Thank you to Netgalley who provided me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unlike some of my previous reviews, I think I’m going to keep this one short and to the point, if at all possible. This book really was not what I was expecting and it didn’t totally work for me. Did I have the wrong expectations? Was this pitched to the wrong audience? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself upon finishing this book.

This book statistically speaking had a handful of good things on its side: diversity, representation, open minded characters, decent conflict resolution, and a cute dog.

What this book also had was a vast number of characters, and while it is the fourth in a series, I don’t believe you’d need to have read the others to fully understand who is who or what is what. The author did an okay job of recalling characters for new readers like me, and after a few mentions of specific characters I was able to keep track of everyone as we meandered on.

The overarching theme of this story is the grand opening of a new hotel in a small Scottish village, and how that hotel affects everyone living there. We saw some blooming romances (one that I thought was paced quite nicely, and another that felt completely left field), familial and romantic relationships that needed mending, and so many characters who each had their own ‘thing’ that they were dealing with. When I reflect back, it was a nice way to show that even in a small town, everyone has something they are working on personally, or trying to overcome.

Sadly, something or multiple things about this story just didn’t work for me. The chapters were incredibly short, and I’m the type of reader who likes to take a break between chapters. It was a struggle to keep reading after just a page or two when the story abruptly stopped and we started following a different character.

I’m not sure if it was the pace of the chapters or the depth of the story overall, but I didn’t really care what happened to anyone in this novel. It was like I was following these people around for nearly a month and formed no emotional connection to anyone, except maybe the dog? I clearly didn’t enjoy this, and would rather think and talk about something else, so I’m going to end this here.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who has more than dipped their toe into the romance genre, I was so excited to finally get to try one of Lori Wilde’s books! I’ve heard her name and praises all over the book community, and was so thrilled to get to experience a little of her magic for myself.

This book started off as a breath of fresh air after my last read. It was a straight forward, to the point, Christmas romance that I could not wait to curl up in bed and devour.

When the story begins, our main male character had just been medically discharged from the army after a paratrooping accident. He is readjusting to civilian life, and dealing with the lingering effects of PTSD. Our female lead is a wedding planner who had just suffered a minor concussion, and was in need of a ride out of town for her best friend’s wedding.

These two are total opposites, and as the story progresses they butt heads on more than one occasion. Despite their differences, they have been a part of each other’s lives for as long as they can remember. The Christmas Backup Plan is book number four in a series, leaving our two main characters as the only unmarried siblings of the bunch.

It’s easy to see how Wilde was able to create such an expansive universe when it felt like every character we were introduced to came with enough of a backstory to fill their own novel (and maybe they already have). Wilde was able to introduce each new character briefly enough that I, as a first time reader, never felt lost or confused, despite reading the fourth book in this series.

I knew we were in for a wild (hehe pun) ride when by the 25% mark our main characters had already made out. This novel got s t e a m y people. Wilde did not disappoint or give us the dreaded fade to black. This novel also required me to suspend disbelief when it came to their fated hum that would announce when our characters had found the one, which is why we had the kissing so early on in the story.

I really only had two hangups with this novel. The first being that our male character was so clearly written by a woman that it sometimes took me out of the story, and the second being the dreaded inner monologue I can’t seem to escape.

If our male point of view had sounded more like a guy, I think this novel would have been a complete hit for me. I really loved the mental health representation, and how the characters openly talked about therapy options like art therapy, animal therapy, meditation therapy, and others.

I tried to let this story sweep me off my feet, but would only get a few inches off the ground before I was bogged back down to earth with internal monologue. I don’t know why I dislike it so much or why it’s so prevalent in the romance novels I’ve been reading. While I didn’t love these sections of the book, I will give Wilde some credit here. Wilde’s monologues were not just repetitive information, but included changes in the character’s way of thinking or seeing the world around them.

