Tag: romance

Book Review: Silver & Blood, by Jessie Mihalik

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Title: Silver & Blood
Author: Jessie Mihalik            
Genre: Fantasy   
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

There’s something in the woods…

Untrained and barely armed, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forest and kill the deadly beast that has been attacking her fellow villagers as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought. When one beast turns into two, she fears her death is at hand, but unexpected aid from a scarred, strikingly handsome man with dangerous moonlit magic means a second chance at life—and an opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from her fight in the forest, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. Riela soon learns Garrick is not a mortal mage at all—he’s a powerful Etheri sovereign who has been locked out of his kingdom in Lohka for nearly a century, and his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets connecting Riela’s past to Lohka, the tenuous threads of trust between them begin to fray because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.

I just enjoyed this read. I liked the world and the culture and the characters. Did the “twists” surprise me? Not really, but I’ve read a lot of fantasy. That didn’t make me enjoy it less, though. I liked Riela’s spunk and her determination—even when I knew it was going to lead to some stupid decisions. Would I read more, just for fun? Absolutely!

Jessie Mihalik lives in Texas. Silver & Blood is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon in exchange for an honest review.)

   

Book Review and Blog Tour: Anne of a Different Island, by Virginia Kantra    

Title: Anne of a Different Island
Author: Virginia Kantra             
Genre: Fiction  
Rating: 4 out of 5

She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same fiery imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

This was a cute read. It actually felt as bit like a comfort read: I knew Anne and Joe would end up together, I just didn’t know all the twists and turns. All the similarities and callbacks to Anne of Green Gables were fun, too, especially Anne introducing a new generation to her favorite books. This was a solid read.

Virginia Kantra is a bestselling author. Anne of a Different Island is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley in exchange for an honest review.)

 

Book Review: An Academic Affair, by Jodi McAlister    

Image belongs to Atria Books.

Title: An Academic Affair
Author: Jodi McAlister      
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since they first crossed paths as undergraduates in the literature department thirteen years ago. Now that a highly coveted teaching opportunity has come up, their rivalry hits epic proportions. Jonah needs the job to move closer to his recently divorced sister and her children, while Sadie needs the financial security and freedom of a full-time teaching position.

When Sadie notices that the job offers partner hire, however, she hatches a plot to get them both the job. All they must do is get legally married. It’s a simple win-win solution but when sparks begin to fly, it becomes clear that despite their education, these two may not have thought this whole thing through.

I enjoyed this read for the most part, but the middle felt like it dragged quite a bit and the drama between Sadie and her sister was…unnecessary. The enemies-to-lovers trope was fine. The miscommunication trope, especially between the sisters, was a bit much. All of the academic minutiae also got a bit grating, taking away from the dynamic between Sadie and Jonah—which was the best part of the book.

Jodi McAlister is from New South Wales. An Academic Affair is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)

 

Book Review: Mint to Be, by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc    

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Title: Mint to Be      
Author: Katie Cicatelli-Kuc        
Genre: YA, romance  
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 

It’s been eight months since seventeen-year-old Emma left the quaint town of Briar Glen to attend boarding school in New York City. Now, she’s back—and she’s not Her new boyfriend, Sam, has come to visit the most picturesque village in New England during the most magical time of the year.

But there’s a chill in the air, and not just because it’s winter. Emma’s best friend, Aiden, isn’t all too happy to see her after she left without so much as a goodbye. He and Emma have known each other since elementary school, and they used to do everything together. They even share a favorite a peppermint hot chocolate from their favorite coffee shop, Cup o’ Jo. This was where Emma first told Aiden she was thinking of leaving Briar Glen. It was also where Aiden had planned to confess his growing feelings for Emma — before she showed him her acceptance letter and everything changed.

With Emma back in the picture — and with a new boyfriend in tow — will she and Aiden be able to break the ice?

This was cute, although the idea of Emma and Aiden being best friends and not talking for six months—of her leaving town without even telling him—was hard for me to believe. It was fairly predictable and I was never in any doubt that Emma’s boyfriend would end up being a total jerk and she’d get with Aiden, so there seemed like a lot of unnecessary angst going on here, but it was a quick read.

Katie Cicatelli-Kuc Lives in the Hudson Valley. Mint to Be is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Scholastic | Scholastic Inc. in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Overdue, by Stephanie Perkins

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books.

Title: Overdue    
Author: Stephanie Perkins          
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 3.0

Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?

Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They’ll take a one-month break to date other people, then they’ll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in mind: her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she’s secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they’re not ready to resume their relationship― and Ingrid’s harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.

Hmm. I loved the idea of this, especially being surrounded by books all the time, but this was the slowest, foot-dragging “romance” ever. EVER. The writing was solid and I liked the setting, but the premise of Ingrid and Cory being together for forever and then suddenly deciding they need a one-month break to get it out of their system or whatever was ridiculous. And Ingrid and Macon’s “slow burn” was so slow as to be almost a farce. Despite my love of books about books, this did not work that well for me.

Stephanie Perkins is a bestselling author. Overdue is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books in exchange for an honest review.)

  

Book Review: Charlie Quinn Lets Go, by Jamie Varon

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row.

Title: Charlie Quinn Lets Go  
Author: Jamie Varon        
Genre: Fiction    
Rating: 4 out of 5

Charlie Quinn has spent her life playing by the rules. But when, on her thirtieth birthday, she is laid off, her boyfriend leaves her because their life is too “predictable” and she spends the night with violent food poisoning, she hits rock bottom at a stunning velocity, and her carefully constructed world unravels.

She has no choice but to return to her childhood home in LA, where her little sister strikes up an idea: Can control freak Charlie go a whole month saying yes to anything her free-spirited sister requests? Charlie agrees, if only to prove that living by one’s whims will result in nothing but disaster and disappointment.

