Synopsis:

“The next Realm Walker will bring with them a storm. Lightning must fight the Crimson Shadow, or the lands will be cast into eternal darkness.” When she was a child, Esther was plagued with vivid nightmares. Now they have returned to haunt her. Bloodthirsty monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. After waking with fresh wounds from her dreams, Esther searches for the truth about who she is and the Hidden Realm she is destined to save. Join Esther on her journey of self-discovery as she travels into a world long forgotten. Unsure if she can trust her hooded guide, she is hunted by unknown enemies and smothered by expectations of grandeur. Deciphering friend from foe she travels the lands, trying to unite kingdoms torn by pride.

Favorite Lines:

“Literature gave Esther a high standard for men…”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story follows Esther as she finds herself in another world that she thought only existed in her dreams. She has to learn how to live in this strange, new world and fight for her life against monsters that she thought only existed in fairy tales.

This was a very interesting concept. Slauf did a great job at retelling and weaving fairy tales together. The only complaint that I would have is that the pacing would vary. Sometimes things moved too fast and other times too slow. Additionally, conversations could be very stop and start or have identical compositions for several sentences in a row.

Summary:

Overall, this was a really creative read. If you love action, adventure, romance, and fairy tale retellings then this book could be for you. Happy reading.

 

Hidden Realm

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Synopsis:

She’s been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Favorite Lines:

“Don’t borrow from tomorrow’s problems?”

“Common sense. That must be a new thing for you.”

“Look at us, agreeing on who to kill and who not to.”

“Two wrongs never made things right or better, nor did they cancel one another out. They just were.”

“The heart doesn’t care how long you may have with someone… It just cares that you have the person for as long as you can.”

“Bravery is a fleeting beast, isn’t it? Always there to get you into trouble, but quick to disappear once you’re where you want to be.”

My Opinion:

This is book three of the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. If you have been following my blog for a while, you know I love love love Armentrout’s work; she is one of my favorite authors. I had been waiting for this book for so long. This book was very well written and the pace wasn’t too slow. If anything, I thought it was a TAD rushed at the end.

The story follows Poppy and Cas as they try to adjust to the idea that they may be King and Queen of Atlantia while still trying to uncover the secrets of their enemies and the mysteries that surround Poppy’s origins.

Armentrout did an amazing job at keeping me on my toes without being too confusing. I was always wondering how everything was going to piece together and then would get hit with another curve ball. I am still dying to know how everything will come out and if the series is going to go the direction that I think it will go. I am beyond excited to see where Armentrout takes it next.

Summary:

Overall, I really loved this book and love this whole series. The cliff hanger at the end just left me wanting more. Too bad we have to wait at least another yea. If you like high-fantasy romance, this book (and whole series) might interest you. Happy reading!

Crown of Gilded Bones

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Synopsis:.

Do bears play polo? Can cats wear berets? Do happily ever afters exist? Often there are more questions than answers, and sometimes you find love on a bicycle.

Ever since Hannah caught her ex-boyfriend with another woman, she’s been stuck in a romance rut. When a hot guy in fancy bike gear corners her in the elevator, she lets him slip through her fingers, although his hard muscles and adorable grin never leave her thoughts.

Gabe is sick of plastic women who only see him as a piece of meat. Surprised by a funny woman in an elevator, he forgets to introduce himself and accidentally insults her instead. Convinced he’ll never see her again, he resigns himself to a life as a crazy cat man.

Will an unexpected bucket list change Hannah and Gabe’s life forever? Dear Pink is a romantic comedy where two lost souls collide with fate and find love in the most unlikely place.

Favorite Lines:

I was too engrossed in the story to keep track!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author(s) in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dear Pink is categorized as a romantic comedy and at first I was questioning it but by the end I totally agreed that it was a romantic comedy. I found myself smiling and laughing at the witty humor throughout the book. Dear Pink follows Hannah and Gabe as they continue to run into each other and fall in love while navigating the baggage that is left over from their pasts.

This is a really cute love story that deals with loss and grief in a modern-day romance. Hannah and Gabe were the perfect couple to work through their issues and fight to be together. When I say perfect, I mean imperfect in the best way possible.