Overall I do see why Wilde has the fanbase she does, and think she’s created a really smart universe for these characters. So much so, that I think this series would do incredibly well as a smutty television series on HBO or Starz. I also thoroughly enjoyed just how much Christmas there was in The Christmas Backup Plan. The chemistry between the characters leaped off the pages, and their connection did keep me interested until the very end.

I also loved how two characters who started off not able to understand each other at all, recognized that their differences were things that could be appreciated and valued. While this book may have just been a steamy okay read for me, I do think a lot of people will fall in love with Wilde’s setting and her characters. If you love men from a small Texas town, and women who are too strong and independent for their own good, you should definitely check this series out.

Review coming soon...!

After seeing the cover you’re probably wondering, was this book a cover buy? 1000%. But the cover also got me to pick up the book and read the synopsis, which is honestly what sealed the deal and ensured this book was coming home with me.

Rent A Boyfriend takes a look into the Chinese American slice of life. Our protagonist Chloe has been ruthlessly pursued by the man of her parents dreams. His family is wealthy and at the top of their local community’s food chain, but their son is an absolute scumbag (trust me, I’m being polite here). Determined to get her parents to set their sights on a new prospect, Chloe turns to an online dating app where you can rent a boyfriend for specific occasions.

I don’t know exactly how I managed this, as it always seems to happen and I simply attribute it to the magic of books, but I picked this up in December and finished it just after New Years. Ironically, this book takes place from Thanksgiving to New Years, and every time I sat down to read the timeline in the book and in my life seemed to align perfectly.

The chemistry between Chloe and her boyfriend-for-hire Drew is undeniable (I was living for their banter and text exchanges). I think the twist of their romance was who ended up falling for who (and that’s all I’m willing to say without giving away any spoilers). While I was ready to cozy up with this holiday romance, this book had more important things to tell me, and it honestly made me a bit uncomfortable at times.

This book made me reexamine my relationship with my family, and, to put it mildly, it’s rocky at best. I connected to Drew and to Chloe in a way that only people with strained familial relationships can. However, the added element of traditional Chinese parenting styles, expectations, and customs is where my ability to relate came to its end (seeing as I’m a white American).

This book does not shy away from the hardships of imigration, generational gaps in cultural assimilation, and the strain families are under to conform or fight for their traditions. This book was heartbreaking at times, and hard to read at others. But this book was also about hope, and building your own future.

The way Chloe and Drew were able to use each other to grow deeper into who they are meant to be was like watching a flower that had just found sunlight begin to bloom. This novel is so much more than a fake dating to lovers trope. While I can’t speak on the validity of the immigrant experience, or the Asian American representation, I can say that this book was eye opening for me in so many ways. I hope more people give this one a chance.

My reread and review: 8 years later!!!

I can still vividly remember reading Graceling for the first time. While parts of the plot have become a bit fuzzy over the past 8 years, the feeling I had during and after reading this book have not faded.

Cashore set up this world with the dichotomy of good and evil. This fantasy takes place in a land governed by seven ruling entities: some are benevolent while others are malevolent. In this world certain people are inexplicably born graced, with the telltale multicolored eyes. The graced have inhuman skills, ranging from life saving to the mundane.

When we meet our hero we are immediately informed that her grace is simple: to kill others. We journey with her as she discovers if she wants to live under a king’s thumb as his weapon, or to choose her own path and decide for herself what type of asset she might be. The internal conflict to decide if she can be anything but a killer is the driving force behind all of Katsa’s decisions, including her relationships with other characters.

As a young reader (when I read this the first time in 2013) I was struck by the fact that this story didn’t end the way I would have wanted it to. The characters didn’t behave the way they would have in any other fantasy I had read thus far. Was there a happy ending? Perhaps there was for the characters, but not for me as a reader.

Graceling was the first novel that taught me that I can love a story, and disagree with the actions of the characters. It wasn’t until 8 years later during my reread that I began to fully understand the characters’ actions, and be at peace with their final decisions.

