THANK YOU to Tor and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Book of Ile-Rien" by Martha Wells in exchange for an honest review.
MarthaTHANK YOU to Tor and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Book of Ile-Rien" by Martha Wells in exchange for an honest review.
Martha Well is truly a master at her craft. No matter which book of hers you start with, you are in for an adventure. "The Book of Ile-Rein" is an excellent place to begin.
"The Book of Ile-Rein" is a combination of two previously published novels, "The Element of Fire" and "Death of the Necromancer", both updated and revised.
"The Element of Fire" features Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queens Guards, and Kade Carrion, the bastard half-fae daughter of the now-deceased King Fulstan. The story opens with Thomas on a rescue mission, sent to retrieve the kidnapped sorcerer Dubell from the clutches of the EVIL sorcerer Grandier. The mission goes a little sideways but ends well enough. Meanwhile, Kade has joined a theater troupe to quietly infiltrate the palace to confront both her past and her half-brother, who now sits on the throne. That starts well enough, but goes pear-shaped when the performance is crashed by a golem intent on murdering her.
And then the Fae invade. The Unseelie Court, to be specific. These are not the lovely, dainty fairies from a "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (although Titania and Oberon DO rule the Seelie Court here). These are the nasty, vile, hateful fae, who have allied with Grandier.
What follows is an extraordinary adventure tale, led by a Thomas and Kade. The story is large in scope but never feels overwhelming. The characters, for the most part, feel real and appropriately flawed. Every detail is well-thought out, but never info-dumped so the pace remains steady. It's exciting, interesting, and emotional. Wells's ability to pull together a complex plot is incredible.
"Death of the Necromancer" is set in the same city, about 100 years after "Element of Fire." While the city is not London, it definitely has a Victorian era feel to it, not the least of which because the city now has gas-lighting and a deep interest in Spiritualism. The main character of this story is Nicholas Valiarde, master thief.
It begins when Nicholas and his associates undertake an intricately plotted heist of a wealthy but sketchy society matron. But while they are about their business, they discover someone else has broken into the manor at the same time, apparently with different aims. Nicholas tangles with a ghoul and they make off into the night with the Duchess's, now theirs, ill-gotten gains. They return to Nicholas's manor for the evening, only to be confronted by.... a golem.
Again, what follow is a fantastic story. Whereas the previous story was an adventure and a bit of a conspiracy, this one is a mystery too. Her writing is well-plotted, thoroughly detailed, and man, she really knows how to use the English language. Recommended for readers of High Fantasy....more
I received a digital copy of "Remedial Magic" by Melissa Marr from Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be eI received a digital copy of "Remedial Magic" by Melissa Marr from Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be exceedingly honest.
Ellie Brandeau doesn't know it, but she's a witch. Her powers start awakening after a compelling encounter with a beautiful, mysterious woman named Prospero. A near-fatal accident sends Ellie to Crenshaw, a magical Brigadoon-like place where witches live in peace, safe from the centuries of persecution witches experience in what the witches call the "Barbarian Lands." Except, things are very, very wrong in Crenshaw. The land and water are polluted, witches are dying, and Ellie is the key to fixing all of it.
This is the worst book I have read in a very long time. The marketing for this book would lead you to believe that it's a cozy, sapphic, witchy romantasy. It has a cute cover, a cute description, a cute setting. All lies.
A romance implies a happily ever after. There is nothing happy about the ending. A romance implies two people consenting to being in a loving relationship: THERE IS NO CONSENT IN THE CONCLUSION. I can't describe it without spoiling it, but Ellie emphatically and specifically does not agree to be in the relationship she ends up in. I was horrified.
As far as the technical aspects of the story, here's a quick summary: none of the characters act like real humans with real human emotions. There is only one potentially happy relationship but they are side characters and even then I have my doubts. The writing is awkward. The world-building is superficial at best. The plot would be interesting (Let's save the day!) but the Big Serious Problem is not actually resolved. I mean, at all. The book just ends before the Crenshaw is saved from danger. There are a ton of other, minor dangling plot threads.
I am guessing this is meant to be a first book in a series and that those things will be resolved in a future story. There's a suggestion that even the nonconsensual relationship issue will be resolved at some point. I will not read any further books to find out.
There are two things I liked. First, Crenshaw is a place where members of the LGBTQIA community are safe to live and love whomever they choose. It's about the ONLY thing that's safe in Crenshaw but at least there's that. Second, when people break Crenshaw law, they are temporarily turned into badgers. Why badgers? Who knows, but I did find that amusing.
I would have ordinarily DNF'd this early on because I had doubts very quickly. But I committed to reading it for NetGalley and I take that seriously. I genuinely wish I hadn't. I typically believe that when a book is not to my taste, there will still be readers who like it. So I review accordingly and while I may criticize, I try to consider who might actually enjoy it. My first draft of this review was a pages-long, sputtering mess and I still can't think of anybody I'd recommend "Remedial Magic" to....more
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Partner Plot" by Kristina Forest in exchange for an hThank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Partner Plot" by Kristina Forest in exchange for an honest review.
