Love is Trash by Emily Antoinette was such a cute read, I absolutely binged this swoon romance.
Jake, a raccoon shifter, scents his fated mate out in the back alley, but all that’s there is a pink pair of panties…which happen to belong to his neighbor. Jake, and his neighbor, Hayley, are both weirdos, and I loved every minute of reading this.
Spellcaster was one of those “Bookstagram made me do it” books. The blurb made me think of Fourth Wing, Stealing Embers and other magical academia books.
The pacing was so slow with a lot of set up and world building. A lot about the magic system. The dialogue, especially between the siblings, is so strange. For example, Paisley is the youngest of five siblings, and they all call each other “little sis” or “big sis” throughout the book. I have never once called my younger sister “little sis.”
There wasn’t really a problem/resolution while reading this, either. In fact, if it weren’t for the smut stuffed in here, I would say this should be YA book.
Thank you to Harlequin Tree Publishing and NetGalley for the #gifted audiobook.
Assistant to the Villain was one of my most anticipated reads from my TBR pile. This is such a fun read – lots of banter and unique characters. It had a very Robin Hood feel to it.
I read one review call it like Shrek, which was the best description I can think of for this book!
There was just a little romance, but a lot of chemistry and romantic tension that I hope is setting up a relationship in the next books.
While I’ve never read The Handmaid’s Tale, I have watched the series on Hulu (and sometimes feel like we’re living through at least the beginning of it).
The graphic novel was a much more approachable version of the book, but was also a nice compliment to the show.
This was a quick enjoyable read and I loved the illustrations.
Tricked by a Treat was as sweet as Halloween candy. A second chance romance, with former neighbors. I appreciate the meddling sisters who helped pull off the surprise. This was perfectly short and steamy for a cool fall day.
Everyone loves Lucy Score and I haven’t really read anything by her before, so when I spotted this bright yellow book at my favorite used book store, I grabbed it! And now I totally understand why she is such a beloved author! The Dead Guy Next Door was the perfect mix of romance and mystery, with lots of banter and and fast moving plot.
I always fall hard for the side characters! Gabe was a favorite of mine – totally a zen golden retriever made of muscle. And Riley’s mom, Blossom, was such an unintentionally funny character, that I want her to come and do a tarot reading for me!
This is the beginning of a series, and I will definitely be on the search for more of the Riley Thorn mysteries!
I will always love a strong female main character, and Juliette, in Nosfer-Meet You was definitely a BAMF. A 100s year old Nosferatu who has been living on her own in the sewers, but found a little bit of happiness through music and painting. On the other hand, Scotty is a lousy vampire but a good guy.
I read Sink or Swim by D.J. Russo (from this same series) and absolutely fell in love with Oona. While Nosfer-Meet You is part of the same Femme Fatale Monsters series, I felt like this was a slower story, with more backstory from both characters. That said, I would have happily read on if Nosfer-Meet You had been longer to balance the long character back stories.
Thank you to D.J. Russo for the ARC of Nosfer-Meet You!
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the #gifted copy of What a Way to Go by Bella Mackie. This one hit shelves on Tuesday.
Synopsis:
When Anthony Wistern died, he expected his family to make a bit more of a fuss about it. Especially after he’d died in such dramatic fashion: skewered by an exorbitantly expensive party decoration in the private lake of his Cotswold’s manor house at his sixtieth birthday party, surrounded by the people for whom he most loved flaunting his wealth. And now even death has disappointed him; instead of Heaven or Hell or an empty void, Anthony’s soul is stuck in a strange kind of purgatory while he tries to figure out who killed him—before he is finally released from this interminably exasperating waiting room.
Olivia Wistern knows she should probably try to appear at least a little upset about her husband’s death, but she honestly can’t be bothered. As usual, he’s left behind an unbelievable mess—financially, socially, personally—that she’s going to have to clean up. Their four grown children will be of absolutely no help; she shouldn’t have let them become so hopelessly spoiled. And is it just her, or are the police and their “murder investigation” intentionally getting underfoot? There’s no shortage of people who hated Anthony, so can’t they look for a killer somewhere other than her house?
While the Wisterns are more concerned about the fate of their money than the fate of their patriarch, one internet sleuth is highly interested in Anthony Wistern’s death. She isn’t about to let the opportunity to create a sure-to-be smash true crime podcast pass by, not when the murder was committed mere yards away, and not when she has her own history with the victim. She’ll make her name and her own fortune off Anthony’s death one way or another, whatever it takes.
I could not put down Murder on the Poet’s Walk. It is the 8th book in the Book Retreat Mysteries series. Set in the small town of Storyton, Storyton Hall is a book themed resort/hotel and this week it is hosting a greeting card writing competition! Except bodies are dropping and it looks like the competitors are starting to take out their prime competition.
I definitely did not guess the whodunnit, I wasn’t even close! But it was a fun read!
While this is the eighth book in the series, I read it as a stand alone without a problem.
After about 150 pages that were so slow I almost considered DNF-ing Shield of Sparrows. There was a lot of world building and at first it felt like Odessa wasn’t the right character to be following. By about the 200 age mark, though, I was hooked and couldn’t put this down. And the final few chapters had be flipping pages so fast!
There were a lot of monsters described that I almost wish there had been character art included. And the different towns Odessa spend time in, they were so lushly described that I felt like I was there.
I was not swayed by the romance aspect in Shield of Sparrows, I just didn’t believe the enemies to lovers vibes that I think the author was going for.
Shield of Sparrows is book one in a new series, and I am hesitant to say I’ll continue reading this series.
Thank you to Entangled Books/Red Tower Books for the #gifted ARC of Shield of Sparrows.
Leann Reads Books 