Tag: romance

REVIEW: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

REVIEW: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Weston is the outcast in the town of Enfield. In a small town, everyone knows your business. So everyone knows about his parents’ divorce, about the year he spent at the rival high school. And the things they don’t know, they make up with rumor and assumption. Everyone but his closest friends thinks he’s weird at best if not actually dangerous.

Anna is an unexpected bright spot in Weston’s life. While they are supposed to be practicing their big duet for marching band, they are finding in each other someone who, surprisingly, GETS them – his struggles after the divorce, her anxiety, his music, her writing.

But since everyone assumes the worst about Weston, Anna feels she has to hide and lie to be with him. But in a small town, no one keeps a secret for long.

Review

I have to be honest. The synopsis for this book did not grab me when I read it. But the author wrote my favorite book of 2021. So reading this one was a given. While I read, my feelings were mixed.

I loved Anna and Weston, both as individuals and together. And the author’s writing is top notch. But I just did not get this story. For so long, nothing was happening. Sure, they grew closer, they faced some roadblocks. But things just kept rolling along. I couldn’t figure out the point of it all.

I’ve described my ideal book a lot here. A big piece of my enjoyment is the puzzle or the quest – something to solve, something to overcome, something to rail against. This just isn’t that sort of book.

I have no idea how to rate this – I was engrossed in the characters and enjoyed the writing. On that alone, I would probably give this 4 stars. But I just couldn’t connect to the plot. And the ending did not help my enjoyment of the story. The whole reading experience was unsatisfying in the end.

Readers who love character-rich stories and don’t care about driving plots are likely a much better audience for this than I was. There’s a lot here to enjoy if you are excited about watching a relationship unfold over time with some fantastic descriptions – especially if you have a soft spot for band stories. (Language, sex, TW: Grief)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

REVIEW: Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The war with the Valoffs hadn’t been over long enough for Tavi to feel anything but mistrust and skepticism as she watched the team of them go from ship to ship looking to hire a crew. But while she doesn’t trust Torran Fletcher, his money is still good – and her crew and ship could use it.

Octavia Zarola is “the hero of Rodeni.” She and her crew may know how ridiculous that title is. They have no shortage of bitterness over it. But if any other Valoffs catch her in their space, she’ll be killed without question. Torran promises they will be safe.

But Torran is less than forthcoming about what he wants from them. They are supposed to recover a stolen item. But no matter how many promises are made, Tavi has to stay on her guard – something is not quite right about this assignment. And she can’t afford to give in to her growing intrigue about Torran and the way he makes her feel

Review

This was awesome! It’s the sort of book where you page count, but because you want it to stretch out as long as possible. The characters and world building are everything I’ve come to expect from Jessie Mihalik from her exceptional Consortium Rebellion series. If I can’t get more of those books, at least this new series launch is just as amazing.

I’m happy to see that two other characters from this book are the point-of-view characters for book 2, Eclipse the Moon. That’s what Mihalik did in the Consortium series, and I loved it. This is exactly the sort of book I am always looking for – science fiction or fantasy with sharp, sassy characters who don’t take any crap and who are trying to solve a mystery or save the day. (See also the Touched by an Alien series, Scarred Earth Saga, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, Sons of Destiny, etc.)

This is a must read, must buy, must re-read series for me already – don’t miss it! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Will re-read.

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Adraa and Jatin are facing more trouble than they ever have.

Adraa’s kingdom has turned against her, believing the worst. She’s cast into prison at the Dome. She will have to fight for her life as well as for a chance to escape and make things right.

Jatin is supposed to be leading his own country, but he can only think of Adraa and freeing her. He’s pulled together a very small team of allies, but they have no idea what they are truly up against.

Review

Wow! This was a roller coaster! And I really enjoyed the ride.

Adraa and Jatin tell their own stories once again. I feel like Adraa was really the star of this book. All of her chapters were riveting. I truly loved her journey – maybe even more than I loved Cast in Firelight.

While Jatin is fighting his way back to Adraa, I had mixed feelings about the old friend who joined his team. While I appreciated the twists and reveals she brought with her, I didn’t love the attempted love triangle. She was a distraction and left me wanting to skip ahead to an Adraa chapter.

I had thought this Wickery series was going to be a duology. And the main action truly is wrapped up here without any cliffhangers. But there are some unresolved issues that make me wonder if there is a plan for more. If so, I am here for them.