Celebrity stylist Violet Green is running on fumes. Her career is flourishing despite a very public, very messy breakup with her cheating fiancé. Between consultations, fashion shows, and awards galas, she has no down time and no relationship. So when she runs into her former high-school sweetheart Xavier Wright in Vegas, what's the harm in indulging in a little casual fun?
They wake up with a fake wedding bands, have a laugh, and part ways again. Only to be pushed back together soon after when she accidentally blurts to a reporter that she has married her old flame. To further complicate matters, a serious injury forces her to take a few weeks off from her non-stop career.
Meanwhile, former college basketball athlete Xavier is aiming for bigger things in his own career. He's been content with his job coaching high school basketball, but he's pushing for a job at the college level. His prospective boss wants a candidate with stability so Xavier is willing to go along with the fake-relationship Violet has inadvertently concocted. She moves into his place to rest and recover from her injury, all the while playing happy newly weds.
And of course, they find their old chemistry has never really gone away.
Second chance romances are hard to pull off in a meaningful way. The couple in question has broken up before, so the author has to find a way to make that split acceptable. Somebody screwed up. How does one make that forgivable?
Kristina Forest more than ably does exactly that in "The Partner Plot." She successfully demonstrates the personal growth that her characters made both before and during their reunion so that by the end of the story, they make perfect sense together. It was wonderful.
The characters are excellent. They come across as passionate, flawed, loving, and real people sorting through their lives. There are a few poisonous characters on the sidelines but for the most part, their damage is minor.
This book is perfect for readers looking for legit, identifiable emotional development between two adults who loved one another in the past....more
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "A Tempest of Tea"Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "A Tempest of Tea": by Hafsah Faizal in exchange for an honest review.
Criminal "mastermind" Arthie Casimir does whatever it takes to survive in the gritty world she grew up in. She has flamboyantly colored hair, a magic gun of questionable (but Arthurian-ish?) origins, and a ride-or-die friend/business partner named Jin. She and Jin run Spindrift, a tea house by day and illicit blood parlor by night. She also collects secrets from the mighty and low alike, using these secrets to pressure and manipulate people all over the city. Unfortunately, she's made a lot of enemies along the way, including the city guard.
Pressure from the city guard has increased enough to threaten her tea house and Arthie finds herself desperate to save Spindrift. A mysterious Guard approaches her to help with a seemingly-impossible heist, the score of which will give her a great deal of negotiating power. So she and Jin recruit a team and get to work.
Well. This book. It's A LOT. So much world-building. The story takes real historical details -particularly the atrocities of British colonialism and the East India Company- and twists them into a fantasy world populated with vampires. There's magic but there's also some light industrialism, like the lightest dab of steampunk.
The story is a little inconsistent at times, both in terms of plot and pacing. The first 25% drags a little because there is so much to learn. It picks up once the heist planning and execution are underway, and the last 25% flies by in a blur. There a number of details that don't really make sense: small "What, what- WHY?" moments that seem either incomplete or sloppy.
But there is plenty in this book for people to enjoy too. The dual romance plots worked well. The heist was fun. It's adventurous and sexy and the plot will pull readers right in....more
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of "My Season of Scandal" by Julie Anne Long.
Prepare yourselThank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of "My Season of Scandal" by Julie Anne Long.
Prepare yourself, readers, for another gushing review of Ms. Long's work. Because she is an absolute gall darn master of her craft and "My Season of Scandal" is another sterling installment in the Palace of Rogues series.
Catherine Keating is a country girl, in the city to find a husband. But when her chaperone proves to be absolutely useless and Catherine is exposed to the Ton's nastier side, she's cast adrift. Her fellow boarding house resident, Lord Dominic Kirke quietly steps in to protect her and in doing so, ends up head over heels for her.
If you want the angst, yearning, and sexual tension that characterize Ms. Long's stories, you will not be disappointed with this age-gap romance. As always, she balances tension and humor perfectly. As many other reviewers have observed, the big finale is incredible. You will never think of the word "clover" the same way again.
As always, it's a pleasure to return to the Grand Palace on the Thames and myriad of souls who reside there....more
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for giving me a digital review copy of “At First Spite” by Olivia Dade in exchange for an honest review.
When Athena GrThank you to NetGalley and Avon for giving me a digital review copy of “At First Spite” by Olivia Dade in exchange for an honest review.
When Athena Graydon buys the townhouse adjoining the one owned by her pediatrician fiance Dr. Johnny Vine, she imagines it’ll be a fantastic wedding gift. Unfortunately, her would-be brother-in-law convinces Johnny to break the engagement. So instead of a wedding and fabulous Hawaiian honeymoon, Athena is left alone with no job and a piece of real estate she can’t afford, in a town far from her family and friends.
To make matters even worse, her now ex-fiance’s brother, Dr. Mathew Vine (pediatrician and severely parentalized father figure to Johnny) lives on the other side of Athena’s awkward new home. And boy, does she hate him for the role he played in ending her engagement. What follows is a march from enemies-to-lovers for Athena and Mathew, with a hefty dose of “whaaaat?” thrown in.
The beauty of a good romance is when the developing relationship forces genuine character growth for both parties involved, as it does in “At First Spite.” Athena is a complex woman. She can’t seem to stay in a job, despite extensive schooling and kind (wealthy) parents who support her without reservation. The broken engagement and real estate fiasco physically remove her from that comfortable sphere and force her to keep trying without the safety net.
