Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.The gothic vibes of The Third Wife of Faraday House by B. R. Myers got to me in a thrilling kind of way: mysterious footsteps, a figure in the window!, hallucinations (seemingly), an unsettling back story or two…. They all gave this book a chilling air that I adored ratcheting up with every chapter. There are lots of mysteries in this book, as Emeline tries to figure out what has happened to the first & second wives of Faraday house, & her own growth throughout the haunting & danger she’s up against is a nice touch. I found the romance in this one to be a tad lackluster—mostly because it just didn’t totally convince me—but it was cute & I’ll (rarely) turn down a love story . In the end, this is an enjoyable gothic adventure that served up a surprise or two along the way. 4⭐️. Out 08/20.CWs: murder, attempted murder, death in childbirth.
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This post contains affiliate links.Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Such a great story about grief, friendship, & found family & one moment in the audio gave me literal cold chills while I was shopping at Walmart. 5 ⭐️, out now. Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young. My first book by the much-hyped author & I can see what all the fuss is about. A friends to lovers queer awakening story with some “I’m home for the holidays” vibes. 4.5 ⭐️️, out now. Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore. This is a sensitive & also messy story featuring a trans hero, a funeral home, & the ghosts that only he can see (& that he’s kept secret for years). Grief, some heartbreak, Jewish culture & history rep, & more but it’s ultimately hopeful & lovely. 4 ⭐️ ️, out 08/20. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki & Translated by Jesse Kirkwood. A series of stories about different interconnected people & how they’re brought into contact with the magical Full Moon Coffee Shop at the right time. There’s an emphasis on astrology & making smart decisions with astrology in mind, & overall themes of getting out of unhelpful patterns of behavior & doing something positive. I didn’t totally connect with this novella because it comes across a bit disjointed & didactic for me, but it was interesting to read. 2.5 ⭐️, out 08/20. Have you read any of these? Are any on your TBR?Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.In the “what the heck am I reading?” & also “but I’m really liking it” variety is Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland. This book is basically if Alexis Hall’s screwball comedy Something Fabulous were a fantasy, but maybe hornier . Whereas Something Fabulous didn’t always work for me, I adored RCTTW—how it leans into the absurdity of it all, & how it’s set in a fantasy world of pirates & sea serpents, heist & intrigue. Main character Avra is very funny, very dramatic, & very horny. He’s captured by pirate Teveri at the beginning of the book, the same Captain (& ex-lover) who marooned him before the book began for making up an embarrassing song about them. Also on board the ship is the hottest person who has ever lived, Julian, a brilliant man who’s taken a vow of celibacy (MUCH to Avra’s dismay). But Avra has a lot of luck when it comes to life & maybe that will help the three of them discover the answer to a mystery that could change the world, & help them convince Julian to abandon his vow. This book is boisterous & hilarious, & then the characters will turn & act in a completely unexpected & amazing way. The story didn’t so much move me emotionally as it did sparkle at me. 5⭐️. Out now!Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Bowen Penhallow. Brooding & brawny & blushing. Three amazing b’s. Also, he’s a Welshman (!!!). I don’t really see how the title of The Wedding Witch comes into play in the plot very much but this witchy romance by Erin Sterling is adorable & came into my life just when I needed a fun read. Bowen Penhallow is looking for magical artifacts for a noble, if misguided, reason, & Tamsyn is the acquirer he hires (& pretty much immediately falls for). Despite the fact that their mutual falling is apparent to the reader from their first meeting, there’s still a great sense of anticipation with this one. It doesn’t lose its zest. With amusing family dynamics, a heist plan, a time travel twist, & a cariad reference or two, this fun & hot witchy romance delights . 4.5⭐️. Out 10/08.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
This blog post includes affiliate links.This month I’ve been trying to clear out some of the physical books waiting on my TBR shelf. These are two of the most recent! Wildlife by Opal Wei: He’s a former boy band member now trying to run a wildlife refuge & she’s a medical researcher. They embark on a whirlwind romance in his remote cabin after she misplaces a very important slide in her research. So much to enjoy about this one: a prickly heroine, some humor (a la Bringing Up Baby), a himbo-ish lead, & personal epiphanies . 4.33 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to @harlequinbooks @harlequinpublicityteam for the complimentary hardcopy; all opinions mine.) Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope. Whew, this book! It’s a historical fantasy wherein Black Americans thriving in an all-Black town are threatened by the (white) Authority & a dam that’s coming to their area. In this version, Penelope imagines what the town & its people could achieve with magic, faith, & determination. This book is ultimately hopeful, but it also has references to destruction, violence, & even death perpetrated by white men. A powerful book. 5 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the complimentary hardcopy; all opinions mine.) [ID: Jess wears a navy polka dotted dress & stands on a brown deck holding the two books.]
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary excerpt. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Was I so excited to see Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune on Netgalley that I requested before realizing it was only an excerpt? Yes. Yes that is what happened. But as far as excerpts go, this one is a delight, with what seems to be a clear hint of what this book will cover & a re-introduction to the soft & funny vibes that made The House in the Cerulean Sea such a success. If you’re looking for heartwarming fantasy where characters are fully loved, check out book 1 in this series &, if this book excerpt is any indication, this book, too. Out 09/10/24.[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of an aqua wall with a green & brown tree painted on it.]Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Fall for Him by Andie Burke delivered a delicious & much-appreciated palate cleanser for me after the last few longer books I’ve been reading. Warm, sometimes funny/sad/inspirational/& relatable, sexy…this book feels like it has it all, & it read so quickly for me. The book opens with Dylan falling through the ceiling of his belowstairs housemate, Derek. Derek has apparently hated Dylan since the beginning of time, something Dylan is confused by. Forced to live together during renovation, the two develop an appreciation for the other despite their occasional misunderstandings, questions, etc. This book got to my heart & I was cheering at some moments, like when Derek defends Dylan with his family (! Love that moment!). The last lines are so cute & perfectly wrap up this winning story about two lonely people appreciating each other for what & who they are & making a home together. Maybe check out content warnings before you start bc this book does cover a lot of tough topics, but it’s still an uplifting book that I enjoyed so much. 4.5⭐️. Out 9/03. CWs: ADHD rep; intrusive thoughts; anxiety; panic attack; grief.
Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for The Art of Catching Feelings* by Alicia Thompson! I've been so excited to read this one--With Love, From Cold World was one of my fave reads of 2023 and my anticipation was huge. Read on for a summary and my review. |
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