Tag Archives: Adult Romance

July 2025 Reading Round-Up

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Hello everyone!  I can’t believe July is over, and that we’re already in August.  Overall, it was a really good month for reading.  I read quite a few ARC’s last month, and overall, I really liked most of the books I read last month.  Keep reading to find to see what I read last month!

  • Trail Rides And Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel.  This YA Contemporary comes out in December, but it issuper cute!  I loved the romance, the settings and the characters.  It’s set on a ranch, and we have horses, cowboys and cowgirls, and actors trying to learn how to do it all.  And we have a really cute romance as well.  It’s perfect for fans of Erin Hahn.
  • We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark.  I loved this Adult Romantasy.  It has ancient Rome vibes, but with vampires in charge. It was hard to get into at first, but once I got a few chapters in, I was hooked.  And there were a few twists that surprised me, so I am very excited about the next book in this series.  The love triangle is an interesting one, that’s for sure.
  • The House Of Quiet by Kiersten White.  Kiersten White is an auto-buy author for me, and I’m glad I got to read an ARC of her return to YA with this gothic horror.  This book comes out in September, and it’s a little bit different than a lot of her other books.  I loved it, and the house is very claustrophobic and unsettling.  I also loved the mystery and the characters.  I’m very curious about the character names, because there is a definite theme with them.  But I liked the names, and they definitely fit with what was going on.
  • First Love Language by Stefany Valentine.  I liked this YA Contemporary.  The romance was really cute, and I loved Catie a lot.  Her family has hit a rough patch, and I liked seeing her find friends, fall in love and learn about her family history.  I’m a little sad, because Catie and her family started out in San Diego, but had to move to Utah, and a book set in my hometown would have been really cool to read about.  Catie learns a lot about herself and her family, and I’m glad things are working out for her.  And I hope she gets some closure with the family of her biological mother.
  • Blades Of Furry by Emily Erdos and Daya Muniz.  I liked this YA graphic novel.  This one I read for book club, and it was really cute!  What’s not to love about animals battle skating?  It’s ice-skating meets martial arts, and I love the combination of the two.  I’m kind of surprised there wasn’t a Tonya Harding reference in this volume, but maybe we’ll see it in another volume.  The art fit with the story, and I loved the colors, which is really pastel and soft at times, while dark and ominous at other times.
  • Of Rime And Ruin by Liesl West.  I already talked about Of Rime And Ruin here, so there’s not much to add.  Other than the fact that I loved this book, and think it’s a great book if you love mermaids and Beauty And The Beast!

  • Vows Of Murder by Lynn Cahoon.  This was a fun cozy mystery, and I’ve really enjoyed this series.  This book is no exception, and I’m glad Jill and Greg got married in this book!  Of course, things don’t go smoothly, but that’s how things go in these cozy mystery small towns.  They seem great, but there are a lot of dead bodies that turn up.  Add in a cult, and there’s a lot of interesting things going on.  Plus, Jill owns a bookstore, and it is cool when bookstores and libraries show up in books.  I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
  • The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava.  I loved this Adult Romance so much!  Ember was amazing, and I really felt for her.  She’s been through a lot, between all of the stuff with her brother and trying to find a job.  She definitely made some questionable decisions, but I also understand why she did what she did.  Her workplace was terrible, and while I hated what she had to deal, I am glad she got out of there.  I really want the best for Ember, and I want things to work out for her.
  • Rebelwing by Andrea Tang.  This YA sci-fi/dystopia was a re-read for me, but I’ve had the sequel on my table for literal weeks, and I’ve renewed it 4 times, so I figured a re-read was long overdue.  I liked it, and I thought the book was interesting.  There are robotic wyverns and dragons, and of course, it’s set in the ruins of what I’m assuming is the U.S.  Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve read a dystopia set in a country outside the U.S., so I’m open to recommendations if you have any.  I’m curious to see what will happen in the sequel, especially with how the book ended.  I’m glad I picked up again, and if you’re up for dystopia, this one is a good one to check out.
  • How To Be A Better Adult by Jacque Aye.  I loved this Adult Fantasy so much.  Actually, I’m not sure if fantasy is the best fit.  I mean, there are fantasy elements, and it’s more magical realism than fantasy, but I’m not really sure which genre fits best.  I really liked Hope, and I could relate to her so much.  We’re all trying to navigate adulthood, and sometimes, anxiety and depression go along with that.  Everything she dealt with at work were things that a lot of people deal with at some point, and I think the same goes for family expectations.  Having a magical handbook certainly helps, and we all need a little magic in our lives.
  • Yours For The Season by Kate Cochrane.  This adult romance was really cute!  It’s perfect for Christmas, because that’s when the book takes place.  Was it weird reading a Christmas book in the middle of summer?  Absolutely, but I loved this book, and Christmas is July has absolutely a thing, so why not?  I really felt for JT, and I hated her parents for a good portion of the book.  It’s interesting to see a book where you have one athlete in a family of artists, because I feel like it’s usually the other way around.  I hated they weren’t there for her because they couldn’t handle what people were saying, but it seems like they started to work things out.  And I love her and Ali together.  I felt for Ali too, with her divorce and everything with her mom.  I wasn’t a big fan of her mom either, and the parents weren’t great.  I understand why they acted the way they did, but they also caused a lot of hurt and pain in the process.  That aside, it’s a super cute romance with fun winter activities and hot chocolate.
  • The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling.  This Adult Contemporary Romance is so cute!  It’s been quite a while since I’ve read the first two books in the series, but it’s okay, because each book focuses on a different couple.  I really liked this one, and I loved the time travel aspect to it.  I was a little surprised by why they went back in time, but it was nice to see how it got resolved in the future.  It has fall and Christmas vibes, so it’s a good book read anywhere from October to December.  But it can be enjoyed any time of year.  Plus, you have ghosts, haunted houses, and magical artifacts, and those were things I really liked about the book.  I like Bowen and Tamsyn together, and while things between them moved really fast, I didn’t mind it.

