One Summer Knight by Melissa Naatz is perhaps one of the most charming and also honest reads I have come across in a while. It centers around a 38 year old woman named Elise White who finds herself not only filing for divorce, but caught up in the world of a Renaissance Festival jouster who just might be the one to show her a side of life she has been missing out on.
I loved everything about this book. Naatz did a fantastic job of using Elise’s voice to narrate the journey, using first person point of view. She never cheapens the story or narrative by breaking the fourth wall and having her through snarky asides directly at the reader, and I so appreciated that. As a reader you are allowed to simply experience Elise’s tale of finding love, a chosen family, and, most importantly, herself.
The plot moves along at a perfect pace and the chapters never drag on. I also found it refreshing to have a reverse age gap romance with Rhys being 11 years younger than Elise. There were many times that the narration alluded to the fact that it seems to be socially acceptable when the man is older, yet when the woman is older there is a great deal of judgment that is passed on the couple. I also truly appreciated the fact that Naatz dealt with the topic of divorce in such a realistic way and she never once backed away from the messy bits.
I think part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much is I saw a bit of my past self in Elise and also made me realize how lucky I was to get out of my previous marriage before things were complicated by kids, 401ks, and almost two decades of a life together. This is the story of a woman who tried desperately to make a marriage work with a man who didn’t want to be tied down or have responsibilities, and I found it a very real representation of what it’s like trying to rid your life of a narcissist. At one point she says, “For years I believed if we were able to overcome X, we’d be better,” and I could truly remember feeling that way in my first marriage. I like books that are real and portray the messy bits of life, and this book has that as well as a charming summer romance.
At the heart of this book are a group of characters I absolutely adored. Naatz writes Elise, Rhys, and their friends in such a way that you quickly come to care for them and are emotionally engaged in the story. On the surface this seems like a fluff romance, but it truly goes deeper than that with its message that everyone deserves to be put first by the one they love.
“Whatever the question, the answer will always be you.”
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️ (maybe 1.5)
This book truly surprised me. Yes, it is a fantastic summer romance, but it has so much more to offer than just that. There’s a lot of chemistry between Elise and Rhys, but a lot of the spice is alluded to instead of happening on the page, making it a great choice for a variety of romance readers. So, if you like a contemporary romance that is very realistic with a dash of fairytale whimsy, this is a great choice for you.
The new hit release from Red Tower Publishing, Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland tells the tale of five killers brought together in a plot to murder a king. Each has their specific talents and reasons for wanting the king dead, each has secrets that they keep, and in the end only one can take the crown that gives the king near immortality.
“You are made of steel…But you are so much more.”
This book completely deserves the hype it has been getting online. It features a cast of characters who are interesting and diverse in their backgrounds and personalities, six well written and distinct points of view, and a story that will keep you engaged until the very end. I have no problem saying that it will definitely be on my list of favorites when I do my 2024 wrap up, and if you are a lover of fantasy with adventure, intrigue, and romance, this is definitely the book for you.
What I Loved:
🗡️The imagery: Corland does an amazing job of painting beautiful pictures with her writing not only of the setting, but of the creatures encountered as the characters travel along on their journey. At no time did it slow down the story, it only added to the way I felt as if I was a part of what was on the page.
🗡️The writing: Corland found a way to have six distinct and interesting narrators who tell this story. Each one allows you insight into the key players and their motivations. I loved how flawlessly she was able to go from one voice to another.
🗡️The pacing: Perfection. The chapter length, the way it kept me engaged…absolutely perfection.
🗡️The characters: They were all so incredibly interesting. Each had a place in my heart by the end.
What I didn’t love:
🗡️That I have to wait for the story to continue! Especially after the big plot twist at the end.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️.5
Again, this book is perfect for fans of fantasy and romantasy. It features some of my favorite tropes like found family, one bed, secret identities and so much more!
Hannah Whitten has done it again. When I read The Foxglove King last year it literally had me in a chokehold right up until the very end. The Hemlock Queen picks up where that book left off and has the exact same effect. This is simply a series that once you start it’s hard to put it down. The Hemlock Queen continues the story of Lore, Bastien, and Gabe as they navigate the world of royal intrigue and also the will of the gods. It builds beautifully on the foundation of the first book and keeps you guessing right up to the very end.
What I loved:
🌹EVERYTHING!
🌹Lore’s development: At the start of this book Lore has allowed Bastein to dictate many of her decisions as she navigates the lingering trauma left by the events of book one. There is definitely a journey she must go on in this book to find her bravery once more and it leads to a cliffhanger that had me wishing the next book was already available.
