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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Offsetting Penalties is a young adult sports romance by author Ally Mathews. Offsetting Penalties was a very quick, cute read. I enjoyed it a lot, but I do wish it was a little longer. It felt a bit rushed in terms of plot development because of the short length, but the storyline was adorable and the romance was smile worthy. Overall, it was a cute read.
Offsetting Penalties is told in dual narrative between our two main characters, Izzy and Garret. Garret is the star football player that suffered an injury sometime before the book started. He had to have surgery and his coach is a little concerned with his range of movement in his foot, so he signs him up for ballet lessons to improve his flexibility. Izzy is a self imposed school outcast, which she has her own reasons for (and we learn more about them as the book goes on, which I loved) and ballet dancer. Izzy was a surprisingly big personality for me; one that I really enjoyed. She is sassy and unafraid to go after what she wants. For example, from the very moment she saw Garret in the ballet studio her mind was spinning for ways that she could use him to get what she wanted. What she wanted happened to be a male dance partner who could help her with an upcoming dance show. Insert some light blackmail and you have the start of what turned out to be a beautiful relationship with Izzy and Garret.
That was both what I loved and didn't love about this book. Everything happened fast. It was injury, ballet lessons, blackmail and then partnership...one right after the other. So, on one hand, it was great because the fast pace kept the book interesting and moving along, but on the other hand, I kind of wish that the book was a little bit longer. I was enjoying the characters and their interaction so much that I wanted more.
Bottom line: Offsetting Penalties was a quick, cute read. I really enjoyed both Izzy and Garret and their romance was adorable, The book was a bit too short for my liking and it did feel a little bit rushed in parts, but overall it was a fun read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Offsetting Penalties is a young adult sports romance by author Ally Mathews. Offsetting Penalties was a very quick, cute read. I enjoyed it a lot, but I do wish it was a little longer. It felt a bit rushed in terms of plot development because of the short length, but the storyline was adorable and the romance was smile worthy. Overall, it was a cute read.
Offsetting Penalties is told in dual narrative between our two main characters, Izzy and Garret. Garret is the star football player that suffered an injury sometime before the book started. He had to have surgery and his coach is a little concerned with his range of movement in his foot, so he signs him up for ballet lessons to improve his flexibility. Izzy is a self imposed school outcast, which she has her own reasons for (and we learn more about them as the book goes on, which I loved) and ballet dancer. Izzy was a surprisingly big personality for me; one that I really enjoyed. She is sassy and unafraid to go after what she wants. For example, from the very moment she saw Garret in the ballet studio her mind was spinning for ways that she could use him to get what she wanted. What she wanted happened to be a male dance partner who could help her with an upcoming dance show. Insert some light blackmail and you have the start of what turned out to be a beautiful relationship with Izzy and Garret.
That was both what I loved and didn't love about this book. Everything happened fast. It was injury, ballet lessons, blackmail and then partnership...one right after the other. So, on one hand, it was great because the fast pace kept the book interesting and moving along, but on the other hand, I kind of wish that the book was a little bit longer. I was enjoying the characters and their interaction so much that I wanted more.
Bottom line: Offsetting Penalties was a quick, cute read. I really enjoyed both Izzy and Garret and their romance was adorable, The book was a bit too short for my liking and it did feel a little bit rushed in parts, but overall it was a fun read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Whichwood is a middle grade fantasy novel by Taherah Mafi. Even though this book is technically middle grade, I think it will appeal to fans of young adult books. It is a very detailed and long novel, and rather dark in some parts, and it felt like upper middle grade/lower young adult to me. I read, and really loved Furthermore last year. (you can check out my review here) So, I was super excited when I saw that a companion novel set in the same world was going to be released. So, it should come as no surprise that I absolutely loved Whichwood as well. It is a delightful book.
Whichwood follows our main character, Laylee, who lives in the village of Whichwood. Whichwood is set in the same world as the village of Farenwood, but it is a totally different place. Farenwood is a town where colors come to life, and Whichwood is a town that is in stark contrast. Laylee finds herself becoming more and more colorless as her job takes its' toll. Laylee is a mordeshoor, someone who prepares dead bodies and their souls for their afterlife. Laylee, much like Alice from Furthermore finds herself on an adventure. She meets Alice and Oliver from the first book and together they set off on an adventure which leads them to all kinds of whimsical and fantastical creatures and characters and colors. I want to see the Furthermore series brought to life on the big screen because I feel like it would be perfect in the style of Tim Burton and the new Alice in Wonderland (with Johnny Depp). I again read this book in one very long afternoon turned late night because I couldn't put it down. Tahereh Mafi is a master story teller. I love her young adult Shatter Me series, and seeing her hand at middle grade was insta love for me. Fans of Whimsical writing will become enchanted with the Furthermore series.