That wraps up what I read last month, and I hope the books I read this month are just as good!  Happy  reading, and I’ll see you around!

May 2025 Reading Round-Up

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I can’t believe May is over!  It went by so fast, and it was full of bookish fun!  I made it to YALLWEST, which I talked about here, and I have a few ARC’s that I’m excited about.  I already talked about And They Were Roommates by Page Powars here, so I won’t be including it in this round-up, but it was cute.  Speaking of books, let’s get to the other books I read last month.

  • If We Were A Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal.  I loved this YA contemporary!  I loved everything about this book: the romance, the movie theater and the characters.  I hope the Horizon is around for a long time, and that they were able to figure out who was behind all of the pranks.  It’s the perfect book for summer!
  • Daughters Of A Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’Neil.  This YA historical fiction is a re-telling of Anastasia.  This book focuses on her survival after the murder of her entire family, and it was interesting to see her travel across Russia to reunite with her remaining family.  I loved her friendship with Evgenia, and how meeting each other really changed things for both girls.  We don’t know what happens to her later on, but I would definitely be interested in a sequel to see what was in store for her.
  • Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera.  This middle grade contemporary is a must-read!  I loved seeing how Mani questioned the misogynist policies at her school, and seeing her find her voice to stand up for all of the girls in her school.  I also loved how that connected to her family, and all the secrets and heartache they had to deal with.  I could relate to Mani in a lot of ways, and I loved seeing her find her voice.
  • Better Left Buried By Mary E Roach, narrated by Casey Holloway.  I liked this YA mystery!  It worked really well on audio, and I’m glad I listened to it, because I’m not sure if I would have finished it otherwise.  This Mary Roach is not the Mary Roach that has written books like Stiff, Gulp, and Spook, which is what I initially thought when I got this book.  Anyway, there’s a creepy small town that’s full of secrets, and ruled by an extremely wealthy family who will cover up their wrong-doings at any cost.  I was frustrated by Katie, Lucy’s mom, and how she refused to tell her daughter anything about her past.  I understand her hesitance but also, don’t bring your daughter to your hometown if you’re not willing to answer her inevitable questions.  She didn’t want Lucy to do any investigating but also left her alone pretty much the whole time, so what else was Lucy going to do?  It was pretty slow-paced and then everything happens at once, which wasn’t surprising.  If you like small-town mysteries, this is a good one to check out.
  • Loteria Cards And Fortune Poems: A Book Of Lives, Poems by Juan Felipe Herrera, Linocuts by Artemio Rodriguez.  I was intrigued by this poetry collection because I love Loteria.  If you’ve never played, I highly recommend it.  I especially recommend reading the introduction to this book, since it goes into a lot of detail about Loteria itself.  I loved El Jorobado, La Muerte, El Murcielago, La Mano and El Angel De La Guarda.  While I wish these illustrations were as colorful as the the actual loteria cards, they are pretty detailed and they go well with the poetry.
  • Fit For The Throne 2: The Royal Games by S McPherson.  I liked this adult romantasy, though I didn’t like it as much as the first book in this series.  I am curious to see how things go in the next book, especially with how the book ended.  I liked seeing the relationship that Varialla has with both Exequiel and Loch.  Loch is absolutely terrible, and I find myself wanting to skim the scenes with him and Varialla because of how manipulative and controlling he is.  And I understand why Exequiel doesn’t trust Varialla, though they manage to work together to get through the games.  If you like romantasy that’s more romance than fantasy, this is a good series to check out.

