Category Archives: Book Review

Love Hard by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Love Hard (Hard Play, #3) by Nalini Singh

Title: Love Hard
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Hard Play #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sport
Dates read: 9th – 13th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Nalini Singh
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: “Do I look like I was born yesterday?”

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series…

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And II especially II no Julity Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends – and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend. 88 Straitlaced jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

Thoughts

From the blurb, I was expecting Jacob’s backstory to be far more painful and tragic. And it was quite sad and horrible. But nowhere near what I was expecting. I mean, teenage parent and the death of the love of his life is really sad. But he didn’t dwell on it but found a way to move on with his life. Something that I think is really awesome and important – he found a way to live his life and be happy in the moment.

All throughout this story, Esme just stole the show. She is just too damn cute and, although she isn’t the one the romance is about. I just wanted to give her a huge hug! She’s just a constant, adorable little show stealer. One that makes you grin and want to hug her through the pages of the book. The fact that Jacob is such a wonderful father just makes him an even more dreamy male lead…

Jules was such a great lead female (as is all of Singh’s female leads). Her friendship requirement to a relationship is such a great point. One that I think we all need to make in our own lives and relationships. After all, my partner is my best friend, and it’s the laughter and friendship that bring everything together.

This was another beautiful Singh story. One that uses all of her usual enjoyment and happiness. One that also reminds us that we always should look forward and embrace the future. And the potential for future happiness. It’s such a great journey. One that draws you all that much further into the Esra brothers’ world and makes you believe in true love again and again.

<- Rebel HardMore Nalini Singh ->

Image source: Goodreads

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Shadow and Bone : Leigh Bardugo : 9780805094596

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1, Grishaverse #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Magic, Young adult
Dates read: 4th – 5th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He didn’t say a word to me, and as the hours and days wore on, I started to worry that I’d somehow offended him.

Synopsis

SOLDIER. SUMMONER. SAINT.

Orphaned and expdnable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first rek across the Shadow Fold – a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dromant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of roaylty and intrigue, as she trains with the Grisha – her country’s magical military elite – and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she lvoes and the very future of a nation.

Thoughts

I can seriously understand why this series, and this story in particular is so damn popular. I knew that I’d probably love it from the fact that I have loved all of the short stories which Bardugo has written. But I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy this. I mean… wow. It is an amazing, unforgettable journey and I can’t wait to read more of this series! hopefully before the Netflix series comes out…

Alina is a lovely and soulful lead character. I honestly fell in love with her from the very beginning. There is something about her loyalty and strength that makes you love her from the first page. And the fact that she will do anything for the boy that she loves… that just makes it all so much sweeter and cuter. Particularly when you discover the depths she’s actually gone to for him…

I seriously can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series – not just he trilogy, but the whole Grishaverse. Alina and Mal may have found a way to escape the first obstacle. But there are so many more to come. And the Darkling doesn’t seem like the kind of villain that is going to be easy to escape – he is kind of terrifying if I’m being completely honest.

I love that this is most definitely a friends to lovers romance. Particularly since you can see Alina’s loyalty and love from the very beginning. Boys are stupid and tend to take a little bit longer, but that tie is there from the very beginning. I can’t wait to see how this all grows and blossoms throughout the series. Everything about writing this review and reading the story just make me want to pick up the next novel in this series!!!

All in all this is an amazing story. One that has pulled me into the Grishaverse reality completely. I can’t wait to read more of the series. And then, hopefully, when I’ve finished, dive into the Netflix show too…

<- More Leigh BardugoSiege and Storm ->

Image source: Bookdepository

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Punching the Air :HarperCollins Australia

Title: Punching the Air
Author: Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Poetry, Race
Dates read: 4th – 5th April 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: To take my mind off things for a little while, I said

Synopsis

The story that I thought
was my life
didn’t start on the day
I was born

Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighbourhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white.

The story that I think
will be my life
starts today

Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

Thoughts

This is a powerful and poignant story. It is intense, impossible to look away from and the kind of tale that will honestly make you cry. There is no other way to describe it – you will have so many of the feelings that you probably won’t know what to do. Or at least, that’s how I felt when I was reading this.

