Wishlist Wednesday

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

FORGET ME NOT by Julie Soto

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Pages: 352

Publisher: Adult 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!

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.

Publisher: Dial 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.

LINK: Goodreads

RATING: 

ONE-WORD REVIEW: Swoon-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!

 

Wishlist Wednesday

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

BRING ME YOUR MIDNIGHT by Rachel Griffin

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: August 1, 2023

Pages: 320

Genre: YA 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!