Book Review: Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair

 Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair - 5 Stars 

In The Appies Series but can be read as a Standalone

WHAT A GREAT BOOK YALL! I loved this one so much. The way Emma writes her sweet rom-coms is CHEF'S KISS. The characters have depth and you really grow to love them. I could NOT put this book down, it's one of my fav rom-coms now!

In this one we have Van, who is the bad boy image guy on the Appies hockey team. Amelia is getting married when Van finds her fiancé cheating on her. The wedding is broke off, but Amelia is going to go on her honeymoon trip anyway.... Van is driving her to the airport when her Dad asks him to go with her on the trip to keep her safe. The one rule? Don't get any romantic ideas....but Van can't help but fall for the Coach's daughter.....

This book has the BANTER, friendships, sweet romance and laugh out loud moments you want in a rom-com! Seeing Van and Amelia really get to know one another and fall in love was so great! The side texts with the guys and Van's sisters showing up was hilarious! LOVED those moments with them!

ALSO...CHAPTER 17!! TOOK ME OUT. I did not see how that way going to go and LOVE how Emma brought so much to this story from that! 

Highly recommend!

Read if you love:

🏒Hockey Sports Romance (APPIES!)

🏒Clean, Closed Door Rom-Coms

🏒Bad Boy MMC and Rule Following FMC

🏒BANTER!

🏒Opposites Attract

🏒Nicknames for Each Other

🏒Runaway Bride Trope

🏒Funny Side Characters and Sisters

It's official to say, if Emma writes it, I will read it! Thank you to the author for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6790335766
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dHGhyI

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass

 

Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass - 4 Stars 

Book 1 in A Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series

This was a fun introduction to a new cozy mystery series with a cute cat sleuth helping along the way! With the help of her rescue cat, Eddie, librarian Minnie Hamilton is driving a bookmobile in the resort town of Chilson, Michigan. Things happen she least expects when Eddie runs off and finds the body of a local man in town..... Minnie is ready to let the police solve the case but Eddie seems to smell a rat! Together they work to find the killer. 

This was a really fun one to read while I was recovering from having surgery this last week! :) As a gift from my friend Tammy, I am so glad I read it! (And that I had my kitty Simba right there with me while I read it was a cute bonus!) Eddie is a stubborn kitty and I LOVED THAT! He kept on pushing the limits to help Minnie out. :) 

A bookmobile is also a unique thing to find in books that I absolutely loved. I am looking forward to more of Minnie and Eddie's adventures!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6800012725
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3z1bbDb

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links. 

Book Review: Target Acquired by Lynette Eason

 Target Acquired by Lynette Eason
(Book 2 in the Lake City Heroes Series)

3.5 Stars 

Double Take is one book I absolutely loved, so this one was one of my most anticipated releases for the year. This one is a dual timeline story and I really liked the past timeline of 1940s from the mental institution where we follow a woman's story of being thrown in this hospital by her father, the doctor and friend she has while in there that help her throughout the story and her doing what she has to do to get out of there. In the present day timeline we follow Kenzie King who finally earned her place as a medic on the SWAT team and Cole Garrison who cares for Kenzie and works with her to solve the mysteries that keep unfolding. Seeing how the past timeline was tied into the current and how the characters were related to our present day group was something I really enjoyed.

However, I will say I liked the first book better than this one. For some reason, I was not as engaged or connected to the present day timeline. I love her writing, I just don't know why I wasn't really connecting to the characters in the present day as much as I would have liked to be. One thing I don't love is Kenzie's place on the team had some of the "because I'm a woman" talk that I never usually like just in general in books. I get that is the whole point of her joining this all male team that some of the men would not take too keen to her, but having it be a big part of the plot really wasn't my favorite thing.

I did enjoy the romance that was here overall, as it was a slow burn and they really got to know each other, but the action and suspense left me wanting more. I also struggled to keep up with who was who sometimes and wanted more in the ending. We didn't really get shown what happened in the past so I personally would have preferred that.