I love that Alice and Oliver play such a prominaent role in Whichwood. I fell in love with them in Furthermore and I was super excited to see them take part in Laylee's story. Now all we need is Oliver's story!! (And I won't take no for an answer to that one.) The books in the Furthermore series, can technically be read as standalones. However; I would suggest reading them in order because there is a lot of character overlap. Plus, the world is so fantastical that you will want to read all of the books set in it.
I can't get over how beautifully done this book is. From the absolutely perfect cover, to the magnificent writing, the pictures that Tahereh Mafi is able to paint with her words are downright magical. I know what Ferenwood, and now the village of Whichwood look like, and if they have a movie they better pay as much attention to the details and descriptions of scenes as Tahereh does because she lays it all out in such a perfectly described and richly detailed way. As far as descriptive writing goes, she is one of my all time favorite authors. She is so talented it is scary.
Bottom line: If you enjoyed Futhermore, you will love Whichwood. It is perfect for fans of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and other childhood fantasy tales. I am pounding my fists on the table demanding more Alice, Oliver and everyone else! Get ready to go on a magical adventure with Whichwood. This is a book you do not want to miss.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Whichwood is a middle grade fantasy novel by Taherah Mafi. Even though this book is technically middle grade, I think it will appeal to fans of young adult books. It is a very detailed and long novel, and rather dark in some parts, and it felt like upper middle grade/lower young adult to me. I read, and really loved Furthermore last year. (you can check out my review here) So, I was super excited when I saw that a companion novel set in the same world was going to be released. So, it should come as no surprise that I absolutely loved Whichwood as well. It is a delightful book.
Whichwood follows our main character, Laylee, who lives in the village of Whichwood. Whichwood is set in the same world as the village of Farenwood, but it is a totally different place. Farenwood is a town where colors come to life, and Whichwood is a town that is in stark contrast. Laylee finds herself becoming more and more colorless as her job takes its' toll. Laylee is a mordeshoor, someone who prepares dead bodies and their souls for their afterlife. Laylee, much like Alice from Furthermore finds herself on an adventure. She meets Alice and Oliver from the first book and together they set off on an adventure which leads them to all kinds of whimsical and fantastical creatures and characters and colors. I want to see the Furthermore series brought to life on the big screen because I feel like it would be perfect in the style of Tim Burton and the new Alice in Wonderland (with Johnny Depp). I again read this book in one very long afternoon turned late night because I couldn't put it down. Tahereh Mafi is a master story teller. I love her young adult Shatter Me series, and seeing her hand at middle grade was insta love for me. Fans of Whimsical writing will become enchanted with the Furthermore series.
I love that Alice and Oliver play such a prominaent role in Whichwood. I fell in love with them in Furthermore and I was super excited to see them take part in Laylee's story. Now all we need is Oliver's story!! (And I won't take no for an answer to that one.) The books in the Furthermore series, can technically be read as standalones. However; I would suggest reading them in order because there is a lot of character overlap. Plus, the world is so fantastical that you will want to read all of the books set in it.
I can't get over how beautifully done this book is. From the absolutely perfect cover, to the magnificent writing, the pictures that Tahereh Mafi is able to paint with her words are downright magical. I know what Ferenwood, and now the village of Whichwood look like, and if they have a movie they better pay as much attention to the details and descriptions of scenes as Tahereh does because she lays it all out in such a perfectly described and richly detailed way. As far as descriptive writing goes, she is one of my all time favorite authors. She is so talented it is scary.
Bottom line: If you enjoyed Futhermore, you will love Whichwood. It is perfect for fans of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and other childhood fantasy tales. I am pounding my fists on the table demanding more Alice, Oliver and everyone else! Get ready to go on a magical adventure with Whichwood. This is a book you do not want to miss.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Trapped is a romantic suspense novel by Rhonda Pollero. It is the third book in the Finding Justice Series. The Finding Justice series follows a set of brothers, but each of the books can be read as standalones. This was the first book in the series I have read, and I didn't have any problems following the story and the characters. Trapped really did read like a true standalone. I enjoyed both the romance and the suspense aspect of the story, though maybe I did enjoy the romance aspect a tad bit more.
