Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 12/28/21

Happy book birthday to this week’s new releases!

Ben has spent his first year of college working on his fantasy manuscript with his writing partner Mario, who is a great Spanish tutor, and an even better kisser. So why can’t he stop thinking about the fact that Arthur’s back in town two years after they called it quits?

Arthur is in New York for a dream internship on Broadway, with a boyfriend back at home that he couldn’t be happier with. But when he comes upon Ben cuddled up with a mystery boy, he starts to wonder if his feelings for Ben ever truly went away. 

Even as the boys try to focus on their futures, they can’t seem to help running into each other in the present. Is the universe forcing them to question if they’re actually meant to be?

Possibly not. After all, things didn’t work the first time around.
Possibly yes. After all, the sparks are still flying.
Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and raise a glass.

Here’s to celebrating old friends!
Here’s to embracing new beginnings!
Here’s to believing in second chances!


The Wicked Deep meets House of Salt and Sorrows in this new standalone YA fantasy set in a snow-cloaked kingdom where witches are burned, and two enchantresses secretly compete for the heart of a prince, only to discover that they might be falling for each other.

It’s Karnawał season in the snow-cloaked Kingdom of Lechija, and from now until midnight when the church bells ring an end to Devil’s Tuesday time will be marked with wintry balls and glittery disguises, cavalcades of nightly torch-lit “kuligi” sleigh-parties.

Unbeknownst to the oblivious merrymakers, two monsters join the fun, descending upon the royal city of Warszów in the guise of two innocent girls. Newfound friends and polar opposites, Zosia and Marynka seem destined to have a friendship that’s stronger even than magic. But that’s put to the test when they realize they both have their sights set on Lechija’s pure-hearted prince. A pure heart contains immeasurable power and Marynka plans to bring the prince’s back to her grandmother in order to prove herself. While Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for her own.

When neither will sacrifice their ambitions for the other, the festivities spiral into a wild contest with both girls vying to keep the hapless prince out of the other’s wicked grasp. But this isn’t some remote forest village, where a hint of stray magic might go unnoticed, Warszów is the icy capital of a kingdom that enjoys watching monsters burn, and if Zosia and Marynka’s innocent disguises continue to slip, their escalating rivalry might cost them not just the love they might have for each other, but both their lives.


ANGELIC FACT NUMBER 100: Having wings doesn’t make one noble; it simply makes one fly.

Naya and Adam have nothing in common. Besides black wings. The same birthday. And fathers who are as close as brothers.

But nothing else.

Sweet, diligent Naya has always abided by the rules. Arrogant, uncivil Adam has made it his life’s mission to break each one.

She is the beloved daughter of an archangel. He is the guilds’ resident bad boy . . . well, bad fletching.

When Naya thrusts herself in Adam’s life to request a place on his clandestine team of guardians, he turns her away. The last thing his unsanctioned squad needs is an archangel’s attention, and the last thing he needs is a bubbly, blonde distraction with a sinful voice and soulful eyes.

Problem is, Naya suddenly, and inexplicably, becomes the only thing he wants.

Fans of steamy supernatural romance will want to scroll up and one-click to start reading the enemies-to-lovers trilogy finale today.



What are you looking forward to getting this week? ~ Yolanda

The Iron Widow by. Xiran Jay Zhao | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Iron Widow (#1)

Author: Xiran Jay Zhao

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 9/21/21

Categories: Sci Fi, Romance, Young Adult, Feminism

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. 

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ 

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

I did not know what to expect with this book but wow, it was refreshing and unique!

To start off, Zetian is not shy about her thirst for vengeance and how much she hates her family for the way they have treated her and men in general. She’s so bent on revenge that she doesn’t even fear her death. She’s a girl with clearly nothing to lose…so she makes her dreams come true with all the violence and anger she can muster.

The world building is very unique! It’s got historical Chinese inspiration but with a sci-fi twist. There are battles between Huaxia and the Hundun (invaders/enemies) using giant robots fueled by the ying/yang chi of the female and male pilots in them. The way the chi is used to power up the robots and the technology is very fascinating. In a way it reminded me of the movie, The Matrix, with how the pilots are hooked up to the mind realm and such, it was a mind-bend for me. Also it reminded me of The Hunger Games where the battles are televised. Pilot pairings have reputations they have to maintain, favors they have to win from the army and the public to be or stay successful.

