Shield of Sparrows by. Devney Perry | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Shield of Sparrows (#1)

Author: Devney Perry

Format: ebook (borrowed – KU) but I also have the hardcover 🤭

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 5/6/25

Categories: Romantasy, Magic, Fantasy, Romance, Series

Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father’s. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

Content Warning: violence, death

This was one of the most hyped books in the past few weeks and I fell into the hype and bought the book not knowing it would have been available on kindle unlimited anyway! So I read it on KU because it was easier for me and I put the book trophy on my shelf – it’s a gorgeous book.

+ I really enjoyed the world-building in this story. It’s a world of different kingdoms and there is some politics going on. This world is dangerous with wild creatures always being fought off and a migration of crux (deadly winged beasts) about to take place. There is magic, a lot of secrets and mystery in this story. There is also a mysterious illness affecting the wild animals, so Odessa is trying to help investigate that.

+ Princess Odessa Cross is the eldest child of the King of Quentis and always blending in the background and hiding. It’s her sister who was trained to be Queen and Odessa basically accepts this fate until fate is changed for her by the Prince of Turah who demands to marry her instead of her sister. Odessa is not trained in kingdom politics, or swordplay – her sister was trained to be a spy, not Odessa. She’s flawed, she asks lots of questions but she is not spy material or an assassin at that, but she tries hard and she’s a good person. I think there was a lot of growth for her in this first book.

+ The Guardian has a reputation and Odessa spends more time with him than her actual husband. So it’s not a surprise that an attraction grows between them. He is a protector, he is fierce and menacing and always drenched in blood after killing these beasts that have been attacking the kingdom of late. Odessa finds him irritating until he grows on her. But he trains her to fight, and he’s more than patient with her I’d say. This is a slow burn romance with hardly any spice. But I did love the romance once it got going and some of the secrets and truths are revealed.

~ This is a long book and it does move slowly because it is focused on world-building. But even with the world-building and learning about the different creatures that are terrorizing towns, some things were still left a mystery and will probably be more explained in book two. Things pick up in the second half of the book and the ending finishes with a lot of action. It leaves us with more questions for the sequel.

~ The romance was too much of a slow burn for me. I thought the romance was lovely but I still wanted some of the secrets to be revealed earlier because I could figure out what it was. Odessa spent a lot of time telling the Guardian, Ransom, how much she hated him. It got repetitive and I just wanted her to move on from that because he really wasn’t hateful. That man was keeping her alive!

~ Another thing about Odessa, she was thrown into this role of Shield of Sparrow without any training but wow was she bad at trying to find out information for her dad. And the way that everyone basically betrayed her made me wonder what good is all her questioning (she asks a lot of questions) if she can’t discern who to trust? Is she asking the right questions? She did grow up a princess and maybe not the favored one but I expected her to have some grasp of court politics or be wary of who to trust?

Final Thoughts:

I read this in a cloud of hype and I should have waited to get a better idea of this book without the hype. But after processing my thoughts though, I felt like this book moved too slow for me. I did like the world building – I like the monsters, the magic, the mystery of the disease in the animals, learning the characters and the politics. I even enjoyed the romance, once there was romance – it was too much of a slow burn for me. The second half of this book moved quicker and the ending was filled with action. I did enjoy it and I look forward to reading book two because of all the questions I was left with.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Love Haters by. Katherine Center | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Love Haters

Author: Katherine Center

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 5/20/25

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Categories: Contemporary, 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 St. Martin’s Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but fakes it that she can.

Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!

But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

Content Warning: negative body image, death of parents, mention of accident, water rescue in a hurricane

+ Katie needs to keep her job so she agrees to go on an assignment she is only half qualified for. But she’ll do anything, even take swim lessons in a bathing suit even though she has major body issues. She meets Hutch, who is her supervisor’s brother, and is the person she needs to make a documentary about. Katie is pushed beyond her comfort zones but it helps her grow a lot.

+ What makes this book so charming and probably are my favorite parts of this bookis the Gals (the bunch of elderly women at the place she is staying at) who is trying to hook her up with Hutch in subtle ways. And then there is George Bailey the sweetest Great Dane ever! He’s scared of thunder (just like my dog!) and loves to hold toads in his mouth – I loved him so much! Also Katie’s best-friend Beanie was a lot of fun, plus their phone calls are very relatable if you have a best-friend like that.

