Category: Review (Page 62 of 276)

BOOK REVIEW: A Stormy and Sultry Sea (Witches of the Island #2) by Katie McGarry

BOOK REVIEW: A Stormy and Sultry Sea (Witches of the Island #2) by Katie McGarryA Stormy and Sultry Sea (Witches of the Island #2)
by Katie McGarry
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A witch and a Fae aren’t supposed to fall in love, nonetheless be soulmates…

New witch and midwife Cassie Strega helped a human mother through the tumultuous birth of the queen of the demons, and now Cassie and the baby have been kidnapped by one of the four demon princes fighting each other to lay claim to their new queen. Cassie hopes she can appeal to the human side of the child in order to save humanity, but as the child feeds upon her soul, Cassie must also battle the four demon-prince-uncles who intend for the infant to fulfill her dark destiny.

The love of Cassie’s life, the sultry Fae warrior and heir to the Fae kingdom, Orion, is still searching for the Fae queen he’s been tasked to find, but he is also desperate to save Cassie from his archenemies. He is torn between his heart and his duty, but if he doesn’t save Cassie by Beltane, the blood bond that connects Cassie to Orion will forever be severed and she will be marked as an enemy to the Fae—one he is sworn by oath to kill.

Fate was cruel when it linked Cassie and Orion together. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, their love assured, but these fated lovers are doomed by a curse that threatens to keep them apart. Every touch during every shared dream, every kiss during every cherished moment together is driving them closer to what will either be a victory of humanity or an end no mortal will be able to survive. Will love, in the end, truly conquer all or will it destroy them all?

Review:

A Stormy and Sultry Sea was a deeply romantic spellbinding adventure.  It picked up, right where A Wicked and Beautiful Garden ended, and took us on a wild ride.  Some of my favorite elements from this story were…

If I had learned anything from Orion, it was that I was free to break all the rules and create my own game. And that was exactly what I was going to do.

Love Prevails:

Cassie pushed into my mind, “I love you.”
I knew she did, but I loved her more. I was put here on this earth solely for her, and Cassie was put here for much more than me.

At the heart of this story were Cassie and Orion.  We alternated not only between them, but there were also a few chapters from 9 years ago, when they first met.  A witch and fae are not meant to be together, but they defied the rules.  Their love was passionate, consuming, altered some of the choices they made, and was what fueled this story.  I loved watching how they came to be together and where this journey took them!  Their relationship felt solid now, and I loved seeing to what lengths they would take to protect the other!

Side Characters Who Stole the Show:

“Two witches, a prince of hell, and the queen of the damned in the middle of nowhere.” He glanced up and his cold blue eyes bore into mine. “One big happy forced-together family. Anyone want to take bets on who’s going to crack first? And to let you know, it won’t be me.”

There were those I really shouldn’t like.  One was Moloch, he was one of the princes from Hell.  Moloch and his brothers were fighting over who would have the baby, the queen of the demons.  But I didn’t care that he was dark or did realllllyyy messed up things lol.  I kept looking for his redemption, goodness and I’m excited to see where he goes in the next book!  And then there was Ignis.  He was a fae who sat on the council.  Ignis threatened Cassie’s death multiple times but there was just something about him that pulled me in again and again.  Both Moloch and Ignis could be good when they wanted to, but I always kept in the back of my head that they seemed to be consumed by darkness too.


Tumbling To an Unknown Future:

We’re bad enough to do the dirty work God won’t allow his angels to do, but we’re just good enough we believe humanity deserves another try. We’re like demented guardian angels.

There was a lot at play in this story.  Wren and Cassie were watching over the baby, who was the queen of Hell.  And that queen of hell was feeding on Wren and Cassie’s souls.  Orion was trying to find Cassie, while the council was scared of his death that the seers foresaw.  There was missing witches and they met new characters who played important parts too.  I’m so happy I quickly skimmed the first book before diving into this one, because there were  many different threads taking place.  It allowed me to have a firm grasp on the characters and this world while I was taken on a twisty path that was a lot of fun!

Orion was mine, I was his, and nothing would ever tear us apart.

Betrayal, hope, secrets, love, friendship and death were splashed across the pages of A Stormy and Sultry Sea!  While I guessed one of the twists correctly, the other one never I never saw coming.  Plus, this book ends on the most epic of cliffhangers and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!