At the time this was also one of the best fantasies I had ever read. Today I believe this book can still hold its own in the genre, but there were moments when I realized a few minor downfalls to the execution of the story itself. There were a handful of climactic moments that come at you out of nowhere, and are resolved just as quickly. I wanted more time in those scenes, more suspense and anticipation, which I think is improved upon in the later books in this series.


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You can find this review along with countless others on my blog The Dancing Nerd Writes Again. or by clicking here.

Initial Thoughts:

I had heard so many good things about this book, along with the ever present one or two negative reviews, and realized I was far behind the young adult genre world in discovering Graceling. I finally decided to get this book off my TBR list and I’m so glad I did. I wasn’t really sure what this book would be about but I was excited to learn more about Katsa’s ‘Grace’ and her relationship with the seemingly mysterious Prince Po.

Spoilers!

I finished this book late last night and I’m still reeling over the ending, but more on that later. I would like people who haven’t yet read this book to know that the next two books in the series (Fire and Bitterblue) do not follow the story of Katsa and Po (or at least that’s my understanding). While reading Graceling I was so sure that this was just the beginning of Katsa and Po’s journey that I think I took it for granted It was a huge blow finding out that this was their one and only story (for now at least).

Sad part over, now onto the review.

From the first chapter, I loved it! Simple as that. I was immediately swept up into this world of adventure, hate, power, greed, lust, and magic, but not in the usual sense. In so many ways it reminded me of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series. The feel of the characters, the pace of the novel, and of course the action had me turning pages faster than I even thought possible.

I forgot how much I truly missed this genre of young adult fiction and need to go back to it immediately. I’ve been so swept up in the dystopian, love triangle, whatever else trend that’s happening in YA that I’ve been missing my true love of fantasy fiction. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the other genres as well, but fantasy fiction is such easy reading for me while some other books feel like work.

Not only do I consider this book a gem, but Katsa is a true gem herself. She may be controlled by her uncle, who happens to be the King, but she was never weak. She could hold her own, and her true discovery is learning that she has a choice in her actions. Po is the one who helps her to see this and he essentially turns Katsa into the person she was always meant to be.

I so enjoyed the way Po was described with his eyes and accessories. Actually, I loved the way everything was described. I can’t remember the last time I had such vivid images swirling around my head while reading a book. I could picture Lienid, I could picture Katsa sitting up in the mast of the ship, I could picture the mountain pass, and every description became a clear image in my mind.

I love the idea of having a Grace. It was similar to the special abilities of the outsiders in Under The Never Sky (by Veronica Rossi), but what I loved even more were the relationships in the novel. Katsa and Po’s relationship grew in a genuine way and their love for one another was undeniable. The sacrifices they made for each other clearly showed the depth of their relationship just as much if not more than the occasional make out scene. However, I think my favorite relationship was between Katsa and Bitterblue, Po’s cousin.

Many people seem to disagree or dislike the fact that Katsa refuses to marry. I bring this up only because I want to argue a point. Okay, maybe you personally don’t agree with a woman not wanting to marry, but Katsa is a girl who has been controlled by a man (the King) her entire life. All she wants is the freedom to do what she chooses when she chooses and to not be stuck in her husband’s house serving his guests. I totally get this concept and I think Kristin Cashore did a great justice by showing that side to her character especially given the world this story is set in. Bravo.

But the ending. That was a hard one to swallow. Don’t get all freaked out yet, nothing bad happens, it just made me a little sad. For one reason or another certain characters ‘part ways’ in hopes that they will return to each other again. This wouldn’t have been so hard to comprehend if there was going to be a follow up novel! Instead, I’ll have to use my imagination and unite the characters together, happily ever after, myself.

Conclusion:

If you couldn’t tell from this extremely long review, I’ve discovered yet another book I’m obsessed with. I’m nervous to read Fire and Bitterblue knowing that they won’t be as interrelated as I would’ve liked, but come on, Kristin Cashore’s writing has me coming back for more, without question.

