Thursday, 21 July 2022

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede Book Review!

 

Title: This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1)
Author: Emily Thiede
Publish Date: June 28th, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Emily Thiede's exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!


Penelope's Review

Wow. I am super impressed with this book - the writing style is excellent, I had no idea I was reading a debut! This is one of those rare books where the middle was actually my favorite part of the book! I didn't find any spots slow or lagging, we have excitement and intrigue from the beginning right to the very end. 

I loved the characters in this book - Alessa was such a great female lead. She had to undergo so much when she became the Finestra and yet she keeps her head up and her humor on. And DANTE. Omigosh Dante.... he takes the typical broody, quiet, sarcastic male lead and makes it so, so much better. I ADORED their sexy humor and witty banter. Dante is easily one of my favorite book boyfriends of 2022! In terms of side characters, I liked each and every Fonte in their own way - they were all unique and all added something different to the story.

In terms of the plot itself, the pacing was great, the story unique enough to set it apart from other YA fantasies. Yet it still had some great, well-loved tropes! I am unsure how I feel about the ending... I definitely liked it, but I'm curious to see where things go from here. Overall, fantastic debut! 

Rating: 4.5/5 Devils!




Monday, 18 July 2022

The Falling by Anna Todd Book Review!

 

Title: The Falling (Brightest Stars #1)
Author: Anna Todd
Publish Date: July 5th, 2022
Publisher: Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Twenty-year old Karina is proud of the independent life she is trying to create for herself in Fort Benning, Georgia. A dutiful officer’s daughter, supportive sister to a troubled twin brother, and caring friend to her roommate, Elodie, she always puts the needs of others ahead of her own, and prides herself on being a fixer of broken things―whether it’s the house she’s just bought or the fragmented family she works hard to keep intact.

Like anyone who has grown up around an army base, Karina also knows the background noise that follows men and women home from war. And when she meets Kael, a handsome soldier on the cusp of discharge, she’s immediately intrigued by his brooding presence and enigmatic silence. As their uncertain and unexpected friendship starts to turn into something more, Karina tries to piece together Kael’s story: he is emotionally closed off, recovering from wounds and other trauma in the aftermath of two deployments in Afghanistan. In her practice as a physical therapist, Karina has a strong desire to help him heal, and though it challenges her many insecurities and anxieties, she has an equally strong desire to trust him. But that trust is fragile, like the preciousness of a soldier’s life. It can be gone in an instant. Ultimately facing a crossroads, Karina and Kael find their relationship will be tested by the one thing that Karina cannot accept, forgive, or understand.


Penelope's Review

I was so excited to try Anna Todd's newest romance book, and went in not really knowing what to expect! This series is a military-ish romance, following Karina and Kael. While it was a pretty good read, it wasn't as amazing as I was hoping it would be. The pace was quite slow and I wasn't in love with the romance. It didn't seem to drive the book like I thought it would, if that makes sense.

Karina as a character was good, I liked that she was doing her best to live independently and worked hard to get where she wanted to be. Kael was stoic and silent. Definitely a man of few words and emotions, but it's intriguing to see what makes him crack that hard exterior. Separately, these were decent characters but together... I just didn't feel that spark! I wanted more - more chemistry, more tension, more angst. I suppose we'll see where things go in the next book - I just hope there's more to root for you know?

Unfortunately, I feel like not a whole lot happened plot wise. It felt like alot of the same conversations, same inner monologues, and so on. A lot about Karina's work schedule, alot about her house and the many things that need to be fixed in it, a lot about Tuesday dinners that she dreads lol... just much of the same being repeated.

Overall, I think there was just enough that I will read the second book to see what happens, but my fingers are crossed that it ends up being more along the lines of what I expect from an Anna Todd book. 

Rating: 3/5 Devils!





Thursday, 14 July 2022

The Night Queen by Denise Daye Blog Tour + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE NIGHT QUEEN by Denise Daye Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:


Title: THE NIGHT QUEEN (Romantic Fairy Tales for Adults Book 1)

Author: Denise Daye

Pub. Date: July 26, 2022

Publisher: Timeless Papers

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 232

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Read the First Chapter of The Night Queen For FREE!

They call me the Night Queen, with a heart as dark as the night itself. And as such, I will rule my future kingdom. No light shall ever touch my broken heart again.

On her twentieth birthday, the beautiful but arrogant Princess Mina von Rhine crosses the point of no return. Unwilling to be married off to a warmongering Northerner, she defies her father, the powerful King of the Rhine, and ridicules all her potential suitors.

Furious at her appalling behavior, her father vows to give Mina's hand in marriage to the first unmarried man who walks through the palace gates—be it nobleman or beggar. And when an impoverished Northern soldier arrives at the castle the following day, the king stands by his word and offers Mina to him.

This ill-suggested match, however, might prove of use to Mina after all. The Northern soldier doesn’t seem too fond of the marriage himself, so Mina offers the handsome but insufferable warrior enormous riches if he helps her escape into the North.

But the dangerous journey through war-torn lands forces the princess to realize that if she can’t melt her frozen heart, marriage might be the least of her concerns.


From the author : This is a beautiful, dark, and romantic re-imagining of the long-forgotten German fairy tale 'King Thrushbeard' (first published by the beloved Brothers Grimm whose works include such classics as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Rapunzel). If you’d love to read an adult version of a compelling old fairy tale and enjoy enemies to lovers romances with sizzling passion, then this book is a must-read for you.

 

EXCERPT:

“It’s nothing, barbarian,” I said in the arrogant and detached tone I often used with my servants.

His eyes widened. “What did you just call me?”

I lifted my chin. “You heard me just fine, barbarian.”

Alrick took a few large steps toward me. I stumbled backward; my back pressed against the cold stone wall.

“I have never come across a more arrogant, big-mouthed woman!” he growled, his face pinched in anger and frustration.

“Is that so?” I countered, crossing my arms. “Well, you wouldn’t know how to treat a woman if the instructions were tattooed on your forehead.” With another quick step, Alrick was towering in front of me.

“Stop pushing me!” he warned.

“No! Not when it comes to a barbaric man like you.”

Alrick grabbed both of my wrists and pinned me against the wall. His eyes flashed with firelight. I was breathing heavily now, his breath matching mine.

“What now, barbarian?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you going to hit me? Is this how you handle your women in the North?”

His mouth widened in shock. “Hit you?”

His face was only inches away from mine. He was so close, I could feel his heart beating wildly against my chest.

“I bet violence is the only thing you barbarians know when it comes to women.” 

The anger in his eyes shifted to something else. Something I couldn’t quite make out. I didn’t think he would hit me. He was not that sort of man. I expected him to yell, insult me, fight back. But to my surprise, he did none of that. Instead, he grinned.

“I know plenty else about women,” he said in a seductive tone. His grip around my wrists loosened as he pressed himself even harder against me. “I know your bad temper does not cause your racing heart,” he said. “Or your red cheeks.”


 

About Denise Daye:

Denise is an Amazon best-selling author who graduated with a master’s in Social Work from an ivy league school, the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent many years of her life supporting families and individuals in need of assistance. She has always had a passion for reading and writing, especially steamy romance, but it wasn't until her own baby boy was born that Denise turned her passion into her profession. Whenever Denise is not typing away on one of her books, you can find her caring for her son (a.k.a. one of the toughest jobs in the world), binging Netflix with her beloved husband, or chasing after her puppy (who should technically be an adult dog by now). 

Join Denise’s newsletter for romantic FREE books and exclusive material: https://www.timelesspapers.com/newsletter.html

 

WebsiteInstagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/11/2022

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post

7/12/2022

BookHounds

Guest Post/IG Post

7/13/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

7/14/2022

The Reading Devil

Excerpt/IG Post

7/15/2022

The Reading Life

Review/IG Post

7/16/2022

What A Nerd Girl Says

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

7/17/2022

beersbooksandboos

Excerpt/IG Post

7/18/2022

hodophile_z

IG Review

7/19/2022

FictionalFey

IG Review

7/20/2022

Better_0ff_Read

IG Post

7/21/2022

A Backwards Story

Review/IG Post

7/22/2022

@simplybeccamee

IG Review

7/23/2022

BookBriefs

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

7/24/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

7/25/2022

Writer of Wrongs

Guest Post

7/26/2022

The Page Ladies @jacleomik33

IG Review

7/27/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/28/2022

@wraithreads

TikTok Review/IG Post

7/29/2022

The Chatty Bookworm

TikTok Review/IG Post

7/30/2022

Books and Kats

Excerpt

Week Four:

7/31/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

8/1/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

8/2/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

8/3/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

8/4/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

8/5/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

8/6/2022

More Books Please blog

Review

Week Five:

8/7/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

8/8/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

8/9/2022

Books and Zebras

IG Review






Sunday, 10 July 2022

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel Book Review!

