I AM GOOD WITH THIS CONCLUSION.

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I feel like I’ve worked really hard to get to this point because these books are THIIIICK. And here I am, finished. And I did like the ending a lot!! Things were wrapped up well and got plenty of happy endings for the entire cast.

What is still over my head is some aspects of the magic system. I can’t go into detail because of spoilers, but the time travel + magic artifacts + different timeline saga threw me through a loop occasionally. It mostly worked out enough at least.

I enjoyed these characters and I like the romance aspects weren’t locked up in miscommunication or third act break-up kind of stuff. Everyone worked together to defeat the evil terrorizing the foundation of magic and I love those kind of found family aspects.

If you’re in for a long haul series with multiple romances, historical fiction, time travel, magic, mayhem and more. Maybe try this on audio! I do love the audiobooks and it made some of the longer pacing balance out better.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical Fiction + Urban Fantasy
- Language: some
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, homophobia, near death experiences, magical and physical altercations, kidnapping 

PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAY.

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Well this was just real dang sweet. If you’re looking for low angst, closed door, reformed bad boys and hockey? Read this. Easy.

I liked a lot of this book, more-so the second half. There was good chemistry between Poppy and Dallas and there were some prime moments that I am ALWAYS here for (protective heroes are my jam). I truly thought they got along well and I liked the fake dating aspects too. AND that they both were vocal about their wants and needs as well. There’s a very light hearted vibe to this that made me feel good and I love books that do that.

There’s some tiny tidbits here and there I didn’t love. I don’t love gossip-type magazine chapters. I really can’t stand mean girl side characters. And the grand gesture at the end left me with a little bit of second hand embarrassment (and didn’t fit the MMC’s character throughout the book).

Besides those small things I like the fluttery butterfly feeling this book gives. They’re some GREAT kissing scenes and I officially want to go on a binge read of all things sports romance. I loooove when I can find a closed door sports romance.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Sports Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: incarcerated parent, car accident 

INVESTED AGAIN.

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I finally feel after finishing this that I am back to being invested (and understanding) of everything happening. Though the book is THICK the review won’t be because these type of epic fantasy books are too hard not to spoil.

Character progression wise I like that there was a difference in general. Some positive and some I’m just curious about. And yay for Perrin being back too! Now that I can better remember everyone I like how things are currently going.

I do not love some of the quirks of Jordan’s writing. Especially about the women. I don’t know, there’s some things that make my head tilt.

Highly recommend listening to these books. The audio is amazing and makes moving through these books a much smoother process.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: a little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: large scale battle themes, physical and magical altercations, loss of life, kidnapping, near death experiences 

GREAT STARTER.

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I have been waiting to read this since hearing about it and I was not disappointed. I thought it was a good start to a series. Had everything I needed to want to keep going and find out what happens next.

You know in contemporaries with a meddling grandma? I don’t usually love those. But you know what I DO love? Meddling gods. And I can’t wait to see how this crew causes some chaos. I liked the world building alongside getting to meet a few of them. It was a good balance of understanding who was who and also their place in the world.

I looove warrior type FMC’s and Ophelia easily embodies that. I loved her and the whole found family crew!! I love found families. I easily fall in love with everybody and I need everyone to be happy in the end okay?! I loved getting to know all of these characters too.

The romance was very different from anything I’ve read in romantasy. It had a unique set-up that I was curious to see play out and now I just feel even more excited to see how that goes. It did take me a little bit to be interested with the reversal of storyline BUT they had me in the feels by the reunion.

Personally, I struggle with road trip type plots so for me there was a bit too much traveling. Otherwise though, I think this was a fantastic debut. Easily recommend for any fantasy romance lovers and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: some
- Romance: one open door; + fade to black
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved one, torture, animal attacks, physical and weapons violence, murder, near death experiences 

NEED THE SEQUEL.

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This was a good starter book!! I enjoyed a lot of it and have definite plans to pick up the next book.

The beginning gets you on the edge of your seat real quick. I liked all of the action and intense fight scenes. Within that I do think the middle got a little repetitive with how many fight scenes there were. I was looking for a bit more character building or something else not endless streams of altercations. I did like Ari too. She is clearly on a big character arc and for the beginning of the series I am happy to watch this journey for her.

Note: there is a love triangle!!! It does add a level of angst and making me want to shake a few characters BUT I do think with a longer series it’s going to create some drama that I look forward to (as long as I’m on the right side….).

I liked most of the world building. I felt like that was unveiled well and some good answers about the trolls were given. What I’m still confused about is the magic system. I’m not sure why certain people have certain things and I need some answers on that front.

A solid start. Brutal, intense and a dash of romance. I liked this one a whole lot. Can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, physical and magical altercations, creature attacks, plague-like sickness, near death experience, weapons violence 

Thank you to Whimsical Publishing for the eARC.

