication Date: 11/24/20

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Series, Illustrated, Novella, Fantasy, Young Adult

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame.

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue.

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, his tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective.

This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.

Content Warning: Abuse

I’ve been wanting a copy of this for awhile. I don’t have the physical copy (will have to get it for my collection) but I did borrow the ebook and it was exactly as I expected it would be. The story brings us back to Elfhame but we get to know Cardan much better. We get a glimpse into Cardan’s childhood and his relationship with Nicasia. And I absolutely adored all the scenes he has with Jude, with her as his Queen. They are seriously too cute together. I enjoyed this installment very much.

Why you should read it:

if you love The Folk of the Air series, this is a must read
it’s short, a quick read and has illustrations
the magical writing of Holly Black

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s too short and you may want more lol

My Thoughts:

I absolutely enjoyed this illustrated novella and need it on my shelf!

📚 ~ Yolanda

A Far Wilder Magic by. Allison Saft | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Far Wilder Magic

Author: Allison Saft

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 3/08/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Magical Realism, Fantasy

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

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

When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.

In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away.

Content Warning: Death of Animals, Prejudice, Discrimination, Parental Neglect

This was a very interesting book and one that I didn’t think I was going to like but it actually grew on me!

Now I usually start off with what I liked but with this one, I’ll do the opposite. I couldn’t get into the beginning of this story for some reason. We meet Wes who wants badly to be an alchemist, to then become a politician. I didn’t understand why he needed to be an alchemist to be a politician – and then we meet Margaret who is the daughter of the woman he’s trying to apprentice for.

Stories with alchemy are a hit of miss for me. I am either interested in the concept of alchemy or not. In this case…I was not interested in it at all. The world this story is set in is very different though. This story is set in what seems like the early 1900’s maybe, and in this town there is a mythical fox creature, the hala, which is on the loose and killing livestock and hurting people. There is a hunting event taking place to hunt the hala, in order to join you need an alchemist and a sharpshooter. Religion is prevalent in the story, it seems like the Wes is Sumic and Sumic people are similar to Catholics and Margaret is Yu’adir which is similar to being Jewish. So there are issues of discrimination, anti-immigration and anti-semitism that Margaret and Wes face in the story.

Wes is an alchemist or trying to be a good one but he needs to train. He wants to train with Margaret’s mom who is basically not around. Instead he gets chosen to be Margaret’s partner in the hunt. Margaret is left alone to fend for herself while her mother does research for alchemy – all her mom is interested in is alchemy. All Margaret wants is her mother’s love. Wes and Margaret don’t start off on the right foot. Margaret is closed off and independent and sees through Wes and his charming self. Wes is a flirt and does so every chance he gets but eventually Margaret gets under his skin and something grows between them.

The thing I enjoyed most about this book was Margaret and Wes’ personal journeys. Margaret comes to the realization that her mom really isn’t a good mom. But Margaret had to come to that conclusion on her own. As for Wes, he has his own problems to deal with – he is ambitious but has a big family relying on him. I love how though he has his problems with his family, there is so much love and support there. I thought they made a good couple, she’s strong and he’s open and charming. They are both pretty determined people. I thought their romance story was sweet and that’s what really got me into the story.

The story of hunting the hala was interesting because it’s a mythical creature and we get to see how alchemy is used and we also get to see how Wes and Margaret are treated in this town. Overall, I don’t know if the magical realism totally worked for me, I think I wanted more details in the world-building.

Why you should read it:

you enjoy magical realism
there is a love story
there is alchemy and a mythical creature

Why you might not want to read it:

not into alchemy or magical realism

My Thoughts:

Best thing about this story for me was the romance and the personal growth for both Margaret and Wes. If you love stories with alchemy and magical realism then you will definitely enjoy this one. If you are not then you might have some trouble getting into this story like I did in the beginning.

