Everything I Promised You by. Katy Upperman | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Everything I Promised You

Author: Katy Upperman

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 1/28/25

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Young Adult, Grief, 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 Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An emotionally raw and romantic YA novel perfect for fans of Laura Nowlin’s If He Had Been with Me.

Their love was written in the stars, but how is Lia to move on when death trumps fate?

When Lia’s mom was 17, she had her fortune told and learned her only daughter was fated to fall in love with her best friend’s son. Life unfolded exactly as predicted, and despite the army-brat lifestyle bringing them in and out of each other’s orbit, Lia and Beckett were meant to be. Or so they thought.

When a freak heart attack steals Beck’s life, Lia is devastated and unmoored. She lived her life by her mom’s old fortune; if she was fated to be with Beck, and Beck is gone, who is she supposed to be? And is there room in her broken heart for life, let alone another love?

Content Warning: death, grief, foster care

Likes:

+ Lia (Amelia) is grieving. The love of her life has died and she doesn’t know how to go on. Being an Army brat, she’s attended more schools than most kids but now at this new school she has to deal with new changes, new friends and her grief.

+ I thought this was such a heart-warming story because of how close Beck and Lia’s mom’s were close throughout their lives (soulmates) and that’s how Beck and Lia had been in each other’s lives since birth. The story portrays the different people feeling grief, not only Lia, and I like that. Her grief is painful and relatable. I also love how this story starts with a fortune teller and her mother. And it really questions what happens when the plans you’ve made are destroyed and how you get back up and forge a new plan and path.

+ Lia is not only dealing with grief. It is her senior year, so she has some hard decisions to make about her plans after high school. But she does try hard to make friends, and she meets a really good group of girls who support her immediately. She even finds her heart opening to someone new, who is really a great guy. I love that even through all the pain, she is ready to live her life again.

+ The romance is slow and sweet! There are flashbacks about her relationship with Beck, but her new relationship with Isaiah is so different and I love that for her. I like how he gives her space. Isaiah has had a hard upbringing too and foster care is a topic discussed in this book. These two broken people come together and it’s a wonderful love story.

Dislikes:

~ I’m not a fan of flashbacks but I like how this showed how young and sweet Beck and Lia’s love is but also was flawed in hindsight.

~ Lia’s relationship with her parents is strained but I can understand why because grieve is a chaotic place to be. I just wish she let her mom in more, but I get it. I totally get it.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story. I like how it takes a look at young love and grief. My heart broke for Lia because I can relate to her story – how do you move on when the plans for your future is destroyed in one moment? It’s a hard journey and Lia’s story reflects how sometimes it’s bittersweet but also how there is hope for the future, and there is more life and love to give and receive if you are open to it.

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Amid Clouds and Bones by. Ella Fields | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Amid Clouds and Bones

Author: Ella Fields

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 403

Publication Date: 7/23/24

Categories: Romantasy, Spicy, Fae, Fantasy, Romance

A princess determined to survive an arranged marriage to a heartless faerie prince is saved by a twist of fate that could destroy their world in this all-new standalone fantasy romance.

As the half faerie daughter of a human king, my days were spent tucked out of sight—until the Seelie Fae sought an alliance with our kingdom. In exchange for my father’s help in defeating their Unseelie enemies, I would wed Atakan the heartless.

The Seelie prince loathed everyone, but none more than me. Throughout the years leading to our nuptials, each encounter grew more terrifying than the last as he demonstrated how he’d earned his infamous reputation.

Fear would only doom me faster. So I learned to hide it with games I soon became happy to play. I wasn’t supposed to crave a monster. But just when I’d thought I might tame the untameable, fate intervened.

And delivered me straight to his enemy.

This fast-paced standalone features true enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, high heat, and a cast of morally grey and villainous characters.

Content Warning: violence, grief, dark romance

This book jumps right away into the romance. It’s between Prince Mildred (half fae/human) and Prince Akatan of the Seelie. They positively loathe one another but to survive in his kingdom as his betrothed, she seduces him instead. They seduce each other, and yes it’s spicy.

And though I did enjoy the hate-seduction going on somewhat, it did feel dark. There isn’t a lot of world-building so the seduction/romance was the main focus. Mildred is caught in between this war with the Seelie and Unseelie, but the story focuses on her survival and her choice in how to survive is seducing her soon-to-be husband. But in between the power plays and insults to one another, they eventually fall for one another. But I almost didn’t believe Atakan because he’s a horrible person. 😅 There is also a love-triangle but once again it was Mildred getting caught up in the politics.

