Synopsis

She saved my life. I faked her death…

I only came back home to lie low and reconnect with my sister, Bryony. Her life with her gorgeous husband Alex is perfect – a far cry from the disaster mine has turned into…

But almost immediately I can tell something is wrong. My once bubbly sister’s skin is pale, her hair dull, her eyes unfocussed. She tells me Alex has turned obsessive, controlling her every move. A tear tracks down her cheek as I stare at her in horror.

‘I have to fake my death,’ she whispers and I jolt back in shock. ‘And I need your help to do it.’ As I start to shake my head, mouth trembling, she lays her winning card ‘You owe me, Jess. I saved your life.’

But after she’s successfully disappeared, I realise there are holes in her story – things she’s told me about Alex that can’t be true. Threatening messages that can’t have come from him. Rumours in the village about the way she’s been acting. She doesn’t contact me like she promised – and rather than being angry she’s gone, Alex seems completely devastated…

So when I learn Bryony never actually saved me all those years ago, I start to question everything. Have I just saved my sister, or helped her get away with something terrible? And when the truth comes out, will I be the one whose life is in danger…?

An utterly page-turning, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night! Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Couple Next Door and The Family Upstairs.

Review

I Owe You One by Lauren North is one of those quick, page-turners that are the lifeblood of every thriller-girly's TBR. It’s an engaging, fast-paced read, and perfect if you’re in the mood for something eerily suspenseful where you don't know who to trust.

The premise is intriguing, centring on two sisters bound by a traumatic childhood event and a debt that can never truly be repaid. That emotional foundation adds a nice layer of tension to the story, and I absolutely understood Jess feeling as though she couldn't possibly say no to Bryony's request.

The most gut wrenching part of this was the fact that Jess didn't have long enough to truly consider the ramifications of what she said yes to. I mean, if you're going to pretend someone is dead, it's not just the one person you're trying to get away from that finds out, it's everyone, including close family members who will be DEVASTATED. It really was just an awful position for Jess to be in.

Aside from that, what also stood out most to me was the setting. I do read an awful lot of thrillers but here the coastal backdrop and the boating community really added a different flavour and made it feel unique. It’s always a bonus when a setting feels vivid enough to really cement the book in your memory, and that was definitely the case here.

That said, my only complaint is that the blurb gives a bit too much away. It nudged me to distrust a particular character from the outset, which meant some of the twists didn’t land as strongly as they might have otherwise. I found myself anticipating certain developments rather than being genuinely surprised by them.

Overall, this is a solid “popcorn thriller” style read. Short chapters, conflicting clues, and I do love a good sisters trope. (Are sisters a trope? You know what I mean!) Overall, it was entertaining, easy to get through, and a good choice if you’re looking for something fast-paced and twisty.

My rating ★★★.5

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: ★★★★

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Synopsis

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK | INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.”—Reese Witherspoon

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.

Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge...

******

REVIEW

What a fun read!

Although I love a good mystery/thriller every now and again, I do find that a lot of the time they're 90% plot and only 10% characterisation. Which, to a certain extent, I understand. They're all about the shocks, the twists, the turns and the big reveals, after all. But this was an exception. I felt like I really understood who Evie Porter was. She wasn't just a player on the board she was a real person with real motivations and real stakes.

Of course, it's ironic that I say I know who Evie was since, as you'll have read in the synopsis, no such person exists. But she was clever, determined, strong and extremely morally grey. So fun to read!

Obviously, I won't go into too much detail about the actual plot and I do feel like they tell you far too much already on the back cover blurb, but the way the story was told between the present day and various points in the past meant the story evolved slowly but surely, filling in all the missing pieces bit by bit, until there was only one question left: Who is "Mr Smith" and how do we make him stop?

I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery. You'll have so much fun putting it all together and I guarantee you'll enjoy the pacing and the many shocking events that happen along the way.

My rating: 4 stars ★★★★

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: ★★★★

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Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: ★★★★★

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Synopsis

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

******

REVIEW

It's so incredibly kind and thoughtful of Ali Hazelwood to continue writing these novels just for me! I mean, she must. There's just no other possible way her characters could tickle my fancy the way they do if she didn't have a direct line into my psyche and know exactly what I'll love most in an FMC and MMC! Her books are just *chef's kiss*

The second I saw this book pop up (I believe I first saw it on my daily scroll through Waterstones lol) I cannot express how much I wanted to read it IMMEDIATELY. I mean, the combination of Ali’s brand of sizzling, sexual, slow-burn tension PLUS werewolves PLUS vampires PLUS enemies-to-lovers PLUS arranged marriage? SAY LESS!