🌹The way the author alluded to things in book one as needed. It means if you’re like me and didn’t have time to do a re-read of The Foxglove King, you can still enjoy this book without being confused. Personally I always appreciate when there are small reminders of what happened in previous installments, as long as they don’t slow down the story. Whitten navigates this extremely well making for an enjoyable reading experience that allows the book to flow.
🌹The spice! I think one of my only complaints in book 1 was that there was very little spice. Finally, as I had hoped, Lore finds herself giving into passion and there are allusions to what might happen in book three that have me on the edge of my seat.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️
I absolutely love The Nightshade Crown series, and The Hemlock Queen is an excellent continuation of the story. It will keep you guessing as you go along for the ride with Lore, Bastien, and Gabe and desperately wishing for the recently teased The Nightshade God.
Disney’s Brave featuring the feisty, red haired Princess Merida is in my opinion one of the most underrated Disney movies. I remember watching it for the first time and absolutely falling in love with not only the story but the lovable cast of characters. One couldn’t help but be charmed not only by Merida, but her troublesome triplet brothers, her fun loving and boisterous father Fergus, and of course her mother Elinor who serves as the antagonist in the original tale. Some of my favorite moments in the movie revolve around the relationship between Fergus and Elinor and their dynamic often makes me laugh out loud.
Fate Be Changed by Farrah Rochon takes the basis of the movie Brave and crafts a new tale that asks what if Merida had been the one to be on the receiving end of the witch’s spell? Instead of turning her mother into a bear, Merida finds herself transported back in time to when her parents first met. Only, she accidentally disrupts the timeline and now she must set things right while learning to view things from a different perspective. This book is part of Disney’s A Twisted Tale Series and it’s my first experience with one of these books, and it will certainly not be my last.
What I Loved:
– Getting more of Merida who, as someone with Scottish ancestry, I absolutely adore. I also love that her original story, and this one, focus on family instead of finding someone to marry.
– Being able to see Elinor and Fergus from the beginning of their relationship. They definitely have an enemies to lovers vibe that I adored. Fergus made me laugh out loud in the movie, and Rochon captured his essence here and he provided some truly fun moments in the story.
– The development of the character of the witch from the first movie. What an absolute surprise and delight it was to get to learn more about her character.
What I Didn’t Love:
– I have very few complaints about this book, but I found myself wishing for the interaction between Elinor and Fergus to start earlier in the book. They have such an amazing dynamic as a couple I just wanted to see more of their banter.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Spice: None (it is a Disney book)
If you loved the movie Brave or are a fan of the Twisted Tales series, this would definitely be a good read for you. It truly has a little of everything – action, intrigue, family, and romance. This is an appropriate read for any reader, and I can’t say enough good things about this book.
Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is an adorable Hallmark style friends to lovers romance set in the world of country music. It follows Lorelia, a former country darling trying to rebuild her career after playing a protest song at a concert, and Craig, her long time friend and music producer who has been in love with her for years. Throughout the book they try to navigate not only their careers, but also their feelings for each other.
This book is absolutely adorable and there was a lot to love. Here are some of my favorite things about this book:
– Lorelai: I loved her from the moment I met her on the page, and I rooted for her to get her comeback through the entire story. She’s funny, endearing, and I loved watching her work through her past as part of her character development in this book.
– Craig: Definitely the golden retriever type you want in a friends to lovers romance. He’s been Lorelai’s best friend for years, and is that person who is always there for her regardless of the consequences. As the nice guy you don’t want to see him get hurt while you’re reading and also, his writing is pretty steamy which only adds to the appeal.
– The supporting cast: This book has an amazing and diverse cast of supporting characters. Most of them were extremely likable and interesting and I can’t help but hope to see more of them in future books.
What I wasn’t so fond of:
– When writing in first person there is always the temptation to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience. This is usually done as an aside, and it’s meant to be funny. For me personally though it takes me out of the story, so I’m not a fan of this style choice.
– The beginning: The start of this story jumps around a bit in the timeline, and it could be a bit confusing. I think the first few chapters were meant to be more of a prologue, but it made settling into the actual story a bit more difficult.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
I really liked this book overall, and I’ll definitely be checking out more of Hahn’s work. If you like a sweet romance with a bit of steam, this is a good choice for you as I think Lorelai and Craig will quickly steal your heart.
A Story Spun in Scarlet is my first time reading anything by Renee Dugan, and I can see why her work receives such high ratings. This tale follows a storyteller named Audra Jashowin who lives in a world where stories no longer have endings. Something broke magic storytellers possessed by telling complete stories, leaving the kingdom of Mithra-Sha facing poverty and starvation. Then, one day, Audra encounters a farmhand, Jaik Grissom, and rediscovers her magic.
