Romance Round-Up (2)

Welcome to round two of Romance Round-Up! AKA, I really am trying to keep doing this. This is a little longer than the first one, so these will likely vary in length in the future.

Title: The Devil Wears Kilts
Author: Suzanne Enoch
Publisher: St. Martins Paperbacks
Release: November 26, 2013
Series: Scandalous Highlanders
Pages: 325
Review: 5 Stars

Let's start with some backlist I read recently! This book was great! Ranulf was a bit patronizing at times, especially in the beginning, but he got better. He made some generalizing statements about women that rubbed me the wrong way, and I think the story would have been fine without them, but they faded as the story went on. I liked how he straight up told Charlotte that he wanted to have an affair with her. It put some of the power back in her court as to whether to continue seeing him. I feel like he was letting her know that if/when she was ready, he wanted her. I feel like their affection for each other grew nicely. They went from bickering frequently to really liking each other at a good pace. I've read one or two of Suzanne Enoch's other books, and I'll definitely be reading more of them after this!

Synopsis:

On a mission to rescue his runaway sister from the lure of flowery compliments and a useless lot of satin-clad scalawags disguised by their snooty titles, Ranulf MacLawry, Marquis of Glengask, has roared into British society like a storm across the Highlands. But he's about to find out that satin has its appeal, especially when it covers the curves of Miss Lady Charlotte Hanover—whose tongue is as sharp as her skin is soft…

Lady Charlotte Hanover has had her fill of hot-headed men, having lost her fiancé in an utterly unnecessary duel. When did brawn ever triumph over brains? And yet there is something solid and appealing about the brash Highlander who's as dangerous in the ballroom as in battle. Sometimes bigger really is better…

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Title: I Dared the Duke
Author: Anna Bennett
Publisher: St. Martins Paperbacks
Release: April 4, 2017
Series: The Wayward Wallflowers
Pages: 345
Review: 5 Stars

Another backlist book I read recently. I've read a few of Anna Bennett's more recent books, and I happened to love them! When looking through my bookshelf for something good to read, this one grabbed me. I had a chunk of time to read, and downed this in one sitting. It annoyed me a little just how rude Alex was in the beginning, but otherwise it was really good. I feel like it's a theme to have the male character act poorly at the beginning only to have him act better later, but I wouldn't mind if the theme disappeared. I loved how they fell in lust with each other, and how their extenuating circumstances revealed just how much they loved each other. The book has a nice secondary plot as well. And I loved Alexander's grandmother! She was so sweet!

Synopsis:

DARE TO FALL IN LOVE

Alexander Savage, the Duke of Blackshire, is known throughout the ton for three things: the burn scars on his neck, his ornery disposition, and the trail of broken hearts behind him. None of which would concern Miss Elizabeth Lacey in the least—if she weren’t living under his roof. As his grandmother’s companion, Beth is all too concerned with the moody and compelling duke. Incensed by his plans to banish the sweet dowager duchess to the country, Beth refuses to do his bidding. If Alex wants her help, he’s going to have to take her dare…and grant her three wishes.

Alex adores his grandmother, which is precisely why she must leave. A string of unfortunate incidents has him worried for the safety of everyone around him—including the dowager’s loyal and lovely companion, Beth. But the notorious wallflower isn’t as meek as she appears, and as their battle of wills heats up, so does Alex’s desire. He’s dangerously close to falling in love with her…and revealing secrets he’d rather keep hidden. How can he convince her that his darkest days are behind him—and that, for the first time in forever, his heart is true?

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Title: Never Kiss a Duke
Author: Megan Frampton
Publisher: Avon
Release: January 28, 2020
Series: Hazards of Dukes
Pages: 384
Review: 4 Stars

Now for a new release! While I enjoyed this book, there wasn't much particularly special about it. It took me a while to get into it, and it wasn't hard for me to take breaks while reading. It was pretty slow in the beginning/middle, but I sped through the last half or third. I think the biggest thing was that the plot bringing the characters together wasn't quite strong enough. I still greatly enjoy Megan Frampton's works, and will likely pick up the next one when it comes out.