Naturally, I was very happy therefore to get this copy to read a little early. (Don't worry, I'll still be getting the paperback from Waterstones). I read it while I was off for Christmas and it definitely was a cherry on top of my reading year. I mean, who would rather watch cheesy Christmas movies when you could be salivating over a ridiculously hot werewolf book instead?

What's it about?

This was a paranormal romance - a romance book with the required happily ever after ending, just in a world with paranormal elements - therefore the worldbuilding was minimal but what was there was good and really definitely helped to set up our characters' motivations and explain their personality traits.

For example, FMC Misery is a 23-year-old vampire and the daughter of a high-ranking member of the vampire council. As such, as a child of 8, she was used to secure an alliance with the humans via their Collateral Program. Basically, the humans and the vamps exchange a child to live in the other's territory for 10 years as collateral. If either side breaks the rules of the alliance, the child gets killed.

So from age 8 to 18, Misery lived with humans who were both scared and slightly icked out by her and her wee baby fangs. After her time was done, she went back to the vampires who then also treated her like some sort of human-loving lepper.

So she basically feels like she belongs nowhere. She only has one single friend in the world - Serena, a human who was raised in foster care with her and is the sister of her heart - who has gone missing! The only clue to her last known whereabouts points to the werewolves. The vampire's biggest adversary whom they do not have an alliance with... Yet.

That's right, because her father, not content with sending her away throughout all her formative years, now also wants her to MARRY THE NEW WEREWOLF ALPHA as well.

And so, within the first chapter Misery ends up married to an alpha werewolf and living in their territory surrounded by people who don't like or trust her - AGAIN!

So a pretty good set-up for some tension, right? Both the sexual kind between the newly married couple and the mistrustful and disdainful kind with other less-welcoming members of the pack.

What I loved:

I ADORED Misery. An ironic name because I found her absolutely delightful. Her dry humour was top freaking notch and I defy anyone not to get an immediate girl crush on her. One of my favourite things about this book was the dialogue and most of that what came out of Misery's mouth in particular. She was just so subtly hilarious.

That's not to say I didn't fall hard for Lowe as well. His wolfy senses meant that he was quite often in a state of intoxication when near his vampire bride and her alluring scent. I loved that he tried to keep it together while clearly feeling dazed and entranced in her presence. Play it cool, Lowe, play it cool, lol.

He's an Alpha and had to challenge and fight to the death for his position so he's definitely no softy in werewolf terms, but when it came to Misery, he was more golden retriever than werewolf and I loved him for it. So freaking sweet.

Speaking of sweet, there's a 6 (possibly 7) year-old that lives at Lowe's Lakehouse residence along with a few others that also provided some super sweet moments. Loved her and Misery getting to know/like one another. It was very cute.

I think this book is going to do very very well and if Miss Hazelwood would like to write more in this world I would 100% eat it up along with anything else she writes (for me).

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for the Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for my honest review. Can't wait to re-read it one day.

5 very satisfied stars ★★★★★

Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: ★★★★★

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City of Bones by Martha Wells
(Updated and Revised Edition)
My rating: ★★★★

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Synopsis

Before Martha Wells captured the hearts of MILLIONS with her Murderbot series, there was Khat, Sagai, and Elen, and a city risen out of death and decay…

The city of Charisat, a tiered monolith of the Ancients’ design, sits on the edge of the vast desert known as the Waste. Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working in the bottom tiers of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors.

When Khat is hired by the all-powerful Warders to find relics believed to be part of one of the Ancients' arcane engines, he, and his party, begin unravelling the mysteries of an age-old technology.

This they expected.

They soon find themselves as the last line of defense between the suffering masses of Charisat and a fanatical cult, bent on unleashing an evil upon the city with an undying thirst for bone.

That, they did not expect.

This updated and revised edition is the author’s preferred text.

REVIEW

I heard this described as Dune meets Lara Croft and I was like, say less.

This is only my second Martha Wells book. I've read All Systems Red, the first in her popular Murderbot series, with plans to continue. I also have a very fancy Illumicrate edition of Witch King sat on my shelf, waiting for me to get to it. So although I haven't read lot of her books yet, I do feel like I have a sense of her style now.