+ I feel like Katie’s body image issues are so relatable. There were so many times she said something and I was like yeah, I’ve thought that of my body before. It’s crazy and sad to know how mean we can be to our own selves. But you could tell Katie’s issues were painful for her and she’s been working on herself.

+ The romance was a very slow burn, there is no spice, there are a few kisses and that’s it. I think I wanted a little more flirting on Hutch’s part though but I think that’s just his personality. I thought the two of them had a nice friendship and banter going throughout the story.

~ Really wanted a little more chemistry between Katie and Hutch but like I said, I think that’s just both their personalities and it worked for them at least. They are both “love haters”.

~ Pacing wise, I think there was a little lull in the middle, probably because Hutch wasn’t the best at flirting haha, and then there was lots of action at the end which I enjoyed.

Final Thoughts:

Katie and Hutch really complimented each other – they had fun banter and he really helped her with accepting herself but she also helped bring his family closer in a way. I did want more chemistry and flirting but that’s just personal preference. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable read especially with George Bailey, the Gals and Beanie bringing in the charm and the laughs. Definitely a fun read for the summer!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Hello Stranger by. Katherine Center | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Bodyguard by. Katherine Center | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Twisted Throne by. Danielle L. Jensen| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: The Twisted Throne (The Bridge Kingdom, #5)

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Format: ebook (borrowed – libby)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 4/8/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Political Intrigue

A commander who bled to defend her people, Ahnna is haunted by two beliefs. The first is that she failed to protect Ithicana from invasion. And the second is that saving her homeland means leaving it behind forever.

The Maridrinians left Ithicana in ruins and its people impoverished. So when the wealthy kingdom of Harendell claims her as a bride for its crown prince, Ahnna is prepared to do whatever it takes to gain influence as the future queen. And to control the gold that comes with the throne.

Yet Ahnna swiftly discovers that beneath the beautiful surface of Harendell’s court is a dark underbelly built upon schemes, duplicity, and the pursuit of power. The only individual who holds himself above the politics is not her future husband, but his infuriating half brother, James. And as she begins to question whether Harendell is the ally it claims to be, Ahnna finds herself drawn into a forbidden attraction to the wrong prince.

As deadly plots tighten around her, Ahnna must decide whether saving her people will be achieved as a bride…or as a blade.

Content Warning: violence, poison, torture, bullying

+ This is Ahnna’s story. She is the sister of Aren, the King of Ithicana and Lara’s husband. So I was really interested to see what happens to her as she is traveling to Harendell to fulfill the marriage treaty that was set up when she was younger.

+ Ahnna is thrown into a dangerous situation and all around her is political intrigue. The Harendell court seems civil, even reminding me of the British monarchy in a sense with their propriety and rules, but underneath their mask they are vultures – there is always someone playing a game and Ahnna is in over her head.

+ I think the second half of the book was much better and moved quicker with action and so many twists and turns. Who is playing who? When it is revealed, it’s a bombshell. The ending is a cliffhanger.

~ I didn’t like Ahnna in this book because I knew her to be so fierce in the other books but in this one she came off so naive and weak. What happened to her character? I get that she feels guilt but she was making so many missteps I was hoping she would go home like everyone was telling her to do. She is so stubborn. I hope there is some growth in the next book.

~ I hated the Harendell court – clearly they didn’t care for Ahnna yet she insisted she could make this marriage work and sent every one of her people away. I questioned her decisions a lot. I just found it boring – the people, how they functioned, prim and proper yet vicious. For me it made the forbidden romance part lackluster. It was too slow of a slow burn because James is so proper and so loyal to his family. Why did James do a great job of staying away from her? 😑. I didn’t like him, which I was bummed about. There was yearning, but like I said, they weren’t together much.

~ The political intrigue is about a trade war and reminded me of our very realistic trade war taking place in the real world. Was it sometimes fascinating (at the end) – sure? But for the whole of the story, I wasn’t fully into it. There was a lull in the middle and it took me a few days to finally finish this book. I think the story could have been shorter.

