Book Reviews

Lost Innocence by Jannine Gallant

Title: Lost Innocence Author: Jannine Gallant Series: Siren Cove #2 Well constructed but I didn’t care for the characters Thank you to Jannine Gallant for reaching out and asking for a review, and thank you to Lyrical Press/Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to give this work three or four stars. Structurally and mechanically, it’s excellent. There were some minor typos which I trust will be corrected for the final …

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Last Shot Review

Title: Last Shot Author: Daniel José Older Series: n/a Just my overall thoughts. If you want to avoid spoilers for the book, there are minor ones here, so beware. I liked this book more than I thought I would, but it wasn’t perfect. My favorite aspect: two-year-old Ben Solo, of course, as well as Han’s awkward, uncomfortable approach to parenting, marriage, and overall commitment. He loves his family but he just doesn’t know what the hell to do with them. …

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Jilliand by Clare Gutierrez

Title: Jilliand Author: Clare Gutierrez Series: n/a Lots of heartbreak, lots of passive voice I would like to thank Clare Gutierrez, River Grove Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I kind of had a minor breakdown while reading this. This is what I wrote at the time: This was a different kind of romance, and not the kind I like. I’m sorry, I didn’t finish it. My heart couldn’t …

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Mornings on Main by Jodi Thomas

Title: Mornings on Main Author: Jodi Thomas Series: n/a mostly about theme but the story and characters grew on me Not gonna lie, I approached this book with reluctance. Another quilting/knitting/sewing mainstream wannabe literary novel? That trend started over a decade ago and largely died off two or three years ago. Another story about a small town with a quaint little B&B and a family dealing with a heartbreaking illness that’s slowly sucking the life out of the matriarch/patriarch? Another …

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Laird of the Black Isle by Paula Quinn

Title: Laird of the Black Isle Author: Paula Quinn Series: Highland Heirs #7 Could have been better but who cares because MACGREGORS!! I would like to thank Paula Quinn, Forever/Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Two years ago, Lachlan MacKenzie, Laird of the Black Isle, tucked himself away in his dark, empty castle to mourn the murders of his wife and four-year-old daughter. He provides for his tenants, …

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Marry in Scandal (Marriage of Convenience #2) by Anne Gracie

Title: Marry in Scandal Author: Anne Gracie Series: Marriage of Convenience #2 Uninspired plot saved by endearing characters I would like to thank Anne Gracie, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The charm of the characters saved this novel. The plot is lazy: A man with a gambling debt absconds with a young, naive heiress to Gretna Green to marry her and inherit her fortune, but some kind …

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Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

Title: Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon Author: Kerrelyn Sparks Series: The Embraced #3 An issue with the narrative but overall I LOVE this series! I would like to thank Kerrelyn Sparks, Macmillan/St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. When her beloved niece is kidnapped by a dragon, Gwennore grabs onto the beast’s foreleg and hangs on for dear life, determined to protect the girl. They’re taken to …

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Spring Forward by Catherine Anderson

Title: Spring Forward Author: Catherine Anderson Series: Mystic Creek #4 — Stars Boring, didn’t finish I really don’t like reviewing a book I didn’t finish, so I won’t rate it (except on Amazon I have to in order to leave a review, so I gave a neutral three), but I did want to share my thoughts on the third I did read. Anderson’s a great writer, mechanically, and it’s obvious she puts extra effort into her descriptions. Several times I …

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An Excuse for Poor Conduct by Kate Dolan

Title: An Excuse for Poor Conduct Author: Kate Dolan Series: n/a good story, skilled writing I would like to thank Kate Dolan and Author’s Den for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a nice short story. Dolan’s writing, mechanically, is more skillful than I expected. Quite professional, actually. The setting of the almshouse and the indigent circumstances of the characters were interesting, a welcome change from the privileged doves and roosters …

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Year One by Nora Roberts

Title: Year One Author: Nora Roberts Series: Chronicles of The One #1 a dark, magickal mix of Zombieland and Heroes I was thoroughly impressed with the ingenuity and world-building in this novel. It’s probably been done before, but I’ve never seen the end of the world caused by dark magic. A deadly virus spread with crazy ease and speed, killing billions of people—but also unlocking supernatural abilities in others. And there were also ordinary humans who just seemed to be …

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