The Witches Blade by. A.K. Mulford | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Witches’ Blade (The Five Crowns of Okrith, #2)

Author: A.K. Mulford

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 444

Publication Date: 11/02/21

Categories: Romance, Dark Fantasy, Fae, Witches, Fated Mates

A magic sword. A powerful curse. An untested fae princess.

Eighteen-year-old Ruadora Dammacus now possesses the Immortal Blade. But when Rua discovers the Northern King’s uncle is alive and has cast a spell on a blue witch army, she realizes that the battle is just beginning.

Venturing into the Northern Court, Rua finds herself with an unlikely ally in the new King. Her problems are mounting, and the handsome King is only one of them. With the eyes of her newfound family on her, can Rua prove herself worthy of the Immortal Blade or will its magic be too powerful? Danger, intrigue, and thrilling passion ensues as Rua battles to break the witches’ curse.

Enthralling and adrenaline-filled, The Witches’ Blade is the second book in the gripping high fantasy saga, The Five Crowns of Okrith.

I really enjoyed book one of this series and was curious to see how the sequel would go. Book one was Remy’s story and the sequel is about her younger sister Rua. The ending of book one really put Rua in a hard position. She feels guilt from not being quick enough to save her brother and now she possesses the Immortal Blade which infuses blood lust into her when she continues to use it. Rua feels like she is becoming a monster and is glad to be away from Remy, the sister she hardly knows.

This story goes harder than the first book meaning, Rua is damaged and she’s just trying to survive. She has trauma from what happened to her and her family as a child, then being raised by red witches who didn’t know how to give her affection, to now reuniting with her sister, just as they lost their brother. This story is emotional, dark, sad and yet it really does turn around in the end and hope comes shining through.

The romance between Rua and Renwick is a very slow burn but when they get together finally…whew…does it burn! There are a bunch of things going on in the book including Renwick trying to repair relations with the blue witches who his dad and uncle killed off or tortured. And Renwick is not innocent in the atrocities as well – he was once a part of them. Talk about trying to live with demons, trying to make things right and not knowing if it will ever be enough…that’s what Renwick is living with so he and Rua are alike in that sense. But Renwick grew on me the more we learned about him – and then by the end he was melting my heart along with Rua’s. I like that they had to work things out within themselves before actually trying to be together.

Bri is an amazing secondary character who was there in book one, now two and I hope book three is about her and her brother. She is a wonderful character but she has secrets as well. I love how LGBT+ is represented in this book and how natural it is in the world-building.

Speaking of world building, I loved how we learn about the blue witches and the atrocities that happened to them. It goes along with the darkness of Renwick and Rua’s emotions – the whole tone of this story was just darker than the first but I enjoyed it because it brought heavier emotions than book one did, it definitely delved into trauma and PTSD.

Content Warnings: addiction, violence, death, PTSD

Remy and Rua don’t get a real chance to get to know one another in this book. Remy is happy with Hale and life is good for her. Rua on the otherhand is dealing with some tough feelings and emotions. Thank goodness for Bri or else Rua would truly be lost, I think. I love that Bri was there for her in Rua’s darkest moments. Though I do hope Remy and Rua can reconnect again, I also know it’s realistic that it doesn’t happen right away after all the trauma they have been through.

This is a fated mates book and though I cringe when that part comes along, I think I enjoyed the way this was revealed more so than when it was revealed between Hale and Remy. That one was too much for me, but for Renwick and Rua…it was just right and didn’t make me cringe. I also appreciated the fact that Remy and Renwick gave each other space – I was actually wishing they were in more scenes together, but I get they needed space as well.

Why you should read it?

you love fated mates trope
you like a darker fantasy story where characters deal with trauma
really consistent series so far

Why you might not want to read it?

heavy, dark topics

My Thoughts:

This is a great sequel in what is a very consistent series so far and I’m enjoying the different couples and their romance stories plus their personal struggles as well. I love how the LGBT+ representation is so natural in the story and am looking forward to learning more about Bri and her love story – which amazing woman will win her beautiful heart? I look forward to reading book three!