Let me start with some of what I truly loved about this book:
– Audra is such an amazing main female character. She is strong, independent, and fiery, yet she has so many insecurities to work through. The fact that her actions have consequences, sometimes of the life altering variety, and that she is forced to face the reality of her choices just makes her all the more endearing.
– Jaik is just the calming presence of the story, and he balances Audra perfectly. They are such an incredible match romantically that I never missed the fact that this is a clean read and things never progress beyond kissing on the page.
– The ease with which we were able to get to know the diverse cast of supporting characters, even those who joined late in the book. Each one found a place in my heart.
The one thing I didn’t love:
– Dugan writes very poetically, which at times lends itself very well to a fantasy story. However, towards the middle I found it made the plot drag a bit with all the descriptions. I had to push through to the end, but I will say I am glad that I did because it was worth it.
Let me just speak briefly about the ending in case my opinion of the pacing is causing you to think twice about reading this tale. The ending is worth it. I cried through the last several chapters, which is not something I usually do when reading. There’s sometimes a moment that will get me emotionally, but this book came together so beautifully in the end that I was a mess for nearly three chapters. So, don’t let the length or pacing scare you, the ending is everything.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: None, just some kissing
This book is quite the sweeping tale, and it is a wonderful romance. If you like banter, found family, and a sassy main female character, read A Story Spun in Scarlet.
I’ve been reading quite a few contemporary romance books lately, and Right on Cue by Falon Ballard quickly secured its spot as one of my favorites. The story follows Hollywood writer Emmy as she finds herself suddenly in front of the camera for the first time in a decade. What starts out as a seemingly good idea quickly derails though when the leading man is recast and her teenage nemesis is suddenly playing her love interest.
This story was absolutely adorable, and Emmy and Grayson sizzle on the page. I loved Emmy’s character and how she grows during the course of the book as she unpacks her baggage from the past. She is allowed to be flawed, and she is a character who is capable of navel gazing and learning from her mistakes. She is so incredibly relatable in her insecurities that I couldn’t help rooting for her from the beginning.
Grayson, Emmy’s love interest both on and off screen, is also an incredibly well written character, and is officially on my list of favorite book boyfriends. Through Emmy’s eyes at the beginning of the story he is the devil. He broke her heart and left her with major insecurities about herself and her acting. Yet, the real Grayson is kind, compassionate, and dependable. It’s easy to see why Emmy finds herself falling for his charms.
I keep coming back to the fact that this is such a sweet and heartwarming story. Both main characters have moments of vulnerability that add a bit of seriousness to the rom-com nature of the book. Watching both Emmy and Grayson grow throughout the course of the novel kept me smiling from start to finish, and I would highly recommend this book to any fan of rom-coms or just romantic fiction.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 This book made me laugh out loud several times, but it also had tender moments that nearly broke me. This definitely has an enemies to lovers vibe that I was completely entranced by. There is so much to love in this book, so definitely check out Emmy and Grayson’s story in Right on Cue.
I discovered the series The Halfling Sagaby Melissa Blair when Bookish Box featured the first book in the series, A Broken Blade. Ever since then I have been living for each new release to dive further into the story of the assassin turned rebel, Keera, and her found family. The first two books left me breathless and wishing for more, and the latest installment, A Vicious Game, was no different.
This one picks up a couple months after the events of book two, and we find Keera giving into her addiction to alcohol once more to deal with everything that is haunting her mind. She has pushed away those who care about her, engaging in self destructive behavior. It created a stark contrast to the Keera we saw in book two, and it allowed for amazing character work by the author. Blair said in the notes at the beginning that this was the installment she had been wanting to write and her passion for it shows on the page.
There was so much I enjoyed about this book, but there were a few things that truly stood out:
Gerarda: If you’re not familiar with the series, Gerarda served as Keera’s nemesis of sorts within the order they served. I spent the first two books truly disliking her, so it was wonderful to be able to see her in a different light in this book.
Gwyn: Wow, she truly broke my heart in this book. Such amazing development and writing.
Keera & Riven’s Relationship: Their chemistry continues to sizzle. I loved the way they ultimately grew together.
Without going into too much detail or revealing spoilers, I wanted to take a moment to mention my favorite part of this book. It’s not often that a plot twist catches me off guard. I am usually able to sense them coming and guess what might be about to happen before it is revealed on the page. However, the twist late in the book made me gasp out loud because I did not expect it in the slightest. Honestly, it made me want to go back and reread the other books to determine what I had missed along the way. I am still thinking about it and I will probably do a reread before book four is published.