But when a serendipitous encounter with her high school crush leads to a month of steamy no-strings romance, Charlie starts questioning her monotonous existence. Can she learn to loosen her grip, to let go of past heartbreak, to finally say yes to a messy, bold and exciting life?

At first, I was not sure I was going to like Charlie enough to keep reading this. She was so rigid and uptight it made my skin crawl. I can understand her frustration with her mom and sister growing up—that lackadaisical way of life would have driven me crazy, too. But I can’t imagine being so regimented as to eat the same exact thing every single day for years, and wearing the same thing every day, too. I enjoyed reading Charlie’s journey and her realization that life could be so much more.

Jamie Varon is a bestselling author. Charlie Quinn Lets Go is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: You Make It Feel like Christmas, by Sophie Sullivan  

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin.

Title: You Make It Feel like Christmas
Author: Sophie Sullivan  
Genre: Romance   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Maisie Smart has a don’t-look-back policy–not on the choice she made to be a photographer (despite her family’s wishes) and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. Sleeping with someone she barely knew was out of character; sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Getting invited to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farm with her family this Christmas is a sure way to fill her with holiday spirit. Until the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans in the form of the one man she hoped to avoid.

Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury lands him on the bench for every game for the rest of the month, he has more time to dwell on the one night stand he can’t get out of his head. With time on his hands, his anxiety hovering, and the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to lie low and sort himself out. He’s in for a surprise when it turns out Maisie is staying at his sister’s and his attraction for her hasn’t lessened one bit in the last six months. Apparently, neither has her anger at him for bailing. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.

Reading a Christmas-themed romance in mid-August in Texas was a bit of a stretch, I have to say. The heat index is 110 degrees, so it was hard to feel at home on a Christmas tree farm the week of Christmas, but the setting was more incidental than an integral part of the story, so it worked. I loved the Smart family and their relationships, although Maisie’s mom wasn’t my favorite. Watching Maisie be brave enough to admit her dreams to the people in her life was great, and I loved how Nick managed to be believably vulnerable despite the culture he thrived in.

Sophie Sullivan is from Canada. You Make it Feel like Christmas is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Love is an Open Book, by Chandra Blumberg

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press.

Title: Love is an Open Book  
Author: Chandra Blumberg     
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 4 out of 5

Mia Brady never imagined her romance novels would become bestsellers, much less inspire a hit TV show. However, after signing a deal to write the final book of the series, she’s struck by a serious case of writer’s block. Her fans are clamoring for a passionate payoff, but Mia’s own experience with heartbreak—and current lack of real-life romance—is getting in the way. Do friends who become lovers ever truly have a happy ending?

Gavin Lane would like to think so. As Mia’s ride-or-die BFF, he’s been by her side through it all and convinced himself his crush on her is a thing of the past. He’s not about to let his feelings ruin their friendship, and never will. But that doesn’t stop him from pitching a bold idea to help save Mia’s testing out tried-and-true love story tropes…together.

From workplace romance to fish-out-of-water, Mia and Gavin embark on a series of “dates” to spark a little creativity—but are not prepared for the flame that ignites between them. Does their friendship even stand a chance when pure fantasy suddenly becomes a little too real?

This was a cute read. Nothing unexpected, but a fun story. From Mia’s always-gotta-have-a-plan ways to Gavin’s more laidback approach, seeing these two look at each other through new eyes was enjoyable. Add in trying to keep it a secret from everyone who knows them, and a litter of adorable kittens, and this is a perfect summer binge-read.

Chandra Blumberg lives in the Chicago area. Love is an Open Book is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: For the Record, by Emma Lord  

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin.

Title: For the Record  
Author: Emma Lord     
Genre: Romance   
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more — until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too.

Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn’t know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album.

With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up the old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated — one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written.

This was such a cute read! I enjoyed every page. Both Sam and Mackenzie are both determined to dislike each other again, even though it wasn’t really dislike last time. I enjoyed seeing scenes from the past through the eyes of the present, and how much both characters had truly grown and changed. Loved all the secondary characters, too, especially Ben and his “dessert” creations.

Emma Lord is a bestselling author. For the Record is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Girls of Dark Divine, by E. V. Woods

Title: Girls of Dark Divine   
Author: E. V. Woods         
Genre: Fantasy, YA    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

In the legendary ballet theatre of New Kora, the girls on stage enchant the audience each night with their grace and divine beauty. Before Emberlyn became the show’s star, it was her dream to become one of the ballerinas… until she learned the price of their living nightmare.

A curse has bound the girls to the show’s mastermind, Malcolm, so they must obey his every command. They are controlled by the magic’s invisible strings that has the power to wield their limbs like marionette dolls. Only the commands don’t stop when the curtain comes down, and the girls live a life of fear from Malcolm’s wickedness and the twisted truth that each dancer is destined to turn to dust when the curse finally consumes her.

When the troupe is invited to perform in the glitzy city of Parlizia, Emberlyn knows this could be her best chance to save them all. She meets an elusive boy made of shadows with a magical connection to the girls. Together, they work to unravel the haunting truth about their creation and fight for their survival. But the cost of freedom might be too high, and as she dances closer to the edge of darkness she realizes she might break the curse… or break her own heart forever.

I do love ballet, so when you combine it with fantasy, I definitely wanted to read this! Ember was a great character, and from the very first of the book, it was easy to be fascinated by her POV and her world. I liked all the Marionettes, and their friendship was what drew me into the story—and kept me reading, eager to find out if they were going to escape their dark curse.

E. V. Woods is from the U.K. Girls of Dark Divine is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House Children/Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.)