First thing I'll say, this is not one for the romantasy girlies - this is straight-up high fantasy so I'll save you some time if that's what you're looking for.

But how about those comparisons: Dune and Lara Croft.

Well, yes, we have a city surrounded by a sandy, desolate wasteland as the setting. Really harsh conditions and bad things living under the surface. So Dune for the setting = check!

The storyline involved relic hunters searching for ancient artefacts, so yes I can see the Lara Croft comparison.

I also want to throw one more in - Mistborn. I couldn't help but draw a parallel between the Krisman and the Skaa. Both are a race within the population treated as less than. It's even suggested Krisman have no souls simply because they cannot have their surface thoughts read by the Warders - robe-wearing magic users that live on the higher, more affluent levels of the tiered city of Charisat.

It's these warders who want to hire our Krisman main character, Khat, to help them survive out in the Waste while they try to unlock the secrets of the Ancients and potentially access more power. The Krisman are much better suited to the conditions of the Waste. They can last longer without water, survive the heat better, etc. So a Krisman that also knows a thing or two about relics? The perfect guide - whether he wants to be one or not.

What I loved:

I really enjoyed my time with this although I have to say, similar to when I read All Systems Red, it just takes me a minute with Well's writing style for me to fully tune into it and for it to flow. I really tried to put my finger on why this was because Well's writing isn't purple prosey in any way - something I'm not a fan of - but it is very intelligent and each sentence is pretty loaded. Once I got my groove, however, I flew through this.

I really felt for Khat. His life...really sucks. As a Kris he can't become a citizen of Charisat and as a non-citizen, he's not allowed to trade in coin, only tokens. Every day is a grind with next to nothing to show for it. He's also constantly being beaten up and as the lowest rung on the societal ladder, he's often used, abused and mistreated by pretty much everybody. Yet he still manages to maintain a dry humour and, although he does his absolute best to avoid any attachments, a sense of loyalty to those he deems worthy of it.

Other characters of note are his relic-hunting partner Sagai who has his back no matter what, and Elen, a young Warder determined to uncover the secrets of the Waste, even if they're not what anyone thought they were.

Overall this was a great read. Unusual, slightly weird in places (had me Googling kangaroo reproductive systems at one point - thanks for that🫠), but fascinating and with great plot, good pacing and realistic character development.

4 ★★★★

Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for my honest review.

City of Bones by Martha Wells
(Updated and Revised Edition)

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The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

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BLURB

The Night Empire will rule all. Nothing can stand in the way of its might and power. Little by little, year by year, the Hurricane Wars take more and more from those who resists the empire’s supremacy. And yet, there is hope in the darkness. One lone light stands against the empire.

Talasyn was left on the steps of a Sardovian orphanage as a baby. All she has ever known are the Hurricane Wars, as her people fight for freedom from the tyranny of the Night Emperor Gaheris. But are they her people? Talasyn dreams of one day finding where she comes from – her true place, family, and the source of the Lightweave magic that flows through her veins like sunlight.

Alaric of House Ossinast, Master of the Shadowforged Legion and Gaheris’s only son and heir has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating the Sardovian Allford alliance with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, all Alaric can see is their extinguish all threats to the empire. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. He tries and fails to kill her, his now greatest enemy slipping through his fingers. But a greater threat is coming. One that will overshadow the Hurricane Wars. Will these mortal enemies be able to come together to confront it or is everything that has been fought over for so long about to be destroyed?

REVIEW

I've found a new obsession ladies and gentlemen. This was right up my street! Such a wonderful collection of all my favourite tropes in one book!

As you might have seen, this book had its beginnings in Reylo fanfiction which is just...say no more! Sign me up!

And please don't let the word fanfiction worry you about the writing quality because it was absolutely excellent.

In case you're currently scrolling Goodreads because you're struggling in the first quarter with the worldbuilding and specifically the names of places and characters, you're not alone! It almost requires a notebook by your side as you read. But honestly, if we can all figure out the names of the dragons in that other book that shall not be named, we can figure this out too. And the payoff is 10000000% WORTH IT!!

Okay, so what can you expect from this book? An amazing slow-burn romance brimming with genuine conflict set in a fantastically original world full of magic, dragons, airships and political intrigue.

