Emily

I bought this book a little less than 2 years ago after finishing The Ember Quartet by the same author. I found a signed copy in a small book shop in Texas, and when I got home I tucked it on my shelf with a plan to read it “soon”. We all know how this goes. Life happened and other books happened, and now I'm mad I didn't read it sooner! This book is absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It's about the importance of friendship, the prejudices that exist, life after loss, and so so much more. We get to experience the story with multi-POV which I enjoyed. Despite having a physical copy, I listened to the audio of this and it was very well done with dual narration. All My Rage is one of the first traditionally published books that I've read that had a trigger warning page and also a page of resources after the story was done. I will be thinking about Noor, Salahudin, and Misbah for a while. Their was so impactful! All My Rage is a Young Adult novel, 16+ for themes.

I finished this book last night via audio and I cannot stop thinking about it. Adrienne Young creates these amazing immersive worlds that are truly captivating! This story and the characters and the magic were all so unique. The narrators southern accent was perfect and didn't feel forced, and it was great for the setting of the story. This book follows June Farrow as she copes with the death of her grandmother who had many secrets. When she begins digging into her past, she walks through a door that changes her life. There is a second chance romantic subplot, and I loved the way it was written. My biggest take-away was the story of a mother's love and how moms will do anything for their children and to keep them safe. It absolutely hit me in the feels! There's also a bit of mystery and some suspense. It was just so incredible, and Adrienne Young continues to be an auto-buy author for me. The Unmaking of June Farrow is adult magical realism, 16+

This book was so stinking cute, and it had me wanting to jump on a plane to Scotland. I'd first like to thank Netgalley for the ARC of Kilt Trap. Kilt Trap is a rivals to lovers romance that follows Addie, a travel consultant who has a hard time letting people in, and Logan, a grumpy tour guide who is very resistant to change. There is great banter between Addie and Logan and lots of tension! But once the tension breaks, the romance heats up! Addie's journey of self-discovery was very well written and I loved the resolution for her character. The epilogue had me absolutely giddy. This was just such a cute story, it was what I needed today! Kilt Trap is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

What an emotional ride! This book was everything I wanted and more! Following the events of The Long Way Home, BJ and Magnolia have to navigate their new reality with the help of their box set. So much healing happens in this book, but it is definitely an emotional roller coaster. I laughed, cried, got angry, and everything in between. The way the Jessa Hastings has written these characters is truly art. It's so bittersweet that this is the last Magnolia book, but I couldn't be happier with the resolution they received. The found family in this series is truly one of a kind, and I love them so so much! These are definitely character driven books, but I love the characters so much I didn't mind it one bit. I absolutely cannot wait for the next Daisy book because I think lots of things are happening that we don't get to see (yet). This book should have come with a trigger warning I think. If you've read the rest in the series, then it may not be triggering for you. I found this content to be much heavier than previous books. Feel free to dm me if you want more info on warnings. The Magnolia Parks Universe is Adult Romance 18+ for sexual content and themes

Oh SJM I love this amazing world you've woven for us, but this book missed the mark a bit for me. Loved some character arcs and others just didn't flow or make sense. Moments made me very emotional and others made me say “what the hell”. A more detailed review may come later when the books been out a bit longer and my dms are always open for thoughts and discussion. For me this was more than a 3 star but less than a 4 star read. The Crescent City series is adult fantasy, 18+ for sexual content and violence

When I saw this book on my library's app I didn't know it was part of a series, so alas I've read them out of order. It did not affect my reading experience for this book and I still feel like I got the whole picture. Plot Twist was such a cute and sexy read with emotion woven throughout. I thought the writing and representation was great! This story follows Sophie, an author on a deadline, and Dash, a former actor. This story is one of discovering yourself and looking beyond the things you think make you unlovable. I loved it and thought the audiobook was well done with a single narrator. Plot Twist is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes. Reach out or look up possible triggers. I did not see a trigger warning page in the ebook, but I think there should be one.