Now, Mildred is an interesting character. I loved that she has a close connection to her sister, but this girl was falling for guys pretty easily Atakan was the bad boy, and Vane the Unseelie king, is a supposed bad boy too but he was actually nice? She’s basically a pawn and I get she’s trying to survive her situation, but I kind of wanted more out of her. Sex was her power but I wanted more.

Final Thoughts:

I didn’t feel like this story got deep and that’s fine because once I realized it was more romance heavy then I stayed for the enemies to lovers vibes. It’s got Fae, lots of spice, two characters hate/loving one another, some political intrigue, shifters, and dragon creatures. Overall, it was a quick read and I was entertained.

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Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Format: eBook (Libby)

Pages: 371

Publication Date: 4/6/2006

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Teen

Last year, Annabel was “the girl who has everything” — at least that’s the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf’s Department Store.

This year, she’s the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen’s help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Content Warning: sexual assault, eating disorder

So I’m reading this for my read the month (spell the month) challenge and this is for J in January. I read this back in 2006! Yes, I’m old but I was such a big Sarah Dessen back then because it felt like real stories that I related to especially when it came to coming of age as a teen or dealing with complicated family dynamics.

Reading it so many years later 😅 and now as an adult who’s gone through so much – I still appreciate how real this story feels. Annabel is a teen girl, who models for local commercials and ads, she seems to have it all, even two beautiful older sisters who were models too.

But as Annabel tells her story I am immersed in her life. She doesn’t have it all, her sister is dealing with an eating disorder, her best friend hates her, and she’s holding onto a secret and trauma.

I also love that the romance is not the main focus of this book. Owen and Annabel starts out as friends and the more time they spend together it blossoms into something more but it never overtakes the story.

Quotes from the Book:

“I was beginning to see, though, that the unknown wasn’t always the greatest thing to fear. The people who know you best can be riskier, because the words they say and the things they think have the potential to be not only scary but true, as well.”
Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen

“So many versions of just one memory, and yet none of them were right or wrong. Instead, they were all pieces. Only when fitted together, edge to edge, could they even begin to tell the whole story.”
Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen

“I could pretend to leave the past behind, but it would not leave me.”
Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen

“There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you’d better learn to know the sound of it. Otherwise you’ll never understand what it’s saying.”
Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen

“All you could do was take on as much weight as you can bear. And if you’re lucky, there’s someone close enough by to shoulder the rest.
Just Listen by. Sarah Dessen

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I still enjoyed the story and kind of miss stories like this. I feel like now I read so much fantasy to escape reality but back in 2006 when I was looking for authors writing about relatable teen and young adult stories, this is what I was addicted to reading, even if by then I was in my 20’s! It’s a quick read and Annabel is a quiet character, because that was kind of her role in her family but I liked seeing her grow and learn more about herself and her strength while hanging out with Owen. Also, because this was published in the early 2000’s I loved how it brought me back to burning CDs and making playlists for people, definitely felt the nostalgia of it.

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The Rival by. Emma Lord | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Rival

Author: Emma Lord

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 1/21/25

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Rivals to Lovers, Coming of Age

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

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

Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.

Likes:

+ I love a rivals to lovers romance and this offers all the fighting and chemistry between two people who are trying to ignore the attraction between them. I especially love that Sadie and Seb have known one another since they were little! I loved seeing them go from frenemies to lovers.

+ This is a coming of age story as well as a romance. Sadie and Seb both are in their first year of college and though Sadie knows what she wants, she’s not sure what her family would think of her dreams of being a comedic writer. As for Seb, he’s not sure what path is right for himself but though he and Sadie are rivals, they definitely do push one another to be better versions of themselves – usually.

+ I thought the college experience was captured really well in this story – I loved all the antics, campus life, and shenanigans with the clubs. Also, Betty was awesome.

Dislikes:

~ There were times I wished Sadie would let up on the competition with Seb and their little falling out felt a bit overdramatic on Sadie’s part.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one because I loved the college campus life portrayed in the story. The rivals to lovers romance was full of fighting, banter and chemistry. Overall, I thought it was a fun story!

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Book Links:

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Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Break-Up Pact by. Emma Lord | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Getaway List by. Emma Lord | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Begin Again by. Emma Lord | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When You Get the Chance by. Emma Lord | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Anathema by. Keri Lake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

Author: Keri Lake

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 688

Publication Date: 9/10/24

Categories: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Romantasy, Gothic, Enemies to Lovers

A spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm’s forbidden boundary, into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.

Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods …

There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to die. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near it.

Or the banished.

Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.

It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.

If only he could.

Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.

Including himself.

Anathema is a full-length, gothic dark fantasy, the first book in The Eating Woods duology. Perfect for readers who enjoy a plot-heavy and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance and a touch of horror.