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

BOOK REVIEW: To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne

BOOK REVIEW: To Sir, with Love by Lauren LayneTo Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Perpetually cheerful and eager to please, Gracie Cooper strives to make the best out of every situation. So when her father dies just months after a lung cancer diagnosis, she sets aside her dreams of pursuing her passion for art to take over his Midtown Manhattan champagne shop. She soon finds out that the store’s profit margins are being squeezed perilously tight, and complicating matters further, a giant corporation headed by the impossibly handsome, but irritatingly arrogant Sebastian Andrews is proposing a buyout. But Gracie can’t bear the thought of throwing away her father’s dream like she did her own.

Overwhelmed and not wanting to admit to her friends or family that she’s having second thoughts about the shop, Gracie seeks advice and solace from someone she’s never met—the faceless “Sir”, with whom she connected on a blind dating app where matches get to know each other through messages and common interests before exchanging real names or photos.

But although Gracie finds herself slowly falling for Sir online, she has no idea she’s already met him in real life…and they can’t stand each other.

Review:

To Sir With Love was an adorable romance story that warmed my heart.  I wasn’t even halfway through the first chapter and couldn’t stop smiling!  If you love romance that gives you all the feels and has the most wonderful HEA, then this is your book!

Life feels most real when I’m writing to you, when I see your screen name in my in-box. I don’t know your name. Your face. Your age. But I have the sense I know you. And that you know me too, in a way perhaps nobody else does.

Gracie Cooper continued her dad’s legacy by running the family champagne shop.  Even though it wasn’t her dream in life, her true passion was painting.  Gracie was trying to keep the shop in the black, and it seemed like she wasn’t truly living.  Well, except for when she was messaging with Sir.  Sir was someone she met through an online dating app.  They had no clue what each looked like, but they clicked so well.  And with each message that was sent back and forth, Gracie fell that much harder for Sir.

Sebastian nods slowly. “I get that too. It’s not high school territory. It’s human territory. Nobody wants to learn they’re the only one feeling things.”
Our eyes lock for a moment that feels . . . important, somehow.
We both look away.

Sebastian Andrews met Gracie randomly and there was something between them.  But he ended up being the man who wanted to buy out Gracie’s shop lease and he seemed to have a beautiful girlfriend.  Gracie refused Sebastian’s offers, time and again and I loved the animosity that seemed to be between them.  And while Gracie didn’t like what Sebastian stood for, she couldn’t deny there was chemistry, passion and heat between them.  No matter how much she didn’t want it to be there.

“You ever feel completely convinced you’re supposed to be with someone but have no idea how to go about it?”
“Actually. Yes. Twice,” he admits. “You?”
“Yeah.” My voice is quiet now, nearly a whisper. “Twice.”
His eyes darken in what seems to be irritation or . . . jealousy?

Gracie was lovable, thoughtful, caring and I was just as confused about what to do as she was.  Because the more time Gracie spent around Sebastian, she realized he did have a heart.  He did care.  He also listened and showed up at her shop’s events.  And it didn’t matter that Gracie tried to not like him, there was that attraction between them that felt like a flame being fanned into an inferno.  But then there was also Sir.  Seeing the messages they sent back and forth made my heart so happy and I was slowly falling in love too.  Their messages were fun, flirty and as the story unfolded, they shared some of their secrets and most intimate thoughts with one another.

“Why?”I ask softly. “Why did you tell me to pursue the other guy?”
He steps closer, lifting a hand to rest his fingertips lightly against my cheek. “Because you said you loved him. Because you deserve your fairy-tale ending. And because I’d do anything for you, Gracie Cooper. Even if it means letting you go.”

This story was rounded out with side characters that felt just as real as Gracie, Sebastian and Sir.  May, Gracie’s siblings and friends, to even the short moment we were with Sebastian’s parents oh my heart.  I loved them all!  But at the base of the story was Gracie and I was so unsure which path she should take.  Sir or Sebastian.  With butterflies, jealousy, flirting, friendship and the starting of so much more, I was obsessed.  This story not only made me cry a few times, but one of those moments I was laughing while tears were falling down my face.  I loved this story so much!

“It’s you,” I say softly. “It’s always been you.”
“Yes.” He whispers it, his hand lifting toward my face, hesitating. Then, very gently, he sets his fingers to my cheek, his thumb catching a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “Yes.”

