This is my first weekly update in forever!! I put off doing these because I wasn’t doing a ton of reviews or getting any ARC’s. But now that I am back, I will start doing these again.
So enjoy!! And let me know if you have read any of these and if you enjoyed them!!
Books I Read This Week:
More than twenty years later, she has buried her past so soundly that even her husband doesn’t know the truth. But now her father has killed two guards, escaped from prison, and disappeared into the marsh. The police begin a manhunt, but Helena knows they don’t stand a chance. Knows that only one person has the skills to find the survivalist the world calls the Marsh King–because only one person was ever trained by him: his daughter.
I was a little let down by this book. The Marsh King’s Daughter was in my top 10 books that I wanted to read and I was thrilled when it came off hold at the library. Then I started reading it and my excitement waned. It was mainly because of Helena. I couldn’t stand her. I did feel bad for her because she was extremely damaged but that was about where my tolerance of her ended.
The faire is Simon’s family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn’t have time for Emily’s lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she’s in her revealing wench’s costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they’re portraying?
This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can’t seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
I loved this book!! It made me almost pee my pants laughing (Emily’s explaining of her lack of boobs to Simon had me rolling) to crying (basically the last couple of chapters and the epilogue). It also made me miss the Ren Faire. It was cancelled last year and I am looking forward to going this fall.
To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby–it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good–But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
This was another book that I loved. The characters (even the secondary ones) were vibrant and full of life. I was rooting for both Elian and Lira to accomplish their quests (I know, messed up because of what Lira had to do). I also loved the snarky references to The Little Mermaid. But, it was the end that made the book for me. I went from sorrow to horror to sorrow to joy and back.
Hidden Fury by Marie Flanigan
Preston’s roots in the community run deep. His family has held the same property in Leesburg, Virginia, since the 1700s. The two get to know each other over the course of the job. When Preston asks her out after the work is done, she accepts. After all, Annie’s on-again, off-again love affair with her childhood best friend, Ford, is currently off. Why should she mope until he decides it’s on again?
What she intended to be a fun, casual romp with Preston turns serious quickly when Annie’s newly installed security cameras record startling footage. Family secrets begin to unravel, echoing over two hundred years of heartache and violence.
Hidden Fury was an enjoyable read. Not going to say much about this book because I did write a review on it (see below). Everything I needed to say about it was said in the review.
House of Enchanted: The Revelations of Oriceran by Sarah Noffke, Martha Carr, and Michael Anderle
The humans from Terran have always been real assholes to the witches of Virgo. Now a silent war is brewing, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Princess Azure will soon be crowned queen of the Kingdom of Virgo.
In the Dark Forest a powerful potion-maker has been murdered.
Charmsgood was the only wizard who could stop a deadly virus plaguing Virgo. He also knew about the devastation the people from Terran had done to the forest.
Azure must protect her people. Mend the Dark Forest. Create alliances with savage beasts. No biggie, right?
But on coronation day everything changes. Princess Azure isn’t who she thought she was and that’s a big freaking problem.
Welcome to The Revelations of Oriceran.
A magical world tied to Earth, and nothing like it.
I wasn’t a huge fan of House of Enchanted which surprised me. I had gone into reading it thinking that it would be a cute adventure or be something like Piers Anthony wrote. Nope, nothing like his works and it wasn’t exactly cute to read. I was disappointed because I have read books by all three authors and enjoyed them.
A Cowboy Kind of Love by Donna Grant
Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview – and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?
I have had a really bad turn of luck with the last 3 books I have read (the one before, this one, and the one after). They have all been “meh” to me. Now, I am not going to go into detail about what was “meh” about A Cowboy Kind of Love. There’s a review coming the end of April and it will explain everything.
Blue by H.J. Bellus
-Prettiest in her hometown
-Most talented cheerleader on her high school squad
-Valedictorian of the senior class
-Prom queen and runner up for Miss Teen Colorado
And the list goes on…
That’s until college, when she finds out nobody recognizes her, and if they do they couldn’t care less. Blending in is something Blue has longed for her entire life. Living in a dorm with a set of new friends is just what she needed to escape her stale life back home. For the first time, she’s seen for her talent and not her name or looks.
Cheer is her number one priority, considering a full-ride scholarship landed her at a prestigious university, and she intends to take advantage of it. A true beauty inside and out, Blue’s heart has always pumped competitive blood.
Until one night changes her forever…the beauty is gone, and all she has left are nasty, ugly memories. The man who saved her has a story of his own, with ninety percent of his body scarred.
What happens when the Beauty falls for the Beast?
This is the last of the trio of books that I mentioned above. I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved it because it showcased mental health (Blue’s declined over the course of the book), bullying, and positive body image (Tuck learning to love his body). But at the same time, I hated it. Blue acted like a child for 90% of the book. She pushed Tuck into doing things he didn’t want to (sexually and it left a bad taste in my mouth after that scene). Oh and the language bothered me. Now, I am pretty relaxed with cursing and all that. But to read a teenager using that language in conversations with her parents?!? Yeah, it didn’t anything for me.
Reviews that were published/written this week
Hidden Fury—Published March 2nd
A Cowboy Kind of Love—Review coming end of April
ARC’s I received this week
Bones of a Saint by Grant Farley
When the Blackjacks come knocking, they want RJ to prey upon an old loner. But RJ is at his breaking point. It’s not just about the gang who rules the town. It’s about Charley, his younger brother, who is disabled. It’s about Roxanne, the girl he can’t reach. It’s about the kids in his crew who have nothing to live for. If RJ is to resist, he must fight to free Arcangel of its past.
I was super excited when I saw that the publisher had granted my wish on NetGalley!!! I have been a few reviews for this book. Almost everyone had loved it. I hope I do!!!
When a Duke Love a Governess by Olivia Drake
Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, has returned to London after years abroad to discover that his young daughter Sophy has become a wild-child known for scaring away every governess who’s crossed his doorstep. When Tessa James applies for the job, he hires her in desperation despite his misgivings that she’s too bold and beautiful–and that she might be fibbing about her qualifications.
Their blooming attraction leads them on a completely unexpected path to love that neither wants to deny. But when an old enemy threatens Guy’s family, their forbidden romance goes up in flames. Can they still learn to love and trust each other as forces try to tear them apart?
I had been reading the Unlikely Duchess series and have been loving it. So, when I got the email from SMP asking to review it, I jumped on it. Hopefully it will be just as good as the first two books.
Weekly Posts
