Month: September 2024

Review of Star-Crossed Holiday by Sarah Deeham

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Synopsis:
One grumpy movie-star dad + one nanny = holiday Christmas magic in a small town.

The small-town teacher
I never imagined I’d get stuck in an elevator with Ronan Masters, a grumpy, gorgeous action star, and his adorable daughter. But then again, nothing has gone as expected over the last few months. Not losing my beloved job as an art teacher or my fiancé dumping me.

The giant of a man may not smile much, but at least his little girl likes me. I try to keep the crush I’m feeling on Hollywood’s hottest dad under control. But all bets are off when he asks me to be his temporary nanny over the holiday season.

And the action star

I’m in Snowflake Harbor to film a movie while adjusting to being a parent to a daughter I only recently met. When I get stuck in an elevator with Poppy O’Brien, I’m not sure what to think of her. She smiles too much and has a Mary Poppins purse full of glitter glue, goody bags, and snacks. And she makes my solemn child smile like no one else. Soon, we’re both under her spell.

Becoming the new nanny, though, makes her strictly off limits. I can’t afford distractions and I don’t do commitment. I also don’t do holidays. But as the countdown to Christmas continues and the date we have to leave comes closer, Poppy has me rethinking everything.

Review:
Oh, the slow burn of this is just perfection! Poppy is just the best, most bubbly person who went through something traumatic and I absolutely love how Ronan ends up the knight in shining armour. Ronan is stoic and unsure of himself and yet Poppy breathes life into his and his daughter’s lives. This is truly one of the sweetest holiday romances I’ve read and I absolutely loved it. The characterization of these two is spot on and I love how they push each other. Poppy is a totally relatable character who throws her whole heart into everything she does and because she cares finds it hard to say no, whereas Ronan finds it much easier to just keep to the status quo and has to learn there’s more to life than simply work. Together, with Belle to guide them, it’s fun to see exactly how perfect a family can be during the holidays- especially in a town that ADORES everything about Christmas. Amazing cozy romance I highly recommend. Probably even cozier if you read during the Christmastime and not in August like I did.


Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️

*This book was read in August, though reviewed now.

Review of Star-Crossed Letters by Sarah Deeham

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Synopsis:
One girl with a typewriter + one movie star = anonymous pen pals, a secret crush, and a steamy, slow-burn summer to risk it all.

The bookshop barista…
When I sold a vintage typewriter, I never imagined its new owner would become my pen pal, best friend, and secret crush.
We have two rules: no photos and no real names.

Over the years, “Remington” and I go from typewritten notes to daily texts, but our rules stay the same. And so does my life. I’m a wannabe writer who can’t complete a novel, and I’ve fallen for a guy who I’ve never met.

So when I receive a letter my Nanna wrote before she died encouraging me to embark on a summer of risks—my first on the list is to break all the rules.

& the celebrity…
I hate keeping secrets from my pen pal, the one woman I care about. But I’m Hollywood’s hottest celebrity, and my fame is toxic. If I get close to a girl, she becomes vulnerable, stalked by the tabloids, trolls, and superfans.

Our anonymous friendship works until “Typewriter Girl” suddenly ghosts me. Now, I’ll do anything to ensure she’s safe, including stepping out from behind the screen and leading a double life.

Review:
Normally the “girl next door” troupe is so not me and yet this book takes a completely different angle that makes it just *chef’s kiss*. There were moments where you think for sure that “Typewriter Girl” and “Remington” will reveal themselves; or figure out who the other is of their own merit, but the whole time they are living their lives and it is impossible to stop reading. While there were many things I did absolutely love about Olivia, I wasn’t a fan at all of how she came across as too naïve and inexperienced. That being said, I absolutely adored this book and couldn’t wait to start the second one. This is a quick, cozy, feel good read. Highly recommend it for a little bit of romance.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️

*This book was read in August, though reviewed now.

Review of How To Fae It With A Fae by Amy Boyles

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Synopsis:
A broody fae king bent on revenge meets his match in this hilarious modern romance.

Book lover Addison Thornrose can match you with your next perfect read. Unfortunately, she can’t match herself with a good man. Her latest just dumped her. Worse, she’s learned that unless she marries, and quickly, her family will lose their witch magic—forever.

Feylin, king of the fae, has no interest in romance. In fact, the only thing he’s interested in is getting revenge on the Thornrose family for ruining his life. So when he learns that they’re holding a Bridgerton style ball to marry off their oldest daughter, Addison, he sees an opportunity for vengeance.

But what Feylin doesn’t expect is to start falling for Addison. And worse, he really doesn’t expect it when ancient fae magic binds them together.

His solution is to strike a bargain—be in a fake relationship. Just until they can break the spell between them, and just until he can get his revenge.

For Addison, this is a dream come true! She doesn’t want to be pawned off to a line of suitors, and she certainly doesn’t want to be engaged. But between the spine-tingling fake dates and the tension-infused banter, lines begin to blur. And Addison begins to wonder when her heart will stop faking it and her feelings become real.

This grumpy/sunshine witch romcom features a ballroom dance complete with frilly gowns, a magical bookshop, a tight-knit family, sisterhood, and of course, the promise of true love. It’s the first in a series of stand-alone romances.

Review:
I absolutely loved this book, which is odd, because usually I’m not a huge fan of “forced” pairings. I thought this book did really well with the enemies to lovers troupe, and getting Addison and Feylin to learn more about each other. I did think the ending seemed a bit rushed, and a bit too obvious in the big horrible event being just so easily swept away and everything returned to normal and forgiven. Addison, come on, girl! I also believe that the true culprit was very obvious from the start, but I absolutely love who came to the rescue in a complete deus ex machina moment (no spoilers here!!) All in all, this book is a quick, fun, light read and I have been looking forward to continuing with the next one in the series once it came out. Now that I’ve written this review… time to read book 2!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

*This book was read in August, though reviewed now.