And tension. By crikey the tension!

What I loved:

Both the FMC, Talasyn, and the MMC Alaric, were real and fully fleshed-out characters. They just unfortunately are on completely opposite sides of a decade-long war. It was fascinating to watch the slow build of their relationship, complete with emerging feelings that cause guilt and confusion. It was very much one step forward, two steps back which I thought was very realistic. A lot of the time with the enemies-to-lovers trope as soon as they start to fancy each other all previous animosity is forgotten. That's not the case here. There's too much to forgive and they both think their side was the "right" side. I can't wait to read more in this series (a trilogy, if I'm not mistaken) because I do believe one side in particular has been lied to about the justifications for the war and if I'm right that realisation will be...bad.

I also really enjoyed exploring themes of family and wanting to belong. Both the MMC and FMC have childhoods where they've felt alone and unloved. It might have been under different circumstances but the mirroring of their pain was undeniable and it was great to watch them realise the similarities.

As I mentioned up top, the writing in this was fantastic but unlike other books I've read recently (like A Study in Drowning zzz) it wasn't pretty writing at the expense of a good plot and characterisation. I especially enjoyed the flow from one POV to another. It was so seamless rather than a more choppy chapter-by-chapter format and I thought it was great.

Honestly, this had it all. As you can see from my rating I have no real complaints except how hard the names were to remember. I guess I'll just have to read it a few more times until they sink in. 🤪

The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger but it did leave me wishing I had the next book because I just wasn't ready to leave yet. I can't wait for more to come from this series. Literally SO excited.

Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for my honest review.
5 stars ★★★★★

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

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Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch

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BLURB

A witch and a hunter. Vengeance is their mission. Love is their destiny.

Fritzi is a witch. A survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she's determined to find her only surviving family member and bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader—Kommandant Dieter Kirch.

Otto is a hexenjäger and a captain, the second in command to Dieter Kirch—but that's just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjagers burned his innocent mother alive and since then, he has been planning a move against the witch hunters that tore his family apart. And now the time has come for them to pay for what they've done.

When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other, despite their common enemy. But all they have is one another, and they both crave revenge. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

REVIEW

I've read a couple of witchy books this spooky season. Some were good, and some were not so good. This is one of the good ones. Maybe the best one.

(The other contender for the top spot would be Hex and the City by Kate Johnson. But that was a mad-cap rom-com with the craziest plot and characters so honestly couldn't be more different in vibes to this one which is why you can't really compare them. I loved both but for very different reasons.)

This one is a blend of history and fantasy, set in Germany in the late 1500s. The witch hunters are called hexenjägers as you might have noticed from the blurb and it's a take on the Trier Witch Trials which, unfortunately, were all too real.

I had an absolute blast with this one. It's fast-paced and action-packed which I love. It had great, realistic and sympathetic characters, amazing world-building, a fantastic villain and really high stakes (this may or may not be a pun).

If your main enjoyment in books is the romance part - it has that too! Enemies to lovers would be the trope although it's not long until our pairing realises they might not exactly be on opposite sides as they initially assumed because Otto is a man with a plan, working undercover within the hunters to avenge his mother.

I really enjoyed the romance aspect and it really helped drive the plot, although as I've already mentioned, the plot is very action-packed and page-tuner-y anyway! I would only say the switch from enemies to lovers was a little too sudden for me personally. One minute she's fighting like a hellcat next minute she's winking at him. It seemed a little abrupt for this slow-burn fanatic but in the end, I loved the romance that blossomed so it's all good.

Sidenote: I don't know what it is with publishers consistently listing books that read as Adult as YA...but this is another example of that. It has on-page sex and violence and it's a book for adult readers.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
4 stars ★★★★

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch

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A Study in Drowning

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BLURB

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WOLF AND THE WOODSMAN AND JUNIPER AND THORN

'A love letter to stories - and to everyone silenced or forgotten in their retelling.' Allison Saft, author of A Far Wilder Magic.

Effy has always believed in fairy tales. She's had no choice. Since childhood, she's been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She's found solace only in the pages of Angharad - a beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy's tattered copy is all that's keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at her prestigious architecture college. So when the late author's family announces a contest to design his house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn't the only one who's made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin's papers and is determined to prove her favourite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author's legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house's foundation isn't the only thing that can't be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them - and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

REVIEW

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid was a very highly anticipated read for me. I’d seen SO much buzz for it on Bookstagram/BookTok that I even rushed out to purchase the special sprayed edge edition. Unfortunately, the book didn't quite live up to my high expectations. 😩

It wasn’t a total flop, however, so let’s start with the bits I did appreciate.