  • Notes On The Assemblage by Juan Felipe Herrera.  This is another great poetry collected from Herrera.  This one is significantly shorter than his Loteria poetry collection, and some of the poems are in both English and Spanish.  We Are Remarkably Loud Not Masked and Poem by Poem are the two that you absolutely need to read from this collection.  I love the way he touches on current events in those poems.  I also recommend I Am Kenji Goto, Song Out Here, Borderbus, The Soap Factory, and Notes On The Assemblage.  I liked this one slightly more than Loteria, because the images are a little more vivid, but they’re both good.  It just depends on what you’re looking for.
  • I’m Not Supposed To Be In The Dark by Riss Neilson.  I liked this YA Romance!  It has magic, ghosts and family secrets that get uncovered.  It has an absolutely beautiful cover too, and I can’t stop looking at it!  I wasn’t interested in the romance, and I found the magic and ghosts to be much more interesting.  I’m intrigued by what Aria can do, and it seems like there are quite a few people who have their own abilities as well.  I get why her grandpa and her mom had her drink a special tea twice a day, and why they didn’t tell her anything about her abilities, but it was something I disagreed with because she got into some unfortunate situations because of it.  I’m glad I read it, and I’m looking forward to reading Neilson’s other books!
  • The Jump by Brittney Morris.  I liked this YA Contemporary!  I haven’t read anything like it before, and I love the idea of groups doing really cool scavenger hunts.  There is a pretty interesting mystery in this book, and I liked seeing this group of teens figure out the puzzles we see throughout the book.  I can definitely understand why they’d want in on the scavenger hunt we see in the book, and it seems like everything works out okay for them.  It is pretty short, so there’s a lot that happens in a short amount of time.  I kind of wish that it had been a little bit longer, just so we had some time to breath, and to explore some of the issues a little more as well.  It was a fun, action-packed book, though, and a pretty fun read.
  • How To Survive A Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans.  I thought this YA horror was okay, but it was interesting to hear what my book club thought about it.  I’ve read similar books (You’re Not Supposed To Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron and There’s No Way I’d Die First, which are both great), so this story wasn’t anything new to me.  It actually felt more true crime adjacent than horror because of the story itself.  I liked that CJ talked about how it wasn’t just something that happened in her town, because she had a direct connection to everything that happened, and it’s a good reminder that that are real people behind the true crime stories that are so popular.  While not for me, I think it’s a great introduction to slashers and YA horror in general.
  • Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert.  This adult contemporary romance was okay.  I’m curious to see how things turn out for Olympus, and I’m looking forward to getting Hera’s story, as well as Hermes.  I was interested because of how the last book ended, and because Poseidon isn’t a character that we’ve seen a lot of in the previous books.  I found that I didn’t particularly care about Poseidon and Icarus, and their relationship was definitely built more on physical attraction than anything else.  This one, along with Dark Restraint, are the ones where I cared more about the plot and what was going on with Olympus than the romance…which is weird considering the genre.  But since this series is going to be 10 books (11, if you count the prequel novella), it makes sense that I wouldn’t care for all of the couples.  That was definitely the case with this book, but at least I have Hera and Hermes to look forward to.
  • We Are The Beasts by Gigi Griffis.  I thought this YA historical fiction was okay.  I wasn’t sure about it for most of the book, but I did end up liking it by the end.  It’s an interesting take on the Beast Of Gevaudan, and this book does a great job at showing how men are the real monsters.  I really felt for the girls we met, and how they had no options to leave.  Using the beast was a pretty good idea, in my opinion, and I’m glad that this group of girls got out.  I hope things go well for them, wherever they end up.

That’s all for this month, and I’ll be back soon!  See you around!

March 2025 Reading Round-Up

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I can’t believe how fast the year is going, and that we’re in April already!  This took a little longer to write than I expected, but I got there eventually.  So let’s get started!

  • Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.  I really liked Onyx Storm, and I totally should have read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame first because I was super fuzzy on what happened.  But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book, and it’s going to be a long wait for the next book, especially with how this book ended!  It’s a pretty solid addition to the series.
  • Guilt And Ginataan by Mia Manansala.  I really liked this adult cozy mystery, and this series is one of my favorites, as far as mysteries go.  I loved the food and drinks, and while I’d love to visit this town, I’d also be really cautious about the town, knowing how many terrible things happen there.  But that’s the whole point of mysteries, right?  I love the small town vibe, but the murders could be a deal breaker.
  • Lore Of The Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana.  I loved this adult romance/fantasy!  It’s a slightly different take on faeries, but something about it made me think of a fairy tale.  I got Beauty and the Beast vibes, but I think it’s because of the magical library.  It’s definitely one of my favorites from March, because I can’t stop thinking about that library.  And I just want to know what happens next.  At any rate, if you love fairies and magic, this is worth checking out!
  • Fit For The Throne: The Trial Of Ten by S. McPherson.  I really liked this adult fantasy.  It’s another interesting take on magic, faeries and shifters.  It’s a very interesting take on reality tv, and I actually agree that it’s the Selection meets the Hunger Games.  I really felt for Variella, who has no idea of her own history, especially since she kind of has to figure it out herself.  She has no idea who to trust, and she’s hearing a lot of things, from a lot of people.  I don’t blame her for making the choices she does, and she really is doing the best she can with the knowledge she has.
  • Gilded by Marissa Meyer, narrated by Rebecca Soler.  It took me months to finally finish this book!  Mostly because I’d listen for 20-30 minutes at a time when I didn’t know what else to listen to.  If you loved Cinder (also by Meyer), and you haven’t read this one, I highly recommend this one.  It’s also great if you love fairy tales, because it’s a cool take on Rumplestiltskin.  That’s a story you don’t see retold very often, and it’s a nice change from the usual fairy tale re-tellings out there.
  • Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor.  This adult African-futurism was a great read!  I mean, you can’t wrong with any of her books, but this is one of my favorites from her.  You have two different stories with this book: you have Zelu, who wrote this massive bestselling novel, and you get excerpts of that novel.  I love the idea of a novel within in a novel, and you see what the success of that novel does to Zelu.

