Friday, January 27, 2023

Feature Friday ARC Review: The Phantom by Gena Showalter

*Feature Friday ARC Review is a meme hosted by The Tattered Page to review books not yet released.  

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

PublisherHQN
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Pages: 384 
Source: E-ARC 

THE STORY:

"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!"—Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with The Phantom, the third book in her pulse-pounding Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a vengeful harpy and a callous torture master locked in a battle to the death. 

As the son of a war god, Roux Pyroesis has suffered unending pain—he’s caused it, too, dispatching his foes with alarming ease. Now he’s tasked with cutting out the heart of a powerful queen who rules an ancient prison realm inhabited by the most vicious immortal females in existence.

Blythe the Undoing is a decorated harpy warrior determined to annihilate Roux, the invader who killed her beloved consort. Nothing will stop her. Even if she must trap herself for eternity by sneaking into the brutal realm and taking the crown, pitting herself against the merciless male she’s sworn to despise.

Having never known desire, Roux is ill-prepared for the stunning beauty who challenges him at every turn. For the survival of his army, duty comes first. Always. But what happens when the flames of Blythe’s hatred burn out and she craves him, too…but only one of them can live?

Rise of the Warlords:
Book 1: The Warlord
Book 2: The Immortal
LINK: Goodreads 


RATING

ONE-WORD REVIEW: SIZZLING

TAG LINE: He knows only war. He gives only pain. He's never felt desire—until her.

OPENING LINE: "I would do bad things for a maple-glazed donut," Blythe the Undoing said to the warrior with his back to her.


REVIEW:

Huge thank you to Gena Showalter and Naomi for the ARC of THE PHANTOM! I was so excited to continue the RISE OF THE WARLORDS series and Gena did not disappoint!

To begin, the RISE OF THE WARLORDS centers around the brutal, merciless Astra—an army of immortal warlords who conquer realms in order to gain a blessing on their quest to destroy their mortal enemy, Erebus, the dark god—and the women who bring them to their knees. THE PHANTOM is Roux the torture master—Roux the Unhinged—and Blythe’s story.

π‘…π‘œπ“Šπ“ 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝓉𝑒𝒹 π’½π’Ύπ“ˆ 𝒽𝑒𝒢𝒹, 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 π“€π’Ύπ“ˆπ“ˆ, π‘œπ“ƒπ“π“Ž π“‰π‘œ 𝓁𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝑒 π“ˆπ‘’π’Άπ“‚ π‘œπ’» 𝒽𝑒𝓇 π“π’Ύπ“…π“ˆ. π΅π‘’π“‰π“Œπ‘’π‘’π“ƒ π’½π’Άπ“‡π“ˆπ’½ π’·π“‡π‘’π’Άπ“‰π’½π“ˆ, 𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒾𝓉 π‘œπ“Šπ“‰, "𝐼 π“Œπ’Άπ“ƒπ“‰ π“‚π‘œπ“‡π‘’ 𝓉𝒽𝒢𝓃 π“Žπ‘œπ“Šπ“‡ π’·π‘œπ’Ήπ“Ž. 𝐼 π“Œπ’Άπ“ƒπ“‰ π“Žπ‘œπ“Šπ“‡ π“‰π’½π‘œπ“Šπ‘”π’½π“‰π“ˆ. 𝒒𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 π“‰π‘œ 𝓂𝑒."

Not going to lie, I didn’t know how Blythe and Isla were going to forgive Roux for killing Laban. Laban was the love of Blythe’s life and Isla’s beloved father. How do you come back from that?

Roux couldn’t stand the touch of another . . . except Blythe. She was the first person he’s ever even had a sexual attraction to. But while he’s bent on coaxing his enemy to his bed, Blythe was bent on her revenge. She vowed to avenge her consort but how do you do that when the one you seek to kill is unkillable?

Not to mention he's hotter than sin?

𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝒢𝓏𝑒 π’Ήπ“‡π‘œπ“…π“…π‘’π’Ή π“‰π‘œ π’½π’Ύπ“ˆ π“‚π‘œπ“Šπ“‰π’½. "𝐻𝒢𝓋𝑒 π“Žπ‘œπ“Š 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 π“€π’Ύπ“ˆπ“ˆπ‘’π’Ή?" 
"𝒩𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇," 𝒽𝑒 π“‡π’Άπ“ˆπ“…π‘’π’Ή. 
"π’Ÿπ‘œ π“Žπ‘œπ“Š π“Œπ’Άπ“ƒπ“‰ π“‰π‘œ?" 
𝐻𝑒 π“ˆπ“ƒπ’Άπ“…π“…π‘’π’Ή π’½π’Ύπ“ˆ 𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓉𝒽 𝒢𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇. "π‘€π‘œπ“‡π‘’ 𝓉𝒽𝒢𝓃 π’Άπ“ƒπ“Žπ“‰π’½π’Ύπ“ƒπ‘”." 
𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒢𝓇𝓉 π‘”π’Άπ“π“π‘œπ“…π‘’π’Ή. "π’Ÿπ‘œ π“Žπ‘œπ“Š π’½π‘œπ“…π‘’ π“‰π‘œ π“π‘œπ“ˆπ‘’ π“Žπ‘œπ“Šπ“‡ π“‹π’Ύπ“‡π‘”π’Ύπ“ƒπ’Ύπ“‰π“Ž? 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓂𝑒?" 
π’œ π“‚π“Šπ“ˆπ’Έπ“π‘’ π’Ώπ“Šπ“‚π“…π‘’π’Ή 𝒾𝓃 π’½π’Ύπ“ˆ π’Ώπ’Άπ“Œ. "π’΄π‘’π“ˆ, πΏπ“Žπ“π’Ά. 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 π“Žπ‘œπ“Š. π’ͺπ“ƒπ“π“Ž 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 π“Žπ‘œπ“Š."