Overall, this series continues to be one of my favorites. I love the characters and how well developed they are, and how they continue to grow and change. I love the way the author works in representation so organically to the story, and how the plot continues to keep me engaged from start to finish. If you love romantasy, check out this series, it continues to be one of the best.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the REMEMBER ME by Brien Feathers Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Guard your heart and go home or fall for a stranger and perish.
Reiko is the immortal spirit of the storm. Seeking to unravel a reoccurring dream that perplexes her, she visits the mortal realm during the Soul Festival and boards a train to the historical district of Sunlit City. There, in the imperial palace of old Nara, she finds no answers, only more questions as a peculiar girl indulges her with a tale of a disgraced deity and a mortal warlord.
Ayame has a bad temper. She slapped the Immortal Emperor’s sorceress, and her punishment was to spend a decade on earth as a mortal-a task easier said than done.
Nara is amidst its centuries long warring era, the age of the warlords. To navigate this treacherous new world, Ayame befriends a wine-loving, trickster fox spirit, and scrapes by as a servant in the household of one of the greater clans. Toiling day and night, she’s made do for five years and dreams of the day she can return home.
But war arrives. When death announces itself outside her door, she assumes the identity of a noble and finds herself betrothed to the youngest son of an enemy clan, his father a ruthless warlord. To live, Ayame must play her role, but she soon finds herself dangerously drawn not to her intended husband, but to the infamous warlord himself.
In the tumultuous world of a warring empire, trouble is always on the horizon. Betrayals run deep within families and clans, and nothing is as it seems. All Ayame wants is to survive her banishment and return home, yet she may risk it all for a mortal man.
A vicious killer, twice her age, nothing is right about him, including his insanely possessive concubine out to get Ayame. She knows it, but can she control her temperament, or will she find herself at odds with yet another court, this time a deadly one?
A slow burn dark fantasy, Remember Me is Book 1 of the Royal Diviner Trilogy, and comes with content advisory for violence and intimate situations.
Brien Feathers is a fantasy author living in the land of permanent frost, horses, and Mongols. She likes reading, writing (of course), riding, drinking dark beer, and checking things off a to-do list.
Although she claims to love everyone equally, she really loves her youngest son the most. He has autism superpowers that allow him to speak all types of rare languages including drumbeats, elevator dings, and police sirens.
Miss Feathers loves grey days, orange cats, and all creatures human or otherwise. And she hopes you will love her world (fantasy) and people (characters) as well.
REIKO STOOD ON PLATFORM B of Station 47 and stared at the bright screen with moving pictures. It depicted a woman drinking a soda, then the sunflower bloomed and the fireworks soared—all from the drink.
The vending machine next to the screen was stacked with soda, and wanting to taste the sunflowers, Reiko fished for the coin purse tucked in her sash. The one she wanted was the shiny yellow can and cost hundred and fifty ryo. She put two pieces of hundred coins into the slot, pressed the button, and watched with some fascination as the machine spat the can out and dropped her change. She collected both.
The drink was sweet and fizzled on the tongue. When she swished it, the foam spilled out of her mouth, and Reiko laughed. The mortal world was so amusing, and she was glad to be visiting it.
The train came, a long metal serpent howling and stirring up wind. The doors opened with a hiss and there was a big sign inside prohibiting eating and drinking. Reiko left the can by a cement pillar, hoping no one saw her litter, but an old man did and he frowned.
“Sorry.” She bowed.
The old man shook his head, tutting, then collected her garbage.
Not wanting to miss the train, Reiko squeezed in just as the doors closed. The lesser gods, or the immortals as they liked to call themselves, could only collect the offerings people made to them. Reiko was a storm spirit, and perhaps in the olden days, people used to pray to her much, but the weather hadn’t been a concern for hundreds of years. It had taken her nearly an eternity to save the five thousand ryo. The subway ticket cost two hundred, and this was the last train of the night.
She made an apologetic face to the old man as he tried to wave down the train. By going to the garbage bin, he’d missed the ride and was being left behind.
The serpent burrowed head first into the tunnel, the cabin rocking gently with a metal tata-tata, and darkness zoomed by the windows as the neon lights overhead buzzed. Reiko stood by the door and looked at the map above it, her hand gripping a metal pole to steady herself. Many people were standing without holding onto anything. They were used to the sway, but not her.
“Excuse me,” Reiko asked the man next to her, and he lifted his gaze from a small, bright, handheld screen he’d been looking at. Many people had similar gadgets, and they were all looking at theirs. “Where is the Palace of a Thousand Rays?” Reiko pointed at the map above the door.