Either way, please take me with a grain of salt on this one - I am going to read the next one in the series because it deals with fire and I love Lynette's writing. If you like suspense, give this one a go.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-book copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6433340348
Amazon: https://amzn.to/470FC9b
Baker Book House (Recommended): https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/553563

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

 

Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard - 5 Stars 

"I will write upon her a new name, the name of her God. The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11 

What can I say about this book? It has transformed my heart. I have cried. I have felt conviction. I have felt the warm hugs from the Lord. I have felt seen and heard and loved. I am Much Afraid and she is me. When I feel unworthy, when I feel left out, when I feel less than, when I feel unloved and lonely....HE IS THERE. THE LORD IS THERE. He has always been there. In my pain, suffering, sorrow, grief, struggles...JOY COMES IN THE MORNING. He will not forsake you. He will not leave you. And when you doubt or think He has left you, HE HAS NOT. When you feel the Lord delaying or changing your circumstances - delay does not mean no. You are right where you are meant to be in His ultimate plan. When you are in the valley of humiliation and suffering, the Lord is at hand. He is there - all you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord and He will answer you in your trials and tribulations. 

Little Amanda was blessed and healed reading this book. I continue to seek healing from the Lord on so many things in my heart and I fully see His goodness, His mercy, His GRACE forevermore upon me. WHOM SHALL WE FEAR? No one when the Lord is on our side.

This is a Christian allegory book that everyone should read in their lifetime. It's a timeless classic and you will look beyond your current struggles and trust in the promise of reaching the High Places in eternity with the King of Kings.

Thank you Krista at BooksandJams for hosting this readalong in the month of August. It's been a beautiful reading journey and I will be re-reading this in the future. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6714478399

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Mida9h

Krista's Channel with Live Streams: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_fvBclONpc&t=29s (Aug 11)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvKBPcIvor4&t=2s (Aug 18)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0T0KH7pRz0 (today Aug 25)

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

 

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox - 4 Stars 

“Because God meets us right where we’re at. And maybe things in our lives get broken down and beat up along the way. The good news is restoration work is kind of His specialty.”

In this story, we follow Josephina or "Joey" Harris who takes the opportunity to help restore an old lighthouse. Little does she know the story behind it and the legends she would find. She meets 81 year old Walt and his grandson Finn. We see that together they go on a journey to uncover what happened long ago....

I really enjoyed the faith elements, immersive setting, the characters and the mystery behind the lighthouse. This really felt like a generational moving story. We are in the North Carolina Outer Banks in 2007 and the 1940s here and seeing how the story was brought together was beautiful in how Amanda told it.

Joey is trying to figure out what happened to the lightkeeper and his daughter while Walt is desperate to restore the lighthouse itself. We see a little romance develop between her and Finn that I really enjoyed. It was really nice to see their relationship develop.

While some parts were slow for me, it was a beautiful story. If you like contemporary fiction stories with elements of family, faith, restoration, secrets, past discoveries, lighthouses, etc....check this out.

Thank you to Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6648425980
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/46Z8ajm
Baker Book House (Recommended):  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/553567

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette

 

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette 
(Book 2 in The King's Men Series)

4 Stars 

“But just as a soldier trusts his commander and a commander trusts his king, you must trust the King above all Kings to direct you."

Shield of the Mighty is a captivating dive into the ancient world of Israel. Connilyn seamlessly weaves a rich narrative in faith, love and biblical truths. I really enjoyed this second book in the series and look forward to book 3!

This story follows Zevi, a warrior who, as a child was captured by the Philistines. Zevi is a captain in King Saul's army who is tasked with recruiting soldiers and artisans for the king's court. Zevi goes back to Maresha. Here we see the start of his character development as he is struggling through his past memories, while trying to get the job he has upon him completed. We see Zevi meet Yochana, a perfumer whose shop has beautiful scents that hide from the world. Yochana is still grieving the loss of her husband and learning how to run her perfume business by herself when she meets Zevi. Zevi and Yochana embark on an unexpected journey together and the chemistry between them is remarkable.