📚 ~ Yolanda

By Any Other Name by. Lauren Kate | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: By Any Other Name

Author: Lauren Kate

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 3/01/22

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Categories: Adult Fiction, Romance, Editor/Author Romance, Mistaken Identity

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

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

What she doesn’t know about love could fill a book.

With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie’s more than good. She’s killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa’s writer’s block and she’ll get the promotion she’s always dreamed of. Simple, right?

But there’s a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet.

Content Warning: Death of Parent

There is so much I loved about this book and I kind of went into reading this one forgetting about the synopsis.

Lanie is a great character and we see her in her element as an editor at a publishing house. She’s given a chance to be promoted but there are conditions that involve getting her favorite author, Noa Calloway, to submit her next book. But Lanie finds out Noa isn’t who she and all Noa’s fans, thinks she is. It is a case of mistaken identity. Noa is Noah. I found Lanie well-rounded and fleshed out. She’s smart, clumsy, ambitious, has the perfect boyfriend and loves her job. We even get to know some of her family history and we get to know her coworkers, some of which are her best friends.

Speaking of friends and family, I love Meg and Rufus, who are there for Lanie when she hits a rough patch in her love life. And Lanie’s grandmother, BD, is the best! She is so funny.

The romance that builds between Lanie and Noah is a slow-burn that starts off on the wrong foot but I wouldn’t call it enemies to lovers. They get along very well once they start to spend time with one another. I loved how the romanced progressed until the very end, and honestly I never wanted the story to come to an end! The whole thing tied into beautifully with the story Noah was writing and I loved how Lanie and Noah actually corresponded for years before meeting.

Some issues I had with it – Lanie is engaged for a good 30% of the book! And it’s not that I hated her fiance or anything, I actually liked seeing that Lanie had everything yet not even that made her happy. I thought it was important to the story, but I wanted more time with Lanie and Noah together. As I kept reading, I kept checking how far in I was into the book because their time in the book was way too short for me. I didn’t want the story to end even if it was such a good ending. And we only get one kiss, that’s it – it’s a perfect kiss though.

Why you should read it:

an editor and author falling for one another, publishing house drama
Meg, Rufus and BD are so much fun
Lanie and Noah’s romance is so heartfelt and came full circle – I didn’t want it to end

Why you might not want to read it:

book is too short, I wanted more of Lanie and Noah
I didn’t realize it was pegged as an enemies to lovers romance, there is a small hint of it and maybe it could have been dragged out (if the book was longer!)

My Thoughts:

I needed this wonderful story to be longer. I can see this as a movie because it’s set in NYC and Lanie and Noah go around to certain places to get his inspiration revved up for his book. I can already imagine it and it would be magical. This one gave me lots of feels, especially the ending and I never wanted it to end.

📚 ~ Yolanda

American Street by. Ibi Zoboi | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: American Street

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/14/17

Categories: Young Adult, Haitian Immigrant, Family, Romance, Abuse, Magical Realism, Own Voices

The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Content Warning: Violence, Physical Abuse, Death

This is the second book I’ve read from Ibi Zoboi and once again she drew me into a story with compelling characters. This time the story is gritty, set in Detroit, with a family who have seen tough times and has a reputation in the neighborhood for it. But the main character Fabiola is starting off her journey from Haiti to Detroit without her mother – she got detained in New Jersey and all Fab wants to do is have her mother back with her.

I loved getting to know Fabiola’s cousins who are all very different from one another. There are three sisters, Chantal – the oldest and in college, Pri and Donna who are twins: Pri is the tough girl at school who has a crush on another girl and Donna is the beautiful one and in an abusive relationship with Dray – a drug dealer. His best friend, Kasim has his eyes set on Fabiola.

Fabiola navigates her first days in America fairly well even though she has an accent and her use of American slang isn’t the best. She doesn’t even really curse but in Detroit around her cousins and new friends, she is surrounded by a lot of crude language. Fabiola starts to dress the way her cousins do, even more so when she starts dating Kasim. But she hasn’t forgotten her mom in New Jersey and she’s trying to find a way to bring her back to her. Opportunity presents itself but it will mean going behind her family’s back.