All in all, I really enjoyed THE PHANTOM and recommend it to fans of paranormal romance with steam and fun banter!

TROPES:

- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Tortured hero
- Single parent
- Found family
- Virgin H

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats. 





Happy Reading!

 
Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Wishlist Wednesday


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that is on your bookish wishlist*

FORGET ME NOT by Julie Soto

PublisherForever
Release Date: July 11, 2023
Pages: 352
PublisherAdult Contemporary Romance

THE STORY:

An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.
He loves me; he loves me not... 
Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…
Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did. 
When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there's a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot's hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.
LINK: Goodreads


MEET THE AUTHOR

Originally from Sacramento, Julie spent many years bouncing between New York and California before eventually settling in coastal Fort Bragg, CA. A theatre and fandom nerd, Julie can tell you the name of any Buffy episode if you pick a number 1-7, and another 1-22.

With her Bichon-Poodle brother Charlie, she spends her days writing Contemporary Romance, Rom-Coms, and Contemporary YA—often with a Jane Austen movie adaptation on in the background.

As a playwright, Julie's musical Generation Me won the 2017 New York Musical Festival's Best Musical award, as well as Best Book for Julie's work on the script.

Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Bookish Wishlist

Happy Reading!

Friday, January 6, 2023

Feature Friday ARC Review: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

 *Feature Friday ARC Review is a meme hosted by The Tattered Page to review books not yet released.  

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

PublisherDial Books 
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Pages: 384

THE STORY:
The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked.
The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it's 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.
There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married . . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marryinxg the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.
Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, The Davenports is the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love.


RATING

ONE-WORD REVIEWSwoon-worthy

TAG LINE: Fortune favors the bold.

OPENING LINE: "Olivia Elise Davenport pulled a bolt of vibrant yellow silk from the display and held it to her dark complexion."


REVIEW:
Huge thank you to James over at Penguin Teen for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy of THE DAVENPORTS in exchange for a review!
THE DAVENPORTS  is a dynamic story that follows four young Black women—three sisters and their good friend, Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby—as they navigate following their hearts in high society. Think Pride & Prejudice but with color *see what I did there*. This was the story I didn’t know I needed. It was very refreshing to read a YA book about wealthy Black families during the 20th century. We get a wonderful peek into a period of African American history often overlooked. Refreshing and innovative.
The pacing of THE DAVENPORTS  was perfect for the story. The prose was lyrical as the plot was everything I could have hoped for. The characters were real, the romance was swoon, and the banter was delightful. The angst! I was fully engaged throughout the entire read.
All in all, I highly recommend this read to anyone who is interested in a swoon-worthy era piece starring African American protagonists. THE DAVENPORTS is like Bridgerton with all Black main characters. Superb job with your debut novel, Krystal! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Krystal Marquis happily spends most of her time in libraries and used bookstores. She studied biology at Boston College and University of Connecticut and now works as an environmental, health, and safety manager for an online retailer. A lifelong reader, Krystal began researching and writing on a dare to complete the NaNoWriMo Challenge, resulting in the first partial draft of The Davenports. When not writing or planning trips to the Book Barn to discover her next favorite romance, Krystal enjoys hiking, expanding her shoe collection, and plotting ways to create her own Jurassic Park.



Happy Reading!

 
Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Wishlist Wednesday


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that is on your bookish wishlist*

BRING ME YOUR MIDNIGHT by Rachel Griffin

PublisherSourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 1, 2023
Pages: 320
GenreYA Fantasy Romance

THE STORY:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches and Wild is the Witch comes a lush romantic fantasy about forbidden love, the choices we make, and the pull between duty and desire.
Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat.
Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual—a fatal mistake—there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe.
Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive.
As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.
LINK: Goodreads


MEET THE AUTHOR


Rachel Griffin writes young adult novels inspired by the magic of the world around her. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches, Wild is the Witch, and the forthcoming Bring Me Your Midnight, releasing from Sourcebooks Fire in summer 2023.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel has a deep love of nature, from the mountains to the ocean and all the towering evergreens in between. She adores moody skies and thunderstorms, and hopes more vampires settle down in her beloved state of Washington.

On her path to writing novels, Rachel graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Science in diagnostic ultrasound. She worked in healthcare for five years and taught ultrasound at her alma mater before making the switch to a small startup. She now writes full-time from her home in the Seattle area.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering the PNW, reading by the fire, or drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea. She lives with her husband, small dog, and growing collection of houseplants.

Rachel is represented by Pete Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media. You can find her on Instagram @TimesNewRachel.Rachel Griffin writes young adult novels inspired by the magic of the world around her. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches, Wild is the Witch, and the forthcoming Bring Me Your Midnight, releasing from Sourcebooks Fire in summer 2023.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel has a deep love of nature, from the mountains to the ocean and all the towering evergreens in between. She adores moody skies and thunderstorms, and hopes more vampires settle down in her beloved state of Washington.

On her path to writing novels, Rachel graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Science in diagnostic ultrasound. She worked in healthcare for five years and taught ultrasound at her alma mater before making the switch to a small startup. She now writes full-time from her home in the Seattle area.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering the PNW, reading by the fire, or drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea. She lives with her husband, small dog, and growing collection of houseplants.

Rachel is represented by Pete Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media. You can find her on Instagram @TimesNewRachel.

Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Bookish Wishlist

Happy Reading!

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