I am so glad I picked this novel from my TBR list. I think it was the perfect timing, a vacation from the overwhelming majority of dystopian novels I’ve been consumed with. Graceling has reminded me that I need to get back to my reader roots. My true comfort zone when it comes to any genre is fantasy or adventure, I just eat it up.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read Christopher Paolini’s work or Veronica Rossi’s books or anyone who is missing a little fantasy and adventure in their life. You definitely won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My reread and review: 8 years later!!

The second book in the Graceling Realm takes us back in time and into a new land. While there is no mention of Katsa or Po in this novel (because they hadn’t been born yet) we meet many new characters who attempt to fill their void.

The theme of good and evil is extremely prevalent in this novel. A daughter must come to terms with her father’s atrocities and decide if she will follow in his dark footsteps or forge a new path. All of Fire’s relationships are built on the foundational knowledge of who her father was, and who she might be as a result. As the novel expands, so does Fire’s understanding of her true self.

Another theme began to emerge in this second novel that we saw briefly in the first. The concept of female purity and promiscuity is challenged by the day to day actions of these characters. Both Katsa and Fire are women who do not wish to become mothers (for their own various reasons) and who do not treat sex as something that is taboo.

On the other side of the coin we watch men who take little care of the women they sleep with, and monsters who did not falter before committing rape. While this is not the case for every male character in this story, it is a theme that will play out largely in the third novel.

This book allowed the Graceling Realm to expand into a larger universe for later stories, and helped us understand the people, creatures, and culture. Instead of humans with graces, people are born as monsters. They are beautiful, ensnaring, and sometimes have the ability to control one’s mind.

This novel mostly felt like a character study and a way to expand our understanding of the realm at large. It also creates a really interesting contrast between two women in two different lands and time periods struggling to be seen beneath their fathers’ obsidian shadows.





So good! Semi predictable but still a wonderfully addicting read. This is really more of a 4.5 star rating but not as good as Graceling so it stays at the 4 star mark.

Watching a young girl learn to become a queen is one of my favorite storylines. What I expected to be a challenging journey became increasingly heartbreaking as more and more was uncovered about her father’s inhuman past, and the power he still held over Bitterblue’s trusted advisors.

While this series should come with a handful of trigger warnings, this book should come with it’s own caution tape. I’m not sure how much of this was my own imagination running wild while the actual descriptions on the page remained vague, but this book was rather disturbing. There’s discussion of animal mutilation and torture, using mind control to force men to rape and procreate with women who were being held as science experiments, serial killing sprees, the list honestly goes on and on.

I don’t think the extremity of the disturbing acts listed above were unnecessarily extravagant, because they were a crucial component in completing a villainous character arc, and helped the audience understand exactly what Bitterblue was up against, trying to undo, and trying to set right. I also think Cashore did a good job of alternating between these flashbacks, and interspersing joy Bitterblue experienced with her friends or during her nightly excursions.

The challenges Bitterblue was facing felt like we were climbing a mountain so high its peak was sheltered by clouds. Watching her unravel lie after lie and scheme after scheme and the multiple traps set by her father was frustrating, but also soothing. She never gave up, and I think because her father was so obviously evil, she became his antithesis in every way.

These Violent Delights ended up being my Book Of The Month (no, I’m not affiliated with them, I just use their service) pick for November, and was later announced as our first book for the Moods and Pages book club hosted by Donna! This was pitched as a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920’s, and boy oh boy are those three things some of my favorites. Check mark for Shakespeare. Check mark for location. Check mark for historical setting. I was ready to dive head first into this novel.

I think what messed up this experience for me was going into this book thinking this would be a direct retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Spoiler alert: it’s not…sort of at all? When we discussed this in the book club a majority of us agreed that this would have been a better reading experience if we went in NOT knowing this was based on the play. While the names, specific quotes, and minor plot points are the same, the overall plot and story arch differ so vastly that I don’t think I was able to enjoy this as much as I should have.

What I did adore about Gong’s writing was her way with her characters. I wish we had more time with them to explore what made them tick, their humor, and their tragedies. Gong’s writing is eloquent, sharp and flowery, and weaves from thought to action with expertise.