I didn’t realise that this was a poetry collection when I first bought it. In fact, I was completely thrown by this fact when I first opened the novel. I was expecting prose. Which honestly ended up being amazing. There is something about poetry that feels so much more emotional to me and reading this tale through poems… it tied itself to my heart strings just that much quicker and tighter.

My heart spent the entire time that I was reading this novel just breaking. Not only because of the amazing emotions that are put forth by this story, but also just the story itself. It is based on true events to a degree, partially written by one of the boys that it happened to… how could your heart not slightly start to break while reading this?

For those who don’t know, Yusef Salaam was one of the “When They See Us” boys, and it is his emotion that I think lent an extra layer of pain and wow to this story. It’s his words that make me want to reach through the pages of the novel and just give the poor boy a gigantic hug.

This is a raw and powerful story. And one that is honestly truly horrifying. Even if it is one of my favourite recent reads.

<- PrideA is for Ayiti ->

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Zeroes | Book by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Title: Zeroes
Author: Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti
Series: Zeroes #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Science fiction, Superheroes, Young adult
Dates read: 21st February – 5th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: All those training missions, shepherding crowds around a shopping center while listening to Glorious Leader’s orders in their earbuds.

Synopsis

DON’T CALL THEM HEROES

But these six Californian teens have powers that set them apart. They can do stuff ordinary people can’t.

Take Ethan, a.k.a. Scam. He’s got a voice inside him that’ll say whatever you want to hear, whether it’s true or not. Which is handy, except when it isn’t – like when the voice starts gabbing in the middle of a bank robbery and lands him in deep. The only people who can help are teh other Zeroes, who aren’t exactly best friends these days.

Enter Nate, a.k.a. Bellwether, the group’s “glorious leader”. After Scam’s SOS, he pulls the scattered Zeroes back together. But when the rescue blows up in their faces, the Zeroes find themselves propelled into whirlwind encounters with ever more dangerous criminals across the city. And at the heart of the chaos they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it or let it loose as she pleases.

Filled with high-stakes action and drama, Zeroes unites three power-house authors for the opening instalment of a thrilling new series.

Thoughts

This book is an absolute chunkster. Which is why I have kept putting it off for ages. I just find books that are this big to be kind of intimidating at times. Plus, there’s the fact that sometimes I tend to get distracted and bored halfway through these monster tales. Yet, in spite of all of my concerns… I just couldn’t put this down! It was an amazing chunkster, one that I seriously and thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved the flickering of points of view throughout this story. It is most definitely a difficult tactic in stories – but these three authors have managed to give each and every one of the six superheroes a wonderfully unique voice. The fact that it also gives you these great views into their lives and the different ways in which they see one another… it was a brilliant journey. And, unlike many other stories I’ve read that flicker between points of view, I wasn’t more or less attached to each of the characters. This is wonderfully unique and had me grinning throughout.

The whole storyline and characterization of the Zeroes reminded me a lot of Umbrella Academy. There was that great feeling of dysfunction and coming together in a pseudo family. Although, being that this is a young adult story, it felt a heck of a lot less dark than the comic / Netflix series. I love stories of dysfunctional family units, they tend to feel all that much more humorous. Which left me grinning and smiling as I journeyed through the Zeroes reuniting and finding more depths to their powers.

This novel partners teenage angst with dysfunction and superpowers. I mean, really, what on earth could go wrong there? Turns out, everything and anything. Which then makes me want to pick up Swarms straight away… it’s surely just going to get better from here on out.

<- More Scott WesterfeldSwarm ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Her Perfect Mate (X-Ops, #1) by Paige Tyler

Title: Her Perfect Mate
Author: Paige Tyler
Series: X-Ops #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 28th March – 3rd April 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: “Yeah?” Clayne snorted.

Synopsis

HE’S A HIGH-OCTANE
SPECIAL OPS PRO
When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is pulled from an op in Afghanistan, he is surprised to discover he’s been hand-picked for a special assignment with the Department of Covert Operations (DCO), a secret division he’s never heard of. Terrorists are kidnapping biologists and he and his partner have to stop them. But his new partner is a beautiful, sexy womn who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly – never mind take down a terrorist.