If Jatin had had more of a story here, this would have been a five star book for me. In fact, when I look at the two books together, I truly loved Adraa’s story here more than book one. Don’t come into this book expecting more of the same from book one, though. This is less about secrets and lies, and more about peril and identity and real questions about whether or not the heroes will triumph. Book 1 fans should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

REVIEW: A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington/Dafina in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jesse Pleasant is thrilled that his brothers have found love. But his anger and resentment at being the dependable one – the rock – the family caretaker – is starting to feel like too much. In fact, he completely loses his cool when he walks in on his grandmother and her new boyfriend. He knows his response was way over the top.

Lily-Grace is furious that her father got hurt because Jesse had a temper tantrum. And she’s prepared to make him suffer her wrath over it for awhile. But when he takes her chiding to heart and gets a therapist, she wonders if the sweet kid she met in elementary school is still there in the heart of this angry, brooding man.

While things start to thaw  – and then heat up – between Jesse and Lily-Grace, both are at a crossroads in life. Will their choices push them closer in the end or lead them on separate paths?

Review

When I first picked this up, I meant to just start it – a chapter or two before bed. Next thing I knew, I was up way past my bedtime and halfway through the novel. It was worth the loss of sleep to spend time with the Pleasant family again. The therapy-positive focus of this book was awesome. I enjoyed the exploration of Jesse’s anger and his journey through the whole book.

I loved Jesse and Lily-Grace together. There are some great one-liners here to balance out the more serious moments. Fans of re-imagined fairytales should enjoy this take on Beauty and the Beast. I have really enjoyed how the author has taken these well-known stories and made them her own. The connections are clear if you are looking for them, but they are also super subtle and nuanced so that it’s possible you won’t even notice the parallels. Series fans should NOT miss this latest installment of the Cowboys of California series. I don’t believe these have to be read in order to be enjoyed, but it does help establish the relationships in the family. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Raven has trapped her demon father and is desperate to keep him out of her life. Desperate enough to hop a train to Nashville to meet up with a guy who says he can help.

Raven’s foster sister, Max, is following her in secret to protect Raven from whatever trouble she might run into.

Garth is still adjusting to his recently un-suppressed powers. He’s on a bus to Nashville to meet a guy who says he has the answers Garth is looking for.

And there’s someone else who is supposed to be meeting up with Slade Wilson. He’s the smart one – observing, wary. And as he watches, he sees what happens next.

Review

EEEEEK! I love these books! This was fantastic! I loved Gar and Raven together. It was great to see them connect. I also loved Max’s presence – as well as the other person who is watching. The only complaint I have about this series is that the books are TOO SHORT. I finish each one begging for more. (There’s a cover reveal for the next book at the back, and I am HERE FOR IT.)

I enjoyed the balance here between the character development and the budding romance along with the next bits in the Slade story. Is it enough? No, not for me. But I was satisfied with the balance between the two aspects.

I don’t know that readers have to go back to read Raven and Beast Boy first, but it will certainly help fill out the backstories for Raven, Max, and Gar. And now that readers can slam all three books in one go, it might feel more satisfying than when I read each one and then had to wait a year for the next installment.

I highly recommend these – for graphic novel fans, and for DC fans. (Demons/ghosts)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

REVIEW: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The kingdom of Kadala is suffering. A deadly fever has taken root, and the only treatment that makes any impact is Moonflower petals. Only two sections of the kingdom can grow the flower, so it’s limited, rationed, and expensive. Only the privileged can get any. And the poor are becoming desperate.

Tessa and Wes are among a rare few who are trying to help the poor. Tessa’s background as an apothecary has led her to learn that a smaller dose could be equally effective, which means more people could receive the elixir. Wes helps her steal Moonflower petals, mix the elixir, and distribute it to those in need.

But the cruel King Harristan and his brother, the brutal King’s Justice enforcer, Prince Corrick, are clamping down on “smugglers.” When Wes disappears, Tessa fears the worst – that Corrick has killed him and made an example of him. And that fear makes her reckless. But when she sneaks into the palace, she discovers things aren’t exactly as she expected.

Review

Brigid Kemmerer is a master of writing compelling characters. I have adored her previous books like Letters to the Lost, More Than We Can Tell, Call It What You Want, and her Elementals series. And this book is no exception. I really enjoyed the characters in this one. They were what kept me flipping pages. I wanted to know what happened to them.

