I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Corner of Forever and Always by Lia Riley is the second book in the Everland Georgia that follows two sisters and their journey to find themselves and love. I enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for a small town romance and this is definitely that.

Tuesday Knight is a girl from a small town who tried (and failed) to make it big in the city. Now she finds herself a little lost. Everything she dreamed of as a child is so far out of her reach now. She wanted to be a Broadway star, but her naivety and longing for love cost her what little reputation she’d gained. Running to Everland was supposed to be temporary. Her and Pepper were going to go to another big city far from Broadway, but instead Pepper’s engaged and she’s working at the local amusement park as a princess. My heart ached for Tuesday. She’s viewed as the flighty sister and no one expects much from her. BUT she has such a big, kind heart. Everything she does (and I do mean everything) is for someone else. She keeps her own feelings private and makes decisions off what makes others happy. It’s sad and sweet at the same time.

Beau Marino is the mayor of Everland and the town’s widower. His past is heartbreaking and really explains his actions and how he presents himself. He’s a workaholic, pouring everything into his job and love for his town. Beau had big dreams too. He wanted to make Everland a destination for tourist, wake the sleepy town and save them from their neighboring competition in Hogg Jaw. He wanted a marriage like his parents, someone who would love and care for him as he would her. Except his marriage wasn’t picture perfect. His deceased wife was horrid and left him the night she died. No one knows that except Beau. Instead of being allowed to be angry at his wife for her decisions and ending their marriage, he had to play the grieving husband. This hurt has turned to bitterness and my heart broke for him. He’s kind and big hearted, yet he’s built this impenetrable wall around his heart, letting no one in. That is until he meets Tuesday.

This book really focuses on romance more than anything else. There is of course what brings the two characters together (the potential closing and tearing down of Happily Ever After Land) but it’s more of a side story to move the romance along. I enjoyed the chemistry between Beau and Tuesday. Despite being near complete opposites, they have quite a bit in common, reminding me of my own relationship with my husband. It’s a sweet, slow buildup to love….even if it’s lust-at-first-sight.

Overall I really enjoyed The Corner of Forever and Always! As much as I liked the two main characters, I love the side characters as well. I love the small town charm and meddling. Everyone knows everyone in this book and it makes for a fun, light-hearted read. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it. This book can be read as a standalone, though I do recommend reading the first book in the series [b:It Happened on Love Street|29335317|It Happened on Love Street (Everland, Georgia #1)|Lia Riley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492888491s/29335317.jpg|49569346] as the characters from this book do play a role in this one. Also FYI, this is an adult book with strong language and some sex scenes.

I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

Beauty’s Curse by C.S. Johnson is the first book in the novella series. I adore Sleeping Beauty so I was really excited to start this series. Retellings for me are either fantastic or fall short of my expectations. I’m happy to say that this book falls on the fantastic side!

Princess Aurora is a princess I can get behind. Rose to her friends, the princess is a fierce character to contend with. She has no fear, or at least that is how she presents herself to all but her closest friends. There is only one thing that can kill her and that’s the curse placed on her by the half-fairy Magdalina. Since she was 13, Rose has been on a quest to find how to break the curse. She’s a little bitter and understandably so. Yet she’s a fighter and won’t stop until the curse takes her. She inspires others to follow her and wherever she goes, Rose seems to fight for justice.

Rose hasn’t returned to her kingdom since she left four years earlier and I don’t blame her. Her parents tried to force her into marriage to make an heir before the curse took effect on her 18th birthday. Now they have requested she return home to either marry or abdicate the throne. I can’t imagine how this would make anyone feel. I know how I’d feel and that’s bitter and angry. Yet Rose approaches it with her friends at her back and shows that she is the true princess of legend.

Theo *swoon* is Rose’s oldest friend and confidante. Raised in the church after his parents are killed by fairies, Theo wants only two things: to get revenge for his parents and save Rose. It’s obvious from their first encounter the two love one another, but are too stubborn to admit so. Rose believes she’s unlovable as her time on earth is limited, and Theo tries to respect her wishes, plus she’s a princess and he a clergyman/knight. He has no business loving her, at least that’s what he thinks. Theo is like Rose’s conscience. He keeps her grounded when she becomes obsessed with stopping the curse. He keeps her living in the moment instead of the inevitable doom that awaits.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. The banter and friendship among Rose and her followers, Theo’s persistent love and the world-building are fantastic. The original fairy tale is still there, but the author has created a new world blended with historical facts that is irresistible. If you enjoy historical fantasy, I highly recommend you pick up this series! The first book is free on all platforms :)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is the first in a duology set in her Grishaverse. Now I haven’t read The Grisha Trilogy so I can’t tell you how this book relates to those, but I can tell you it is an exciting, action-packed read. I alternated listening and reading to my hard copy. If you enjoy audiobooks, I’d highly recommend it. There is a narrator for each POV making it easy to keep up when they switched each chapter.