I loved how rich the historical context is for the biblical times in this book. Connilyn really transports you right there and it feels accurate for the time. From the details of the markets, to the land, to the battlegrounds of the men fighting.

Fans of historical fiction, biblical stories will love this series. This was written so well with great characters and a compelling romance. I highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6502014918

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cGWEuk
Baker Book House (Recommended):  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/553527

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn

Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn 
Book 1 in the Dive Team Investigation Series

 3.75 / 4

My first Lynn H. Blackburn book and won't be my last. I really enjoyed the writing style, characters and romance. This book was wild! I wasn't as interested in the suspense aspect in this one as the ending wasn't my favorite but I really liked the romance and writing so looking forward to continuing the series.

Leigh lives in North Carolina and works in the ER in the local hospital. Someone tampers with her breaks, she fears her stalkers is back. She reaches out to Ryan, her old high school friend turned homicide investigator to help. Ryan uses his skills as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Sherriff's office dive team to help uncover the mystery of how the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, also with a connection to Leigh... things go on from here and Ryan continues to protect Leigh and the suspense aspect tries to be solved.

As someone who loves a good romantic suspense, this had a great cast of characters and romance I really enjoyed. As far as the suspense itself, I wasn't a fan of how this ended and some of the descriptions for the killings were a bit much for me. (mentions of missing body parts and odd plastic surgery stuff) --- but that's just my personal take.

The book didn't really give you clues throughout to figure out who the killer was, which I prefer usually even if I can't necessarily figure it out myself. I found myself saying, "WHO?" when we found out the killer and I don't always love that personally.

Overall though, I enjoyed this one and am rating it 3.75 up to 4. I think if you like a good suspense with romance, try this out and see where you land. This also had some good faith elements I enjoyed.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5934041077
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yPiMol
Baker Book House (Recommended): https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/39218

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake

 

Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake - 5 Stars
(Book 3 in the "Love in Blackwater" Series)

💕 HAPPY RELEASE DAY!💕 

"Believing in God doesn’t mean life is always a bed of roses and we get what we want. It means trusting and having faith that we’ll always have the strength to handle the tough times because He is on our side.”

Mandi does it AGAIN with another beautiful Christian romance book! Highly recommend! I am loving the Love in Blackwater series so much. All of Mandi's books are my comfort reads - and this did NOT disappoint! SO GOOD. After book 2, I was HIGHLY anticipating Gage's story and wow, what a "WILD" ride! Mandi truly is a favorite author and I will continue to read through her backlist!

Read if you like:
💕 Christian Romance

💕 Feuding Families
💕 Grumpy x Sunshine

💕 Epic Friendships

💕 Suspense Elements

💕 Beautiful Faith Content

💕 Small Town

💕 Dual POV

We follow Gage and Hadley's romance and before I read this one, I just so happened to be on book 5 in the "Wolf Creek Ranch" series so I went ahead and read it, called The Other Side. In "The Other Side" you learn all about the Patton and Howard family feud with Thea and Brett's romance story. I am glad I read through that one because it gave me so much background on this family and introduced us to our characters. We see Gage and Hadley in that book. Cut to Love in the Wild, which takes place during the same course of events as "The Other Side", we see the points of view more of Gage and Hadley of what was going on during "The Other Side". I loved seeing this because you really get the deep dive into Gage's backstory and seeing them get to know one another. 

Gage is one of my favorite characters so far in this series because he has went through a lot in his family life and he wants to change. Hadley is a a ray of sunshine and her coming into his life helps him realize the Lord loves him and forgives him for anything in his past. She sees the good in Gage and I loved that. They had to fake a relationship for a bit due to the circumstances of the family feud and they find themselves finding real love together.