Synopsis:

Everything he had ever known was a lie…

Sebastian, Duke of Hasford, has a title, wealth, privilege, and plenty of rakish charm. Until he discovers the only thing that truly belongs to him is his charm. An accident of birth has turned him into plain Mr. de Silva. Now, Sebastian is flummoxed as to what to do with his life—until he stumbles into a gambling den owned by Miss Ivy, a most fascinating young lady, who hires him on the spot. Working with a boss has never seemed so enticing.

Everything tells her he’s a risk she has to take

Two years ago, Ivy gambled everything that was precious to her—and won. Now the owner of London's most intriguing gambling house, Ivy is competent, assured, and measured. Until she meets Mr. de Silva, who stirs feelings she didn't realize she had. Can she keep her composure around her newest employee?

They vow to keep their partnership strictly business, but just one kiss makes them realize that with each passing day—and night—it becomes clear to them both that there's nothing as tempting as what is forbidden…

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Title: Highland Sword
Author: May McGoldrick
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release: March 31, 2020
Series: Royal Highlanders
Pages: 320
Review: 4 Stars

CW: This book deals with themes and recollections of sexual assault on a child.

While I still enjoyed this book, it felt more rushed than the previous two books. I like Morrigan and Aidan's characters. Morrigan is incredibly fierce, partially due to trauma she faced as a child. It takes a while for that trauma to be revealed to the reader, and even longer before she reveals it to Aidan, but I was able to guess what it was pretty early, based on her reaction to a character.

There are a number of time jumps in the novel, which contributed to it feeling rushed. Morrigan and Aidan would be separated for periods of time, and while I understand the desire to skip when they aren't together, it meant large periods of time happened between chapters. Additionally, those times apart were often when aspects of the secondary plot were occurring, which leads to some jumping around there.

Despite the pacing issue, this was still an enjoyable read. It's easy to like the main characters, and I loved getting to check in with our previous main character's, especially Isabella and Cinead!

Synopsis:

A VOW FOR VENGEANCE

Fleeing to the Highlands after her father’s murder, fiery Morrigan Drummond has a score to settle with Sir Rupert Burney, the English spymaster responsible for his death. Trained to fight alongside the other rebels determined to break Britain’s hold on Scotland, she swears to avenge her father’s death—until a chance encounter with a barrister as proud and principled as she is presents her with a hard choice…and a bittersweet temptation.

A PLEA FOR PASSION

Aidan Grant has never encountered another woman like dangerous beauty Morrigan—and he has the bruises to prove it. Yet she could be the key to defending two innocent men, as well as striking a death blow to the reprehensible Burney. Convincing Morrigan to help him will take time, but Aidan is willing to wait if it means victory over corrupt government forces and freedom for his people…and Morrigan’s hand in marriage. Can two warriors committed to a cause stand down long enough to open their hearts to a love fierce enough to last…forever?

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Title: The Virgin and the Rogue
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon
Release: April 28, 2020
Series: The Rogue Files
Pages: 368
Review: 5 Stars

I love Sophie Jordan, and will read every historical she writes! While I doubt anything will beat my favorite book in the series (The Scandal of it All), this was still enjoyable! The main character Charlotte has resigned herself to marrying her childhood sweetheart when semi-reformed rake Sebastian shows up. That, combined with the love potion her sister Nora secretly gives her, leads to an interesting encounter between Charlotte and Sebastian. I really liked these characters, and I liked the hidden depths in Sebastian. We meet him at a moment when he's having internal conflict. His mother is dying and he suddenly doesn't like his lifestyle. I recommend reading it when it comes out, and I will definitely be reading the next book!

