ARC REVIEW: In A Holidaze By: Christina Lauren

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but thirty-year-old Maelyn Jones is in the midst of a major crisis. She’s living with her mom, hates her boring job, and has yet to make any romantic progress with Andrew, the friend she’s been in love with for the last thirteen years. But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born. Devastated as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple wish to the universe: show me what will make me happy. The next thing she knows there’s a screech of tires and metal, followed by Mae gasping awake…on an airplane bound for Utah. Now Mae has the chance to live the holidays all over again but with one disaster after another sending her repeatedly back in time, she has to figure out how to end this strange holiday loop and get Andrew under the mistletoe. Otherwise, she’s going to need a miracle.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Is October too early to read a Christmas book? You know what? It's 2020 and I just don't care. I needed some holiday cheer in my life and this book had that in spades. I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about this book for maybe the first 25% of it. I didn't really get a sense of who Maelyn was (other than someone in a dead end job and crushing on someone she thinks she will never get) and the story was kind of meh. I just didn't know how I would feel about the whole Groundhog Day thing. The beginning did move very slowly and her interactions with Andrew didn't leave me with much optimism for their romance. However, after a couple of her "deaths," the romance really revved up and the story just turned into something so sweet. There was so much warmth and chemistry and humor and heart in this story. I loved it. I got to know all the many characters and the friendships between all of them. And there was so much holiday joy! I loved the traditions and the snow and all the fun. It definitely put me in the holiday spirit a whole two months early and I have no issues with that. I also loved Maelyn's growth and her relationship with Andrew. Fantastic read once again by two fantastic women!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC REVIEW: Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties, a virgin, and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a geography teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel—involuntary celibate—forums, where he meets the charismatic, mysterious, and sinister Bryn. Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. But the Fours family have a bad feeling about their neighbor Owen. He’s a bit creepy and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night. Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre Maddox disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a few Lisa Jewell books before and I really enjoyed them. But something about this one was just meh. A seventeen year old girl, Saffyre, is missing. She has connections to Roan, her previous psychologist and Owen, Roan's next door neighbor. The book has three POV's: Saffyre, Owen and Cate (Roan's wife). Cate and Owen's POVs are told through third person, but it's told in present tense (basically, real time). Something about this writing style just turned me off and it made it hard to connect fully with the characters. Saffyre's POV is told in the first person and there is a different timeline. The difference in voices and timelines was a little jarring.

I liked the concept of the missing girl, as well as the incel community. The problem was that the issue with the incel community was never fully developed. It was just . . . there. Mainly, it was used as a way to cast doubt on Owen. I didn't think there was a lot of suspense regarding Saffyre's disappearance either. While I was interested enough to keep reading to find out what happened, there were many periods of the story where I was just kind of bored. There were also a lot of other subplots and so much happening with the story that I didn't feel that any one part of the story really got the attention that it deserved. The end of the book was a bit much. There was so much that happened at the climax of the book and a lot of it came out of nowhere and I didn't feel fully satisfied with the ending. What happened to Saffyre was alluded to throughout so much of the story and yet it wasn't as dramatic as it should have been, given all the references to it. I also thought that the changes with Owen were too sudden and unrealistic for the character. I did actually guess one of the twists, but the surprises were things that just came out of nowhere and didn't really make sense in the grand scheme of things. 

This may just be a case of "it's not you, it's me" since the book does get rave reviews from other readers. In my opinion, I think the premise of this one had a lot of potential, but the author just couldn't quite make it work.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

BOOK REVIEWS: WELL MET AND WELL PLAYED By: Jen DeLuca

Well Met (Well Met #1)

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him? The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying? This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek. 

Wow. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I got it specifically because of all the hype and it's been on my Kindle for a while. Since I got the ARC for the sequel, I figure I should finally read this one. Ha. It was AMAZING!! I absolutely loved the characters and the Renaissance Faire setting made want to go to one in the worst way. I was so engrossed in the writing and the setting. Emily is in Willow Creek for a temporary time to help out with her sister and niece after her sister had been in a very bad car accident that left her immobile for a while. She is recovering from a bad breakup with a jerk who dumped her once he graduated from law school and she had ceased to be useful to him. Ugh. Simon is straight laced and an English teacher and a Shakespeare nerd and he was AWESOME. I thought he would be boring and predictable at first, but it turned out that he had a lot more swagger than I thought. I thought the chemistry between these two characters was so steamy and their banter and slow burn romance left me swooning. I did not want this book to end. I can't wait to read the sequel with one of the many awesome supporting characters!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well Played (Well Met #2)

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find The One. When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it. Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED Well Met, so it pains me to say that I was very disappointed with this installment of the series. I was happy to be back in the Renaissance Faire setting once again and I did love the character of Stacey. I thought her sadness over feeling stuck in her life and not really knowing what to do next was very relatable. 