Summary:

If you like modern romances that are adorable with touches of humor this book would be for you. Happy reading!

 

Dear Pink

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Synopsis:

Lyam is about to be relocated to big city London and fears loneliness the most. But there is online dating, and in a mere ten-kilometre radius from where he will live, an app promises nine-hundred and twenty-eight potential remedies.

Even before he gets on a plane, Lyam swipes right for Anna and is convinced that he has found ‘the one’.

Yeah right! What a flipping joke!

Flanked by two friends, Brett and Richard, Lyam plunges into the world of online dating. By the time he has optimised the app’s response rate, Celine, gorgeously French, enters his life… but so does Caitlin.

Favorite Lines:

I didn’t keep track!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the first two pages, I wasn’t sure how I felt. The main character seemed very shallow only becoming interested when he saw how attractive Anna was. I’m not surprised as this is how the culture of dating apps is these days anyways. The entitlement that he displayed was a huge turn off to the book. I’m glad I stuck around until later though. I am happy that I stuck it out because by the end I was waiting to see what happened to all of the characters. Additionally, This book is told from a male perspective which is something I am not used to but found refreshing.

Summary:

Overall, this book was an interesting and witty take on modern day romance. It was a romance with touches of humor and thoughtfulness. If you like modern day romances told from male perspectives then this book is for you. Happy reading!

 

We’ve Let Her Know (That You Are Interested)

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Synopsis:

Welcome to the Finding Happiness in Harmony series’ first journey celebrating the bonds of friendship, love, and life. This feel-good story of first love and best friends will have you believing you too can find it all.

Warning: This novel contains a happy ending.

Twenty-five-year-old Chloe Larson has never had a relationship or been really kissed by someone. After a rough childhood spent hiding a secret and being ridiculed, Chloe believes she’s better off with only friends around her. That way she can’t get hurt or misused.

She spends weekends living life to the fullest with her best friends and roommates Gaby and Jess and weekdays proving her worth as a newly promoted reporter. The thing is, she doesn’t have time for anything romantic. But secretly she longs for that special connection with someone.

Chris Sherman is bored of the selfish women who flock to him. Recently out of a relationship, he isn’t looking for love. But everything changes when he meets Chloe Larson. She has a way about her that excites and intrigues him, leaving him desperate to get to know her.

Will they both find the courage to let each other in and experience the joys and pains of love, life, and happiness to find it all?

Favorite Lines:

“Love was a complex emotion. It brought about all the good and wonderful feelings a human could possibly feel, but it also surfaced a deep fear of losing the precious and delicate love you found.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story follows Chloe, Chris and their friends/families as they try to navigate their lives and come to terms with love and the difficulties that come with it. The story started off a bit slow for me. Most of it seemed to be Chloe admiring her friends over and over which kind of got repetitive but I am glad that I stuck with it because it was such a cute story.

I related the most to Jess in terms of her personality and also her family upbringing. Considering this is a three-part series, I am interested to see if we get a book from Jess and Gaby’s point of views. It did jump from character to character a bit which was not what I expected. Usually, you get a book focused on one couple at a time and only see from their perspectives so that was interesting. Also, If I was being nit-picky, the conversations didn’t flow as well as they could have. Sometimes, I felt like they were choppy or too formal to be a conversation.

Summary:

Overall, this was a really cute contemporary romance. It made me quite envious of the characters. I hope to be able to have a relationship like that someday with a guy who isn’t without his faults but mature enough to know how to keep his woman feeling secure and happy. A girl can dream. Happy reading, everyone!

 

Finding it All

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Synopsis:

Who is Lydia Warren? That’s what she’d like to know. An amnesiac, she vaguely remembers arriving in Santorini with this one-armed man she instinctive trusts but cannot recall his name. She guides us through the fog that is her mind, and her odyssey towards understanding that is even further complicated by memories of a life not her own from before she was born.

Favorite Lines:

I didn’t keep track!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Weary God of Ancient Travelers follows Lydia, a woman with amnesia, as she tries to remember her past and discover why she has lost her memory. Along with her for the journey is a man whose name she never can remember so she calls him David Copperfield. As the story progresses, readers are along for the ride with Lydia to uncover the mystery of who she is.