But at the same time that I was turning page after page in search of the full story of these characters, I was also wondering what exactly the goals were to the story. I need my books to have a goal – a villain to fight, a quest to complete, a mystery to solve. Other kinds of books are fine, but these are the sorts that most appeal to me. But for the early part of this book, as the character pieces are being developed, I wasn’t clear on the goal. I knew Tessa wanted answers and revenge for Wes. I knew Corrick was trying to protect his brother and their kingdom. But it wasn’t until closer to the end that an external villain/problem became clear.

While I was content to keep reading to see what happened to the characters, and eventually was caught up in who was lying and sneaking and causing trouble, that “quest” of the book took too long to develop for me. I might pick up a sequel to see what happens with Tessa and the rest. But this sense of not really knowing where things were going is hanging over this one for me. If that sense is still there when book two releases, I might not pick it up. While this was good, it wasn’t as great as some of the other Kemmerer novels I have loved in the past. (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

REVIEW: Isn’t It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Vlad has been part of the Bromance Book Club for years. The men in the group are his closest friends. But watching them with their wives and girlfriends is tearing him apart. He longs for that sort of love with his wife, Elena. But no one else knows theirs has always been a marriage of convenience. And now Elena wants to end it and go back to Russia. Alone.

But when Vlad is seriously injured in a hockey game, Elena is the only family close enough to help him with his recovery. But being in close quarters with him makes everything more difficult. Each of them is longing for something they think is out of reach. Thankfully, Vlad has the guys in his book club to help him fight for his marriage before it’s too late.

Review

I enjoy any book where these guys are together. I love the men of the Bromance Book Club – the ways they harass each other, the ways they call each other out, and the ways they drop everything to help one another.

The romance didn’t quite click for me in this one like some of the other books in the series. (The Bromance Book Club (♥♥♥♥♥) and Undercover Bromance are my favorites!) It’s a bit of the fake relationship trope, but it’s even more complicated. Vlad and Elena each want to be together. But they make bad assumptions and don’t communicate which causes a lot of trouble.

Vlad’s writing was a nice piece of the plot. I enjoyed the guys weighing in on his story and how Vlad’s book tied into his personal life. Elena’s work – the investigating, the danger – took me by surprise at the end. I would have liked it if this was more concretely explored throughout the book, given just a bit bigger presence so it felt earned when it came to the forefront towards the end of the story. That said, though, I always enjoy a Bromance story, and I hope there are many more to come in the future. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

 

REVIEW: Whatever Happens (Julie and the Phantoms) by Candace Buford

REVIEW: Whatever Happens (Julie and the Phantoms) by Candace Buford

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Edelweiss and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Includes SPOILERS for the Netflix show Julie and the Phantoms.

[At the end of season one of Julie and the Phantoms, the band has finished playing at the Orpheum, but the guys don’t “cross over.” Their unfinished business, whatever it is, isn’t done. Julie finds them in the studio, still suffering from Caleb’s power over them. But something happens that releases them from Caleb; their club stamps disappear. And for the first time, Julie can touch them even though they are ghosts.]

While Alex and Reggie leave to find Willie and see what they can figure out about their more solid ghostly state, Luke and Julie reminisce about their show at the Orpheum and talk about their most cherished days from the past. For Luke, it’s the day Sunset Curve was preparing to play the Orpheum the first time in 1995. For Julie, it’s a day she spent with her mom in 2019, before they knew her mom was sick.

Review

This is so clever! It fills in fun backstory for the characters without getting in the way of any potential season 2 stories for the show. Fans will get to read about songwriting moments for Luke, Julie, and Rose as well as some family interactions for Alex, Flynn, and Julie. Readers get a glimpse at Bobby and his place in the band and find out a little more about Reggie’s family.

As old as I am, I am probably way too attached to a show for kids and teens, but I absolutely *adore* these characters. I have my fingers crossed that Netflix will shoot at least one more season of the show. But while we all wait, fans will love getting to spend time with these characters in some new stories which fit perfectly into the show and reveal a little more depth to each of the teens. This book made me love my favorite characters all the more.