These characters in this series hold a special place in my heart because you true see the realness of them shine through. We have a beautiful faith message showing that no one is perfect, but the Lord is there with His forgiveness, mercy and grace no matter the events of your past. So many need this message today and I love that Mandi does not shy away from sharing the truth of the Gospel in Jesus in her books.

Overall, I loved Gage and Hadley's romance, where things landed with the family, the friendships shown and how the faith and salvation moment was displayed. Highly recommend as a great Christian romance story!

Thank you to Mandi for providing me with a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6712032592
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YPFTtE
Link to The Other Side if you want to read that first: https://amzn.to/4cB069r
Mandi's Website with Signed Paperbacks - RECOMMNENDED: https://mandiblakeauthor.com/

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Perfect Putt by Annah Conwell

 

The Perfect Putt by Annah Conwell - 4 Stars 
Book 2 in the "More Than a Game" Series 

What a cute rom-com! If you are a golf girly, you will really like this one! Some nice beach vibes too! 

Read if you like:

⛳️ Sports romance (Golf Lover Bonus!)

⛳️ Sweet, clean rom-coms

⛳️ Boss & Assistant trope

⛳️ Forced Proximity

⛳️ A bit of reversed Grumpy Sunshine Trope

⛳️ Sassy FMC and Pro Golfer MMC

⛳️ Great dual narrators

⛳️ Amazing friend and family dynamics

⛳️ THE. BANTER!

⛳️ Real life serious topics but healing from them!

We follow Miles and Ellie in this book. Ellie thinks golf is for the rich, pretentious jerks who need something to do while they gossip. She is not a fan! But the six-figure salary attached to the assistant to Miles, the youngest golfer to ever win the masters - she can't so no. Miles gives Ellie the job - with one rule, she can't fall in love with him. Easier said than done right?

Our girl Ellie is SASSY and the grump in the book! You really see her go through a lot of different emotions from not liking golf, being grumpy with Miles and just overall frustrations to some really sweet moments with Miles. Their banter was hilarious to me.

I loved seeing Miles stand up to his parents too in this. You can break those generational curses!

I like that Annah did this as a golf romance because you don't see that a lot out there! :)

Overall, Annah's writing is top tier and the more I read, the more I see that! Excited for book 3 in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the audiobook to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6760852643
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dI2oVf

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski

 

The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski - 4 Stars 

This was giving all things Mr. and Mrs. Smith for me! Jewel thieves, high stakes, banter!! Really enjoyed it. This was a really unique storyline.

It's important to note, this is a secular historical romance. Some have stated in their reviews they thought this was Christian Fiction. Thomas Nelson doesn't just publish Christian Fiction, they publish secular clean fiction as well, so that is what I consider this book after reading it.

We start the book off with Jasper and Esme celebrating the end of WWI. They got married after knowing each other for 1 day in the celebration and too much champagne. She wakes up the next day and realizes her mistake and leaves her new husband behind....cut to 4 years later when they meet back up and they are now both jewel thieves after the same tiara and we see a wild race to get this well sought after item. 

I laughed so many times in this book, we saw some great banter and the situations they got themselves into reminded me of the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith because they were always trying to outdo each other and you find yourself laughing at their tries to top the next thing with each other.

They have such a great chemistry together. They were kind of enemies to lovers, very unlikely couple that grew to care for one another in the crazy situations they got themselves into. We have so much glamour too from the 1920s shown here, it really felt like a fun time as you followed their hunt for this famous tiara. I have seen some reviews talk about the content here and while I would have liked Esme to not leave him all the time (LOL), for a secular book, it wasn't anything crazy in regards to content. Many times it was very situational.

Some parts did drag a smidge, but overall I really enjoyed this one. 

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the audiobook to honestly listen to and review. The narration was really good too! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content: Closed door/fade to black sexual scenes, drinking in celebration (situationally and time period appropriate), small bits of language.

Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/560303
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46KECWx

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham

 

                

                                Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham 5 Stars 
                                   Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/U7ns0QplUG0

Rachel Fordham can do no wrong! Absolutely beautiful. 5 stars. A new favorite historical romance with beauty and the beast vibes!