The concept and the setting were both incredibly enticing; kind of gothic, dark academia vibes - perfectly suited for this time of year. 🍂

The author's writing style was beautiful - she loves a good simile.

However, my disappointment stemmed from the characters who felt somewhat two-dimensional. Their actions seemed unrealistic; lots of under-reactions to things and carrying on like something totally weird didn’t just happen. And what tiny smidge of romance there was was also totally underwhelming.

So if not character driven, was it plot driven? No. Not for me, anyway. The plot was essentially: who wrote a book. There was more to it than that obviously but I don’t want to give spoilers and honestly that was 80% of the plot.

In the end, while A Study in Drowning had its merits, it fell way short of being the 5-star, amazing read I’d been led to expect. It's clear that Ava Reid possesses writing talent, but the overall execution left me wanting more depth and unpredictability in the story.

3 stars ★★★

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Hex and the City by Kate Johnson

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BLURB

Things you should know about Poppy:

1. She’s a witch

2. She has magical hair like Rapunzel from Tangled

3. She lives with Iris, the head of her coven, in a beautiful, ramshackle house next to Highgate cemetery

4. She works at Hubble Bubble, a magic shop in Covent Garden. Though none of it is real magic as that would be highly irresponsible. Until…

…Poppy accidentally sells gorgeous celebrity magician Axl Storm, all six-foot-four of him, a cursed pendant.

When all hell breaks loose can the guy with fake magic and the girl with real magic fix the chaos they’ve caused? Or will sparks fly both in and out of the cauldron?

REVIEW

Hex and the City was a delightful blend of paranormal romance, quirky humour, and action-packed adventures. I tore through it in two days and since I've been reading at a sloth's pace of late I was really surprised by that.

The story revolves around Poppy, a young witch with possibly maybe sentient hair. She's a little clutzy and clumsy and may or may not have gotten drunk right before the events of this book and cursed a necklace she planned to give to her ex. A pendant that may or may not have accidentally been sold to a customer at her day job in a magic oddities shop.

The male lead, Axl (Alex), is a stage illusionist who initially comes across as a bit of a plonker, no offence. He's a vainglorious showman who's ridiculously good looking and he knows it. He's also a player who sleeps with all his groupies and fellow performers. In the beginning, this made me worried for this book. He was so unappealing to me that I didn't know how I would get on. But as the story unfolds, we discover the layers of his character and the reasons behind his conceited persona.

The plot was a lot of fun. A madcap romp through London and even through time.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced, funny, sexy and just all-around fun. Very different than anything else I’ve read recently and the fact it was set in London and the writing and dialogue was very British was just an extra treat.

I gave Hex and the City a solid 4 stars. It's a perfect addition to your Autumn TBR when you're in the mood for something a little bit zany yet still substantial. Highly recommended for those seeking a humourous and entertaining read.

4 stars ★★★★

ARC received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

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When a woman who'd rather do anything than read meets a swoon-worthy bookworm, sparks fly, making for one hot-summer fling in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay's new rom-com.

For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha's Vineyard at her family's tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she's tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler. The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there's no place Sam, who's dyslexic, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library's interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.

Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he's never known. He's taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn't interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can't stop thinking about her.

An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she's always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.

REVIEW

Summer Reading was a cute, light-hearted summer romance novel that I admittedly left a little late in the year to read (October 🤭). But honestly, aside from one scene at a beach, this book doesn't especially give off summer vibes so I'd say you could happily read it whenever you please.

The story follows main character Samantha who struggles through life with dyslexia. This was a very unique and thought-provoking aspect of the book. I'd honestly never given much thought to what that must be like but the author did a really superb job of showing just what a daily struggle that would be. Not being able to read a menu, instructions, the back of a food packet... When people ask Sam about reading, particularly novels, her coping mechanism is usually to just pretend to dislike reading and that she would rather watch the movie.

Sam was a pretty cool character and aside from the romance I really enjoyed her personal story with her family, her half-brother, her career worries, etc, and I just generally enjoyed her as a character. She was funny and her banter was on point.