Synopsis:

A love potion…

Charlotte Langley has always been the prudent middle sister, so her family is not surprised when she makes the safe choice and agrees to wed her childhood sweetheart. But when she finds herself under the weather and drinks a “healing” tonic, the potion provokes the most maddening desire... for someone other than her betrothed.

With the power…

Kingston’s rakehell ways are going to destroy him, and he’s vowed to change. His stepbrother’s remote estate is just the place for a reformed rogue to hide. The last thing he wants is to be surrounded by society, but when he gets stuck alone with a wallflower who is already betrothed... and she astonishes him with a fiery kiss, he forgets all about hiding.

To alter two destinies.

Although Charlotte appears meek, Kingston soon discovers there’s a vixen inside, yearning to break free. Unable to forget their illicit moment of passion, Kingston vows to relive the encounter, but Charlotte has sworn it will never happen again—no matter how earth-shattering it was. But will a devilish rogue tempt her to risk everything for a chance at true love?

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Title: When You Wish Upon a Rogue
Author: Anna Bennett
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release: May 26, 2020
Series: Debutante Diaries
Pages: 320
Review: 5 Stars

To end where I began, here's an upcoming book by Anna Bennett! This book was really sweet! I loved the previous book, probably a little more than this one, but I still really enjoyed this one. The main character Sophie leads a group of ladies that discuss The Debutante's Revenge, which is written by her friends. Sophie goes into a vacant building to look for a new meeting spot, only to meet the reclusive owner, Henry. He suffers from extreme nightmares, and as a result, doesn't sleep much. Yet Sophie is able to sooth his mind, and he sleeps well for the first time in a while. This is the impetus for the plot, with Henry asking Sophie to spend nights with him to help him sleep. In exchange, he offers her the use of the building as a meeting space. And of course, what begins as an innocent agreement quickly becomes romantic. I loved these two characters, and there were some great side plots as well! Sophie's sister Anna annoyed me, but otherwise I enjoyed everything.

Synopsis:

She knows what she wants.
Miss Sophie Kendall is happiest arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women who come together to discuss the weekly advice column The Debutante’s Revenge. What makes Sophie most unhappy is her impending march down the aisle to a man she does not love. But her family’s finances are in increasingly dire straits.

He makes an offer she can’t refuse.
Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, hasn’t slept in weeks. Desperate to escape his manor house and its haunting memories, he heads for one of his abandoned London properties. There he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman―trespassing. Reese is far less interested in Sophie’s search for a secret meeting spot than he is in her surprising ability to soothe his demons. So he strikes a bargain with her: his shop in exchange for spending one night a week with him.

Is this love for real―or just a dream?

Sophie never expected this to happen. But she cannot deny the fire Reese sparks in her―and soon their shared desire burns bright. Sophie is irrevocably promised to another. But maybe these two ill-fated lovers can find a way to risk it all―all the way to happily ever after…

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Have you read any good romance novels recently? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday (189)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I am excited for The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski and Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie.

The Midnight Lie is the first book in a spinoff series of Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Trilogy! I absolutely loved the series, it is brilliantly written, which is why I'm so excited for The Midnight Lie. Also exciting is that it is a sapphic fantasy! I'm always down for more ladies falling in love with each other. Given that this is a first book, most of what we have to go on is just the synopsis. That said, everything I've seen so far says that this will be an awesome book!

Synopsis:

Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.

Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.

But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, beloved author Marie Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.

Release: March 3, 2020

Bone Crier's Moon is the first book in a new fantasy series! It features three main characters, Ailesse who must sacrifice her true love, Bastien who is seeking revenge and ends up being the true love needed to be sacrificed, and Sabine doing whatever she can to save her best friend Ailesse. The three main characters makes me wonder if there's a setup for a love triangle, or something else, as I've seen that siblings are a big deal in the story. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and I cannot wait to read this!

Synopsis:

Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.

Release: Marach 10, 2020

Top Ten Characters I'd Follow on Social Media

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and The Artsy Reader Girl. This is a hard one! I imagine I'd want to follow characters that are witty or have interesting things to say.