Content Warning: grief, trauma, child abuse, sexual abuse, abuse, violence, horror, sexual assault, threat of rape, body horror

I picked this book to read for my Spell the Month tbr challenge because the title starts with an A, so I can fulfill ones of the A’s for the month of January. So I went into this pretty blind!

I don’t think I’ve read a book this dark in a long while. This story is told between two POVs, Maevyth, who is a mortal and Zevander, who lives in another world. The mortal world Maevyth lives in is pretty horrible. Women have no rights, any girl caught in a scandal is left to the Eating Woods and it happens to her sister, Aleysia but Maevyth will not give her up. Zevander is a cold-hearted assassin and he has a lot on his plate: trying to break the curse upon him, trying to keep his family safe, and carrying out jobs for the king. When these two cross paths, it’s a slow, SLOW, burn filled with desire and challenges. But I did love their interactions when they were together! The romance comes together at the end but it really took a long time to get there.

As characters, I like Maevyth – she loves her sister, fights for her and she’s the sunshine to Zevander’s darkness. As for Zevander, he is a complicated man with such a traumatic past. Some of his trauma was too dark for me that I almost didn’t want to finish the book. The slow burn was so slow and this is not a short book, it’s just under 700 pages!

Also with the 600+ pages and so much going, I felt it was too long. I did find myself invested in Maevyth’s mysterious past and wanting Zevander to break the curse but there were times I did have to skim, like when Maevyth was training and learning all the lore about the Corvikae – there was just a lot of world building. I felt like more action in the middle would have moved the story faster.

But the author did a great job with the dark, horror (the spiders!, and body horror), gothic vibes. The atmosphere of this world is dangerous, brutal and very much not so kind to women. I also felt sick with the sexual and physical abuse that Zevander relives in memories and nightmares – poor guy.

Final Thoughts:

This one was almost too dark for me to read but I did like Maevyth and Zevander’s love story even though it was a very slow burn. I thought the world-building was fascinating even though the story was very long. Will I read book two? I think I will because I want to see how it goes for Maevyth and Zevander, and hello, that cliffhanger? I’m just too curious to see what will happen next but I just hope it isn’t 600+ pages long again.😬

Book Links:

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Nature of Frost by. Jus Accardo | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Nature of Frost (Omen of Ice, #2)

Author: Jus Accardo

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 363

Publication Date: 1/13/25

Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult

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

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

A dying kingdom on thin ice…

Not so long ago, druid Keltania Tunne thought she knew the world—and her place in it. Magic was all but dead, and the kingdom torn apart. Then she was sent to the court of the Winter Fae and charged with the protection of Valen, the icily arrogant prince who some believed would bring about the destruction of them all…

Instead, he brought magic.

The greed for magic nearly destroyed their world, and its return could plunge them all back into chaos—or unite the estranged fae courts…if they move quickly.

Now Keltania and Valen must navigate the temperamental fae, their insidious secrets, and an enemy who would cleave the kingdom in two in the name of vengeance—all the while hiding the truth of their connection.

Its magic. Its remarkable power. And its ability to crush their hearts in two.

But no one knows that Valen struck a secret bargain with their enemy…and soon everyone in the land will face the consequences.

Content Warning: Cursing

This is book two in the Omen of Ice series, but unfortunately I never read book one! I didn’t realize when I requested this book that it was the sequel so that’s my fault.

So not having read book one and jumping straight into book two, I was a bit lost. That’s when I realized my mistake. I pushed on anyway, hoping that eventually I would get the gist of what I was reading. From what I could gather, Valen is a reluctant leader, and I found his personality to be humorous, he had a dry humor. Tania, the druid, is someone he has a connection with, they can read each other’s minds and are attracted to one another but can’t be with one another. But they both work together to defeat their enemy.

I couldn’t quite connect to the characters because I didn’t read book one but I found the kelpie, Daroose, pretty funny. I did find the story moved quickly and had lots of action.

Final Thoughts:

For a sequel in a series I never read I think this was a solid book. I think fans of the first book will enjoy this conclusion.

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Yes No Maybe by. Jessica Sherry | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Yes No Maybe

Author: Jessica Sherry

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 330

Publication Date: 4/30/24

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Slow Burn, Chick Lit

Teacher and fix-it queen Rowan Mackey avoids attention. Afflicted with serious burns as a teenager, she gets too many unwanted stares already. Consequently, her difficult dating history has taught her to dislike romance, too. So, it’s no surprise when her boyfriend’s extravagant public proposal goes sideways.