For our male love interest, we have librarian Ben who's pretty instantly taken with Sam. During their meet-cute, she accidentally destroyed the book he was reading which led to a conversation about reading. Initially, she went with her usual white lies about movies being better but as their relationship develops, Ben learns the real reason behind her aversion to reading and I'm soooo glad this aspect wasn't dragged out too long.

In conclusion, Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay is a sweet and heartwarming "summer" romance with a unique focus on dyslexia. It's a pleasant way to pass the time for any romance lover.

3 stars ★★★

ARC received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

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Gripping and action-packed, Crowns is perfect for fans of thick plots with aching romance. This is a compelling first volume to a deliciously twisting trilogy that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The Return of a Lost Heir…
The kingdom of Mercia has been at war with the Shadow King and his dark army for ten years. To escape the seer’s vision of her capture, Mercia’s heir to the throne, Princess Norah Andell, is secreted away by her father to keep her safe. But when he dies in battle, so too dies the knowledge of where she’s hidden. She’s lost to the world—until three years later, when she’s found with no memory of who she is or the kingdom that now rests on her shoulders.

A Conflicted Duty…
Loyal and fearless commander of the Mercian army, Alexander Rhemus, has protected the realm against the threat of the Shadow King, awaiting Norah’s return. Not only does she hold the fate of the kingdom, but also his heart. However, when she’s found, he discovers she has no memory of him, or what was once between them. With war still looming, Norah is expected to wed and secure an alliance—one Mercia desperately needs to stand against the Shadow King. Now, with Mercia’s future at stake, Alexander finds himself torn between his duty and his heart.

A Twisted Fate…
Norah is thrust into a world she doesn’t know, in a role she’s unprepared for, to save a kingdom she doesn’t remember. Under the hardship of winter and a dark enemy against them, Mercia is on the verge of breaking. As things start to unravel, the Shadow King draws Norah down a path of twisted fate—and it could cost her everything.

Praise for North Queen:

"The political intrigue of Outlander or Game of Thrones with the magic and thrills of A Court of Thorns and Roses."
- US REVIEW

REVIEW

Queen o' the Norrrrth.

This was buckets of fun. Incidentally, I read it right after finishing Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros which is currently popping off absolutely everywhere on Booktok and Booktube, but I personally had a much better time with THIS book.

In "North Queen," Nicola Tyche takes readers on a pretty wild ride. I thought I knew where this book was going in the first quarter and was happily on board with the general set-up, then whoopsie! Not so fast!

To give you a spoiler-free flavour of what it's about, or at least how it starts... Our protagonist, Nora, wakes in the Wild woods with no memory of how she got there or who she is. Also, there's a fox looking at her weirdly. Very shortly after, she's discovered by someone who seems to know her as Nora, the lost princess of Mercia, who's been missing for 3 years after being secreted away by her father the King. She's brought back to the castle and thrust immediately into a world of expectations, pressures, and prophecies - of which she is a central figure.

I really liked Nora as the main character. She is 25. She's spirited, strong and determined. She's not bad with a blade but still maintains the qualities you'd expect of someone raised as a princess.

I loved the plot too, though it's quite an angsty read that occasionally hurt my feelings. I'm not complaining, though. A nice gut punch in the feels never hurt anyone! Or rather, it did, but they probably liked it. 😈

For some reason, I'm also a sucker for a memory-loss plotline. You just never know who to trust or who knows more than they're saying. I mean, where the heck has she been? Three years is a long time!

I won't say much more about the plot because going in blind means you'll know exactly as much as Nora - nothing.

To sum up here: If you like a medieval-style fantasy setting, a strong heroine, romantic tension, plot twists, warring kingdoms and prophecies, then definitely check this one out. It's on Kindle Unlimited and book two comes out next week! What have you got to lose?

4 stars ★★★★

ARC received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

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French Holiday by Sarah Ready

One (crumbling) French castle. Two enemies-at-first-sight. The holiday of a lifetime.

Merry DeLuca has a problem—a big problem. Her sister just married her best friend and the only man she’s ever loved. Her life is rapidly spiraling down the drain and she doesn’t have an escape plan.

So when Merry is offered a three-month holiday living in a romantic castle in the French countryside she leaps at the chance. Merry knows her French holiday will fix everything—there will be mouthwatering pastries, delicious (meaningless) flirtations, and languid strolls through vineyards at sunset. Her holiday will be perfect.