I thought the magical realism in the story was fascinating because it tied so much into Fabiola’s Haitian culture. I loved learning about the Lwas (spirits) and how one was outside their house, guiding Fabiola with his songs. I loved all of Fabiola’s memories of Haiti although sometimes they were sad and scary memories, like the earthquake – she always mentioned that even with misery, there were neighbors and community to share that misery with and in turn it helped them move on, cope and love life despite the bad things. Another thing I enjoyed was getting a bit of perspective from each character, even if it was just a snippet.

Some issues with the book I had: I wish there was more about getting Fabiola’s mom back to her. Maybe too many things happening at once in the story? Also…Donna and Dray…he physically abuses her and I know her family doesn’t like him for her and yet they can’t do anything about it. Hard to read but so realistic.

Why you should read it:

it’s an OwnVoices story Haitian rep, diversity
it’s a raw story about family and trying to survive in the American Dream
Fabiola’s separation from her mom and acclimating to life without her a new country is powerful

Why you might not want to read it:

you don’t like magical realism
some tough subject matter like physical abuse

My Thoughts:

I liked reading the female perspective in American Street, this story is full of strong females. Fabiola, who was born in America but raised in Haiti has to find her way in American culture and without her mother. Her cousins, the Three Bees, are tough Hatian-American girls from Detroit, all with different personalities and roles to play. Their loyalty to the family is rock hard. Nothing can seem to break them up, not abusive boyfriends, debt, or drug dealers and I love their bond. This is an important story about the cost of trying to live the American Dream.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“No one would be left alone in a tiny house with only their regrets and sorrows to keep them company.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“In Haiti, with all its problems, there was always a friend or a neighbor to share in the misery. And then, after our troubles were tallied up like those points at the basketball game, we would celebrate being alive.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“But then I realize that everyone is climbing their own mountain here in America. They are tall and mighty and they live in the hearts and everyday lives of the people.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

Dear Martin by. Nic Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 224

Publication Date: 10/17/17

Categories: Young Adult, Racism, Police Brutality, Coming of Age, Contemporary

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Content Warning: Racism, Violence, Death

This is a very short book, barely over 200 pages but it is impactful.

It tells the story of Justyce, a boy who is going to a really good high school even though he is from a rougher neighborhood. He has dreams of going to Yale and he has the grades and test scores to do it. His best friend is Manny, a rich black boy who hangs out with the other rich kids at their high school but all of those guys are white. He writes letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. just to make sense of himself. When Justyce has a scary experience with a cop, he sees his world in a different light, questions a lot of things, is more aware of the racism happening around him and wonders how to move forward in life as a young black man in America.

Justyce and Manny have an amazing friendship that is tested by the racism happening around them. Manny chooses to ignore it but after Justyce’s traumatic experience it makes him question Manny’s friends. I really liked how they brought up race issues in Justyce’s classroom and seeing how it pertains to his life outside of the class. But this isn’t only about Justyce’s life in high school trying to be a dutiful student, a good best friend and falling in love. There is a very shocking event that makes the news, there is a trial – Justyce goes through a lot and we see if his letters to Martin help him deal and make sense of his situation. Honestly that moment in the book took my breath away, I really like how that part was written.

The book made me feel all kinds of emotions, especially angry and and frustrated for Justyce. He is trapped from all sides.

One of my issues with the story that threw me off at times was the way the characters spoke and the way it was written like a script. It mostly happened when they were in the classroom. I kept wondering why it was done that way! Couldn’t that have just been written as dialogue? I just chalked it up to Justyce seeing these moments as a play and he’s in the background or something…not sure. But it was distracting and making me question what was the point. Also this book is short – I kind of would have love more in the second half of the story where things really go down.