The problem I had was that I just didn't care for the romance aspect of the story. Stacey spent a year being catfishes . . . A YEAR! And then when she finds out the truth, she is pissed off for all of five minutes. Then she's fine with it. Not only that, but she is suddenly okay with dating the guy behind the words, despite the fact that she had not shown any interest in him at all. Then their relationship was just skimmed over. I never really felt their chemistry and since the guy had been pretending to be someone else while emailing Stacey, I never really felt their emotional connection either. I won't give away any spoilers, but it frustrated me that Stacey ALWAYS had to go chasing after him. Did he ever make a grand gesture? No. He acted like a coward and decided to just give up, but it was Stacey's responsibility to make everything happen. Also, I never really got a sense of who Stacey's romantic lead was or what moved him. I also never really understood what Stacey actually wanted to do besides travel and I just thought the ending was too contrived and it fell flat.

I really wanted to love this one, but I was bored throughout most of it and I actually skimmed some of the last chapter. I am still excited to read the third book though. I have been waiting for April and Mitch's book since I love both characters. 

Rating: ⭐⭐

ARC REVIEW: The White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha

Having spent the last twenty-something years with her nose in a textbook, brilliant and driven Norah Kapadia has just landed the medical residency of her dreams. But after a disastrous first day, she's ready to quit. Disgruntled patients, sleep deprivation, and her duty to be the "perfect Indian daughter" have her questioning her future as a doctor. Enter chief resident Ethan Cantor. He's everything Norah aspires to be: respected by the attendings, calm during emergencies, and charismatic with the patients. As he morphs from Norah’s mentor to something more, it seems her luck is finally changing. When a fatal medical mistake is made, pulling Norah into a cover-up, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the secret. What if “doing no harm” means risking her career and the future for which she’s worked so hard?

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I went back and forth with my rating on this one. I was very intrigued for a large part of the story. I thought the author did such a great job with the day to day life of an intern: the crazy patients, the attending who thought they were God, the lack of sleep and junk food, the lack of a social life, etc. It was all very interesting. I was confused because the premise made it seem as though it was more of a romance. The romance played second fiddle to Norah's life as an intern though. Don't get me wrong, I was fine with that. But if you are looking for a romance, you should look elsewhere. I was also disappointed because the main part of the plot didn't occur until about 70% of the way through the book and when it did, it was skimmed over and seemed to resolve itself more quickly than I would like. 

I thought that the author did a very good job with the character of Norah and with the changes that she went through during the course of her internship. She started out very naive and very much a sort of doormat with people, especially with her mother. I loved the parts that revolved around Norah's family. Yes, the dynamics were extremely frustrating. Between her mother's grief and her mother's desire to see her married instead of a doctor to her brother and sister-in-law's wish that she would give up on her dreams to make things easier on them, it was all a bit much. But those dynamics helped explain why Norah was the way that she was. 

Besides the fact that it took a while to get to the main events of the plot, I did have a few issues with Norah's choices at the end of the book. I thought she was more assertive and that was fantastic, and I thought that the choices she made were understandable. However, I didn't really think where she ended up fit with her goals or the rest of the story. That part didn't really make sense to me. Also, she had done a few things that were questionable and suggested that she was going down the same path as her mother, but that part was never addressed. It seemed like the author forgot about that part and maybe Norah just ended those things on her own.

