A Review – Take Me Now by Nancy Jardine

How can anyone ever say no to a free book? There's a reason it's my favourite thing to come across!

Free books means so many more stories to read, and I never pass up the opportunity to get my hands on a free book – no matter the genre, author, anything. It's like Christmas every time I come across one!

The bonus always comes when it's an author I'm already familiar with, and I get a chance to read a book I likely would have read anyway, and I get to go into it already knowing I will enjoy it before even reading the first sentence.

So, let me introduce my most recent read!

Conclusions jumped at too soon. Sabotage and attempted murder? Hilarious predicaments.

Patience isn’t Nairn Malcolm’s strong point when someone sabotages his business. It gets much worse when he, too, is under attack. He needs someone who can transport him from his Scottish island castle base to destinations across the globe and also help him keep his business interests running smoothly. Who could be all that, and available to him 24/7?

Aela Cameron’s skills are perfect for Nairn’s current predicament. Transporting him across the globe is a pushover. Dangerous situations don’t faze her, in fact they make her more determined to solve the mystery of Nairn’s saboteur. She’s not into passing flings – yet how can she resist her new boss as time runs out on her temporary contract?

Is Nairn seeking the impossible? Can Aela find a compromise?

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My Review!

One of my favourite kinds of book are ones that you are drawn into instantly, and don't want to put down. They are the kinds of book that you hold close and simply devour. This was one of those such books.

Nairn Malcolm is incredibly business minded. He can't simply sit by and let his employees do the work for him, but instead has an intense need to be in the know, to keep up with everything happening in his companies, and stay up to date with any changes or developments. When a motorbike accident leaves him in plaster casts, and struggling to even walk around his house, he knows he can't keep going in the same way he always has, but still tries to hold on tightly to his control.

Enter Aela Cameron. She holds the relevant licences to drive, fly, or sail all of Nairn's different vehicles and forms of transport, and knows her way around administrative responsibilities. Taking the job as his PA would open up opportunities for her, and give her the funds to help set her up for further education. But she never anticipated the job being quite so demanding, nor her boss being quite so handsome and frustrating.

Nairn expects of Aela the same level of commitment to his companies that he himself has. A 24 hour contract means that she is constantly on call, no matter what time he decides to fly to a different country, or attend business meetings. The work is difficult, but rewarding, and Aela finds herself enjoying her new role, if not growing increasingly more frustrated with her new boss. Nairn is infuriating, his moods changing like the wind. One moment, he is charming and pleasant, and the next, Aela battles with a short-tempered and rude man. The constant switches in Nairn's personality give Aela cause to push down whatever she might feel for him during his more pleasant moments. Although, she can't deny, he is incredibly attractive.

I found myself increasingly sympathetic towards Nairn. He is used to being able to do everything for himself, whether it is driving himself around, keeping on top of his multiple businesses, or even simple things such as cutting up his own food, or doing up the buttons on his shirt. Multiple injuries have left him reliant on others to help him, and the frustration is clear. Despite his understandable mood swings, he is an incredibly kind character, and his business sense and abilities to keep track of so many things at once is remarkable.

Aela, too, I found myself liking almost instantly. She doesn't put up with Nairn's snarky comments, and pulls him up on things that others wouldn't dare to mention. She is smart, witty, and brings a whole other level of humour to this story, as she is not afraid to back down, and speaks her mind. Between her and Nairn, there is a lot of miscommunications, and when they both jump to conclusions, which happens often, things seem to get lost in translation. Arguments and misunderstandings lead to some fairly humorous situations and conversations, which lighten the story and make the characters all seem so much more real.

Of course, this is not just simply a sweet romance of a grumpy boss and his sarcastic PA, although that is certainly an important element of the novel! There is a mystery afoot – sabotage is rife within Narin's businesses, products arriving damaged, orders tampered with, accidents resulting in property damage. There is even cause to believe that Nairn's motorcycle accident was not simply an accident. With someone in the company causing problem after problem, and Nairn relatively unable to intervene due to his injuries, tensions rise quickly and as he and Aela travel the globe attending business meetings, it quickly becomes apparent that whoever is behind everything is not finished yet. With this extra level of tension, this novel escalates from an office romance to an in-depth mystery, with hidden dangers around every corner. Trying to figure out who is causing such mayhem, and their motive, creates a fast-paced story that you can't possibly put down!

This is a novel I absolutely devoured. It didn't take me long to get through this book at all, I read most of it in one sitting because it drew me in and I couldn't step away. If you are after a romance with a twist, with characters you will simply fall in love with, look no further!

And done!

I actually read most of this book at work, on a really quiet day when there was not much else to be done... shhhhhh!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Book Review – Love at First Flight by Janine Amesta

I saw the author of this book promoting ARCs on Bluesky, and the cover is just so adorable, I couldn't help but click on the link to read the blurb.

And then somehow, I found myself signing up for an ARC. And I promptly forgot about it until it showed up in my inbox, and then I got excited all over again!

I read the first half of this book a little at a time, and then the second half all in one go – once I got into it, it was impossible to stop! So, without further waffling, here is the book and my review!

Can the most awkward ‘Meet Cute’ lead to something real?

When Selah Moreno‘s father unexpectedly dies, she abandons her dream job as an airline pilot to helm her family’s struggling hot air balloon business. While piloting is in Selah’s blood, the pressure of being everyone’s rock leaves little room to breathe. It’s no wonder she gets caught up in the daydream of flirting with a handsome potential client…until she finds out he’s booking a proposal flight.

Smith Rock park ranger Dex Westerly wants to take his relationship to the next level, but nothing goes right. His proposal is rejected and a rogue wind tips the basket upon landing, sending the pretty and curvaceous balloon pilot into his lap where she makes an ill-timed joke, increasing his humiliation.