  • Catch And Keep by Erin Hahn.  This adult contemporary romance was one of my favorites from March!  It’s so cute, and sweet and it’s friends-to-lovers, which, in my opinion, made this book even better.  I love Maren and Joe together, and Maren fits in with his family so well.  I love her books, and I’ve been a fan since I read her first book.  I definitely recommend Erin Hahn, and she has a lot of really good couples.
  • This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, with Jillian Tamaki as the illustrator.  This YA contemporary graphic novel was a fast read.  It wasn’t my favorite book I read last month, but Tamaki did a great job with complicated family relationships and complicated friendships.  There’s a lot of secrets and there’s a lot of growing up in this one, and while I didn’t love it, I still think it’s worth checking out.
  • There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer.  I loved this YA horror!  It’s another one of my favorites from last month, and I loved seeing the mystery unravel.  I loved the quotes from different horror movies at the beginning of each chapter, and the list of Top 10 Essential Black Horror Movies at the end of the book was awesome.  I haven’t seen any of the movies on the list, and I’m going to have to check them out.  I’ve never read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, but I know the basics of the story, and there’s something about Springer’s book that made me think of an Agatha Christie book I’ve never read.  I don’t know if Springer took any inspiration from Christie, because it could have been a coincidence, but either way, I wanted to know what was going to happen.

That’s all for this month, and I’ll be back in a month or so with my April reads!

See you next time!

February 2025 Reading Roundup

Posted in Book Review Round-Up, Books by

Hello again!  I’m back with another book review round-up.  I actually took some notes on the books I read, and what I thought, which made writing this a lot easier!

I also focused on reading black authors since February was Black History Month.  Reading books from marginalized communities should absolutely be year-round, not just for a month, because they deserve our support every month!  There were only a two exceptions to this (The Fervor and Sky Island), but I found so many books I wanted to read that I’ll be reading them over the coming months.

  • The Fervor by Alma Katsu.  I really enjoyed The Deep and The Hunger, and this adult historical horror is no exception!  It’s very different from her other books, and while I initially struggled with it, once it got going, it was hard to put down.  It’s set in during World War, after Pearl Harbor, and Japanese internment camps are a prominent part of the book.  As far as the horror goes, it is psychological.  And I can see the parallels between what happened in this book, set over 80 years ago, and what’s happening today with the Trump administration.  That made it hard to read, but it was absolutely worth it, in my opinion.
  • Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis.  This YA horror was just okay for me.  I would describe it as a horror movie in book form.  Picture the Friday the 13th movies, but at a camp for horror obsessed queer girls.  I liked the premise, and Temple was interesting.  I would describe Temple as morally grey, which is refreshing for a female character, and particularly one in YA, because that’s not something I’ve seen before.  The story was a little confusing at times, and it was hard for me to keep track of what was in the past and what was in the present.  Also, the campers blended together, and I had some trouble telling them apart.  It wasn’t for me, but it has a great setting and an interesting premise.
  • Sky Island by Amy Chu, illustrated by Janet K. Lee.  I really liked this Middle Grade contemporary graphic novel.  It’s a great sequel to Sea Sirens, and we have more adventures with Trot, Cap’n Bill, and Trot’s grandpa.  I loved seeing Sky Island, and it looks like a pretty cool place.  It looks like there’s only two books in this series but I think there are a lot of stories Chu and Lee could tell.  Like the first book, I loved the relationship between Trot and her grandpa.  I didn’t mention it when I reviewed Sea Sirens last month, but I loved the art in both books, and the colors are beautiful.
  • The Return by Nenny Mae.  This YA mystery was okay for me.  I liked the idea of a group of high school teens solving a Prom Night mystery from a few years earlier.  I also liked that there is a lot in terms of second chances, forgiveness, and moving on.  The dual timeline was interesting: we see Holly in the present and Scarlett in the past.  It was hard to tell the two timelines apart, as it wasn’t always immediately clear which timeline we were in.  There were a lot of people to keep track of as well, which didn’t help, and even by the end of the book, I couldn’t tell some of the characters apart.  Also, I was not thrilled with what happened between Scarlett and her English teacher.  High school me would not have minded it, but as an adult, I have no patience for when things between teacher and student move beyond that relationship.  It wasn’t for me, but I see why people like it!
  • Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.  I saw someone talking about this middle grade historical fiction on Threads, and decided I needed to re-read it.  The last time I read it, I was a kid, and that is the only thing I remember about it.  I loved it, and if, like me, you haven’t read it in decades, I recommend picking it up, because there were so many things that still ring true today.  The ending broke my heart, though I wasn’t surprised by the violence the characters witnessed and experienced.  There were two moments that really stood out to me.  One was when Cassie and her mom were talking about how some people have to think white people are better to make them feel big, which makes me think of, well, the last 8 years or so.  The other moment that really stood out to me was when Cassie’s mom was talking about how Cassie and her classmates don’t have to accept books in poor condition, which was in response to Cassie’s teacher basically saying they should be grateful for whatever they get.  I was glad that her mom said that they shouldn’t have to receive throwaways.  All students deserve to have a great education, with supplies and equipment in good condition.
  • The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann.  I loved this adult contemporary romance!  This book came up at my book club last year, when we read Dear Wendy, and I finally got around to reading it.  I loved that we have a main character who’s ace, because it’s not something I’ve seen in a lot of books (Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao, Rick by Alex Gino, and Let’s Talk About Love, also by Kann) are the only ones I know of.  I wasn’t a fan of Malcolm, her best friend, mostly because Joy and Malcolm seem like polar opposites.  I don’t know how I feel about Summer, though I appreciate she actually talks to Joy, and understands she and Malcolm are a package deal.  Fox was interesting, and I think he and Joy really balance each other out.  I liked seeing their relationship develop, and I hope things work out for Joy in everything she does.