This book was pretty good in certain areas and definitely an interesting look at the life of an intern, but I still had a few issues with the pacing in certain areas and Norah's character arc.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

BOOK REVIEW: Girl Gone Viral (Modern Love #2) By Alisha Rai

One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a hot guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire episode with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae is the new hashtag-du-jour. The problem? Katrina craves a low-profile life, and going viral threatens the peaceful world she’s painstakingly built. Besides, #CafeBae isn’t the man she’s hungry for... With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard, friend, and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to his family’s home. Alone in a remote setting with the object of her affections? It’s a recipe for romance. But after a long dating dry spell, Katrina isn’t sure she can trust her instincts when it comes to love—even if Jas’ every look says he wants to be more than just her bodyguard…

So it would seem like I am on a total Alisha Rai kick right now. I have recently read several books by her, but I can't help it. She is amazing!! Right Swipe was the first book in this series and also the very first book I read by this author. You don't have to read that one first at all. But after finishing the first one, I knew I wanted to read Katrina's story. Katrina is sweet and loyal and somewhat naive at times and she also struggles with panic disorder and agoraphobia. And can I just say that I need a Katrina in my life to cook for me?? All of her food sounded AMAZING! Anyway, Jas is Katrina's security guard and is struggling with PTSD after his time in the Army. These two people are struggling with their attraction to each other and with their emotions. It was frustrating at times, the lack of communication on their part. But both characters had histories that made it difficult for them to admit what they were feeling. Even though the romance was a very slow burn, the author still did an incredible job of showing their chemistry and showing how much these people cared for each other. And I loved how Katrina grew throughout the book and how she started working through her issues. This was a fantastic read and I really can't wait for the next in the series! 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC Review: The Dark Tide (The Dark Tide #1) by Alicia Jasinska

Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, Caldella's Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking. Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen's attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice. Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won't make the same mistake. She's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas's freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other. As water floods Caldella's streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice, they must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both.

First of all, thank you NetGalley for this ARC! Second of all, excuse me while I flail helplessly at this book because I just loved it so freaking much. The writing sucked me in immediately and I DID NOT WANT IT TO END! The writing was beautiful and magical and atmospheric and it was amazing. And it was so incredibly dark too. The world building was incredible and I loved the magic. There was something so poetic about this book. I can't even put it into words, which is s shame, mainly because I know that is the one requirement for a book review. Ha. I loved the two characters too. Lina was fierce and determined and oh, so passionate. She was amazing. Eva was just as passionate, but mainly about being queen and trying to get revenge for what happened to her sister. If there is one complaint I had, it's that I wanted a little more depth to the relationship between the two girls. But their chemistry was off the charts, so it's all good. The author kept me engaged throughout the entire book; there was so much action and the climax was unreal. The ending was so satisfying, but there is still a sequel. I don't know where the author will be going with it, but I can't wait to read it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC Review: The Extraordinaries (The Extraordinaries #1) By: TJ Klune

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).

This book just exceeded every single expectation that I had. Nick is the most lovable and awkward and realistic character I have encountered in a long time. Nick has ADHD and I have to say that there were conversations where I felt like I was listening to my husband . . . it was eerily accurate! He went on so many tangents and his friends just teased him and loved him through it all. I loved how well the author portrayed his ADHD and that it wasn't just a convenient plot device. What I liked about this book is that even though there are obvious fantasy elements (what with all the superheroes and everything), this was also a contemporary novel about friendship and dealing with death and family and Nick's crazy obliviousness when it came to his feelings for his best friend, Sam.

First of all, Nick's friends are AMAZING. Gibby and Jazz are lesbians and they were so incredibly freaking sweet and adorable -- they made my tooth ache they were so sweet. I loved their relationship with each other, and with Nick. I loved how they just sat back sometimes and watched him be awkward while making their quips. They were hilarious. Sam and Nick are best friends and it is obvious to EVERYONE but Nick that they are in love with each other. It's so cute. And here's the thing: there was so much diversity with race and sexual orientation and I loved that someone being gay or bisexual wasn't a huge deal -- it was just a part of who they were. I also loved Nick's relationship with his dad. Nick and his dad have been struggling big time ever since Nick's mom died in a bank robbery. Theirs was an incredible relationship. It was obvious that Nick's dad loved him, even if they both made mistakes sometimes. Part of the reason why Nick wanted to be a superhero so much was because he wanted to save people the way he could not save his mother. 

So the main issue I did have with the book was that the pacing was a little slow at times. Sometimes Nick's tangents just went on a little too much. And I would have loved a little more of the superhero part of it. We got a lot of action from the two superheroes (and the "twist" where they were concerned was kind of predictable, but still amazing), but we didn't get a whole lot of world building around it. Maybe that will come in future installments? I did love the message of the book and that epilogue was AMAZING and made me want to get my hands on the sequel RIGHT NOW!!! 