1. Jude from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - I bet her feed would be a mix of cute Oak pictures and contemplating murder

2. Nadya and Malachiaz from Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan - These two would be constantly bickering over Twitter, and we'd all enjoy watching

3. Audrey Lee from Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli - I love gymnastics, and it would be cool to follow one of my favorite fictional gymnasts!

4. Fie from The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen - Fie is always ready for a fight, so she'd probably challenge trolls to duels online. When not throwing down, her feed would be full of pictures of Barf.

5. Hetty from Wilder Girls by Rory Power - Hetty's feed would be 75% sneaky photos of Reese's glowing hair and 25% gross eye photos.

6. Elle from Geekerella by Ashley Poston - She would post great photos of her most recent cosplay, plus sneaky photos from visiting Darien on whatever his most recent set is

7. Cammie from Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter - She'd post pictures from around the world, and if you didn't know she was a spy, you'd think she was constantly having fun travelling

8. Blue from The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater - She'd post artsy photos of Gansey and company, with the occasional prophecy from one of her aunts as the caption

9. Iko from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - Iko would post gorgeous photos of the prettiest dresses

10. Jace from The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - His feed would be all snark all the time

Blog Tour: Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

I am super excited to be part of the blog tour for Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin!

Title: Foul is Fair

Author: Hannah Capin

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Release: February 18, 2020

Pages: 336

Synopsis:

Hannah Capin's Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

Jade and her friends Jenny, Mads, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Jade's sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Jade as their next target.

They picked the wrong girl.

Sworn to vengeance, Jade transfers to St. Andrew’s Prep. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She'll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school's hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly.

You Can Find it At:
Regulator Bookshop

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

iBooks

Goodreads

Excerpt:

For every girl who wants revenge

The primary thematic material of Foul is Fair centers on sexual assault (not depicted), rape culture, and violence. Additionally, the book includes an abusive relationship, a suicide attempt, and a brief scene with transphobic bullying. For a more detailed description of sensitive content, please visit hannahcapin.com/foulisfair.

That Night

Sweet sixteen is when the claws come out.

We’re all flash tonight. Jenny and Summer and Mads and me. Vodka and heels we could never quite walk in before, but tonight we can. Short skirts—the shortest. Glitter and highlight. Matte and shine. Long hair and whitest-white teeth.

I’ve never been blond before but tonight my hair is platinum. Mads bleached it too fast but I don’t care because tonight’s the only night that matters. And my eyes are jade-green tonight instead of brown, and Summer swears the contacts Jenny bought are going to melt into my eyes and I’ll never see again, but I don’t care about that, either.

Tonight I’m sixteen.

Tonight Jenny and Summer and Mads and me, we’re four sirens, like the ones in those stories. The ones who sing and make men die.

Tonight we’re walking up the driveway to our best party ever. Not the parties like we always go to, with the dull-duller- dullest Hancock Park girls we’ve always known and the dull-duller-dullest wine coolers we always drink and the same bad choice in boys.

Tonight we’re going to a St Andrew’s Prep party. Crashing it, technically.

But nobody turns away girls like us.

We smile at the door. They let us in. Our teeth flash. Our claws glimmer. Mads laughs so shrill-bright it’s almost a scream. Everyone looks. We all grab hands and laugh together and then everyone, every charmed St Andrew’s Prepper is cheering for us and I know they see it—
for just a second—
—our fangs and our claws.

After

The first thing I do is cut my hair.

But it isn’t like in the movies, those crying girls with mascara streaks and kindergarten safety scissors, pink and dull, looking into toothpaste specks on medicine cabinet mirrors.

I’m not crying. I don’t fucking cry.

I wash my makeup off first. I use the remover I stole from Summer, oily Clinique in a clear bottle with a green cap. Three minutes later I’m fresh-faced, wholesome, girl-next-door,  and you’d almost never know my lips are still poison when I look the way a good girl is supposed to look instead of like that little whore with the jade-green eyes.