  • The Davenports by Kayla Marquis, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt.  I loved this YA Historical Fiction, based on C.R. Patterson and his family.  We have Olivia, her sister Helen, Olivia’s best friend Ruby, and Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid for Olivia’s family.  I loved Helen and Amy-Rose the most, because they both had dreams they were working so hard for, and things might have been different for them, had they been born several decades later.  I have the sequel on hold at the library, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for these 4 young women.
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.  This nonfiction memoir was an interesting read.  I’ve never read Baldwin before, but decided to pick this one up after seeing it at the library.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I think it’s worth reading.  I loved seeing his thoughts on race, religion, and racial injustice, and I agree with his thoughts on Christianity and hypocrisy.  There’s a lot to think about, especially as a white woman, and this book is one I want to revisit.  There was one quote that really stood out, which I’m going to leave here for you: “Color is not a human or a personal reality; it is a political reality.”
  • Blood At The Root by LaDarrion Williams.  I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about this YA fantasy.  I love the idea of a magical HBCU, and I think there’s a lot of potential with the magic.  Malik had a lot to deal with, and one thing that was particularly frustrating was how we were told his neighbors blamed him for his mother’s death, which happened when he was 7.  I was also frustrated by his relationship with Alexis, mostly because it came across as him thinking she was the one, even though he only knew her for 6 months when they were 7.  I was looking at some of the reviews, and I get why people have their issues with it but I can also see why people love it.
  • MapMaker by Lisa Moore Ramee.  I really liked this middle grade fantasy, and I think it’s the perfect book for anyone who loves maps, particularly the maps in fantasy books.  I loved that Walt could bring a whole world to life, but also have the power to destroy it.  I really wanted to know more about his ability, and I don’t know if there will be more books set in this world, but I really hope there are.  It definitely hinted at that there are more abilities than to bring worlds to life, and that his twin sister has her own abilities, but we didn’t really get much more than that.  I know I’d read more books set in this world.
  • Twice As Perfect by Louisa Onome.  I really liked this YA contemporary.  I really felt for Adanna, especially because she had a lot to deal with.  There is a lot in terms of family expectations, family estrangement, and family secrets.  There’s a lot in terms deciding what you want, instead of doing what others expect you to do, and I found that very easy to relate to.  I’m really glad I read this one.
  • Josephine Against The Sea by Shakirah Bourne.  This middle grade contemporary is such a good book.  I loved Josephine, and I knew the second that we met Mariss, she was u  p to no good!  I ended up liking her backstory, and I understood her more, but I also understood why Josephine didn’t like her.  I probably would have felt the same way Josephine did, and I’m glad everything worked out for Josephine and her dad.  I liked the magic, and how Josephine and her dad dealt with their grief over losing Josephine’s mom.  This is another one I’m glad I read.

All in all, it was a good month for reading, though reading was a struggle towards the end of the month.  I have some books I’m looking forward to reading for this month, so I’m hoping that will help me get past this little slump I’m in.

I’ll see everyone next month!

January 2025 Book Roundup

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Hello there!  It’s been ages since I’ve posted, and by ages, I mean it’s been almost four years. What I thought was going to be a short break turned out to be much, much longer. It’s good to be back, and while I don’t want to promise that I’ll be back to posting full-length reviews the way I used to, I am going to see how doing a monthly round-up works out.

Last month, I read 12 books, everything from YA contemporaries to adult horror to middle grade graphic novels.  You can check out all 12 books below!