I also really enjoyed the expansive background stories each character was weighed down by, including a character that was represented as transgender. However, I’m curious to see what other readers and reviewers who identify as transgender thought about the way this character was able to transition.

In my opinion, this book should have been pitched as gangs and gore, because there is no shortage of either. I’m not a huge fan of gore, or things that make people squeamish, and the main villain in this book was so creepy and disgusting that I could not read this book before going to bed without having vivid nightmares. I’m honestly a self proclaimed baby when it comes to subjects like this, but I think fans of Stephen King and Shakespeare might thoroughly enjoy this story in ways that I didn’t.

This book brought a lot of great discussion to our book club chat, including fated characters. Many of the members felt emotional when thinking about how both our main characters are born into the gang lifestyle, with no clear way out. This is something both characters struggled with in their own ways, and I’d be curious to know if Gong will find a way for these characters to escape their birthright as heirs to rival gangs.

Unlike the original Romeo and Juliet, this book was not a standalone. I’m not sure if I’m ready to continue this series when it is published. I think I need to reread this book with the context I’ve gathered, knowing that it is not a direct retelling, and see if that changes my overall reading experience. I do think a lot of readers will enjoy this if they want a historical and fantastical look at gang life in Shanghai in the 1920’s, and monsters who hunt regardless of affiliations.

Thank you to Netalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected Publication Date: March 2, 2021

I was so excited when I read the email from Netgalley pitching this book! This is pitched as a historical fiction, set in the late 1700’s in London, with a female apothecary turned serial killer. While I’m typically a reader who shies away from murder mysteries, the fact that our killer is a woman who provides other women with poisons piqued my interest, and I couldn’t pass this up.

We learned that the apothecary shop is currently owned by a woman named Nella, who inherited the shop when her mother died. Shortly after her mother’s death, Nella experienced a traumatic event in her early twenties that led to her crafting and dispensing poisons, in addition to the tonics and remedies she was already selling to women in need.

Nella took her mother’s apothecary shop, and their reputation, and twisted it into something far darker. Her poisons are sold on the sole condition that they are never to be used to harm another woman, only the men whose actions have had disastrous consequences in these women’s lives.

We meet a 12 year old girl named Eliza, who is sent to Nella by her mistress to procure a poison for her husband (who we later learn has a predatory tendency with young girls). Eliza and Nella form an unlikely relationship over the course of the novel, where they both heavily rely on one another as things begin to unravel.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was having the point of view of three characters. We got an in depth look into Nella’s mindset, as well as what it was like to be a child during this time period. We were transported to the present day with our third main character Caroline, who is an American on vacation in London after the discovery of her own husband’s infidelity. During her stay, Caroline happens upon one of Nella’s apothecary vials, and begins a rather extensive investigation into the past, exploring the history of the apothecary killer.

I knew very early on that this book would receive a five star rating from me if it stayed the course. The writing is incredibly immersive into both the individual character’s and into the world they reside in. There was so much heart and personality written into each character, I honestly could not read this book fast enough. I wanted to stay in this world with these women, and see how they interacted with one another, and how they solved their own problems.

I really enjoyed the take this book had on the feminine experience. The duality of mixing present day with historical events (though I believe mostly fictional) was fascinating. Not only do we get to experience a woman discovering her husband has had an affair in 1790, but we also get to experience it in 2020 through these characters. This allowed me as the reader to compare and contrast the way each woman handled the situation based on her own personality and the time period. Women are represented through Eliza, Caroline, and Nella at various stages of life, which enabled me to revisit my childhood, and ponder my present, and future self.

I highly recommend this addictive read. It was so much fun, which I know is a very weird statement to make regarding a serial killer, but I genuinely fell in love with these women and their shared stories. I hope lovers of historical fiction and women’s literature will give this book a try. I cannot wait to see what Sarah Penner writes next. I’ll be waiting to dive into her new characters, and explore whatever world she wants to show us.