The contact lenses go straight into the trash.

Then I take the knife, the good long knife from the wedding silver my sister hid in the attic so she wouldn’t have to think about the stupid man who never deserved her anyway. The marriage was a joke but the knife is perfectly, wickedly beautiful: silver from handle to blade and so sharp you bleed a little just looking at it. No one had ever touched it until I did, and when I opened the box and lifted the knife off the dark red velvet, I could see one slice of my reflection looking back from the blade, and I smiled.

I pull my hair tight, the long hair that’s been mine since those endless backyard days with Jenny and Summer and Mads. Always black, until Mads bleached it too fast, but splintering platinum blond for the St. Andrew’s party on my sweet sixteen. Ghost-bright hair from Mads and jade-green eyes from Jenny and contour from Summer, almost magic, sculpting me into a brand-new girl for a brand-new year.

My hair is thick, but I’ve never been one to flinch. I stare myself straight in the eyes and slash once—

Hard.

And that’s it. Short hair.

I dye it back to black, darker than before, with the cheap box dye I made Jenny steal from the drugstore. Mads revved her Mustang, crooked across two parking spots at three in the morning, and I said:

Get me a color that knows what the fuck it’s doing.

Jenny ran back out barefoot in her baby-pink baby-doll dress and flung herself into the back seat across Summer’s lap, and Mads was out of the lot and onto the road, singing through six red lights, and everything was still slow and foggy and almost like a dream, but when Jenny threw the box onto my knees I could see it diamond-clear. Hard black Cleopatra bangs on the front and the label, spelled out plain: #010112 REVENGE. So I said it out loud:

REVENGE

And Mads gunned the engine harder and Summer and Jenny shrieked war-cries from the back seat and they grabbed my hand, all three of them, and we clung together so tight I could feel blood under my broken claws.

REVENGE, they said back to me. REVENGE, REVENGE, REVENGE.

So in the bathroom, an hour later and alone, I dye my hair revenge-black, and I feel dark wings growing out of my back, and I smile into the mirror at the girl with ink-stained fingers and a silver sword.

Then I cut my broken nails to the quick.

Then I go to bed.

In the morning I put on my darkest lipstick before it’s even breakfast time, and I go to Nailed It with a coffee so hot it burns my throat. The beautiful old lady with the crooked smile gives me new nails as long as the ones they broke off last night, and stronger.

She looks at the bruises on my neck and the scratches across my face, but she doesn’t say anything.

So I point at my hair, and I say, This color. Know what it’s called?

She shakes her head: No.

I say, REVENGE.

She says, Good girl. Kill him.

Author Bio:

Hannah Capin is the author of Foul is Fair and The Dead Queens Club, a feminist retelling of the wives of Henry VIII. When she isn’t writing, she can be found singing, sailing, or pulling marathon gossip sessions with her girl squad. She lives in Tidewater, Virginia.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Blurbs:

"Fierce, vicious, and electric. If books had teeth, Foul Is Fair would have fangs. Capin's language glitters dark and her writing cuts deep. Revenge is a dish best served by this deliciously unapologetic coven." - Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Firsts and Last Girl Lied To

"Capin’s writing will seduce you with its beauty and then, when you least suspect it, slice you to the bone—just like Foul is Fair’s captivating, vicious, entirely unforgettable heroine, Jade." - Layne Fargo, author of Temper and co-host of Unlikeable Female Characters Podcast

“Vicious and beautifully brutal, Foul is Fair gives a sword to every girl who has ever been a victim and makes them a warrior. This book is pulls no punches and will make anyone think twice before uttering the phrase ‘just a girl’. An unapologetic feminist battle-cry that leaves you breathless and thirsting for vengeance.” - Sonia Hartl, author of Have a Little Faith in Me

"Foul is Fair delivers the story of a girl who snatches control back from a world that stole it away, through whatever means necessary. Hannah Capin deftly combines stunningly lyrical prose with the raw power of engulfing fury, sending a message written in blood. In a world where too many are forced into silence, this book roars back." - S. Gonzales, author of The Law of Inertia and Only Mostly Devastated

Waiting on Wednesday (188)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I am excited for Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare and House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas!