Final Thoughts:

This is not my favorite in the series but the ending of the book was amazing. There wasn’t much romance, and I kind of don’t love Ahnna and James together. Or I just don’t like James? I’m not sure yet, I definitely do not like Harendell. Maybe I will have to make my verdict after the next book. .

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

A Fate Inked in Blood by. Danielle L. Jensen | ARC Review (#5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Endless War by. Danielle L. Jensen | Book Review (#4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Inadequate Heir by. Danielle L. Jensen | Book Review (#3) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Traitor Queen |Book Review (#2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review | The Bridge Kingdom (#1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores, #3) | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark Skies | Book Review (Dark Shores, #2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review: Dark Shores (Dark Shores, #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Amalfi Curse by. Sarah Penner | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Amalfi Curse

Author: Sarah Penner

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 4/29/25

Publisher: Park Row

Categories: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Italy

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

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

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ The setting for this story is perfectly set in beautiful and luscious Positano, Italy. I loved it.

+ The story flashbacks from present day to the past where Positano was home to witches who could control the sea. I thought it was fascinating to see how the search for a shipwreck and treasure coincided with the timeline of the past. Haven not only dives to the shipwreck but she uses resources like the archives. I liked the history and the reveal at the end of what happened to Mari and Holmes.

+ The story moves quickly between the past and the present. In both timelines there is tension – with Mari trying to protect the streghe (witches) and the people in her town in general against the Mazza brothers. And in the present timeline, Haven is racing against the clock because a volcano is supposed to erupt, and it puts a wrench in her job. She’s also trying to put off someone else who is trying to find the treasure of the shipwreck before her.

+ There is some romance, which I’m glad is there because it’s Positano, Italy. Haven meeting Enzo just makes everything more lush.

~ Would have loved more tension and drama between Haven and Conrad (the man who’s trying to go after the treasure) just to make things even more exciting.

Final Thoughts:

This is an entertaining read perfect for the summer! It’s set in Italy, has history, magic, witches, romance, search for a shipwreck and a mystery with an interesting reveal.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR } The Lost Apothecary by. Sarah Penner | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Floating World by. Axie Oh | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Floating World (The Floating World, #1)

Author: Axie Oh

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 4/29/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Fantasy, Steampunk, Romance, Young Adult, Korean Mythology Retelling

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

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

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…

Content Warning: violence, death

+The world building in The Floating World is really interesting! It’s fantasy but with steampunk elements – people in the Under World travel by train and an airship. This world is separated into the Under World, which is cast in darkness and The Floating World, where the Celestial Maiden once ruled and has the power of light. The story is a retelling about a myth called the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden and I really enjoyed that.

+ Ren is part of an acrobat troupe but one day her world changes and we find out later who she really is. Sunho, is a mercenary on a mission to find this special girl, and by finding her he could find his brother, Junho. Sunho, was probably my favorite character in this book – he’s a good guy even though he’s missing some memories and I loved how he protected and saved Ren. Ren I thought was a sweet girl throughout the book, even though she’s gone through some challenges. The both of them I thought were sweet together. There isn’t much romance, but I thought it was nice to see their friendship build first, as they are are companions on the road.

+ I think Jaeill is an interesting character also and he was Ren’s friend in the past. I hope book two sheds more light on him and what Ren means to him, if she even means anything to him anymore. His dad is hell-bent on getting rid of Ren so the political intrigue could get more intense in book two.

~ The beginning was a bit slow for me, I felt like I didn’t really get into the story until after a few chapters in. But it does pick and up and end with a great set up into the sequel.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one from Axie Oh who has become a must-read author for me! I loved the retelling of this Korean mythology that I’m unaware of, I love learning myths from different cultures. I thought the world-building was very interesting with a mix of fantasy and steampunk elements and it’s easy to get invested in the characters, especially Sunho, who was my favorite. The romance is sweet and soft which made me feel protective of Sunho and Ren. I’m looking forward to see what happens in the sequel.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

XOXO by. Axie Oh | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ASAP by. Axie Oh | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by. Axie Oh | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Phantasma by. Kaylie Smith | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)

Author: Kaylie Smith

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 497

Publication Date: 9/3/24

Categories: Dark Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Lite Horror, Gothic

Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen in this spicy dark romantasy where a necromancer needs help from a dangerous phantom to win a deadly competition, only to find their partnership puts her at risk of breaking the game’s most vital rule: don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.

The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win… if her fears don’t overtake her first.

When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.

Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.

Content Warning: blood play, violence, horror

+ Not sure what I was expecting with this one but it has a necromancer, devils, and phantoms. It’s also set in New Orleans so I loved the vibes of this story a lot. It’s a melting pot of all things paranormal.

+ Ophelia lost her mom, and now she’s lost her sister too but she’s going to try and find her. Her sister has joined the game Phantasma. Phantasma is a game played in a house of horrors. The game has stages based on the 9 levels of hell (Dante’s Inferno anyone?). Ophelia joins but her sister is in another group separate from hers so they never run into each other. But Ophelia does run into a gorgeous phantom named, Blackwell. Anyway, each stage of the game has some horror to it, and Blackwell bargains with Ophelia to help her get through each stage if she helps him find what will set him free from the house. I did like the haunts for each stage, some were gruesome though, but it adds to the darkness of the story.

+ Ophelia and Blackwell’s relationship I thought was fun to see develop because she’s stressed out (she has OCD and is dealing with very intrusive thoughts) but he’s kind of playful and always teasing her. Of course the attraction gets heated between them, and things get spicy – there is even a scene that involves blood. But yes these two are hot for one another.

~ I did wish the stages had more tension and horror. The stakes didn’t feel high and Ophelia was cruising through them with Blackwell’s help.

~ I didn’t enjoy Blackwell having missing memories. And honestly, I enjoyed the spicy scenes but I also was thinking too much during them. I was like, wait he’s a phantom, can he…ohhhkay, he CAN…how is he doing that? 😅🤔 Yes he can have a corporeal body when he concentrates hard enough – no pun intended lol. Also maybe it was just me, but when Blackwell kept saying “You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven.” That song by the GooGoo Dolls would pop up in my head “you’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be, and I don’t wanna go home right now” (it doesn’t help that I heard that song the same day I finished this book! lol)

~ The ending was kind of anticlimactic.

Final Thoughts:

This is definitely not on Caraval’s level but I still had a fun time reading it. I especially like the dark atmosphere and the creepy house that the game is being played in. Would have liked the ending to be a bit more dramatic maybe to fit the vibes. There’s a lot of spice between a phantom and a necromancer so I’d say overall this was entertaining. Will I read book two? Maybe, but not right away.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Design of Us by. Sajni Patel | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Design of Us

Author: Sajni Patel

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 7/16/24

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, STEM Romance

One impulsive lie leads to a weeklong adventure of fake dating for two bickering coworkers in this swoony destination wedding rom-com.

Sunshine incarnate Bhanu brings big UX energy to whatever she does, including going for the promotion where her only serious competition is her work nemesis, AKA Sunny, the grump with the Denzel voice. She expected to get a reprieve from him while visiting her family in Hawai’i, but the universe has other plans. When Bhanu runs into Sunny at the hotel and witnesses his ex criticizing him about being single, Bhanu does the first thing that comes to she impetuously claims to be Sunny’s girlfriend just to get some peace and quiet. Except Sunny is on island for a friend’s wedding and his ex has already texted the entire wedding party about this mysterious girlfriend.

Bhanu truly is the bane of Sunny’s existence. But the last thing he wants to do is cause tension during his friend’s wedding festivities, much less be the object of their pity. He has no choice except to play along, if only he and Bhanu can put aside their quarreling and act like a real couple.

Between Bhanu’s hilariously meddling family and Sunny’s ecstatic friends, the two are pushed closer together, even as stress mounts over the impending promotion.

They say what happens on island, stays on island. But as Sunny and Bhanu let their guards down, will either of them be able to resist this romantic getaway without crossing the line?

Content Warning: toxic ex

+ I admit this cover sucked me in because of the vibrant colors and then the story takes place in Hawai’i (the Big Island) and I’m on Oahu so I wanted to see how the author portrayed the Big Island.