Longing for a safe, quiet life with Dean and believing his “independent together” arrangement is her best hope for companionship and a family, Rowan buys the perfect little house to fix things.

Problem is… she shares a property line with Jack Graham, a bestselling romance writer and party-centric playboy, who quickly becomes her next door nemesis. He makes it very clear—he doesn’t want a new neighbor. But when clashes with Rowan end his year-long writer’s block, he must explore his creative fascination with his reluctant muse under atypical Neighbor. Engaged. Off-limits.

These opposites attract, forging a surprise connection. Boundaries vanish as tension rises between them, and they face emotionally charged choices.

Will Rowan risk her safe life with Dean for a chance with the grumpy playboy next door? And will Jack change everything to find the inspiration he craves with the one woman he shouldn’t?

Content Warning: grief, trauma, memories of assault

I picked this book to read for my Spell the Month tbr challenge because the title starts with a Y, so I can fulfill that letter for the month of January. And I was so pleasantly surprise with this book!

Rowan lives with mental scars but very physical ones too – which came from an incident from childhood. It puts some people off so she’s had to struggle with dating and just putting herself out there in general but I really liked Rowan. She’s a teacher, and you know how kids can be cruel but she shows throughout this story how tough she is and caring. I like how she willingly takes in a foster kid even when it’s a challenge. She’s strong, and generous and I like that about her.

Jack is her neighbor and he’s a playboy. He’s also a famous romance writer and at first they do not get along. But what I loved about this story is that we get to watch their relationship progress from enemies, to friendship and ultimately to lovers but it’s not a rush. It’s definitely a slow burn.

The found family scenario with Rowan, Jack and the neighbors was so cute and heartwarming. I love how they had a newsletter.

There was a lot of issues when it came to Rowan and relationships but it was totally understandable. Jack made a few mistakes trying to show her how he felt but I liked seeing what these two people do to make things work.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this romance and I’m glad I picked it up even though I didn’t know anything about it or the author. I look forward to reading more books from her!

Book Links:

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Ruin by. Gillian Eliza West | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Ruin (The Infernis Duology, #1)

Author: Gillian Eliza West

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 388

Publication Date: 10/15/24

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, New Adult, Retelling of Hades and Persephone

Oralia Solis hasn’t felt the touch of another in 245 years. Not without them crumbling to ash at her feet. Cursed by the bite of a daemoni, she has been sequestered away for the greater good of Aethera by her adopted father, King Typhon.

King Renwick rules the rival kingdom of Infernis, the land of the dead. When Oralia flees the palace of Aethera after her power is let loose with deadly results, he recognizes her potential as a weapon and aids her escape.

Oralia finds herself the prisoner of the man she has been taught to fear most, and Renwick is surprised to find there is more to this princess than her untamed powers. Despite the gulf of secrets and magic between them, Renwick can’t deny the pull he feels towards her, and Oralia struggles to resist the one person who cannot only survive her touch, but craves it.

As Oralia uncovers the truth of her parentage and masters her magic, she will discover that the power to raze or save either Aethera or Infernis lies in her hands. War between the two kingdoms looms and she must decide who she can trust and which she wants more: power or love.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

This is a retelling of Hades and Persephone, one of my favorite mythologies and I think it’s done well with some minor issues.

I found the story-telling immersive with good, easy world-building. It was easy to follow. Oralia has been fed a story about the Under King and how evil he is. She believes he plays a role in her mother’s death. King Typhon has been her guardian and the only father she’s only known but when she acquires dark powers which basically allows her to kill with a touch that leaves her living a life of longing, pain and never feeling like she belonged.

When I realized this was another story about a female main character who can’t touch anyone, I went into this apprehensive because it’s not my favorite trope and add to that the Under King has “shadows”, another one I don’t favor. I was going in thinking I was not going to like this book. But I was proved wrong!

I think what I mostly enjoyed about this book was the love story, which is a slow burn, but then it gets spicy. And yes that’s usually a formula for romantasy books but this one didn’t fall into the fated mates category that I sometimes dread, but actually was two gods, both who have trauma, falling in love with each other. I like that the love is shown from both sides. I like a man who isn’t afraid to say and show how he feels. At times the story even gave me Beauty and the Beast vibes. Anyway, I found Oralia and Ren’s love story to be very beautiful.

My issues? The word “sigh” was used a lot! Characters were sighing so much in one chapter that it stood out to me and unfortunately made me aware of the word each time I saw it throughout the book! Also, the beginning felt slow but I think that’s just because it was the world-building being laid out.

Final Thoughts:

I had some minor issues but overall I read this in two days. My favorite thing about this story was the romance. I love a Hades/Persephone retelling and this one was slow and spicy but still romantic. I’ll definitely be reading book two!

