Category: Review (Page 37 of 276)

BOOK REVIEW: The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn

BOOK REVIEW: The Unmarked Witch by Miranda LynThe Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

ALL RAVEN WANTS IS PEACE. BUT IN A MAGICAL REALM PLAGUED BY DECEPTION, THE ONLY THING HER WORLD KNOWS IS TURMOIL.

A land where witches wear their spells like tattoos is no place for a woman without a single magical mark—except for Raven, whose unblemished skin contradicts the truth of her power. Surviving under the scowls of her fellow witches has carved indelible scars into her mind over the years—just as the day she watched the Dark King's men murder her grandmother in cold blood.

But the Dark King's reign of terror is far-reaching, and Raven's grandmother won't be the last witch to die under his rule. After the death of a coven leader heralds the start of the infamous Witch Trials, Raven finds herself dodging death to triumph. The journey quickly descends into perils far greater than she'd ever imagined, including a war on her heart from a man she’d only ever known as a villain.

Still, trust is always fragile in kingdoms ruled by magic, especially when love enters the fold. Yet, something else is awry in the land of spells and shadows and Raven must decide whether she trusts her gut or her heart.

The Unmarked Witch is the first gripping book in the seductive and intriguing duology,Unmarked.

From the author of the heart-pounding fantasy series, Fae Rising comes this new darkly ambitious tale.

Review

This book….was so much more than I could have ever anticipated. Because I have been reading fanfic nonstop since, oh, about last May, I have barely made time for new authors that I’m not familiar with unless someone I know has read it first and “pushed” it on me. Luckily that happened to me here!

One thing that I feel pretty well versed in when it comes to fantasy is magic. I have always loved books with any kind of magic and I have very strong opinions on what I think works and doesn’t work within a given fantasy world. I thought Lyn crafted SUCH a unique system in this where witches can receive spells throughout their life and afterwards they are inked on their skin. More powerful witches are obviously then more marked and they can call upon any number of marks at any time.

The only witch to NOT receive any markings despite having numerous spells in her arsenal is, you guessed it, our main character, Raven. I LOOOVED Raven. She was such a real character who always tried to stay true to herself and would do anything for the people she loved. I am so excited to learn more about her magic in book two and hopefully to find out why she is unmarked!

Honestly every single character in this book was excellently crafted. Easy to love and easy to hate which to me usually is a great indicator of a talented writer because who wants to read about characters that you don’t care about? Kirsi was an obvious favorite and I can’t wait to see more of her in book two *side eyes emoji* LOL. Bastian….I could go on and on but I will keep my lips zipped other than to say two words–THE CHEMISTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAHH!!!!! And Grey. I am a sucker for Grey-like characters so I’m very intrigued where his storyline will go in book two as well.

This book made me feel a lot of things and the biggest feeling I have to express right at this second is that I NEED BOOK TWO LIKE YESTERDAY! I highly recommend to anyone who loves magic, witches, fantasy, a gripping romance, and a twisty plot.

BOOK REVIEW: The Perfects by Rachel Van Dyken

BOOK REVIEW: The Perfects by Rachel Van DykenThe Perfects by Rachel Van Dyken
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Everything was perfect.
Until it wasn't.

Until my family took on a foster girl and placed her across the hall from me. A charity case to look good and a person who should have never existed in my world.
I kissed her to get her to stop talking, and then I kissed her again because I liked the taste of her words—I liked her.
It was our secret until we got caught—that night changed everything.

We became strangers living in the same house, seeing the same ghosts of our past mistakes, but I can't stop thinking about us, about those forbidden moments.
I pretend to hate her, I tell her I'll never forgive her, and then Quinn, my ex-best friend, steps into the picture. I can't tell if he actually likes her or if he has a death wish and just likes pissing me off, but what do I say? Stay away from my foster sister?
She's mine?
I've already had her?
Saying that to him would expose what we were and ruin everything.
We're all three of us living multiple lies, and eventually, I know our ivory tower of perfection is going to come crashing down.

He knows my secrets.
I know his.
And now she knows both.

She wants.
He wants.
But I always—always get what I want.

And what I want is the girl, no matter what it may cost me.

Review:

The minute I walked into his life— mine began—his ended.
I’m shaking and don’t even realize it.

The Perfects was an emotional, angsty, fabulous read!  With an enemies to lovers vibe, a tiny bit of a love triangle, and a twist that will leave you staring at the pages wondering where this story was going next, this book was so easy to binge in one sitting!  If you like your young adult romance steamy, then definitely have this one on your tbr!

He stills and locks eyes with me. “Are you going to be an annoying little problem, Belle?”
“That depends.” I take a brave step forward. “Are you going to be a rich asshole?”