If I was rating this on my enjoyment alone, I would give this 4.5 stars. I loved it. I would re-read this. The author does almost too good of a job conveying the chemistry between Luke and Julie (this is a middle grade story, after all), and I am thrilled to add some backstory to my head canon about these characters. A lot of that character depth comes from the characters getting to tell their own parts of the stories. Each of the 6 teens has at least one point-of-view chapter. But that is also where the wrinkle comes in for me. The set up is that Luke and Julie are alone, telling these stories to one another. There’s no place in that set up for the other 4 characters to chime in with their perspective on group events, much less sharing about things that happened away from Luke or Julie. That structural wrinkle would drop my book rating to probably a 3.5 – the story is otherwise solid. I’m going to give it an average rating of 4 here, but in my head, the content is definitely rated higher than that.

Readers will want to have at least a passing knowledge of the events in the show and the characters in order to enjoy this. Fans craving new content for these characters should snap this up. (LGBTQ+, TW: coming out stories/parental disapproval)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read (but you know I totally will with this one!)

REVIEW: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

REVIEW: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Cecilia is a junior member of the Wisteria Society, a group of women pirates and thieves who are also ladies of good breeding and character (well, other than the thieving and assassinations and such). Cecilia lives with her great-aunt who is a full member of the society.

They live in a world of magical flying houses, ghosts, pirates, and vengeance. In fact, Cecilia is the target of an assassin for the first time in her life. It’s quite exciting! Although the assassin, a pirate named Ned, can’t seem to decide if he wants to kill her or kiss her.

But far more dangerous forces are on the move, including Cecilia’s murderous father, Morvath. And he plans to destroy the society and put “women back in their places” – and put himself on the throne of England.

Review

What. A. Hoot! This is a fantastic story – a mix of historical society and magical fantasy that was right up my alley. The writing is sharp and sarcastic and funny. And the whole set up is quirky and fun. I was drawn in by the idea of lady scoundrels, but the magical, piratical pieces of this were more surprising. Such an unexpected delight!

I loved the characters in this so much. And the writing is outstanding. This is the sort of book I will end up buying so I can dog-ear all the clever moments and savor the writing, the banter between characters, and Cecilia’s great reading-related moments. I am almost more enamored by the crafting of the story than I am by the story details themselves. This is an author to watch!

This is the first book in the Dangerous Damsels series. Book 2, The League of Gentlewoman Witches, will release next spring. It’s already on my list of must-reads in 2022. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would read again.

REVIEW: Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

On February 4, 2003, Olivia was minding her own business at a crowded coffee shop, working on her screenplay. Annoyed after several interruptions, she shared space on a couch with a handsome actor. When yet another “interruption” wouldn’t take no for an answer, Olivia’s couch-mate came to her rescue with an outlandish story about their undying love for one another. It was a meet cute made for movies.

And then it was over. The actor left for an audition after extracting a promise that they would meet up at the same coffee shop in 10 years when he would be a famous actor and she would have a screenplay. Olivia never even got his name.

The next year, on February 4th, Olivia finds herself at the same coffee shop to meet her boyfriend – and everything about their relationship changes. A year later, on February 4th, she discovers the name of her mystery actor. A year later, she is grieving a break up.

As the years march by, February by February, bringing Olivia ever closer to February 4th, 2013, her life and her work twist and turn in ways she never expected. And everything seems to hinge on the magical 4th and that long ago conversation in a coffee shop.

Review

My thoughts and feelings on this one are mixed.  This is an author I have enjoyed for several years now. And the first and last chapters of this were as delightful as the previous books of hers that I love. But in some ways, the 2003 and 2013 chapters feel like a different book than the middle chapters. Unlike the main character, Olivia, I love rom-coms, and these chapters deliver all the fun, flirty banter and meet-cute moments I adore.  Those chapters are right up my alley.

The rest of Olivia’s journey, though, while interesting and engaging, wasn’t “fun.” I was committed to seeing the story through. But I didn’t love any of the characters, and I pushed through to the end somewhat out of obligation. I prefer stories and characters that drive me to frantically flip pages to see what might happen next. The final chapter was so spectacular, though, I exclaimed out loud and even several days later I feel like it made all the rest of the reading worthwhile. I just wish the rest of Olivia’s story had been as fun.

Fans expecting a faith story in this book published by Thomas Nelson may be surprised to find no mention of faith in this one whatsoever. Readers looking for a romcom may have mixed feelings like I did. Romance fans who enjoy the ups and downs of a complicated journey may be a better fit for this story as a whole. And that closing chapter is *chef’s kiss* perfect.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

* ♥♥♥½ = Good +