The triangle is a strong shape, as Xetian says in this story…and it sure is between the romance she has going on with supposed bad boy Shimin and beautiful soft boy Yizhi. It’s not a love triangle but a polyamorous relationship. Shimin and Yizhi have something between them growing as well, and they are all okay with it, no drama there.

The writing is like a punch in the gut because Xetian doesn’t hold back. She’s supposed to be this quiet, obedient, good girl and she’s the opposite. She talks back to her family, talks back to men, and gives herself to two boys instead of just one. Xetian’s family has broken her feet, she has watched the women in her family be abused and domesticated, and now she has uncovered the truth about the female pilots that are dying in service to their nation. This girl is mad and she wants to change the system that keeps killing girls. Talk about woman power and abolishing the patriarchy – it’s all over this book!

Content Warnings: violence, abuse, torture, addiction, suicidal ideation, foot binding, threat of rape

I remember doing a research paper in college about Chinese foot binding. It’s just another horrifying example of women’s history how society has mutilated women for the sake of some standard to make a girl more marriageable. There are a lot of dark topics in this book and it gets heavy and yet, Xetian’s anger moves the story forward. I wanted her revenge to be successful but I also wanted to get to know her past her quest for revenge and her anger. She’s badass, with a high qi level, she kills someone on live television and I think Yizhi brings out the softness in her, but I wanted more with her connection to Shimin.

Even though the polyamorous relationship is refreshing, I did have some issues with it. I felt like Shimin and Xetian didn’t really have chemistry besides the fact they were paired together. She was so afraid of him, for good reasons but when she finally lets her guard down around him, I felt like it was forced. Maybe I needed to see more interaction between them where it wasn’t such a struggle all the time.

For the most part I was engaged in the story and it moves quickly but at one point it lost it’s hold on me because of Shimin and Xetian’s lack of connection. Also sci-fi isn’t my most favorite genre and I swear I have such a hard time visualizing some of the concepts in this book like the robots and qi. I need a visual. So if this was made into a movie or series, it would be awesome.

Why you should read it:

  • unique world-building, action packed, fighting robots powered by qi
  • badass female trying to take down the patriarchy
  • polyamory relationship
  • exciting plot twists

Why you might not want to read it:

  • lots of dark topics – see content warnings
  • this one is a series so maybe you want to wait for the other books to be out

My thoughts:

This book is like a punch in the gut. It is entertaining and raw. Zetian as a character came to life and definitely kept me engaged with her quest for vengeance and how far she was willing to go to take down whoever was in her way. I was cheering her on to tear down the patriarchy and her polyamorous relationship with Shimin and Yizhi was a beautiful thing of acceptance. I did wish Zetian and Shimin’s had more of a connection but it is what it is – we shall see what happens in book two.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Weekly Wrap Up | 12/27/21

Aloha friends!

Ok I had no weekly updated ready yesterday because I was just exhausted from Christmas! I had to do my last minute Christmas shopping and then make gingerbread houses with the kids on Christmas Eve. Christmas day they were so excited to open presents in the morning – then we went to my family’s house for Christmas lunch and more presents. Got a chance to take a quick nap before it was dinner and we headed to a light show event trolley ride to end the night. Sunday I decided to clean the house, so I could make space to add all the kids new clothes and toys. It was a great Christmas.

Unfortunately covid case counts here in Hawaii are blowing up quick – it sucks. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Friday night is New Year’s Eve and Hawaii gets CRAZY…the whole island is lit up with illegal fireworks. There are some fireworks that are legal as long as you get a permit to light them…but for years since I’ve been a child growing up here, illegal fireworks always make their way into the island and at midnight it’s like a warzone…a very colorful one. They have been lighting fireworks here since Thanksgiving…which is annoying when it’s happening at night, or sometimes even in the early mornings. What are you doing for NYE? Any big plans?

Anyway that was my week – how was yours?

Blog Posts This Week:


Books I Read:



Currently Reading:




Shows/Movies I’ve Watched:

  • Grease – only the ending because that’s what was on but the songs are classic.
  • Emily in Paris: S2 – because I live vicariously through Emily, drama and all and it’s so bingeable. I love her best friend in Paris, Mindy. I need season 3 asap.
  • NFL (football, the American kind lol) – nothing like Sunday Football even if I don’t watch the whole thing and have it on as background noise. I was cleaning on Sunday and needed background noise.