Mathew is also not your standard romance hero. Sure, he’s tall and good-looking and awesome at his job, but his extreme cinnamon-roll characteristics have thrown his life far out of whack that it’s threatening him both emotionally AND financially. His feelings regarding Athena (both his romantic interest and his guilt over how his interference has affected her) force him to do some work too.
Some aspects of the story are incredibly realistic: Athena is thrown into a legit depression by everything that’s happened and it truly takes a toll on her. Athena stops leaving the house, neglects her personal hygiene, and basically goes numb. There’s nothing melodramatic about this episode; she’s not just really sad. It’s as gross, grueling, saddening, and frustrating as depression can be. And Mathew’s efforts to help pull her out of it are pretty realistic too. He doesn’t try to fix her, as much as give her the tools she needs to help herself. It’s awesome.
But then, other aspects of the plot are a bit much. Early on, Athena takes a job in a local bakery, where the owner/head baker really, REALLY enjoys listening to audiobooks. His stories of choice are monster erotica. Not only doesn’t Athena feel sexually harassed (a reasonable response, honestly), she enjoys it. Unironically. Ok, sure. Later, as a way of exacting revenge on Mathew from breaking up her wedding, Athena plays the monster erotica loudly through her open windows, and the neighbors also seem to enjoy it. Then Athena becomes involved in a book club and all the members ALSO want to read the monster erotica. Every flipping citizen in this town is overly interested in stories about Sasquatch threesomes. No one, not a single person, says, “Hey, you know, this mythological shagging thing really isn’t my cup of tea. Maybe we could just read the latest bestseller instead?” It’s mind-boggling. It feels like a joke taken too far.
In general, it’s a good story and if you can suspend your disbelief regarding the monster stuff, it’s a fun, quick read. Recommended for anybody who gets a giggle out of the popular monster erotica sub-genre and folks who want to see real emotional growth from the main characters....more
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for giving me a digital review copy of “Only When It’s Us” by Chloe Liese in exchange for an honeThank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for giving me a digital review copy of “Only When It’s Us” by Chloe Liese in exchange for an honest review.
Willa Sutter is a massively talented college soccer player; she’s good enough that she reasonably expects to be drafted to a professional team after she finishes college. Unfortunately, as excellent as her career aspirations are, her personal life is more challenging. She’s never had a father in her life and her mother is sick with cancer. She has neither the time, the interest, nor the emotional availability for a romantic relationship.
Ryder has been somewhat socially isolated since illness destroyed his hearing. His close-knit family and roommates haven’t given up on him, but he doesn’t pursue relationships either. He gave up his own soccer playing and focuses solely on his classes now.
When his brother-in-law college professor assigns Willa as Ryder’s partner, things get off to a rocky start. Mr. Professor doesn’t explain that Ryder is deaf so Willa assumes Ryder is ignoring her, and thus is a complete jackass. Unwilling to be intimidated, she pushes back and thus begins a prank war. EVENTUALLY they arrive at understanding but it’s pretty cringe until then.
Of course, they grow closer and closer until they are teetering on the edge of an actual relationship. But Willa is emotionally closed off and unwilling to explore ANY feelings, let alone romantic ones. Things get more complicated when it’s revealed that her mother’s oncologist (and long time friend) is Ryder’s dad (because… of course he is….). This folds Willa and her mother into the big, extended Bergman family.
Unfortunately, this particular story is unevenly paced and Willa’s angst over commitment gets a little tedious. It’s understandable, for the most part, but also tedious. The series of coincidences gets to be a bit much too (Ryder’s professor is his brother-in-law, Ryder’s father is Willa’s mother’s doctor AND old army buddy).
In general, Willa’s spitfire attitude on the playing field is fabulous; fierce female characters are awesome. Ryder’s patience with Willa’s commitment issues is heartwarming too. And as always, Liese’s commitment to bringing different ability levels to the page is admirable. Overall, it’s an okay story. It’s just that it’s unevenly plotted and emotional and angsty.
Recommended for folks who enjoy bold female characters, emotional complexity, and a good cry. (No specific spoilers, but yeah, you may need some tissues.)...more
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "This Spells Love" by Kate Robb in exchange for an honest review.
AfterThank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "This Spells Love" by Kate Robb in exchange for an honest review.
After a rough breakup with her long-term boyfriend and stuck in a miserable job, Emma Wilde casts a spell to eliminate her ex from her life. The spell works: she wakes up in an alternate reality where she never met her ex and she's a successful small business owner. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers that in this universe, she's never met her best friend Dax, whose friendship means everything to her.
Thus begins Gemma's quest to undo the spell and get back to her own reality. She needs Dax to do that, so she must reestablish their friendship. This Dax, however, is not exactly the same as her Dax and it forces her to reconsider aspects of their relationship. However, they have fabulous chemistry in any universe and it isn't long before they connect again. This time, without the distraction of Gemma's ex, their relationship grows develops along more romantic lines.
