Tag: books

A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love

Author: Sally Britton 

Publisher: Pink Citrus Books LLC

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Pages: 287

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency

Synopsis:

A reluctant guardian. A determined spinster. A battle of wits that might just end in love.

Former military officer Edward Halstead never imagined his quiet bachelor existence would be upended by the unexpected guardianship of a spirited young lady. When his late comrade’s daughter, Daphne Price, is placed in his care, Edward is faced with a challenge unlike any battlefield he has ever encountered, especially with her fiercely protective aunt, Felicity Price, staying in his home to ensure he doesn’t fail in his duty.

Felicity has dedicated her life to her beloved niece, and she has no intention of leaving Daphne in the hands of a gruff and emotionally distant bachelor. If Edward Halstead believes he can simply house, feed, and marry off her niece without regard for her well-being, he is sorely mistaken. Felicity will remain at Briarwood House as long as necessary to ensure Daphne’s future and to make certain Edward doesn’t ruin it. After all, she doesn’t want her niece to end up a spinster…like Felicity.

With Felicity and Edward at odds over Daphne’s upbringing, propriety, and the girl’s future, tension sparks and tempers flare. Yet, beneath the clashes and differences of opinion, an undeniable attraction grows. As Daphne’s entrance into Society looms and Edward’s past resurfaces in unexpected ways, Felicity and Edward must decide if their partnership is merely one of convenience or if love has been the lesson they’ve both been waiting to learn.

Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and fiercely independent heroines, A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love is a Regency romance filled with heart, humor, and unexpected love. Part of the Bachelors of Blackstone’s series, the books may be read and enjoyed in any order.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the author for review. Thank you for the opportunity! All thoughts are my own*

This was my second book I’ve read by Sally Britton and it did not disappoint. I loved A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love! If you enjoy a slow burn romance, witty banter and strong female characters set in the regency era, this one is for you! 

Bachelor Colonel Edward Halstead unexpectedly finds himself the guardian of his former comrade’s daughter. His ward, Daphne Price, is much older than he originally anticipated and is about to make her debut into society.  Her spirited Aunt, Felicity Price, has accompanied her to be sure that Halstead does not fail in his duties.

Felicity and Edward start out at odds and are continually arguing over Daphne’s upbringing, propriety and her future. They both have past experiences that have shaped their strong opinions. For the sake of Daphne, they decide to work as a team. The more they work together, an attraction sparks between them. 

Is their partnership simply one of circumstance, or something more?

I fell in love with Edward, Felicity and Daphne! Both Edward and Felicity took their roles as Daphne’s caretakers seriously and worked hard to help her make her debut. It was great watching Daphne’s relationships with both of these characters change and grow. It was also amazing watching the romance blossom between Edward and Felicity.  I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story, and I also cried at a couple of parts. Very heartwarming! 

I highly recommend! This beautiful story is out today.

About the Author:

Sally Britton is sixth generation Texan, received her BA in English forever ago, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.

Sally lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and their overly energetic Australian Shepherds, cat, and snake named Nancy. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.

 

Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Heartless Hunter 

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: February 1, 2024

Pages: 424

Genre: YA Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy 

Synopsis:

A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history.

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can’t help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch…is falling in love.

Review:

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

I wish I could have gotten to this book sooner rather than later, but life happens. Heartless Hunter was definitely worth the wait, and it lived up to all the hype! I just loved this one! It was fast paced, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. 

The chemistry between Rune and Gideon was sizzling. There was so much angst, and I was here for it! 

If you love enemies to lovers, a slow burn romance, magic, and a game of cat and mouse then this one is for you.

Highly recommend! I can’t wait for the sequel, Rebel Witch. I think Kristen is going to destroy me!