SHE’S NOT YOUR AVERAGE
COVERT OPERATIVE
Ivy Halliwell is no kitten. She’s a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. She’s worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who’ve underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she’s partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up…

Thoughts

This was a very fast-paced and high-octane romance. It was enjoyable, intriguing and quite intense. Not just for the great love story that is in place, but also for the multitude of action-packed adventures and moments that fill the pages. I was expecting this from the series name and the prequel, Her Secret Agent. But it was still far more intense than I had expected.

There were lots of hints at the political and social turmoil that is probably going to characterise this series in Her Secret Agent. But Her Perfect Mate does this so much better. There are so many moments of intensity and horrible feelings throughout. In fact, it feels a lot like this was the opening battle in a war to come. After all, this is beginning of an eight-book series, and there is so much potential moving forwards… I can’t wait to see how this evolves.

There is nothing I like better than a romance in which two characters bring their past issues to the table. And then figure out a way to accept them and work around them. Instead of pretending that no one has baggage, the baggage is all out there. In the case of this story, I love how Landon meets Ivy and just takes her hostility in his stride. His easy acceptance and ability to just roll with whatever she throws at him is kind of beautiful and most definitely sweet. It makes it all that much more meaningful when they both succumb to their feelings.

I love all of the characters in this novel, and I’m really hoping that some of the future novels feature more of Landon’s unit. They are such a great, humorous, and loyal group, so I desperately want to see more of them. It was impossible not to fall in love with this story and I can’t wait to buy more of this series and see where Tyler’s fantastic world building and romances take me!

<- Her Secret AgentHer Lone Wolf ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Glory Days by Isobelle Carmody

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for green monkey dreams isobelle carmody book cover

Title: The Glory Days
Author: Isobelle Carmody
In: Green Monkey Dreams (Isobelle Carmody)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Fantasy
Dates read: 31st March 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Year: 1996
5th sentence, 74th page: She touched the pencil with the tip of her finger.

Synopsis

The Glory Days are long gone. But some people still remember them…

Thoughts

I always love the post-apocalyptic feeling of Isobelle Carmody’s writing. There is just something so poignant about it all. And she always points out the things that are horribly wrong with our society. And honestly, this short story was no exception.

Ultimately, I finished this short story with a hurt-heart feeling. It was just… intense. There is something about looking at our society and reflecting that can really and seriously pull on the heart strings.

The key words that jumped out at me with this story – sorrow, anguish, betrayal, pain and love…

<- Green Monkey Dreams CollectionRoaches ->

Image source: Allen & Unwin

(Like a) Virgin of the Spring by Susan Sizemore

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of hot romance book cover

Title: (Like a) Virgin of the Spring
Author: Susan Sizemore
In: The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance (Sonia Florens)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Time travel
Dates read: 31st March 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: She was looking at him with enough pride in her eyes to set his heart on fire.

Synopsis

She’s a time travelling researcher who is stuck out of her time. But, when this Priestess finds herself rescued, she manages to find a whole lot more.

Thoughts

I really loved all of the unexpected twists and turns throughout this short story. At the beginning, I had no idea that there was a time travel aspect to this story. And when I found out that there was and started putting things together… well, I just continued to fall more and more deeply in love with this story.

There is a whole heap of lust throughout this story as well. It’s a bit intense at times, but, honestly, in the best way possible. I love that you can feel the heat just slipping off the pages… it made it very fun and spine tingling to read. But, I’m coming to expect that from Susan Sizemore.

As with many short stories that I enjoy – I want more. I loved this idea of time travelling and felt like it was executed very, very well. Not something that I can always say about time travel stories. But, alas, I think that this might be a standalone. One that I’ll just have to read again.

<- The Mammoth Book of Hot RomanceCrimean Fairy Tale ->

Image source: London Borough of Bexley

Where Nightmares Walk by Melissa Marr

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Faery Tales and Nightmares

Title: Where Nightmares Walk
Author: Melissa Marr
In: Faery Tales & Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 31st March 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: It doesn’t stop me as I try to heave myself higher.