  • Six Stunning Sirens by Lynn Cahoon.  I really like this series, and this was a good addition to the Kitchen Witch books.  If you like cozy mysteries, this series is a good read.  You can’t go wrong with a kitchen witch living in a small town who’s helping out with a beauty pageant that goes terribly wrong.
  • The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling.  I saw this one when I was at Meet Cute, a romance bookstore in San Diego.  The staff recommendation card is what sold me: angry sapphics in space caves.  And the book definitely lived up to that!  It’s creepy and unsettling and there is something suffocating about the setting.  It’s not surprising, considering we’re in a cave for most of the book.
  • The September House by Carissa Orlando.  This one is an adult horror and I thought it was okay.  It’s definitely creepy, and I liked seeing the mystery unravel.  I love the concept of a haunted house that comes to life only in September, but it wasn’t for me.  
  • A Banh Mi For Two by Trinity Nguyen was so good, and I absolutely loved it!  It’s a super-cute YA contemporary, and one of my favorites from January.  It’s a really cute romance set in Vietnam that’s also about family, history and the trauma that’s a result of history.  All of the food sounded so good, and if you’re a foodie, this is an especially good book to read!
  • The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee, which is okay for me.  It’s a YA sci-fi that has some fantasy elements.  I honestly couldn’t tell you much about this book, even though it’s only been a couple weeks since I’ve read it.  If you’re (understandably) trying to avoid dystopia and overthrowing the government, this series is definitely one to skip, at least for the foreseeable future.  On the hand, if that’s what you’re looking for, definitely check it out.  
  • The Lumbering Giants Of Windy Pines by Mo Netz is a super cute middle grade contemporary.  It has Gravity Falls vibes, and I love the mystery in the book.  Plus, it’s set in a creepy motel on the edge of the woods, and we see how motels are really accessible for Jerry (a wheelchair user) and her mom, which is why they move from motel to motel.  

  • Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe is my other favorite book from January.  It’s an adult romance featuring a believer in all things paranormal and weird and a non-believer in the paranormal.  Hallie and Hayden work on a web series for a Buzzfeed type company, and I loved seeing them fall in love.
  • I read Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao, which is another YA contemporary.  It’s pretty similar to A Banh Mi For Two, in terms of family history and adventure in another country.  I wanted to like Chao’s book more, and I really think that if I hadn’t read the two so close together, I would have like Ex Marks The Spot More.  
  • Next is Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by C.M. Nacosta.  I don’t normally read monster romances, but I really like this book, and the series it’s a part of.  I may have to do another post about this series, because each book focuses on a different couple.  This one is a werewolf and human romance (the first one featured a minotaur and the second had mothman), and I’m looking forward to reading the next one.  
  • House Of Hunger by Alexis Henderson was okay.  It’s adult horror, and very creepy and very gothic.  I love the idea of bloodmaids, and I wanted a little bit more of the world, since we’re confined to Lisabet’s house.  It’s would have been nice to see the world outside of that house.
  • Somewhere In The Deep by Tanvi Berwah.  I liked this YA fantasy.  It’s underwater, which you don’t see a lot of, and it has the same creepy claustrophobia that you get in House Of Hunger and The Luminous Dead.  There are legendary creatures, clashes between people who work in the mines and the people who live on land, and a teen left to deal with the terrible legacy of her parents.  Clearly, family history has been a running theme for January, which wasn’t intentional, but still interesting.  I would definitely recommend this one.
  • Sea Sirens by written by Amy Chu, illustrated by Janet K. Lee.  This was a cute middle grade graphic novel about a Vietnamese-American surfer, her cat Bill, and her grandpa.  I love seeing grandparent-grandchild relationships, because I was close to my own grandparents, and this book was no exception.  I loved that her grandpa was so prominent (though he needs a lot of care since he has dementia), because I feel like we see a lot of grandmas.  Listen, grandma are awesome, but I think we could see a few more grandpas.  They definitely go on an adventure, and I have the sequel next to me, so I’m looking forward to reading that one.  

That’s all for today.  I hope you enjoyed this reading round-up, and I’ll for sure be back next month with another one!  See you around!

Book Review: Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh

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Book: Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh

Published November 2017 by TKA Distribution|372 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Hard Play #1

Genre: Adult Contemporary

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.

I liked Cherish Hard, but not as much as her Guild Hunter series or her Psy-Changling series.  I really like those series, and thought I’d give some of her other books a try.  This book seemed like a good starting point, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

I had a hard time with the fact that it takes place in the real world.  New Zealand was a great setting, but after reading two really long series that take place in a more magical/futuristic setting, I had a hard time with present time and real world.  I didn’t feel completely invested in Isa and Sailor’s relationship, though I really felt for Isa and the horrible family she has to deal with.  Honestly, Singh is great at writing horrible parents, but cool siblings and friendships.  But I just wasn’t into the romance in this book, and I’m not sure why.

