I NEED MORE.

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Trezim is definitely one of my favorite characters in this series. I jumped at this novella because how could I not read this?! It was short, sweet, and to the point.

I actually really liked the development of his quick relationship with Sefia. The way the pair/bonding system works in this series is well crafted and believable. While things moved speedily I was still swept up in the romantics of it all. The kiss scenes were on point.

I wonder how this will play into the third book for this series. There’s a lot going on in just over 100 pages and I think it’ll tie in well. I love Trezim and his new bride and can’t wait for them to meet back up with Emry and Declan.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy novella
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: physical altercations, magic attacks

3.5 stars

Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!

CUTE AND LIGHT.

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This was a nice, light, fluffy read. I liked the fast pace and am legitimately considering a future career in floral design. I want to work with flowers all day like Haley.

Haley had me laughing often with how much junk food she eats. Wow I wish I could eat like her all the time. She’s a quirky character with a lot of charm. I loved her style and charm. Austin was a good love interest. He seemed to be a good match for Haley. I liked a lot of their banter, but had a hard time with some of their meet-ups. They didn’t seem organic. Some of the places they went seemed to be forcing an idea rather than letting things happen naturally.

This was an enemies to lovers book, but really light on the enemies. There wasn’t a huge amount of animosity over the workplace situation. I was hoping for a bit more angst, yet I guess that this could also be a plus. It’s a light-hearted read which also can hit really well at the right time. I wish some of the sabotaging didn’t continue on so long. Gratefully the ending seemed to satisfy that resolution with how both characters felt about what happened.

I thought this was sweet and definitely a pick-me-up type of read. And what I always love about this author’s books are the epilogues. Totally cheesy and I’m not even sorry about how much I love them.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses

NOT SUBTLE.

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That’s the biggest takeaway I got from this. And I am also realizing, I like things a lot more subtle.

Everything started off really well. I love the setting and environment. The mix of Greek gods and mythology is always fascinating to me and it’s no different here. I would have loved some more world-building because I occasionally got lost in the hierarchies of different realms.

I looooved this audio book narration though. Great changes between characters and I really fell into the sweeping way the narrator told the story.

The romance between Griffin and Cat was in your face from the beginning. I was hoping for a bit more will they/won’t they, but alas that was not the case. Within my personal tastes it was also verrrrry steamy and I found myself skipping sections to get back to the story. And I didn’t love Griffin by the end either. His intensity and what I felt was a lack of willingness to even hear Cat’s side of the story really rubbed me the wrong way. He was insistent about HIS wants and desires and I felt Cat getting neglected.

I don’t plan on picking up the next one. This was a difference in preferences for me so don’t let my review hold you back. It was great writing and the story is woven in there.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy romance
- Language: none
- Romance: everything from kisses to multiple very open door/descriptive scenes
- Violence: murder, battles/skirmishes, physical altercations, magical attacks, creature attacks
- Trigger warnings: abusive parents

CUTE AND QUIRKY.

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A quick young adult contemporary romance. Filled with friends to lovers and fake dating.

I found this to be a really easy and fast read (I listened to it as an audio book). The characters were fun, definitely high school, and made me laugh and roll my eyes.

The romance was without a doubt my favorite part. It’s usually hard for me to be smitten with a friends to lovers trope, but I adored Becks. He was precious, angsty, and I love a soccer player so all good things. I thought Sally was a mostly charming heroine. A bit aloof and clueless at times, but didn’t find her overly annoying or anything of that nature.

What I did find annoying was Sally’s best friend, Hooker. Holy cow, she would NOT leave Sally alone and it was infuriating. I would hate to be continually put on dates, at 17, JUST because I haven’t dated anyone yet. Who cares? Maybe Sally didn’t want to date? Nobody, especially her best friend (and also her Mom was in on the blind dates) should be forcing her to meet all of these guys. It’s her choice and I couldn’t handle how ignorant Hooker was.

There were a lot of pop culture references. A lot. Most landed well, but at times I felt they were forced and putting them in didn’t enhance the story. A cute, and quick read, and at least a nice change of pace from the heavy books I’d been reading.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult contemporary romance
- Language: some mild/strong
- Romance: kisses / make-outs
- Violence: physical alteraction

I enjoyed this! A quick read with a bit of back story and an extended epilogue.

Love Cardan ❤️❤️❤️ (& Jude!)

2.5 stars

MISSING SOMETHING.

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Picked up on a while from Kindle Unlimited.

Not a winner for me (but could be for you!). These are just my thoughts.

I liked where this was initially heading. New adult, fae, enemies to lovers, all a good mix that I’m generally a fan of. I had issues with the combination.

For new adult, this still felt very YA. Which isn’t bad, just not what I expected. With older characters, I felt like there should be an older vibe to it all, and had a hard time seeing through to that level. The writing style does seem to blend well between the two authors. I never noticed any glaring differences between the voices or different pieces written. The pacing was fine everywhere except the romance. It wasn’t isnta-love (yay), it didn’t line up though. I felt that they were both more rude and standoffish to each other then flipped randomly into being into each other. I was missing the sassy banter that I love.

The plot is good and intriguing. I have plenty of questions and enough was left open for the series to continue. The antagonist was definitely a prick that tried his best to put fear into those around him. I liked both main characters overall. They both had faults and strengths that you could see and find value in.

Overall audience notes:
- New adult paranormal fantasy romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: murder, physical, torture, animal attacks
- Trigger warnings: brief mention of someone being raped (a side character), loss of a loved on

CREEPY AND QUICK.

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These books are so fun! I love the light layer of spooky ghosts and that have definitely creepy moments, but also the friendships and growth in characters makes these even better.

I loved getting a deeper dive into Cassidy and Jacob’s friendship. I’ve had many a question about Jacob from the beginning and it was nice getting some of that information. They have some deep conflicts to encounter in future book(s) that my heart worries for, but also really can’t wait to read.

This setting was perfect for a paranormal read. I love that history is mixed into the plot. Learning about the Paris catacombs, getting a few ghosts stories, and much more. I was freaked out myself from even imagining being stuck in those tombs.

The ending left plenty open and has me wondering what the next book will hold in New Orleans. I love that these focus on friendship and solving mysteries. Cassidy and Jacob are such a pair.

Overall audience notes:
- Middle grade paranormal contemporary mystery
- Language: none
- Violence: physical altercations, uncovering deathly pasts of ghosts

OKAY, LOVED THIS.

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I’m easily swayed by all things dinosaurs. This was no exception. I was clearly smitten from the beginning and I have definitely ordered book two.

When I see a tagline, I often ignore them because they really don’t live up to the comparison. The Hunger Games + Jurassic Park? I can actually say this book felt exactly that way. Our dear characters are put into a trial to see who’s going to the land of the dinosaurs. Once there, they start to realize that clearly those above them know more that’s going on then they’re willing to tell. Not to mention, all of the DINOSAURS. So yes, I was pleasantly surprised that I was not let down at all by this.

I love these characters. Stormchaser and Lincoln both have some flaws, and opinions they’re unwilling to compromise on. I like that along with their flaws, there’s many strengths. I love that their conflicts weren’t absurd and Stormchaser and Lincoln both found ways to lean on each other when needed. Future romance? I would not be opposed to that.

This story is really interesting! There’s opinions on both sides on whether or not the dinosaurs need to go or if they can cohabitate with humans. I feel there’s so much more to this world that I can’t wait to explore.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult dystopia
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: dinosaur attacks (not overly brutal), physical altercations, murder

YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION.

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Well this held my attention from the get-go.

How trippy to find out you’re all of a sudden an heiress because someone decided to give you all of their money? WhOa.

What a wild mansion. I loved that there was so much to the entire house. The random tunnels, hidden spaces, the amount of rooms, all of it. Without such a obscene amount of rooms to create this land there wouldn’t have been a story. It added many adrenaline pumping moments and times where I was taken by surprise.

The riddles were brilliant and well put together. I love when I can’t solve things right away because it really adds to the mystery and suspense of the novel.

Throw in a group of four brothers with hidden pasts and their own issues and we’ve got a ourselves some side characters. I loved these Hawthorne brothers!! What didn’t I love? That dang love triangle. Boooooo. It wasn’t too much of a distraction, but the stronger feelings became the more I was hoping things would go one way or another.

After that bomb drop of an ending I’m invested. I want to know how this sequel works out because I have twice the amount of questions.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult mystery/thriller
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: guns, physical, someone passing away from a heart condition

AT LAST.

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I was hoping this installment was going to give me some things that I needed to happen to want to continue.

THEY DID. So here I am, still fully invested six books in.

In a simple story line there was a lot to unpack. This focused more on Wanda’s romance life and brought us up to speed on where we all know that’s going. I thought it was quirky with everything happening, making me very happy that this mystery was solved. Because I definitely sat here most of the book going, what is happening?!?

All of the reveals had me dropping my jaw, and also saying, I KNEW IT.

Give me a fabulous ending and I’m reading to follow Wanda onto the next mystery. I love the simplicity of these stories and seriously, the absolute coziness. These fit their genre incredibly well and have become a comfort read I can rely on to have a good time.

Overall audience notes:
- Paranormal cozy mystery
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses; some innuendo
- Violence: murder, kidnapping