This modern day twist on You’ve Got Mail was addictive, charming, romantic and so much fun!  And I have to let you know that I went into this story completely blind, its LL so I know I’ll love her books.  I’m so glad I did because the last sentence in the synopsis gives away something and I’m beyond thankful I was oblivious, it made the story that much more fun!  Heads up that this isn’t one of LL’s sexy stories, but for me I didn’t even need that at all!  So if you’re a fan of adult romance that makes you smile, laugh and possibly even cry, then you definitely need this book in your life! 

BOOK REVIEW: Boyfriend (Moo U #0) by Sarina Bowen

BOOK REVIEW: Boyfriend (Moo U #0) by Sarina BowenBoyfriend (Moo U #0)
by Sarina Bowen
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A new hockey player to steal your heart this fall...

The dreamiest player on the Moo U hockey team hangs a flyer on the bulletin board, and I am spellbound:

Rent a boyfriend for the holiday. For $25, I will be your Thanksgiving date. I will talk hockey with your dad. I will bring your mother flowers. I will be polite, and wear a nicely ironed shirt…

Everyone knows it’s a bad idea to introduce your long-time crush to your messed-up family. But I really do need a date for Thanksgiving, even if I’m not willing to say why. So I tear his phone number off of that flyer… and accidentally entangle our star defenseman in a ruse that neither of us can easily unwind.

Who knew that Weston's family was even nuttier than mine? He needs a date, too, for the most uncomfortable holiday engagement party ever thrown.

There will be hors d'oeuvre. There will be faked PDA. And there will be pro-level awkwardness…

Boyfriend is a full-length book for Weston and Abbi!


Review

It should come as a surprise to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE that I absolutely loved this book. I was lucky enough to read every other Moo U book as an eARC and when I saw that the Queen of True North herself was going to be making an addition to the series???? Well, I was ecstatic.

You see, The Year We Fell Down was my first foray into the world of hockey romances and I have not looked back since. ALL of Bowen’s characters feel like home and family to me. Whether it be the entire town of Colebury, the Brooklyn Bruisers organization, or even Moo U. I know that if I’m going to be immersed into one of these stories, I WILL be leaving them fully satisfied.

And how come someone not? Abbi is a relatable, hard working college student just trying to work long enough to get a fat bonus at work to help with her rent. Weston is a pretty typical college jock– charismatic, hilarious, but also kind and willing to go the extra mile to make sure a person in need of a Thanksgiving date, has one LOL. Fake dating man. Who doesn’t love fake dating?

The best part about this book, in my own humble opinion, is that they start out purely as acquaintances from both of their time spent at the Biscuit, to partners in crime as a fake couple trying to deal with their respective families during the holidays, to friends, to so much more than that. They laid the best foundation they possibly could have for themselves, ESPECIALLY for someone like Weston who had seen first hand how messy a relationship and ship ensuing divorce could be. Then both just naturally fell in love and there wasn’t anything either of them could do to stop it. Serious love talk aside though, this book also had me howling with laughter as is typical of a Bowen book. She has some of the best banter and dialogue in romances that I’ve ever read. Top of the line stuff. HIGHLYYYY recommend.

Huge thanks to Sarina Bowen and Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. ♥

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie MettnerA Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls.

Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star.

Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other?


Review:

A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls was an adorable and emotion filled Christmas story. With snow falling, a Christmas town setting, and filming a Hallmarkish movie there was a lot of heart in the pages. If you enjoy Christmas stories, then you may want to put this one on your tbr list!

“I do enough of these movies, I should be overflowing with the stuff,” she huffed, her breath puffing frosty white rings into the air.
“Overflowing with what stuff?” a voice asked.
Carrie whirled around and slipped on a patch of snow, falling right into the waiting arms of Braxton.
H
e grinned down at her cheekily. “This is getting to be a habit.”

This was unlike any other Christmas story I have read, it was truly unique! Carrie Murray and Braxton Timothy were filming a movie that screamed Hallmark Christmas movie. And we not only alternated between Carrie and Braxton, but also between their real lives and the scenes they filmed in the movie too. The scenes they were filming were heartwarming, delightful and the perfect amount of cheesiness! But while they were filming, it was hard to keep their real lives from bleeding into their characters’ lives and vice versa. There was heat between them and quite possibly more!

While the crew worked around them, neither Brax nor Carrie moved away from the front of the tree. Carrie felt him lean into her ear and held her breath, wondering what he was about to say. “That was one of the best Christmas memories I’ve ever made.”
“That wasn’t real, Brax,” Carrie answered with her gaze fixed on the tree lights.
“It felt real to me,” he promised, his breath warm on her cheek.

