Showing posts with label arcs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arcs. Show all posts

Friday, August 16, 2024

Mini Book Reviews 8/16/24

 Hi everyone so here are some mini reviews for books I've read recently:


These books are arcs and will be released as stated.



Guava and Grudges by. Alexis Castellanos - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Release Date: 9/3/24

This one is a cute read with two rival families and star-crossed lovers.  Ana Maria (Amy) has a lot on her plate.  Her parents are pressuring her to go to college and take over the family business, a bakery that serves Cuban delicacies but she wants to go to Le Cordon Bleu instead.  She just doesn't know how to tell them that but in the meantime she's trying to compete for some college money and also she's falling for Miguel who is part of a family that her dad hates.  I think teens would relate to this one and the romance is sweet. I also really enjoyed all the mentions of Cuban foods! 

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The Blood Orchid by. Kylie Lee Baker - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: 10/22/24

This is the sequel and conclusion to The Scarlet Alchemist and I love the humor and action!  I felt as immersed in this world as I was when I read the first book.  The magic (alchemy) literally continues in this book.  There is less romance because Hong is in the in-between, but I loved the relationship between Zilan and her brother Wenshu.  Her bond to her family was something I loved in book one and we get more of it in this sequel.  I think the ending is bittersweet, but I love this duology!





Sunday, July 21, 2024

What Am I Reading Now? 7/21/24

 Hi Friends!  I am reading bunch of books right now.  I'm trying to work through library loaned books and arcs from NetGalley and there is a lot of reading going on!


Here is what I am reading right now:


Nothing Like the Movies by. Lynn Painter


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

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Shadows of Perl by. J. Elle


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

The dazzling romantic fantasy world of House of Marionne continues in this dark and deadly sequel full of forbidden magic, devastating lies, and broken hearts. A must read for fans of Stephanie Garber, Leigh Bardugo, and Alex Aster.

Unleash the darkness. Claim your power.

Quell Marionne’s explosive final Rite of Induction to House Marionne sent shockwaves through the magical world, unearthing long buried secrets and her own deadly power. But she paid a steep her family and her love. Fleeing Chateau Soleil for House of Perl, for once Quell is celebrated instead of shunned. She has finally found somewhere to belong. But secrets lurk in every House, and Quell’s quest to find her mom threatens to lead her deeper into the shadows.

Assassin Jordan Wexton, second-in command of the Dragun brotherhood, must protect the source of all magic, the Sphere. Yet the biggest threat to the Sphere is Quell Marionne—the girl he loved, until she claimed the deadly, outlawed toushana. As the Sphere cracks and war brews among the Houses, can the only way to save the world be to kill his own heart?

Now, these two lovers-turned enemies must confront their competing ambitions and conflicting loyalties. Or die. The future of magic hangs on their decision.

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Can't Help Falling in Love by. Sophie Sullivan


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!

Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.

Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.

As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.

"Sophie Sullivan consistently crafts romances to root for." -Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak

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Book synopsis from Goodreads:

When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…

Isabel Luna Valdés has long since resigned herself to being the “forgotten” Luna sister. But thanks to familial connections to the Mexican ambassador in London, wallflower Isabel is poised to unearth any British intelligence hidden by the ton that might aid Mexico during the French Occupation. Though she slips easily from crowded ballrooms into libraries and private studies, Isabel’s search is hampered by trysting couples and prowling rogues—including the rakish Captain Sirius Dawson.

As a covert agent for the British Home Office, Sirius makes a game of earning the aristocracy’s confidence. He spends his days befriending foolish politicians and seducing well-born ladies in order to learn their secrets. But after he spies a certain sharp-tongued Luna sister lurking in the shadows where no proper debutante should venture, it’s clear Sirius is outmatched, outwitted, and soon to be outmaneuvered by the one woman he can’t resist.

Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but when Isabel discovers private correspondence that could turn the tide of political turmoil in Mexico, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect her country—even if this means ignoring her heart and courting danger...

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Will you be reading any of these books?

Sunday, July 14, 2024

What Am I Reading Now? 7/14/24

 I am reading a few books right now.  Some of them are arcs, and some are borrowed books.  


What did I just finish?


All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel - I loved this one!  Mini review to come soon.


What Books Am I Reading Right Now?


Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by. Talia Hibbert

**I read 75% of this book last year as an ebook from the library but then my file went corrupt for some strange reason.  So I found this paperback at the library and have decided to finish the book.**

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Song of the Six Realms by. Judy I. Lin

**I found this one at the library also and I SO love the cover and I have read one book from this author, so I wanted to check out this one.**


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Shadows of Perl by J.Elle

**This one is an arc and I need to finish it by September so I'd like to work on it now.**


Monday, July 8, 2024

Mini Book Reviews - 7/8/24

 Hi everyone!  

I thought I'd do a post of mini reviews of books and arcs (advance reader copies) I have read in the past week.


The Seventh Veil of Salome by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia


My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)

Mini review: I loved the historical setting, 1950's Hollywood.  The story centers around the making of a sword-and-sandal movie that was popular in that time and the studio casts a Mexican actress named Vera.  We see her deal with the racism and sexism during that time period.  Another character that is important is Nancy who embodies an actress trying to make it big but trying any which way to get there - she's hateful and racist.  Lastly, Salome's story is interwoven with the other two characters and I found her story fascinating and filled with political drama.  For the most part I enjoyed the story but I think the ending was anti-climatic.

**I received this book as an arc.  The book will be published on 8/6/24**


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A Winter Wish by. Emily Stone


My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)

Mini review: I thought this was a cute holiday read! Lexie's dad has just passed and she never had a good relationship but he leaves her half of his travel company.  I love the travel destinations, the enemies to lovers romance, and I appreciated the relationships Lexie was trying to mend with her dad's memory and her step-sister.  Also there are lots of different Christmas elements in the story.  By it's conclusion, the story made me feel happy so I think this is a wonderful holiday romance. 

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Those are the two books I read and reviewed this week!  Thanks for reading!