📚 ~ Yolanda

BLOG TOUR} Meet Me in London by. Georgia Toffolo | ARC Review

Welcome to the blog tour for Meet Me in London by. Georgia Toffolo!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Meet Me in London

Author: Georgia Toffolo

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: HQN

Categories: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fake Engagement

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

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

What do you do when your fake engagement starts to feel too real…

Aspiring clothes designer Victoria Scott spends her days working in a bar in Chelsea and her evenings designing vintage clothes, dreaming of one day opening her own boutique. But these aspirations are under threat from the new department store opening at the end of her road. She needs a Christmas miracle, but one is not forthcoming.

Oliver Russell’s Christmas is not looking very festive right now. His family’s new London department store opening is behind schedule, and on top of that his interfering, if well-meaning, mother is pressing him to introduce his girlfriend to her over the holidays—a girlfriend who does not exist. He needs a diversion…something to keep his mother from meddling while he focuses on the business.

When Oliver meets Victoria, he offers a proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend at the opening of his store and he will provide an opportunity for Victoria to showcase her designs. But what starts as a business arrangement soon becomes something more tempting as the fake relationship starts to feel very real. But when secrets in Victoria’s past are exposed, will Oliver walk away, or will they both follow their hearts and find what neither knew they were looking for…?

I definitely get the holiday romance vibes in this story with the setting of London and the department store. I can picture Christmas in London being very romantic!

Victoria as a character has some sad history, she’s struggling to make her dreams come true as a fashion designer. On the other hand, Oliver is a wealthy business man who conveniently is helping his family open up a new department store – I think you can guess how this one plays out!

The romance is predictable because it’s a fake dating story so we already know what happens there but they had good chemistry in and outside of the bedroom. You definitely see the attraction grows since they have to pretend to be engaged.

Content Warnings: accident trauma

I didn’t connect to the characters and the story was quite predictable but it’s a quick, holiday romance read so I took it for what it was.

Why you should read it:

holiday romance story
fake dating trope
Christmas setting in London

Why you might not want to read it:

predictable

My Thoughts:

This one wasn’t for me even though I think it would make a really good holiday romance movie on Hallmark channel or Netflix. It’s got the setting and story right for a holiday romance, I just wish I could connect more to the characters.

📚 ~ Yolanda

About the Author:

Georgia Toffolo is a broadcaster and TV personality. She has been a firm favourite with the public right from the start of her TV debut, Made in Chelsea, all the way to winning over the hearts of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2018.

Georgia turned her eye to fashion and has curated two sell out collections with fashion retailer Shein. An ambassador for many British brands, both large and small, Georgia has also collaborated with Dyson, Baileys, Emma Bridgewater, Great British Racing, Foreo and Malibu amongst many more.

Most recently, Georgia has dived into the world of fiction by publishing her debut novel Meet Me in London with publishing house Mills and Boon. This is the first of an original series of four books following a group of lifelong friends and bringing personal anecdotes to life with humour and charm.

BLOG TOUR} The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer | ARC Review

Welcome to the blog tour for The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Matzah Ball

Author: Jean Meltzer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: MIRA

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday Romance, Hanukkah Romance, Second Chance 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 MIRA for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oy! to the world

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.

But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg.

Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

This Hanukkah romance was a first for me. I’ve never read one but for the most part I enjoyed this one.

I like the representations that are in the story. Rachel has myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome and it is explained very well and I really got the sense of how it affected her whole life. I learned so many things about Jewish culture in this book, and it was kind of neat to see Rachel and Jacob’s different perspectives on observing certain rules and traditions.

The romance is very sweet – I mean, it started from when they were twelve! It’s a childhood camp crush that turns them into enemies somewhat but wow can these two hold grudges.

I liked that we saw Rachel finding the beautiful things about Hanukkah. She’s Jewish but is secretly in love with Christmas, obsessed with Christmas more like – and she works through some of that. As for Jacob, he has some family issues to deal with and I love his grandmother, such a sweet and fearless woman!

Content Warning: parent abandonment, death of a parent, chronic pain

There are some phrases I found throughout the book that made me cringe. Maybe it was trying too hard with the humor, maybe it is Rachel’s personality? Whatever it is, it didn’t work for me.

Their “romance” started at twelve and they break each other’s hearts (as much as you can at camp when you are 12!) and still hold a grudge almost 18 years later – honestly?…that seemed pretty immature to me and unbelievable. I guess it’s supposed to come off sweet and innocent? But I wasn’t feeling it. Also, I felt like there was no chemistry between them until very late into the book, so yes this is a very slow burn. The miscommunication between them totally bugged me.