Games I’ve Played:

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons – barely had time to play but I did collect more gyroids.
  • Roblox: Pet Sim X – because a new update came out on Saturday so I’m grinding for coins to get my daughter new pets.


How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?…Leave me a comment below!

💖 ~ Yolanda

Favourite Books of 2021 | #SixforSunday | 12/26/21

There were so many good books in 2021 but here are my top 6!

#SixforSunday is… it’s really just that. You choose 6 books (normally) that you’d choose to fit whatever the prompt is that week. This meme is hosted by A Little but a Lot and you can follow the link to find the prompts for October to December.

This week’s topic:

Favourite Books of 2021

It’s so hard to choose six but I went with the ones that by the end of 2021 I can still remember how the book made me feel. Or if I can visually the story without a second re-read and these are the books that stand out in my head!

What are your favorites of 2021? See you in 2022!!🎊🍾


Here is the schedule for December and go to A Little but a lot for more info!

December – Christmas wishes

5 – Red/Green books
12 – Dream collaborations
19 – Books you wish for under your Christmas tree
26 – Favourite books of 2021

Merry Christmas! 2021

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my readers and followers! I hope you have a nice day/night whether you celebrate the holiday or not. ❤️💚 ~ Yolanda

The Naughty, the Nice, and the Nanny by. Willa Nash | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Naughty, the Nice and the Nanny (Holiday Brothers, #1)

Author: Willa Nash

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 165

Publication Date: 11/4/21

Categories: Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Single Dad

One week with one little girl—an angel, according to my staffing agency. Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash. Until I show up for my first day and face off with a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl wearing a red tutu and matching glitter slippers.

Oh, and her father? My temporary boss? Maddox Holiday. The same Maddox Holiday I crushed on in high school. The same Maddox Holiday who didn’t even know I existed. And the same Maddox Holiday who hasn’t set foot in Montana for years because he’s been too busy running his billionaire empire.

Enduring seven days is going to feel like scaling the Himalayas in six-inch heels. Toss in the Holiday family’s annual soiree, and Christmas Eve nightmares really do come true. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.

I forgot how perfect novella length holiday romances are when it comes to getting straight to the point. This is a cute holiday romance about a nanny, Natalie, who takes a week long job to help take care of the child. The father of the child is a guy she went to school with and had a crush on (like every other girl in school).

The story takes place in Montana which gives it that cozy, small town (but a growing small town) feel. Maddox Holiday, the single dad comes from a tight-knit family and has two other brothers. They are wealthy and successful but still down to earth. Violet, Maddox’s daughter is a terror, but Natalie knows how to charm and connect with her which makes the story heart-warming. Natalie is also down-to-earth and doesn’t let a child terror scare her off, she is determined.

The chemistry between Maddox and Natalie is quick but they have a slight history so they aren’t completely strangers. And when they get to the sexy parts, well…they have so much heat between them they could melt snow.

Content Warnings: divorce

Violet has to deal with an absent and neglectful mother which sucks. But that was another area Natalie could relate with her.

I know it’s a novella so things get crammed in so it’s insta-love because come on, things have to happen in a week since it’s a short story! But at the epilogue a year later, they are married with a baby coming along?! Talk about rushing things lol…I’m just being nit-picky though.

Why you should read it:

  • a super quick holiday romance
  • story of Violet and Natalie bonding is heart-warming

Why you might not want to read it:

  • insta-love but it’s a novella length so it’s expected
  • too short

My thoughts:

This short holiday romance was actually pretty balanced and I enjoyed seeing Natalie and Violet’s relationship grow. Maddox and Natalie was just bonus haha…but it’s a quick read, and gives you all the holiday romance feels. Not sure if I will read the whole series but I’m interested in reading a full length novel from this author.

📚 ~ Yolanda

WWW Wednesday | 12/22/21

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?


What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I really need to finish a bunch of books and now that I’m pretty much done with Christmas shopping, I think I can concentrate on them haha.


