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I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
What a sweet read! Spencer and the Younger Girl by Michelle MacQueen is the third book in her series Gulf City High, and my favorite of the series so far. I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t I say that last book? Well, yes I did
What a sweet read! Spencer and the Younger Girl by Michelle MacQueen is the third book in her series Gulf City High, and my favorite of the series so far. I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t I say that last book? Well, yes I did
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Y’all, I have found a new favorite! The Lost Legends by Cait Marie is the first book in her series The Nihryst. I read it in one-sitting, skipping sleep to do so. When I talk about fantasy being my favorite, I’m talking about the epic adventure fantasies that take you on a journey and leave you hopeful. There is a little romance (or in some cases a lot of romance) involved with a pinch of magic. Battles are fought and won. The good guys aren’t necessarily the knight in shining armor type. These are my favorite fantasies, and The Lost Legends hits every one of those marks.
Princess Adalina is longing for adventure in her life. Her mother read her stories of the cursed immortal warriors called the Nihryst. Her entire life Ada’s studied the stories. She told her mother that she would break their curse, a curse put into place by her ancestor and tied to tarot cards Ada currently holds. After discovering the king’s plan to start war with their neighbors, Ada knows she has to stop it. Her only hope is finding the Nihryst warriors if they even exist and asking them to help her. Ada escapes her kingdom with a crew of pirates and begins the adventure she’s always longed for.
Ada’s brother, Prince Shane, is the next ruler of Detmarya, and since the untimely death of his mother which led to the king’s descent into madness, he has ruled the best he can. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” and this has never been as true as it is for Shane. He loves his kingdom and his people and will do whatever is necessary to save them. While his sister is off looking for the legendary warriors, Shane stumbles upon a disease that is killing the poor in his kingdom. With the help of a rebel faction, Shane sets the stage for Ada’s return and prays that the help she’s looking for comes with her.
Told from Shane’s and Ada’s POV, the plot moves and twists together seamlessly. It’s like having two stories in one, and I love it! Ada’s chapters focus on her hunt for the Nihryst, her interactions with the pirates, and the lengths she will go for her kingdom. Shane’s story focuses on what is happening in Ada’s absence, the king’s plans, and the budding rebellion. Being able to see from all sides of the story led to a great amount of foreshadowing. While I was able to predict a few things as the story progressed, it was still exciting and engaging. The puzzles and mysteries that Ada has to solve to find the Nihryst kept me up well into the morning hours, and I’m pretty sure my heart stopped more than once reading as Shane led a double life trying to find answers about the plague.
My favorite part of this book though is the pirates. I love them! They are such a fun crew and fully fleshed out. The captain Lee and his banter with Ada helps drive the plot. He is guarded with his feelings and keeps to himself, yet something about Ada brings his walls down. Remember how I said a little romance is a must in my fantasy? Slowburn y’all
Y’all, I have found a new favorite! The Lost Legends by Cait Marie is the first book in her series The Nihryst. I read it in one-sitting, skipping sleep to do so. When I talk about fantasy being my favorite, I’m talking about the epic adventure fantasies that take you on a journey and leave you hopeful. There is a little romance (or in some cases a lot of romance) involved with a pinch of magic. Battles are fought and won. The good guys aren’t necessarily the knight in shining armor type. These are my favorite fantasies, and The Lost Legends hits every one of those marks.
Princess Adalina is longing for adventure in her life. Her mother read her stories of the cursed immortal warriors called the Nihryst. Her entire life Ada’s studied the stories. She told her mother that she would break their curse, a curse put into place by her ancestor and tied to tarot cards Ada currently holds. After discovering the king’s plan to start war with their neighbors, Ada knows she has to stop it. Her only hope is finding the Nihryst warriors if they even exist and asking them to help her. Ada escapes her kingdom with a crew of pirates and begins the adventure she’s always longed for.
Ada’s brother, Prince Shane, is the next ruler of Detmarya, and since the untimely death of his mother which led to the king’s descent into madness, he has ruled the best he can. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” and this has never been as true as it is for Shane. He loves his kingdom and his people and will do whatever is necessary to save them. While his sister is off looking for the legendary warriors, Shane stumbles upon a disease that is killing the poor in his kingdom. With the help of a rebel faction, Shane sets the stage for Ada’s return and prays that the help she’s looking for comes with her.