Months later, Dex and Selah bump into each other and bond over business struggles. Dex proposes a marketing partnership to promote her balloon tours while raising funds for the park’s new wildlife rescue program. Sparks fly between them, and when a promotional social media post goes viral, they’re pushed into a pretend whirlwind romance that starts to feel too close to love.

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My Review!

After losing her father, Selah is not prepared to step into his shoes and take on the role of ‘Captain’. She has always been second in command, not solely in charge, without him to help and protect her. But his hot air balloon business was his pride and joy, and she can’t just let the competition take over and the business fold in on itself. 

Dex is certain that what he wants from life is to get married, to join his life with his girlfriend, and he could think of no more romantic way of proposing than in a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, things don’t go entirely to plan. Not only does she say ‘no’ when asked the question, but when the balloon comes in to land, the basket tips, throwing the pretty pilot on top of him. 

Selah and Dex are not an unlikely pair. She works as a hot air balloon pilot, and he is a park ranger. Both jobs involve spending a lot of time outdoors, and having a passion for the area they both live in. That doesn’t necessarily mean that either of them are in the right place for a relationship though. Selah hasn’t had time to properly grieve her father, and Dex has just found himself forcibly ejected from his own relationship. There is an attraction, but they are both wary about acknowledging it, for fear of losing a growing friendship. 

Selah and Dex are both characters you absolutely cannot help but love. Selah is a little hard around the edges, but when you get to know her, you discover the emotions that hide beneath her tough exterior. Dex, on the other hand, comes across as very open, although there is certainly a front that he hides behind. They both have their own struggles, but together they seem to find a comfortable sense of companionship. Although this book isn’t overly long, it does feel like there is enough time to get to know both characters, and there is a lot of backstory carefully woven in for both of them, explaining the reasons for the ways they both think. They are both very rounded characters, and both incredibly loveable!

A shared project is what truly brings Selah and Dex together. Dex had previously rescued and rehabilitated a crow, whom he affectionately named Harper. He had asked the park he worked at whether they might be able to set up an animal rehabilitation centre, but without the funds or interest available, his dream of providing such an important service seems unreachable. But Selah also needs publicity – her father may have been passionate, but he was not the best with money, leaving his business struggling and the family at risk. To get anywhere with the debts he left behind, Selah needs to get business rolling in and word of the company spreading about. A joint project slowly grows between them, something that would both raise awareness of Harper, and the importance of looking after wildlife, while also giving Selah an opportunity to get her balloon in front of as many people as possible. Harper truly is a driving point of this story, and she is such a character in herself! Although she is a crow without a voice, she makes her thoughts and feelings very clear, and she is quite amusing to read about. She adds an uplifting tone to the story, and she plays her role very well. 

This is a story of romance, but also of loss; grieving and acceptance, and learning to live after losing someone so very important to you. There is certainly an important message of how family and friends together are stronger than one person by themselves, and although Selah doesn’t necessarily get along with all of her family, all of the time, they are a very important part of her life. The difficult subjects have been handled carefully, and although grief is a key emotion of this story, it is accompanied by hope. This book is, in it’s entirety, uplifting, despite it’s darker themes, and it is certainly a book that you don’t want to put down. The characters capture you, and it’s almost impossible to put the book down and leave them alone! 

I really did truly enjoy reading this book. It is slightly on the shorter side, but the story is unhindered by it’s length, other than the fact that I wanted to spend longer with the characters! This is definitely the book to go for if you’re after a slow-burn, friends to lovers, romance, with fully fleshed out characters you will fall in love with.

And done!

This review took me absolutely ages to get around to writing. I think it was actually over a month. Somehow, though, I remembered every single aspect of this story – it's either an amazing testament to my memory (unlikely), or just goes to show that some books really do stick with you!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

New author obsession – Beth O'Leary

I've been on BorrowBox again, choosing books to read/listen to. There are a lot of books that are available to reserve, but not too many that are available for immediate borrowing. The Switch by Beth O'Leary was available, so I chose it and started listening.

Thus began a very quick obsession with the writing style, and so I went for the next one available – The Flatshare.

Then The Wake Up Call.

Basically, I listened to each book Beth O'Leary has released in turn, until I had run out. And it didn't take me long to get through them. So I figured they would constitute as one really long post, rather than 5 separate ones.

So strap in!

Leena is too young to feel stuck.

Eileen is too old to start over.

Maybe it's time for The Switch...

Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Newly single and about to turn eighty, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love, and Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire.

But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn't straightforward. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, and with the online dating scene.

But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought?

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My Review!

While on the surface, things seem to be well for both Eileen and Leena, the truth is not quite as simple. A year ago, Leena’s sister passed away, and both of them have found it difficult to move on from the tragedy. While Eileen has faced the loss every day, looking after Leena’s mother in the small village, Leena threw herself into work instead, to cope. The switch forces Leena together with her mother, whom she hasn’t been able to properly face since her sister’s death, while giving Eileen time away, to figure out who she really is after losing her granddaughter and husband. The contrast of the two women stepping into each other’s lives is stark – Eileen is not prepared for the fast paced environment of London, and Leena isn’t ready to drag up the past when she has tried so hard to keep moving forwards. However, being forced to face their fears and step up forces them both to step outside their comfort zones, and attempt to find themselves.

Eileen quickly grows accustomed to the lively and bustling nature of London, but is not prepared for the lack of community she finds. In Leena’s building, no one knows their neighbours, and there is a distinct lack of life in the building. By attempting to bring country life to the city, Eileen quickly blossoms into her new, self-proclaimed, role of positively meddling in everyone’s lives for the better. As she meets more people, and grows closer to them, Eileen truly starts to shine, and is such a kind and loving woman to read about – although she really can’t help but stick her nose in if she thinks she can make a situation better!