But Carrie and Braxton in real life? They were sexier and way more heart broken and jaded then their Hallmark counterparts. While they were attracted to one another, Braxton had a playboy past and Carrie was the queen at keeping those around her at arms lengths away. As the story unfolded, we get to see that they were both haunted by their tragic pasts. And both of their pasts were extremely heavy, very dark and intense on the heart. So I kept hoping they could help one another heal, they both needed that. With some light hearted humor, some sexier moments, and heart wrenching back stories, this book thankfully sailed us into a happily ever after!

“CUT!” Simpson yelled, whipping the earphones off his head . “What the hell, Brax? This movie is for The Christmas Channel! You can’t kiss her until the very end!”
Brax finally tore his gaze from Carrie’s to address the director. “What happens if I don’t wait?”

A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls was a fun Christmas tale! But unfortunately for me, I was never able to connect to either of the characters. For me to love and enjoy a story with my whole heart, I desperately need that connection. And I wasn’t able to find that click with either Carrie or Braxton. So if you pick this one up, fingers crossed you click and I can’t wait to hear all of your thoughts and your emotions while reading this story!

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

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

About Katie Mettner:

Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of, ‘the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill,’ and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest — now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Giveaway:

Grand prize 1:

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BOOK REVIEW: Afterglow (Busy Bean #10) by Aria Wyatt

BOOK REVIEW: Afterglow (Busy Bean #10) by Aria WyattAfterglow (Busy Bean #10)
by Aria Wyatt
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

I’m a numbers girl.

Or at least I thought I was, until my formula fell apart. Back home in Vermont, with my dream on hiatus, I’m working at the Busy Bean and taking online classes. As long as I keep my focus, I’ll be back in New York City next semester. Hopefully.

When Declan O’Shaughnessy storms into the café, all muscles and tattoos, wielding his sexy Irish brogue like a weapon, the only equation I can solve is one that lands me in his bed. Even more dangerous, is my growing affection for his cherub-faced little boy.

But Declan has complications of his own. He’s cagey, but I’ll win him over.

Yeah, about that focus… mine is all on him. Can we have a harmless fling without getting hurt?

Review

“You good with a tongue bath?”
Wait, what?
 I stop short and blink a few times. “Excuse me?”
“Jaysus.”
 He claps a hand to his forehead. “Moira. She’ll probably lick you to death.” His cheeks and neck flush deep crimson as I burst out laughing.


OKAYYY I 100% KNEW going into this that Declan was Irish. Yes. I did know that. BUT WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW was that he was going to exceed each and every one of my expectations as being one of the sexiest characters I’ve EVER READ ABOUT IN ALL OF MY LIFE. His dirty talk–unparalleled. I wanted to add a few quotes but nahhh I think I’ll let you all read them in real time. His dominance in the bedroom–perfect level. LOL In all seriousness though, it was a beautiful thing to see him come alive once Solana came into this life. Sure, he had been living his life just fine before she came along, but after the first time he saw her at the Bean, he lit UP. She was the perfect amount of sunshine to help him grow in a better person, a better partner, and possibly even better father (though he was doing his damn best already).

He suddenly pulls back. Gasping, he drags both hands through his sopping wet hair. “We should stop before I lose my fuckin’ mind.”
“We can’t stop.”
 I’m breathing just as hard, drenched in every sense of the word. “I need you to help me lose my mind.”


That five stars though, isn’t just because Declan is the sexiest man in the entire world (fictional or not). No, it’s so much more than that. This book hit me in the feels on so many different levels. I loved that while Solana (I ALSO LOVE HER TO DEATH) is a literal ray of sunshine, she also has some deep depths of darkness to walk through. The amount of pain and tragedy that she’s already been through in her young life and the fact that she can still be the beautifully kind person that she is, really speaks to her character.

That’s what made the two of them together so special. The two had such explosive chemistry, Solana helped Declan be a better person, Declan protected and cared and LISTENED to Solana, the two eventually spill their guts to one another and fight for one another. They just fit so perfectly.

Honestly you guys, I’m just going to say it. This is my TOP, TOP favorite book in ALL of The World of True North series. I just really am going to need everyone to run and go read the entire series BUT ESPECIALLY this one. I could honestly gush all day. There is not a single part of this book that I didn’t like and you better believe that once there is an audio of this I will be SPRINTING to buy it so I can listen to Declan’s sexy Irish brogue in my ear holes. *shivers*

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

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