Told from Shane’s and Ada’s POV, the plot moves and twists together seamlessly. It’s like having two stories in one, and I love it! Ada’s chapters focus on her hunt for the Nihryst, her interactions with the pirates, and the lengths she will go for her kingdom. Shane’s story focuses on what is happening in Ada’s absence, the king’s plans, and the budding rebellion. Being able to see from all sides of the story led to a great amount of foreshadowing. While I was able to predict a few things as the story progressed, it was still exciting and engaging. The puzzles and mysteries that Ada has to solve to find the Nihryst kept me up well into the morning hours, and I’m pretty sure my heart stopped more than once reading as Shane led a double life trying to find answers about the plague.
My favorite part of this book though is the pirates. I love them! They are such a fun crew and fully fleshed out. The captain Lee and his banter with Ada helps drive the plot. He is guarded with his feelings and keeps to himself, yet something about Ada brings his walls down. Remember how I said a little romance is a must in my fantasy? Slowburn y’all
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
What an adventure! Dragon Rising by M. Lynn is the first in her new series The Hidden Warrior inspired by Mulan. I love retellings! Several years ago when I first started reading retellings, I was skeptical, but that was unfounded. I love how an author can take an original, well-known tale and put their own spin on it. And M. Lynn does just that with Dragon Rising.
Hua Minglan is a force to be reckoned with. When her sister is killed during a Kou attack on the capital city, dying right in front of her, Hua’s need for revenge consumes her thoughts. With the help of her Nainai (grandmother), Hua leaves for war, pretending to be the older son Gen Minglan never had. But she has a secret, one she must guard with her life and it isn’t that she’s a woman. Hua Minglan is dragon-blooded.
Commander Jian Li is the brother of the emperor and has suffered great loss. Like Hua, he is out for revenge against General Athan, the Kou leader, who killed the woman he loved years earlier, but it clouds his judgment leading to the slaughter of his men in a surprise attack. I love Jian. He is a lost soul, truly. He knows his place, serving as commander of his brother’s army, but he doesn’t want it. Jian is young and never wanted the responsibility or burden of leading. He only wants to serve his brother well and revenge his lost love. Now this revenge has led to many deaths that weigh heavy on his shoulders. As a result, he takes on the responsibility of training the new recruits that are arriving daily.
The plot of this story revolves around Hua and her training under Jian. While there is a lot of action and excitement, twists and turns throughout the book, Dragon Rising is character-driven. With chapters alternating POV between Hua and Jian, I found myself captivated. I loved seeing Hua through Jian’s eyes. Jian sees her as a young man, too young to be in the army, but also his best fighter. Hua sees through Jian to the loneliness he hides behind the stern Commander facade.
Overall I really enjoyed Dragon Rising. I loved the author’s spin on the classic tale of Mulan, and I cannot wait to learn more about the dragon-blooded. While the story focuses on Jian and Hua, I absolutely adore Luca, a side-character that is Jian’s best friend and Hua’s betrothed. Luca brings levity to the story, hiding Hua’s secret and feeling guilty for keeping it from Jian. Common ground for Hua and Jian is that they both care for Luca, which shows throughout the story. If you enjoy YA fantasy retellings, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Dragon Rising. It will not disappoint!
What an adventure! Dragon Rising by M. Lynn is the first in her new series The Hidden Warrior inspired by Mulan. I love retellings! Several years ago when I first started reading retellings, I was skeptical, but that was unfounded. I love how an author can take an original, well-known tale and put their own spin on it. And M. Lynn does just that with Dragon Rising.
Hua Minglan is a force to be reckoned with. When her sister is killed during a Kou attack on the capital city, dying right in front of her, Hua’s need for revenge consumes her thoughts. With the help of her Nainai (grandmother), Hua leaves for war, pretending to be the older son Gen Minglan never had. But she has a secret, one she must guard with her life and it isn’t that she’s a woman. Hua Minglan is dragon-blooded.
Commander Jian Li is the brother of the emperor and has suffered great loss. Like Hua, he is out for revenge against General Athan, the Kou leader, who killed the woman he loved years earlier, but it clouds his judgment leading to the slaughter of his men in a surprise attack. I love Jian. He is a lost soul, truly. He knows his place, serving as commander of his brother’s army, but he doesn’t want it. Jian is young and never wanted the responsibility or burden of leading. He only wants to serve his brother well and revenge his lost love. Now this revenge has led to many deaths that weigh heavy on his shoulders. As a result, he takes on the responsibility of training the new recruits that are arriving daily.