There were some small grammatical and spelling errors such as switching between past and present tense. Additionally, the book started off a bit slow but had just enough mystery to keep me going. Despite the spelling/grammar errors, the book was really interesting.

Summary:

Overall, this book was not what I expected it to be but I still found it to be a good read. It is a mysterious kind of #metoo movement book. If you like contemporary fiction, female-lead books that are full of mystery, then this book would be for you. This book comes out June 15, 2021 and you can find the link below. Happy reading!

 

The Weary God of Ancient Travelers

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Synopsis:

Sabina is a young noblewoman who, based on her soothsayer aunt’s prediction, believes her words are dangerous and will hurt those she loves.  Following the death of her beloved husband, she takes on a vow of silence to protect others from suffering the same fate.  Ignored and scorned by those around her, who believe her to be cursed by the gods who took her voice, she is content to live in the shadow of her former life, avoiding society as best she can and staying away of the politics and drama of Rome’s inner circles.

Lucius is an unwilling front-runner to inherit the title of Emperor from Rome’s childless leader, Trajan.  Although the soothsayer warns him to steer clear of a pretty face that hides a cursed soul, Lucius cannot help but be drawn to the silent and beautiful Sabina.  After learning her secret, he is as determined to help her shed her cloak of silence as she is to keep him at a safe distance.  But when Lucius becomes the target of a political plot, Sabina must decide whether breaking her silence will save his life or merely seal his fate.

Favorite Lines:

“The heart was made to feel, the body made to love.”

“Because, young man, some things are too important to leave to fate.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Admonition is set in the same world as Soothsayer. I believe it actually takes place somewhat parallel to towards the end of Soothsayer as there are common events that take place in both books. This story follows Sabina, a woman who has taken a vow of silence after her husband dies and Lucius, the man determined to win Sabina’s heart and help her heal.

Can I just start by saying that I love Lucius. He was so kind, caring, and understanding. The way he was patient with Sabina and felt about her without being too pushy or coming off as creepy was to die for. Amurra did an amazing job writing the character and making me with I had a Lucius of my own.

I liked Admonition more than Soothsayer. It seemed more thought out and well written. I couldn’t put the book down and ended up staying up until almost 2am to finish it in one sitting.

Summary:

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you like historical romances, especially ones that take place in ancient Rome, then this book is for you. Admonition comes out June 5, 2021. Happy reading!

 

Admonition

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Synopsis:

Drop off the newborn of an unknown teen and incarcerated father at the doorsteps of a slaughterhouse, where he is adopted into a life of hard labor, albeit gruesome, and what do you get? In this case a superhuman sensory perceptive, with a different kind of drive. And one who’s afflicted with a fetish he must keep to himself. To live as he sees fit one day, this genius must put the past behind him.

Until now, expert brain surgeon Abel Rhodes has been shackled by societies expectations, his interpretation of a dystopian reality. After all, “functioning psychopath” doesn’t fit neatly into the life he’s created, or into one his family or colleagues would understand.

Abel’s Sanctuary, a brilliant hideaway, built with his own two hands, serves as the backdrop to satisfy his need for justice…by execution. Glorious? Yes, but even this isn’t enough to quench his cravings.

His growing angst toward a rotting society of the Internets ‘entitled’, while savvy societies watch—waiting to devour our ignorance, must be rectified. What he needs is a ‘Captain’—his captive, to be the face of said allegiance.

Once he finds one who is all he hoped for…and then some, can Abel successfully accomplish his greatest fantasy and romance his carnal fetishes? Or will she destroy him and the utopia he’s created?

Favorite Lines:

I didn’t keep track of any favorite lines in this one due to the adult thriller genre.

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

To sum up this whole book, it gave me major Dexter vibes. Martin did a really good job at writing the inner workings of a psychopathic brain. You’re reading from the perspective of someone who has no humanity but must blend in with everyone else to get what he craves.

I was a little confused with the point of view changes happening mid-chapter and sometimes I thought the story dragged in terms of dialogue and explaining the inner workings of Abel’s brain. But with some patience, it added to the overall creepy effect.

