About the Book:
When Amelia Anderson’s best friend gets married and she finds herself the last single girl left in a room filled with couples, she wonders if it’s time to start dating again.
Enter the Dating Plan. Her helpful friends devise a plan to get her back out there and really, what could go wrong? They have a colour-coded binder to guide them, after all!
What ensues, however, is a string of dates so disastrous, it’s enough to have Amelia vowing to remain single forever.
The only bright side in this dismal dating experiment? Jake Johnson, her ex-boyfriend’s older brother, who keeps coming to her rescue. Making her feel safe, protected…special.
Jake has always been that guy for her. The one who represented everything she was scared to want, so she settled for what she thought she deserved. And now he’s back in her life and is stirring up all these feelings that she’s struggling to ignore. Amelia can’t forget that he’s off-limits for her.
But if that is true, why does it feel that in a sea of all these Mr Wrongs, he may actually be her Mr Right?
My Thoughts:
A dating plan, caring friends and one very curious and every present ex-boyfriend’s brother. What could go wrong with this formula?
Belinda Mary once again brings to us a wonderfully light-hearted romantic comedy, complete with mis steps, funny moments and a swoon worthy romance. I read this book as a part of the author’s ARC team and fell in love with it from the start. This was the kind of book that I read from start to finish in one go, with no stops on the way.
Amelia and Jake brought so much to this story, each with their own quirky thoughts and interesting personalities, with some help from friends we’ve known and loved and feel happy to meet again (this will make sense for those who have read Belinda Mary’s previous books)!
This is a wonderful read, fun and full of laughter, the right kind of book to come out of a reading slump or just to fall in love! Take a chance with our two wonderful MCs as they find love and happiness after a series of disasters of course!
About the Book:
Christina Lauren, returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.
Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.
Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.
Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.
But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.
My Thoughts:
I read this book as a part of a buddy read and devoured it in a day!
When Anna finds out that she is still legally married to Liam, his request for help is something that she did not expect. Now complicit in a web of white lies, the two main characters have to find a way to convince Liam’s family that they are in love and happily married all this while.
The two main characters will grow on you, their moments together and of getting to know one another are delightful. I enjoyed reading about all the characters and the family dynamics that are brought out on this little island.
What starts off as a small lie, ends up in each character owning their truth and finding their way and even themselves. Though the story focuses on Anna and Liam, the other characters play important roles in the events that unfold in paradise!
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, filled with crazy moments and banter among the characters that just stayed with the reader until the very end! This is a perfect summer read and the kind of light read that makes one smile always.
About the Book:
The fourth and final book in the bestselling Blood of a Fae series…
“I see forever with you by my side. Because long after these scars have faded away to nothing, I’ll still be standing beside you. You and I? We’re eternal.”
Beware the dread curse of Three…
In the aftermath of the war between Pendrath and its neighbors, peace has finally come to Camelot. But for Morgan Le Fay and her friends, the calm is short-lived. A storm grows on the horizon. As a terrible evil that has been waiting hundreds of years begins to sweep through the land, Morgan and Draven must race to the aid of their allies, leaving their youngest and most vulnerable new family member in the care of trusted friends.
The sword, the spear, the grail’s mystery…
As the tide of war takes them across kingdoms and into greater peril, Morgan and Draven embark on a quest to destroy the three objects of untold power–the grail, the sword, and the spear. Together, the pair will find answers to questions lost in the mists of time. Answers to questions so terrible, they never even thought to ask.
Blood calls to blood, the dark shall rise,
Forged by the gods under sacred skies.
For the love between these bonded mates is not just an everlasting one forged in blood.
You might even call it divine.
My Thoughts:
This is the final book in the series and honestly, I did not want the story to end. I couldn’t imagine a world without Morgan, Draven, the Exmoors and everyone else in their circle.
“There is darkness in all of our souls. But there is also light. Just because the darkness threatens doesn’t mean the light won’t win out in the end.”
The author makes realistic, though heart-breaking, decisions when it comes to character deaths which play important roles in the plot advancement as well as development of the central characters. Their grief, trauma, heart-break, love for one another all drive their actions as well as the need to save the people of Camelot and it’s neighboring places.
This book sets the stage for Morgan’s final quest to destroy the grail, the sword and the spear through which she discovers truths not only about herself, but her family and her origins. As she moves to confront this truth, it’s a race against time to save the people she loves. The finale though slightly predictable, is very well executed and provides the much needed closure to this beautiful series!
We all need the kind of love Morgan and Draven have. This can be felt from this one quote: “Be everything you truly are. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you, my silver one.”
With this concludes my journey through Blood of a Fae, a series that I highly recommend for fans of retellings of legends with magic, romance and adventure all wrapped up in one!
About the Book:
A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war…
A cast-off princess…
Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.
A dangerous temptation…
As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to reconcile her desires with her duty, she and her new comrades discover dangers that await them beyond anything in their wildest nightmares.
A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood…
Believed to have vanished generations ago, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals is ascending once more, bound to reclaim what was lost by violence and bloodshed. As the fae world, with its intricate web of lies and mysteries, is slowly revealed to Morgan, she is led to the terrible realization that the secrets she carries in her blood make her a greater threat than she could ever have imagined.
The first in an action-packed new series brimming with magic, danger, morally gray characters, and spellbinding slow-burn romance, Queen of Roses is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Raven Kennedy, Rebecca Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, and Sarah J. Maas.
My Thoughts:
Queen of Roses is the first book in the Blood of a Fae series, a retelling of the story of King Arthur, his knights, and all the others in the legend, in a magical context with many of the characters re-imagined.
At first I was a little confused with the different re-imaginings of the characters but once I looked past it, I was pulled into the world. I love the way the author has developed the plot, the world and the characters, bringing in so many different adventures and dynamics among the characters. Honestly, I was not a fan of Arthur as a character in this book and found Morgan to be a little annoying at first. I loved how Lancelet and Galahad are depicted and their relationship with Morgan.
I started to enjoy the book a few chapters in and could not stop reading until the very end. The ending of the book with the most unexpected twists and turns culminated in an amazing climax, setting up the tone and direction of the next book. At this point, I knew that I was truly hooked and would definitely find my way through the series, following Morgan as she discovered herself, the extent of her powers, and becomes the leader she was born to be (I hope!)
About the Book:
Mikaela Kadono is bummed when her parents move the family to a creepy, old, fixer-upper house, leaving behind her friends, school and familiar neighborhood. But things quickly look up when she meets her new neighbor, George, who invites her to join a cool club called Drone Legends. Little does Mikaela know that this will be the first step in a life-changing adventure!
On The Drone Legends very first mission, a nearly tragic accident brings a mysterious, talking AI drone into their lives. But was it really an accident? And who created this drone that seems to be far beyond any available technology? As they search for answers, Mikaela discovers that the old house her parents bought holds a secret – a cryptic message from the past, hidden in riddles and codes. With the help of her new friends, they embark on a quest to solve the mystery, which takes them on a perilous journey from adventure on the high seas to secret tunnels deep beneath the ground.
The team applies science, math, cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned gadgets as they solve the clues and battle a mysterious foe who always seems to be one step ahead. The closer they get to solving the mystery, the more it seems that the messages were left specifically for them. But how would someone living a century earlier know that Mikaela and her friends would even exist? And what role is this strange, intelligent drone playing? Is it a friend, or part of a conspiracy to change the course of history?
It’s a nail-biting adventure full of twists and turns, as Mikaela and her friends race against time to stop an evil plot to take over the world. Are they following their destiny, or are they in over their heads? The fate of world and future of humanity hangs in the balance.
My Thoughts:
The Rise of the Legends is a joy to read! Filled with adventure, lots of twists and turns and a world of gadgets Mikaela and her friends will fascinate everyone who reads about them.
The story is well-written and easy to follow. The science behind everything is explained very well making it quite simple and relatable as well as easy to understand and follow. The author focuses on strong friendships, learning to face adverse situations and helping one another. Everything is not black and white in life and thus it is necessary to understand another person’s situation/circumstance before judging them. Mikaela teaches us this through her interactions with the different characters.
All the characters are a pleasure to read about and though at times it feels unbelievable that these children know so much, I think that if we have an interest to learn, age is no barrier. The book is the start to the series and sets the pace and tone for the rest to come! I am looking forward to reading about the Legends and their future adventures!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
About the Book:
What if you meet the love of your life, but he’s already lost the love of his?
Raven is pure sunshine. Really. She even wakes up early enough to greet it. As a triathlon coach and kindergarten teacher, her life looks perfect. She’s thriving, except for her daddy issues and a string of commitment-phobic ex-boyfriends, of course.
Briggs is a sexy CEO. He’s also grieving the loss of his late wife with zero intentions of ever moving on, despite his work suffering. So when Briggs is threatened with a leave of absence, he hires Raven to prove that he’s working on himself. But training for a triathlon is no small feat, and neither is denying his attraction to his peppy coach. They’re opposites in every way, and she deserves more than a grumpy widower, but damn it if he can’t stay away from her sunshine—and she can’t stop her racing heart.
Blending the genres of contemporary sports romance, women’s literary fiction, and romantic comedy, Beautiful Shattering is a swoon-worthy read about second chances, forgiveness, and inner-strength.
My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed reading the books written together by authors Nina Walker and M.F. Lorson under the pen name Grace Costello in the past. Therefore choosing to read Beautiful Shattering was an easy decision to make.
Beautiful Shattering, as the name suggests, or even as the reader comes to know later, is a story of forgiveness and healing. Raven is sunny and bright, full of life and truly a different character than those I’ve encountered in the past. There’s a strength in her that shone beyond her other qualities and her determination to help the people whom she trained was something to behold. Briggs was the opposite, but underneath all his brusque exterior is someone hurting and dealing with self-hate. He refused to move on or forward in life as a punishment to himself, thinking he deserved it.
The authors handled the feeling of loss, learning to forgive oneself and even acceptance very well and in a way that helps even the reader to understand and perhaps relate to it. It is beautifully handled and the way the other characters come together to help each other as well as Briggs to find his way is wonderful. Though the plot is relatable, the characters bring life to the story and make it remarkable. What I liked most is how the authors brough out the different ways of healing and dealing with trauma. They also showed us, through the interactions and experiences of the characters that it is ok to not be ok and also to seek help not just from family but also from a professional.
With so many different messages coming together, this is at the base of it, a story of two people who fall in love and find their way to each other through acceptance, healing and a whole lot of patience. I enjoyed reading Raven and Briggs’ story and I cannot wait to see what the authors, Nina Walker and M.F. Lorson, write next!
About the Book:
Forty-eight hours to find her passion. Seven days to find his way back on stage. One chance to take a risk on love.
If Fran doesn’t nail this audition for a major TV role, she’s officially done as an actress. She just needs to tap into her inner seductress… who doesn’t seem to exist.
Enter stage right: Jae-seung.
To Fran, he’s just her landlord’s ridiculously hot nephew, helping her rehearse. To the rest of the world, Jae-seung is lead singer of global sensation, JYNKS – and he’s missing in action.
Together, they embark on an international journey of discovery: Fran, to track down her estranged mother and unlock her tightly guarded heart; Jae-seung, to continue (reluctantly) with his tour rehearsals. The chemistry between them is off the charts. But Jae-seung’s life is in South Korea, under strict contracts and constant scrutiny. Would a fling unleash Fran’s passion, or break the heart she’s learning to open?
A fast-paced, forbidden romance for fans of Helen Hoang, Lindsey Kelk and Ali Hazelwood.
My Thoughts:
Still Unwritten is indeed a fast-paced romance that follows Fran and Jae-seung’s journey of finding each other, opening up themselves to the possibilities in front of them and just accepting love.
I loved how the story flowed with soft promises of healing and happiness. The author explores the other side of the music industry in South Korea, bringing out the discipline and routine maintained to achieve the perfection that is seen outside. This was quite interesting and at times difficult to read about as we discover Jae-seung’s insecurities, vulnerabilities and what is most beautiful is how he learns to grow from it. In this respect, his connection with Fran and their journey together to find her mother helps him to heal in some ways.
I also enjoyed reading about Fran’s journey and though her story was a sad one, her eventual acceptance of it and healing is wonderful. The author does not gloss over the emotions of the characters. She takes time to explore them and bring them to the forefront, helping the characters to express themselves. Through their journey, she gives insight that might help readers who identify with those emotions.
The story is set across different cities in the world and the reader will feel as if they are in each place with the characters as they explore both the places and their thoughts. This is also a story of healing, finding oneself, as well as what starts out as a forbidden romance and turns into something else entirely. In the end, this is a love story that deserves mention and to be told.
About the Book:
HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK IV
A world apart but united in their singular mission, the Guardians of Orion struggle for survival as they force their way across the brutal and unforgiving planet of Pandemonia.
Still tormented by the ever intensifying visions that plague his dreams, Alex is forced to endure his growing desperation and fear as his party continue their journey across the Dark Sea, led by the grizzled mercenary Zero and his band of misfits. At the same time, word of the Sorrowslayer spreads like wildfire across the world, shedding a final ray of light onto those who had already given up hope.
Meanwhile, Scarlett and her team of Guardians have found themselves caught in the clutches of the deranged Scorched Knight, Lilith. What she wants with them is unclear, but they know their only chance is escape…at whatever cost.
And hidden in the shadows something ancient stirs, waiting for everyone to play their part.
For the Rising is coming, and with it, the end of all things.
My Thoughts:
The Rising is Book 4 in the Chronicles of Hasea series and perhaps one of the darkest books in the series. The plot thickens in this book as Alex navigates the Dark Sea to find Gabriella and his father. The Guardians are forced to split up with Alex leading a few along with Zero and his band of misfits and Scarlet leading the rest.
The plot thickens in this book and pushes us towards a climax filled with sorrow and hope, betrayal and wonderment at the unexpected support received. Even though everything seems different in Pandemonia, so much is still relatable and the politics as well as woes of the residents are much the same as that on Earth.
I really like how the series started off quite simply in terms of the plot line but became darker and darker as the characters evolved and the plot thickened. It shows how much the author’s style of writing evolved in this journey with the characters. The reader follows the characters as they race against time, battling for survival. The story is fast-paced and intense with a few nail-biting moments that will keep the reader hooked and hoping for more.
The story ends on a high and of course paves the way for the final installment of the series. I truly loved this book, breezing through the series, through one book after the other and I am excited to read the last one. It is a bittersweet moment to realize that the series is almost at the end and I feel as though I have been through a lot with the characters, practically living a double life along-side them.
This series is a wonderful read in the fantasy fiction genre is definitely one of my favourite this year! Yes! I loved all the four books in the series and I cannot wait to know how the story concludes for everyone involved!
About the Book:
Twenty teenagers enter. Only five become guardians.
Yahshi Konya shouldn’t be one of them. With low test scores, his selection for the Empire’s boarding school raises red flags. The guardians are offering him the opportunity of a lifetime, but at what cost?
Taking a chance, he joins the aggressive military program and strikes an alliance with two trainees. Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. United, they tackle relentless challenges, watching their competitors dwindle.
But the Academy is not what it seems. When dangerous truths emerge, Yahshi finds himself killing his friendships—and possibly his humanity.
A gripping tale of power, betrayal, and redemption, Nightshade Academy will leave you walking the tightrope between good and evil.
My Thoughts:
The Nightshade Academy follows young Yahshi as he is selected to attend said academy. His selection comes out of the blue and even a quick warning from his father not to take it up doesn’t stop him from doing so. Little does he know that there is a lot more in store for his and he has to sacrifice more than he ever dreamed of for the so called glory of becoming a Nightshade. The things they learn, the things they see and even the things they are asked to do raise a flag in his mind as he realizes that this is not who he wants to become, but he has to survive.
This is a tale of good vs evil both in the physical world as well as within the characters. They are mostly developed as morally grey but some see the world in black and white. Some of them are coping with the circumstances that landed them in the situation they are in and this is seen through Cal’s character.
The plot is good but felt hastily put together. The story dives right in and at times it was a little confusing to understand what was going on or even the purpose of the Academy. However, I enjoyed the portrayal and character development of Yahshi. He doesn’t accept the way things are blindly and asks questions to understand.
There is more to the higher plot of attending the Nightshade Academy and what really held my attention was this subplot and hints of something more. The author brings out the importance of asking questions, sticking to your morals and even dealing with broken friendships or relationships. This story is for those who enjoy dark academia, politics, secret societies, found family, training for war, moral dilemmas and so on. The climax was well handled and though this book didn’t fully work for me considering that I have read a lot of books in this genre, I am still looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
About the Book:
Cara and Millsy have broken up… sort of.
After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.
But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.
So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?
Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?
Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for the ultimate fake relationship romantic comedy. If you loved The Plus One Pact, you can’t miss this!
My Thoughts:
The Faking Game is a fake dating, second chance romance that follows Cara and Millsy as they try to convince their families that they are still madly in love just until the end of the holiday season. Cara and Millsy reach a stage where the romance seems to have fizzled out and as they try to maintain the facade for their families, things seem to change slowly again.
The story is fast paced and is a wonderful holiday read! At times, I found it quite hard to relate to the main characters. There is a classic case of miscommunication between them many a time and this is something that I did not enjoy. However, as we get to know more about them, it is hard not to root for them and hope for a happy ending with a love stronger than before. Throw in Millsy’s dialogue coach into the mix and we have a potentially messy situation which the main characters just have to make the best of.
Despite some of the short comings of the story, I truly enjoyed this light-hearted read and in the end just felt good after reading it. This is definitely a must read for fans of the tropes mentioned at the start and just anyone looking for a good holiday romance!
Note: The book is out since October 2023. I read an eARC thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley and this review reflects my honest opinion.