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait for more from these characters!  

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC Review: What You Wish For By Katherine Center

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before. When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

This is the second book I have read by Katherine Center and I have absolutely loved both of them. She may be my new favorite author. The characters in this book were so well developed and so lovable. Sam is a librarian who adores her school and her students and her books (naturally). But she has an illness she tried to hide from and a childhood that makes it hard to trust others to not leave and she has decided to fight for joy every single day. I loved the whimsy of her library and her bright pink bangs and all the bright colored socks that she wore to school. I admired her and her determination to be joyful on every single page. Now I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about Duncan because he was so straight laced and the complete opposite of Sam in EVERY way. Not only that, but he seemed pretty obsessed with school safety (maybe a little too much, but also understandable in today's climate) and the changes that he wanted to make were just so outrageous. I became just as frustrated and upset as Sam, but when his history was explained, I felt so much empathy for him and I just wanted to hug him and give him back his joy. This book was both funny and sad at times and the romance and chemistry between Sam and Duncan were an incredible slow burn, which I LOVE. Even though Sam had a huge crush on Duncan in the past, I really liked that the author didn't try to make this an insta love kind of thing. I loved that these two characters actually got to know each other and that they learned to trust each other. This was such an emotional and delightful read. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC Group Review: Burning Our Bodies Down, Saving Ruby King, One to Watch, and Voting Booth

This is a review of some of the ARCs that I have read lately. I am so grateful that NetGalley has given me these ARCs to review. I have read a lot of great ones lately!

Burning Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along. But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for. Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

This book was . . . interesting, to say the least and I am still not sure how I feel about it. The writing was pretty phenomenal. It made me want to keep reading to see if what was going to happen. The problem was that it took so long to get to the interesting parts. The pace was very slow and it was also tough to connect to the main character, Margot. I did feel her desperation and frustration, but I didn’t really know much about her and there was a disconnect between the reader and her that made the story tough to enjoy. The ending was twisted, but it was also bizarre, and I am not really sure I understand it. This was just an okay read for me.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend, Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what are his true motives? And what is the price for turning a blind eye?

This book was such an incredible surprise. I requested this book on a whim. I kept hearing about it and the I loved the sound of the premise. This book is about a black community in the South side of Chicago, dealing with family secrets, police brutality, racism, and domestic violence. There were a number of characters and I thought the author did an incredible job of developing each of them and giving them rich backstories. I think my favorite point of view was that of the Calvary Church itself. Since the church was such an important part of the fabric of the community, I loved that added touch. Those chapters gave a more nuanced look at some of the happenings with the other characters of the book. The author’s writing was incredibly detailed and vivid and she did a wonderful job of drawing me into the story. I loved the mystery of the characters and the secrets and the author built up an incredible conclusion that was both shocking and satisfying. I definitely recommend this one.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers--and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze.But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition--under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it. But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. In this joyful, razor-sharp debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men--and herself--for a chance to live happily ever after.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was just such a delight. Bea is a woman who (for the most part) is happy with who she is and she tries not to let the trolls of the world make her miserable. And she is fed up with the fact that the TV show Main Squeeze (a bachelor/bachelorette type show) only has thin women on the show, so of course she can’t help but say yes when she is asked to be the latest contestant. I think Bea handled herself very well with a lot of the fatphobic people who ended up on the show. I did enjoy the romance part of it, but honestly the best part was seeing her growth throughout the story. Yes, Bea is comfortable in her own skin, but it soon becomes apparent that she has a problem believing that she is worthy of love. And that she still thinks she has to settle. But the story and the ending had such an awesome message and I was so satisfied with how everything was resolved. Fantastic read!! 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election? Duke Crenshaw is do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can't vote. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy. 