What’s on your WWW Wednesday? Or what are you reading this week? ~ Yolanda

Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes  | Top Ten Tuesday | 12/21/21

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes 

I have the some topic for my SixforSunday post but at least here I can add more than just 6! There are the books I want:




I tried not to overlap with the choices I picked for my SixforSunday post but yes…so many books I want. So little money and time lol…what do you want under the tree?

~ Yolanda

Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 12/21/21

Happy book birthday to this week’s new releases!

A hardened cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other about love in this swoony and heartfelt contemporary romance that’s perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and The Upside of Falling.

Harper works in her mom’s wedding shop, altering dresses for petulant and picky brides who are more focused on hemlines than love. After years of watching squabbles break out over wedding plans, Harper thinks romance is a marketing tool. Nothing more. Her best friend Theo is her opposite. One date and he’s already dreaming of happily ever afters. He also plays the accordion, makes chain mail for Ren Festers, hangs out in a windmill-shaped tree house, cries over rom-coms, and takes his word-of-the-day calendar very seriously.
 
When Theo’s shocked to find himself nursing his umpteenth heartbreak, Harper offers to teach him how not to fall in love. Theo agrees to the lessons, as long as Harper proves she can date without falling in love. As the lessons progress and Theo takes them to heart, Harper has a harder time upholding her end of the bargain. She’s also checking out her window to see if Theo’s home from his latest date yet. She’s even watching rom-coms. If she confesses her feelings, she’ll undermine everything she’s taught him. Or was he the one teaching her? 



What are you looking forward to getting this week? ~ Yolanda

The Nature of Witches by. Rachel Griffin | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Nature of Witches

Author: Rachel Griffin

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 6/1/21

Categories: Contemporary , Fantasy, Young adult, Romance, Nature, Environmental, Coming of Age

For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.

In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It’s wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.

In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she’s the only one who can make a difference.

In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she’s terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.

In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves… before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.

I love witch stories and this one sounded very different. The witches in this story are helping with weather disasters and trying to combat climate change – present issues we are dealing with! I thought it was a very unique take on what witches powers could be useful for in our present day.

Clara is an Everwitch – her seasonal powers don’t wane, she is powerful in all seasons as oppose to other witches who are powerful only in their season. But she doesn’t want this gift. People she love have died around her, because she can’t control her gift so she is at a school for witches to learn to control her powers. But what’s holding Clara back is herself. She meets a boy who finally teaches her to calm her insecurities and fears and to control her magic. Her journey comes full circle and we do get to see Clara embrace herself.

Sang is amazing and I loved his Spring affinity and talent with plants. He was the balance Clara needed and I loved watching their relationship go from friendship to more. The romance is so sweet. Clara is bisexual and we also get to meet her ex, another witch, Paige. There is some hard feelings between them but there is closure at the end also.

Content Warnings: death, grief

Clara is deep into her self-loathing and it takes up much of the story and it got repetitive – this whole story is about her journey to break through her fears and insecurities…I just wanted something more to happen. It would have been cool to see more severe weather events that affect shaders (non-witches) and the witches helping out. But this story is about Clara’s journey and it just takes too much of the first part of the story. The second half is much better because we see Clara grow and learn to control her power finally.

With Clara’s doubts and insecurities she lashes out a lot at her instructions and superiors. Everyone was an enemy to her and it got a little tiresome.

Even though the beginning lagged for me, there were some really good moments in the books. One of my favorites were how she and Sang communicated after they were in the middle of a break from one another. I thought in the essence of the romance story, Sang and Clara’s relationship was beautiful.

Why you should read it:

  • unique contemporary fantasy witch storythe witches are helping to combat climate change and maintain the environment – they tackle natural disasters
  • sweet, emotional romance story
  • Clara’s journey ends on a happy note

Why you might not want to read it:

  • Clara’s attitude – she’s going through a lot of emotional turmoil but she comes off selfish and stubborn
  • some parts are repetitive, especially when it comes to training Clara

My thoughts:

I keep going back and forth on my rating of this one. I loved the ending and the romance Clara has with Sang. I totally love how this is a unique witch story because they help with climate change which is a very important issue right now. I understand Clara’s grief and reluctance to use her power because it’s killed people she loves but I also wanted to shake her to see that a gift like hers cannot be wasted. She is the chosen one who doesn’t want to be chosen but it got tiresome. Despite my issues with it, I look forward to reading the next book from this author.

📚 ~ Yolanda