Summary:

Overall, this was an interesting read for sure. It is classified as an adult thriller which is accurate. It definitely has some NSFW in it and is intended for mature audiences. If you like creepy, Dexterish vibes, this book may be for you. Happy reading!

 

Anonymity

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Synopsis:

The sexy, action-packed first book in The City of a Thousand Lies trilogy by award-winning Imogen Keeper.

THE GOVERNMENT drugs us with ‘vitamins.’
They monitor us with nanochips.
They subjugate us with fear.

Citizens obey.
Outlaws are hunted down in the streets.

NO ONE knows that better than me.
Four years ago, my mother died, my father rebelled and was instantly Outlawed, leaving me responsible for my sick sister, a stack of bills and both our lives.
So I kept my head down and I prayed the government would never look my way. But now, they’ve found me anyway and have issued an impossible command. I have to write the code to convert nanochips to mind control devices and take the final freedom away from all of us—our own minds.

FOR A TEST SUBJECT, they gave me Romeo-Three, a captive bio-engineered soldier as dangerous as he is irresistible.
The reckless hope that saturates his every word ignites inside me a longing for a life beyond obedience.

LOVING HIM is an act of war.
The price tag of his freedom is my life, leaving us with no choice but to rebel—even if rebellion means certain death.

Favorite Lines:

“Some people just sparkle as if their very souls are amused…”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was amazing. It was so refreshing and had such a creative concept without being so far out there that I got lost while reading it. The story follows Romeo-Three and Tierney Jones. Tierney has to program a chip that is in the brain of Romeo-Three and his family that will control their minds but the more time she spends in the lab with him, the more she is unable to deny her attraction.

This story grabbed me from the start. Sometimes books drag a bit while they introduce you to the world you will be reading about but Keeper did a great job at keeping me engaged from page one. I actually ended up staying up until 4am to read this book in one sitting; that is how good it was.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book but I loved it. It is a sci-fi NSFW romance that just got better and better with every page I turned. It made my heart hurt in just the right way (that is how you know a book is good).

Without giving anything away, the ending did confuse me a bit because it was suddenly like “Oh yeah Tierney can do this now and Michael just knows about it. No big deal”. You will understand what I mean when you read this. Maybe it will be explained more in the next book but it almost seemed like the ending was rushed a bit.

Summary:

Overall, this is one of the best books I have read in a while and I am dying to see where Keeper takes the series next. If you like NSFW romance, sci-fi, and dystopian societies then this book is for you. Happy reading!

 

Outlaw

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Synopsis:

Raised in fear of her elemental power, Seren has spent her life protecting her exiled people and trying to live up to their legends. When that responsibility is brutally taken from her, she and her shapeshifting friend Atomi must enter a divided world where their very existence is treason. Axys is a land of peace and prosperity for those in the Eternal Lady’s favour, but her benevolence comes at a cost that Seren and Atomi are unwilling to bear.

A storm wind stirs the long dormant ashes of rebellion.

Their legend is only just beginning.

Favorite Lines:

“Five minutes, ten minutes, the rest of my existence. Whatever you ask for as long as you will have me.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

At the start, I felt like I was thrown into a world where everything had a strange name and had no idea what was going on. There is always an adjustment period when starting a new book to get used to the author’s writing style. But once I got used to it, the story really took off.

There were point of view changes mid chapter. It was in third person so it was not as confusing as if it were in first person but it was still hard to keep track of sometimes when you think you’re following one character just to switch to another. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of in general. It was almost as if King had this huge plot that takes place all over the world she created and she would jump from place to place. I would arguably say that there could have been too much going on at times and it got a bit confusing to keep up.

I can really appreciate the world that Ling set out to create. The story is really creative and unique. I do feel like the character relationships and emotion could have been developed a bit more but I also recognize how hard it is to take what may be a clear picture in the author’s mind and translate it to words on a page

Summary:

Overall, this was a really unique and beautiful story that has a lot of potential. It just needs to be cleaned up a tad and perhaps slowed down a bit to really develop the story. I have no doubt that King can take this series in an amazing direction and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

 

Stormcaller

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