Sailor was a little too perfect, and somehow managed to have his whole life planned out at the age of 23.  I’m 34, and even now, my life is nowhere close to being planned out the way his life is.  And I get Isa’s insecurities- who wouldn’t be with her mother, and the way she was publicly dumped several years earlier- but there was something a little too sweet and angelic about her.  Something about it seemed off, and they seemed a little more bland than some of the other characters Singh has written.

The book didn’t have a lot of drama, and overall, it was enjoyable.  It didn’t have the drama or tension I was expecting, but then again, I don’t usually read a lot of contemporary romance- historical and paranormal are much more my speed when it comes to romance, so that might be part of why I didn’t love Cherish Hard but still enjoyed it.

It was nice to see a romance where the heroine is older than the hero- it was refreshing to see it, because usually, the guy is older.  I wish we saw this more in romance, but maybe it’s there, and I just haven’t come across one that’s memorable enough to stick with me.  Or come across one at all- either one’s possible.

I don’t know if I’ll keep reading this particular series- I believe the series focuses on a different brother, so I might pick one up.  I also might not pick one up, but I am curious to see if I’ll like any of her contemporaries more.

3 stars.  I didn’t love it, but it was enjoyable, and a quick read.  I wasn’t super into the romance, but I did like that Isa was older than Sailor.

Book Review: Archangel’s Sun by Nalini Singh

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Book: Archangel’s Sun by Nalini Singh

Published November 2020 by Berkley|382

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Guild Hunter’s #13

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

A horrifying secret rises in the aftermath of an archangelic war in New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s deadly and beautiful Guild Hunter world…

The Archangel of Death and the Archangel of Disease may be gone but their legacy of evil lives on—especially in Africa, where the shambling, rotting creatures called the reborn have gained a glimmer of vicious intelligence.

It is up to Titus, archangel of this vast continent, to stop the reborn from spreading across the world. Titus can’t do it alone, but of the surviving powerful angels and archangels, large numbers are wounded, while the rest are fighting a surge of murderous vampires.

There is no one left…but the Hummingbird. Old, powerful, her mind long a broken kaleidoscope. Now, she must stand at Titus’s side against a tide of death upon a discovery more chilling than any other. For the Archangel of Disease has left them one last terrible gift…

I really liked Archangel’s Sun! I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I’m glad the story is continuing!

This book focuses on Titus and the Hummingbird and it picks up where Archangel’s War left off.  It’s definitely hard for everyone, and there’s a lot of work to do.  There are some pretty terrible surprises along the way, but everything works out in the end.

It’s been a while since I’ve read any of the books in the series, so I was a little bit fuzzy on some of the details.  The really nice thing about this book was that I could be a little bit fuzzy on the details and still know what was going on.  And what had happened before, of course.  A little refresher would have been nice, but at any rate, my fuzziness didn’t get in the way of me enjoying this novel.

I really like the Hummingbird!  She’s had a lot to deal with, and she is easily one of my favorite characters in the series now.  I’m glad she got her own book, because she’s been mentioned before, and I really liked getting her story.  I’m glad things worked out for her, and that she got some happiness.  She’s empathetic and a fierce warrior and this really amazing artist.  She’s different from Titus in a lot of ways, but I really like them together!

I liked Titus too, and even though I remembered his name coming up before, that was all I remembered about him.  We learned a little bit about him, and it sounds like he has quite the family.  But I was a lot more interested in Sharine’s story, and I wanted to know everything about her.  I didn’t feel the same way about Titus, but I think they’ll be really good for each other.  I know we won’t get another book focusing on them, but we’ll for sure see what’s going on with them in the future.  Especially with Sharine’s connections to some of the other characters.

I liked seeing Titus and Sharine work together- he really underestimated her, which is understandable, but she also completely proved him wrong.  She took the time to listen to his people and wasn’t intimidated by him.  She really was the best choice to help him deal with the reborn.  And he really did respect her and listen to her, which was nice.  And I really appreciated seeing that.  I’m not sure why, but I did.  She brought a certain kindness and grace to everything she did, which I loved, and she didn’t let what happened destroy her.  I think that’s why I loved her so much.

4 stars.  I really liked Archangel’s Sun- especially Sharine and her backstory!  I can’t wait to read the next book!

Book Review: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

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Book: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Published December 2013 by NYLA|225 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Clean Sweep #1

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night….Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

I really liked Clean Sweep!  I’m glad I picked this one up.

It was fun to read, and it moved pretty fast.  It is short, so that might be part of it.  But I really liked Dina’s world, and the magic and how it seems to be a little sci-fi too.  Like how the werewolves seem to have some genetic enhancements.  And other planets are mentioned.  Plus, the vampires kind of reminded me of aliens, but I really liked the spin on vampires.

The magic was really cool!  I love the idea of a magical inn, and how it can defend itself if it has to.  I also liked how the inns were rating, and higher ratings mean really good things.  I get why Dina took over this abandoned inn, and how she wants it to be a hustling and bustling place where she might have a guest who can lead her to her parents.  I really hope we learn more about them.  And I hope Dina finds out what happens to them.  I don’t know if we’ll ever meet her siblings- I doubt it we will, but it would be nice to see them.