Book Links:

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Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by. Kate Pearsall | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow, #2)

Author: Kate Pearsall

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 1/7/25

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Categories: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, Paranormal, 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 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A beautifully dark YA set in Appalachia tinged with magic, mystery, murder, and romance. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls! As Caball Hollow slowly recovers after a tumultuous summer, the James family must also come to terms with their own newly revealed secrets.

18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies and no one is who they seem to be. So when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the Forest that surrounds Caball Hollow.

Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?

Content Warning: violence

I really enjoyed Bittersweet in the Hollow, the first book in this series. I love the James women!

We are back in Caball Hollow which is in the Appalachia mountains of West Virginia. It’s an eerie small town and the James women history with witchcraft, the bone tree, the Moth-Winged man stories and now sightings of the Wampus Cat just adds to it all. I enjoy the lore of the James women and the atmosphere of the setting.

I feel like this book is way more atmospheric than book one and much more creepy. Rowan, one of my favorite of the James sisters, because of her fiery personality, she is restless but she finds her calling when she is forced to volunteer for the Forest Service and she is one brave young lady. She is alone in the forest except for basically a treehouse and a walkie-talkie. For someone young, she’s really responsible and doesn’t complain about things, which I love about her.

The mystery about community members missing items and essentially maybe missing parts of themselves is what brings Rowan and Hadrian (the Moth-Winged Man) together. Between these two and their attraction to one another, we learn more about the forest, the Otherworld, the bone tree, and what would happen if the bone tree died. I also loved the storyline about Zephyrine who is Gran’s lost sister.

I do feel like this book was help transitioning to what’s going to happen with book three and so I feel like we didn’t get to know Rowan as much as I wanted. We were in her head a lot which is great but I wanted to see her interact more with her sisters and Hadrian. I loved her scenes with Hadrian but I love them so much I wanted more.

My Thoughts:

This is a great sequel and I can’t wait to read more about the James sisters and Caball Hollow!

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Bittersweet in the Hollow by. Kate Pearsall | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Starlight Heir by. Amalie Howard | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Starlight Heir

Author: Amalie Howard

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 1/5/25

Publisher: Avon

Categories: New Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Series

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

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

A bladesmith with the power of the stars in her blood and a prince with a dangerous secret will fight to save their kingdom in this spicy and spellbinding romantasy inspired by Persian and Indian mythology—perfect for readers of Sarah J. Maas and Thea Guanzon.

To save the realm from eternal darkness, she’ll have to choose between the truth and the lie—stand and fight or kneel and die.

“His Imperial Majesty, King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.”

When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.

But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who draws her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the starbringer—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.

When the rebels carry out a brutal strike, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the starbringer. But Roshan is hiding secrets of his own. And with no control of the power that seems to be stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of the old gods themselves…and the interest of one dark god in particular might be the biggest threat of all.

Content Warning: death, violence, war, profanity

I was stunned by this book cover and had to request it. Here are my thoughts:

This book was a wild ride. I like the world-building and the mythology about stars and the gods. I think there is more to explore in this world but in this book there is magic, runes, prophecy, and chiromancy. I really enjoyed all the aspects of the world-building.

Suraya is invited with a bunch of girls to the palace in Kaldari because Prince Javen is looking for a wife. So this reminded a bit of the story The Selection, but then the story takes a turn for something different. I found Sura to be a fiesty, headstrong, but funny character. Her relationship with her best-friend Laleh is sweet and funny. And when she meets Roshan, their friendship grows as well, but into something way more.

The romance is spicy and their chemistry is fun but I feel like book two will be taken into a new direction. Suraya and Roshan’s romance is really sweet, not much conflict and they make a good couple except for some trust issues.

This story is filled with politics and Suraya gets caught in the middle of it because the powers that have manifested inside of her. She has to learn to control her powers and figure out what her role is with everything going on around her. There is a lot of action and it especially gets wild at the end!

I did have some issues with the story. I don’t mind profanity, but there were times the characters had modern speech and that threw me off a little. Also, there is a character, who is very mystery and we only get a few scenes of him. I know he will probably appear more in book two, but it was kind of maddening not knowing who he is and how he ties into everything. Also, I felt like Suraya’s talent as a blacksmith wasn’t really a focus of the story and I’d have liked to see her use that talent more. At times I felt like the story was all over the place.

My Thoughts:

I had some issues with this story and thought at some moments too much was going on, but overall I was entertained. I enjoyed the romance, the spice, the world-building and am looking forward to see what will happen in the next book.