From Blood and Ash (Book 1):Review

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About the Book:

Title: From Blood and Ash

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Publisher: Blue Box Press

Release Date: March 30, 2020

Pages: 625

Genre: Adult Fantasy, Adult Romance

Synopsis:

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor71bH9PgPr4L bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel. 

 

 

Review:

5

I first became familiar with Jennifer L. Armentrout when I read and loved the Lux series a number of years back, and I have lots of her books on my TBR. A friend and I decided to do a buddy read of From Blood and Ash, and we jumped right in. Completely obsessed! It was hard to put down. My friend and I would message each other that we needed to read more chapters for the day, lol. It definitely lived up to the hype for me.

Poppy is chosen at birth, and her life has never belonged to her. The Maiden has a very solitary life, and can never be touched, looked upon, spoken to, or able to experience pleasure. As she waits for her Ascension, she would rather be fighting with the royal guards against the evils that took her family, instead of preparing to be worthy for the gods.

The fate of the whole Kingdom rests on Poppy’s shoulders, although she’s never asked for this. Hawke enters her life as a guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension. Things begin to get complicated, as Poppy begins to question everything that she’s ever known, and as she is tempted with the forbidden.

A fallen kingdom is rising once more, and is determined to take back what they believe is theirs. As the shadow of those cursed draws near, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is on the verge of being found unworthy to the gods, losing her heart, and losing her life as her world starts to come apart at the seams.

I absolutely loved the banter between Poppy and Hawke! They reminded me of some of my other favorite bookish couples, and I can totally get behind the comp to Sarah J. Maas.

If you’re a fan of fantasy and adult romance, than I highly recommend this book! I loved the setting, the characters, the romance, and the intrigue. There are lots of twists and turns, and I enjoyed figuring some of them out, and being completely surprised by others. That ending! Can’t wait to start book two, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. I need to find out what happens next.

About the Author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction4476934 by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more

Payback (Vale Hall, Book #3): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Payback

Author: Kristen Simmons 

Publisher: Tor Teen 

Release Date: February 2, 2021 

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Thriller, YA Mystery 

Synopsis:

The unpredictable truth will be revealed in Payback, the stunning conclusion to Kristen Simmons’ Edgar-nominated thriller series that started with The Deceivers…

Brynn Hilder has conned a lot of people. From the spoiled rich kids of Sikawa City to her mom’s loser ex-boyfriend, from a motorcycle gang to a senator’s son. If there was money to be gained, or a secret to uncover, she figured out how to get it done. And thanks to Vale Hall and its director, Dr. David Odin, she’s found a family of hustlers just like her.9781250175878_p0_v3_s550x406

Together, Brynn and her friends have overcome doubt, deceit, and betrayal to unearth the truth–a truth even a group of professional scammers couldn’t have predicted.

And now they must tackle the biggest con artist of them all: the man who brought them all together.

 

 

 

 

Review:

5

* I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the author in exchange for an honest review*

Epic conclusion to an amazing series! These books are definitely underrated and I hope that with Payback’s release, that more people pick them up. There were so many twists and turns, and definitely some surprises! If you like a good mystery, you definitely want to binge this series.

Vale Hall is a school for con artists and things get even more complicated in this conclusion. I often found myself on the edge of my seat, hoping for the best for these characters I’ve come to care so much about. Together, Brynn Hilder and her friends must overcome doubt, lies, and betrayal to unearth the truth. They must take on the biggest con artist of them all, the man who’s responsible for bringing them all together in the first place.

This book wrapped things up perfectly, and even better than I expected. Please do check it out! It’s releasing on February 2, 2021, so be sure to add it to your TBR. There’s still a little time left to preorder or request at your local library as well.

About the Author:

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA, and the upcoming DECEIVERS. She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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For more updates on Kristen and her writing, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @kris10writes.

 

All the Tides of Fate (Book 2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: All the Tides of Fate

Author: Adalyn Grace

Publisher: Imprint

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can 52345987know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.

 

 

 

 

 

Review:

5

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley in a giveaway from the author, Adalyn Grace, and Fierce Reads. Thank you for the opportunity!*

Having recently read All the Stars and Teeth, I was SO excited to dive back into this world. All the Tides of Fate certainly did not disappoint! It’s so hard to put into words how I’m feeling after this one. Definitely feeling all the feels.

The story starts off a couple of months after the events that took place in the first book. You quickly become acclimated. Amora has taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia through much blood and sacrifice. The islands in the kingdom are in a state of turmoil and with people beginning to question Amora, and her authority, she doesn’t want to show anyone her weaknesses. She can’t let anyone know about the curse, her loss of magic, and the boy who holds a part of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora sets out on a quest to find a mythical artifact that could fix all their problems. She finds that it comes at a terrible cost. She tries to find a balance between everything, and learns that the power to rule could absolutely destroy her.

I really loved Amora, although I wanted to throttle her at times because of some of the decisions she made. I found myself going “Why?!” a few times. Amora did face a lot of tough decisions though, and she is stubborn and very strong-willed, and felt as though because of her position, she was the one that had to get things done. I loved how Adalyn wrote this character. She just seems very real and authentic. I am happy that the story didn’t just gloss over Amora’s grief and anxiety either, and it was handled well.

I truly enjoyed the whole cast of characters in this duology. I’m so glad I got to spend more time with Amora’s crew. They were a lot of fun, and they gave me a lot of laughter as well as tears.

A delightful world that I am sad to say goodbye to. A painfully beautiful story, make sure you have some tissues handy.

About the Author:

Adalyn Grace is a New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth, which was named “2020’s biggest YA fantasy” by Entertainment Weekly.

Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent four years working in live theatre, acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper, and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.

Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her bossy cat and two dorky dogs.


You can follow her on:
Twitter: @AdalynGrace_
Instagram: @authoradalyngrace17671937

Scammed(Vale Hall, #2):Review

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About the Book:

Title: Scammed

Author: Kristen Simmons 

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Thriller 

Synopsis:

The series that began with The Deceivers continues in this second twist-filled installment.

The stakes are higher. The cons are riskier. And nothing is what you think it is. 41vhOqUtdmL._SX342_SY445_QL70_ML2_

Review:

5

Woah! Kristen upped the ante in this one! This story was full of twists and turns from beginning to end. A solid second book in the series.

Brynn Halder attends Vale Hall, a prestigious school for con artists. She has found herself involved in a murder mystery and she really doesn’t know who to trust anymore. She doesn’t know what to expect or what’s going to happen next. I felt completely immersed in this world, and I am glad I got to spend more time with the amazing characters as we get to know them even more.

A book you won’t want to put down! I highly recommend if you like a good mystery/thriller. I can’t wait to read Payback, the third and final installment which releases next month.

About the Author:

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA, and the upcoming DECEIVERS. She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For more updates on Kristen and her writing, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @kris10writes.4692856

All the Stars and Teeth: Review

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About the Book:

Title: All the Stars and Teeth

Author: Adalyn Grace 

Publisher: Imprint

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Pages: 373

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.

She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious downloadpirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.

 

 

Review:

5

A solid debut for Adalyn Grace! This book and cover called to me, as I love books that take place on or near the sea. I also love the fact that it involves pirates, mermaids, quests, and magic which are some of my favorite things.

Amora Montara is the princess of the island kingdom of Visidia. She’s been training her whole life to be a high animancer, a master of souls. Others in the kingdom have been able to choose their magic, but Amora has never had a choice and must prove herself capable and worthy of being able to wield the magic.

As Amora is giving her demonstration and things go awry, she is forced to flee the island and strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate. As she begins her journey, she begins to see there are lots of things happening in the kingdom that she never knew about, and there’s a destructive new type of magic on the rise. In order to defeat this magic, Amora must face many perils. The fate of Visidia and the crown are in her hands.

I highly recommend this one if you enjoy high seas adventures with a dash of romance! Be sure to add this one to your TBR if you haven’t yet.

About the Author:

Adalyn Grace is a New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth, which was named “2020’s biggest YA fantasy” by Entertainment Weekly.

Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent four years working in live theatre, acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper, and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The 17671937Legend of Korra.

Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her bossy cat and two dorky dogs.

You can follow her on:
Twitter: @AdalynGrace_
Instagram: @authoradalyngrace

King of Scars: Review

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About the Book:

Title: King of Scars

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Imprint

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Pages: 514

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.A1BdrXk94lL

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Review:

4

I did a buddy read of King of Scars, and we dragged it out, as we didn’t want to have to be away from the Grishaverse too long. We read the other books in the series as well. The next one is coming out in March! It was great to be back in this world again, and with these characters. It was so good to be in Ravka and to see what has happened there after all the time that has passed.  I highly recommend reading the Shadow & Bone Trilogy and Six of Crows duology before reading King of Scars, as you will be confused and there are definitely some spoilers.

This one was narrated by Nikolai, Zoya, Nina, and Isaak. It was great having all of their perspectives on what was happening. Nikolai is sassy as usual, and Zoya is fiercely loyal. I enjoyed Nina’s adventures as well with Adrik, Leoni, and Hanne. She seems to have found herself and her purpose again. I laughed and cried along with them through their adventures. Everything in this book was set up for an epic conclusion. I’m so invested in these characters and I can’t wait for Rule of Wolves! I’m also excited for the Shadow & Bone show coming to Netflix in April 2021.

About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (coming soon to Netflix) which spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars— with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Ninth House (Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Fantasy 2019) which is being developed for television by Amazon Studios. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, and graduated from Yale University. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for her newsletter.

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The Ex Talk: Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Ex Talk 

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Publisher: Berkley 

Release Date: January 26, 2021

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance 

Synopsis:

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can’t imagine working anywhere else. But lately it’s been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who’s fresh off a journalism master’s program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.

When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it’s this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it’s not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.

As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was an amazing adult romance debut for Rachel! I absolutely loved this adorable story. With the enemies to lovers premise, I knew it would be something I would enjoy. 

Shay Goldstein has been working in public radio for about ten years and can’t imagine doing anything else. Lately, she’s been clashing with her newest coworker, Dominic Yun, who thinks he knows everything about public radio as he just got a master’s degree in journalism. The radio station is struggling, Shay proposes a new idea and gets the green light from her boss. On the Ex Talk, two exes will give advice live on the air. There’s only one catch, her boss wants Dominic to be her cohost and pretend to be her ex. They’re not crazy about the idea of working together, and lying to all of their listeners, but it’s either cohost or lose their jobs. 

The show really takes off, and they resonate with their audience.  Shay and Dominic soon find that their lies might be catching up to them. They start to fall for each other, and in an industry that values truth, they may lose their jobs if they’re caught and more.

I loved the witty banter between Shay and Dominic! They had such chemistry, and I found myself wanting them to get together so badly. This book was like a ray of sunshine, and I was soaking it up. Definitely recommend. It’s releasing on January 26, 2021, so be sure to add it to your TBR. 

 

About the Author:

Rachel Lynn Solomon writes, tap dances, and collects lipstick in Seattle, Washington. Her romance and YA novels include Today Tonight Tomorrow, The Ex Talk (1/26/21), and We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This (6/1/21). Once she helped set a Guinness World Record for the most natural redheads in one place.
Her short story “Aftershocks” appears in the anthology It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories. 

The Deceivers: Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Deceivers

Author: Kristen Simmons

Publisher: Tor Teen 

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Pages: 400

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Mystery 

Synopsis:

Kristen Simmons, the author of the Article 5 series and Metaltown, brings her remarkable imagination to this intrigue-filled contemporary drama where good kids are needed to do some very bad things in The Deceivers.

Welcome to Vale Hall, the school for aspiring con artists.

When Brynn Hilder is recruited to Vale, it seems like the elite academy is her chance to start over, away from her mom’s loser boyfriend and her rundown neighborhood. But she soon learns that Vale chooses students not so much for their scholastic talent as for their extracurricular activities, such as her time spent conning rich North Shore kids out of their extravagant allowances.45046597
At first, Brynn jumps at the chance to help the school in its mission to rid the city of corrupt officials—because what could be better than giving entitled jerks what they deserve? But that’s before she meets her mark—a senator’s son—and before she discovers the school’s headmaster has secrets he’ll stop at nothing to protect. As the lines between right and wrong blur, Brynn begins to realize she’s in way over head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review:

5

This was my first Kristen Simmons book, and I loved it! I was definitely drawn to the story as it’s a boarding school story, and it’s not just a normal boarding school, it’s a school for con artists. 

Brynn Hilder is recruited to Vale Hall and it seems that this elite academy is her ticket out of her broken down neighborhood and her mom’s abusive boyfriend. She quickly finds out that the students at Vale Hall aren’t necessarily chosen for their grades, but for their “extracurricular” activities, like her time spent conning rich kids out of their allowances. Brynn jumps at the chance to join the school. Vale Hall helps rid the city of corrupt officials. Brynn feels drawn to the mission, as she feels that they should get what they deserve. But then she meets her mark, the son of a senator, named Grayson. She discovers that Vale’s headmaster has secrets that he’ll do anything to protect. The lines between right and wrong start to blur, and Brynn realizes that she may be in too deep. 

This book kept me engaged and entertained, and I am super excited to start the second book, Scammed, soon! The third book, Payback, is releasing on February 2, 2021. 

About the Author:

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA, and the upcoming DECEIVERS. She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For more updates on Kristen and her writing, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @kris10writes4692856

 

A Reaper at the Gates: Book 3 Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Reaper at the Gates

Author: Sabaa Tahir 

Publisher: Razorbill 

Release Date: June 12, 2018

Pages: 458

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister’s life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. Yet danger lurks on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor’s volatility to grow her own power—regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows that the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. During the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight.download (7)

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. However, in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender—even if that means abandoning the woman he loves. 

 

 

 

 

Review:

5

This is the third installment in An Ember in the Ashes series, and it was a wild ride from start to finish! I had so many feelings after reading this one. The writing is just as fantastic as the first two books. Just be prepared for what your heart is going to endure. 

There was a lot more character development in this one with Elias and Laia, and we also get another character’s point of view. We get to know more about each character’s past, what’s happening in present, and what their future may hold. I also liked that we got to see what’s going on in different parts of the empire with the multiple points of view. There are a lot of amazing battle scenes and action sequences that brought a lot to the story.

I am so glad that A Sky in the Storm is out now, because I need to know the conclusion in this epic series. I am very afraid though of what it will hold. I don’t know if my heart will be able to take it. 

 

About the Author:

 

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.7770873

Booked for Christmas: A Short Story Review

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About the Book:

Title: Booked for Christmas: A Short Story

Author: Lily Menon

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Pages: 89

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

This new novella from Lily Menon, author of Make Up Break Up, is sure to get readers in the holiday spirit.

Novelist Sophia Hart (real name: Sophie Bartholomew-Kaur-Hughes, but try fitting that on a book cover) absolutely hates her loudest critic—Evan Wolfe, evil mastermind behind the Lone Wolfe book review column. They’ve never met, but Wolfe’s favorite pastime seems to be dumping on Sophie’s unapologetically happy, magical romances. Sophie, not one to be left behind, gets her revenge in her own ways (never annoy a writer 512xyz6J7qL._SX342_SY445_QL70_ML2_in search of a villain).

When Sophie decides to throw a holiday party at her cabin, Wolfe is the last person on her mind. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor. Not only does Wolfe show up as someone’s plus one, but a massive snowstorm blows in, stranding them both alone together in Sophie’s cabin.

Over the next few days, Sophie begins to realize that Wolfe isn’t as odiously cynical a man as she’d originally thought. In fact, he’s kind of…sweet. And impossibly hot. But still, Sophie’s been hurt before and she has so much to lose. What she needs is one sure sign that she and Wolfe are meant to be together. Will Sophie and Wolfe get their Christmas miracle?

Review:

5

This is a short Christmas story that will definitely put you in the holiday mood! It also has my favorite trope, enemies to lovers, witty banter, and a diverse cast of characters.

Novelist Sophia Hart (Sophie) throws a holiday party at her cabin that is outside of the city. Her best friends arrive a little early to help her out with preperations. She tells them about the recent article from the book critic, Evan Wolfe, who trashes all of her romance books in his column. The last person she expects to show up at her party is Wolfe, who comes as one of her friend’s plus one, who is home sick and sends his kind regards. She invites him in as she doesn’t want to leave him out in the cold, and he starts mingling at the party. Then a massive snowstorm hits, and Wolfe is stranded alone in the cabin with her. Over the next few days, Sophie discovers that Wolfe isn’t as bad as she originally thought.

A cute, sweet, swoon worthy story that is the perfect romantic escape.  I hope that I see these characters again in the future. I grew to care for them rather quickly, and I need more!

About the Author:

Lily Menon’s debut adult contemporary romance, Make Up Break Up, releases in February 2021.

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