Trapped follows Declan and Chasyn. I was initially attracted to this book because of the legal aspect of the story. I am a sucker for anything having to do with law. And I did enjoy the trial part of the story, but Chasyn's character fell a little short for me. She is a paralegal, which I thought was a great tie in. But sometimes I just couldn't figure out why she was doing some of the things she was doing. More often than not though, I did like her. And I loved Declan. He more than made up for the few times she annoyed me. Declan is super protective, and he is a great private investigator. He made the story for me.
Overall, Trapped was a great romance and a good suspense. I figured out what was going on but I have probably read more plot lines than the average reader, so I like to think that gives me an edge. (Maybe not, though? What do you think?) Fans of romantic suspense that favor the romance side will really enjoy this story. If you like legal thrillers, you should check out Trapped. I think I will add the first two books in the Finding Justice series to my wishlist to check out as well.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Trapped is a romantic suspense novel by Rhonda Pollero. It is the third book in the Finding Justice Series. The Finding Justice series follows a set of brothers, but each of the books can be read as standalones. This was the first book in the series I have read, and I didn't have any problems following the story and the characters. Trapped really did read like a true standalone. I enjoyed both the romance and the suspense aspect of the story, though maybe I did enjoy the romance aspect a tad bit more.
Trapped follows Declan and Chasyn. I was initially attracted to this book because of the legal aspect of the story. I am a sucker for anything having to do with law. And I did enjoy the trial part of the story, but Chasyn's character fell a little short for me. She is a paralegal, which I thought was a great tie in. But sometimes I just couldn't figure out why she was doing some of the things she was doing. More often than not though, I did like her. And I loved Declan. He more than made up for the few times she annoyed me. Declan is super protective, and he is a great private investigator. He made the story for me.
Overall, Trapped was a great romance and a good suspense. I figured out what was going on but I have probably read more plot lines than the average reader, so I like to think that gives me an edge. (Maybe not, though? What do you think?) Fans of romantic suspense that favor the romance side will really enjoy this story. If you like legal thrillers, you should check out Trapped. I think I will add the first two books in the Finding Justice series to my wishlist to check out as well.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Hangry is a contemporary romantic comedy by author Lily Kate. I thoroughly enjoyed Hangry. For those of you that don't know, Hangry is a word to describe people that get angry or irritable when they are hungry. It is just as hilarious as the title and summary lead you to believe that it is. This book had me laughing pretty much non-stop from beginning to end. If you are looking for a book that is a flat out good time, give Hangry a try. I can't wait to read more novels from Lily Kate.
Hangry is a romance as well. It is the story of Lexi and Bradley. Lexi cannot stand Bradley, but when she gets so hangry she can't stand it anymore she "sells her soul" for a hamburger. (Seriously, just thinking about this book has me grinning like a fool.) Lexi and Bradley are hilarious together. There is tons of URST, and the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts!
Whatever you do, don't write this book off as something silly. Yes, the humor is present throughout and yes, the book is funny as heck, but the romance is full of heart and all the warm fuzzies. I think Hangry is the perfect book for anyone that loves a great romance with a healthy dose of humor. The characters are fantastic as well. I think Hangry would be great for fans of Nicole Archer and Penny Reid. I really loved this book. It was a great time from the first page until the last.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Hangry is a romance as well. It is the story of Lexi and Bradley. Lexi cannot stand Bradley, but when she gets so hangry she can't stand it anymore she "sells her soul" for a hamburger. (Seriously, just thinking about this book has me grinning like a fool.) Lexi and Bradley are hilarious together. There is tons of URST, and the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts!
Whatever you do, don't write this book off as something silly. Yes, the humor is present throughout and yes, the book is funny as heck, but the romance is full of heart and all the warm fuzzies. I think Hangry is the perfect book for anyone that loves a great romance with a healthy dose of humor. The characters are fantastic as well. I think Hangry would be great for fans of Nicole Archer and Penny Reid. I really loved this book. It was a great time from the first page until the last.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD is a middle grade adventure story by authors and friends Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos. The Adventurer's Guild was a ton of fun! I really enjoyed this book. And can I just go off on a tangent really quickly to mention how detailed and gorgeous this book is? From the absolutely stunning map end pages, to the wonderfully designed chapter pages, I really love all the detail that went into the hardcover version of this book. It gets an A+!
