Review: Another perfect cowboy romance from Elsie Silver! 

 

Picking up where “Flawless” left off, “Heartless” follows Cade Eaton, the world’ grumpier single dad in search of a nanny, and Willa Grant, the fiery woman who takes the job. The arrangement is only meant to last two months, but turns into a lifetime when they both let down their walls and let their love for each other blossom. 

 

Like the first novel in the Chestnut Springs series, this book alternates between the two love interests’ perspectives. Cade and Willa’s personalities are the definition of grumpy x sunshine. Seriously…Cade is as grumpy as they come, resulting in Willa’s opposite personality driving him to the edge of insanity. At the same time, she is the only one to see him for who he is instead of the heartless man others think his circumstances forced him to become. Just like Cade is the only one to help Willa realize her worth. 

 

Their chemistry is not only truly off the charts, but is also well-developed by Silver. I could not get enough of the romantic tension and the small moments they shared like dancing at The Railspur. 

 

Cade’s love for his son Luke in this book is so heartwarming. I appreciate how Silver makes Luke a central character rather than leaving him in the periphery. He plays a large role in helping Willa finding her calling in life as a mother and come to the realization that she fits in with their little family. 

 

This might just be my favorite book of Silver’s, but only time will tell. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series and seeing my other favorite characters find their true love.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through YA Midwest Book Festival in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Susan Lee’s newest release is a fun summer romance!

“The Name Drop” follows Jessica Lee (an aspiring college student) and Elijah Ri (a future CEO) whose identities are mistaken when they arrive in New York City for internships at Haneul Corporation. Rather than give up the charade, the two decide to stay switched so that Elijah can explore life at the bottom of the corporate ladder while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations as the new executive-in-training intern. As they work together to avoid discovery, a spark develops between them that is impossible to ignore. 

I really like how Lee’s novel alternates between the viewpoints of Jessica and Elijah. Both characters lead wildly different lives because of their status in society—Jessica being considered lower middle by American standards and Elijah being considered “elite” by Korean standards—which allows the reader to compare and contrast their respective upbringings and discern how it affects their character motivations. Lee also broaches important topics like sexism and misogyny in relation to Korean culture and the impact such norms have on women through the perspective of Jessica. 

Jessica and Elijah’s chance meeting upon learning that they share the same Korean name is the perfect foundation for their reluctant romance. Before the two even act on the chemistry they have, they develop an easygoing friendship that I loved following. Their shared moments exploring New York together, trying new restaurants, and working together as part of the internship program made made my heart flutter, so much so that when they finally became a couple, I nearly suffered from a cuteness overload. 

I could not recommend this enough to those who love reading upper ya romance books and cannot wait to see what Lee puts out next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: It's official. I’ve entered my cowboy romance era and thanks to this book, I never want to leave. 

 

“Flawless” follows Rhett Eaton, a professional bull rider whose reputation has been ruined after offending one of his biggest sponsors. In an effort to clean up his image, Rhett’s agent places him under his daughter Summer Hamilton’s full-time supervision for the rest of the season. The rules are simple, keep his hands off her and stay out of trouble. But some rules are meant to be broken.  

 

Rhett and Summer’s alternating perspectives are so well written! The two couldn’t be more different personality-wise and Silver establishes this with their respective character voices and characterizations. Having the ability to see their longing for each other from both sides despite their differences was what drew me in and made me equally invested in reading from both of their points-of-view. 

 

Rhett and Summer’s chemistry is what makes this book so special. At first, the two wanted nothing to do with each other and partook in verbal sparring matches. But that quickly transformed into good-natured banter and loving remarks the moment they both came to the realization that their attraction for each wasn’t merely physical. The moment they realized that they supported each other and showed up for each other beyond what their initial arrangement entailed. They CHOSE each other and I don’t have the words to describe the affect that had on me other than saying that my heart nearly burst under the weight of a love I wish I had. 

 

I also really liked the atmosphere that Silver creates surrounding her fictional small town Chestnut Springs. She familiarizes the reader with the Eaton’s usual haunts (like The Railspur pub), their routines on the ranch, and does so with descriptive language that helps the reader visualize the environment. 