I'm entering back into my audio era as life just seems to get busier and busier. I saw this on my library's app with no hold and immediately said yes based on the description. The Roommate Pact is a romcom about roommates Claire, an ER nurse, and Graham, a firefighter. This book is full of tension and forced proximity goodness. It's friends with benefits but there were also moments that made me kind of emotional. Overall I really loved it and it was a quick read while doing things around the house. It is single narration, and while I prefer dual or multi narration, I still thought this was well done. The Roommate Pact is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content.

This was my first book by Elin Hilderbrand and I don't think it'll be my last. She paints an immersive picture of the island of Nantucket in this story about a haunted hotel and the people who work there. The newly renovated Hotel Nantucket is in need of a staff, and it seems like each person hired has some secrets to hide. In addition to everyone trying to keep their secrets, a ghost lives in the hotel. Grace, the ghost, wants the secret surrounding her death to be revealed so she can be free. This book was outside of my usual genre but came highly recommended, and I really liked it. There are a few romantic subplots but I wouldn't say it's the main theme of the book at all. The Hotel Nantucket is an adult fiction novel, 18+ for themes and content

I went back to Clifton Forge last week and read Riven Knight, book 2 in the series, and it didn't disappoint. In this book we finally see the mystery from Steel King solved! As someone who needs closure, I was very happy to have that. The main characters in this story are Genevieve and Isaiah who get married in order to not have to testify against one another after events in Steel King. Riven Knight is full of marriage of convenience and forced proximity goodness— lots of tension! I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait to continue!

Entering back into my Devney Perry era, and I'm definitely not mad about it! Maybe I will make it through her backlist this year. I really enjoyed this book! It had so much mystery and romance and it really had me wanting to watch Sons of Anarchy again for some Jax Teller vibes. The story follows Bryce, a journalist who's recently moved home to Clifton Forge, and Dash, president of a motorcycle club that's no longer active. Bryce is on a mission to expose the reason that the Tin Kings disbanded, but right when she is starting her research, a woman is murdered. Bryce and Dash join forces to clear his father's name, and naturally there are sparks. Dash is so protective of Bryce, and their romance is hot! I can't wait to read more of the series and see the mystery solved! Steel King is an adult romance 18+ for sexual content

Possible Spoilers for Divine Rivals:

The conclusion to the Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross was nothing short of greatness! While I rated Ruthless Vows lower than Divine Rivals, I still believe this is a 5 star series as a whole. The book picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of Divine Rivals. Iris and Roman are separated, and Iris begins to wonder if she will ever see him again. Through a chain of events, they find themselves once again connected by their typewriters. Letters are exchanged, plans are hatched, and secrets are kept as Iris and her friends try to get ahead of Dacre's dark plan. The side characters really come to life in Ruthless Vows, and I really liked the found family trope here. I loved this book and obviously I devoured it, but it wasn't quite as good as Divine Rivals. I think some ends were left a little open and I wanted a bit more closure. The romance between Iris and Roman is so beautiful, I feel like I will be thinking of them for a while. Rebecca Ross's writing continues to be some of my favorite, and reading her words feels so magical at times. Ruthless Vows is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ for vague descriptions of sexual content

This isn't my first Rebecca Ross book, and so I knew going in that the writing would be beautiful. Everything about this book was so good, and I absolutely devoured it! Her writing style is some of the most beautiful I've ever read; it breathes so much emotion into the story and the characters. Divine Rivals follows Iris and Roman, rival journalists for their town's newspaper. Iris's brother is at war, fighting for one of their gods, and Iris promised to write him letters. When her letters start to get replies, Iris is intrigued by the man responsible the words. Y'all, the letters. I loved the letters so much. So many of their words hit me in the feels so hard. Iris and Roman's romance is incredibly special, it's just so tender and sweet! The ending of this book broke me and I'm starting Ruthless Vows very soon! Divine Rivals is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ mild sexual content very vague in description.