Jacob, no matter how handsome and rich he is, didn’t do it for me. I thought he was so clueless not only about Rachel and romance, but even about event planning! He’s supposedly this amazing party organizer but so many things didn’t work when he was planning the Matzah Ball – where are his work connections? He’s in NYC, I would think he’d know how to get the best decorations for a party. I was confused, he can’t mess up that bad, can he? But he did. I was not impressed. That wasn’t the only inconsistent thing in the book, Rachel has CFS but the ending was over the top with her running and climbing and sneaking into the event to make her grand gesture to Jacob. I mean…she must have tanked a lot of red bull to do that, but isn’t the consequences on her body going to be awful? I guess he was worth the pain to her.

Why you should read it:

CFS representation, chronic illness
learn about Jewish customs and Hanukkah
you like sweet holiday romances

Why you might not want to read it:

immature grudge between the couple
lacking chemistry between couple

My Thoughts:

If you like Hallmark movies, you will like this book. It has a slow burn romance, some wild shenanigans, a man going through some emotional family issues, and a Jewish woman living with a chronic illness and secretly loving Christmas, and a heartbreak judge that’s been held onto for 18 years. I had a few issues with it, especially that the couple lacked chemistry and I want lots of it in a romance book. Also that the grudge between the two is really silly. The best parts of the story was learning about Jewish customs and chronic fatigue syndrome. The family aspects of the book really stood out.

📚~ Yolanda

About the Author:

Author Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch, and served as creative director at Tapestry International, garnering numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. Like her protagonist, Jean is also a chronically-ill and disabled Jewish woman. She is an outspoken advocate for ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), has attended visibility actions in Washington DC, meeting with members of Senate and Congress to raise funds for ME/CFS. She inspires 9,000 followers on WW Connect to live their best life, come out of the chronic illness closet, and embrace the hashtag #chronicallyfabulous. Also, while she was raised in what would be considered a secular home, she grew up kosher and attended Hebrew School. She spent five years in Rabbinical School.

Author Website | Facebook: @JeanMeltzerAutho | Instagram: @JeanMeltzer | Goodreads

The Highland Fling by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: The Highland Fling

Author: Meghan Quinn

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 349

Publication Date: 8/24/21

Publisher: Montlake

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Adult

In this steamy tale by USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn, an American searching for her purpose escapes to a Scottish town but finds more questions than answers when she meets a brooding yet handsome handyman.

Freshly fired from her third job in a row, Bonnie St. James has lost her way. So when she and her best friend stumble upon a “help wanted” post to run a coffee shop in the Scottish Highlands, they apply on a whim. Who knows? Maybe traveling to a new place is just what she needs to figure out her next move.

When the friends arrive in the tiny idyllic town of Corsekelly, they instantly fall for the gorgeous Highland landscape and friendly townspeople. But Bonnie finds a less-than-warm welcome in Rowan MacGregor, the rugged local handyman. Busy wrestling his own demons, Rowan’s in no mood to deal with the quirky American—even if she is a bonny lass.

As Bonnie and Rowan’s paths inevitably cross, insults—and sparks—fly. Can the pair build on their similarities to help each other find purpose and direction…and maybe romance too? Or will their passionate tempers fling them apart?

I have never read a Meghan Quinn book even though I see her all over Amazon! I was in the mood for a romance and one on kindle unlimited since I pay for a subscription. I’m glad I gave this one a try.

The first thing I loved was the friendship between Bonnie and Dakota. You get the impression right away they are more than best friends, more like sisters. They are in their mid-twenties, Bonnie is trying to find her path but Dakota is pretty much set in hers. At Dakota’s insistence they apply for a job in the highlands of Scotland to run a coffee shop for six months. What seems like a joint venture becomes something more of a growing experience for their friendship, they grow apart and then come back together even stronger. I also liked the LGBT+ representation with Dakota. She meets someone and has her own growth with overcoming her past relationship that really hurt her.

As for the main romance of the story, Bonnie meets Rowan, who is this gruff Scotsman who aggravates her! But we get two perspectives here, so we can see how Bonnie gets under his skin also. Their back and forth teasing and antagonizing is a slow burn, with some funny moments, but when they finally get together, it’s hot! They do face some challenges in their new relationship but this is where the story brings us to an emotional level I wasn’t expecting.

Bonnie and Rowan can relate to one another because they are both people who are trying to figure out their future. Both want more out of their lives. Bonnie wants to find out what she’s good at, Rowan knows what he is good at but never had his father’s approval – actually he deals with a lot of family emotional drama under the surface. I thought the book was just about two people flirting and aggravating one another until the story got deep with Rowan’s family history and on the other side of the coin Bonnie goes through some really challenging moments with her friendship with Dakota. I enjoyed the growth from all of them a lot.

Content Warnings: illness, grief

Bonnie was a bit too much at times – she loves cake and she hasn’t had sex in awhile. She’s very quirky, very much Dakota’s opposite. I like that she loves to have a good time but at times she just doesn’t know how to back off so her personality could get cringy at times.

For the most part of the book, the story is light hearted, Bonnie is trying to find her way and keeps running into Rowan. But the end gets into a sad mood when Rowan goes through some personal stuff. I was not expecting it. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the beginning.

Why you should read it?

hot scotsman and beauty of the highlands
enemies to lovers romance
it’s starts off light hearted but story gets emotional

Why you might not want to read it?

Bonnie’s quirky personality may turn you off

My Thoughts:

I thought this story was cute, once I got used to Bonnie’s personality. I enjoyed Bonnie and Dakota’s friendship and adventure in Scotland. And it’s awesome that Dakota’s love life could share in the spotlight too because it is a F/F relationship. Bonnie and Rowan’s relationship was also fun especially when they were aggravating one another, but their romance definitely faces challenges when they face their personal demons. I didn’t expect this to be very emotional but I was surprised by the ending and how much the main characters grow. I’d definitely read another book from this author in the future.

📚 ~ Yolanda

With Dagger and Song by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: With Dagger and Song (Curse of the Cyren Queen, #2)

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 378

Publication Date: 11/13/21

Publisher: Alchemy

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Young Adult, Adventure

An empty crown. A perilous journey. Will she answer when darkness calls?

Against all odds, Roh survived the harrowing Queen’s Tournament, but now something far deadlier awaits her: a formidable quest for the three magic birthstones of Saddoriel.

The gems have been scattered across the realms – and only when Roh retrieves them can she take her place as queen. But surrounded by hostile companions and tormented by the dangerous secret she carries, Roh begins to realise that the pursuit of power may prove more destructive than she ever imagined.

Nothing can prepare her for the nightmares that fester in the shadows of Akoris, a fanatical cyren territory, or the twisted games of its cunning leader…

Can Roh win the first birthstone without sacrificing everything she holds dear – and without losing herself?

Packed with heart-pounding action and layers of intrigue, With Dagger and Song is the second epic instalment in Helen Scheuerer’s Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet.

This is book two of the Curse of the Cyren Queen series and it picks up from book one. Roh survived the Queen’s Tournament and we find out she’s a future queen, not just a bone cleaner. Of course they won’t let her be Queen until she goes on a quest to get the three magic birthstones of Saddoriel. Then and only then will it prove she is worthy.

Roh chooses her companions on this quest – Odi is a given but Harlyn was a curious choice since Har hates Roh with a passion after learning about Roh’s deception. Also Roh picks warriors Yrsa and Finn to come along. Finn is another one that hates Roh. A lot of people hate Roh! haha…but at least being thrown together on this journey, we get to learn more about Yrsa and she’s a good person. Finn, well…we shall see what happens there, it seems he’s warming up to Roh. It’s Harlyn and Roh’s relationship that I was hoping would be repaired somehow in this sequel. It’s rough but they get there.

The group travels across Saddoriel to Akoris, where the fanatical cyrens reside and their ruler, Adriel is pulling the strings. So somehow Roh has to appease Adriel by passing more tests in order to be acknowledged as queen. I am really enjoying the journey they are taking through these different lands though. I also like that the story moves forward with Roh trying to get the birthstone plus doing her best trying to find out more about her mother’s past. We find out a bit more about Roh’s mysterious background as well.

