Tag: book pics

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Lovely story! It was a purely whimsical tale that really brightened my day!

Lucy has some grand plans but not a lot of money.  However, her favorite childhood author creates a competition that only 4 lucky people can participate in on his magical Clock Island.   The winner will receive the one and only copy of a new book by this author, giving them a chance to make millions.  

This story almost reads like a contemporary fairytale at parts.  I really enjoyed this but did think certain aspects were a bit underdeveloped and therefore just too farfetched, particularly the very real world aspects. 

Recommend this as a fun and enjoyable read!

Out May 30, 2023!

Ever Since by Alena Bruzas 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Incredible. This story realistically relates trauma from sexual abuse as a child, sexual assault, the difficulties these things bring to a teenage girl’s life and her view of herself. I really felt this. As a survivor, I related so much with this main character. The division her trauma caused between her and her friends through drug and alcohol use is just one of the multitude of examples a teenager and also, adults, deal with the corruption of their youth.

This is a hard topic to read about, and I want to warn any to be readers that this hits hard and goes into some detail. However, what an important book! I’ve read several stories this year by authors who have survived this trauma, and I am continuously in awe.

The gorgeous and heart-wrenching descriptions of certain mythology characters, particularly Medea, that were sprinkled throughout this story is another example of finding a voice to speak through this trauma. And, it was really, like I’ve already said, hard hitting… as it should be.

There are no happy stories of childhood abuse and trauma… but there is hope.

Out May 23, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

The Kingmaker Kennedy Ryan 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This is good!!! But the ending!!! Major cliffhanger but not for long because I’m going to start the next book asap!

I loved the author’s note describing the amount of time and effort they put towards representing Native Americans, particularly the Apache.

This was sizzling hot but with a very full plot that carried this story.

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

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The Battle Drum is a stunning sequel to The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi. I love how this author expanded upon the world being created. Especially with the inclusion of different cultures as inspiration for some of it. So far, I have not been disappointed at all throughout this series.

Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa show their bravery and courage in different ways. Hassa, in particular, is a favorite of mine. Jond also is an intriguing character in this book, only leading me to fall even more in love with this story.

I really don’t want to give anything away, so I shall leave on this note. If you enjoyed The Final Strife or think you just might like this series, then I can not recommend picking these books up more! I feel like so many aspects to this story need to be told, and I’m so happy I got to read more!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Out May 23, 2023!

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee. 🌟Arc Review 🌟

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This was the sweet, fluffy, ya romance that I needed. I loved this book immediately. As soon as I started reading, I could tell that this was going to be a new favorite, and it definitely is!

Dylan is working and living at his aunt’s restaurant, Wok Warriors, when he has to make a delivery and comes across the rich and handsome Theo. He is talked into fake dating Theo after Theo makes a large donation to his aunt’s restaurant. Theo takes Dylan to the Hamptons, but is this fake dating maybe based on a real crush?

Everything about this is kind and simply wonderful. Even just the descriptions of food have been so delicious sounding. (I’ve been eating dumplings all week bc I can’t just read about dumplings without picking some up at my local restaurant). This is such a comfort romcom read!!!!

Out May 16, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This is a fun, fast-paced ya thriller that kept me on my toes.  Jade is a bit of a drama queen, but who could help it after a horrible breakup.  Jade’s ex, Silas, left her for her best friend and both cut off all contact.   Pretty depressing.   But, when she sees that they are boarding the same overseas learning cruise, things start to fly off the handle, and Jade winds up looking suspicious.

I enjoyed this one.  It’s really a fun and quick read.  I couldn’t take Jade too seriously because she seemed a bit over the top at times.  But, I wound up liking this!

Out May 2, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

To Shape a Dragon’ Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This excellent steampunk world that also has dragons was not only fun but also very poignant about the reality of colonialism and racism (many of these factors still exist today).

I loved the energy here. The author did not hold back with this main character. I felt pure pride reading about this MC challenging every misconception of her people and standing up against any slight.

This is a great fantasy with a lot of attention to the details, which is what really highlights it as steampunk to me. These small details of designs to either create machinery or to control a dragons breath are simply fantastic.

I will say that parts of this book seriously dragged for me and seemed a bit slow. But I am so glad I kept reading because the ending is wild!

Out May 9, 2023!

I’m Not Supposed to be In the Dark by Riss. M. Neilson 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This story immediately pulled me in. I loved the main character, Aria, and I found that this whole story was just so well written and composed that I couldn’t help but enjoy this.

Aria has a secret power. She’s not really sure. In the very beginning of the book, she stops drinking the tea her mother and grandfather always push on her, and she begins to see into a gray world, some spirits. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Her power doesn’t fully come into play until later in the story, but it is there the whole time.

She begins noticing some oddities about her neighbors. Her ex-bestfriend, Derek, lives next door. And, he is really acting strange. It’s almost like it’s not exactly him sometimes. In her search to help Derek, Aria also finds out a lot about herself.

I love this cover!!! And, throughout this story, the author includes some beautiful descriptions of Wisteria. (I just wish I didn’t have allergies! But I love Wisteria season!)

Overall, I really enjoyed this!

Out May 9, 2023!

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Well… add the sequel to my tbr now! I actually have not read the Bargainer series by this author, so I was really excited to pick this one up, and I’m so glad I did. With lots of magic, mystery, and action, I could not put this down!

Selene is a great character to get behind. She has powerful magic. However, every time she uses it, some of her memories disappear. Losing her memories is the main reason she has not gotten into Henbane Coven. However, when they tell her that the possibility of acceptance may rise if she gets a familiar and travels out into the world to have a more “magical experience,” then Selene is on her way!

She plans a trip to the Galapagos, and when her plane is pulled from the sky by a mysterious magic, she saves everyone on board and then finds herself venturing into the surrounding jungle. She finds her familiar and more, but the question is… would some things be better left in the dark?

This has an amazing, colorful magic system and great descriptions of this world while including some very nice romance!

Definitely recommend this!

Out April 18, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This is a fun, fast-paced thriller! I really enjoyed this while also loving the cheesy lines.  I don’t know if that was on purpose or not?  But I loved it.  A little cliche but also absolutely perfect.

Grace is on a retreat far from home.  This  country retreat seems welcoming at first, but way too quickly becomes small-town drama.  While Grace falls in love with her airbnb host, Calvin, she can’t help but notice some discrepancies in his stories.   This leads into quite the dramatic and twisty ending.

I enjoyed this.  I love watching this author on tiktok.  She is absolutely hilarious.   And, I’m hoping Scott can at least send a nice note about this one…. the little gremlin….. Anyways, love this read.

Out April 25, 2023!