I am currently in the process of moving house & so I am behind with my book reviews but I will get up to date as soon as possible.
I Hope you all enjoy the holidays.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa & Blessed Yule.
Tag: booktok
A Spicy Snowman Tale: My Thoughts on “Frisky the Snowman” by Lauren Biel
Frisky the Snowman by Lauren Biel
18+ Contains Adult Content
Frisky the Snowman is as weird a read as it sounds. It follows Holly, who loves the snow and builds herself a snowman she names Frisky, with whom she gets frisky. Imagine her surprise when Frisky comes to life.
There’s something about snow for me. I’m obsessed with the stuff. Most people find building a snowman fun, but I find it e****c
The Gingerbread Bakery: A Sweet Small Town Romance
The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore
The Gingerbread Bakery is book 5 in the Dream Harbor series; however, each book can be read as a standalone. This one follows Annie, the owner of the Gingerbread Bakery, and Mac, the owner of the pub. Annie is just as sweet as the cookies she bakes. She likes everyone well, everyone except Mac. Mac wants the only thing he can’t have…Annie. There is bad blood between the two of them, and whenever they are around each other, all they do is bicker, but when two of their friends are getting married, they have to put aside the bickering and get along.
She’d never been friends with Mac. They’d never made sense together. It was exactly what she’d told him eleven years ago. But Mac had never been good at listening.
Explore the World of Fantasy with Mariah Montoya in this exclusive Interview
I’m not sure if you’re all aware, but this year I discovered one of my all-time favourite fantasy series, thanks to my wonderful friend Roni, who recommended it to me. This was not only a new series but a new author to me. One who has now become an auto-buy author! So I decided to pull up my big girl pants and slide my behind into her DMs to ask if she would be down for an interview. I was so nervous, but when she replied saying yes…guys, I felt so giddy!! I mean, the title has given away who it is already, but I’m so super happy to have the wonderful Mariah Montoya on my blog 🙂 By the Orchid and the Owl may be one of my all-time favourite fantasy worlds!
So let’s get to it!
Continue reading “Explore the World of Fantasy with Mariah Montoya in this exclusive Interview”Discover My Top Reads: 13 Books I Devoured This November and Their Ratings
This month has been a really good month for me reading wise. I’ve managed to read 13 books this month 🙂 Here is what I read and what I rated it 🙂
I started the month with an ARC from Nova Kane, so you already know it was a good start to the month! I read Blood & Throttle, which I devoured! This was Death Race but on bikes, and it was amazing. I gave it 5 stars.
I then read Queens of Ruin by Selena Collins. I read this because I needed to read a book beginning with Q for my alphabet challenge, and I had this on my Kindle. I didn’t enjoy it. The idea was good, the execution not so much. I gave it 2.5 stars.
I then read the book I was most excited for this month! Veradel by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce. This was book two in the Guardians and Monsters duology. I read Xantera last month and was obsessed, so I had been eagerly waiting for this ARC to pop in my inbox, and I was just as obsessed with this one as I was with Xantera! 5 stars. This is a new favourite duology for me!
I then listened to and ALC of Dark Desires by Effie Campbell. I enjoyed the narrators, but felt the spice-to-plot ratio was too heavy in the spice direction. I still enjoyed it, just didn’t love it. I gave it 3.5 stars.
I then read Of Darkness and Ruination by Rachel Fallon. This was on my 12 months, 12 Friends, 12 books challenge. I enjoyed this; the only issue was that it was very, very similar to ACOTAR. Had I not read ACOTAR already, then I would have probably given this book 5 stars, but because it was so similar, I kept unintentionally comparing the two books, and Calix just didn’t hit the same as Rhysand for me, and so I gave it 4 stars.
I then read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I never read this in school, as I think my set did Jane Eyre, anyway, I had to read a classic as part of my StoryGraph challenge, and I picked this because it was 121 pages and figured I could manage that. I’m not a classics girlie, but this was okay. I felt rather uncomfortable reading it, though, which was maybe the point of the book, I dunno. I gave it 3 stars.