I thought this was such a great read and so timely with the fact that today’s youth are becoming more and more vocal and politically active. Marva is so passionate about politics and is incredibly excited to vote in her very first election. Duke’s mom is more excited about him voting than he is and he seems somewhat apathetic about the process, though he does want to vote. But there are issues and Marva becomes involved and they spend a whole day together, trying to make sure he can vote and I loved that. The book deals with activism and racial injustice and gun violence and yet there are lighter moments in the book too. I like that Duke tried to teach Marva to live in the moment a little. The only thing I didn’t care for was Alec, Marva’s boyfriend. She is pissed at him because he doesn’t want to vote. While I can understand her frustration at his lack of caring, she kept talking about it as though he should vote because he told her he would and not because it’s the right thing to do. That irked me a little, but I began to understand where she was coming from, especially because of the fact that he was white and privileged, which meant he could afford to not care about certain things, but she couldn’t. Great book by this author. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

REVIEW: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

There were a lot of things to love about this book. I absolutely loved the twist on the original Cinderella story and the fact that every single aspect of the well known fairy tale was dissected and torn apart. I loved the fact that this fairy tale was not what it appeared to be, which is the case with most fairytales, I am sure. I thought Sophia was a fantastic character. She was headstrong and stubborn and completely determined to be able to make her own choices about who to marry and who to love. She is in love with her best friend, Erin, and would rather spend her life with her than be forced into marriage with some man she hardly knows and who will most likely treat her like she is a piece of his property.

So there were a few issues I had with the story, which is why I am giving it three stars instead of four. One issue I had was the insta-love that Sophia felt towards Constance. At the beginning of the story. Sophia is SO in love with Erin, but then it seems as though those feelings are completely forgotten when she meets Constance. I do understand Sophia's reasons for why she felt that Erin wasn't good for her, but it felt like her relationship with Constance happened way too quickly and it felt forced to me. I also felt that the world building was a little lacking. I didn't fully understand why Prince Charming did the things he did and why he created the laws that he did. His motives didn't make sense at all and he just wasn't a well developed villain. The whole patriarchy society also started to become a little too much. It felt weird that there wasn't a single decent man in the entire kingdom. Why would the King's rules make it so that EVERY man in the kingdom felt the need to treat women like crap? That part also felt a little forced to me.

I did think the book was pretty good and worth a read. I just wish certain things had been done better. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

REVIEW: Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones #1) by Veronica Roth

Synopsis: A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for this book!

I was torn about my rating for this one. I think that maybe it deserves 3.5 stars. I loved the premise for this one. Someone else compared it to a book about what happens after superheroes do what they are supposed to do and save the world and I think that about sums it up. Sloane, Matt, Esther, Ines and Albie were the Chosen Ones and they were able to fight the Dark One and win. Now they have to do with the aftereffects and some are having a harder time than others. I loved Sloane, the main character. She is a bad ass who portrays this image of being someone who doesn't care, but she does care . . . a lot. She is also suffering from PTSD from what she went through and it doesn't help that Matt (also her boyfriend) is acting as though she should be over it by now. I also loved the character of Albie and I liked his relationship with Sloane. Matt and Esther though just seemed . . . meh.

I think the problem I had with this story was that it was so incredibly slow. And maybe that's due to the world building. but there was just not a lot happening for a large part of the book. When they were taken to another dimension, I thought the story might pick up again and it did for a while. But then there was just a lot of training and a lot of standing around, not doing anything. But close to the end, it picked up again and I absolutely loved the cliffhanger at the end. So even though there were many slow parts, I thought this was a worthwhile start to the series and I am looking forward to the next installment.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2 

REVIEW: The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border

Synopsis: When Rosayra Pablo Cruz made the wrenching decision to seek asylum in the United States with two of her children, five-year-old Fernando and fifteen-year-old Yordy, she knew the journey would be incredibly difficult, dangerous, and potentially deadly. But violence had made life in Guatemala untenable; Rosy knew her family’s only chance to survive was to go north. After a perilous journey that left them dehydrated, starved, and exhausted, Rosy, Fernando, and Yordy crossed into Arizona. Almost immediately, they were forcibly separated by government officials under the Department of Homeland Security’s “zero tolerance” policy. In The Book of Rosy, Rosy and Julie Schwietert Collazo, founder of Immigrant Families Together, the grassroots organization founded to reunite mothers with their children, tell Rosy’s story. They expose the cruel conditions of the detention facilities, the unbearable anxiety of having her children ripped away, and the faith and love that helped her through the darkest time.

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC! 