I think Roh has a lot of character growth in this sequel. She still has trouble trusting people with her secrets, even though secrets are what messed up her friendship with Harlyn and Orson, the two people who knew her best. But Roh is starting to learn that she needs allies and good advice. I’m sure Roh will make more mistakes before we get to the end of this series, but seeing progress is a good thing.

Content Warnings: drugged, violence

They did a bunch of traveling but once they were in Akoris they stayed put for the bulk of the story. Akoris was an interesting place but I thought Adriel would have been more sinister – Roh handled him quite well I believe.

I’m looking forward to see what happens with Finn and Roh. An enemies to lovers thing? Or not? Haha…I like seeing them bicker as potential friends or lovers. I’m also eager to see what happens with the water drake egg that Roh has in her possession! That ending made me wish book three was going to be out soon.

Why you should read it?

story about betrayal and forgiveness
you like an underdog story
Roh’s character development – she has a lot of things to fix and I”m glad she’s facing it head on

Why you might not want to read it?

not into fantasy
wait until the whole series is out

My Thoughts:

I thought this was a good sequel as we follow Roh and her companions to Akoris. We learn about the water warlocks and their beef with cyrens. Also, we get to know more about Roh’s background. I’m looking forward to more adventure in book three and I hope we get more of Finn and Roh and the water drake egg!

📚 ~ Yolanda

The Ivies by. Alexa Donne | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Ivies

Author: Alexa Donne

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 5/25/21

Publisher: Crown

Categories: Prep School, Murder Mystery, Young Adult

Everyone knows the Ivies: the most coveted universities in the United States. Far more important are the Ivies. The Ivies at Claflin Academy, that is. Five girls with the same mission: to get into the Ivy League by any means necessary. I would know. I’m one of them. We disrupt class ranks, club leaderships, and academic competitions…among other things. We improve our own odds by decreasing the fortunes of others. Because hyper-elite competitive college admissions is serious business. And in some cases, it’s deadly.

Alexa Donne delivers a nail-biting and timely thriller about teens who will stop at nothing to get into the college of their dreams. Too bad no one told them murder isn’t an extracurricular.

I like a good murder mystery and this one is fairly interesting. It’s about a group of girls at a prep school who call themselves the Ivies because they will do ANYTHING to get into the Ivy School of their dreams. The group has the typical head mean girl, her cronies and then the weakest link who is Olivia, because she’s the poor scholarship girl. Something happens to Emma, one of the girls in the group – she is murdered and Olivia wants to find out who did it.

Olivia’s investigation takes us into the world of the Ivies and all the stuff they did to other students at Claflin to put themselves ahead. I think the story did a good enough job keeping me on my toes trying to figure who the killer could be, but my suspicions were pretty on point.

It’s a quick read and has lots of prep school drama. If you like scandals then you will enjoy this one.

Content Warnings: bullying, death, toxic relationships

I didn’t connect to any of the characters because I couldn’t relate to their situations. I don’t know anyone who would do all the things they did to get into an Ivy league school – so it was a bit too dramatic for me.

I didn’t really feel the romance building between Olivia and Ethan.

Why you should read it?

you like a drama filled prep school story
you like ya murder mysteries

Why you might not want to read it?

can’t relate
predictable

My Thoughts:

This was an okay read. The story was a bit predictable but I guess the fake friendship of the Ivies was entertaining enough for me to finish the book. Sometimes it’s interesting to see how far a character would go to get what they want!

📚 ~ Yolanda

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by. Sophie Cousens | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Just Haven’t Met You Yet

Author: Sophie Cousens

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 11/09/21

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Adult, Romance, Contemporary

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

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

Laura’s business trip to the Channel Islands isn’t exactly off to a great start. After unceremoniously dumping everything in her bag in front of the most attractive man she’s ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel only to realize she’s grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation? The irresistibly appealing contents of the case: a copy of her favorite book; piano music; and a rugged, heavy knit fisherman sweater only a Ryan Gosling lookalike could pull off. The owner of this suitcase is Laura’s dream man–she’s sure of it. Now, all she has to do is find him.

The mix-up seems written in the stars. After all, what are the odds that she’d find The One on the same remote island where her mom and dad had first fallen in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their epic romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents’ footsteps. And if beneath Ted’s gruffness lies a wit that makes their cab rides strangely entertaining, so much the better. But as Laura’s long-lost luggage soulmate proves difficult to find–and as she realizes that the love story she’s held on a pedestal all her life might not have been that perfect–she’ll have to rethink her whole outlook on love to discover what she really wants.