I am a huge Cassandra Clare fan, and will read basically anything she writes! Readers have met these characters before in novellas, but this will be the first novel featuring the children of The Infernal Devices characters. From the novellas I've read, I really like most of the characters that will be featured. I'm super excited for the start of this new series in the Shadowhunters world!

Synopsis:

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Release: March 3, 2020

House of Earth and Blood is the first book in a new adult series by Sarah J. Maas. I've previously enjoyed her Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The book features a fallen angel, a trope that faded a couple years ago. I'm excited that this book will feature multiple supernatural creatures, such as the main character Bryce being half fey. I've enjoyed all her books so far, and expect to enjoy this one as well. That said, if it's like her previous new adult series, it likely isn't appropriate for younger readers.

Synopsis:

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

Release: March 3, 2020

Top Ten Books That Recently Gave Me a Book Hangover

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and The Artsy Reader Girl.

1. Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

2. The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

3. The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout

4. The Never-Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

5. The Duchess in His Bed by Lorraine Heath (adult romance)

6. Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

7. Crier's War by Nina Varela

8. Cold Falling White by G.S. Prendergast

9. These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch

10. My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrows

Waiting on Wednesday (187)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I am excited for The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller and The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett!

The Shadows Between Us looks like my kind of book! From the description, it makes me think of a combination of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh! It features a cunning and ambitious heroine named Alessandra. She sets out to kill the mysterious Shadow King, but I bet there'll be some romance in the air. My question is, will the Shadow King also be slightly villainous, or will he be a soft boy with special powers?

Synopsis:

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Release: February 25, 2020

The Winter Duke is the second novel from Claire Eliza Bartlett. I'm actually reading an ARC of it right now! It's a super queer YA fantasy! There's a kingdom above a lake and a kingdom below. They have a tenuous relationship, when tragedy strikes main character Ekata's family, who happen to rule the kingdom above. Ekata is a science nerd like me, so I find her super relatable, and can't wait to see where the story goes!

Synopsis:

An enchanted tale of intrigue where a duke's daughter is the only survivor of a magical curse.

When Ekata's brother is finally named heir, there will be nothing to keep her at home in Kylma Above with her murderous family. Not her books or science experiments, not her family's icy castle atop a frozen lake, not even the tantalizingly close Kylma Below, a mesmerizing underwater kingdom that provides her family with magic. But just as escape is within reach, her parents and twelve siblings fall under a strange sleeping sickness.

In the space of a single night, Ekata inherits the title of duke, her brother's warrior bride, and ever-encroaching challengers from without—and within—her own ministry. Nothing has prepared Ekata for diplomacy, for war, for love...or for a crown she has never wanted. If Kylma Above is to survive, Ekata must seize her family's power. And if Ekata is to survive, she must quickly decide how she will wield it.

Part Sleeping Beauty, part Anastasia, with a thrilling political mystery, The Winter Duke is a spellbinding story about choosing what's right in the face of danger.

Release: March 3, 2020

Top Ten YA Books With the Best Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and The Artsy Reader Girl. This week is a love freebie, so I'm talking about some of my favorite YA romances!

1. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - Anna and Kai are all the swoon when they're together

2. Crier's War by Nina Varela - Sometimes I just want to put Ayla and Crier in a room together and say "now kiss!"

3. Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi - This romance crept up on me, but I love me some Juliette/Ella and Warner content! I can't wait to see how the series ends in a month!

4. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan - There's not much romance in book one, but just wait until you read Ruthless Gods!

