Bride (Bride, #1) by Ali Hazelwood

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

I haven’t read a vampire or werewolf story in forever, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up Bride. I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint! Misery and Lowe were fantastic characters, and I really enjoyed watching them overcome the obstacles in their respective paths. No one expected them to work — even their biology seemed incompatible — yet they defied the odds and learned to love one another despite their differences.

My one issue with the book was Lowe’s secrets regarding Misery. I felt he should have been honest with her from the start and avoided the miscommunication trope altogether. He allowed her to believe what she wanted without correcting her assumptions, even at his own expense. He trusted her with Pack secrets — literal life-or-death knowledge — yet didn’t trust her to handle something that directly concerned her? Dude, come on. I didn’t buy his justifications, and his hurtful denial didn’t feel fair to Misery.

Misery is supposed to be this unfeeling Vampyre, yet she cares deeply for her foster sister and for Lowe’s niece. She doesn’t process emotions the same way Humans and Weres do, but she’s nothing like her father or the other Vampyres she grew up with. I really loved her personality and the unique way she sees the world around her. 

Overall, I thought the story was very well done. I loved the main characters (though I would have appreciated a bit more development for some of the secondary ones), and I didn’t anticipate several of the twists. Bride is a fantastic book that I enjoyed immensely, and I appreciated how the author set up the next one. I can’t wait to see what happens next! (★★★★☆)

The Sunday Post [85]

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News

We had a very busy weekend! I took a personal day on Friday to celebrate my son’s birthday, and the kids loved getting to skip school for the day. We ended the evening with Stations of the Cross at church, followed by a meal where everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to him. On Saturday, we tried a new nacho place that was delicious! We couldn’t decide what to order, so we ended up splitting three dishes so everyone could try more than one.

The first picture is their version of Jalapeno Poppers (so spicy!), and the second is their Strawberry Cheesecake Nachos (amazing!). I also had to take a picture of the bathroom because the wallpaper was so unexpected!

 

After dinner we went bowling and had a blast! I also managed to squeeze in a quick trip to the thrift store on our way home (my husband and son weren't as excited by this, but they were good sports).

Previous Posts on the Blog

• Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
• Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
• The Sunday Post [84]

What I'm Currently Reading

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1) by Callie Hart

What I Plan on Reading Next

Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil, #2) by Kevin Hearne

Candle & Crow (Ink & Sigil, #3) by Kevin Hearne

What I'm Watching

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End gets better and better the more I watch it! Sein just joined their party and I love the new dynamic. I'm worried his path my diverge from theirs for awhile, but I'm hoping they decide to join him before continuing on. 

Challenge Updates

• Audiobook Challenge: 5 / 30
• Goodreads Challenge: 20 / 100
• Physical TBR: 2 / 25
• NetGalley: 33 / 50
• Discussion Post Challenge: 1 / 20
• Beat the Backlist Challenge: 15/50

I'm really happy with my progress so far! I wasn't able to post as often this week, but that's okay! I'm still chugging along and visiting blogs whenever I can. ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week! Happy reading!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Synopsis (via Goodreads): From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape.

Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don’t expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe’s sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn’t felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace.

But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven’t been completely honest with Lux about their pasts––and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared.

When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive.

Reckless Girls was an okay read for me. I found the murder mystery aspect a bit confusing at times, though the alternating timelines between past and present — and between different characters — did help me better understand who they were and why they made certain choices. Still, the overall plot felt convoluted and not as well executed as it could have been. Some of the deaths were poorly explained, and the motivations behind them weren’t entirely believable.

I did enjoy the remote island setting and the tension of trying to figure out who was behind the killings, but the characters do very little exploring while they’re there. They make a few trips onto the island, but mostly stay on their boats or in the water. I felt like everyone should have been more suspicious of strangers, but no one seemed to care that they were isolated with people they barely knew.

Unfortunately, the ending left a lot to be desired. It felt like it ended without truly ending, leaving too much up to the reader’s imagination. Lux’s choices also seemed out of character, even considering everything she had been through. After such a promising start, I was expecting more. (★★★☆☆)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Good Spirits (Ghosted, #1) by B.K. Borison

Synopsis (via Goodreads): He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm.

"Do not mistake me for a good man. I am not here out of some misplaced sense of honor or duty. I demand your attention and I desire your affection."

I am absolutely smitten with Good Spirits! It's definitely my new favorite holiday read, and I plan on re-reading it every Christmas for the foreseeable future. I fell in love with Harriet and Nolan, and I adored watching their friendship bloom into something more. They're both good-hearted people who truly deserve happiness, and I thought Borison navigated their emotions and circumstances really well. 

Harriet is always putting everyone else before herself — whether that’s her family or her friendly neighborhood mailman who can’t seem to deliver packages to the correct address. She constantly makes herself smaller to keep the people around her comfortable. She doesn’t think she deserves love, yet she’s always striving for acceptance. It takes Nolan bulldozing into her life for her to finally begin seeing the value she offers to the people — and the world — around her.

Nolan is my new favorite Irishman. I adored his personality and the way he couldn’t help but be drawn to Harriet and her ever-present enthusiasm. At first, I was convinced her clutter and over-the-top Christmas attire were going to give him a stroke — but they eventually grew on him, as did the girl they belonged to. When he started carrying candy canes on his person just in case she needed a “fix,” I completely melted. His stoicism was no match for Harriet’s unrelenting positivity.