Leena hasn’t spent a lot of time in Yorkshire since her sister’s death, and is not prepared for how open everyone in the neighbourhood is to talking about the loss. The OAPs of the village, all of her grandmother’s friends, are not as welcoming to Leena attempting to step into her grandmother’s role as she originally thought they might be. Trying to relax into village life after the fast paced stresses of working as a businesswoman in London isn’t something Leena finds particularly easy, and she finds her emotions getting away from her whenever she sees her mother. I really loved Leena. She is such a lovely person, and she does put her all into everything she does, even if she isn’t entirely sure what she is doing, and when everyone around her seems to think she isn’t capable. She is determined to prove herself, and she works so hard to do so.

While the novel conveys a lot of emotion, it does not hold back on the humorous side of things. There is nothing quite like reading about a pair of elderly ladies talking about penises to make you chuckle! Between Leena’s mishaps, and Eileen’s worming her way into other people’s business, there is plenty in this novel to make you laugh out loud. It is certainly a memorable read. 

Tiffy and Leon share a flat

Tiffy and Leon share a bed

Tiffy and Leon have never met...

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they're crazy, but it's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy's at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven't met yet, they're about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window...

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My Review!

Tiffy desperately needs somewhere to live, and Leon needs a little extra money each month. The idea of renting out his flat to someone, to share the space, is the perfect solution for him. He works nights, and is only in the flat during the day, when anyone else would normally be at work. The only slight problem might be that there is only one bedroom, so sharing the flat also means sharing the one bed – albeit at different times! Although not ideal, Tiffy has little choice. And so, even though they do not get a chance to meet prior to moving in together, both Tiffy and Leon start to adapt to having another person in their space.

With Leon’s unsociable hours, and the fact that Tiffy has still not met him and doesn’t quite know what kind of person he is, they begin to communicate through notes left about the flat. This way of communicating with each other truly brought their connection closer together, and you can absolutely feel the joy of finding a new note while reading. Tiffy and Leon are very different people, Tiffy eccentric and sure of what she likes and her own opinions, whereas Leon is very quiet, and keeps his thoughts to himself. Leaning more about each of the characters though their notes was certainly an interesting and intriguing way of getting to know them. 

Tiffy introduces herself very easily and is very open with the reader, whereas the reader has to work a little harder to get to know Leon. His quietness and calculating nature comes across perfectly in the way his chapters read. His perspective comes in the form of short, to the point, sentences, reflecting his nature of being more reserved, but also that of his work as a palliative care nurse, jotting down anything of importance and ignoring the rest. I did particularly enjoy this way of showing his way of thinking and it gave an excellent way to get to know Leon.

The romance in this novel is inevitable, although it does not feel clichéd. Tiffy and Leon spend a long time getting to know each other through the notes they leave around the flat, but they do hold a lot back, not writing down everything about themselves. Watching them slowly begin to find out more about each other, and realise they truly enjoy coming home to find out what the other has left for them to read was beautiful, as you can watch them start to care about each other.

Although this novel is quite lighthearted, there are undertones of some more serious topics, including manipulative and abusive ex-partners, and PTSD. These topics are handled tactfully, and the characters involved have a lot of support from those around them. The friendships in this novel are certainly strong ones, built on trust.

Albeit not necessarily a character often in the spotlight, I absolutely adored Leon’s brother, Richie. His part in this novel is certainly important, and adds a lot of depth to the story, but he also provides a sprinkling of humour, even though his situation is anything but humorous. Through his phone calls, he keeps both Leon and Tiffy's spirits high, and it is next to impossible not to like him. 

This novel is certainly up there on the list of my favourite books. It is the kind of book that makes you want to read it again and again, for you simply cannot get enough of the characters. 

They'll do anything to save the hotel, except work together . . .

Welcome to the Forest Manor Hotel, where the staff and guests are one happy family. Except for Izzy and Lucas - bitter rivals banned from working the same shift, for everyone's sake.

After struggling for years, the hotel may soon have to close its doors forever. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management this might fix everything. With four rings still sitting in lost property, Izzy and Lucas are forced to work together to try to save the day.

But as their rivalry becomes something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas start to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future . . .

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My Review!

Forest Manor Hotel is the kind of place where everyone who visits feels at home, where all the guest and staff create a family of sorts, and all are welcome. But the hotel is in trouble, the financials mean that it might not be much longer until they have to fully close. Izzy and Lucas have both been working on reception for a while, and both feel as at home there as everyone else – unless they are working the same shift, that is. They have always been on different shift patterns, a rota engineered to save their co-workers from listening to their arguing, but with staff cuts, there is no choice but to have them working together.

When they go through the lost property, and start selling things in an attempt to raise some money, they come across a container of lost wedding rings, and Izzy refuses to sell them. A wedding ring is something deeply personal, and she wants nothing more than to return the rings to their rightful owners. A large reward from the return of ring number one turns the other four into a challenge – who can find the owners of the other rings, and garner rewards to save the hotel and preserve their jobs.

The competition between Izzy and Lucas certainly pushes them forward in their attempts to save the hotel. They are both desperate to prove the other wrong, to prove how much better they are at the task at hand. Their petty arguments can be quite amusing at times, for they are very different people and their personalities certainly clash. They are, though, both quite likeable characters. What really makes this book though is the setting – Forest Manor Hotel is truly a stunning place, and even just reading about it makes you want to visit it, or even to join in the efforts to save it. 