After having this series sitting on my kindle for the last few months, It's bittersweet to be saying goodbye to Cottonwood Cove. If I know anything about Laura's next series, it's that we will still see some of our favorite characters pop up here and there. After the Storm follows the final Reynolds's sibling, Cage, single dad and major grump, and Presley, Cage's first love who is a successful lawyer in New York. This story is a second chance and single dad romance. After Presley comes home for a few weeks to be with family, tension sparks between she and Cage ,and soon after, they rekindle their romance under the guise that it would only be until she went back home. I loved Cage, but sometimes he was a little too grumpy with no real reason to be

Small town romances have become such a comfort for me, and I feel like Laura Pavlov nails it every time! Before the Sunset follows our next Reynolds sibling, Finn, an actor who just got a big break, and Reese, Finn's best friend. Fans of friends to lovers with fake dating mixed in will love this book! I couldn't put it down. After being friends their entire lives, Reese and Finn begin fake dating to make Reese's ex jealous and to improve Finn's image. The burn is a little slower but the tension is so good and the spicy payoff is chefs kiss. I personally loved the ending of this book and I think it fit the characters perfectly. I also love that we continue to get glimpses of the characters from Honey Mountain because I miss them. Before the Sunset is an adult small-town romance, 18+ for sexual content

Returning to Cottonwood Cove as my first read of the new year was the perfect choice. I love Laura Pavlov's writing and stories so much. She creates amazing characters and worlds that just suck you in. On the Shore is book 3 in the Cottonwood Cove series, and it follows Brinkley Reynolds, a sports reporter recently let go from her job, and Lincoln Hendrix, an NFL football player seeking some quiet time in Cottonwood Cove. Brinkley and Lincoln's paths had crossed before, but it wasn't a positive encounter, so they were surprised to see each other in Brinkley's hometown. This story is enemies to lovers bliss! There's a strong female lead, great communication, and no third act breakup! Not to mention the romance is

I read this in high school and decided to give it a reread. It's such a unique murder mystery. Kind of gives “Clue” vibes. Anyway I loved it not too scary or suspenseful. I actually forgot the ending and my mind was so blown!

Possible Series Spoilers (but I'll try to be spoiler free):

It was so nice to be back with Auren and the other characters from this series. I missed them and it had been so long since I read Glow. As always I love that this series is multi pov. I think it really helps round out the plot seeing it from multiple sides. This book was full of trials and challenges for all of our characters. I also found myself rooting for a previous enemy from the other books. New faces emerged and new mysteries were born. The story kept me engaged and wanting to read, however for the series as a whole, and Auren's journey, I felt like this was lots of filler. Still loved it, but I just wanted more plot development for the main story. Gold, and the Plated Prisoner series, is an adult fantasy series, 18+ for sexual content and themes

I haven't read many Peter Pan inspired books that I've enjoyed, but this one I liked a lot. Never follows Daphne, Wendy's great great grand daughter. The majority of her teenage years, her grandmothers wait for Peter Pan to come and take Daphne to Neverland as he did with them many many years ago, but he never comes. At 17 she thinks that he may never come for her, until one night he appears in her window. Daphne is taken on an adventure to Neverland and everything she thought she knew and understood to be rational is challenged. Neverland is full of secrets and mysterious characters like faeries, mermaids, and pirates. This book does have a love triangle, but I find myself rooting for one of the characters significantly more than the other. Fans of the writing style that Jessa uses in the Magnolia Parks series will like the style used in this book. This is a very character driven book, so if you're looking for a more plot driven story, this may not be for you. I found the characters frustrating at times, but I think it's intentional in the writing and to the story. I am very much intrigued and can't wait for book 2! Never is an Adult romance, 18+ for some sexual content and themes

Such a light and fun holiday novella! Can't wait to see more from Hazel and Cole! Plus size representation was perfection!

I finished Iron Flame last night, and while I usually write my reviews right after I finish, I needed to sit with this for a bit. This book made me feel lots of things! Iron Flame picks up right where Fourth Wing left off, which I was so glad for (IYKYK)! This book is FULL of details and information— literally so much to remember and process— and lots of new characters. I feel like some of the details could have been better fleshed out, and I hope that comes later in the series. There's alliances and betrayals and secrets. I had a pit in my stomach most of the book because I didn't know where the story was going. We still get that great banter between the characters especially Xaden and Violet, which I loved. I also loved the found family within of their squad. The romance and spice were definitely there but not the highlight of this book, which felt to me more plot driven. Iron Flame is an adult fantasy, 18+ for sexual content

This was such a cute and fun read, and I think that if you're in the market for a cute palate cleanser this is a great option! The book is classified as fantasy, but it definitely isn't complex in terms of world building or magic systems. Assistant to the Villain follows Evie, the sole provider for her family who is in the market for a new job, and the Villain, a mysterious man who is in the market for a new assistant. I loved these characters! Their banter was funny and witty and their inner monologues added so much to them. There's tension and a potential romance brewing? I'm really excited to see where Evie and the Villain end up in the next book! Assistant to the Villain is an adult fantasy, 16+ for some language

Finn and Lexie! Ugh I loved this so much! NS Perkins book are always a treat and this was no exception. Where We Belong is the second book in the Evermore series and follows after Where Time Stands Still. The story follows Finn and Lexie. It's a sports romance story centered around gymnastics which was super fun to read because I don't feel like I've seen that often. There's forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine (but she's the grump), tension, spice, all the things! I loved this so much and will continue to read anything NS Perkins writes! Where We Belong is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content. Release is 11/21/23

I finished The Poppy War last night and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The story, the writing, the characters, the heartbreak. This was my first R.F Kuang book, and it won't be my last. There were moments where I felt so immersed in the world that she created. I did a combined audio and physical book read. The audiobook was extremely well done. Single narrator, but she did an amazing job of bringing the different characters to life. The Poppy War tells the story of Rin, a war orphan who ends up being much more than that. The story is one of the tragedy and brutality of war, and parts of the book were very difficult for me to read. I don't think I'll stop thinking about this book any time soon, and I look forward to seeing the rest of the story play out in books 2 and 3. The Poppy War is an adult fantasy, 18+ for content, themes, and violence.

Y'all know I love Jack Whitney, and this book was no exception! How the woman continues to created such amazing worlds and characters is beyond me! I'm not normally a dark romance girlie but I really liked this one. Madness follows Andi, a photographer with a traumatic past, and Maddox, the bassist for Young Decay who keeps his identity a secret by wearing a mask. Maddox is best friends with Andi's brother, and when Andi is asked to photograph the band for their homecoming run, tensions build between them. Both are running from their pasts, but find security with each other. The tension, the banter, all the spice. It's all so good! It's dual pov so we get to see the story from both Andi and Maddox's side. There's an extensive trigger warning list at the front of the book so be sure to check that out. I'm so excited to see where Jack is taking this new series! Madness is an adult dark romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes

I'm finally catching up on my Laura Pavlov TBR after finishing up a few projects, and I swear reading her work is like coming home. She has become an auto buy comfort author for me when I want some small town romance. Under the Stars is book 2 in the Cottonwood Cove series. Same universe, but different town, as the Honey Mountain Series. There's even an appearance by our favorite Thomas girls! Under the Stars follows Georgia, a -young woman trying to prove she can do things on her own, and Maddox, the grumpy owner of a publishing house. Georgia is hired to be Maddox's assistant and it's only up from there. This is a workplace and grumpy/sunshine romance filled with sexual tension and spicy pay off! I love Laura Pavlov's books because they're a great small town romance but also tend to hit you right in the feels! Under the Stars is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes