Book Review – Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi

Synopsis

Aru is only just getting the hang of this whole Pandava thing when the Otherworld goes into full panic mode. The god of love’s bow and arrow have gone missing, and the thief isn’t playing Cupid. Instead, they’re turning people into heartless fighting-machine zombies. If that weren’t bad enough, somehow Aru gets framed as the thief. If she doesn’t find the arrow by the next full moon, she’ll be kicked out of the Otherworld. For good.

But, for better or worse, she won’t be going it alone.

Along with her soul-sister, Mini, Aru will team up with Brynne, an ultra-strong girl who knows more than she lets on, and Aiden, the boy who lives across the street and is also hiding plenty of secrets. Together they’ll battle demons, travel through a glittering and dangerous serpent realm, and discover that their enemy isn’t at all who they expected.

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed the narrator. She had an entertaining, engaging voice and really brought out the humorous parts of the story. I liked the additions of Aiden and Brynne to this series. Things were a little rocky at first between those two and Mini and Aru, but everyone grew a lot throughout the book and I’m happy to see how their relationships with each other turned out. I struggled to stay focused on the story at times (I think I’m just not in a good reading mood right now) but the ending definitely made up for that and gave me chills with that last line. I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes in the next book!

Book Review – Loner by Jamie Schlosser

Synopsis

ROSALIE
I’ve been a prisoner in my own home for as long as I can remember. My mother says I’m sick in the head, and that’s why I can’t leave. And maybe she’s right.

But that doesn’t stop me from watching our new groundskeeper from my window and wanting things I shouldn’t. Like his hands on my body. His lips on my skin. Just him and me, running free in the world.

All I want is a normal life, but it’s a fantasy. Insanity.

Because no one would want a crazy girl like me.

PRESTON
I broke the cardinal rule of the private investigator business—I fell for my client’s daughter. When I agreed to go undercover to get Rosalie out of her house, I had every intention of bringing her to her father. After all, it’s what he hired me to do.

But Rosalie’s life is a tangled web of mystery, tragedy, and lies. Her loneliness calls to mine, tempting me with a chance at redemption I never thought I’d have. I refuse to deliver her from one hell to another.

Even if it means risking my life.

My Review
5 out of 5 stars

This modern day Rapunzel/Tangled retelling hit me in all of the feels! I would say that this is hands down my favorite book in the Good Guys series.

Rosalie and Preston are both really lovable characters. They both have tragic pasts so your heart breaks for them. They have such good chemistry together and I was rooting for them the entire time.

There is an element of suspense and twists that I didn’t see coming that kept the pages turning and made this a quick read.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Synopsis

Thor’s hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon–the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn’t just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can’t retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenseless against an onslaught of giants. Ragnarok will begin. The Nine Worlds will burn. Unfortunately, the only person who can broker a deal for the hammer’s return is the gods’ worst enemy, Loki–and the price he wants is very high.

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version of this book and really liked the narrator. I thought he did a good job with all of the different character’s voices. I loved the introduction of Alex Fierro in this book. Alex is an awesome character so I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store next for him/her (Alex is gender fluid and transgender). I enjoyed getting to know more about Sam and Hearth during this book. There were times the story dragged so I would have trouble keeping my attention on the book, but overall I enjoyed it. I’m really excited to see more of Annabeth and hopefully Percy also in the next book!

Book Review – The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey

Synopsis

The Fall Festival is in full swing. Civil War reenactors from three counties are partaking in Blossom Valley’s tribute to John Brown. Blue Ridge Mountain foliage is in full bloom. And best of all is Jacob Potter’s pumpkin farm where his hay rides, piglet races, pumpkin picking and corn maze are time-honored draws for locals and tourists alike. That’s why it’s such a shock when Mr. Potter is found dead, hidden under a tarp in the back of Winnie’s pickup truck. This certainly betrays Potter’s reputation as one of the town’s most popular citizens. Fortunately, when it comes to solving a murder, no one has a patch on Winnie. Now, all eyes are on her to do it. Unfortunately, that includes those of the killer who’ll do anything to keep an orchard full of secrets buried.