+ Bhanu and Sunny are coworkers. She works in UX (user experience) and he’s a coder and I thought them being in this tech job that I don’t know a lot about was fascinating. Sunny’s ex thinks he’s a robot with no feelings, and always working. Bhanu is always working just like him, but she also has social anxiety. They do not get a long at work, but when they coincidentally find one another staying at the same island in Hawai’i – things get interesting.

+ I think the author did a great job portraying the Big Island. I have family that live there and sadly haven’t visited in years but the beauty, the humidity, the various landscapes, culture, and food is showcased really nicely in this story. She also even brings up the issue of tourism in our islands, where it is our main economy but how it takes it’s toll on the islands and the workers of the industry. My mom worked in a hotel so Bhanu’s sister working at a hotel was spot on.

+ The romance is a very slow burn. But I loved how they went from enemies to wild for each other mostly because of their personalities. Sunny, despite his name is grumpy and closed off. Bhanu is much more free-spirited but she also likes control and she has social anxiety – the two of them are workaholics and ambitious but also like to have space.

+ The themes of friendship and family was great.

~ Sunny’s ex, Sejal, is really awful, especially causing that kind of drama during their friend’s wedding. Not cool. But her making Sunny feel like he was not good enough irked me.

~ I wish this wasn’t a closed-door romance. It’s totally fine but they had so much tension, it would have been fun to have their sexy scenes detailed a bit more but that’s a personal request lol.

~ Also, I think the author mentions Sunny’s voice sounding like Denzel a little too many times! 😅 I was starting to picture Denzel Washington in Sunny’s role.

Final Thoughts:

This is a perfect romance to read by the pool or at the beach during a hot summer’s day. It’s got fun tropes like one room, one bed, destination wedding, fake dating, and co-workers. Overall, I enjoyed this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by. Sajni Patel | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Four Ruined Realms by. Mai Corland | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades, #2)

Author: Mai Corland

Narrator: Donald Chang, Greg Chun, Zion Jang, Sophie Oda, Jaine Ye, Roger Yeh

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 432 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 13 hours 31 minutes

Publication Date: 1/7/25

Categories: Fantasy, LGBT+, Series, Romance

The King of Yusan may be the greatest liar of them all.

His sister’s ring is in his sights, and he will do anything to get what he wants. Even manipulating the five blades to steal it…

Bonded by a common enemy, then divided by deceit, the blades must rely on their skills to pull off King Joon’s pursuit or risk his legendary wrath.

A foreign rule of law stands between them and Quilimar, the Queen of Khitan. Now they have one month to steal the powerful Golden Ring of the Dragon Lord. But that impossible task might be easier than trusting one another, even though their lives, their families, and the realms depend on it.

They can all agree on one thing: the king can’t win. But can they beat him at his own game?

Because for the blades, this time it’s not just personal, it’s revenge. Lies may have torn them apart, but now vengeance will bring them together.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of pleasure houses (prostitution)

+ This audiobook picks up after the first book. This crew of assassins have a mission to retrieve a certain ring. Tiyung is the only one not there with them, he is imprisoned and separated from Sora.

+ The narrators again do such a good job with each character and this is a big cast – there are 6 POVS. Sora was my favorite in book one but in this book I think everyone is even, but Mikail I don’t like and never did since book one only because he can be such a jerk. Sora becomes nicer in this one whereas in book one she felt like the coldest killer of them all but her motivations have definitely changed after the events that has happened. There is an interesting new character, Hannah.

+ Royo and Aeri is the only one with a growing romance this time, whereas in book one all three couples were having some sort of romance. But since Sora and Tiyung are separated and Euyn and Mikail have drama, it’s only Royo and Aeri who caved into their desires. But it’s very mild spice.

+~ The story moves really quick because of the short chapters and there is some action. I felt like it moved faster than book one but because I’m listening to it as an audiobook I also feel like I miss a lot of details.

~ For most of the book they are traveling to get to the location of the ring, so when they finally do, in the end, it’s full of action. So for me, the ending is really the best part.

