Exciting Fantasy Series

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard
Publication Date - February 12, 2019
4 stars



This is more of a series review then for just this book.  Centering on witches that contain specific powers, this series is fast paced and full of complicated and interesting characters.  The writing is good and the world-building starts off vague but only because she is taking her time with the history and explanation of place and magic.  My only real issue with the books so far is that it too quickly moves between the different characters narratives and it was hard to get into each scene.  I’m hoping that since some of the characters reunited at the end end that this won’t be as big an issue in future books.  This is definitely a series that I will continue to read.  I was fortunate to receive the first three books from this series for free from the BookishFirst program in exchange for an honest review. 

Beautifully Illustrated Graphic Novel

Book Love by Debbie Tung

Publication Date - January 1, 2019

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This delightful graphic novel about the joys of the reading life can be read in one setting.     It is completely relatable, but what I enjoyed most were the beautiful drawings.  The beautiful shades of some of the pages popped off the iPad in which I was reading it.  This is a book that I will buy on physical form and revisit often.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Friday Review

Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday
Publication Date - January 29, 2019
🌟🌟🌟



This was a light, fun romance to read around the holidays.  Gia is a model who is beginning to age out of the business who puts up a tough shell due to insecurity.  Bennett is a chef and Southern do-gooder with a tragic past.  I've read several books by this author and they are usually a major hit or a major miss but this one just falls somewhere in the middle.  I enjoyed the road-trip story but I never really liked Gia very much, even when she starts to open up more.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Sweet Christmas Romance

Deck the Halls (Darling, VT #3.5) by Donna Alward
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This is a sweetly moving novella about a formerly homeless vet who is just getting his life back on track and the sister of the best friend he lost in the Iraq War.  This is an insert into an already established series that I have not read but it didn't at all take away the enjoyment of reading.  If you looking for a sweet, quick holiday romance then this one is a pretty good choice.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 




Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle
🌟🌟🌟🌟



This was basically just a sugary, sweet Christmas story where a woman recovering from a cheating spouse moves her daughter to a lovely small town and everything pretty much goes her way from then on.  This may not be everyone's cup of tea, and normally it is not mine, but it's the holiday season and that's what books like this are made for.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Modern Update of a Russian Classic

With You in Paris by Clementine Beauvais

Publication Date – January 8, 2019

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Told in verse, this retelling of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin, tells the story of the relationship between Tatiana and Eugene as teenagers and a decade later as young adults.  Eugene is the best friend of Tatiana’s sister’s boyfriend who lives next door.  Tatiana falls in love with him but Eugene is selfishly bored and slightly obnoxious and rejects her advances.  I have not read Pushkin’s classic but am familiar with the story and I felt this was a fairly good modernization.  I will say that the title and the cover are really not indicative of what you are getting into, so don’t be fooled into thinking this is a light, contemporary romance.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Wednesday Review

The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ross, Duke of Rossmoyne, lost his fiancé in a brutal murder a couple of years ago.  Now her cousin is at his door asking him to help her find the sender of some ominous letters.  Sara was orphaned at a young age and raised by her aunt and uncle and was very close to her murdered cousin.  This is a very sweet story and I like both of the characters and the added mystery.  I’ve read several books by this author and they are always reliably good.  I received a digital ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.