Goddess of Rain by Jane Frkovich

Title: Goddess of Rain Author: Jane Frkovich Series: Lost Gods #1 Reads like fanfiction Thank you to Jane Frkovich, Danielle Fliller, BooksGoSocial Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. Have you ever wanted to read a Percy Jackson and Star Wars crossover fanfic? Or listen to a narrator who sounds like a student reading aloud from a novel in English class, is overly obsessive about enunciating every single vowel …

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The Murderous Affair at Stone Manor by Laura Stewart

Title: The Murderous Affair at Stone Manor Author: Laura Stewart Series: Amelia Adams #1 charismatic characters but confused genre It was with great joy that I saw this book has a sequel. Then it was with great sorrow that I realized the sequel is not available in audiobook format, minimizing the likelihood of my reading it, especially this time of year. I enjoyed this book very much. I suspect the characters are what will either pull readers in or drive …

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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Title: The Soulmate Author: Sally Hepworth Series: n/a Well and effectively written Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I hate narratives that jump around in time while also switching POV. Those narratives make the worst audiobooks, because if you’re distracted for even a moment, you might miss a switch and become confused. However, this story could not have been told well without …

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Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan

Title: Murder at an Irish Castle Author: Ellie Brannigan Series: An Irish Castle Mystery #1 Poorly written Much thanks to Ellie Brannigan, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for a juicy mystery, you won’t find it here. This is primarily a women’s fiction story about a woman who not only loses everything but who also has to move to Ireland or she’ll destroy hundreds …

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The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

Title: The Grace of Wild Things Author: Heather Fawcett Series: n/a Thoroughly enchanting! Much thanks to Heather Fawcett, HarperCollins Children’s Books/Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This story was thoroughly enchanting. And way more cerebral than I would expect of a “children’s” book. The themes are deep and layered. Fawcett has officially found a place on my authors-to-keep-an-eye-on list. My only complaint is that the ending wasn’t …

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Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan

Title: Don’t Open the Door Author: Allison Brennan Series: Regan Merritt #2 Loved this installment Much thanks to Allison Brennan, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, and Netgalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Justine Sha for providing the link to the galley. I’m relieved to say I greatly enjoyed this book! I’ve only read a handful of Brennan’s work, but so far it seems to be hit or miss—there’ll be a …

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Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Title: Hotel of Secrets Author: Diana Biller Series: n/a Loose ends but overall great Much thanks to Diana Biller, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a great book! I liked it better than Brightest Star in Paris. Just a few small issues with it: 1. It got long and could have been slimmed and trimmed (e.g., their sex scene was waaaay too long, I skipped …

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Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Author: Heather Fawcett Series: Emily Wilde #1 A pleasant surprise Much thanks to Heather Fawcett, Random House/Del Rey, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This novel was a surprise to me. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t Veronica Speedwell with faeries. That’s a pretty accurate pitch. Emily was a more socially awkward and reserved version of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell. Framed …

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Review Roundup Fall/Late 2022

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late 2022. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Sinister Revenge Author: Deanna Raybourn Series: Veronica Speedwell #8 Great thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley, and Edelweiss for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall this was a good addition to the series. Not exceptional, but good. I love that Veronica and Tiberious have developed a deep fraternal bond, and I loved the interesting dinosaur …

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Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

Title: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six Author: Lisa Unger Series: n/a Slow, too much head-hopping Much thanks to Lisa Unger, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Boo to Harper Audio for denying me the audio edition. *raspberry* This book is a slow burn for sure; the only thing intriguing in the beginning was the DNA tests from Santa in the prologue. Scratch that, the book’s just slow …

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