Unfortunately, Gemma's default is self-absorption. She's not a terrible person, but her main priority, in both universes, is how Gemma feels. She misses big things: Original Universe Dax is clearly crazy about her. Alternate Universe Dax's business is on the bring of failure. Alternate Universe Kiersten's not in a good emotional place.
Gemma is so caught up in herself that she kinda hurts the people love her. But characters need to start low in order to grow up, right? Gemma eventually realizes how blind she's been. It then comes down to a choice: give up the reality where she's doing great but her loved ones are not? Or go back to her own reality and figure out how to make that one awesome too?
As frustrating as Gemma can be at times, it IS a sweet book. Recommended for readers who enjoy friends-to-lovers, witchy vibes, and sweet, easy stories....more
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "System Collapse" by Martha Wells in exchange for an honest reThank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "System Collapse" by Martha Wells in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I am an huge fan of the Martha Wells and the Murderbot series. Even so, when this story opened RIGHT where Network Effect left off, I found I needed a refresher. So I reread Network Effect and settled back in for another wild ride. I was NOT disappointed.
When last we saw Murderbot and friends, they were on the surface of a planet, having just defeated the effects of alien contamination on the local inhabitants. Now, they are confronted with a new threat: an evil corporation wants to indenture the survivors and press them into working their corporate mines.
Murderbot's ship friend ART (aka Perihelion) and its crew specialize in disrupting these kinds of corporate machinations, but their attempts to do so this time are complicated by the existence of a second, disconnected group of settlers living in the north. This group has been out of contact via standard communications for decades, so Murderbot and crew head north, hoping to 1) determine whether this group still exists and 2) if they do exist, convince them NOT to join up with the evil corporation.
To make things more dicey, Murderbot is suffering from *redacted.* (It's a legit spoiler, but Murderbot keeps redacting the story until it feels ready to share that part with us.) The effects of this *redacted* is that it no longer trusts in its abilities and fears whether it can do the job it needs to do. In terms of character development, I love this because it layers even more complexity into a fascinating character. It sucks for Murderbot, but it really further blurs the definition of "what" Murderbot is. It's not human, but it's not fully machine either. Murderbot's been grappling with having FEELINGS since the start of the series, but now it has to contend with *redacted* too.
This story also amplifies the effect that Murderbot has on the greater universe. Those ripples started early in the series, but certain actions in Network Effect and System Collapse should have significant consequences down the line. I CANNOT WAIT.
In short, as usual, I really enjoyed this story from Martha Wells. It has a little less snark and a bit more angst than previous installments but I see this character development as a real bonus. Readers can still expect the kind of heart-pounding action scenes that they are accustomed to, but the focus has shifted a smidge.
I fully recommend this for fans of the series, but for new folks, I do NOT recommend starting here. This story does NOT work as a stand-alone....more
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Secret of the Ravens" in exchange for an honestThank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Secret of the Ravens" in exchange for an honest review.
Twin orphans Elliot and Liza are making a living through scavenging garbage, when an acquaintance tells them that they can make more money by accepting quests from magical ravens. They learn the magic necessary to catch these ravens and things start looking up. However, the ravens grow scarce in their town, so they follow the bird population to a larger city.
There, making a living becomes harder. They attempt a particularly dangerous quest with devastating results. Though distrustful at first, Elliot accepts help from a royal mage apprentice named Seb (the fact that Elliot also begrudgingly finds him cute is adorable). As they work together, long-buried secrets are revealed, including the origins of the quest-granting ravens.
I absolutely loved this book. The artwork is incredible.. The story is engaging. The characters are nuanced. It ends on a cliffhanger and I'm EAGERLY awaiting the next book....more
Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Super Boba Cafe" (Book 1) in exchange for an honest review.
"Super BobaThank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Super Boba Cafe" (Book 1) in exchange for an honest review.
"Super Boba Cafe" centers around 12 year old Aria and her grandmother Jing Li, aka Nainai Li (Grandma Li). Needing a break from a terrible situation at home, Aria visits Nainai Li in San Francisco, where her grandmother owns a boba teashop. Despite business being slow, Nainai disappears into the shop's kitchen every day.
At first, she refuses to explain why she's so secretive in the kitchen, but as Aria makes changes (she makes it a cat cafe!) and business picks up, the stress leads to Nainai finally confessing: she makes a giant boba to satisfy a monster hidden beneath the city. If the monster isn't appeased by boba, one of two terrible things might happen. Either the monster will devour some of the local prairie dogs or it will cause an earthquake, damaging the entire city.
In general, I enjoyed the book. It was a little slow at times, and the artwork skews a little young, so I kept thinking that Aria is was younger than she's supposed to be. However, the concept is unique, the illustrated kittens are ADORABLE, and as this is the first in a series, I'm interested in seeing where it goes next.
One thing I particularly appreciated is the situation that drove Aria to visit her grandmother. Prior to the start of the story, she shared personal photos with a boy at school, who posted them online. She does not describe what was in the photos, but you get the idea that they weren't anything Aria would have wanted shared. It's a horrible betrayal, but unfortunately, one that is all too possible and sadly common these days. The author presented this as the social peril it is, without dwelling so much as to make it a morality tale.