Izzy and Lucas have been at odds for many months, making it almost impossible for anyone else to stand being around them both. They argue to no end, try to one up each other at every turn, and hate being around each other. But they both have feelings, hidden deep, deep down, that even they don’t want to admit. The enemies to lovers aspect of this story is very obvious, there is no doubt that they will end up together. If anything, Izzy and Lucas’ relationship seems less of enemies to lovers, and more along the lines of them being attracted to each other but in denial. Their relationship doesn’t progress slowly, but rather rapidly, and their hatred for each other seems rather forced. The progression of their relationship may have worked better, and seemed more natural, if it was more of a strangers to lovers story, rather than making them enemies. There is a cause of their hatred for each other, but the way their relationship was presented didn’t necessarily work for me. 

Despite not necessarily liking the way their relationship progressed, this is an enjoyable novel and Izzy and Lucas are characters you can’t help but like. For a lighthearted read, with plenty at stake, this is certainly a book you won’t want to put down.

Addie and her sister are on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in rural Scotland. But, not long after setting off, a car slams into theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, who she hasn't seen since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.

Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. And with four hundred miles to go, they can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship . . .

Will they make it to the wedding? And, more importantly, is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?

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My Review!

Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to their friend’s wedding, a road trip hundreds of miles north to get to Scotland. Their car is already a little fuller than they would’ve liked, having offered a lift to Rodney, who put out a message asking for a lift to the wedding. But when a car slams into the back of them, things are about to get a little more hectic.

Addie and Deb’s car is fine, but the car behind them is totalled. Meaning that Dylan, Addie’s ex, and his best friend, Marcus, have no way of getting to the wedding they were also heading to. Unable to leave them on the side of the road, Addie offers them a lift, and they both pile into the car with them as well. But Addie and Dylan didn’t split on good terms, and they still have a long way to drive.

This book is split into the ‘now’ and ‘then’, telling the story of both the trip to the wedding, and also the start of Addie and Dylan’s relationship. The backstory does add to the story, although they weren’t my favourite chapters. I really loved the chapters of the road trip, both the arguing in the car and everyone banding together to solve problems along the way. Their trip turned nightmarish on multiple occasions, and it turned more into a journey of trials and tests, forcing everyone to work together to get through them. 

Despite this book being about Addie and Dylan’s relationship, I couldn’t help but focus more on Marcus. He is a very annoying character, but I did really like him. He has a lot of struggles, which are dramatically highlighted in this book, but he certainly has a good redemption arc. There is a vast difference between the ‘then’ and ‘now’, most noticeably in Marcus, for he has changed a lot in the time between the two.

Dylan and Addie’s relationship in the ‘then’ didn’t necessarily seem the best to me. They argued a lot, and never seemed to truly see eye to eye. Them reuniting in the ‘now’ seemed to happen with a greater understanding of each other, making their interactions seem a lot more genuine, and grown up. I understood the two sides of the story, and although their communication wasn’t great, there was no real bad guy in the majority of their relationship. Both were doing what they thought was best, and they had their own problems to work through. Although they were frustrating at times to read about, the difference in the characters between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ certainly highlighted the character development, and how much each character had grown and matured in the time. 

While it handles some difficult topics, this novel is light-hearted, fast paced, and will certainly make you chuckle every now and again. It felt very much like the trip was a quest, and that the characters had to work together to get to the end of a game level, the final destination being the wedding, and it made the whole journey entertaining while giving it a deep sense of purpose. 

Three women. Three dates. One missing man...

8.52 a.m. Siobhan's looking forward to her date with Joseph. Breakfast on Valentine's Day surely means something ... so where is he?

2.43 p.m. Miranda's hoping that a Valentine's Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. But why hasn't he shown up?

6.30 p.m. Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane's fake boyfriend at a dreaded engagement party tonight. But he's not here...

Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him.

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My Review!

Three women, three missed dates. Joseph Carter was absent on all three planned Valentine's dates, so where was he, and why?

Between Siobhan, Joseph's London fling, Miranda, his girlfriend, and Jane, his book club best friend, Joseph has an intricate and intimate life. Three women attempt to figure out the truth behind Joseph Carter, try to get to know him, but there are things he keeps hidden, and the full truth behind his absences on Valentines Day is something he doesn’t seem to want to talk about. 

As you start to get to know the three women, it becomes almost impossible to justify any of Joseph’s actions – spending time in one woman’s chapter instantly makes her the favourite, but as soon as you switch to another’s perspective, you begin to question which of the three women most deserve the truth, and whether or not any of them actually deserve Joseph’s full attention. If Joseph is the prize they are all unknowingly fighting for, it is difficult to determine whether he is a prize worth fighting for – after all, there are three women all vying for his attention, each unaware of the other two.

It would be difficult for me to pick favourites between the characters of this novel. All three women are such distinct characters, and none of them fade into the background. There are no chapters, or characters, that you want to skip over to get back to your favourite, as they all become fast favourites. Plus, they all provide a different perspective to the mystery of Joseph, for they all see a different side to him. The girlfriend, the best friend, the hookup – Joseph reveals different truths to different women, and it is difficult to garner the truth between the things he holds back. 

Although I loved all the women in this book equally, I did massively relate to Jane, and I must say I found myself preferring her chapters over the others (although only slightly). She lives off routines, and has so much going on in her life – meeting Joseph is something entirely unplanned, and all that unfolds after their initial meeting is something she never could have planned for. She is an incredibly endearing character, and I so loved how this story played out for her.

There is a massive plot twist in this novel, one that is absolutely not expected, and entirely unpredictable. Not often have I actually gasped out loud while reading a book, but I did when the first portion of the twist was initially revealed. The last quarter or so of this book was read hurriedly, for once things started to unravel, it was impossible to put this book down.