The plot of this story revolves around Hua and her training under Jian. While there is a lot of action and excitement, twists and turns throughout the book, Dragon Rising is character-driven. With chapters alternating POV between Hua and Jian, I found myself captivated. I loved seeing Hua through Jian’s eyes. Jian sees her as a young man, too young to be in the army, but also his best fighter. Hua sees through Jian to the loneliness he hides behind the stern Commander facade.
Overall I really enjoyed Dragon Rising. I loved the author’s spin on the classic tale of Mulan, and I cannot wait to learn more about the dragon-blooded. While the story focuses on Jian and Hua, I absolutely adore Luca, a side-character that is Jian’s best friend and Hua’s betrothed. Luca brings levity to the story, hiding Hua’s secret and feeling guilty for keeping it from Jian. Common ground for Hua and Jian is that they both care for Luca, which shows throughout the story. If you enjoy YA fantasy retellings, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Dragon Rising. It will not disappoint!
The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March is a sweet installment to Eternity Springs, capturing the essence of the entire series. Eternity Springs is the place where broken hearts go to mend, and that could not be more true of our two main characters Jenna Stockton and Devin Murphy. Spanning nearly two years, the story begins when a little boy makes a call to Santa asking for a father for Christmas.
Jenna Stockton is a physician in Nashville, TN. While busy, she is a great mom to her adopted son Reilly. Reilly however is lonely on the nights his mother has to work which prompts his phone call to Santa. Jenna is saddened by this, but knows there is truth behind his request. I love Jenna. She puts Reilly’s needs ahead of her own, always building him up. When a stalker scares Jenna and Reilly from their home in TN, they make their way to Eternity Springs where they meet Reilly’s Santa Claus.
Devin Murphy was home visiting family when he received the first phone call from Reilly. Not wanting to ruin the kid’s Christmas, he played along with him and pretended to be Santa. One phone call led to several more until he truly began to care for the little guy he’d never met. This led to phone calls with his mom which led Devin to question who this woman really was. If I like Jenna, I love Devin. He resides in Australia, living the life a seafarer. Eternity Springs doesn’t have a seacoast, but it does have his family which brings him there often. Devin puts family first and himself second, and this made my heart melt for him just a little.
The plot of the story really focuses on Jenna and Devin’s relationship as much as Devin’s relationship with Reilly. The stalker adds an edge to the story I didn’t expect from Emily March, but it isn’t overpowering or even suspenseful. It just helps to move the plot along and gets Devin and Jenna in the same town. I love their relationship, how they met, and Reilly. Oh how I love Reilly! He is the same age as my own son, and I found myself smitten with the young man. His enthusiasm and love for Jenna is infectious. This story is as much about Jenna as it is him.
Amy Landon narrates this one, and I love her. Devin’s accent is subtle, but believable. Her tone and inflection bring the characters to life. I almost finished it in one sitting, listening on double speed because I did not want to stop!
Overall I really enjoyed The Christmas Wishing Tree. Jenna and Devin’s story is sweet and steamy, but Reilly is who really steals the show. If you enjoy holiday romance, I highly recommend you grab this one. While it is the #15 in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Jenna Stockton is a physician in Nashville, TN. While busy, she is a great mom to her adopted son Reilly. Reilly however is lonely on the nights his mother has to work which prompts his phone call to Santa. Jenna is saddened by this, but knows there is truth behind his request. I love Jenna. She puts Reilly’s needs ahead of her own, always building him up. When a stalker scares Jenna and Reilly from their home in TN, they make their way to Eternity Springs where they meet Reilly’s Santa Claus.
Devin Murphy was home visiting family when he received the first phone call from Reilly. Not wanting to ruin the kid’s Christmas, he played along with him and pretended to be Santa. One phone call led to several more until he truly began to care for the little guy he’d never met. This led to phone calls with his mom which led Devin to question who this woman really was. If I like Jenna, I love Devin. He resides in Australia, living the life a seafarer. Eternity Springs doesn’t have a seacoast, but it does have his family which brings him there often. Devin puts family first and himself second, and this made my heart melt for him just a little.
The plot of the story really focuses on Jenna and Devin’s relationship as much as Devin’s relationship with Reilly. The stalker adds an edge to the story I didn’t expect from Emily March, but it isn’t overpowering or even suspenseful. It just helps to move the plot along and gets Devin and Jenna in the same town. I love their relationship, how they met, and Reilly. Oh how I love Reilly! He is the same age as my own son, and I found myself smitten with the young man. His enthusiasm and love for Jenna is infectious. This story is as much about Jenna as it is him.