Final Thoughts:

I think because I listened to book one and book two back to back I’ve been motivated to finish the series. The narrators do a great job as usual and the story moves quickly because of the different POVs and short chapters. Overall, I found the story entertaining and a solid sequel. I look forward to finishing the series when I get a copy of the audiobook for book three.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Five Broken Blades by. Mai Corland | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Their Vicious Games by. Joelle Wellington | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Their Vicious Games

Author: Joelle Wellington

Narrator: Ariel Blake

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 416 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 12 hours

Publication Date: 7/25/23

Categories: Young Adult, Thriller, Horror

A Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren’t just high, they’re deadly, in this searing thriller that’s Ace of Spades meets Squid Game with a sprinkling of The Bachelor.

You must work twice as hard to get half as much.

Adina Walker has known this the entire time she’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy—a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England. It’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything.

And it does. One fight, one moment of lost control, leaves Adina blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college and any other. Her only chance to regain the future she’s sacrificed everything for is The Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater’s founding family in which twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door.

But when she arrives at the Finish, Adina quickly gets the feeling that something isn’t quite right with both the Remingtons and her competition, and soon it becomes clear that this larger-than-life prize can only come at an even greater cost. Because the Finish’s stakes aren’t just make or break…they’re life and death.

Adina knows the deck is stacked against her—it always has been—so maybe the only way to survive their vicious games is for her to change the rules.

Content Warning: violence, murder

Adina, a Black girl, who’s chances to go to Yale slips away because of an incident at school has another chance. She’s invited to the Finish, at the Remington estate. The Remington’s are a very powerful and wealthy family who could make her dreams come true – if she wins the Finish. The moment Adina enters the Remington home with the other girls invited to this event, she knows something is off and what takes place is a horror no one in the outside world is aware of.

I like the drama in this story. Adina has an enemy, Esme, and she’s also competing in the Finish. So it’s tense in the house where all these girls are trying to compete and even kill for the chance to win. The crazy thing is going to an Ivy League school isn’t the only prize, they are also going to marry the heir of the Remington wealth – Pierce. This story is like a modern day Hunger Games and The Bachelor combined.

The narrator did a wonderful job with the story. And I was entertained for sure, especially with that bloody, wild ending! It is violent – these girls have to use weapons, which is crazy. And the fact that these rich people found this entertainment was sickening.

Final Thoughts:

If you like social horror, I think you will definitely like this one. Adina is fighting against all the odds and finds out in the end, her dreams of Yale and becoming a possible Remington is not quite worth killing for. My eyes were like this 😳 as I listened to the ending!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Five Broken Blades by. Mai Corland | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Five Broken Blades (The Broken Blades, #1)

Author: Mai Corland

Narrator: Donald Chang, Greg Chun, Zion Jang, Sophie Oda, Jaine Ye, Roger Yeh

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 352 / Audio Reading Time: 7 hours 28 minutes

Publication Date: 5/6/24

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Romance, LGBT+

It’s the season
for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

Content Warning: violence, sexism

I don’t know if it was a good idea to listen to this as an audiobook only because I can’t keep the names straight in my head. There are a bunch of characters but it did help that each chapter was in the POV of a different character. There are five blades plus one (a prince who is along for the job). Plus the chapters are short so it kept the story moving along. The narrators did such a great job, it made the listening of this audiobook enjoyable!

These five blades are tasked to kill the King of Yusan. Each of them have their own motivations in wanting to take on this job, and each has their own way of wanting to accomplish the task. Most of the story is about them meeting one another on their way to do this job, they are suspicious of one another but eventually come to trust each other and come up with a plan. But there is a twist in the end.

During this story there are three romances brewing – one a second chance romance between two guys, a prince and one of the assassins. They have a past love affair but things happen and now here they are again – the attraction is still there. Royo and Aeri was very much opposites attract and I thought they were fun, because Royo is such a grump but definitely a forced proximity situation (actually for all couples)! As for Sora and Ty, she hates him because he’s the son of the spymaster she works for, yet Ty’s always been in love with her so I thought their story was fun to watch too.

I feel like Sora’s story stood out to me the most because she’s like Poison Ivy plus she’s trying to save her sister.

Like any long story with tons of characters, it was at first hard to follow. It’s why I feel like maybe I should have read this book instead of listened to it, but the narrators did such a great job.

Final Thoughts:

I finally can knock this one off my TBR list and I already borrowed the book two in audiobook! Even though there were lots going on in the story and with lots of characters to remember, I found it entertaining and want to see what happens next in the series.