ettaviereads's Reviews (356)

3.5 ⭐️ 

Though the book picked up where Book 1 ended, the relationships between characters didn’t feel to progress in this book. 

Lou and Reid’s marriage continues to have a weird feel to it and Reid coming into his magic brings some unnecessary tension between him and Lou. 

The lead up to the climax of the story felt a little more drawn out and I was more frustrated with Lou than enjoying her as a character. 

I am not sure if I will continue the series at this point. 

1 .25🌶️ 

“You should see the back of your dress. I’ll have to cut you out later tonight.” His fingers faltered. “Ah, I meant…” Elden’s words trailed off while he raced to finish the lacing.” 

Thank you to R&R Book Tours and Vermilion H Baine for allowing me to ARC this novel!

This is Vermilion H Baine’s debut novel and it is the first of an interconnected series of standalone novels. The Fey Hotel transports the reader from Seattle, Washington where two sisters with magical powers are employed to help revitalize a hotel on the coast called Refuge on the Moor after its change in ownership. 

Elden and Avalon’s working relationship starts off with a lot of tension after Elden refuses to shake Avalon’s hand upon their meeting. As things progress however, Elden and Avalon end up sharing many secrets and the secrets of Refuge on the Moor are also revealed to Avalon and her sister Odette. 

Along with the work that Avalon and Odette are doing to revitalize the hotel and support Elden’s transition to managing it, Avalon ends up accidentally portalling into the Fey realm and revealing her biggest personal secret. Upon revealing her secret, Avalon is deemed a potential threat to Refuge on the Moor and the rest of the plot builds from there. 

A story full of secrets, witty banter, bargains with Fey, and major slow burn, provides readers with a great introduction to Baine’s work. The plot twists and strength the characters show helps keep readers interested and willing to return to the story if they put it down. 

Overall, an excellent debut novel with likeable characters and a lighthearted feel. 

The general plot for this book was pretty good. It flowed well and the dual location timelines kept things interesting. 

I could definitely have done without the incest thoughts from one of the characters towards his sister. Even if they aren’t biologically related. 

I’m not sure if I will continue this series at this point. We will see. 

3.5 🌶️ 

This was an interesting premise but I’m realizing that contemporary romances aren’t my style. 

The characters went through minor development IMO and I wasn’t a huge fan of the “date my boss” kind of vibe. Also the 3rd act break up could have been left out and the overall story would have been fine. 

The ending was strange from my normal reads and it was too “mushy” for how much brooding the two main characters did throughout the book. 

If you like contemporary romances, third act break ups, brooding MMCs, and strong female friendships, then this book might still be for you. 

Three days from start to finish for this book was way better than I anticipated as a full time momma this week. A debut novel by a Canadian author has left me begging for the end of February so I can read the second book. 

Kot sends the reader into Edenvale where Curses and the Old Gods are shunned but the New Gods are cherished.

Sage is a badass FMC who is strong willed and quick to question motives. She is deeply devoted to her found family -Ezra and Kaleb- and feels deeply for the Cursed ones who are Cleansed. 

Von is the dark, mysterious, drop dead gorgeous MMC with “touch her and ☠️” vibes and jealous tendencies. He’s the epitome of sexy male lead with a dark backstory, a taste for the blood of his lover, and an overly protective side that makes me swoon over fictional men. 

Therapy banter and slow burn between the main couple was perfection. The steamy scenes got my heart racing even with the characters going only as far as oral. I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the second book because I am desperate for the full home run for both of the characters. 

Finally, the side characters provide stability, friendship, and multiple levels of betrayal which leads the reader to contemplate how a person would handle specific situations when given the chance. 

 The Avalon Trials was nothing like I had originally expected, the main female character, Cordy, is a woman in her mid-thirties that has been lying to her boss and to her childhood best friend for a long time, when suddenly, she’s faced with the inevitable day where she needs to inform Will that he might be the 2nd coming of King Arthur. 

 

As a woman in my thirties myself, I think that Thiele wrote Cordy’s character perfectly, with all the flaws and challenges that a woman in their 30s face, especially when single and having to break news to their BFF. Cordy also has the challenges of being paired with a hot sorcerer to help Will reach Excalibur via the trials on the hidden island of Avalon. 

 

Avalon is an island that gives trials to the chosen candidates based on what it learns from the candidates at the time continues. The three trials are individually crafted with minimal safe-havens for the characters to take a break, recoup, and recover. Obviously, trials wouldn’t be intense enough without an impending doomsday timeline, which pushes the Avalonian Candidate party towards their end goal of reaching Excalibur. 

 

Since the island of Avalon is working against the party, you would think that would be enough for the characters to manage, however, Thiele also crafts multiple antagonist groups apart from the island itself, which poses problems for Will, Cordy, and the rest of the Guardian party. 

 

Overall, this book was full of adventure, angst, relationship building, magic, and deep themes which made me wanting to dive back into it whenever I had to complete adult duties. 

The second book of the Frost and Nectar series finds Torin and Ava launched through a portal, fighting for their lives and their love with some new twists. 

The book picks up immediately after the ending of Frost and the pace for the novel is similar to the first book. There is less world building than a traditional fantasy book when characters enter a new place but the lack of detail doesn’t detract from the overall plot. 

I enjoyed the dual POVs of Torin and Ava but also the added POV of Shalini who didn’t cross through the portal with Ava and Torin. 

Most of the “plot twists” were quite predictable but it was a nice read nonetheless. Ending with a HEA and clear finish to this duology was an excellent way to be introduced to CN Crawford’s work. I will definitely pick up another book by her in the future. 

Mac Ford is a girl with a past she can barely remember but has major scarring across the left side over her body, most of which she has decided to cover with tattoos. Daniel is the second in command of a notorious gang but is out searching for his sister’s kiIler. 

With short chapters, a good amount of spice without being overkill, Mac and Daniel work together to solve his sister’s murder. 

Though this book’s synopsis didn’t give me much idea about what was going to happen, I went in apprehensive because it’s outside of my preferred genre. Thankfully, Boldt hooked me right away with the dual point of view (with a few chapters from a third character) that left me with more and more questions as the book progressed. Boldt artfully threw plot twists into the story that kept me on my toes about what would be revealed next. Some plot twists weren’t predictable but not down to the details that were provided in the story. 

If you like morally grey characters, murder mysteries, thrillers, girls with scars, gang member men, then give this book a shot!