This is a fun story about a woman who takes a business trip to the Channel Islands, Jersey, to be exact, to hunt down information about her parents’ romance story. But she picks up the wrong luggage at the airport and comes up with this Mr. Perfect dream scenario in her head about the luggage owner so she decides to find him.

Laura is a wild woman! Haha, talk about concocting fantasies in her head about the mysterious luggage owner but she is funny, nice, romance obsessed and such a funny character. She goes to Jersey on a work assignment and finds out a lot about her family history and uncovers some truths that break her heart. But she also meets two men who become potential romances for her, but which one will she choose?

The whole cast of characters are fun as well from her best friends Dee and Vandy, who give love and life advice to everyone she meets on Jersey.

The men she meets on Jersey are quite different. Ted, her cab driver, is scruffy, older and going through a divorce. Jasper, the luggage owner is perfect, they like the same music and have the same goals and yet….Ted is who she keeps thinking about. She’s only known these men for a few days so it is almost an insta-love/insta-attraction kind of thing.

I liked the emotional parts of the book as well when it came to Laura and her memories of her mom. Ted also has moments with his dad who has Parkinson’s. There was a nice sense of family being important in the story and I love that.

I learned about Jersey! I never really knew anything about it or the Channel Islands so it was nice learning about the island.

Content Warnings: grief, marriage troubles

Ted is going through a separation and I think I would turned off by that but it really did seem like it was an ended relationship, the paperwork just needed to go through. Laura knew about it at least, it wasn’t secret.

Why you should read it:

cute rom-com story
sentimental and heartwarming
the cast of characters are funny and entertaining

Why you might not want to read it:

a little bit of insta-love/ or insta-attraction

My Thoughts:

This was a fun rom-com that was exactly what I needed for this holiday season. No it’s not a holiday romance but it gave me the romance feels and the sentimental ones especially when the characters were surrounded by family. I loved the setting of Jersey because I learned something new. Laura is a fun main character who finally gets the meet-cute, two guys to choose between, clarity about her family and a chance to stand up to her overbearing boss. I enjoyed this one a lot!

📚 ~ Yolanda

The Love Con by. Seressia glass | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Love Con

Author: Seressia Glass

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 12/14/21

Publisher: Berkley Books

Categories: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Cosplay, Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating

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

He’s cosplaying as her boyfriend but their feelings for each other are real in this romantic comedy from Seressia Glass.

Sometimes Kenya Davenport believes she was switched at the hospital–how else could a lover of anime, gaming, and cosplay come from STEM parents? Still, Kenya dreams of being able to turn her creative hobby into a career. She finally has a chance to make it big when she joins the reality show competition Cosplay or No Way.

There’s just one catch: the challenge for the final round is all about iconic pairs, and the judges want the contestants’ significant others to participate. Unfortunately, Kenya is as single as can be at the moment. Luckily her best friend, Cameron Lassiter, agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the show.
Roleplaying a couple in love will force them to explore what they’re hiding under the mask of friendship. Can Kenya and Cam fake it until she makes it, or will she be real about her feelings, knowing it could cost her the best friend she’s ever had?

This book caught my eye because of the very colorful cover and the synopsis about two cosplayers falling in love! I’ve never read a book about cosplayers before so this is a first for me and it was delightful!

I like Kenya a lot because she’s beautiful, fierce, unique, creative, plus size and confident! She has her insecurities, especially when her parents are grilling her about her future, but for the most part Kenya is mentally strong and she has to be because she is in a high stakes television competition and in the final round.

Her love interest is her best friend and fellow cosplayer, Cameron. She doesn’t know he’s been into her for a long while now, but he’s hoping the fake dating will help her imagine him as a something more and a potential real boyfriend. This boy is crazy about her and I love how he helps her make her dreams come true. Cam is there to defend her, help her, calm her down, protect her and he even lets her grow. He is a keeper!

If the best friend vibes is the sweetest, then let me tell you that the physical attraction between them is the hottest. Problems arise when Kenya’s parents get involved, Cam’s ex and the show trying to cause drama but they navigate it with an awesome communication session.