Why you should read it:

important and impactful story about racism in America and police brutality
Justyce and Manny’s friendship
Justyce’s story

Why you might not want to read it:

some parts of dialogue is written like a script and I don’t know why
wish second half of the story was more fleshed out and longer

My Thoughts:

This one is short and quick but it is powerful. We get to watch Justyce’s journey from somewhat having the things in life going for him (hot girlfriend, good grades, good school) to him realizing he will always struggle as a black man in America, no matter how smart he is, what school he goes to and what job he gets. Justyce will have to decide what type of man he wants to be and maybe writing to Martin will help him figure it out.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave. “
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

Jade City by. Fonda Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)

Author: Fonda Lee

Format: eBook (own)

Pages: 560

Publication Date: 11/7/17

Categories: Fantasy, Family, Feuds, Organized Crime, Urban Fantasy

JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It’s the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion–but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.

Content Warning: Violence, Death

I have done it! I have finally read Jade City after seeing it everywhere in the blogosphere. And I can see why it has the hype.

Not going to lie – it took me awhile to finish this and only because I’m a mood reader. And my mood mostly includes some kind of romance in it and this one barely has any so my mood wasn’t right to read this for awhile. I picked it up and put it down a lot. Also, I didn’t realize it was 560 pages long haha, no wonder I took so long.

Now once the story started clicking for me, about 20% into the story I was finally be able to organize the characters in my head, take in the politics and war going on with the Mountain and No Peak clans was when I could fully appreciate the story. The world building is great, and we get a real sense of this island, Kekon. I love the idea of jade being a magical source of power. We get to know how it’s mined, who has ownership, who wants jade, who wields it and protects. Also how jade can literally mess you up physically and mentally when someone is in withdrawal. On top of the jade trade is the drug trade, a drug on the streets called SN1 that imitates jade. The family feud is the main part of the story and it gets violent between them, everyone else is caught in the crossfire.

The Kaul family are the main characters in this family. They are all so different, each dealing with their role in the family whether they like it or not. I think all of them have their strengths, but I did enjoy getting to know Shae’s character growth. Hilo is a very strong character, and fleshed out but it will be interesting to see what happens to him. Anden is also a compelling character in that he is the youngest and adopted. I’m looking forward to book two to see what happens next.

Why you should read it:

urban fantasy with organized crime and feuding families
internal family drama
great world building, jade used as source of power, action-packed

Why you might not want to read it:

it took me awhile to get into the story – the beginning was obviously setting up the story because the book is so detailed, but I got bored at some parts (blame it on my mood lol)

My Thoughts:

Definitely worth all the hype especially if you love urban fantasy that is about feuding families and organized crime. The world building really is fantastic and by the time I was immersed in the story it moved along so quickly because of all the elements taking place. There is family drama, politics, betrayal, and amazing fight scenes – this would really make a good television series. I’m going to be starting on Jade War right away since this world is fresh in my mind, I’m excited to see what happens next!

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“On my honor, my life, and my jade.”
Jade City by. Fonda Lee

“The clan was like a body: The Lantern Men were skin and muscles, the Fists and Luckbringers like heart and lungs, but the Pillar was the spine. There could be no weakness in the spine, or the body could not stand, it could not fight.”
Jade City by. Fonda Lee

“Two strong-minded women in a man’s world, if they do not quickly become allies, are destined to be incurable rivals.”
Jade City by. Fonda Lee

Lease on Love by. Falon Ballard | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lease on Love

Author: Falon Ballard

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 2/01/22

Publisher: GP Putnam

Categories: Adult Fiction, Romance, Roommates

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

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

After getting passed over for an overdue—and much needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night-stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.

Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.

Content Warning: Death of Parents, Parental Abuse

Sadie Green is that snarky friend who is tough, confident, beautiful and the life of the party but she doesn’t have it all together. Things fall apart at her job and she has to figure out her next move in life. She ends up being a rooming with Jack Thomas, a quiet, introverted guy who lives in a nice house. Jack is mysterious, keeps to himself mostly but is attentive and so considerate. He has this comforting quality about him and I like how they balanced each other out. The slow burn between these two characters is so good, the tension between them builds quietly and honestly Sadie needed that because she is a flight risk due to her past. I was rooting for them hard until the end!