My Review:
4 out of 5 stars

It was good to be back in Blossom Valley! The autumn setting had me anticipating fall even more. Reading this series always leaves me craving apple cider. I can’t wait for Fall! There was a lot going on in this book so I just flew through the pages and ended up finishing the book pretty quickly. I really enjoyed getting more of a look into Colton’s life and meeting his family – his brother and his parents. His brother Blake was a lot of fun and I enjoyed his interactions with Winnie. The criminal from Colton’s past played a part in this book as well so I was on edge for most of the book, wondering if he was finally going to get caught. The main mystery for this story was very well done. There were a lot of suspects to choose from and the killer ended up being someone who wasn’t even on my radar! It was actually a character that I liked, so that really took me by surprise. There was a cameo of a couple characters from another series that this author writes under a different name, so that was a fun surprise! I’m really happy with the progress that was made with Winnie and Colton during this book and can’t wait to see where things go with them from here. *I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Synopsis

You’d think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you’d be wrong. Because now, the aliens are having ship trouble, and they’ve left their cargo of human women – including me – on an ice planet.

And the only native inhabitant I’ve met? He’s big, horned, blue, and really, really has a thing for me… 

My Review
5 out of 5 stars

Well, I never thought I would ever read an alien romance. I guess never say never, huh? LOL Seriously though, I’ve always passed over them because I didn’t think I would like them. Then Ice Planet Barbarians took over BookTok and curiosity and hype got the best of me and I decided to give the book a try. I. Am. Hooked! I listened to the audio version and absolutely loved it. The narrators were great. I especially loved the female narrator – she was so funny and really brought Georgie to life. It was also a really quick read so I finished it in one day. I was a little confused at first about the khui, but that was explained later on in the story and made a lot more sense after that. Georgie and Vektal are so cute together and had such great chemistry, even though things happened pretty fast between them. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series! There are some triggers so take care before reading.

Book Review – Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker

Synopsis

Trouble is brewing in Everly’s new café. Can she bag the culprit?

Life hasn’t been so sweet for Everly Swan over the past couple of years, but now that she is back in her seaside hometown and the proud owner of a little iced tea shop and café right on the beach, things are finally starting to look up–until a curmudgeonly customer turns up dead on the boardwalk. With one of her hallmark glass tea jars lying right next to him and an autopsy that reports poison in his system, it doesn’t look good for Everly or her brand new business.

As the townspeople of Charm, formerly so welcoming and homey, turn their back on Everly, she fights to dig up clues about who could have had it in for the former town councilman. With a maddeningly handsome detective discouraging her from uncovering leads and a series of anonymous attacks on Everly and her business, it will take everything she’s got to keep this mystery from boiling over.

My Review
4 out of 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this first book in the series and am looking forward to continuing with it. Everly is a great character and is easy to love. I liked that she had such a close relationship with her aunts and also had a close friend nearby as well. Lou and Maggie were cute little additions to the story and made great cozy companions. Grady was an interesting character as well. I am interested in seeing where things go between him and Everly and also learning some more about his past. The mystery was well written and there were plenty of suspects to choose from. The killer ended up stumping me so the reveal was a surprise! I listened to the audio version of the book and liked the narrator.

Book Review – Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Synopsis

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. She has a lot of books so I’m definitely going to go through her backlist and read the rest of her books.

I’ve never read a Hades and Persephone retelling but this definitely lived up to my expectations from all of the hype surrounding this book. Hades and Persephone are both really enjoyable characters. I was expecting Hades to be colder and harder than he actually was. I’m not complaining though. I loved that he was so caring and “cinnamon roll” like. One of my favorite things about this book was how gentle, protective, and caring he was with Persephone and that he was always making sure she consented to whatever was going on.

This book had a different kind of spice than what I’m used to reading. I’ve never read anything with kink play in it, but I enjoyed it.

I wish there had been some more world building surrounding the Thirteen and Olympus. I was a little confused at first since it appears that people are basically elected to God status but it isn’t really talked about in much detail. Other than that, this was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more of Katee’s backlist and also the next book in this series that’s coming out next year!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley

Synopsis

Portland, Oregon, is the perfect fit for someone like Meg Reed. It’s a city with a small town feel, where she can crash on the couch of her best friend Jill, now that she’s graduated from journalism school. . .

But a girl needs a job, so Meg bluffs her way into writing for Northwest Extreme magazine, passing herself off to editor-in-chief Greg Dixon as an outdoor adventure enthusiast. Never mind that Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte. So when she finds herself clawing to the top of Angel’s Rest–a two-thousand-foot peak–to cover the latest challenge in a reality TV adventure show, she can’t imagine feeling more terrified. Until she witnesses a body plummet off the side of the cliff. Now Meg has a murder to investigate. And if the climbing doesn’t kill her, a murderer just might. . .

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed this first book in the Pacific Northwest mystery series.

Meg could be a little goofy at times, but she was a likeable character. I really enjoyed her friendship with Jill and am glad that she had a close friend to help her through such a tough time after losing her father.

The mystery was very well written. There were a few different suspects to choose from and my suspicion jumped around to each of them. I thought I had things figured out, but the killer ended up stumping me so the reveal was a shock!

I had some suspicions about the accident that caused Meg’s father’s death, so the last line of the book gave me chills! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to see what comes next with that.

I’m not an outdoorsy person at all, but I enjoyed reading the little section of Meg’s Adventure Tips at the back of the book.

I listened to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed the narrator. 

Book Review – Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco

Synopsis

With her Let It Bee honey boutique buzzing along nicely, life is as sweet as nectar for Wren Johnson—until she takes a morning walk along the Pacific beach with her Havana Brown cat, Everett, and stumbles upon the body of Agnes Snow, the cranky queen of the local craft fairs, stiff as driftwood. More unfortunate? Clutched in the victim’s fist is a label from Wren’s homemade beeswax-and-honey lip balm. Which makes Officer Jim Hampton focus his dreamy-blue Paul Newman eyes on Wren as suspect number one.

With fabulous feline support from Everett, Wren must comb the town for clues and clear her name before someone else gets stung.

My Review
3 out of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Oregon Honeycomb mystery series. This is also my first book by this author, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll read another one in the future.

To be honest, I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it either. My favorite part about the book is when it would mention Wren’s shop and the products that she sells. I found all of the bee information really interesting. I enjoyed all of the tips, recipes, and other things that were spread throughout the book.

My favorite character was Wren’s cat, Everett. He was so lovable and smart. I really loved his personality. Unfortunately, none of the other characters really stood out to me or were all that memorable.

I listened to the audio version of this book and felt like the narrator could have done a better job of distinguishing between all of the different characters. The characters mostly all sounded the same, so it was confusing at times about who was speaking.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – Say Yes by Kandi Steiner

Synopsis

When you’re an artist, everything has to be perfect.

Or so I thought, until my professor told me my perfection was boring and unoriginal. Studying abroad in Florence has taught me one thing: I know nothing when it comes to what makes art truly beautiful.

So, with my professor’s words in my ear, I step outside one evening and decide to say yes to any and everything I’m faced with until the sun rises.

Of course, I didn’t expect him to show up.

Liam Benson, the broody, sexy, tortured artist from my class who I can’t stand. He’s got a sour outlook on the world and an ego so big no one could properly stroke it to his satisfaction.

When he finds out what I’m doing, he hijacks my “yes” night.
And after just twelve hours with him, I’m desperate for more.

But Liam is running from more than I could ever understand, and with his heart guarded and mind made up about life, I don’t stand a chance.

I convince myself that we can keep it casual.
But walking away from him at the end of the summer is as impossible as painting outside the lines.

I used to think when you’re an artist, everything has to be perfect.

Turns out everything has to be painful, and messy, and fleeting.

If only I’d known that before I fell under Liam Benson’s spell.

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

I have yet to read a book by Kandi that I didn’t like! This was such an enjoyable read.

I loved that this book was set in the 90s. I also loved that it took place in Italy. All of the descriptions made it feel like I was there with them.

I loved both Harley and Liam, even though they could be a little frustrating at times. I could see a lot of myself in Harley. She was such a relatable character and easy to love. My heart really broke for Liam and all of the grief and guilt that he was living with for all of those years. Liam and Harley had great chemistry together and I was rooting for them to end up together and get their happily ever after.

Harley’s friend Angela was absolutely amazing. I was thinking throughout the whole book that she needed a story of her own. Everyone needs an Angela in their life.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.