About the Author:

Kristen Ciccarelli grew up on a grape farm, dropped out of college, and worked various jobs before becoming an author. Some of her previous trades included: baker, potter, bookseller, and NGO worker. Kristen lives in Canada’s Niagara Peninsula with her husband and daughter. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Heartless Hunter (Book 1 in The Crimson Moth duology), as well as Edgewood, and the internationally bestselling Iskari series.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue: Review

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About the Book:

Title: She Doesn’t Have a Clue

Author: Jenny Elder Moke 

Publisher: Minotaur Books 

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Pages: 336
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Cozy Mystery 

Synopsis:

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke’s half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Review:

 

 

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

3.5 rounded up to 4

This is Jenny Elder Moke’s adult debut, and it was a fast-paced fun read! Its mystery combined with romance and sprinkled with a dash of laughs. 

I loved the main character, Kate. She was hilariously funny, clumsy and sometimes awkward and I appreciated that about her. Jake was also a really likeable character and added his own charm to the story. 

 I buddy read this one, and we both agreed that the inner monologue between Kate and her fictional character Loretta really was distracting and took away from the story. I also felt that the spicy scenes felt a little bit unrealistic considering that the characters were dealing with an actual real live murder.

If you like mysteries and romance, this is a cute one! 

About the Author:

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. Her adult mystery rom-com mashup debut, SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE, comes out January 21, 2025.

Jenny lives in Denver, CO.

To contact Jenny, sign up for her newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/jemnewslette… or visit Jenny on Instagram @jennyeldermoke.

Ex Marks the Spot: Review

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About the Book:

Title: Ex Marks the Spot 

Author: Gloria Chao 

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Release Date: December 31, 2024

Pages: 384

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance 

Synopsis:

A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . .
Family secrets that can’t stay buried . . .
A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . .212643715

This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

For Gemma’s whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There’s just one major to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather’s home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it’s about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Filled with ingenious puzzles, a vibrant Taipei setting, and a delicious romance, Ex Marks the Spot is an exciting adventure by award-winning writer Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei, The Inheritance Games, and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and Viking Books. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

I have loved Gloria Chao since reading her debut, American Panda, so I am always anticipating her releases! I really enjoyed this one! If you like enemies to lovers, found family, and an epic adventure, this one is for you. 

Gemma Sun has grown up just her and her mom, thinking that her grandparents were dead. A mysterious man shows up at her door and lets her know that her grandfather has actually just passed, and she embarks on a trip to Taiwan to claim her inheritance. The only way that Gemma can manage to get there though is through begging her ex, Xander for help. 

As Gemma spends more time in Taiwan, she discovers that her treasure hunt is about more than money. It’s about learning about her family, her culture, and maybe about finding love.

I absolutely loved the setting of this story! The adventures that Gemma and Xander have made me want to see all these amazing places in Taiwan for myself. The romance is a super slow burn, and I probably would have been satisfied with Gemma just making new friends. I have to say that by the end though I did enjoy the romance, even though I wish there was more page time.

I loved the relationship that Gemma had with her mom and how much she came to really appreciate what they built together. 

I definitely recommend! This one it out today, so pick up a copy now! 

About the Author:

Gloria Chao is a screenwriter and the award-winning author of Ex Marks the Spot (forthcoming 12.31.24), The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club (forthcoming 6.24.25), When You Wish Upon a Lantern, Rent a Boyfriend, Our Wayward Fate, and American Panda. She graduated from MIT and became a dentist before realizing she’d rather spend her days in fictional characters’ heads instead of real people’s mouths. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the curling ice, where she and her husband are world-ranked in mixed doubles.Gloria-Chao-Author-Photo_web

Visit her tea-and-book-filled world at GloriaChao.Wordpress.com, and find her on Twitter and Instagram @GloriacChao.

Of Thunder and Amethyst (The Weather Court Gem Series, #2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Of Thunder and Amethyst 

Author: K. C. Silver 

Publisher: Self-published 

Release Date: November 14, 2024

Pages: 156

Genre: Romantasy, Novella, Romance, Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Eight participants, one goal: be the first to find the Heart before the court crumbles to ruin.216234639

Kamine is chosen as her village’s participant for this year’s Undertaking. Everyone knows her mother holds the record for beating the Undertaking, and finding the Heart in record time. Kamine has to prove herself as her mother’s successor, and she only has four months to do it. The only problem? Kamine’s powers have yet to manifest.

Grimot, the new magic professor at Skola, Thunder Court’s Undertaking Prep School, is a former Undertaking winner—although the methods he used to secure the Heart left him cursed by the Gods. Now, haunted by his past, he must ensure his students’ success, before the hex takes hold.

But when Grimot realizes Kamine is helpless, and standing in the way of his redemption, he offers her private lessons. Having no other choice, Kamine accepts, despite the obvious tension between them. With each passing lesson, the emotional barriers they’ve built begin to crumble as they reconcile with the tethers of their pasts, band together to protect the magic of the Thunder Court, and unearth the truth of Kamine’s legacy.

Of Thunder and Amethyst is the next installment in the Weather Court Gem series. Each standalone novella follows a different couple in their respective court (Snow, Thunder, Lightning, Rain, & Sun), each faced with the challenge of following their heart as the fate of their court’s power rests in their hands.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Bookfunnel and the author. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Of Thunder and Amethyst is the second novella in The Weather Court Gem series. It was a quick and fast paced read that I enjoyed! After reading the first novella Of Snow and Sapphire, I was excited to dive back into this world.

Kamine is chosen as her village’s participant in the Undertaking. Her mother holds the record for beating the Undertaking and finding the Heart. Kamine needs to prove herself as her mother’s successor and in only four months’ time. There’s one problem though, her powers haven’t manifested themselves yet. 

Kamine heads off to Skola, the Thunder Court’s Undertaking Prep School. There she meets Grimot, the new magic professor. Grimot is a former Undertaking winner whose methods for winning left him cursed by the gods. He needs to ensure that his students succeed before the curse takes over. He sees Kamine as an obstacle to breaking his curse, so he offers her private lessons. Kamine reluctantly agrees to the lessons. 

As they work together, the barriers between the two start to come down, they face their pasts, and they team up to protect the magic of their court. 

I wound up enjoying Kamine and Grimot’s relationship, but I felt that it was not explored as much as I would have liked. It felt a little rushed in my opinion. The overall story though was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait for the next novella in the series.

I recommend this installment in the series, and I hope you’ll give it a try! 

About the Author:

KC Silver is a born and raised Chicagoan, spending her days exploring the city, one train stop at a time. She currently works as a media planner at a large media agency where she daydreams of the day when a Slack notification no longer makes her heart jump in fear.48961969._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_

KC enjoys character driven stories where the main character is on a journey of discovering themselves and learning to let go of the expectations weighing on them, while falling in love.

Follow KC on all socials:
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A Sweet Sting of Salt: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Sweet Sting of Salt 

Author: Rose Sutherland 

Publisher: Dell 

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.

When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.

Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?

Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?

Review:

 

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and Dell. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

This was definitely a solid debut from author Rose Sutherland. A Sweet Sting of Salt is a sapphic retelling of “The Selkie Wife”. If you like historical fiction and retellings, I think you’ll really enjoy this one! 

Jean is a midwife in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia and lives on the outskirts of town. She is awakened in the middle of the night by crying during a terrible storm and thinks she may be dreaming. When she hears the cry again, she ventures outside and finds a woman in labor in the freezing cold, and she can barely speak a word of English.  Jean assumes that she is the new wife of her closest neighbor, Tobias. He does indeed show up in search of his wife, which has Jean questioning a lot of things. His wife, Muirin completely changes her demeanor when he’s around. 

Although Jean should stay out other people’s business, her growing concern and her growing feelings for Muirin won’t let her. The answers are more difficult than she ever could have imagined, and Jean is afraid that she may have put her life, Muirin’s and the baby in danger. Will Jean be able to set things, right?

I really loved Jean and Muirin and the journey they take in this story. Full of mystery, suspense, romance, and heartache. Definitely recommend! 