The romance starts off as roommates, then friends, into something much more and I love how it progressed. Sadie is the social butterfly and she brings Jack out of his shell. She doesn’t change him at all, but just draws out the part of him that’s been hiding. The both of them have had some trauma in their past and that’s where they connect. His parents died in a car accident and he is basically all alone. Sadie’s father was abusive so her past haunts her often – in fact when things are going good in her life, his words invades her thoughts to the point of self-loathing. Her defense mechanism is never allowing a guy to get close so she couldn’t get hurt and I love that this story touches on therapy.

Sadie’s group of friends, her found family, is so fantastic. There is Harley, Gemma and Nick, friends she made in college – who know her inside and outside, bad and good and love her anyway. They welcome Jack into their safe space and I love that for him. Also we get to see into their lives as well – they are this group of millennials trying to advance in their jobs, or change their careers, paying off loans, falling in love and taking the next steps in life. They are relatable because they are struggling in some type of way, well except for Nick of course because he’s wealthy. I’d say Jack isn’t struggling financially but he is definitely struggling internally.

I only have minor issues with the book – Sadie has low self-esteem despite the front she puts on and it really affects when she starts getting close . The conflict was resolved rather quickly and it felt a little rushed or maybe I wanted them to have a bigger discussion on it? Maybe I’m just so used to dramatic conflicts in stories or gravitate towards that? But in a way, it fits how I think Jack would handle that moment. I did like how they put space between them so both could cool down and think. It was so mature of them and that was refreshing.

Why you should read it:

roommates to lovers, Sadie and Jack are so good together
Sadie’s found family, great group of friends
light-hearted and fun at times and yet emotional as well

Why you might not want to read it:

ending conflict is a bit rushed and doesn’t seem like a major conflict

My Thoughts:

Lease on Love has it all. A snarky, ambitious, hardworking main character who wants to open a flower shop. A love interest who is mysterious, introverted and sweet. Two characters who are dealing with some emotional trauma from their past and learning to move on. A group of friends who are supportive and all of them going through the late-twenties issues: dating, career decisions, and trying to live their best lives. And a romance that is a slow burn that gave me all the feels. I totally enjoyed this one and read it in one night.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Lord of Embers by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lord of Embers (The Demon Queen Trials, #2)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 298

Publication Date: 1/15/21

Categories: New Adult, Romance, Demons, Urban Fantasy

Once, I was a broke college student. Now, it seems I’m destined to rule as the Lightbringer–queen of the demon realm. Except I have competition in the form of Orion, the Lord of Chaos. Like me, he has been marked as a leader. We can’t keep our hands off each other, even if he swore an oath to kill me.

It seems we both want the same thing–the crown. And in this battle of wills, only one of us will be left standing.

Content Warning: Violence

This is the sequel to City of Thorns and I really enjoyed this installment. It wasn’t quite what I expected after how book one ended but I liked the direction it took.

So in this book Orion is convinced Rowan is Mortana reincarnated and he has a vow to kill Mortana. Rowan is pretty sure she’s not Mortana, but not totally 100%, she needs proof and finds it. Orion is still bent on ruling the demon realm but he does need Rowan’s help, at least that’s what she makes him think so she can stay alive.

I love Orion and Rowan’s interactions. They clearly can’t deny the attraction between them, but they also both have a desire to rule – so who is it going to be? There is tension and humor, which I enjoy. There’s also a spicy scene which was fun while it lasted.

I liked Rowan’s growth and transformation as she learns about who and what she is. I thought the introduction of Tammuz, Lucifer’s twin, was pretty cool. Tammuz thrives on chaos. She gets some time to train with him near the ending of the book and I think it will set up a good showdown between her and Orion in the next book. I love when they fight and now she can really try and kick his butt haha, or sleep with him some more. We also get to know more about Orion and his time in the dungeon.