I recommend this book for 11-13 year olds, especially as they wade into life online. It's a quick, easy read....more
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Holiday Mix-Up" by Ginny Baird in exchange for an honesThank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Holiday Mix-Up" by Ginny Baird in exchange for an honest review.
I will start by saying how much I appreciate this attempt at making "While You Were Sleeping" not problematic. I loved that movie when I was a kid and didn't know any better, so I was excited to see a version of the old "falling for my fake-boyfriend's brother while my fake boyfriend is in a coma" trope. (A tale as old as time, truly.) The original, to be fair, an absolute trainwreck of morals, ethics, consent, and fidelity. So how could it be plausibly rehabilitated? "The Holiday Mix-Up" takes a crack at it.
Waitress Katie Smith has been nursing a crush on her handsome customer Juan since he started coming into her diner. Now, as Christmas nears, Juan tells her that he's tired of his godmother's constant set-up attempts and he asks her to pose as his girlfriend at Christmas dinner at the family's winery. He specifically asks her NOT TO TELL ANYBODY that it's all fake and Katie agrees, thinking that spending time with him, even fake time, will give her a chance at convincing him to try it for real.
Unfortunately, the plan goes awry when Juan leaves the diner and nearly gets run over by a van. Katie manages to push him out of the way, but he falls and is knocked unconscious when his head hits the pavement. Doctors determine he has swelling on the brain and put him into a medically induced coma until the swelling abates.
In the meantime, Katie is left to deal with his family, including his brother Mateo. Juan had just enough time to text the family that he had a girlfriend before almost dying, so they believe she's really his girlfriend. Juan also made her promise not to tell anyone it was fake, so she can't correct them without breaking her promise. Therefore Katie is kinda stuck. If she tells the truth, she'll break her promise, jeopardize any future possibility of actually dating Juan, and give another full dose of hurt and confusion to a family dealing with a medical emergency AND possible financial ruin at Christmas time.
Over the next few days, she is roped into family meals, trimming a Christmas tree with Mateo, and a big wine-production emergency. She also learns more about the winery being on the brink of bankruptcy and Mateo's efforts to save the place. All this quality time together lead to Big Feelings for both Katie and Mateo, but they fight these feelings. Mateo, because he doesn't want to covet his brother's girlfriend and Katie because it takes a while for her to realize she isn't really into Juan after all.
Generally, I liked the characters. I felt for lonely Katie, although her backstory could have been flesh out a little better. (Her parents died but maybe I missed the part explaining why that meant she had no friends?) I enjoyed the family dynamic. Some family members were happy to embrace her; some were justifiably skeptical. They had individual personalities and I loved how important family history was to their winery business. (A tad over-romanticized, but I was willing to go with it.)
To be honest, though I wasn't wild about Mateo. He's constantly fighting his attraction to her (as well he should) but he also doesn't really listen to her or trust her. At one point, she comes right out and tells him it's all a set-up and he assumes she's making it up so she'll have a good excuse for breaking up with Juan when he wakes up. Like, come on, man! She's doing the right thing by coming clean, and he accuses her of lying. Then, when it's revealed that she WAS telling the truth, he accuses her of lying about her motives. That she was just trying to manipulate the family. Katie just couldn't win when it came to Mateo. Maybe she didn't have be QUITE as chummy as she was during the coma period, but she was trying her best.
I will also say that if the book hadn't specifically said she was 28, I would have been convinced she was in her mid 50s. Her primary symptom of overwhelming attraction to Mateo is blushing. Flushing. Feeling warm. Burning up. I swear, she was having hot flashes every other page. Enough that I could have created a drinking game based on how many times Katie got warm in Mateo's proximity.
In general, I liked the book. The writing wasn't super sophisticated and I didn't always like Mateo but I liked the story well enough. I recommend this for readers who want redemption for nostalgic but problematic movies and for people who enjoy romances with a large, involved families....more
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Wrapped with a Beau" by Lillie Vale in exchange for an honestThank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Wrapped with a Beau" by Lillie Vale in exchange for an honest review. Fifty years ago, "Sleighbells under Starlight," aka the BEST (totally not Hallmark) holiday movie OF ALL TIME was filmed in obnoxiously quaint small town Piney Peaks. Since that time, the movie has become a nostalgic classic; so much so that now a filmmaker wants to produce a sequel, featuring the same iconic home featured in the first movie. Homeowner Maeve was all for it, but then she passed away. Maeve's friend and neighbor Elisha Rowe (Elisha's family home is across the street) has moved back to her precious hometown and she's working a film liaison, facilitating the movie production. Except that Maeve's great-nephew and heir, Ves, arrives to take possession of the place. He just wants to clean the house out, sell it ASAP, and get back to his life as a writer in NYC.
Elisha and Ves naturally clash. First there's a case of mistaken identity (she mistakes him for a burglar and attacks him with a plastic candy cane. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds). Then there are differing visions for how the house should be managed. But being two unattached adults with good chemistry, they work out their differences in time for Christmas miracles.
I'll come straight to the point on this: it's basically a Hallmark movie in novel form. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you like light, fluffy, improbably adorable stories, this will work for you. It's adorable. There are a few attempts to make things a little more realistic: he's having career troubles AND he has some seriously toxic family. But for the most part, this book is like a bubble bath for the brain. Fun, frothy, maybe leaves you smelling like candy canes afterward.
I didn't love the writing style. I'd finally settle into a reading groove, and then I'd hit something like this: "Because Bentley, Elisha's ex-fiancé, has just swanned into the pub with a woman's hand tucked into the crook of his flannel-clad elbow, the classic red-and-black plaid Elisha always loved but he refused to wear back when they were dating. The diamond sparkling on the woman's finger almost distracts from the glint of her gold wedding band."
How many ways did this trip me up? Well, the tense, for one. I don't love first person, present tense. But also "...with a woman's hand tucked into the crook of his flannel-clad elbow..." I *know* that this is supposed to mean that he's there with his new wife, but I keep picturing a weird, dismembered hand, just resting there on his arm. The rest of the woman isn't actually mentioned until 3 paragraphs later. All that seems to matter here is that she's got the rings that Elisha never got.
It wasn't a terrible book. It wasn't exactly to my taste, but I can definitely see readers enjoying it. Like I said, if you want a book equivalent of a Hallmark movie, this is absolutely an option. Something to read and relax with. Something that won't stress you out. I recommend this for readers who love quaint small towns, hot chocolate aficionados, and people who put up their Christmas trees before Thanksgiving....more
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of "Fish Out of Water" by Katie Ruggle in exchange for an Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of "Fish Out of Water" by Katie Ruggle in exchange for an honest review.
Dahlia's sister disappears while on a hike, but not before sending Dahlia a text, a secret code between them that something is very wrong. So Dahlia heads to her sister's last known location and recruits survival expert Winston Dane to help.
If you are a fan of Katie Ruggle, you will likely find A LOT of similarity between this book and Ruggle's book "Gone Too Deep." The plot is pretty similar: a loved one has gone missing and a woman entirely unqualified to search the wilderness recruits a big, broody man to help them. Winston and GTD's George Holloway have A LOT in common, although their backstories differ a little. Dahlia and GTD's Ellie Price are both girly girls; one sells clothes and the other does makeup. These adventures both happen in cold weather so sharing body heat is required, etc.
Differences are relatively minor. The exact location is different. The people who threaten her sister are different than the ones that threatened Ellie's father. Dahlia and Winston resolve their relationship a little differently than Ellie and George.
In general, they're kinda the same book. Which isn't the worst, if you like George and you want to meet him again in the form of Winston. (Opinion: he's pretty likeable, actually.) It felt like this book was an attempt to take Ruggle's signature romantic suspense (with a survivalist twist) and splice it with a rom com. Without a ton of success, sadly. There is one scene involving a makeover that was pretty precious but in general, this book missed the mark....more
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Along Came Holly" by Codi Hall in exchange for an honest reThank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Along Came Holly" by Codi Hall in exchange for an honest review.
Eh, where do I even start?
Holly Winters, third and youngest of the Winters family of Mistletoe, ID, is looking for a change. She's made a decent amount of money as a YouTuber; her character Holly the Adventure Elf does Jackass-style stunts while she's... dressed as an elf. Now, she wants to rebrand, because she (correctly) believes that she can't maintain that shtick forever. Meanwhile, she ALSO owns a gift shop thing called "A Shop for All Seasons" where she sells seasonal stuff. Because of course she does. This girl can do it all, except for long-term relationships. She doesn't do those because they are boring.
Meanwhile, Declan Gallagher is also at a crossroads in his life. He returned to Mistletoe to care for his father after his dad broke a hip. He stayed longer because Dad is also in the early stages of Alzheimer's. So Declan shelves his career as an artist to run the family hardware store and do odd jobs around town to make ends meet. Also of note: Declan hates Christmas because "emotional baggage."
The gift shop and hardware store share a wall, and when Holly turns up her Christmas music too loud for Declan's liking, this somehow sets off a prank-style feud between them. Because as adults and business owners, that's the most logical and appropriate way of settling things. Over the course of this feud, they realize they have the hots for each other. They call a ceasefire and start hooking up (no strings attached, naturally). Then after some silly jealousy stuff, they decide to add strings and live happily ever after.
You may have gotten the impression that I didn't enjoy this story. You would be correct. The plot gets its jump start from the prank war, but once that ends, the story relies on a few other external events to move the plot forward. Holly and Declan progress through their relationship development NOT because they want to spend time together, but because they are constantly thrown together (He's the only handyman in town and she DESPERATELY needs his help putting up her Christmas display! They're in the same wedding party so they get thrown together over and over!)
There's no emotional maturity to be found. Anywhere. Not in Holly, not in Declan, and not in the enormous cast of supporting characters. The prank war is a pretty good example of this. It would be one thing to start off with this childish behavior and see emotional maturity develop over time, but that doesn't happen.
The big final conflict, the one that forces the couple into deciding to make things forever, is only that Holly's guy friend Sam decides to provoke Declan's jealousy. He gets extra handsy AND accuses Declan of only being after Holly's money. Holly is not aware of any of Sam's machinations; she's always been physically (but platonically) affectionate with him and didn't hear what Sam said. Declan gets ticked off and THAT'S what finally pushes him to decide to change his plans and commit to Holly long term. Again, just like mature, responsible adults. It's not (only) because he sees potential and room for growth in their relationship; it's because he's manipulated into confronting his feelings.