Mary-Belle made me love her right away, and my heart hurt for her. She was in the foster system and kept getting uprooted. She never had anything stable. When she ended up at her latest house, I was so nervous for her. She was thrown into the life of luxury, yet not everything was at it seemed. Emotions were faked. So much felt staged. And she ended up right in Ambrose’s cross-hairs. The son who lived at her current house. But as the story progressed, I loved watching how much Mary-Belle grew! She put people in her place. She found her strength. And she tried her best to do what was right and find love in her life.

His smile broadens. “How much will you hate me if I make this morning a bit better?”
“How would you do that?” I ask.
He smirks, and I notice a small dimple on his right cheek. “Such a dangerous question, Belle.”

Ambrose was a complicated soul. He was rich and hated that his dad practically owned the town they lived in.  His mom was perfect, his dad was perfect and he had to act perfect too and was destined to go places.  Yet Ambrose’s whole world got rearranged when a foster girl came and lived with him.  Right across the hall from his bedroom.  He wanted her.  And Ambrose always got what he wanted.  Yet fate had tragic heartache time and again in his future. His story was not easy. So Ambrose could be such an emotional ass. Or a dickhead, take your choice lol. He was so mean to Mary-Belle. But keep looking because there were moments where he showed us that he did have a heart.  And I loved seeing that side of him!

The family will always look perfect despite the fractures in the foundation; she doesn’t have to know the dirty details.
So yeah, maybe I want something just for me.
Is that so wrong? 

Mary-Belle and Ambrose were like fire and gasoline.  There was hate, passion, lust and a whole slew of other emotions.  When they physically got together, it escalated so quickly.  I didn’t know where they could go from there.  But a wrench was thrown in their lives.  And their enemies to lovers relationship was done beautifully heartbreaking!  Their antics were so crazy that I was glued to the pages because I couldn’t even guess what would happen next.  I screamed out loud, I was freaked out, and was nervous as other events popped up in the story! Mary-Belle and Ambrose had an extremely passionate relationship, but just like Ambrose’s life, their story together wasn’t easy.

I wonder if it’s the worst move I could have accidentally made.
A challenge.
A wave of the red flag.
Because I’ve never seen Ambrose so angry.
And I’ve never felt so safe.
In Quinn’s arms.

And then there was Quinn. He went to High School with Mary-Belle and Ambrose. First impression, I loved him! He seemed like such a good guy! And I didn’t get why he technically couldn’t be friends with Mary-Belle. Or maybe friends was the wrong word because they were both attracted to each other. But it felt like there were a whole ton of secrets between him and Ambrose. And about Quinn’s past. But Quinn was a little too much for me with some of the physical things he did. So while he wasn’t my favorite, I did love the emotions he pulled out of Mary-Belle and Ambrose. And I loved how he helped them as the story progressed!

Damn.
I feel like an addict waiting for my next hit while still trying to push away the one thing that will destroy me.
We have no other option but destruction.
And yet, I give in.
I fold.
Maybe I always will. 

Rachel Van Dyken’s writing hooks me every single time!  This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions!  Some of the moments were just wild, some were nerve inducing, quite a few made my heart beat faster and laughter kept bubbling up while in the next moment I was gasping while muttering cuss words under my breath lol. And I loved that we got to alternate between Mary-Belle and Ambrose, I desperately needed to hear all of their thoughts! So with heartache, love, friendship, hate and all of the angst wrapped into these pages, this book was so easy to binge!

This is our moment.
Our chaos.
Our frenzy.
Our imperfect perfection.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

 

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon:Amazon
Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/ThePerfects_GR

 

 

 

About Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times Bestselling, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 90 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. With over four million copies sold, she’s been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs. For more information about her books and upcoming events, visit www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com

Connect with Rachel:
Facebook I Website I RVD Newsletter I Instagram.com I Twitter I Amazon l Goodreads l RVD Facebook Group l Pinterest l TikTok l Verve

BOOK REVIEW: A Little too Late (Madigan Mountain) by Sarina Bowen

BOOK REVIEW: A Little too Late (Madigan Mountain) by Sarina BowenA Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain)
by Sarina Bowen
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

New from twenty-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen!

How to behave when the guy who broke your heart two thousand miles away turns up in your office:

One: Don’t drop your lucky coffee cup in shock, even though it’s been ten years.

Two: Don’t get defensive when he asks how you ended up working his family’s ski mountain… and why you kept it a secret.

Three: Give him the worst room in the resort. He deserves it for suddenly waltzing back in like he owns the place. (Which he kind of does.)

Four, five, six, seven, eight and nine: Do not kiss him in the hot tub.

Ten: Try to keep your heart intact after you break all of your rules.

Because Reed is leaving again. Hate can't turn back into love. And it’s a little too late

Review

After being immersed in the World of True North for the past month it was fun to venture out into the mountains of Colorado with new characters. I am really excited to get more of the Madigan family after this, too, because like Reed, the two other brothers definitely have a lot to come to terms with in regards to their family dynamic.