“Tourist?” asked the short, balding man with a comb-over. He had thick glasses and a briefcase. “Your Nara is very good, young mistress. Where are you from?”
“What do you mean?” Reiko frowned. All the realms shared the same tongue.
“Your accent is very peculiar. It’s like you learned by reading old literature.” The man smiled while others around them ignored them both, their attention on their screens. “I studied linguistics in my youth.” He fixed his comb-over. “The way you say ‘Palace of a Thousand Rays’ is the imperial way.”
“Oh…” Not so good with lying, she didn’t know how to respond to that.
“The palace of the last emperor is in the historical district, young mistress.” He pointed at the subway map. “It’s the end of the line. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you, kind master.” Reiko bowed, which made the man’s face light with a smile.
Reiko was yanked to one side as the subway came to a stop. A woman’s disembodied voice announced the station, and the doors opened with a hiss.
“Enjoy your stay at Sunlit City, and happy Soul Festival, young mistress.” The man turned and waved as he stepped off the train. “Beautiful garment! The ancestors see you!” he yelled before the doors closed. Reiko was dressed in a traditional silk robe.
Time was a figurative concept for an immortal like Reiko but every ten years, during the year with thirteen moons instead of the typical twelve, the realms aligned for three days, and the spiritual gates opened, allowing for passage between the realms. Such alignment also coincided with the Soul Festival.
The festival was an annual celebration during which the mortals believed the spirits of their ancestors visited, and once a decade, they were right. Or at least they used to be long, long ago, during the era of the greater gods. Travel between the realms was prohibited since, and Reiko had begged Immortal Father for a millennium to be allowed to visit the floating world. To coerce him into permitting her travel, she’d resorted to refusing the marriage match he’d made for her, and this was her one and last hooray. For three days, she would be in the mortal world, then she’d return to the Immortal Court to be a loyal wife.
But she had to come here. She dreamed of the Palace of a Thousand Rays, and a jingle of a silver bell called to her. A recurring sound in her mind, jing, jing, jing, she would hear even during her waking hours, and then she’d walk the hallways in her sleep. If she could only visit the palace and confirm it was nothing like the one that lived in her mind, then she could find peace. So, here she was with her four thousand six hundred and fifty ryo, and on her way to the Palace of a Thousand Rays—the end of the line, the man had said.
After the crowd thinned with each stop, Reiko took a seat. A young woman and a man were holding hands on the seat across from her, and she longingly looked at them before averting her intrusive gaze. She yearned to be in love and to have someone to hold her hand, but like time, the concept of intimacy was a metaphorical one for an immortal. She understood what love was, like she knew what years were, but that was all. Immortals experienced neither.
The mortal world was carried on the current of time, and thus called the ‘Floating World’, but the centuries flowed around the Immortal Court as if they were some hideous boulder in its way. Immortals didn’t age, and the flowers in their garden were always in bloom because the seasons didn’t pass, but Reiko was convinced they were worse off for it, not better.
What is a bloom if there is no winter, and what is youth if there is no death?
Old age was beautiful because it was the beginning of a new life, just like winter was the forecast of spring.
The crowd in the train thinned and thinned till there was only a handful left and they were all dressed in traditional robes.
“Next stop, Rekishi Chiku,” thehistorical district, the disembodied voice announced. “Thank you for using Sunlit Metro, and please take care that you don’t forget your belongings.”
Fangirl Down is my first experience with Tessa Bailey’s writing and I assure you it will not be my last. This adorable, sexy story follows grumpy pro-golfer, Wells Whitaker and his ever sunny and loyal fangirl, Josephine Doyle, as they embark on a mission to resuscitate Wells’ career and save Josephine’s pro shop.
The plot and the characters in this book are absolutely delightful. It’s filled with lots of banter, steam, and just enough drama to keep things interesting, and I can honestly say I could not put the book down. Wells and Josephine are the perfect book couple for anyone who loves a good grumpy/sunshine pairing.
What I liked:
The portrayal of Josephine’s Type 1 Diabetes
I specifically liked how the author chose to show her struggle with being seen as an independent adult and how that caused her to struggle with asking or accepting help.
The chemistry between Wells and Josephine (and the steam)
The development of the characters and how they had emotional highs and lows that allowed for growth
What I didn’t like:
How quickly Well’s character seemed to shift, specifically how quickly he became a possessive alpha towards Josephine
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
This book is definitely a must read for anyone who likes a good sports or grumpy/sunshine romance. At times it’s adorable, at others steamy, and it’s always entertaining. I will definitely be checking out its upcoming spin-off romance as well.
Tracey Reads and Rambles 