At least, Merry believes that until she arrives and finds Noah Wright—the best man at her sister’s wedding and the worst man she’s ever known—staying in her castle.

Famous travel documentarian by day and arrogant devil by night, Noah refuses to leave the castle. Which means that Merry and Noah are stuck together in France, in a crumbling castle, in a holiday where nothing goes right. Not for Merry and not for Noah.

So they strike a truce—they’ll live as cohabitating friends for three-months, and then they’ll amicably part ways, never to see each other again.

But the thing about friendship? Sometimes secrets are uncovered. Mysteries revealed. Hearts laid bare. And friendship can start to feel a lot like caring. A lot like love. It can even make you wish that the holiday never has to end.

********

Review:

Exactly what a romantic comedy should be, French Holiday by Sarah Ready was a true delight.

Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope, gumpy/sunshine...am I talking your language yet?

Well, "enemies" might be a touch too strong of a descriptor for the simmering animosity between our two main characters, Merry and Noah, but friends they are not.

As per the blurb, the story begins with Merry's younger sister walking down the aisle with Leo, the man Merry has been secretly in love with for the last 4 years.

Not. Good.

And it doesn't help that his surly best friend, Noah, has noticed her pining and longing looks and has told her she needs to "get over it".

Freaking. Rude.

Well, she's going to get over it because she's moving to France! So there! Well, for the summer, at least. After all, she can't be expected to stick around and watch the man she loves in the honeymoon phase with her own sister. But luckily, her godmother offers her the chance to get away. She's bought a chateau in France that needs checking up on and so it would kill two birds with one stone to have Merry go there for a few months.

Couple of problems though.

1. The chateau is in crumbling disarray, basically inhabitable.

2. Noah has been told he can stay there too! (He's a somewhat famous travel documentarian).

From here, what follows was an absolutely delightful rom-com with a lot of charm, romance and French flair. We have a few slightly over-the-top comedy moments with a lively lobster, but this book also had quite a lot of depth, introspection and character growth as well.

It even kinda sorta had a bit of a mystery to it, too!

And I guess if we're being really technical about the tropes, this is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, which is quite the journey to go through with our two main characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I found it to have the perfect balance of heart and heat and I really enjoyed the French setting.

I listened to the audiobook which had fabulous narration by Kelly Navarro.

Thank you to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've also posted a quick Booktok review (link below).

https://www.tiktok.com/@lynseyisreading/video/7226448542880075035

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Synopsis:

Goodreads Choice Award

Nominee for Best Fantasy (2022)

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family--and a new love--changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for...

Review:

This was a very cosy and quaint witchy tale featuring a grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn romance.

Our main character is called Mika Moon who I'm totally casting as Simone Ashley for the great movie in my mind.

And then the love interest was grumpy librarian, Jamie, who has a Northern Irish accent so if you can read this without picturing Jamie Dornan… then you're a better woman than I. 😜

Now in this world that the author has created, witches are advised not to congregate together because their magic will “build up” and that could draw attention of the unsuspecting population of non-witchy folk.

Naturally, then, Mika is really surprised to find out that there are three young witches living together in the same house who are not only unknown to her coven’s leader, but who also have had precisely no training whatsoever. A very dangerous combination.

And this is, of course, where Mika comes in.

Now, I did really enjoy the characters in this book. It was quite an eclectic bunch and they were all really quite charming. The storyline, however, was a little bit too tame for my personal taste. It was more of a cosy fantasy vibe whereas I tend to prefer action, explosions, chases etc., and if there's going to be magic there should be MAGIC, you know? This was more like… let’s make a magical potion or a cup of magical tea, that kind of magic.

For the romance element, the slow burn was good but its culmination didn't burn very brightly if you know what I mean.

This book did manage to make me cry at one point, however, so it's not like the storyline didn't affect me at all. it’s simply that, overall, this was just a little bit too cosy and quaint for my particular tastes.

I settled on three stars but I still do really recommend this book because it was very sweet and might be just the sort of feel-good cosy fantasy vibes with a dash of romance that someone is looking for.

3 stars ★★★

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World Ender meets Ender of Worlds...

A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Eoria to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.

A King thought long dead and long forgotten.