5. The Mara Dyer/Shaw Confessions series by Michelle Hodkin - Mara and Noah are a mess. A beautiful mess, but a mess nonetheless. The last book in this series comes out this fall, and I honestly don't know how I'm gonna deal with it when it does.

6. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - It takes multiple books for this series to settle on the final love interest, but when it does, there are sparks!

7. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton - I wasn't sure about Gifford at first, but Jane and her sometimes-horse-husband are great together!

8. Geekerella by Ashley Poston - I'm pretty much always down for a Cinderella retelling, and this one is great! Elle and Darien are such a sweet, geeky couple, and I loved watching them fall in love.

9. Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter - I read these books back in elementary and middle school, so Cammie and Zach are one of my original favorite couples!

10. Ash Princess trilogy by Laura Sebastian - Theodosia may begin the series seeing Soren as an enemy - which to be fair, he is - but they finish as much more, as seen in the recently released finale, Ember Queen!

Honorable Mention: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - This book isn't YA, so it doesn't fit the parameters of my topic, but I wanted to mention it anyways, as Alex and Henry are one of my favorite couples in recent book history!

Waiting on Wednesday (186)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

It's been a little while, but Waiting on Wednesday is back! We've got a contemporary party going on, as this week, I'm excited for Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli and The Upside of Falling by Alex Light.

Break the Fall features one of my favorite things, Olympic-level women's gymnastics! Along with having gymnastics at the highest level, the book also tackles a fictionalized version of the sexual abuse scandal that US Gymnastics has been dealing with for the past few years. I don't know if I've seen many, if any, YA gymnastics books before, so this is extra special. I've been super excited for this book since I first heard of it, and I really can't wait to get my hands on it!!!!

Synopsis:

Audrey Lee is going to the Olympics.

A year ago, she could barely do a push up as she recovered from a spine surgery, one that could have paralyzed her. And now? She's made the United States' gymnastics team with her best friend, Emma, just like they both dreamed about since they were kids. She's on top of the world.

The pressure for perfection is higher than ever when horrifying news rips the team apart. Audrey is desperate to advocate for her teammate who has been hurt by the one person they trusted most--but not all the gymnasts are as supportive.

With the team on the verge of collapse, the one bright spot in training is Leo, her new coach's ridiculously cute son. And while Audrey probably (okay, definitely) shouldn't date him until after the games, would it really be the end of the world?

Balancing the tenuous relationship between her teammates with unparalleled expectations, Audrey doesn't need any more distractions. No matter what it takes, she's not going to let anyone bring them down. But with painful revelations, incredible odds, and the very real possibility of falling at every turn, will Audrey's determination be enough?

Release: February 18, 2020

The Upside of Falling features on of my favorite contemporary tropes, fake dating. Main characters Becca and Brett start 'dating' to get friends and classmates to stop asking if they're dating anyone. And of course, what starts as fake dating becomes real attraction. From the looks of it, The Upside of Falling will be a light and funny read, which is something that can be a nice distraction from all the crazy outside. Also, along with fake dating, the book has the football player and the nerd trope, which is so much fun!

Synopsis:

It’s been years since seventeen-year-old Becca Hart believed in true love. But when her former best friend teases her for not having a boyfriend, Becca impulsively pretends she’s been secretly seeing someone.

Brett Wells has it all. Being captain of the football team and one of the most popular guys in school, he should have no problem finding someone to date, but he’s always been more focused on his future than who to bring to prom. When he overhears Becca’s lie, Brett decides to step in and be her mystery guy. It’s the perfect solution: he gets people off his back for not dating and she can keep up the ruse.

Acting like the perfect couple isn’t easy though, especially when you barely know the other person. But with Becca still picking up the pieces from when her world was blown apart years ago and Brett just barely holding his together now, they begin to realize they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. When the line between real and pretend begins to blur, they are forced to answer the question: is this fake romance the realest thing in either of their lives?

Release: February 18, 2020