This was honestly the perfect amount of angst for me. The topic of miscarriage and how that can cause the implosion of a relationship can make me nervous in a plot but the way that we were getting the present reconnection of Ava and Reed while also getting snippets into their past and what happened, was a balance that just worked for me. The way that both of them were still in such pain even after moving on with their lives the best that they could…sigh. I can’t even imagine the extent of Ava’s panic and depth of feelings when Reed walked into that office and she had no idea he was coming…I would have passed out I think, lol.

I loved every second of them being together in the present and how Reed kept realizing just how lonely and sad life was without Ava in it and had been since he left her. The scenes in which he apologized and explained to her what he was feeling and why he did what he thought he had to do were satisfying and just…all of it made me happy. There were some serious issues that multiple characters within this story dealt with throughout the course of this book and I really appreciated how all of it went down. Reed and his dad finally speaking about things, Reed learning more about his mom and her art, Ava and Reed talking about the past, Reed’s dad finding out about his and Ava’s past. My heart may have ached on several different occasions while reading this but overall I loved how everything was tied up within Reed and Ava’s story and I will definitely be coming back to read Yarros and Perry’s books, too.

P.s. I had an ALC of this and Andi Arndt and Sebastian York hit the narration out of the park, per usual!

Huge thanks to Tuxbury Publishing LLC for allowing me to listen to a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

BOOK REVIEW: Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay #2)

BOOK REVIEW: Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay #2)Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay #2)
by Elle Kennedy
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion... which she’s trying desperately to forget.

But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy, and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds somebody else, she’s out of there.

Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve of that, even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out.

Bestselling author Elle Kennedy returns to Avalon Bay in this sexy second chance story about two exes who can't stay away from each other, Bad Girl Reputation.

“You look good, Gen.” He’s doing it again. The dare in his eyes, the implications in his gaze. “Time away agreed with you.

The little shit. It isn’t fair. I hate him, even as my fingers make contact with his chest and slide down the front of his shirt.

After the somewhat slow burn romance of Mac and Cooper from the first Avalon Bay book (Good Girl Complex), it was quite a change of pace to have immediate fireworks with Gen and Evan in the second book in the series, Bad Girl Reputation.

Gen has returned to town after disappearing and leaving a broken-hearted Evan. So when she returns to help with her family, Evan is elated and ready to pick up where they left off. However, Gen has turned over a new leaf and despite her lingering feelings, she’s not ready to fully commit to jumping back into life with Evan.

It’s suddenly occurs to me that I’ve spent so much time trying to convince myself I was for real, I missed when other people started to believe it.

When Evan isn’t busy trying to win Gen back, he’s learning how to run a business with Cooper and his uncle, as well as testing with waters with his mom (behind Cooper’s back before). Cooper and Mac make a handful of appearances and it was great catching up with them and seeing how things are progressing with the hotel renovation. And don’t worry, Daisy is still an important characters still too!

He and I have been through a lot with each other this past year. Finding one reason or another to be at odds. It’s exhausting, honestly. And lonely. Nights like this remind me that whatever else happens, it’s just the two of us.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but it didn’t quite reach the levels of Good Girl Complex. I really did love Gen. She was complicated, funny and so strong. I really wish the “love triangle” had been stronger – there really wasn’t any moment of doubt Gen wasn’t going to end up with Evan. I do like Evan, but I found his immaturity tough to deal with at times. The dinner-date was one of the biggest cringe moments I can remember reading in a long time. At least that was early on and he showed growth, but whew that was hard.

There’s a a few great additions to the Avalon Bay crew and I’m curious who steps up to be the leads in the next one. I love all these characters in Avalon Bay and will keep visiting back here.  

“Don’t do that,” he rasps in my ear.

“What?”

“Remember.”

 

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

I'm so excited to help host a spot on the Spells for Lost Things tour! Check out my 5 Star review and enter a fabulous giveaway below. Enjoy♥

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans WelchSpells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Review:

Spells for Lost Things was an emotional tale filled with family, friendship, love and hints of magic. This book reached into my heart so easily. The characters were so vivid and bright. The story-line made me read this book way too fast. I loved every minute of it, even the moments that made me cry. If you’re looking for a sweet young adult story filled with magic, first love, family mysteries and deep emotions, then definitely make for sure you have this one on your tbr!

“I love this place,” I blurt out.
“Me too,” she says. And then there’s this moment where we smile at each other, and for one tiny second I swear the entire world stands still.