This is such a timely book. Full disclosure: since we are in the middle of race riots and police brutality issues, this was an even harder book for me to read. I had a very hard time keeping my attention on this story at times, just because my mind kept drifting to everything else that was going on right now. I am frustrated and tired at what is happening in our world. For that reason, and that reason alone, I had a hard time focusing on this book. But I was so touched by Rosy's story of being separated from her kids at the border. She was applying for asylum, which is NOT A CRIME. It is so awful that these mothers were separated from their children, not knowing where they are or when they would be reunited. I thought Rosy did a really good job of explaining life in Guatemala and why she made the choices she had made. She explained that she had no way of knowing what the new Trump policies were, but she also explained that even if she had known, she most likely would have still made the choices she did because of what her life was like and because of the danger surrounding her kids. And man, the journey from Guatemala to the US was no joke and it is obvious that people who do it feel like they have no choice. After Rosy arrived in US, the reader is introduced to an entire network of people who are dedicated to reuniting mothers when they can and helping them adapt to life in the States. This is such a moving story that is definitely worth the read. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

REVIEW: Things You Say In A Fire by Katherine Center

Synopsis: Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?

I thought this was a wonderful story that was even more emotional than I could have imagined. Cassie is a female firefighter and is a total badass. But she is also a bit emotionally disconnected because of events from her childhood. I could really relate to Cassie. She had so much anger from events in her childhood and she was determined to hold a grudge against her mother. Been there, done that. Yes, she theoretically knows that the she needed to learn to forgive and let things go, but naturally, that is so much easier said than done. I love that this story was about forgiveness and love and I loved to see Cassie's growth throughout the story. I did think the romance part was a little much for me, just because it happened so fast. By the end of it, I was as in love with Owen as Cassie was; I just didn't feel it as quickly as she did. I will definitely be reading more by this author,

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: Now A Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

Synopsis: Iris Thorne wants to blaze her own path. That's easier said than done when you're the granddaughter of M. E. Thorne, famous author of the Elementia series, hailed as the feminist response to J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. And with a major motion picture adaptation of her grandmother's books in the works, Iris can say goodbye to her dream of making her own way in the music industry. So when Iris and her brother get invited to the film set in Ireland, she's pretty sure the trip will be a nightmare. Except Iris can't deny the rugged beauty of the Irish countryside. And brushing shoulders with the hot, young cast isn't awful, especially the infuriatingly charming lead, Eamon O'Brien. Iris even finds the impassioned female director inspiring. But when the filming falls into jeopardy, everything Iris thought she knew about Elementia—and herself—is in question. Will making a film for the big screen help Iris to see the big picture?

This was a beautifully written book. I absolutely loved the setting of Ireland -- the author did a great job of making me want to visit that incredible country. I think one of the reasons this wasn’t a five star read for me was that Iris was a hard character to like. Don’t get me wrong, I understood why she was so angry and afraid. But all the negativity was just a bit much to take at times. Her brother, Ryder, was so incredibly adorable and I hated that she took her anger out at him sometimes and blamed him for things that weren't his fault. I did think she really grew as a character and I loved that she started to realize she had to follow her dreams and not those of her dad. I love character growth and the author did a great job with that. Her dad seemed like a real jerk, since he hated Fantasy books and tried to make his children hate them and since he pretty much left the raising of his son to his daughter. But surprisingly, he grew a bit as well. This book as a whole did grow on me. I loved the relationships and the making of the movie.

This was a four star read for me! I will definitely be reading more from this author. 

Ruth Ware: Fan or Not a Fan?

Synopsis: Nora hasn't seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back. Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her? But something goes wrong. Very wrong. Some things can’t stay secret for ever

Is anyone else a fan of Ruth Ware? I have to admit that I am not. This is the second book I have read by her and both were three star reads for me. The first book I read by her was The Woman In Cabin 10. I thought that one was slow and too much like Girl on a Train, except on a ship. Well this premise was fairly original, but still very, very slow.

Actually, I think this one was even slower than The Woman in Cabin 10 -- most of the book revolved around a hen party for Clare, who was Nora's best friend as a child and those scenes just weren't that interesting. The author lets the reader know right away that something bad happened at the hen party and that is what intrigued me right off the bat. The initial scene of Nora running through the woods was very intriguing. The problem is that after that, nothing really happened, aside from a little leftover drama from when the characters were young. There wasn't any suspense until there were a little over a hundred pages left in the book. At that time, I did become engaged again and it was hard to put down. Even though I had guessed part of the twist, there were still a few surprises. But because I was not that invested during much of the story, I had to give it just three stars. I think this one was it for me. No more Ruth Ware.

Are you a fan of Ruth Ware?