In the old world his name was Samkiel. In the new world it is Liam, but one title remains true throughout time. He is the World Ender, a myth to his enemies, a savior and King to those loyal to him. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, hiding from the world. He denied his crown and responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their homeworld. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons ago. Now enemies older than time must put aside their differences and work together in hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between.

Review:

Never before have I read such an intense enemies-to-lovers tale. The gulf between the two main characters - Diana and Liam - was so extreme, so vast, with such unforgivable things they'd each done to the other between them like seemingly immovable boulders, that I don't know how the author managed to so convincingly bring them together.

And bring them together she did! In a sizzling "I'd die for you" kind of way.

I really enjoyed this book. Although it has a good few recognisable tropes I feel like the storytelling and structure of the story was very unique. I also loved the world-building. Or should that be worlds? Love a bit of Sci-Fi mixed in with my fantasy!

Diana was also an incredibly interesting character. She was about as morally grey as they come (and how nice is it for it to be the girl for once?) but I loved her journey. Liam also had quite a transformation throughout the book. He's a good guy, but he's completely shut off his emotions and that's not a good thing for anyone concerned.

The only thing that slightly marred my experience was the ending. It was just a little too mushy-monologue-y for my liking after all the badassery. Certainly not enough to put me off reaching for the next book, however, as there's clearly going to be more to this story and I'm looking forward to it.

4 stars ★★★★

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Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Review:

Preamble

It's getting to the point with the series and, indeed, with this author, that when you scroll BookTok or Bookstagram for more than 5 minutes you're guaranteed to see someone grinning away, holding up their copy, having just fallen victim to its charms. You lovingly roll your eyes at them because of course. Of course, you loved it. Of course, it's your new favourite thing you've ever read. "We've got another one!" we collectively cry.

It was strange for me, however, to see the surge in popularity in recent times. Particularly on BookTok. Because I first read this back in 2017 - and loved it, of course. Obsessed over it, even. But it was an entirely solitary endeavour as it just wasn't "a thing" back then.

But then I get a TikTok account and suddenly it's everywhere! That amazing book series from 5 years ago and I'm like, oh cool! I read that too! And then people start talking to me about it and I quickly realise I can't remember a single damn thing about it other than the most MAJOR of plot points. Character names? Never heard of them. Under the mountain, what now?

Which leads me to now: My first re-read to see if it lives up to its current hype and my own fond memories.

****

Sarah J. Maas has in recent times confirmed that this first instalment in the ACOTAR series is based on Beauty and the Beast. I have to say this is so obvious when you know but I didn't actually realise it on my first read-through. 🙈

The story follows Feyre, a young girl from a formerly well-off family that's fallen on very hard times and it's been left to Feyre, the youngest member, to make sure they survive. She hunts for her two sisters and her father otherwise they wouldn't eat. She's had to teach herself everything she knows because she was the only one to step up to the plate.

You'll have very conflicted feelings towards Feyre's family in this book because Feyre, as the narrator, clearly loves them, but to the outside observer, they're infuriatingly useless and entitled. A very annoying combination.

The book opens with Feyre accidentally killing a member of the Fey while out hunting. An action that triggers an ancient Fey curse that forces her to relinquish her life in the human realm, as miserable as it was, and spend the rest of her life in the Fey realm away from everything and everyone she's ever known or loved.

Hopefully, that's enough of a lure to get you intrigued to read this book if you're one of the 3 people that have yet to do so.

So why does everyone love this series? Well as fabulous as this first book is, I think people's true obsession only fully sets in when they get to the second and third books because there's quite a big development that happens that is the key to all that follows. That's not to say this isn't a great book in its own right, because it is. It's fully fleshed out and has a great story arc and world set-up and breadcrumbs dropped here there and everywhere for what's to come.

However, I have to say it was a VERY different experience reading it the second time knowing what I know. Ignorance was bliss the first time and you'll never be able to read this first book the same way again once you know.

Because if you know, you know.

I hope the level of fangirling this series engenders hasn't put anyone off because I know that can happens sometimes with super popular books. Having watched seasoned readers, brand new readers, readers but not of this genre, readers and many more fall prey to its allure, I feel confident in saying that nearly everyone ought to give it a go because it hits waaaaaaay more than it misses.

Hope you enjoy it if you do decide to give it a try, and I envy you that first read-through feeling that I'll never get again!

5 Stars ★★★★★

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