As for the cosplay stuff, I thought it was a cool competition and different! There is so much work that goes into cosplay so I’m glad it got a spotlight in this book.

Content Warnings: microaggressions

Kenya is black and plus sized and she deals with a lot of microaggressions from one of the judges on the show, a producer from the show and Cam’s ex. Kenya has to rise above it all or else they paint her as the angry black female on the competition. She is strong and I can see why Cam is deeply in love with her. Kenya really is a queen.

This is a quick read and the fake dating starts almost right away, there is no build up at all – so I had to get my bearings a little but we get lots of information later about Cam and Kenya’s relationship and get a good feel for their friendship.

Why you should read it:

diverse
cosplay
friends to lovers, fake dating romance
Kenya is fabulous

Why you might not want to read it:

needs more build up to their attraction, it’s instant

My Thoughts:

I like that this was something different for me, in that the two main characters are into cosplay. It was fun to see them in the process of building the costumes and seeing their friendship turn into physical attraction and love. I enjoyed Kenya’s character a lot! She is amazing and I can see why Cam is in love with her, and vice versa. This one is a light read and left me feeling happy for the couple at the end.

📚 ~ Yolanda

The Burning God by. R. F. Kuang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Burning God (The Poppy War, #3)

Author: R.F. Kuang

Pages: 570

Publication Date: 11/17/20

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: War, Fantasy, Series, Political Intrigue

The exciting end to The Poppy War trilogy, R. F. Kuang’s acclaimed, award-winning epic fantasy that combines the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating, enthralling effect.

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it?

Once again, the continuation of the books in this series is pretty flawless. It carries the intensity, even more so with this one.

Rin has finally begun to learn some leadership skills which helps because she needs the Southern Coalition army behind her to defeat Nezha and the Hesperians. She also needs more shamans to go up against them.

As always Kitay is Rin’s saving grace. Without him, I don’t know where Rin would be. She doesn’t even have power without him. She needs his brilliant mind and his voice of reason even when she doesn’t listen to him, she at least considers what he says and that’s something.

The Trifecta story was fascinating and we finally get to learn about what happened between them. Nezha…oh Nezha, I never forgave him his betrayal of Rin. I know he was tortured by the Hesperians and had awful parents but I just can’t forgive him yet I also know he knows how to run the country….still….the thought of him leaves me feeling so bitter.

I liked that the story delves into questions like even though Rin is victorious…she is mostly victorious in revenge because who really wins in war? Who suffers the most? And who is left to rule? Are they good enough to rule? Rin is a killing machine and soldier but leader of a country? Nope – she has no patience for that, there is so much to learn about running a country competently, she is in over her head. She was never safe even after “winning”.

This stories ends and it’s so final, at least for Rin’s story. It’s not a pretty ending. After I shut off my ipad, I felt like I was burned by Rin’s phoenix too.

Content Warnings: violence, cannibalism, gore, stories of rape, death, grief, drug use, racism

Rin has become ruthless. She was scary before but in this one there is no turning back for her, her path is written in destruction. But the thing I hate about Rin is she NEVER LEARNS. It was absolutely frustrating and I could only tolerate her when Kitay was with her trying to talk some sense in her or drawing up battle plans and inventions. She cannot see through people for the life of her, no matter how many times she is betrayed…maybe I expect too much of her? But how many times can she be betrayed and learn never to trust people. After what happened at the end of book two? It’s her weakness and shows her to be more human than god but she’s supposed to fight a powerful Nezha and honestly…he was more powerful, he could snuff out her fire! After winning the war though she turns paranoid and kills someone close to her…I was so tired of her by then because that’s the time she chooses not to trust someone? After they won? I was just hoping after what happened with Nezha she would get it together. Most times she seemed to have things under control and then there were times I wondered what she was doing. The ending seemed like the only way this could have ended but it made me feel so empty….all of that…everything she went through and put Kitay through…for that ending. I wanted to cry for Kitay but I was too exhausted.

Was the Trifecta ended that easy? They were all so powerful and yet…I was hoping for something more I think…at least have them leave the mountain and join the fight because they were talked up so big from book one? But I guess that wouldn’t work because Daji was like Rin…she had tunnel vision when it came to the Dragon, no matter how he abused her. 😒 I did like how it came full circle of the Trifecta of the past and the trifecta of the present being Nezha, Rin and Kitay.