Amy Landon narrates this one, and I love her. Devin’s accent is subtle, but believable. Her tone and inflection bring the characters to life. I almost finished it in one sitting, listening on double speed because I did not want to stop!
Overall I really enjoyed The Christmas Wishing Tree. Jenna and Devin’s story is sweet and steamy, but Reilly is who really steals the show. If you enjoy holiday romance, I highly recommend you grab this one. While it is the #15 in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Lost Link is Michelle Bryan's newest fantasy and y’all I couldn’t get enough of it! There are dragons, magic, fae, and portals, a man who reminds me of Mr. Miyagi, an evil queen, and did I mention dragons? Unlike anything I’ve ever read, The Lost Link delivers an epic adventure and it’s only the start of Jette’s story.
Bridjette, or Jette, is our snarky main character, and I love her! She is snarky and sassy, protective and loyal, not to mention she thinks she’s crazy at the start of the book. Her whole life Jette has seen other people and creatures that are not of this world. She has nightmares about morquals and a woman who looks a lot like her throwing her into a river. Then the unthinkable happens. A dragon finds her at school, and she isn’t the only one that sees it. Thrown into a world of make-believe, Jette soon comes to realize that the things she believed to be fake are very real. I love her reaction to this. It’s raw and real, reminding me of how any person today might act if encountering magic.
Upon arriving in this new world, through a portal in an alley, Jette encounters Starke, a Fae prince. There is something about this prince that draws Jette in. She trusts him against the judgment of her new friends, and I have to say I love him. Starke has a self-deprecating humor that endeared him to me. He’s humble and kind, even to those that would have his head. And the chemistry between Jette and Starke….boiling hot!
The story itself focuses a lot on world-building. Michelle Bryan excels at this, building a world within worlds. Jette is thrust into this world from her dreams only to find it is all real. There are new creatures for her to encounter. Magic is real, and the world is on the brink of extinction. All of this is shown in the landscape the author paints with her words. It is tangible and real. I wanted to jump through the portal with Jette!
Overall I really enjoyed The Lost Link. Jette is a fun character. Her snark lightens an otherwise dark read. While I didn’t get into the plot much in my review, it is action-packed and filled to the brim with surprise twists and a few unexpected characters. Personally I loved it! If you enjoy fantasy, adventure, and a dash of romance, I highly recommend it.
The Lost Link is Michelle Bryan's newest fantasy and y’all I couldn’t get enough of it! There are dragons, magic, fae, and portals, a man who reminds me of Mr. Miyagi, an evil queen, and did I mention dragons? Unlike anything I’ve ever read, The Lost Link delivers an epic adventure and it’s only the start of Jette’s story.
Bridjette, or Jette, is our snarky main character, and I love her! She is snarky and sassy, protective and loyal, not to mention she thinks she’s crazy at the start of the book. Her whole life Jette has seen other people and creatures that are not of this world. She has nightmares about morquals and a woman who looks a lot like her throwing her into a river. Then the unthinkable happens. A dragon finds her at school, and she isn’t the only one that sees it. Thrown into a world of make-believe, Jette soon comes to realize that the things she believed to be fake are very real. I love her reaction to this. It’s raw and real, reminding me of how any person today might act if encountering magic.
Upon arriving in this new world, through a portal in an alley, Jette encounters Starke, a Fae prince. There is something about this prince that draws Jette in. She trusts him against the judgment of her new friends, and I have to say I love him. Starke has a self-deprecating humor that endeared him to me. He’s humble and kind, even to those that would have his head. And the chemistry between Jette and Starke….boiling hot!
The story itself focuses a lot on world-building. Michelle Bryan excels at this, building a world within worlds. Jette is thrust into this world from her dreams only to find it is all real. There are new creatures for her to encounter. Magic is real, and the world is on the brink of extinction. All of this is shown in the landscape the author paints with her words. It is tangible and real. I wanted to jump through the portal with Jette!
Overall I really enjoyed The Lost Link. Jette is a fun character. Her snark lightens an otherwise dark read. While I didn’t get into the plot much in my review, it is action-packed and filled to the brim with surprise twists and a few unexpected characters. Personally I loved it! If you enjoy fantasy, adventure, and a dash of romance, I highly recommend it.