Category: book review

The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Wolf King (Wolf King, #1)

Author: Lauren Palphreyman

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 475

Publication Date: 9/14/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Werewolves, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers


When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha , war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow. . .

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border — where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them — will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?


Content Warning: violence

+ I kept seeing this book on KU and then finally saw someone say on here how much they loved it. So I downloaded because I felt like I was in a romantasy slump (I took a break to finish arcs), and was craving a good romantasy. And I’m so glad I read this one, because I devoured it!

+ Princess Aurora is about to be married to a horrible man so when the alpha from a werewolf clan kidnaps her she goes willingly – telling herself she is saving her people but secretly knowing she is saving herself. from her future husband. Aurora was raised to be poised, and in control of her emotions but once she is free from her duties she learns she has to toughen up in a different way because now she’s surrounded by werewolves and they have their own hierarchy of doing things.

+ This is a romantasy and Callum, alpha of Highfell, is charming! Yes he is the enemy because he kidnapped her and basically wants to hold her hostage but he was very easy to fall in love with because he’s a good guy, loves to tease Aurora even when she throws a fit, and clearly they have a physical attraction that’s hard to deny. I thought their relationship was very sweet and he’s very protective of her. It does get spicy between them.

+ I really enjoy the politics of the werewolves and how they are fighting the humans. Even though there are a few characters to learn, I didn’t have a hard time keeping track of them. I actually felt like there were so many intriguing characters, like Blake. Blake…he is mysterious, dangerous, can’t trust him, very full of red flags and yet, I’m wondering if this is turning into a love triangle? Not sure I want that to happen. And what does that say about me that I want to know more about the really bad boy instead of Aurora staying with the really good guy?! 😅 But it’s hard not to fall for these werewolves in kilts! Anyway, there is a lot of politics and right now Aurora is the pawn and I want to see how this ends up for her character.

~ I think I want to see a little more fight and growth in Aurora and I’m sure it is coming. I’m grateful for Callum and his goodness because she would’ve been passed around and bartered if not for his protection! But eventually I want to see her take power into her own hands.

~ I really hope it’s not a love triangle, but why am I not set on Callum being her love interest? Because of Blake.😅

Final Thoughts:

I needed a romantasy to read this week and this came through! I devoured it and the second book (review coming) in 2 days. And now I have to wait for book three which bums me out so bad. 😅 I’ve always been a fan of fae and vampires more than werewolves but this one is so fun, it might be because of the kilts and the charm! I enjoyed the politics, the werewolf hierarchy drama, Aurora being a human princess among wolves, the romance, the spice and Blake. So glad I finally read this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I Read From this Author:

ARC Review | Cupid’s Match ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Jasad Crown by. Sara Hashem | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne, #2)

Author: Sara Hashem

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 692

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Orbit

Categories: Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue

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

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

In the thrilling conclusion to the Egyptian-inspired Scorched Throne duology, a fugitive queen must risk everything and everyone she loves for the chance to restore her lost kingdom of Jasad.

Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe the Jasad Heir can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad’s greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the Urabi’s trust while struggling to hide the dangerous side effects her magic is having on her mind.

In a rival kingdom, Arin must maneuver carefully between his father’s desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts Arin is sworn to uphold. He is determined to find Sylvia before it’s too late, but Arin’s search unravels secrets that threaten the very core of his beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad. 

War is inevitable, but Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she’s fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn’t just want to survive. She wants to win.

The fugitive queen is ready to reign.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, parental abuse

+ This is part two in The Scorched Throne series and what I loved about the first book was Arin and Sylvia/Essiya. I wanted to see what would happen to them in the conclusion and what a conclusion it is.

+ The enemies to lovers romance in this series is top notch. The tension between Arin and Essiya is so good. And they are always fighting and I don’t mean arguing but physical fighting. And I wanted more in this book but I felt like we still got bread crumbs. There are some exceptional moments though where Arin is telling Essiya what lengths he would go to save her, be with her, love her. It made me melt! It hurts my heart just knowing what they had to go through in this story. But what a love story it turned out to be!

+ Sylvia/Essiya was the compelling character in book one because of who she was and what she was hiding. She’s still amazing in this one – strong, impulsive, but learning to be a leader. It’s Arin that stole my heart in book two. He has to deal with a lot of truths, betrayals, guilt and with his brilliant mind, with him always trying to figure out a puzzle or plan for the future – he of course has to figure out how to save Essiya. I loved both their personal journeys, but more so Arin’s.

+ The world-building was great and the twists in the story did surprise me. I love this lush world of magic, with magical creatures and beasts coming to life.

~ Like book one, I felt like this book again was too long. This is longer than book one, coming in just under 700 pages. I wonder why this was never made into a trilogy because it definitely could have been! Also, I’m starting to question if I just don’t enjoy long books?

~ Because I felt like it was too long, the pacing was uneven. The beginning was slow, it took me a few days to get through it, I was trying to get my bearings and remember who Sefa and Marek were. This time they have their own POVs. I was not-so-patiently waiting for Arin and Essiya to be in scenes together. And then I would be riveted to the story and then it would slow down again. The second half was much better. The ending plot-twist felt a little rushed and I wish there was more to explore that which is why I wish this would have been a trilogy!

Final Thoughts:

Even though it was too long and the pacing was uneven, the Arin and Essiya love story really bumped up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. I love them together and was rooting for them hard. I loved the world building and the twists in the story. This was a good conclusion to the duology. If you like fantasy and romance (not so much romantasy – there is no smut in this) then you will enjoy this series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Jasad Heir by. Sara Hashem | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Silvercloak by. L.K. Steven | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Silvercloak (Silvercloak Saga, #1)

Author: L.K. Steven

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Fantasy, Magic, LGBT+, Romance, Romantasy, 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 Del Rey for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In this addictive new fantasy series set in a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain, an obsessive detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages—knowing that one wrong move will get her killed. . . .

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.

Content Warning: violence, death, drug use, torture

+ Silvercloak introduces us to a world of magic, and to fill this magic well in each person is pleasure and pain. The world-building is amazing – it is lush, detailed and violent. There are mages who uses wands and spells for their magic. There are Silvercloaks who are in essence the good guys, and then the Bloodmoons who are the bad guys – run by Lyrian who acts like a cold-hearted mob boss. Saff is training to be Silvercloak but gets assigned to be deep undercover as a Bloodmoon to gather intel so that their organization can be finally taken down.

+ Saff is an undercover Silvercloak and caught in a mess. Lyrian runs a tight ship and Levan, his son is ruthless and keeping an eye on Saff. She does her best with what skills she has but this being her first real undercover mission – she is not that savvy and makes so many mistakes. I found her to be a fascinating character with her immunity to magic. Levan is even more fascinating with his hard exterior, violent tendencies and yet love for fantasy books. The attraction between them is automatic because in this world, pleasure and pain seem to be there for the taking with anyone they choose. There are a few spicy scenes and it gets creative when using wands and magic! I thought that was fun plus because it’s a world of pleasure – this is a queer community, both Saff and Levan are bisexual.

+ The side characters were great too – I felt like Saff’s friends gave us a lot of insight into her life and world before becoming a Bloodmoon. And the Bloodmoons are interesting too especially when Saff starts to dig into why they do what they do.

+ There is a lot of violence in this book because that is what Bloodmoons are. I liked the twist at the end and it makes me eager to know what will happen in book two. Also I usually don’t enjoy time jumping but this one was easy to follow.

~ I wasn’t 100% on Saff’s reasons for joining the Bloodmoon (the made up reason), clearly someone like Lyrian who has his “eyes” everywhere knows she is a rat – he knows, he just doesn’t have proof but I just kept wondering, why not just kill her? She really doesn’t bring anything to the table here and they were suspicious of her the whole time, but that’s what made the twist more interesting.

~ Clearly this is an enemies to lovers romance but I am still not sure about Levan and how he feels about Saff. Also because they can refill their magic wells with pleasure – I didn’t feel like they had a budding romantic connection at all, more like okay I can help you replenish with this. Do I hope they have a romance? I’m not sure yet.

~ As I mentioned, Saff isn’t the most experienced undercover Silvercloak so there were times I wanted to shake some sense into her. Also, this is adult fantasy but feels young adult or maybe new adult.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one, especially the world-building which was detailed. I love the magic and wand wielding. There were some pretty violent and bloody scenes in this one but I thought it was fitting since the Bloodmoons are an organized crime unit. They lived up to their reputation. This was entertaining and I’m looking forward to see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Bewitching by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: The Bewitching

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher:  Del Rey

Categories: Mystery, Horror, Witchcraft, Multigenerational, Historical Fiction

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

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


Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

“Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches”: That was how Nana Alba always began the stories she told her great-granddaughter Minerva—stories that have stayed with Minerva all her life. Perhaps that’s why Minerva has become a graduate student focused on the history of horror literature and is researching the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure author of macabre tales.

In the course of assembling her thesis, Minerva uncovers information that reveals that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story: Decades earlier, during the Great Depression, Tremblay attended the same university where Minerva is now studying and became obsessed with her beautiful and otherworldly roommate, who then disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

As Minerva descends ever deeper into Tremblay’s manuscript, she begins to sense that the malign force that stalked Tremblay and the missing girl might still walk the halls of the campus. These disturbing events also echo the stories Nana Alba told about her girlhood in 1900s Mexico, where she had a terrifying encounter with a witch.

Minerva suspects that the same shadow that darkened the lives of her great-grandmother and Beatrice Tremblay is now threatening her own in 1990s Massachusetts. An academic career can be a punishing pursuit, but it might turn outright deadly when witchcraft is involved.

Content Warning: violence, death, murders, incest

+ This story is told in three timelines and I found each era fascinating. Minerva is a college student in the late 1990’s and writing her research on witchcraft. So the timeline follows her grandmother, Alba’s story in 1908 and her experiences of encountering witchcraft. But Minerva is also researching a mystery of a girl that disappeared from campus, so there is another timeline of the events concerning that time on campus in 1934.

+ I really enjoyed how the author captured the late 90’s since I was also a college student at that time. And it felt nostalgic to see Minerva using a discman and listening to bands I listened to at that time. Loved that! I also liked Minerva’s character and how she’s into horror novels.

+ Most of the horror comes at the end of the story and I did enjoy that part.

~ I did not like the incest that occurred in the book between Alba and her uncle. I actually had to go back to the beginning of the explanation of the family tree to make sure I was reading it right and I didn’t miss that he was just like an Uncle because he was a family friend. Nope. Alba and her Uncle Arturo are only a few years apart in age and it just made me feel gross.

~ As much as I found the three different stories fascinating, I felt like everything moved too slowly in this book, especially in the middle. So I did skim a little to get to the horror and action part, which was near the end of the book.

Final Thoughts:

This might be my least favorite book I’ve read from this author. The writing is great as usual and I found the timelines fascinating but for me the pacing was too slow and also, and no to the incest. I think true horror genre fans would love this because Minerva is a character who is a fan and mentions certain authors that I am not very aware of. I was not the right audience for this one but I still look forward to reading her next book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Seventh Veil of Salome by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Mexican Gothic by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Beautiful Ones | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love Unmasked by. Becky Dean | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Love Unmasked

Author: Becky Dean

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher:   Delacorte Romance

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, 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  Delacorte Romance for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


From the author of Hearts Overboard comes a swoony mystery-filled romance in which a girl on a school trip to Venice gets swept off her feet by a mask-wearing stranger…but does she know him already? Lose yourself in the masquerade—because sometimes, the greatest adventure begins when you unmask your heart.

People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.

Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.

But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?

Content Warning:

+ Evie is on a trip in Venice, Italy with her art class but she has another ulterior motive for being there which involves her favorite novel series, Elven Realms. Everything is going to plan until she is paired up with the new guy, Gabriel Martinez, who doesn’t seem to like her at all.

+ This one was a little predictable but I did love the setting of Venice, Italy and Evie wearing a mask around the mysterious and romantic city, trying to find clues about an Elven Realms event.

+ The romance was cute, he’s grumpy and she’s sunshine. This one is definitely for the teen readers and young YA crowd.

~ This story was a little bit too young for me. This one is definitely for the teen readers and young YA crowd. Also I kept wondering how she couldn’t recognize Gabriel behind the mask. They spent basically all day together!

Final Thoughts:

My favorite thing about this book was the setting of Venice, Italy. How nice to be on a class trip there. Overall, I think younger young adults would enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Maid for Each Other by. Lynn Painter | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Maid for Each Other

Author: Lynn Painter

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher:  Berkley

Categories: Romance, Fake Dating, Rom-Com

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

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


Abi is a professional cleaner, so it’s ironic when she’s forced to move out because of an infestation in her building. Thanks, Apartment 2B!

Declan is a busy man, working his way up at Hathaway Holdings. Which is why he’s never met the woman who cleans his penthouse every week.

Abi needs a place to stay, and Declan is out of town, so the solution seems simple and, crucially, free.

When Declan’s parents tell him they met his girlfriend at his apartment, he’s surprised to say the least. But it is nice to have them off his back about being single for a change. . .

Declan finds out who Abi really is, and decides to makes her a pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs.

What could go wrong? It’s business, not pleasure. Right?

Content Warning:

+ The book gives off Pretty Woman and Maid in Manhattan movie vibes. It involves Abi who is the maid, who agrees to be a fake girlfriend for Declan, a rich guy, for a shareholders event.

+ This story is a very quick-read and light-hearted romance. It has some tropes that romance readers will enjoy like fake-dating and forced proximity. I don’t know if Declan is a billionaire, but he must definitely be a multi-millionaire because of his family’s company.

+ Abi is a bright personality and I thought it was cute seeing how Declan starts to fall for her. I thought they were funny together, especially when they had to tell stories about how they met. This was a closed door romance.

~ It followed the storyline of Pretty Woman pretty closely, minus the FMC being a prostitute. So it’s predictable.

~ I kind of wanted more from Abi’s character – she’s miss sunshine, but she’s always going through some things like struggling to pay off her student loans. She’s also in the process of writing a book, and doesn’t have the best relationship with her mother but there isn’t really depth in this book. The romance overshadows it all which is fine because it’s supposed to be light-hearted, but I personally I just wanted more.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this was cute and funny at times but it left me still wanting more. If you want a light-hearted, easy to read romance, then check this one out.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Nothing Like the Movies by. Lynn Painter | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happily Never After by. Lynn Painter| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Betting on You by. Lynn Painter | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love Wager by. Lynn Painter | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Better Than the Movies | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Flame and Fury

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian

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

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.

Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.

As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel’s home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.

Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate in a final twist readers will never see coming.

Content Warning: injuries, violence

+ My favorite thing about this story is the phoenixes and how they are used in racing competitions. Kel’s phoenix Savita, is the only thing she has now after the death of her father, and her bond with Savita is special even though phoenixes are creatures to show affection. I felt like the little Savita gave to Kel was a lot compared to how phoenixes are portrayed and I loved how that was enough for Kel.

+ I also enjoyed the found family trope in this story because Kel doesn’t really have anyone except Savita and her friend Dira. Their found family grows when Coup and his brother Bekn joins the team even though there is animosity between Kel and Coup.

+ The romance is not the main focus but I like how it goes from dislike to like. Coup has the charmisma and Kel is the grumpy one. They are forced to pretend they have a budding romance for the press, but behind closed doors and behing Kel’s animosity they train together and learn more about one another. I was rooting for them and wish there was more time to explore their feelings but I was kind of broken hearted for them at the end.

+ This story is faced paced because of the action-packed phoenix races which I enjoyed a lot! There is high stakes which adds to the tension in the story and some secrets too. Also there is a twist I wasn’t expecting.

~ The world building is interesting but sometimes confusing. It’s a fantasy but more like a dystopian world…I think? That’s how it feels like when reading it because of the tech that they use so would that be sci-fi? It’s hard to put into a category. Also out of the blue comes these rebels – a group that want phoenixes un-collared and to fly free. I think we needed more information about them.

~ Is there a sequel because of that ending? This needs a sequel!