This was my first book by B.K. Borison, but it definitely won’t be my last. The second book in the series, Grim Tidings, releases in September, and I already can’t wait to get my hands on it. (★★★★★)

The Sunday Post [84]

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News

I wish every weekend were a three-day weekend! I feel like I actually get to rest and reset, while still getting everything done that I need to (grocery shopping, cleaning around the house, dog baths, etc.). It’s amazing what one extra day can do. I’ve also been doing a lot of baking and have a few new recipes I want to try! Please share any bread suggestions - that's my current fixation. 

We went to the library this week (for emotional support) and I grabbed A LOT of books. I'm going to pause on my ARC reads this week to tackle this stack before they're due back. A few of them are books I received for review on NetGalley ages ago and never got to, so I will still be making some progress on my goals. 

 

Work was better this week. Friday was a little rough (I blame it on being the 13th). We didn’t have a Valentine’s Day party, but I did let them exchange cards at the end of the day. One student brought handmade cards, and another student made fun of them for it. Kids can be so mean sometimes. 😔

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, my husband got me delicious cupcakes! We ate them all in a single day. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but if you’re twisting my arm, I’d say the red velvet was best.

Previous Posts on the Blog

• Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
• Roses Are Red, Books Are Better - Top Ten Tuesday [21]
• Organizing Titles: A Reader's Dilemma 
• The Sunday Post [83]

What I'm Currently Reading

Bride (Bride, #1) by Ali Hazelwood

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

What I Plan on Reading Next

Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil, #2) by Kevin Hearne

Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1) by Callie Hart

What I'm Watching

If you haven't watched Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, I simply cannot recommend it enough! It's quickly becoming one of my favorite anime, and one I already know I will be rewatching again in the future. The story and characters are so, so good. 

Challenge Updates

• Audiobook Challenge: 5 / 30
• Goodreads Challenge: 18 / 100
• Physical TBR: 1 / 25
• NetGalley: 32 / 50
• Discussion Post Challenge: 1 / 20
• Beat the Backlist Challenge: 13/50

I decided to also participate (unofficially) in the Beat the Backlist Challenge, so I added it to the list. I'm really happy with where I'm at goal-wise and have been enjoying most of my recent reads! I have a short work week this week, so I'm hoping that also means more time for books. ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week! Happy reading!

Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli 🎧 Grace Gray

Synopsis (via Goodreads):  On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love.

I definitely think The Crimson Moth is a much better title for this book than Heartless Hunter. I’m assuming they changed the title at the last minute, since the original title is still mentioned in the book’s synopsis. Heartless Hunter doesn’t feel accurate, because both Rune and Gideon are fighting for causes they believe in based on personal experience. Rune was raised and loved by a witch, while Gideon’s life was completely destroyed by them. Just like with humans, there are good and bad witches—but that doesn’t mean people are quick to forgive or accept those who have wronged them.

Grace Gray did an absolutely amazing job narrating Heartless Hunter. She doesn’t use a dramatically distinct “male” voice, but she handled the different POVs really well. I was able to follow the story and each perspective without any trouble at all. I’ve already borrowed the second book from the library so I can continue listening to Rune and Gideon’s story.

I thought the romance between Rune and Gideon was good, though complicated. They clearly have feelings for each other, but neither of them trusts the other’s intentions. Rune knows Gideon is showing interest in her because he’s trying to determine whether she’s the Crimson Moth or connected to the witch who’s rescuing others from execution. Despite knowing this, she still develops feelings for her best friend’s brother, which complicates everything. Gideon, on the other hand, isn’t sure of Rune’s true identity and knows she should be off-limits because of his brother — yet he can’t help letting her in and growing closer to her.

I found myself wishing they knew what we did as readers, because they both feel manipulated and betrayed by the other. They don’t realize that real feelings were shared, which makes the fallout even more painful. After everything that’s happened, it will take a lot for them to truly trust each other again. I’m really hoping they get another chance in the second book because I am 100% rooting for them. I loved the slow burn of their relationship and the way the author developed their feelings against the backdrop of everything happening around them.

I gave this one four stars instead of five because some of the twists were predictable — and I absolutely hated the one that wasn’t. I’m still not sure I can forgive Ciccarelli for the emotional damage she caused, but apparently I’m a glutton for punishment, because I’m diving into Rebel Witch anyway. My friend has already started it and said she’s cried multiple times, so at this point I’m bracing for impact. Wish me luck! (★★★★☆)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Roses Are Red, Books Are Better Top Ten Tuesday [21]

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together!

This week's topic: Love/Valentine’s Freebie

Kissed by an Angel (Kissed by an Angel, #1-3) by Elizabeth Chandler

Evercrossed (Kissed by an Angel, #4) by Elizabeth Chandler

Everlasting (Kissed by an Angel, #5) by Elizabeth Chandler

A Long, Long Sleep (UniCorp, #1) by Anna Sheehan

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

Of Swine and Roses (World of Kate Daniels) by Ilona Andrews

A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Legacy of Shadows (Supernaturals of Castle Academy, #1) by Tessa Hale

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

I decided to feature books with a rose on the cover in honor of Valentine’s Day this weekend. All of these are books I’ve read, with the exception of Of Swine and Roses and The Final Target. I do have copies of both, though, and plan on reading them soon!

I feel like the Kissed by an Angel series is really underrated—though that might just be my 10-years-ago self talking. I may need to do a reread to see if present-day me still feels the same. I also really enjoyed both A Long, Long Sleep and You Are Not Here as well. If I remember correctly, You Are Not Here is written in verse.

Have you read any of these books? Let me know! 

Happy reading, lovelies!