For intense matters of the heart, three incredibly lovable female leads, and a mystery spanning the intricate life of one man, this is certainly a book for lovers of romance. It has been crafted masterfully, and as you advance through the story, it begins to infiltrate your life so much you can’t stop thinking about it.

And done!

I think this is the longest post I've ever had 'in the making', but with five full length novels playing a part in the making of it, the time taken to actually get this post finished is fairly understandable.

Now I've read all of Beth O'Leary's books, I guess I had better get looking for another author to obsess over!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde

This was one of those books I found on my nifty little audiobook library app, and reserved it just because I couldn't find anything else I wanted to read, and was trying to line up some audiobooks to listen to.

I ended up completely entranced in the story, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of listening to it.

So, without further ado (and because I wrote this review about an hour before I'm posting this) here is the book and my review!

She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price.

Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.

By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.

Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.

Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .

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My Review!

Life in New York became much trickier to navigate when the monsters arrived. After the Monster War, though, with treaties in place, there were laws that made it ever so slightly safer for humans to co-exist alongside monsters. That is, if the humans aren’t the ones to break the Monster Treaty first.

Unfortunately for Kierse, breaking into the house of a monster to steal from them certainly means that she has broken the treaty, and her life lays in the hands of the monster who caught her. He doesn’t have to hand her over to the authorities – she broke the treaty first. But Graves surprises Kierse, and doesn’t instantly end her life. Instead, he offers her another option – to come and work for him, to work a job. There is a spear that he needs stolen for him, and word on the street is that Kierse is the best thief there is.

There are some things that both Kierse and Graves don’t understand, though. Graves is unlike any of the monsters that Kierse is aware of, unlike any of the monsters who signed the treaty. She is used to vampires and werewolves, but meeting Graves breaks every assumption the world has had about monsters. Monsters not Magic was a big part of the treaty, but Graves definitely falls into the second category. On the flip side, Kierse should never have been able to break into his house. With magical wards surrounding the entire building, it should have been impossible for anyone to walk in, let alone without him knowing about it. Yet, Kierse had no issues walking directly through the wards without even knowing they were there. As Kierse and Graves attempt to learn things about each other, it helps to introduce the reader to the world. While learning what isn’t normal between the two characters, it lets the reader know what is normal in this new and strange reality, giving a base point to be able to work from as more characters start to be introduced.

Kierse was absolutely my favourite character in this novel. She is strong, fast, good at what she does and confident in herself, but she is not without weakness. She grew up fighting for survival, not knowing where her next meal was going to come from, and pickpocketing to get by. She has had more than her fair share of difficult circumstances, and has come out the other side victorious. She is a character that makes me want to be more like her. She inspires strength, while also showing that it is okay to need someone to lean on every now and again. Her relationship with her friends is also very heartwarming. They are her family, and she would do anything to ensure their safety – even work a job for a monster, knowing she might not make it out alive.

Graves’ character was one I couldn’t quite decide if I liked or not. There are times he is incredibly frustrating, with his tendency to withhold information, and only reveal what he deems necessary to, but he can also be tender and kind. He never truly made his way into my heart, though, and at the flip of a coin he could very quickly lose the trust I had for him, but also gain it back very easily. Never entirely knowing his plans made it difficult to know if I truly knew him or not, and Kierse reflects those thoughts and feelings with the way she mistrusts everyone but herself. With Kierse so firmly a favourite character, not being sure about Graves made this book incredibly fast paced with the tension of not really knowing what was going to happen next.

My favourite thing about this novel is that, even though there is a second book in the series on it’s way, there are no loose ends. Multiple story threads open up and start unravelling within the story, and all are tied up by the end of the book. While you will most likely want to continue following Kierse in the next book, there is no need to. The story in itself is over, and there is a definite ending, albeit a fairly open ending, with different characters starting to take different paths. There were even some characters that I forgot about while reading, as the tension started to rise, and even those characters came back into the story to join the ending. It was not a forced ending, everything came together fairly naturally, and the fact that everything was tied up so neatly at the end was incredibly satisfying. 

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and I was genuinely surprised when I looked it up to find out this book was only 377 pages long. So much happens it felt like a much longer book, but it all plays out incredibly smoothly, and nothing feels rushed. This is truly a story packed full of events, and twists and turns, but it is not so long that reading it feels a chore. It will pull you in and ensnare you, only allowing you to break out at the end of the book.

And done!

It took me a few days to actually get around to writing this review, but now I've written it, I'm remembering how much I enjoyed this story, and that book 2 isn't out until JUNE! This story ends nicely wrapped up, but I just can't leave Kierse for that long! I loved her so much!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Book and Movie Comparison – Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis

Five Feet Apart was a film I watched because I remembered someone once mentioning it was a good film, and it had Cole Sprouce in it (I was in my Riverdale phase... it didn't last too long).

I actually found this book in my brother's room, and stole it because I've wanted to read it since I watched the film, but didn't want to buy yet another book that would sit on my shelf for ages before I finally read it. Unfortunately, after two days of me having it, he asked for it back, so I had to hurry up and read it before he broke into my house and stole it back.

The Movie

Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is every bit a seventeen-year-old… she’s attached to her laptop and loves her best friends. But unlike most teenagers, she spends much of her time living in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control – all of which is put to the test when she meets an impossibly charming fellow patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse).

There’s an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction. Further complicating matters is Will’s potentially dangerous rebellion against his ongoing medical treatment. Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest, but can she ultimately save the person she loves when even a single touch is off limits?

There are few movies that I watch, and then subsequently force my whole family to watch. This was one of those. Stella and Will have CF, and are both in the hospital for different treatments. But while Stella is organised, and sticks to a strict regimen with regards to meds and looking after her body, Will has practically given up. He is simply waiting for his 18th birthday, when he will finally have control of his own life, and can walk away from all the hospitals and live the rest of his life seeing the world, and doing what he wants to do. But when he meets Stella, she forces him to start looking after himself, and it seems he has finally found something to stay alive for.

This is a heart wrenching film to watch. A love story, but the protagonists can't get within 6 feet of each other, lest one passes on germs that could kill the other. And yet, they find ways to spend time together, growing closer, while staying far apart.

I don't know how many times I've watched this film to date, but I know I've enjoyed it every single time (even though I'm now very definitely out of my Riverdale phase, and Cole Sprouce is not quite so exciting).

The Book

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control - even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

As I mentioned, I stole this book from my brother, and when he started asking for it back, I knew I had a limited time in which to read it before I lost my chance and the book was removed from my person. Reading this book quickly was no problem. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I read the whole thing in two days, and I did read some of it while at work because I didn't want to put it down.

I loved seeing both Stella's and Will's point of view as the story progressed. Every chapter switches perspective, so you know what they're both thinking, and watch as they both fall in love, and struggle with the distance. They are so close, and yet their disease keeps them painfully far apart from each other. 

Comparison

Honestly, it is quite hard to compare this movie and book. I don't think I have come across a movie that is so similar to the book. If I didn't know that the book came first, I might've said that the book came after the movie, it was so alike. It is almost astounding how similar they are, especially considering how information, scenes, and sometimes entire characters are cut while making the movie, and the dialogue is generally heavily edited.

The book had decidedly more information about CF, as it is told by the people living with it, rather than in the film, where you are just watching the characters. Stella, in particular, describes the ins and outs of it, what it is, how she struggles with it, and what the dangers are. In addition, Will's B Cepacia diagnosis is explored in depth more in the book than in the film – the disease means he is no longer a candidate for a lung transplant, and should he pass it on to Stella, she would also be taken off the list. But other than some more explanation about Stella and Will's physical, and mental, struggles, the book is not that much different from the film.

The actors have done a fabulous job at portraying Stella and Will. Stella's almost obsessive need to do everything right, and as safely as possible, comes across as clearly as Will's nonchalance, even though his general lack of care about his treatments acts as a mask to hide the range of emotions he feels about his CF, and his dwindling life expectancy. 

If you have enjoyed this book, but have been afraid to watch the film in case it doesn't live up to your expectations, I say just watch it. It is incredibly similar to the book – I would struggle to find a scene that greatly differs between the two.

And done!

I did try to get my brother to participate in this post, as he was the one whose book I had stolen, and I know he likes both the book and the film, but he was too busy napping to write a short piece to help me out. Typical teenager.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Testing Faith: Kalili's Temptation Book 2 by AC Adams

There is something so great about really enjoying a book, and then the author approaching you asking if you want to read book 2.

Before book 2 even releases.

I did have a few books I absolutely had to get to first, but I definitely pushed some aside to get to this one first! I am ever so greatful to the author for giving me the chance to read this book early, and for gifting me a copy!

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

Kalili has Faith.

Heaven and Hell don't approve.

Their trials have only begun.

Kalili and Faith - the last of the Thirteens - have found the passionate partner they craved, leaving lonely lives behind. Their love might be forbidden, even scandalous to their peers, but they don't care. They'll brazen it out.

But if they thought they were done with their former employers, they were mistaken.

Just because they've fought free of the first efforts to bring them back into the fold doesn't mean they're in the clear.

Now, with their true natures becoming known, powerful and power-hungry forces are aligning to make them offers they can't refuse.

Lilith. Gabriel. Beelzebub. Ariel.

Add to that their new friends and allies, unexpected obstacles, and a dash of the malevolent undead, and you have TESTING FAITH.

One thing's for certain: eternity will never be the same.

The immortals are going to learn: never bet against a pair of Thirteens!

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Angels and demons still battle for souls. Right and wrong, good and evil, work to achieve what they need for either the Below or Upstairs to benefit. But Kalili and Faith are no longer simply Demon and Angel. They are the last of the Thirteens – but that doesn’t mean the Below or Upstairs approve of their relationship.

Despite plenty of people working against them, Kalili and Faith have their allies, and their network of people slowly grows as they make deals and pledge allegiances in what is shaping up to be a worldwide war between those above, and those below. 

I missed these characters! Until I started reading this book, I didn’t properly realise just how much I missed Kalili and Faith, how much I enjoyed spending time with them and living their story besides them. They might’ve managed to stay on Earth so far, but Faith’s mission on Earth was to kill Kalili, not that it went entirely to plan, and she only has so long before she is summoned back to Heaven to give a report of her mission. And, of course, Kalili is not dead, so there are problems on all fronts.

There are plenty of new friends and allies in this book. I won’t talk too much about the allegiances, and the sides being picked, for the sake of not giving out spoilers, but the friends I can definitely talk about. Thia once again plays an important part in this story, being there for Kalili as a friend, and helping out where she can. Thia is incredibly brave, standing up for herself when the need arises, even if the ones she is standing up to are much more powerful than she. I also really liked the introduction of Zophiel to this book. She is an angel who, like Faith, doesn’t quite follow the directions she has been sent to Earth with, and breaks a few rules here and there. I loved Zophiel, and hope she continues to be a part of the story in the next book. 

I loved the difference between this book and the first, in that this story is told equally by Faith and Kalili, whereas the first book was just told by Kalili. As their story progresses, they become more of a singular entity, two souls joined together into one being. Faith and Kalili are much less than the stereotypical ‘good angel’ and ‘evil demon’ than they were throughout the first book, their personalities shining through and their ideals settling for a happy medium as they become more accustomed to being Thirteens, and altogether different from angels and demons. 