 

Title: Stealing Infinity (Stolen Beauty #1)
Author: Alyson Noel
Publish Date: June 28th, 2022
Publisher: Entangled Teen 
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!


These days, I’ve been killing it when it comes to letting people down. Now I’ve been kicked out of high school, arrested, and accepted into a remote, off-the-grid school owned and operated by an inscrutable billionaire tech guru.

Gray Wolf Academy is looking for a certain kind of student. Ones that no one will miss. Like me.

Then there’s Braxton. The beautiful, oddly anachronistic guy who showed up right when the trouble started. And he’s a total enigma—which means that I definitely can’t trust him, even if there’s something about him that makes me want to.

They all tell me I have a gift. A very rare gift. And Gray Wolf Academy wants me to learn it. To use it. Because if what they say is true, I have all the time in the world.

And that makes me the most dangerous high school student you’ll never know…


Penelope's Review

Time travel, teen angst, and a hidden "boarding" school run by a billionaire? Yea, I'll sign up for that! Lol! Alyson Noel is back with a new young adult series that follows Natasha as she is swept up in a world of intrigue, mystery, and of course, time travel!

Natasha's life has been up-ended, and nothing will ever be the same. She has been whisked away to an off-the-grid school that goes a little beyond teaching your basic math and science courses. I liked Natasha as a female lead - her reactions are pretty realistic and I like that she stands up for herself and doesn't let petty drama get in the way of her standing out. The romance with Braxton kind of took me by surprise... it happened super fast and honestly... I wasn't really feeling it. It just lacked the chemistry and connection that should have been jumping off the page. There seems to be another love interest at the end of the book, however, that I am MUCH more excited to see play out... My fingers are crossed for that one because there is some serious potential for that match.

The side characters were pretty good - Elodie was your basic mean girl with daddy issues, but played the part well. There seems to be some hints toward some layers with the girl, but we'll see how her character pans out in the next book. Arthur Blackstone is a billionaire with an agenda, but his love of art shines through. 

I feel like this was a good book, but a bit on the slower side. There are bursts of activity and excitement and the combination of time travel, numerology, astrology, tarot, art, and so on was very cool to read about. But I didn't get that "can't put it down" feeling. That said, I think the way this book paves the way for the second, shows great potential for the rest of the series. I think alot is going to happen in the next book and I think it's going to be much faster-paced. Looking forward to continuing the series!

Rating: 3.5/5 Devils!






Monday, 4 July 2022

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han Book Review!

 

Title: We'll Always Have Summer (Summer #3)
Author: Jenny Han
Publish Date: April 26th, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Taken from my sister's bookshelf!

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college—only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.


Penelope's Review

This is it. The end of summer... Ugh I was crying at the end of this book simply because it's all over. And I am sad. BUT that won't stop me from writing a glowing review for this fantastic book! Because it really was... this whole series just touches something special in my heart. I can't quite put into words what it means... but it just brings all of my hopes and dreams and way of looking at life as a 16 year old kid right to the forefront and I love it. Sigh. Anyway let's get on with it!

So in this book we have fast-forwarded by two years and Belly is in her first year of college! Despite the way the second book ended, this book starts with Belly and Jeremiah together. I am firmly Team Conrad so I was a little miffed at this development lol! But I like the back and forth in the timeline so that we slowly piece together what happened between Belly and Conrad and how Belly and Jeremiah ended up together. The whole book is an absolute whirlwind of emotions, and we get so much from the love triangle that we haven't previously seen. It was all so, so epic.

The writing is great, as per usual. As I've said in previous reviews, I really like how Jenny Han is able to channel the reality of characters at the age she writes them. In other words, it doesn't sound like an adult trying to speak college freshman... it just sounds like a college freshman! Overall, this is such a fantastic book and an even more fantastic series. I love the twists and turns this book takes, and I'm happy with the ending, though of course sad that it's over. The great thing abut summer though, is that even though it always comes to an end... there's always another summer right around the corner.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!