I really hope we see Sean again too.  I hope it’s not the last we see of him, and I really hope he makes an appearance.  It would be nice to see him again in some way.

Actually, I liked a lot of the characters we meet.  Dina was really cool, and I really liked her.  She seems pretty independent, and she kind of reminds me of Nevada from the Hidden Legacy series.  I think, if you like that series, you’ll like this one.  Dina has a guest, and I wish I could remember her name, but she seemed pretty cool.  I want to know more about her, and I hope we get to see her in the rest of the series.

As fast as things went, and as much as I loved the world, I thought things could be explained a little more.  It’s pretty short, so more could have been added.  I got a basic idea of the world and how it worked, but a little more explanation would have been nice.  Still, I know there are other books after this one, so I think we’ll get more as the series goes in.  Even if I’m not completely happy with the information we get, I know we’ll get something.

4 stars.  I really liked this book, and I wish it were a little longer.  I don’t mind that too much, since this is only the first book in the series.  I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Book Review: Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

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Book: Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Published August 2019 by Avon|400 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: Hidden Legacy #4

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

I liked Sapphire Flames a lot more than I thought I would!  I mean, I liked the previous books in the series, so I was expecting to just like this one.  But I liked it a lot more than I thought I would!

So, this book focuses on Catalina, Nevada’s younger sister.  This book is set several years after the third book on the series, and it’s clear that Nevada’s story is pretty much over.  She does pop up, by way of phone calls, but this book is clearly centered on Catalina as head of house and navigating the family through hard times as their three-year grace period comes to a close.

I really liked Alessandro and Catalina together.  I didn’t spend the whole book waiting for something to happen between them, and I felt like there was more of a something between them than I did with Nevada and Rogan.  I like them together, and there are certainly going to be challenges in terms of them getting together, but I have no doubt it will happen.  I feel like they’re evenly matched, more than Nevada and Rogan.  I’m interested to see how their story plays out over the next few books, and if there will be more books but featuring other characters.

I’m also curious to see how things will go now that they’re past their grace period.  Catalina has a lot in store for her, and I’m sure she’ll rise to the challenge of steering her house in the right direction.  I just hope she can balance that with finding love.  Hopefully with Alessandro, because I do like them together, and I feel like it’s being set up for it to happen.  It’ll be an adventure getting there, I think.

It’s weird how shifting a series to a different set of characters reset the series for me.  I liked Nevada, and I liked her story but maybe I wasn’t super into her story.  Still, her story led to Catalina’s, and that is something I’m happy about.  I’m glad we get to see her abilities, and I really want to see more of them.

4 stars.  I really Sapphire Flames, and I can’t wait to read what happens next!

Book Review: Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

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Book: Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

Published July 2017 by Avon|400 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: Hidden Legacy #3

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Just when Nevada Baylor has finally come to accept the depths of her magical powers, she also realizes she’s fallen in love. Connor “Mad” Rogan is in many ways her equal when it comes to magic, but she’s completely out of her elements when it comes to her feelings for him. To make matters more complicated, an old flame comes back into Rogan’s life…

Rogan knows there’s nothing between him and his ex-fiance, Rynda Sherwood. But as Nevada begins to learn more about her past, her power, and her potential future, he knows she will be faced with choices she never dreamed of and the promise of a life spent without him.

As Nevada and Rogan race to discover the whereabouts of Rynda’s kidnapped husband and are forced to confront Nevada’s grandmother, who may or may not have evil motives, these two people must decide if they can trust in each other or allow everything to go up in smoke.

I liked Wildfire!  I’ve enjoyed this series, and it’s been pretty entertaining and interesting.  I’m also excited to keep reading because I really want to see what happens next with Nevada and her family.

The thing with Nevada and Rogan as a couple is that I’ve never felt completed invested in them as a couple.  There’s a lot of interactions but for the most part, it felt like business and not romantic.  I’m not sure if it’s something that happened more off-screen but I didn’t particularly care when a big moment happened between them.  I had a hard time caring because there was barely any build-up to it.

In fact, I’m not really sure why I’m shelving it as a paranormal romance because the romance for me has been minimal.  Actually, urban fantasy might be a better categorization but for now, I’ll keep it under the paranormal romance shelf.

I really like Nevada’s family, and there are a lot of challenges they have to deal with in this book.  I doubt things are over in this book but hopefully, things will be a little better for them.  I don’t want to give it away, but I wasn’t surprised by where things went in terms of them forming a House.  I also wasn’t surprised at the outcome, and I am excited to see how things are different for them.  Assuming things change at all, which they very well could.

Honestly, I don’t have anything else to add for this book.  I’ve definitely said everything I wanted to!

3 stars.  I liked Wildfire, but I’m not interested in Nevada and Rogan as a couple.  I still want to see what happens next!