I love a good middle grade novel. And I love a good adventure novel filled with magic. And The Adventurer's Guild knocked both of those loves out of the ball park. This was a great book! The Adventurer's Guild follows two friends, Zed and Brock. I loved their friendship. What I loved the most about it, is that the boys come from different class levels in the story. Brock is expected to join the merchants because of his wealthy family. And Zed wants to make his mark on the Mage's. But they both end up in the Adventurer's Guild, and off they go!
The world Zack and Nick have created is so vibrant and vivid. I feel like it is the perfect setting for a middle grade novel. Speaking of age groups, I feel like this novel will appeal to both readers of middle grade and young adult. I see great crossover appeal here. You meet a whole cast of characters and creatures in The Adventurer's Guild, but I think my favorite (other than our two main characters) were the dangers. Not because I liked them, but because I didn't expect them to be a flippin' creepy and scary as they were. They have doll like faces that split open to reveal their true beast underneath. They creeped me out!
Bottom line: I am completely in love with the world of The Adventurer's Guild. It was a fun novel with great characters and a world I want more of. It is the perfect fantasy adventure novel for fans of middle grade and young adult a like. I can't wait for book two!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD is a middle grade adventure story by authors and friends Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos. The Adventurer's Guild was a ton of fun! I really enjoyed this book. And can I just go off on a tangent really quickly to mention how detailed and gorgeous this book is? From the absolutely stunning map end pages, to the wonderfully designed chapter pages, I really love all the detail that went into the hardcover version of this book. It gets an A+!
I love a good middle grade novel. And I love a good adventure novel filled with magic. And The Adventurer's Guild knocked both of those loves out of the ball park. This was a great book! The Adventurer's Guild follows two friends, Zed and Brock. I loved their friendship. What I loved the most about it, is that the boys come from different class levels in the story. Brock is expected to join the merchants because of his wealthy family. And Zed wants to make his mark on the Mage's. But they both end up in the Adventurer's Guild, and off they go!
The world Zack and Nick have created is so vibrant and vivid. I feel like it is the perfect setting for a middle grade novel. Speaking of age groups, I feel like this novel will appeal to both readers of middle grade and young adult. I see great crossover appeal here. You meet a whole cast of characters and creatures in The Adventurer's Guild, but I think my favorite (other than our two main characters) were the dangers. Not because I liked them, but because I didn't expect them to be a flippin' creepy and scary as they were. They have doll like faces that split open to reveal their true beast underneath. They creeped me out!
Bottom line: I am completely in love with the world of The Adventurer's Guild. It was a fun novel with great characters and a world I want more of. It is the perfect fantasy adventure novel for fans of middle grade and young adult a like. I can't wait for book two!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Body Parts by Jessica Kapp is a young adult science fiction. I don't read a ton of science fiction/ dystopian fiction, but every now and again one sounds too good to pass up. Body Parts was that novel that sounded too good for me to pass up. I loved the concept of a world that has a pill to fix almost anything. Of course, a lot of the fixes were superficial, but some of them were almost super power like. It was really interesting. However, the pills came at a cost. (Just like in the real world.) the pills call stress and failure of some organs.
Our main character Tabitha is being trained with others her age to try and make them attractive candidates for adoption. I liked Tabitha. She was a character that I developed an attachment to more and more as the book went on. But I wouldn't say Body Parts was a very character driven story. It was more plot driven. Initially, I was super interested in the plot because the whole set up intrigued me. But then the pacing started lose me a bit. But once I got past a little slump the book picked up for me again and I was immersed until the end. Another thing I liked about the story was the romance. I wasn't expecting there to be any romance in this story, because the summary didn't hint at much, but there was actually a really nice romance developing.