Set in the early 1900s, Sadie West's family is in dire financial need so she leaves to go work in the Hoag duster factory. She has nowhere to live so she stays in an abandoned building. This throws her right in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor - Otis Taylor. Otis hires Sadie - with the condition that she tells no one he has returned.

Sadie and Otis get to know each other and they start to care for one another as she shows him how much he truly matters, regardless of his scars that have left him feeling less than desirable. Otis has been a recluse for so long, embarrassed of his appearance and Sadie coming in truly opens him up and is the bright light he needs to bring him back to the public. He has kept so much in for so long and the way this ended was beautiful as he was able to deal with the past of his family and what he had endured. 

Sadie was a great character who truly showed how much she cared for others and her family. Sadie's encouragement for Otis to be his true self was the best to see throughout the story. There is a bit of grumpy/sunshine between them that I loved seeing. 

My favorite parts of this were the letters, music and interactions between Sadie and Otis. Every time they were together on page was perfection. I loved them so much I wanted even more of them together! :) I also loved the little bits of Beauty and the Beast elements we got in this! It was also nice to have light faith elements included.

Highly recommend for a great historical romance! Must finish reading the rest of Rachel's books now! Thank you to Rachel Fordham & the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6446219418
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4dnYDF0
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/560302

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Other Side by Mandi Blake

 

The Other Side by Mandi Blake - 4 Stars 
(Book 5 in the Wolf Creek Ranch Series)

Mandi's most dramatic one yet! WOW - ya'll this one is filled with the FAMILY TEA! What a wild ride! I am so glad I read this one because Thea and Brett are a new favorite couple and it's prepared me to read Gage and Hadley's story in Love in the Wild (Love in Blackwater series #3). We learn all about the Patton - Howard family feud in this book. 

Thea skipped town 5 years ago after a tragic accident. She left behind Brett, the man she loved. Brett never expected to see her again but he finds her injured on a snowy night and they start reconnecting as Brett takes care of her and they try to figure out who harmed Thea. 

I really enjoyed this one - we got so much back story on different characters to come in future books and Thea and Brett's family feud. I loved the natural faith thread Mandi weaves in her stories, this one was beautiful. This story had so much tension between the families - murder accusations, Thea's mother sick with cancer, some crazy family members that remind you of the MOB -- this was a wild ride! 

This had some romantic suspense vibes going for it, which I LOVED. 

Excited to finish this series with book 6 soon and read Gage and Hadley's story in Love in the Wild!

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6569793396

Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/4cl6lhI
Mandi Blake's Website Store (Recommended!): https://mandiblakeauthor.com/collections/wolf-creek-ranch-signed-paperbacks

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl

 

Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl - 4.5 Stars
(Book 2 in the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series)

FBI profiler Kaely Quinn's mother is diagnosed with cancer so Kaely takes time off work to Nebraska to go help her brother care for their mother. When she gets there, there is a series of fires in the small town. The fire chief has attributed the fires to misuse of space heaters but Kaely is skeptical and searches for patterns in these cases. They realize quickly these fires are arson and Noah, her partner, comes in from St. Louis to help solve the case.

Another good Nancy Mehl read! I love the relationship growing with Noah and Kaely in this series, we really see how much he cares for her. I really like the spin on the fires in this suspense because we don't see a lot of arson suspense stories, so it makes it more unique for me. Kaely's family issues also add a good layer of depth to her character and for the story. You are really rooting for her in this series.

The audiobook was fantastic, highly recommend! Some nice faith elements make this a great Christian suspense book. 

While this is book 2, you can technically read this as a standalone if you prefer. I recommend starting with Mind Games because you are really introduced to her backstory but it's not required.

Only reason this is 4.5 is the ending was more tell me, versus show me, but still really enjoyed it!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6678592897
Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/4dh0lYG
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38550

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

 The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry - 4 Stars 

A woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past.......long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed. 