I wasn't a fan of the writing style either. I annotated a number of awkward bits, but here's a prime example. Holly is short (duh, elf) and Declan is tall (duh, romance novel man). In discussing her famous temper, Declan has this exchange with another character:
"Please, I can handle your pint-size sister-in-law." Declan held his hand up below his chest. "She comes up to here on me." "Which makes her the perfect height to high kick you into a eunuch," Clark said, wincing as it pained him to even mention the possibility. . The phrase "high kick you into a eunuch" makes me wince too, but not for the same reasons. I wonder if an editor somewhere really thought this was the best to to say "Holly could still castrate you with a well-aimed kick."
At times, I was confused by the cast of supporting characters. I considered reading the preceding two books to have a better understanding of "Along Came Holly" but I decided against it. As always, I want to add that just because *I* didn't love this book doesn't mean that no one will. Preferences and priorities vary, so if you just want a wacky, no-thinking-required, holiday romance, maybe this story will work for you. It was just not my cup of cocoa.
Recommended for folks who enjoy prank wars, stories with boisterous friends groups, and fans of goofy holiday romances....more
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "What Stalks Among Us" by Sarah Hollowell in exchangThank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "What Stalks Among Us" by Sarah Hollowell in exchange for an honest review.
Holy mackerel, I hardly know where to start.
Sadie and Logan are best friends. Their relationship is bone deep, despite being less than a year old. They decide to skip their physics class field trip to the amusement park and drive aimlessly around the countryside. When they see a seemingly-impossible corn maze (it's a fully grown, mature corn maze in May), they pull over and decide to start exploring.
It does not take long to understand that this is a serious mistake. They are immediately lost, unable to retrace their steps back to the beginning and then... then they find the first body. The boy is identical to Logan in every way (except he's still alive and the boy definitely is not). What follow is the wild, unnerving story of their attempts to escape the corn maze.
There is so much to unpack in "What Stalks Among Us.". Like the very best horror, this story is about more than just about it's plot. Yes, it's about two teens trying to escape a corn maze. But it's also about the effects of fatphobia, emotional abuse, toxic relationships (both romantic and platonic), vengeance, and redemption. It doesn't seem like all that should fit squarely within the realm of a haunted corn maze, and yet... It totally does. If the maze can defy the bounds of time and space (which is does, constantly), it can shift enough to include extraordinary emotional reckoning.
The very best part of the story is the bond between Sadie and Logan. As unnerving as the story is, their friendship brings lightness and hope. They support one another. They trust each other. They never let the other give up. The story says "No Sadie without Logan. No Logan without Sadie." No matter what happens, they are a team and I loved them for it.
It was a little slow going at first, but after the first 10%, I tore through it. It was "staying up too late to read more" kinda book. I recommend it to those who enjoy YA horror, corn maze fans, and folks who like their horror with a heavy dose of emotional resolution. However, there are many triggers in this book, so go carefully. In particular, be aware that abusive relationships (NOT between Sadie and Logan, thank goodness) form the nucleus of the tale....more
Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Cat on the Run in Cat of Death!" by Aaron Blabey in exchange for an honThank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Cat on the Run in Cat of Death!" by Aaron Blabey in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Beautiful is the star of all those Internet cat memes you've ever enjoyed. She wears funny outfits! She does silly cat things! But behind the scenes, she's a spoiled diva, as much as an entitled brat as her name would imply. She mistreats her staff and makes impossible demands, all while trying garner as many clicks and views as her videos can attract.
Until.... she is framed for accessing the codes for the world's nuclear weapons! A secret organization hacks her computer at the exact moment when she's filming her latest silly cat video, and once the video premieres online, sharp eyes notice what's on her screen (note: she herself never saw it.) She's immediately labeled The Cat of Death, a threat to the entire world, and every law enforcement officer is out to find her.
This was a fun, zany, far-out book. The artwork is classically Blabey with expressive linework, gray tones, and pops of color for emphasis. This story is clearly the setup for a longer series, so it ends on a cliffhanger.
The humor is whacky and exaggerated for kids, but I think adults will enjoy it too. (Apart from the blatant skewering of influencer culture, a lawman mouse does a version of Tommy Lee Jones's speech from the 1993 film The Fugitive. That's clearly not intended for people born in the last decade.) I would expect fans of The Bad Guys to enjoy this one, also....more
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me a digital copy of "Fangirl Down" by Tessa Bailey in exchange for an honest review.
ProThank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me a digital copy of "Fangirl Down" by Tessa Bailey in exchange for an honest review.
Professional golfer Wells Whitaker is spiraling from the height of fame. Once at the top of the golfing game, his drinking and attitude have quickly chipped away at his success. By the start of "Fangirl Down" he's one incident away from dropping off the cliff of obscurity. He's got precisely one fan left, Josephine, and after he has a spectacular meltdown on the green, even she's done with his crap.