Review of Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater

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Synopsis:
A housemaid needs some magical help when she falls for a high-society gentleman in this captivating historical fantasy full of wit, charm, and heart-fluttering romance.Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr. Benedict Ashbrooke. There’s only one problem: Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help her win Mr. Ashbrooke’s heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favorite jacket.

Effie has heard rumors about what happens to those who accept magical bargains. But life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now she has one hundred days—and ten thousand stitches—to make Mr. Ashbrooke fall in love and propose…if Lord Blackthorn doesn’t wreck things by accident, that is. For Effie’s greatest obstacle might well be Lord Blackthorn’s overwhelmingly good intentions. 

Review:
I put off buying this for so long, and I am honestly quite glad I did because it was the perfect first full book to read after having to face a tragedy. Falling into a magical Victorian time was just the ticket for escapism. I absolutely loved Effie- I found that she was quite relatable; trying to do what she’s told and work through her very clear irritations through song or work. Lord Blackthorn was stupendous and I quite enjoyed how he did nothing but try to help, even if he didn’t really understand how what he was doing would influence or effect Effie. It was absolutely wonderful that Effie knows that she shouldn’t try to make deals with faeries, and yet finds herself somewhat forced/coerced. I adored the journey that Effie went on, discovering herself, her own strength, and what she truly cared about and needed to see in others in order to love them (and herself).

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Victorian era books, steampunk, faerie tales, and romance.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

*This book was read in August, though reviewed now.

Review of A Throne of Blood and Ice by T. A. Lawrence

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Synopsis:
Silly servant girl, only princesses get happy endings.

While the first three books in The Severed Realms are interconnected standalone novels, this book is not a standalone. It should be enjoyed only after reading A Word so Fitly Spoken and A Bond of Broken Glass. A Throne of Blood and Ice is the first in a two-part finale to the series.

Blaise wasn’t supposed to be the villain.

She was supposed to charm the prince, the male she’s loved for years. That was all the potion was supposed to do—give her another face, and only for a few hours. All so she could prove the prince loved her. Except Blaise got more than she bargained for, and instead of a beauty potion, now she’s infected with a magical parasite who takes control of her body every full moon. A parasite who would rather take control permanently.

When Blaise is kidnapped from her prison cell, she wakes in a dungeon only to find herself the object of the Queen of Mystral’s magical experiments.

The queen wants the parasite.

The parasite wants Blaise.

And Blaise wants… Nox, the brainy, sarcastic fae tasked with extracting the parasite from Blaise’s body.

Nox is different from any fae she’s met. For one, he can actually lie. Then there was that time she sliced her finger and he couldn’t stop staring at the drop of blood. The queen definitely has something over him, but Blaise can’t figure out what. She just has a feeling she won’t be making it out of these dungeons alive.

Witty, heartbreaking, and devastatingly dark, A Throne of Blood and Ice transports the reader to the kingdom of Mystral, where betrayal rots the queen’s cold heart and vampires lurk in the shadows. A Throne of Blood and Ice is a loose fairytale retelling of The Snow Queen and is the fourth installment in the fantasy romance series The Severed Realms. It is the first in a two-part finale.

Review:
Not so spoiler: I hadn’t liked Blaise in the previous book she was in. Honestly, this book made me feel for her a bit- there is quite some tragedy in her past. This book had a lot of trauma built within it, as well as a lot of uncertainty about what things should look like from someone who didn’t have the best upbringing. “And is that what love is? Losing your sense of self in that of another?” (page 481) Honestly, while Blaise is clearly the main character of this story, I still didn’t find myself completely enamoured or forgiving of her. She is constantly given the opportunity to make choices and consistently chooses to make ones that negatively impact the majority of people while only vaguely benefitting her (or at least she thinks they do/will at the time).

While I do love this series, given Blaise’s nature I am not sure if or when I will finish the last book.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

*This book was read in August, though reviewed now.

Saying Goodbye

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The hardest part of loving someone is the inevitable loss that death brings. Some may consider pets superfluous, but for many of us they become the closest part of your family- the heart and soul. Boots was more than just a cat. It took a while for Boots to officially join our family, but Boots was the reason I ever even considered getting cats. From the moment I first met her, with her endless talk, headbutts and cuddles, I knew my heart had been stolen.

Boots had a long and full life with my husband, the other cats, and I. She joined countless vocal lessons with an international rock star, stealing her heart. I always said she was the true star- she never needed any corrections! She always had something to say, usually begging (or yowling) for food. She spoke real words, such as “Yeah Yeah” if she wanted something, “yeah yeah yeah” if she REALLY wanted something, “Mmm yeah!” and “No!!!!” She used to curl up against my arm in bed every night as I settled in to read for an hour or so before sleeping. She never found a person she didn’t love, and her life mission was to snuggle everyone and convert them to cat lovers- she even succeeded with my cantankerous grandfather, who she loved to talk on the phone to. Life and the world in general has been dimmed without her light and there will never be another like her.

Death always seems so sudden, even when you see it looming on the horizon. While it may be a reprieve, those living will never know what that “after” consists of, but do feel the gaping wound of the loss of those you loved unconditionally with all your heart. Make certain to spend time with your loved ones, don’t put off activities you’ve been wanting to do with friends and pets, and always give all the love you possibly can; you never know when a moment together might be the last.