We are in 1939 and 1960 for this story where we follow Hazel as a young girl and grown woman. Her sister Flora disappeared when she was young and no one was able to find her. Cut to 20 years later when Hazel is working in the bookstore and receives a package that has illustrated books representing the made up world "Whisperwood" that she and her sister created when they were young. Only Hazel and Flora should know of Whisperwood so what does this mean? Is Flora still alive out there somewhere? Did someone else know of their made up world and create the story themselves? Why did she receive this package? The plot thickens as we follow this journey to see what really happened so long ago....

I really enjoyed this story of these two sisters. The dual timeline gives us so much backstory in what happened but also while keeping the reader engaged to try and figure it out along the way. Patti really has such a great writing style that makes you think and feel like you are right there in the moment. This book really takes a look at what it was like during the war time when many parents sent their child or children off for safety purposes. We see what this family endured together during this time and how their lives were changed, but also we see the hope that remains even 20 years later.

I love how Whisperwood was almost like a Narnia type of world and how it was almost like its own character in the story and how it was the key to the mystery of Flora missing.

Did I see the plot twists!? Absolutely not! Very well done!

My only criticism is I wasn't crazy about the romance stuff going on with Hazel and there were times I thought maybe we should have more of the current 1960 timeline vs the previous but I understand why we had so much back and forth. I just got confused sometimes of where I was at since I was listening to the audiobook and had to make sure I paid very close attention to what was going on. 

Overall, recommend to anyone who loves a good historical fiction story about family, specifically sisters.

Content: missing child, some war details, a few curse words, small bedroom scene but nothing crazy or explicit in my opinion.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5911497669
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WVgIUZ

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchase from these links.

Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross - 4 Stars 

Rivals to lovers. 
Young journalists find love through a magical connections. 
War among gods.

YA fantasy.
Really enjoyed this one more than I was expecting to yall!

In this we see 18 year old Iris Winnow who just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addictions and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the promotion at the Oath Gazette. Iris is writing letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe doo where they vanish and go into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. He anonymously writes her back and the two of them forge a connection that follows them to the front lines of battle, where the least expect it.

I loved Roman and Iris together in this book. I didn't really care about the gods and war stuff, I was just here for Roman and Iris! I loved their banter, their letters back and forth and all the things that get revealed in the end LOVED THAT. I loved their romance and anything to do with them together. 

The first half was a bit not as interesting to me, but the last 50% - WOW, it goes by fast with action, battle, bombs etc. I would say the first half was 3-3.5 and the last half was a solid 4 so thats why my rating is 4 stars :)

I am excited to read the next one. I loved the letter from Roman in Chapter 33. The romance that bloomed after that - beautiful. So excited to read book 2 - that cliffhanger thoooo. Need book 2 ASAP. I am so glad I read this with my friend Theresa because I need to chat about this!!! :)

Content: In this book, there is one open door marriage bedroom scene described, but I appreciate that it was between a married couple and it's intention was a bit more romantic / sweet. It did ride a fine line for me though - any more detail and it would have been too much for me personally, so if you are someone who is bothered by more physical intimacy, then that scene may be one to skip or you may sit this book out. There is some small language but it's very minimal. One female character is mentioned to have a wife. War scenes with violence, blood, etc but nothing too much on that front. Some death as well here. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6272830388
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46LHToE

*Amazon link is an affiliate link and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson

 

Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson
 (Book 1 in the Little Red Truck Mysteries Series)

4 Stars

Because I can relate to this story with my Dad and his old truck/trucks, I really enjoyed this one! We have a cute small town in Texas, a vintage truck, a girl opening an antique store and some great character relationships here. This is a Christian Cozy Mystery (with no deaths) that centers around our main character RaeLyn's grandpa's old vintage truck going missing after the auction to get it back. Her grandpa passed away many years ago, so it's very important to get it back.