I think what I enjoyed most about the story was that it wasn't 100% far fetched for me. Our society loves a quick fix, so it is easy to see science progressing to the point that more and more of these quick fix pills will pop up. But of course, nothing is perfect, so the side effects can be dire. It is something I would love to see explored in other books. I am really really intrigued by this idea. I enjoyed Jessica Kapp's take on the story. I am happy to say that I really enjoyed Body Parts.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Body Parts by Jessica Kapp is a young adult science fiction. I don't read a ton of science fiction/ dystopian fiction, but every now and again one sounds too good to pass up. Body Parts was that novel that sounded too good for me to pass up. I loved the concept of a world that has a pill to fix almost anything. Of course, a lot of the fixes were superficial, but some of them were almost super power like. It was really interesting. However, the pills came at a cost. (Just like in the real world.) the pills call stress and failure of some organs.
Our main character Tabitha is being trained with others her age to try and make them attractive candidates for adoption. I liked Tabitha. She was a character that I developed an attachment to more and more as the book went on. But I wouldn't say Body Parts was a very character driven story. It was more plot driven. Initially, I was super interested in the plot because the whole set up intrigued me. But then the pacing started lose me a bit. But once I got past a little slump the book picked up for me again and I was immersed until the end. Another thing I liked about the story was the romance. I wasn't expecting there to be any romance in this story, because the summary didn't hint at much, but there was actually a really nice romance developing.
I think what I enjoyed most about the story was that it wasn't 100% far fetched for me. Our society loves a quick fix, so it is easy to see science progressing to the point that more and more of these quick fix pills will pop up. But of course, nothing is perfect, so the side effects can be dire. It is something I would love to see explored in other books. I am really really intrigued by this idea. I enjoyed Jessica Kapp's take on the story. I am happy to say that I really enjoyed Body Parts.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
MOST VALUABLE PLAYBOY is a standalone sports romance by Lauren Blakely. I was super excited for this book for two reasons. One, it is written by Lauren Blakely, and I love her romances and two it is written in the guy’s POV! I am such a huge fan of romances written in the guy's point of view. I just love to get inside their heads and live for awhile, and I know I am not the only person who feels that way. You will all be happy to know that I absolutely LOVED Most Valuable Playboy. It was everything I was looking for in a sports romance and more. It might even be my very favorite Lauren Blakely book to date!
Most Valuable Playboy is the story of Cooper and Violet. There are so many of my favorite Tropes in this story, I don't even know where to start. We have a fake relationship, we have guy's point of view, we have best friend's sister. So many yeses!!! So many! Honestly, I think anyone who is a fan of sports romances will fall in love with this book. I think it is perfect for so many different kinds of readers.
Cooper is awesome. He is cocky, but also sweet (and a bit sour at times). And Violet is great. Since Violet and Cooper have known each other for most of their lives, it was so easy to see that their connection was pretty genuine and deep from the start. Even when it wasn't romantic, and that is my favorite way to start a connection. I loved seeing these two together. And then when you throw in Lauren Blakely's huge talent for writing sass, humor and romance, you have a winning combination. Lauren Blakely is officially on my auto buy authors list. I have loved everything she has written! And this is a fantastic book. I loved Most Valuable Playboy.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
MOST VALUABLE PLAYBOY is a standalone sports romance by Lauren Blakely. I was super excited for this book for two reasons. One, it is written by Lauren Blakely, and I love her romances and two it is written in the guy’s POV! I am such a huge fan of romances written in the guy's point of view. I just love to get inside their heads and live for awhile, and I know I am not the only person who feels that way. You will all be happy to know that I absolutely LOVED Most Valuable Playboy. It was everything I was looking for in a sports romance and more. It might even be my very favorite Lauren Blakely book to date!
Most Valuable Playboy is the story of Cooper and Violet. There are so many of my favorite Tropes in this story, I don't even know where to start. We have a fake relationship, we have guy's point of view, we have best friend's sister. So many yeses!!! So many! Honestly, I think anyone who is a fan of sports romances will fall in love with this book. I think it is perfect for so many different kinds of readers.
Cooper is awesome. He is cocky, but also sweet (and a bit sour at times). And Violet is great. Since Violet and Cooper have known each other for most of their lives, it was so easy to see that their connection was pretty genuine and deep from the start. Even when it wasn't romantic, and that is my favorite way to start a connection. I loved seeing these two together. And then when you throw in Lauren Blakely's huge talent for writing sass, humor and romance, you have a winning combination. Lauren Blakely is officially on my auto buy authors list. I have loved everything she has written! And this is a fantastic book. I loved Most Valuable Playboy.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs