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

Review: I fell head over boots for Cam and Dusty! 

 

“Wild and Wrangled” follows Camille “Cam”Ashwood and Dusty Tucker nearly ten years after they first met as they get a second chance at finding their happily ever after. 

 

It’s hard to believe that this is the last novel in the Rebel Blue Ranch series! I’m feeling very emotional about it because I’ve grown so attached to Sage’s characters and to Meadowlark itself, but I couldn’t ask for a better story to close it out. 

 

Nothing made me happier than watching Cam and Dusty make their way back to each other. Their history is hinted in previous books and Sage expands upon it by intertwining the present day narrative with flashbacks. In doing so, we see how they became each other’s first love and feel how all-consuming it is. It’s heartbreaking when they realize that despite being perfect for each other, the timing isn’t right. 

 

Ten years later, Cam’s groom has left her at the alter. She finds herself feeling confined by her parents’ expectations of her. When Dusty returns to Meadowlark, she puts up walls and keeps her distance in fear of losing him again and the heartbreak that would follow. I loved watching Dusty, the most precious, soft boy (he has big golden retriever energy) slowly but surely crumble those walls and continuously show up for her as she breaks free. 

 

Their second chance at first love is a slow burn as they get to know the people they became. The yearning glances, the shameless flirting, and the love they both have for Riley are what made this book so magical for me. The bonus chapter is very full circle and is a beautiful way to say farewell to a series I’ll hold close to my heart. 

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

Review: A dazzling tale jam-packed with drama and deception. 

 

“The Notorious Virtues” follows Honora “Nora” Holtzfall—the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad—and Lotte—the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt—as they compete in a series of magical trials for power that determines the one family heir. 

 

Hamilton’s latest publication is an exploration of power, privilege, and complicated family dynamics set against the backdrop the Veritaz Trials. The Veritaz creates a thrilling, high-stakes atmosphere that I found both captivating and intriguing. With the Holtzfalls competing to see who will be the next heiress, this book definitely has a “Knives Out” feel to it. The betrayals, unique magic system, and murder-mystery work together to keep readers entertained and on their toes. 

 

Hamilton’s cast of characters further sucked me into the story. I enjoyed alternating between the perspectives of glamorous heiresses, rakish journalists, and dashing knights. Each play a part in piecing together what happened to Nora’s mother while also being each other’s biggest competition. I really enjoyed their distinctive personalities and learning more about Nora and Lotte’s motivations for wanting to win the trials. 

 

This story ends with several loose threads and I can’t wait to see where they lead in future books! 

Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC from a newsletter giveaway

Review: I need this book injected straight into my veins so it stays with me always! 

 

Picking up where “The Scarlet Veil” left off, “The Shadow Bride” follows Célie and Michal as they set aside their searing attraction to mend the veil and right the balance. 

 

Célie Tremblay has a special place in my heart. While soft and more sensitive than Mahurin’s other characters, Célie is strong in her own right as she navigates life as a newly turned vampire and uses her abilities as a Shadow Bride to mend the veil. She faces many trials and tribulations in this book—including the loss of her sister and her former self—making the transformation she underwent as she discovers her own self-worth that much more powerful. 

 

After Michal turns Célie, their relationship becomes strained. Célie has trouble coming to terms with her new existence and Michal grapples with the guilt he feels for cursing her to it. Their bond strengthens, however, after darker forces push them to work together. I loved watching both of them open up and give in to their feelings so they could become something more…something eternal. The tension and sheer intensity of their yearning is heart palpitating. The spicy scenes even more so! Their banter is also endlessly entertaining. Even when all hope seemed lost, they still managed to make light of it by playing games with each other. Célie and Michal’s chemistry in this book seriously had me kicking my feet and smiling! 

 

Mahurin’s world-building, as always, is fantastic! I really enjoyed getting to explore the realm of the dead. Her depiction of it is eerie, yet peaceful. I felt wholly immersed as Célie ventured into Death’s domain and put her Shadow Bride abilities to the test. 

 

This thrilling conclusion is everything I wanted it to be and more! I adore Mahurin’s characters and the family they formed. 

Review: Hazelwood’s latest makes a big splash! 

 

“Deep End” follows Scarlett Vandermeer, a competitive diver, and Lukas Blomqvist, an ace swimmer, after a well-guarded secret slips out. Their arrangement is supposed to be temporary, but when staying away from each other becomes impossible, the two realize they may be treading into dangerous water. 

 

I didn’t know how much I needed this book in my life until I read it! I loved the circumstances surrounding how Scarlett and Lukas, who have nothing in common on the surface, found each other and the way their relationship develops. I can’t get them off my mind! 

 

I relate heavily to Scarlett, who is goal-oriented, control-focused, and an overachieving perfectionist. Learning more about why she enjoys BDSM changed my brain chemistry. For her, it’s about trust and giving up control so that her mind can be less noisy for a time and that really widened my perspective on a world I wasn’t familiar with. 

 

At the novel’s start, Scarlett is recovering from an injury. In addition to navigating her mental block, her past weighs on her, resulting in a distrust of men. Lukas is very attentive to her needs and is respectful of her boundaries. The more time the two spend together in and out of the pool, the more they open up about their respective pasts and become more deeply entangled. They are perfect for each other, resulting in chemistry off the charts! 

 

The sports and stem elements are seamlessly incorporated into the storyline, as always, and the cameos made by Adam and Olive were just the cherry on top!

Thanks to Del Rey Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: A spellbinding sequel that kept me guessing until the very end!

Following the events of the previous installment, “The Ragpicker King” picks up with Kel Saren as he seeks out the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace. Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of falsely claiming to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. As the simmering tensions in Castellane reach a fever pitch, Lin and Kel must decide who to trust when any false move means death—or worse.

With the groundwork having been laid in the previous installment, I really enjoyed diving into the politics in this one, but even more so accompanying Kel and members of the Ragpicker King’s coterie on their hunt for the one responsible for the Shining Gallery Slaughter. The further Kel ventures into Castellane’s underworld, the more he (and the reader) discovers about the Hill’s involvement in the sinister plot to depose House Aurelian. Nothing is as it seems and I was captivated by the jaw-dropping twists and betrayals. 

As with the last installment, I was most drawn to Lin’s point-of-view. With ties to the Hill, the Black Mansion, and The Sault, I loved watching her navigate all the curveballs thrown her way as a physician and the “Goddess Returned.” In her quest to heal Mariam, we gain even more insight about the magic of old and the Nation of Aram. The Exilarch’s arrival to test her powers creates a sense of foreboding that further invested me in her character. The forbidden nature of her relationship with Conor adds a layer of intrigue that left me itching for chapters written from her perspective. Clare definitely dials up the heat and I couldn’t help but swoon!

The addition of new perspectives sprinkled throughout were a nice change of pace and help clue readers in to the roles each character plays in the grand scheme of things. I was hoping to read from Conor and the Ragpicker King’s viewpoints but they were mysteriously absent. Nevertheless, I took immense pleasure in trying my hand at piecing the puzzle together!

The last 100 pages of “The Ragpicker King” were a real nail-biter! Until I get my hands on “The Bone Conjurers” (book 3), I will remain at the edge of my seat.

Review: The friends-to-lovers rom-com of my dreams! 

 

“Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” follows Josh Im and Hazel Bradford as they set each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates in an attempt to convince themselves there is nothing between them. 

 

I could not get enough of Josh and Hazel’s starkly different characterizations! Josh is more mellow, soft-spoken, and reserved. Until Hazel enters his orbit, he’s just going through the motions in life. Hazel is playful, outgoing, and quirky. She refuses to settle for anyone embarrassed by her wackiness. At the outset, the two seem completely incompatible in terms of their personalities, but their friendship allows for romantic feelings to develop. The two have the most fun together and I loved watching them learn to open up, see each other exactly as they are, and give in to the gravitational pull that draws them together the more double blind dates they go on. Each one is more disastrous than the last and contributed to my immense enjoyment of the story. I can’t count how many times I broke out in laughter and the ending made me smile so big! I truly had a blast reading this one.