We alternated the story between Willow and Mason, and both of them were both so easy to connect with. Willow felt adrift in the world. Her passion in life was traveling. With divorced parents who were both too busy to give her their time, Willow felt so utterly alone. Mason was in the system and had been in and out of foster homes over the years. When he landed up being placed with his mom’s old best friend and her family, Mason’s whole life changed. Yes he still felt alone but he was determined more than ever to find his mom and be back with her again. When fate landed Willow and Mason together, they both grow in leaps and bounds trying to figure out where they both fit in this world. And along the way, love helped them both in unexpected places.

How do I tell him Everything in my future feels fuzzy except for you?

Willow’s pain radiated out of her and into readers hearts. Her dad was busy with his new family and her mom was absorbed with her work. Neither had time for Willow. It felt like her parents moved on with their lives after the divorce and Willow was left behind in the dust. And her closest friend was a plane flight away. When her mom dragged her to Salem, to settle an estate for an aunt she never knew she existed, Willow started to get peaks into her mom’s life from the past. Willow got to meet her witchy aunts. She read spell books. And was sent on a treasure hunt to break a curse. Willow was focused, had big aspirations and had a kind, gentle soul. She was someone you could talk to for hours and trust with your deepest darkest secrets. She was exactly who Mason needed in his life.

There are so many ways a relationship can go wrong, it’s amazing we keep trying at all.

Mason was drowning in pain too. His mom was an addict and that landed him in foster care. When an old best friend of his mom’s stepped in and said she would foster him, Mason ended up in Salem too. I loved Emma, his new foster mom. Her, her husband and the three little girls in their house completely exploded Mason’s world. With glitter, love and coffee they slowly started to win Mason over. And my heart was bursting for him just to give them a true chance. So I loved when we got to see Mason trying, like breaking into Nova’s world. Or when he allowed the two littler girls to play makeup with him. Or even being able to connect with Emma over their love of coffee. Those moments, no matter how quick they were, meant everything. My heart burst with happiness when Mason would smile or relax around his new foster family. But most of all I loved how he instantly clicked with Willow. It was like destiny was in the stars that they were to meet.

Things that Willow and the Night Sky Have in Common:
1. Beautiful
2. Unpredictable
3. Makes you glad to be alive.

Willow and Mason both clang to hope that their future would lead them to greater things. Willow with traveling and Mason being with his mom again. Yet neither of them were living in the moment, it felt like they were constantly waiting for the future to happen. So when they met it was like they both got to take a deep breath. And when they were together, they lived in those moments. It was sweet, kind and honest. And as they opened up, their friendship became deep so quick. It felt real. It felt like I was there with them. And with witchcraft, secrets, fate, and acceptance, they both were on an emotional journey to discover who they both were. While falling in love along the way.

“Every minute with you is magic.”

With magic in the air, Spells for Lost Things was such a huge hit! Treasure hunts, spells, acceptance and love made this book impossible to put down! There were moments of laughter and there were also moments where tears kept falling down my face. This book tugged on my heart constantly. And with Willow and Mason, I wanted them desperately to be each other’s light in their lives. But at the same time, I wanted their family lives to finally bring them happiness too. Spells for Lost Things was an adorable, emotional tale and I’m looking forward to reading all of Welch’s other books!

PS While I wouldn’t list this book as paranormal, because the spell/witch aspect seemed like it could be in our everyday world. There were a few things that left me questioning just maybe it was more than a contemporary. Like, how did the aunties know about their loves in food? I truly don’t know lol. But I guess anything is possible. ♥

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

 

About Jenna:

Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Love & GelatoLove & Luck, and Love & Olives. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two young children. Visit her online at JennaEvansWelch.com. 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a physical copy of SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS, US Only.

Ends October 15th, Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/12/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

9/13/2022

Kayl’s Krazy Obsession

Review

9/14/2022

Just Another Teen Reading Books

Review/IG Post

9/15/2022

Stacialovestoread

Review/IG Post

9/16/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Review/IG Post

9/17/2022

Ya Books Central

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

9/18/2022

booksaremagictoo

Review/IG Post

9/19/2022

Mom with a Reading Problem

Review/IG Post

9/20/2022

wiltedpages

Review/TikTok Post

9/21/2022

Lisa Loves Literature

Review/IG Post

9/22/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

9/23/2022

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

9/24/2022

My.Bookish.Mind

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

9/25/2022

popthebutterfly

Review/IG Post

9/26/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

9/27/2022

onemused

IG Review

9/28/2022

pluvioreads

Review/TikTok Post

9/29/2022

@booksrn_rashi

IG Review

9/30/2022

Novel Novice

IG Spotlight

10/1/2022

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

10/2/2022

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

10/3/2022

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review

10/4/2022

Book-Keeping

Review/IG Post

10/5/2022

Momfluenster

IG Review/FB Post

10/6/2022

Celia’s Reads

Review/IG Post

10/7/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

10/8/2022

@jacleomik33

IG Review

Week Five:

10/9/2022

The Moon Phoenix

Review/IG Post

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