A few weeks later, a hurricane hits Florida and destroys her family's golf shop. Fearing for her safety and livelihood, Wells shakes himself out of his drunken brooding and rushes to the scene, offering her a job as his caddy. It starts as a way of giving her enough money to rebuild the family business but she quickly proves that she knows golf as well as, if not better than, Wells does. They become an absolute sensation on the PGA tour, other stuff happens, and they live happily ever after.
Like many Bailey stories, the romance heats up fast. It helps that they already have a sort of familiarity. But the story is really about how they rewrite their relationship, going from star/fangirl to true romantic partners. The meltdown at the beginning of the story is aggravating and not terribly flattering to Wells, but it's absolutely necessary. It forces Josephine to let go of her adulation and see him as a real person. Wells, meanwhile, starts to recognize how his behavior affects the people in his life. Had that incident not happened, I would have found it more difficult to reconcile who Josephine is at the start with the woman she is by the end.
I loved, loved, loved the way Type 1 diabetes was depicted on the page. It was cleverly incorporated into the story, rather than acting as some kind of plot device. The ins and outs of her condition have real and specific impacts on their relationship.
While this wasn't my absolute favorite Bailey romance, it was very, very good. Recommended for sports rom com fans, golfers who enjoy dirty talk, and Bailey fans of all sorts....more
Thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Fake Mate" by Lana Ferguson in exchange for an hoThank you to the Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Fake Mate" by Lana Ferguson in exchange for an honest review.
Mackenzie Carter is a ER doctor, who also happens to be a wolf shifter. Cardiologist Noah Taylor (and alpha shifter) works in the same hospital. Unmated Alphas like Noah are unfairly considered dangerous, because their hormones make them aggressive and unpredictable (rumors of mauled hikers abound.) Noah's been on suppressant drugs for years to hide his alpha status and he's considered a grumpy yet brilliant physician. But someone has recently found out about his undisclosed alpha status and reported him to the Hospital Board, who duly call him forward to explain himself. When Mackenzie asks him to pose as her fake boyfriend to prevent her grandmother from arranging YET another bad date, Noah agrees, as long as she also poses as his mate.
And so they set off on the shifter equivalent of fake dating: fake mating. Fake mating is very similar to fake dating, except WHOA HORMONES. Because Mackenzie has secret status too: she is an omega. Where Alphas are stereotyped as uber-aggressive, omegas are rumored to be oversexed and baby crazy. Thing is, this pairing makes them crazy compatible, at least in the hormonal department. So much so that it actually causes her to go into heat ahead of schedule. It was an .... interesting... detail, because the condition seems to be like the unholy combination of influenza and nymphomania. (Maybe that's how canines really are? I have no idea.)
The story is very steamy (I practically needed a shower after reading, there's so much discussion of scenting). It makes for a hot time, but there really isn't much focus on the two of them developing their relationship apart from sex. I would have liked to see more bonding in the non-bedroom way. In one scene, the pull of attraction gets strong, she cracks a joke, and Noah thinks, "Humor is good. Humor makes me feel less like I want to kiss her." That line irritated me because I think having a laugh together contributes to emotional intimacy and increased emotional intimacy makes for better sexual intimacy.
Maybe it's different for people who can transform into wolves? But honestly, they don't even do that much. They only shift into wolves once. The shifter aspect mostly just explains the the pheromone angle and some very particular aspects of shifter sex. Like real canines, he *ahem* "knots" during the act, and they are therefore locked together for at least half an hour after the main event. (I will not be explaining that further. Either read the book, or look it up.) Otherwise, they seem more like humans with some animal abilities, rather than animals with some human abilities.
So if you want a steeeeeamy, lust-filled romance, this is a great story for you. If you want something where the protagonists admire their love interest in addition to wanting to jump their bones, it might not fit the bill. If you really prefer protagonists' bearing to be more heavily influenced by animal behavior, again, maybe not for you. But this is a relatively light, uncomplicated faking mating story. Fun, fast, easy to enjoy....more
Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Things in the Basement" by Ben Hatke in exchange for an honest Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Things in the Basement" by Ben Hatke in exchange for an honest review.
I ADORED THIS INCREDIBLE WEIRDO OF A BOOK. My inner 10 year old is absolutely giddy right now.
Things in the Basement is the story of young Milo, sent to the basement in search of his infant sister's missing sock. When he tries to grab it, the sock is stolen by a rat creature, who whisks it away through an opening in the basement wall. Turns out, there's more than one basement, and Milo steadily makes his way deeper and deeper down, with each layer representing different eras and growing more and more magical.
I loved everything about this book. I never knew where the story was going next; just when I thought I knew what was coming, I was always wrong. It's exciting without losing a sense of contemplation. The characters are engaging and interesting; Milo's companion Chuckles is my favorite.
I loved the artwork. It was gorgeous and imaginative, with tons of fascinating details. The architecture in all the basements gives on a strong sense of history and lore, leaving me in an almost constant state of awe.
My one regret is that because I read the digital copy of my phone, I'm certain I missed details. I cannot wait to get my paws on a print copy so I can go through it, page by page. I highly recommend this for people who: love art, believe in magic, don't mind ghosts, ALWAYS lose their socks, yearn to discover the remains of an ancient civilization, and/or always wanted a talking skull or tentacled eyeball for a pal....more
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