Tag: romance

Book Review: Metal Slinger, by Rachel Schneider

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Title: Metal Slinger
Author: Rachel Schneider    
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5

Even though she’s not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true.

Brynn’s loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who’s taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn’s connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she’s been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart.

I was not expecting the twist at the end! I didn’t pick up any hint of betrayal, so that really threw me for a loop. Did I miss some breadcrumbs?

The political/cultural landscape was a bit fuzzy for me, but I found the different cultures interesting. Very different societies and beliefs to contend with. I liked Brynn and Acker quite a bit, and they both felt very believable. Even the minor characters were vivid and interesting, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Rachel Schneider lives in South Louisiana. Metal Slinger is book one in Fire & Metal.

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

Book Review: The Book Witch, by Meg Shaffer

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Title: The Book Witch
Author: Meg Shaffer    
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes.

Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

This is the perfect book for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a character, for anyone who loves books and all the worlds they contain. Was it realistic? Absolutely not—and in the best possible way. This was run, engaging, and filled with all the literary references and Easter eggs imaginable. Highly recommended!

Meg Shaffer is a bestselling author. The Book Witch is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Sun and the Starmaker, by Rachel Griffin     

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Title: The Sun and the Starmaker
Author: Rachel Griffin            
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 4.2

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

I found this to be a unique and enjoyable read! I loved how the myth was just part of the story, and it felt very believable, not shoehorned in like I’ve seen before. Aurora…I was on the fence about her. Sometimes he really got on my nerves with her wishy-washy and childish behavior, sometimes I really felt for her. I really like the Starmaker, though—and the immortal rabbit. This was a solid fantasy read!

Rachel Griffin is a bestselling author. The Sun and the Starmaker is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of SOURCEBOOKS Fire in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Halifax Hellions, by Alexandra Vasti    

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Title: The Halifax Hellions
Author: Alexandra Vasti      
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

From the day of their debut, when Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, the Halifax twins have flouted convention at every turn. But when Matilda runs off with the dangerous Marquess of Ashford – who has every reason to hate her – she may have gone a bit too far.

Determined to stop Matilda’s inexplicable elopement, her sister Margo turns to her oldest friend for help because if anyone can get her to Scotland in time, it’s starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer. But the road to Scotland is paved with secrets. Beneath his buttoned-up exterior, Henry is ardently, wildly, miserably in love with Margo. And Matilda and Ashford’s relationship too may not be quite what it seems.

Between salacious engravings, secret identities, and demanding feral cats, nothing about the journey goes as planned. With the Halifax Hellions at the reins, a week in a carriage is exactly enough time to turn the world upside down . . . and, perhaps, find the love stories they never expected.

I had read the first half of this—Margo’s story—before. It was a cute read. The second half, Matilda’s story, was new to me. It was a solid, entertaining read, as I expect Vasti’s reads to be. Matilda is at times shockingly (for that time period) forward and brazen, and at other times almost shy, which made for a fun contrast. This would be a perfect weekend read!

Alexandra Vasti is a bestselling author. The Halifax Hellions is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Carnival Fantástico, by Angela Montoya    

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Title: Carnival Fantástico
Author: Angela Montoya         
Genre: YA, fantasy   
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 

Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival’s resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.

Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he’s ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.

Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they’ll need to confront.  

This was an okay read. The dark carnival setting was fascinating and a lot of fun and was really the highlight of the book. Esmerelda and Ignacio felt pretty one-dimensional and their “conflict” could have been solved in one five-minute conversation instead of them continuously running away from each other. I liked the secondary characters quite a bit and would enjoy reading more about them.

Angela Montoya lives in California. Carnival Fantástico is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution in exchange for an honest review.)

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    

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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

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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.)