Final Thoughts:

This book is fast-paced, action packed, fun but filled with danger, secrets, and phoenixes. I liked that Savita is a wild phoenix and not easily controlled even though she is collared. The found family and romance had me invested and I really hope there is a sequel after that ending. I did have minor issues with it like needing more world-building but I enjoyed reading this story regardless.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Homemade God by. Rachel Joyce | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: The Homemade God

Author: Rachel Joyce

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 7/8/25

Publisher:  The Dial Press

Categories: Fiction, Family Drama, Mystery, 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 The Dial Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


Family is everything, even when it falls apart.

After the sudden death of a renowned artist, his four adult children travel to Italy to sort out his affairs with his much-younger wife, in this moving novel from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

World-famous artist Vic Kemp has relied on his four children ever since their mother died when they were young. Netta, the oldest, is a litigator who often serves as co-parent to her siblings; Susan, a housewife who cooks and cleans for both her husband and her father; Goose’s own thwarted artistic ambitions have left him resigned to a job in Vic’s studio; and Iris, the baby, drops everything the moment her father calls. 

When Vic summons the siblings with the promise of big news, they hope their father is about to tell them he has finished the mysterious masterpiece he claims will be the capstone to his career. Instead, he announces he’s getting remarried. Bella-Mae, his wife to be, is apparently beautiful, a fellow artist—and twenty-seven to his seventy-six years. When his children dare to express concern, Vic decamps with Bella-Mae to his summer home in Italy. Six weeks later, he is found dead. There is no sign of his will, or his promised final painting. 

Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris gather at the house on Lake Orta to piece together what happened and prepare to bring their father’s body home. They spend the summer in a waiting game, living under the same roof as Bella-Mae, and forced to confront Vic’s legacy and the buried wounds they have incurred as his children. So who is Bella-Mae? Is she the woman their father believed her to be? Or is she the force that will destroy the family for good? How long can their old bonds hold? 

With sparkling wit, compassion and tender insight, The Homemade God explores memory, identity, grief, healing, and the bonds of siblinghood—what happens when they splinter, and what it might take to find a new way forward.

Content Warning: parental death

+ I enjoyed the setting of Italy where this book takes place.

+ This story explores the sibling relationship and I find that very interesting because the personalities and lived experience in one family can be very different for each person. In this story we see how each sibling is different and the experiences they have with their father who has just passed away. I did like the sibling dynamics and family drama

~ Even though this book is just barely over 300 pages I had a hard time reading through it maybe because I wasn’t in the mood for it and it’s not the usual genre I read. But also felt disconnected from the characters. I liked learning about each of them but I never felt connected to them so I never felt invested in the story.

Final Thoughts:

I was not the right audience for this book but I did find the family drama and sibling dynamics interesting.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rose in Chains by. Julie Soto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, #1)

Author: Julie Soto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/8/25

Publisher: Forever

Categories: Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Romance, Fantasy, Dark 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 Forever for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead.

Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction – and as the heir-apparent’s sister, she fetches the highest price.

After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven a high ranking Bomardsun – and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearsts are ruthlessly ambitious, and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help – and hope – may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

Content Warning: mentions of rape, sexual assault, people being sold, sex slaves, being drugged, death, violence, bullying, misogyny, forced magical tubal ligation

+ I don’t know what I expected from Julie Soto’s debut into dark romance fantasy but I should have expected it to be addicting. This is the second book I’ve read this year from this author, her YA debut and now romantasy so she is working over time! She’s my new must-read author. I had some issues with this one but I also found I couldn’t put it down.

+ Briony is caught in a war. The Eversuns have been defeated despite the prophecy of them winning it all, and now Mallow and the Bomardi’s are the new rulers. The Eversun women are subjugated to rape, sexual assault, violations of their ovaries, sold at auction, drugged, made to perform sexual acts in front of others – this is a dark story and I wasn’t expecting that.

+ I can’t say there is “romance” in this story even if it is a romantasy. Briony and her new “owner” and ex-classmate, Toven, is powerful, rich and acts like a jerk in front of his friends. But while she’s in his house, she’s learning he isn’t all that he seems but maybe more will happen in book two. It’s a very slow burn, but there is lots of tension between them, and for sure some secret pining. There is still some spice in this one, but again, no romance – yet. I was expecting a little more romance because of this author’s contemporary romance books but like I said this one is a slow burn and dark so at times I was hating Toven a lot. I know it’s an act but still, he is playing his part really well.

+ World building was interesting and I liked the magic system. There is heart magic (mostly used by Bomards) and mind magic, which is used by Eversuns and then those who can use both. Mallow is a very evil villain and then there is also a dragon that doesn’t get mentioned much until the end so I can’t wait to see what happens there. Also, I enjoyed the political intrigue and can’t wait to see what happens next.

~ I wasn’t expecting the story to be this dark, so I was thrown off by that! There are a lot of things that happen to the women in this book and at times I wanted Briony to burn harder for revenge. I understand Briony is a softer character and naive at times but obviously she is smart and powerful, so I hope that side of her comes out in book two.

~ This story is told with flashbacks and for me it made the story feel choppy but I did like seeing how Briony and Toven’s relationship began. But because of the flashbacks, all the character names felt challenging to learn – there are a lot of hateful, disgusting male characters who felt like the same person with nothing to tell them apart except for their names. Also when Briony is at Hearst Hall as a captive, not much happens because there is no one in this house except for her, sometimes Toven and his mom. She’s reading and meditating a lot which is building her knowledge and powers but it does slow the story down a little.

Final Thoughts:

I didn’t feel like this flowed as good as her contemporary books mostly because of the flashbacks but I couldn’t stop thinking of this story after I read it. It actually made me want to devour another romantasy, so it definitely has that quality I love about the genre – it’s addicting. I need to know what happens in book two. I think for a first book in a trilogy this was pretty good despite the issues I had. The tension is strong between Briony and Toven, the secrets are slowly unraveling by the end, Mallow and the Bomardi men are evil, the romance hasn’t even taken off yet and there is a dragon who we dont’ know much about. I can’t wait to see what book two brings!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Forget Me Not by. Julie Soto | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Thrashers by. Julie Soto | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tricks of Fortune by. Lina Chern | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Tricks of Fortune (Katie True, #2)

Author: Lina Chern

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Bantam

Categories: Cozy Mystery, Tarot, Sequel

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

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

Tarot card reader extraordinaire Katie True flexes her investigative muscles when her family becomes the prime suspect in a local murder in this exciting mystery from the author of Play the Fool

“A delicious blend of suspense and madcap humor” – Library Journal, starred review of Play the Fool

Katie True has finally gotten her crap together. It’s a miracle after the wild events of the last year, but she has her own tarot reading room now. The small space might be her sister’s unused real estate office, but it’s a start. Moreover, adulthood isn’t as exciting as Katie imagined, and it’s not long before she begins to miss the action of using her tarot cards for investigating murder, rather than answering trivial questions.

But when a murder of a veteran police officer shakes the small town, Katie is compelled to use her newfound investigative skills. Luckily, her partner-in-solving-crime, Detective Jamie Roth, is assigned to the case. Katie may be a useful resource in the investigation, as her family is quite close with the deceased after he saved baby Katie from the scene of a car crash.

It may take more than a tarot reading to solve this one, as Katie must dig deeper into her own past and rekindle a former friendship to help her this time around. Lina Chern brings another charming whodunit, following the same delightful characters, with a new thrilling murder to solve.

Content Warning:

+ I read book one of this series, Play the Fool and really enjoyed it. So I picked up the sequel and tarot reading, Katie True is back and now she’s navigating life being known as the girl from the accident and trying to help solve a murder of the cop from that accident.

+ In the first book Katie was kind of lost in life and an under achiever and I liked seeing her growth. Now Katie is more settled in this sequel and she’s dating Jaime, who’s a detective. This one is definitely more cozy than the first book.

~ If you love cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this book but for me, I missed the action, twists and turns that I loved in book one.

~ This one moved to slow for me and it left me uninvested in the story.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed book one more than this one because Katie’s character had room to grow. I feel like this one moved too slowly for me and I didn’t connect to the characters. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely give this series a try.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Play the Fool by. Lina Chern | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️