I then had another ALC, this one was Becoming Justice by Liv Macy. I hadn’t heard of this author prior to this, but I really enjoyed listening to this. I gave it 4 stars.
I then read A Wife for the Blacksmith by Viola Grey, because I needed a Historical Fiction for my 52 book challenge, I swear these challenges got me reading all sorts of books outta my comfort zone…I guess that’s the point of them though haha. I picked this because it was short, and it was okay. I gave it 3.5 stars.
I then read Mariposa by Lexi Axelson. I’ve wanted to read See You Soon by her, but for some reason, I’m scared to start that book, so I read this one instead. I did not expect to cry reading this book, but I sobbed! 4 stars.
I then read You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston. This had been on my TBR for over a year, and I needed a book beginning with Y to finish my book alphabet, lol. I enjoyed it. I don’t read much mystery/thriller these days, but it was once my comfort genre, so it’s always fun to go back to that genre. I gave it 4 stars.
I then received an ARC of Fatal Collision by Harleigh Beck. You all know by now that Harleigh is one of my favourite authors. I loved this book! Kane had me swooning, giggling, kicking my feet the lot! I can’t wait for book 2. 5 stars!
I then read Fost by Lo Gold, which was another ARC. This was a monster romance, which isn’t a genre I’ve read much of. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. 3.5 stars.
I finished the month with Sweet Doe by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn. I had read the first book in this duet last year and loved that. I didn’t love this one quite the same, and I ended up giving it 3.5 stars.
There should be full reviews for all these books on my blog (except of mice and men).
My favourite book of the month is Veradel.
My top 3 favourite books this month are:
Veradel
Blood & Throttle
Fatal Collision
I hope you all had a good reading month.
Now it’s on to Christmas books xD
The Allure of the Forbidden: A Thoughtful Review of “Sweet Doe”
Sweet Doe by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn
18+ Contains Adult Content
Sweet Doe is book 4 in the Wrecked series, but you only need to read Slaying for Sloan (book 3) before you read this one. You must read Slaying for Sloan first as Sweet Doe continues where Slaying for Sloan ends.
Sloan is in Holly Grove for the holiday’s meeting her boyfriend’s family. When Alex starts acting differently, he has a darker, more exciting side to him that Sloan loves, only she realises it isn’t Alex. It’s his twin brother Asher. It was a game that started in a lustful haze, that soon turned into fear when Asher takes Sloan deep into the mountains, hiding her away and keeping her for himself. Sloan wants to be angry, wants to be scared, but on one hand, he killed his own twin brother; on the other hand, he treats Sloan well, cares for her, cooks for her, and loves her. She knows she should run, but she finds herself not wanting to. Instead, she runs with Asher, away from the law and their families. Just the two of them against the world.
A severed fucking human hand, pale and lifeless, with a note tucked between the stiff fingers.
Love in the Myrkviðr Woods: A Thoughtful Review of “Frost” by Lo Gold
Frost by Lo Gold
18+ Contains Adult Content
Frost follows Elisa, who is in her last year of college, has no family, and it’s Christmas break. She decides to travel, joining a foreign exchange program. It is not what she thought it would be, and now she is stuck in a cabin in the middle of the woods in below-freezing temperatures. Not only that, there is a monster lurking outside. Jack is the monster outside. He is a creature of legend that has been lost to time. Jack Frost is cursed to an eternity in the woods, collecting the souls of the wicked. Only his soulmate can release the curse if she can fall in love with the monster he is.
A monster with no fear to feast upon is no monster at all. And I’m nothing if not a motherfucking monster.
“Fatal Collision” by Harleigh Beck: A Gripping Start to the Dark Lanes Series.
Fatal Collision by Harleigh Beck
18+ Contains Adult Content
Fatal Collision is book one in the new Harleigh Beck series, Dark Lanes. It follows Jessica, who is from the “poor” side of town and Kane, who is from the “rich” side of town. Jessica’s only goal is to survive; her mum is in hospice, dying from cancer. Her Dad is an alcoholic, her brother keeps losing money in races, and her younger sister needs her to protect and care for her. Jessica needs money to keep her family together and feed them, so she decides to gate-crash a party on the rich side of town and steal from Mr Ravencourt himself, one of the town’s founders. Unfortunately for Jessica Kane, one of Mr Ravencourt’s sons catches her. Jessica holds her own, and one forbidden touch was like waving a red flag at a bull. Kane is obsessed and isn’t about to let his prey get away.
“If anything” I add, “the men on our side of town have fought for every penny they’ve earned. Poor guys fuck harder. It’s science.
Complete A-Z Book Alphabet Challenge: My Reviews
So I am super stoked that this year I managed to complete my A-Z Book Alphabet challenge. I tried this challenge last year, but I was missing 5 letters.
So here is my book alphabet. If you are also doing this challenge and are struggling with any letters, maybe this will help you.
A
I read Autopsy of a Fairytale by Nicole Scarano.
I gave this book 5 stars.
B
I read Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh
I gave this book 5 stars
C
I read The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
I gave this 5 stars also.
I then thought, does that technically start with T because it’s The Crimson Moth? So I also have Chokehold by Harleigh Beck & Leigh Rivers. I also gave that book 5 stars.
D
I read Dangerous Allure by Ashlynn.
I gave this book 4 stars.
E
I read Endo by Nova Kane.
I gave this book 4 stars.
F
I read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
G
I read God of Malice by Rina Kent
I gave this book 5 stars.
H
I read Hard Game by Linzvonc
I gave this book 5 stars.
I
I read Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
J
I read Judgement by Tulisa.
I gave this 5 stars.
K
I read Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh.
I gave this book 5 stars.
L
I read Liar by Tate James.
I gave this book 5 stars. I loved this series.
M
I read Make Me by Alina May
I gave this book 5 stars.
N
I read Nocturne Abyss by Dakota Wilde.
I gave this book 5 stars.
O
I read Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
P
I read Protecting Poppy by Annie Charme.
I gave this book 3.5 stars.
Q
I read Queens of Ruin by Selena Collins.
I gave this book 2.5 stars.
R
I read Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli.
I gave this book 5 stars
S
I read Sinister by Michaella Dieter
I gave this book 4 stars
T
I read the Tangled in Taboo anthology by multiple authors.
I gave it 5 stars.
U
I read Unholy by Kinsley Kincaid
I gave this 5 stars.
V
I read Vigilante by C.J. Riggs and Dakota Wilde.
I gave this 4 stars.
W
I read Wanted by Lauren Biel
I gave this 3.5 stars.
X
I read Xantera by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce.
I gave this 5 stars. I’m obsessed with this duology.
Y
I read You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston.
I gave this book 4 stars.
Z
I read Zodiac Academy Sorrow and Starlight
I gave this 4 stars. I love this series so much, this was my least favourite book so far, though.
I know you’re thinking, Jeez, she rates so many of them 5 stars, and what can I say, I know what authors I like and which friends to listen to when they recommend books, lol. I can be quite a generous rater. I think I will do a post at the end of the year/beginning of next year, going over the books I read in 2025 and what I rated them and if I would change that rating or not.
Love, Loyalty, and Murder: Exploring the Thrills of ‘You May Now Kill The Bride’
You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston
You May Now Kill The Bride is a mystery thriller following a group of friends, Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy, who have been best friends since they were in nursery. Tansy is about to get married, and the girls get together for her spiritual hen party in the woods. They enter the woods together, but they don’t leave together. Tansy stays behind after choking on a drink that contained peach, which she was allergic to. It couldn’t be murder, right? Just one of Tansy’s allergies. However, come Farah’s hen do not long after, and another hen dies. Hen do 2.0 for Farah, and there is another body. The group now suspect it is one of their own doing the killing. But who is it and why? Will Farah manage to walk down the aisle? And what happened twenty years ago, that they have all been keeping secret?
I know your secret, and I’ll tell your fiancé unless you follow my instructions. Do everything I say, and he never needs to know.