We see RaeLyn work to figure out what has happened, with her old high school flame Mason hanging around helping, but honestly he's a bit suspicious at first too. :) 

We have some small town drama going on with a romance subplot. I did get the side character's mixed up several times but it was fine - I was just here for the read! :) 

Overall a cute feel good story that will bring the nostalgia of things from back in the day, memories with your grandparents and the importance of family.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6585565858
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A8TlhU
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/559646

Book Review: But He's My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell

 

Audio Releases August 6th 2024
(Graphic is for my Instagram on Release Day!)

But He's My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell - 5 Stars

I LOVED THIS YALL! I love a next door neighbor romance and to add the grumpy sunshine on top of this - chef's kiss*. This is book 1 in her But He's A Carter Brother series and I can't wait to read more!

The characters have been through some hard things in their lives which leave them a bit closed off to others or relationships. Seeing them get to know each other and really open up was absolutely beautiful.  I loved seeing Adrian fall in love with Juliette most of all. His internal thoughts were my favorite. He started really opening up throughout this book, which was great to see. AND THE LETTER - don't get me started on how AMAZING that was! :) They had some cute nicknames too that I loved.

Such a cute, cozy rom-com with a lot of great small town elements such as a small town bakery, cookouts with families, bingo nights, fun sibling group chats, etc. I also LOVED the Mr. Darcy and other classic book references in this. 

The romance was clean with kisses only - always appreciated! Highly recommend as an audiobook too because the narration was great, loved the dual narrators, they really sounded like what I thought the characters would sound like. 

I am excited to continue this series because I loved this family so much!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of the audio to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5790280311
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LRjFiW

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

 

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb - 4.5 Stars (Book 2 in The Farseer Trilogy)

Video to come!

Y'all, last year Assassin's Apprentice was a book I challenged myself to read to start the HOBB journey in support of my special friend Chrissie! Hobb is her favorite author and she is always reading her friend's favorite books so I wanted to continue the tradition this year by reading book 2 in this series for Chrissie's birthday month! A full vlog is coming tomorrow August 2nd!

So, the review: 

Royal Assassin, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy, is a masterful continuation of the saga that began with Assassin's Apprentice. The story picks up right where book 1 left off, following the life of FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal illegitimate child and trained assassin, as he navigates the treacherous politics of the Six Duchies. 

In book 1, Fitz was just a child in his training. We follow Fitz in his coming of age journey in his teenage years in book 2. 

One of the standout features of Royal Assassin is Hobb's ability to create such a rich and immersive world. She has such an attention to detail where each sentence really matters. I recommend if you read this series, you must take your time. This was a book over 600 pages and it took me about 2 weeks to go through it over time, even with the audiobook. I wanted to try and understand each part the best I could, especially since I am not always a high fantasy reader. 

Hobb draws readers in with medieval-like settings of Buckkeep Castle and its surrounding regions. The backdrop of political intrigue, magic and looming war provides a compelling and dynamic environment for our characters. 

Fitz, as the protagonist, is a deeply complex and sympathetic character. We really see him struggle with loyalty, and the burdens of his training. You really grow to love and feel for Fitz in his story. We see mentor relationships grow, a love interest develop and a very interesting dynamic with characters like the Fool in this book.

The plot is very intricate and well-paced with a great balance of action, intrigue and character development. We see several storylines such as the threat of the Red Ship Raiders, internal power struggles within the Royal family and Fitz's own personal journey. 

The magic system in this book was also developed and discussed a bit more as Fitz learns more how to use it and how it works exactly. The Wit, a telepathic bond with animals, and the Skill, a form of telepathic communication and influence, add layers of complexity. Fitz's struggle to control and understand these abilities is a compelling subplot that adds depth to his character and the overall story. I personally love the Wit and seeing the bond with animals Fitz has.

Overall, this book is a richly crafter and emotional fantasy story that builds on themes of loyalty, duty and sacrifice with skillful storytelling. Fans of epic fantasy will love this and I am excited to read the next book in the trilogy to see what happens next.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6555259408
Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/3A1xicI

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.