I’m not sure I have a favorite character among the five main. Kaz Brekker is the leader. At only 17, he has made a reputation as a formidable thief and foe in the Dregs. He’s one guy you want on your side if possible. He’s manipulative and cares about one thing: revenge. Inej or the Wraith is a former menagerie girl Kaz saved and brought into his gang. She’s smart, can move without being seen, and happens to be in love with Kaz even if she won’t admit to herself. Nina is a menagerie girl and a Grisha Heartrender, meaning she can manipulate people’s bodies (make their hearts stop, that sort of thing). Yet Nina is kind, a former soldier in the Ravka Second Army, and a valuable asset to anyone that would have her. Matthias is a prisoner when we first meet him, thanks to Nina. He is a druskelle, Grisha hunter for the Ice Court. His life has been dedicated to hunting down and killing Grisha. Yet there’s more to him than just that. Then there’s Jesper. I like Jesper. He’s like the big kid of the group, but also one of the smarter ones. He has a love for guns and gambling and it keeps him in trouble.

This group of people tell the story as it unfolds before them. Basically the plot is this: Kaz is approached by someone from the merchant council to sneak into the Ice Court and return a scientist/prisoner that they have to the merchant council. Yet there’s always more to the story. Kaz picks those he trusts the most to help him pull this feat off. With the reward money, he can finally pay off his debt and exact the revenge he seeks. Kaz’s character is perhaps the most interesting. He trusts no one and his actions are always shrouded in mystery as he only gives the other characters what they need to know of the plan, not the whole plan. That he keeps to himself. It’s interesting to watch it all unfold.

BUT perhaps the best part of this book is its world and character building. I loved this well-built world! I was completely immersed from the first lines. It was easy to envision the world the author created in my head. I could hear the different accents, see the characters, feel the cold of the Ice Court, and witness the horror that befell the Grisha there. It was a wonderful reading experience!

Overall I really enjoyed this book. And the ending?!?! I’m crying over here. I need to know what will happen to this ragtag group of thieves and what Kaz has planned next, the sneaky little….If you enjoy high fantasy, adventure, crime, and a little romance, I highly recommend you read this book. It does not disappoint!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

Ok…so here’s the deal. I’m the first one to admit that I don’t like YA contemporary. It’s not my favorite thing to read. HOWEVER every now and then a book crosses my radar that makes me question my dislike. Just One of the Boys by Leah and Kate Rooper is one of those books. It’s such a fun, cute read. Filled with humor, some steamy/angsty scenes, and a cast of characters that tug your heartstrings, Just One of the Boys is one of my favorite reads this year!

Alice Bell, or just Al to her teammates, has moved to the city of Chicago with her mom and twin brother and is so excited to be trying out for a Junior League hockey team. Al lives and breathes hockey, but when the coach passes her over for her brother simply because she’s a girl, she’s a little depressed and a lot angry. I can’t say I blame her there. Then her brother is injured and to keep his spot on the team, Al steps in and pretends to be him. Personally I found this aspect of the story slightly cliche. However it works and makes for a funny read. Al is a stubborn girl and looks enough like her brother to pass off being him. But their plan isn’t flawless. Neither Al nor her brother counted on Al’s attraction to the team’s star player.

Hayden Tremblay is the younger brother to a star NHL player and lives in his shadow. He’s angry and bitter most of the time but he has reason to be. He lost his parents in a car accident not even a year ago. Hayden tugs at my heartstrings almost immediately. He’s a lost boy in a man’s body. Losing a parent is like loosing part of your foundation, but Hayden lost both on one night. It’s like he’s a house built on sand. Hockey is all he has. He lets his aggression out on the ice and keeps himself closed off to everyone. Yet the new rookie breaches his walls and he finds himself with a new friend who understands him better than his own brother.

The story really revolves around Al and Hayden with the chapters alternating POV (which I loved!). It is about the relationship that builds between them and also Al’s deception. The characters are so well written that I fell right into their story and read it in one sitting. I loved reading the growth of the characters as Hayden learned to open up and Al learned that maybe their is more to life than just hockey. And if you are worried about the hockey, don’t be. I don’t watch hockey but found the way it was written into the story exciting. I couldn’t bring myself to set the book down once I started!

Overall, I really loved this book! It’s a sweet, funny read. Al is a fantastic character, even if a bit oblivious as her brother points out numerous times. If you enjoy contemporary YA romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book. It does not disappoint!