 

Additionally, I enjoyed the sports element in this book. Silver familiarizes the reader with the art of bull riding and immerses them in the arena without overwhelming them with information. Every time Rhett mounts a bull, Silver perfectly captures the high stakes environment with Summer’s fear over Rhett getting injured and Rhett’s adrenaline rush in anticipation of another win. 

 

I am proud to say that I am a Silvie and there’s nothing I want to do more than read the rest of this series. Bloom Books, if you’re reading this, help a girl out and send me the next four books!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Ally Condie’s mystery novel is chilling and thought provoking. 

“The Only Girl in Town” is told from the perspective of July Fielding, the only person remaining in her small town of Lithia after everyone else mysteriously disappears. Her only chance at unraveling the mystery and getting back her friends and family is a series of objects and cryptic messages that serve as reminders of her past. 

One of my favorite aspects of this novel are the short, lyrical chapters. Each chapter is around 1-2 pages in length, resulting in a fast paced novel that builds suspense. The cliffhangers and climactic moments in conjunction with the central mystery of “The Only Girl in Town” were gripping, making it impossible for me to put it down. 

I also like how Condie organized the novel’s timeline. The reader jumps back and forth between July’s past and present, trying to piece together the events leading up to her loved ones’ disappearances. I found myself trying to solve the mystery behind their vanishing using the clues that Condie sprinkled throughout and she successfully had me guessing at every turn!

Unfortunately, when the pieces finally came together, I didn’t fully understand what Condie was going for with her big reveal at the end. There were timeline inconsistencies that threw me for a loop and too many elements left up for interpretation. Still, I did resonate with the novel’s commentary on love, loneliness, and letting go of the past. 

Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Guedes debut novel is a delight! 

 

“First Impressions of You” follows Luiza Bento, an aspiring actress facing deportation from the United States. After months of working at a theme park, an opportunity to star in the theater’s next play might just allow her to stay. That is until she discovers that she is starring opposite Winter Davis, a seasoned actor that isn’t too keen on sharing the spotlight with Luiza. Then again, first impressions aren’t always accurate. 

 

I really enjoyed this modernized “Pride and Prejudice” retelling! Guedes uses Austen’s beloved romance novel as the foundation for her own, setting it against a theme park backdrop that creates a cinematic atmosphere for readers. To further diverge from her source material, she also diversifies her cast of characters by providing plus size and Latine representation, which I greatly appreciated. 

 

Winter and Luiza’s workplace romance made my heart flutter! Guedes takes her time in developing their relationship from rivals to lovers, painstakingly detailing Luisa’s prolonged refusal to give in to her feelings. But once she does, the pay off is magical. Luiza and Winter’s chemistry leaps off the page! Their banter and their steamier moments set this book apart from other Austin retellings. 

 

My only wish is that there were more positive interactions between Luiza and her sisters featured on the page. Luiza’s strained relationship with her youngest sister in particular broke my heart, which is a testament to Guedes’ writing in and of itself seeing that I was emotionally invested in her characters. 

 

I look forward to seeing what Guedes puts out next! 

Review: You should read this book and I’m going to do my best to tell you why. 

 

“Babel: An Arcane History” is told primarily from the perspective of Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton who is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell in hopes that he will one day enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation (Babel). Once there, Robin learns the art of Silver-working—manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—and that serving Babel means betraying his motherland. Caught between Babel and putting a stop to imperial expansion, Robin is left with the difficult choice of giving in or fighting back. 

 

“Babel: An Arcane History” is both thought-provoking and incredibly insightful. Kuang challenges colonialism and the patriarchy, captures the complexities in relation to translation, broaches topics like nature versus nurture, and speaks to the necessity of violence with regards to revolution. She stretches the mind, appeals to her reader’s emotions to evoke feeling, and she does all this through her well-developed characters. 

 

The novel’s length allows for the reader to become fully acquainted with Robin and his cohorts. Following Robin throughout the many stages of his life and reading singular chapters written from the point-of-view of other characters like Remy, Letty, and Victoire creates a sense of familiarity surrounding their very real struggles, inner conflicts, motivations, and for some, showcases their development from Babel scholar to revolutionary. Robin’s viewpoint in conjunction with Kuang’s descriptive prose also immerses the reader in the Oxford environment and politics, which contributes greatly to the plot. 

 

Kuang does not hold back in her commentary on race, class, gender, education, and language while masterfully weaving in elements of fantasy and history. I cannot recommend enough that you pick up “Babel: An Arcane History” and see its brilliance for yourself. 

Review: Evidently, the worse the horseman, the harder I fall. 

 

Following the events of “Famine,” “Death” tells the story of Lazarus Gaumond, the one soul Death cannot claim the day he comes to her town and kills everyone in one fell swoop. Determined to stop Death from his killing spree and save the world, Lazarus takes up the hopeless task of seducing him. The longer she tries, the harder it is for the two to ignore the unsettling desire they have for each other. 

 

I LOVED reading from Death’s pov in this book! It was so interesting see the world and humanity through his eyes, dark and eerie as it was. Thalassa did a great job making his character’s voice so different from the very human perspectives dominating the series. Additionally, the inclusion of not only Death’s pov, but Lazarus’ pov allows for the reader to see their longing from all sides. Their romance truly is like no other, the two initially unbending when it came to accomplishing their respective tasks. Watching them eventually abandon those tasks for each other made my heart full. 

 

In my previous reviews of the first three books, I mentioned that they all had similar plot structures and that I was ever for something new to be introduced to the story. Thalassa does just that in this book by giving Lazarus the extraordinary ability that prevents her from being killed. I enjoyed learning the extent of her supernatural ability, where it derived from, and thought that Lazarus’ very existence challenging Death’s power was the perfect foundation for their romance. 

 

Another aspect of this book that I loved was reuniting with the other three horsemen! I adored checking up on them and their interactions with Lazarus lightened an otherwise dark book. 

Review: Only Laura Thalassa would have the power to make me cry over a horseman of the apocalypse. 

 

“Famine” follows Ana da Silva, a former prostitute whose life was once spared by Famine when he first walked the Earth. The second time she encounters him, however, she’s stabbed and left for dead. Finding the strength to survive his brutality and seek revenge, Ana corners him only to be held captive by the horseman. In spite of themselves and everyone they stand for, they are drawn to each other. 

 

In all honesty, I had a very love-hate relationship with Famine as a character. Of all the horsemen, Famine is the least human, having more in common with nature itself. The pain he inflicts on those who he comes across is gruesome and tough to read. As a result, it was harder for me to view his character as redeemable by the novel’s end. 

 

At the same time, I felt deeply for him after learning about his own the horror surrounding how badly he was treated by humanity when he awoke. I shed many tears over his suffering, which just goes to show how powerful Thalassa’s writing is to make me war with myself even as I type this review. 

 

In my review of “War,” I mentioned how the book’s plot structure is very similar to its predecessor. The same can be said of “Famine.” Having read each book in the series thus far back to back, elements of “Famine” became a bit too repetitive and easy to anticipate. Still, Ana and Famine’s reluctant, enemies to lovers relationship made my heart sing. The bond they formed over their shared experiences and the kindness they show one another is unmatched. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I would surrender my soul to read this book for the first time again. 

 

Picking up a few years after “Pestilence” left off, “War” tells the story of Miriam Elmahdy, a weaponsmith who catches the eye of War, one of the horsemen of the apocalypse. Instead of killing her, War takes her with him as he raids town after town, claiming that she is his wife. And despite her better instincts and initial feelings of hatred, his gentle side begins to win her over. 

 

I really like how Thalassa’s second book takes place in a different region of the world from “Pestilence”! She does a great job describing the tense environment Miriam calls home and how Jerusalem was hit harder than most cities after the arrival of the horsemen. 

 

Miriam as a character is very admirable. As a weaponsmith, Miriam knows her way around a bow and was fearless when she first crossed paths with War on the battlefield. I also love how she does not back down from a fight and let anyone, including war personified, push her around. 

 

“War”’s plot structure is very similar to “Pestilence”’s, meaning that everything I adored about the development of the romantic relationships in book 1 is mirrored in book 2. And like “Pestilence,” as soon as I started reading “War,” I could not put it down. Moments where Miriam and War shared the same pallet under the stars, rode on the same horse together, traded weapons, and took care of each other tugged on my heartstrings. Watching War and Miriam slowly surrender to each other was everything.