Synopsis

We all have nightmares, but some of us need to run a little further than others…

Thoughts

This is a ridiculously short, short story. To the point that I wasn’t even sure whether to count it as a story read… but then I really enjoyed it and realised that I wanted to write about it. So I figured that that was fine. I mean, even the collection didn’t number the pages of this short story, but instead, had the roman numerals on all of the pages.

Having said all that, I absolutely adored this short story. It felt like a nightmare somehow. Just as reading nightmares should feel and sound. Or at least, that’s how I would explain it / how it felt to me. There was just a great surreal and abstract feel to this tale. One that perfectly sets up the writing by Melissa Marr that I’m sure is about to follow.

All in all, this short story was very haunting and beautiful. I loved the feeling that reading these few pages inspired in me and it made me want to pick up the Wicked Lovely books all over again and actually get to the end of the series for the first time!

<- Faery Tales & NightmaresWinter’s Kiss ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Bad Boys of Summer by Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy & Amy Garvey

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Bad Boys of Summer by Lori Foster

Title: Bad Boys of Summer
Author: Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy & Amy Garvey
In: Bad Boys of Summer (Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy & Amy Garvey)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 8th February – 31st March 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Brava
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: “I don’t think I can.”

Synopsis

Lazy days… steamy nights… and sweltering guys with rippling muscles doing what they do best…

Lucious by Lori Foster
Bethany Churchill just quit her lousy job, dumped her lousy boyfriend and moved into a new apartment. She’s not looking for love, but her hot new landlord is determined to change her mind. SWAT officer Lucius Ryder – known to the women in the building as “Luscious”, much to his chagrin – is one sexy lawman, and before long Bethany is tempted to find out if he’s really as delicious as his nickname…

It’s About Time by Erin McCarthy
County prosecutor Trish Jones has had it with smooth-talking, under-performing suits. and though she’s never had a thing for big, brawny guys, one look at Caleb Cancouver’s bulges makes her think she might have been missing out. One Harley ride later they’re back at her place, and she realizes that she has been missing out… on quite a lot…

Wish You Were Here by Amy Garvey
Photographer Mackenzie Pruitt knows exactly what she wants her future to look like, and this summer that means renovating a dilapidated shed into a studio. But when hunky carpenter Leo Dawson shows up, she’d much rather have his capable hands on her than on a hammer. He’s not the kind of guy she always thought she’d fall for, but when he touches her, she can’t imagine wanting anyone else…

Thoughts

This collection is filled with three very fun and cute contemporary romance stories. They took me on a great summer journey that left me smiling and believing in true love. It was a wonderful way to spend a few afternoons, filling my time with novellas of cuteness and romance.

I could most definitely imagine reading this collection on the beach somewhere. Enjoying the romances and the adventures of the characters. Sadly, I didn’t get the privilege of reading this on the beach. But everytime I turned a page, I just imagined that I was there anyway.

I already knew that I love Foster and McCarthy. Garvey was an entirely new author for me. One that I found I unexpectedly enjoyed. They took me on some wonderful adventures that I will probably repeat again in the future.

<- Wish You Were HereLuscious ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Universe of Wishes by Tara Sim

Book Review, , ,
Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: A Universe of Wishes
Author: Tara Sim
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, LGBTQI, Young adult
Dates read: 31st March 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: “If you make this wish come true,” the boy said, holding up the figurine, “then yes.”

Synopsis

He’s been storing up his wishes for something big and important. But what he might find on the journey could be everything he ever needed.

Thoughts

This was an absolutely fantastic short story. In fact, I made sure that I added a Tara Sim novel to my wish list the moment I finished this. It was just great, fantastic and fun. The fact that it featured a queer relationship alongside wishes and desires made me ridiculously happy. Particularly when you added in that final splash of magic.

Sage and Thorn are one of the most gorgeous couples. They are just cute and I like how their relationship slowly grew. It wasn’t a love at first sight, sappy story. But just one that I ultimately enjoyed for the sake of enjoying the romance. Plus, the way that their story ended was seriously brilliant. It made me want more stories set in this world!

There is power to wishes and desires. I mean, there’s a pretty strong reason why they feature so strongly in many of the stories that I read. This short story really drove that wonderful idea home and made me think of what I wish for in life.

<- A Universe of Wishes CollectionThe Silk Blade ->

Image source: Goodreads