Story-wise this took an unexpected turn into the Puritan era. But it makes sense since Orion and Rowan are demons, why wouldn’t their hell be in the time when Puritans were hanging women for being witches. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I thought it was interesting and it did help Rowan’s transformation into a stronger demon. There were some funny parts, especially with a miss Goody Putnam lol.

Honestly I didn’t care for the part in book one where they thought Mortana could be Rowan. I’m just glad that part got cleared up in this book because I was over Orion accusing Rowan of something she can’t even control – but I see why he wants to kill Mortana so…it was a dilemma for him for sure. But that whole mistaken identity thing was done in another series I read from this author, so I just want something new.

Why you should read it:

enemies to lovers
Rowan’s transformation and growth
demons hiding among Puritans was kinda funny

Why you might not want to read it:

less action than book one
he’s an incubus and she’s a succubus, honestly I wanted more action between them

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one a lot and am so looking forward to see what Rowan does now after that ending!

📚 ~ Yolanda

Once Upon a Broken Heart by. Stephanie Garber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings…until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy….

Content Warning: ~

We are back in the Caraval world and it’s nice to be back. I will always remember Caraval for it’s world building: dark, mysterious, magical, and dangerous. In Once Upon a Broken Heart, we get to be back in that world, but a different part, the Magnificent North. We are reintroduced to a certain Fate – Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. He should be the Prince of Broken Hearts. 😅 I love his character – he’s untrustworthy, and such a seductive bad boy, you just want to be that girl to take his kiss and survive!

Evangeline Fox has made a deal with Jacks because her heart was broken. But broken hearts and bad decisions make a bad combo! And making deals with the Fates have consequences. She’s been turned to stone (but that was her fault), she’s been made to be the darling of the tabloids (a consequence of turning to stone and coming back to life), then she becomes a Prince’s wife (Jack’s fault), and throughout all this we find out she is the key to a prophecy (her hair color’s fault lol). Evangeline is a romantic and just wants the kind of love her parents had, true love. At times she’s a bit naive and too trusting but this is book one, so let’s see if she grows from here on out. The tension between Evangeline and Jacks is wonderful and makes me want to see what happens between the two of them.

The Fates are fun and I’m glad we meet more like Poison, LaLa and Chaos…um hello! Chaos is a vampire. Uh huh, now we have vampires in this story lol.

Story-wise it felt flighty at times and not as solid as Caraval was. I felt like I was in a dream…if that makes sense? The story totally gives fairytale, whimsical vibes, but I felt like I couldn’t quite pin it down at some spots. It was fast paced, sometimes too fast. For example, Evangeline is whipping through events like turning into stone one minute and then becoming a wife in another! The scandal papers were kind of fun, that was the surface story it seems while more is happening underneath. There is a prophecy that Evangeline is tied to and Jacks needs her to open the Valory Arch but we don’t know why. There are lots of questions that I hope get answered in the next book.

Why you should read it:

you are a fan of Jacks from Caraval
you love bad boys with cold hearts and fangs
you want to immerse yourself in the magical world of Caraval again but a different part of it

Why you might not want to read it:

fairytale, whimsical story telling isn’t your style
there is no love yet, there are lots of broken hearts, kisses, tension and temptations though 😅

My Thoughts:

I just went along for the ride with this one and right away I was transported to that dark, magical, dreamlike place that could only exist in the world of Caraval. There are twists and turns, some that leave you confused, some that make you want more. I do want more of Jacks, LaLa and Chaos and to see if Evangeline’s faith in love is about true love or wanting the kind of love that only belongs in fairytales? And I want less of Evangeline being so naive. I’m looking forward to see what happens in book two and if we get any answers to the many questions left open in this book.

📚 ~ Yolanda