This book is the goriest of all I think and it involves children. It has even some cannibalism because what will people do to survive if there is no food? Still, I’m glad I wasn’t eating while reading the book. This book shows you the realities of war – real war.

Why you should read it:

you like to torture yourself with a story with no happy ending (haha just kidding! kind of)
amazing, intense series about war and consequences of it
you are already invested in the series and need to know how it ends

Why you might not read it:

sad ending
everything in the content warnings

My Thoughts:

I read this trilogy in 4 days. I felt exhausted and empty by the end of it but that doesn’t mean it’s a good series, but it made me feel how someone who is traumatized by war would feel. Gutted, empty, questioning the action of the characters along the way – what a series. If you want something intense and can handle a dark read – read this series. Glad I did and I can’t believe it’s not off my TBR list. I wasn’t even planning to read it this year lol…but things worked out!

📚~ Yolanda

The Dragon Republic by. R.F. Kuang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War, #2)

Author: R. F. Kuang

Format: eBook (own)

Pages: 658

Publication Date: 8/18/19

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: War, Academy, Adventure, Fantasy, Young Adult, Political Intrigue

The searing follow-up to 2018’s most celebrated fantasy debut – THE POPPY WAR.

In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.

The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a sequel that is so strong and this is a longer book than the first one! Let’s just jump right into it.

I love that the story flowed and didn’t miss a beat from the first book. It had the same intensity, maybe this time even more because yes, the story gets even darker, if possible. It grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I mean what kind of trouble can Rin get into this time – this girl is addicted to power and praise, a deadly combination.

I was loving Rin’s Cike squad even though they are killers and uncontrollable, loving that Kitay, Nezha and Venka was with Rin to keep her somewhat grounded (honestly they could barely keep her sane), but the fact that I was lulled into thinking Rin was maybe going to be safe from herself now…another slap in the face for me. This story didn’t care about my feelings.

Being in Nezha’s province and home was an eye opener to how he was brought up – his dad is something else. But we get a new twist in the story where in comes to Nezha. Also we get more information about the Hesperians, these colonizers from across the sea. It infuriated me that they could just come in and try to fix Nikara just because they thought they were superior. It just reminds me of how many of the countries in our present world was forced to endure being colonized. 😠 Another thing I loved was getting to know Chagan’s people – but it was another scene that broke my heart.

The battle strategies and political intrigue continue in this story as we see the betrayals, the back stabbing or games these leaders play. We see how the poor people who are bystanders in war suffer the most. We also see what people turn into when they harbor desires of power, or hold onto never ending rage.

Content Warnings: violence, graphic account of rape, death, drug use, abuse, grief, self inflicted pain

Rin is not a likable character – I almost hate her for her decisions but I will say this about her – she is who she is. She is so strong and oh so angry. She is Rage. Her god is about destruction and consuming as fires do so she cannot help that part of her but when it’s just a human with deep seated rage, it’s scary. I wanted her to come back from that, make a turn…but this story is about war and Rin has been betrayed so many times. That’s what made me angry at her at times that she followed the wrong people so rashly and it had to do with her addiction to toxic/powerful men. Thank God for Kitay…he was her saving grace. She never listens or when she does…it’s too late. It’s always too late. She does grow in book two and tames her addiction to opium thank god, but wow does she have issues. The story just seems to get darker and you think you’ve met the most evil people already and nope…it gets worse. But I get it…unifying a country is messy AF. But the unending killing and it’s just not killing, it’s torture, it’s madness, it’s bloodlust, it’s horrible.

Why you should read it:

great writing and world building
to see if Rin can control her demons
it’s an epic war story with some good twists
makes you take a deeper look at war, choices and consequences

Why you might not want to read it:

graphic killing, graphic rape stories
a lot of drug use

My Thoughts:

I’ve been reading this series in one continuous go and honestly…it’s dark reading. I saw some light in this one finally until the author snuffed it out again! The author is cold-blooded with this story and wrote a story about war within a fantasy world and held nothing back. There is no romance in this book at all and maybe I tolerate other darker reads because the romance at least reminds me love is there. The closest thing to love Rin gets in this sequel is Kitay’s friendship, thank god! I’m on to book three.

📚~ Yolanda