CAPTIVATING.

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I just wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic young adult read and as a standalone I thought it encompassed everything needed to close off story lines and feel satisfied by the book as a whole.

The romance was SO DANG SWEET. A super low angst, unlikely partners to friends to lovers. I loved all of the tender forehead and temple kisses. The encouragement Foster and Ezren gave each other to keep going and the way they took care of each other. They were a partnership you wanted to cheer for and cheer for them I did!

And it was absolutely filled will ALL the action. Brutal storms and intense physical matches that sped the pace and my heartrate. I kind of love race themed books because you never know quite who’s going to actually win and how that plays into the story itself. I liked the mystery aspects within the sub-plots that brought this entire book together. Everything was well balanced and I continually wanted to pick this up and see what happened next.

Easily recommend. Fits perfectly into the YA category as well (i.e. appropriate for the actual age group). Wonderful characters, high action, adorable romance and an all around great read.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Sci-Fi
- Language: a little, light
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences, loss of life, physical altercations, blood depiction, major weather systems 

NOT MY FAVORITE.

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The only other Quinn book I’ve read with The Diamond Eye and I LOVED it. When I happen to pick up this one I was hoping for the same kind of experience but I’m left wanting more. I think mood wise I wasn’t quite prepared for all of the topics covered (see trigger warnings because there’s a lot).

I felt let down by one of the plot lines. I thought there would be a different kind of reveal and when that wasn’t the case I then was left with some thoughts about the plot overall. It was as if it was missing some larger over arching story rather than the meandering story that was given.

The ending was very intense and that was one of the few times I felt really invested in everything happening. And I did like the characters for the most part too. Like I said, this book was FINE. But that’s it for me.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical fiction
- Language: some strong
- Romance: fade to black
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: antisemitism, Nazism, sexual assault, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, blood/gore depiction, emesis, death of a child, torture, stalking, drinking/smoking while pregnant 

THE FEELS.

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I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time and it flat out DELIVERED. I loved it so much.

The main characters, Olivia and Lachlan had the best chemistry. I could feel the heat from miles away. Some fantastic banter intermixed with a bit of an enemies to lovers vibe AND THEN you throw in marriage of convenience?? SOLD. Perfect blend.

I love the slow build between them. The burn is long and low and really allowed both characters to come to turn with the past grievances and where they are now. I LOVED all of the tiny little moments. I was going to combust from the heat of the kissing scenes. Good heavens, closed door romances can still bring it the steam y’all.

It took Olivia a little longer than I hoped for to come around to her work issues BUT I liked how that ended up playing into the third act. Yes, there’s a third act conflict, and you might be surprised but it didn’t phase me much. I was here for the emotions, the need for growth and the separation that had to occur.

Loved this book. Read it.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: poor workplace situations (abuse of power), parental neglect 

Thank you to Book Club Favorites and Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy.

BRING THE DRAMA.

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You can sometimes easily know what you’re getting into from a book by the summary. In this case, I knew allllll the momma drama was coming my way and by leaning right into it, I enjoyed this one! It was a fantastic audiobook with multiple narrators that brought out another dimension to the story.

I liked the murder mystery the most. I honestly didn’t know who committed what and kept pointing my finger at the wrong person. It’s super fast paced and a compulsive kind of read that has a bit of an edge too.

Character wise, I didn’t love or hate anyone. I feel like they all played their roles well and each brought a little bit of something to the story. I like seeing things from multiple angles and Regrets Only brought that dynamic for me.

Not my usual genre, but definitely a nice switch up.

Overall audience notes:
- Mystery/Thriller
- Language: some strong
- Romance: fade to black
- Violence: murder, gun violence, physical altercations 

POUNDING HEARTS INDEED.

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I had seen a review before I started this that mentioned the FMC is a bit of a punk (more or less) for the first half of the book. I can agree with that sentiment and am glad I knew that going in because it allowed me to give her space to grow (even when I was frustrated). Here’s your sign to push through!

BECAUSE IT GETS SO GOOD.

There’s something really magnetic about Wildenstein’s writing that kept me enthralled. I usually like to juggle multiple books at once and you won’t find that here because I kept wanting to see this story progress.

I loooove Lore. He’s the perfect dark, broody lead that I know we all love. I thought there was great banter between him and Fallon and there was some solid relationship development too. I appreciated the slow burn aspect that let the characters shine first before steam was added in.

For a plot surrounding war I thought there would be a little more action (seems like it’s coming though!). I adore all of the friendships and tight knit group that has been formed over the first two books. This is of course a romance, but the other scenes play in so well that it helps surround the story with even more fullness.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 2-3 open; high explicit
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, kidnapping, weapons violence, physical and magical altercations, battle themes