There are a lot of steamy scenes in this book – Faith and Kalili are horny to a level that transcends just angels and demons, and a war between Upstairs and the Below. After living so much of their lives without knowing each other, now they are together, they simply cannot get enough. If you are not a fan of these kind of scenes, then this definitely isn’t the book for you, because Faith and Kalili do not hold back! Their connection to each other, in both the literal and magical sense, is strongest when they are together sexually, and as they come to grips with what they, as Thirteens, can really do, they get up to a lot of experimenting!

There is the addition of some well known characters to this book that were not necessarily a part of book 1. Just to reel off some names, Lilith, Gabriel, Michael… most everyone knows these names, but the way they slot into this story is not necessarily how you might expect. Faith and Kalili are now part of a much bigger story, one that they do not control all the strings to, and find themselves with more enemies, and more potential allies than ever. As things start to reach a level much more than just an Angel and a Demon falling in love, there is more action, suspense, and intrigue than ever. It is the kind of book that you fall asleep reading, because you just don’t want to put it down.

Once again, the author has done an absolutely astounding job with bringing Faith and Kalili’s story out into the world. Angels and Demons. The immortal, and the undead. An unknown hierarchy in Heaven, and a simmering revolt in the Below. An overflowing amount of love between two who seem destined to be together, but have been kept apart for all their lives. There is plenty and more in this book to keep you reading, and I absolutely adored the entire thing. This book has only just come out, so I know I will be waiting for a while, but I will be waiting incredibly impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!

Once again, thanks to the author for gifting me an ARC to read. I absolutely love this series, and cannot wait to continue reading when the next book is ready! I would recommend starting with book 1, as there is a lot of information in book 1 that you need to get into book 2 properly, in order to properly understand what is going on and who is who, but if you start with book 1, there is an absolute guarantee that you will be buying book 2 not long after!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Light in the Shadows by Georgia C. Leigh

I am very grateful to have been offered a chance to read this book before it was released. I do so love reading books before they are available to the public. It makes me feel like I'm part of a secret book club or something.

Anyway, let me introduce this book to you, and then get into my review!

Sheltered from the world since birth, eighteen-year-old Haven arrives at the Academy eager to learn what it means to be seraphim. Her excitement quickly fades as she struggles to master her gifts, to befriend and trust others, and above all, to understand herself.

But when she discovers an ancient magic within, she loses the glimpse of friendship she longs for and is thrown back into isolation. Her magic unknowingly awakens a dark shadow in her world and catalyzes those who seek to control her, to bind her and use her for her power. And if she can’t be bound, they will ensure she is dead.

Ryker, a world walker and a demon hunter, is the only one powerful enough to contain her magic and knows what it is like to be wanted for someone else’s gains. Ryker’s brutal methods may give her the chance to understand her gift and control it, but they are running out of time. Haven must fight for a life she desperately wants, one where she can follow her own path, and her heart. And, maybe, finally find love before her life is chosen for her.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Haven is excited to finally arrive at the Academy and learn the ins and outs of being a seraphim. But she has spent her whole life hidden away, and the world of socialising and getting to know others isn’t something she is overly familiar with. As Haven finds herself thrown into an entirely new world, it is not just learning to control her gifts that she must focus on, but also figuring out who to trust. 

Ryker is an incredibly powerful seraphim, with a unique gift. When an ancient magic is discovered within Haven, Ryker finds himself working with her to try and gain her control over them before they are used to control her. Many people would use her for the powers she holds, and Ryker has little time to try and teach her. 

Haven is an incredibly strong character, although she is not without her limits. She struggles a lot in this book, as she makes friends, but pushes them away when things get hard, even though she really needs them. Haven is not used to relying on others to help her, but rather withdraws into herself when she doesn’t know how to keep going. I absolutely loved reading about Haven, and watching her grow as a person. Nearer the start of the book, she is incredibly naive, although she has never had proper friends, so she is unlearned in the workings of other people. She does gain an understanding of the world as she spends more time at the Academy, and I found myself liking her more the further into the book I read.

I found the Academy itself rather interesting. It reminded me a little of the training in the Divergent series, as all the young adults work to grow their physical and mental skills, but with a fantasy twist on it, with wings, and magical powers. There are plenty of people who work outside of the Academy who come in to teach their own specialised skills, and these people are mainly the ones who change Haven’s life. In particular, Ryker and his twin brother, River. I could go on and on about how much I hate River, although I feel I would begin to spoil the story, so I don’t want to get onto the topic of him. Ryker, however, is absolutely lovely. He finds himself doing things he doesn’t want to do for Haven’s benefit, and puts himself through things that affect him, just to ensure she is safe. Their training together is not always pleasant to read about, but just knowing the sacrifices he makes for her, when he doesn’t even know her, is proof that he is a fabulous person, and a wonderful character to read about. 

This book did take a while to get started. There is little explanation about the world itself, and I found it difficult to figure out what was happening, and why. There are also a lot of characters to keep up with, and the relationships are a little tricky to figure out at first, when you don’t know what’s going on with the setting. I do wish there was a little more explanation about the setting, for I think it would help the reader understand what was happening immediately, although if you stick with it, things slowly sort themselves out, and it gets easier to follow all the individual characters as their paths intertwine.

I wasn’t aware, going into this, quite how long the book itself was. Only when I came to write this review did I realise that this book is 546 pages long, and is book 1 of 4 in the series. There is not necessarily a lot of romance in this book, but it follows Haven’s time at the Academy in great detail, clearly building up necessary relationships and information for books yet to come. It did take me quite a while to read this book, which I was not expecting, but I did enjoy how in-depth the book is. There are plenty of books, I will use the example of Divergent again, where there are time skips, and I wished to follow the characters thorough their entire journey. This book allowed me to do that, and I felt I connected to Haven more by following her so closely.

Fantasy itself is a very broad genre, but if you are a fan of fantasy that follows young adults in a school, that includes learning to control dangerous magical abilities, and has a few steamy moments here and there, this is certainly the book for you! I can’t wait to continue reading this series. Book two can’t come soon enough!

And done!

I mentioned on a previous post that I had a list of books I wanted to read and review before the New Year. I have been incredibly unsuccessful with that, but at this point, I have only two more books on that list. I'm getting there!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Do You Ship Us by Claire Rosalind

I saw a post on Twitter by this author that grabbed my interest and, fulfilling the entire point of social media, I then checked out her profile, and had a look at their book. I promptly decided it looked and sounded amazing, and I simply must read it.

So, check out the book, and then scroll to read my review!

Jasper Reid is everything his fans of The Obsolete want him to be. Whether it's for the dance-y pop songs he writes, his flirty and mischievous onstage persona, or the masterful way he plays along with the fans' ships, he's the perfect performer. On the verge of turning twenty-one, in what's expected to be the next boy band phenomenon, his life could not get any better.

Until he meets Ryan, an irresistibly attractive dancer, who is added out of the blue to their vocal band. Jasper is quick to call bullshit on the manager's reason for this addition, but even quicker to accidentally flirt with their new member.

This close to the band's success, Jasper's pissed to be the one vocally training this dancing liability. Between Jasper's outspoken nature and Ryan's anxiety, tensions rise. When a plan to improve Ryan's confidence backfires, putting the spotlight on something Jasper's been ignoring all his life, truths come to light.

Can Jasper let himself get swept up in his own real-life, convoluted, fanfic love story while protecting Ryan from the negatives of fame, uncovering the real reason their manager added him, and saving the band? Or will a photo scandal throw everything out in favor of some satisfyingly petty revenge?

CW: this book features an on page suicidal panic attack, discussions of previous suicide attempt, discussions of emotional manipulation, and instances of sexual coercion. 

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Jasper is one of the main reasons The Obsolete has so many fans shipping the band members. He flirts just to rile up the fans, and they love him for it. But, when a new band member is dropped on them without any prior warning, Jasper is quick to question their manager’s true motives, especially since the new member, Ryan, is a dancer, not a singer.

Ryan doesn’t fit into the band immediately, especially since the rest of the band members have already formed friendships, and he finds it difficult to get any of them, in particular Jasper, to accept him as a member. But when Jasper is forced to help train him, and get his singing up to scratch, Jasper and Ryan find themselves spending more and more time around each other, and the fans are quick to come up with a new favourite ship – but what if, this time, it wasn’t fictional?

I absolutely loved both Jasper and Ryan, and following their growing relationship. In particular, I enjoyed following Jasper as he slowly came to the realisation of what exactly he felt. Jasper had been brought up in a very religious household, and pushed towards a relationship with a woman he feels absolutely nothing for. But when Ryan comes along, something changes, and he starts to wonder whether he might’ve been gay all along. Jasper really struggles coming to terms with his sexuality, mostly because he is scared that the other band members won’t accept him, and that he will lose his friends. Fear such as this is certainly saddening to read about, but Ryan is next to Jasper every step of the way, to support him, and to, slowly, fall in love with him.

There is plenty of depth to this story outside of just Jasper and Ryan’s relationship. The band find themselves facing legal issues with their contracts, as their manager scrounges every last penny he can out of the band without giving them any of it. This thread of the story was particularly interesting to follow, as the band become aware of just what their contracts contain, and try to work their way around some of the clauses that seem to simply box them in. I must say, I absolutely hated their manager, Chris. I don’t think I could’ve hated a character more. He is simply vile, using blackmail against the band members to get what he wants, and having absolutely no care about the actual members of the band. He causes so much emotional damage, simply for his own monetary gain. He is an absolutely vile man, and my hatred for him is a testament for how well his character was written. Like Jasper, I would absolutely love to punch him in the face!

I will admit, it did take me a while to properly get into this book. I spent the first few chapters slightly confused, as things jumped around a little and there wasn’t much explanation as to who the characters were. However, once I figured out who the characters were, things made infinitely more sense, and by the halfway point, I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I fell asleep reading it, because I didn’t want to put it down to go to bed.

There are a lot of mental health matters covered in this book, and I do like that the trigger warnings are in the blurb, so you can be aware of what you will find within this book before you decide to read it. Ryan in particular suffers a lot in this book, and there are some scenes that are very difficult to read, so do be prepared going into this book that these scenes are very distressing. I truly felt for Ryan, he has already gone through so much before the events covered in this book, and he goes through plenty more during the book. He is a character I really wanted to give a big hug to.

Even though he isn’t particularly a ‘main’ character, I think Blake really stole the show in this book. He is incredibly humorous, as well as amazingly supportive of his friends. He and Jasper are great friends, and while Ryan may be someone that Jasper needs, Blake is also important to Jasper, but purely as friends, nothing more. He is always ready to drop things to be there for Jasper, and offers support and consolation when needed, as well as simply being around to crack some jokes and cheer everyone up. I think everyone needs a friend like Blake!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the start of a very promising series, and I can’t wait to follow The Obsolete as their story continues throughout the series. If you are a fan of celebrity romances, drama, scandals, slow burn romance, and powerful friendships, this is absolutely the book for you!

And done!

I haven't posted properly in absolutely ages, but I do hope to change that! I have a list of books lines up that I want to get reviews for out before the New Year, so maybe with a clear list, and a goal in mind, I might be successful... who knows?!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!