 

About the Author:

ROSE SUTHERLAND was born and raised a voracious reader of anything she could get her hands on in rural Nova Scotia. She has an overactive imagination, once fell off a roof trying to re-enact Anne of Green Gables, and has continued to be entertainingly foolhardy since, graduating theatre school in NYC, apprenticing at a pâtisserie in France, and moonlighting as an usher in Toronto. Her hobbies include yoga, sea-swimming, and making niche jokes about Victor Hugo on the internet. She is mildly obsessed with the idea of one day owning a large dog, several chickens… and maybe a goat.

A Song to Drown Rivers: Review

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About the Book:

Title: A Song to Drown Rivers

Author: Ann Liang 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Pages: 325

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.
Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.203578730

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

A Song to Drown Rivers was my first book I’ve read by Ann Liang! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. The story was heartbreakingly beautiful, and one of the few books that has made me cry recently. It’s inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the Famous Four Beauties of Ancient China.

Xishi’s beauty has been seen as favorable to her village. They expect her to marry well and support her family. Xishi draws the attention of Fanli, a military advisor, who convinces her to use her beauty as a weapon. If she succeeds, she could avenge her sister’s murder, help her village, and topple the rival kingdom of Wu. To do this, she must worm her way into the enemy kingdom as a spy and seduce their king. 

She is trained by Fanli to prepare her as a spy, and as they work together, the attraction between them grows.

Once Xishi is in the palace, she is watched by all the king’s advisors, but the king himself shows her great affection. She begins to climb in the Wu court, and she knows that she and Fanli risk everything if she is unmasked as a traitor. 

With amazing world building, fascinating mythology, and forbidden love, this is one book you don’t want to miss! 

Definitely recommend! 

About the Author:

Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn’t Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.16624571._UX200_CR0,14,200,200_

The Thirteenth Child: Review

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About the Book:

Title: The Thirteenth Child 

Author: Erin A. Craig 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Pages: 512

Genre: YA Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, Romance

Synopsis:

This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price.

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

Review:

* I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I just LOVED this book and it’s probably going to be in my top reads this year! I fell in love with Erin’s writing in a House of Salt and Sorrows, and this one certainly lived up to my expectations. This book destroyed me! 

Hazel is promised from birth to a god. When her godfather, the Dreaded End, Merrick, finally comes for her he lays out to her what he’s planned for her future. She will become a great healer and will be known throughout the kingdom for her skill. To aid her in her endeavors, Merrick gives her the ability to instantly know what a patient needs for a cure.

All gifts come with a price of course, and Hazel can see when Death is coming and there is no cure that can save her patients. She therefore must end their suffering for them and take their life. She is haunted by the ghosts she has killed and longs to run. Destiny brings her to the royal court where she meets Prince Leo and his father, the king who is marked for Death. Hazel wants to save him, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death? 

Full of magic, gods, royal courts, death and heartbreak, The Thirteenth Child is one you won’t want to miss.

All the stars! 

About the Author:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig has always loved telling stories.

After getting her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, in Theatre Design and Production, she stage managed tragic operas with hunchbacks, séances, and murderous clowns, then decided she wanted to write books that were just as spooky.

An avid reader, decent quilter, rabid basketball fan, and collector of typewriters, brass figurines, and sparkly shoes, Erin makes her home in West Michigan with her husband and daughter.

To find out more about Erin and the worlds she creates, follow @penchant4words on Instagram and Threads.

She is represented by Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Accidental Courtship with the Earl: Review

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About the Book:

Title: Accidental Courtship with the Earl 

Author: Samantha Hastings 

Publisher: Harlequin Historical 

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Pages: 272

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance 

Synopsis:

What happens when a grumpy earl meets a sunshine lady? Sparks are sure to fly in this lively Regency!

She’s falling for the earl…

When she’s already betrothed!

Mark, the Earl of Inverness, escapes to London to avoid his mother’s matchmaking, and the wounds of war that continue to haunt him. So, when a macaw flies into his garden, he’s intrigued by his new neighbor following behind…and the dazzling woman proves just the distraction he needs!

Lady Helen Stringham reluctantly agreed to a Season in exchange for becoming conveniently engaged to her childhood friend when she returns home. But after she encounters broodingly handsome Mark, who shares her passion for animals, she’s discovering what real attraction is… Just who should she be marrying?

Review:

*I received a copy from the author for review. All thoughts are my own*

I just love the Stringham family, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one! They are such an eccentric, funny, loving family and it was wonderful to spend time with them again.

Lady Helen is the star in this one. She’s reluctantly agreed with her parents to a Season in the city in exchange for marriage to her childhood friend when she returns home. After she encounters the handsome and broody Mark, who also happens to share her passion for animals, she begins to discover what true attraction is. She starts to question her own betrothal, and who she should marry. 

Mark, the Earl of Inverness, has escaped to London to avoid his mother’s meddling matchmaking. He’s still haunted by the war and the wounds of his past as well. Meeting Lady Helen when her macaw flies into his garden turns out to be much more than he ever could have imagined.

I adored this couple so much! I loved watching their friendship grow into more, and the healing that happens for the both of them.

If you like the grumpy sunshine trope and regency romance, this one if for you! 

Highly recommend!

About the Author:

Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey-sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her kids. She writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen.

Ami (Guardians of Dawn, #2): Review

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About the Book:

Title: Ami 

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

When the Pillar blooms, the end of the world is not far behind.195791521

Li Ami was always on the outside—outside of family, outside of friendships, outside of ordinary magic. The odd and eccentric daughter of a former imperial magician, she has devoted her life to books because she finds them easier to read than people. Exiled to the outermost west of the Morning Realms, Ami has become the sole caretaker of her mentally ill father, whose rantings and ravings may be more than mere ramblings; they may be part of a dire prophecy. When her father is arrested for trespassing and stealing a branch from the sacred tree of the local monastery, Ami offers herself to the mysterious Beast in the castle, who is in need of someone who can translate a forbidden magical text and find a cure for the mysterious blight that is affecting the harvest of the land.

Meanwhile, as signs of magical corruption arise throughout the Morning Realms, Jin Zhara begins to realize that she might be out of her element. She may have defeated a demon lord and uncovered her identity as the Guardian of Fire, but she’ll be more than outmatched in the coming elemental battle against the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons…unless she can find the other Guardians of Dawn. Her magic is no match for the growing tide of undead, and she needs the Guardian of Wood with power over life and death in order to defeat the revenants razing the countryside.

The threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons looms larger by the day, and the tenuous peace holding the Morning Realms together is beginning to unravel. Ami and Zhara must journey to the Root of the World in order to seal the demon portal that may have opened there and restore balance to an increasingly chaotic world.

Review:

4

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley for review. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

A satisfying second installment in the Guardians of Dawn series! This book starts right where Zhara ended. Zhara, Han and the Bangtan Brothers are headed west to help save the world from the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. We meet two new main characters, Ami and Beast, and we are able to get their points of view as well.

Li Ami has always been a bit of an outsider. She is considered the odd and eccentric daughter of a former imperial magician. She has devoted her life to books, as they are easier to read than people and as a caretaker to her mentally ill father. When he is arrested, she turns to the mysterious Beast in the castle, who needs someone to translate a forbidden magical text and help them to cure the land from blight. 

I liked Li Ami’s growth as a character and how she began to accept herself, and to find someone who cared for her just the way she is.

When Li Ami, Beast, and Zhara and her friend’s stories intertwine, they must work together to seal the demon portal and save the Morning Realms. 

I definitely recommend this sequel and can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book! 

 

About the Author:

S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is an artist, an adrenaline junkie, and the NYT bestselling author of Wintersong. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now lives on the wrong coast, where she can’t believe she has to deal with winter every year. When not writing, JJ can be found working toward her next black belt degree in taekwondo, being run ragged by her twin dogs, Castor & Pollux, or indulging in her favorite hobby—collecting more hobbies. 13414088._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_