Spell the Month in Books [2]

 

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Reviews from the Stacks. Each month, you select books that correspond with the letters in that month’s name (for example, December) and create a list. You can also link your post on Jana’s site each month.

Jane Anonymous (Jane Anonymous, #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Review Snippet: I read and loved Deadly Little Secret and the rest of the Touch series by Stolarz, so I was stoked to see she'd written something new! As a parent, Jane Anonymous was hard to read. I don't know what I would do if my child was abducted𑁋just thinking about the possibility makes me nauseas and panicky.

This book is told from Jane's perspective (she's a somewhat unreliable narrator, and doesn't remember everything that happened to her while she was held captive), although the main character doesn't use her real name or places. She's journaling about the events that happened before, during (Then), and after (Now) she went missing, so we live through her experiences and how she remembers them. We're told at the start that names and places will be altered to protect her identity, and I thought it was a really interesting way to tell the story. *click here for the original post and full review

A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti

Review Snippet: Before A Heart in a Body in the World, I'd only read one other book by Deb Caletti. Stay was an emotional story that I still think about to this day. Caletti has a way with words, in writing and in life, and I was fortunate enough to hear her speak a few years ago -- she has such an infectious personality!

I thought this book was really relevant to what's happening in our world today. A Heart in a Body in the World was about a girl that survived something horrible, yet felt guilty and thought she was partially to blame. The story takes places almost a year after the event, and small hints that refer to what happened are dropped throughout the story. We see what happens as Annabelle is forced to relive the moments leading up the event, and why she thinks she deserves pain and punishment. *click here for the original post and full review

Neon Gods (Dark Olympus, #1) by Katee Robert

Review Snippet: Neon Gods was ridiculously spicy! I can't remember the last time I was so turned on by a book. Hades was mouthwateringly hot, and Persephone was his equal in every way. She might not have been familiar with his particular tastes at the start of the book, but she was an enthusiastic participant. She managed to seduce the "Boogeyman" simply by being herself around him, and he was all too happy to act out her darkest fantasies. 

Normally, a gruff and overprotective love interest irks me, but it really worked for this book. I enjoyed how Hades put Persephone's needs before his own, and how he would periodically pick her up and carry her around. He was doing it to keep her from hurting herself, and I adored him for it. He may have been growly and rough around the edges, but it was always about consent for him. He always checked on how she was doing, asked her if she was sure about certain things, and even made judgement calls based on how she was acting. If she seemed nervous or tense, he dropped everything and immediately changed their plans to something she'd be more comfortable with. *click here for the original post and full review

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Review Snippet: I really, really liked The Unmaking of June Farrow. It was filled with secrets and half-truths that I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling with June. She's been "hallucinating" a red door, people's voices, unexplainable feelings, and various sounds for about a year, but has kept it a secret from everyone except her doctor. She's worried what people will think, despite knowing that she'll end up like all of the other Farrow women before her. June has put off having a romantic relationship with someone she's close with, because she doesn't want to eventually become a burden (or pass the curse on to a child she may have), and we see how that mindset plays a role in her non-romantic relationships as well. 

I loved how this book came full circle. Little details in the beginning make more sense as the story progresses, and we see June struggling to piece together new and old information to better understand her circumstances. I can't say too much without spoiling the story, but the author has created a beautiful mystery for us to solve alongside the main character. *click here for the original post and full review

A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #1) by Amanda Bouchet

Review Snippet: Why am I having trouble writing this review? Did I like the book? Definitely. Would I read it again? Yes. Am I anxious to read the next book in the series? Mostly. I can't put my finger on what bothered me about this book. I feel like it ended too abruptly and in a way that didn't fit in with everything else. I was also starting to get a little frustrated with Cat, so I think the last few chapters left a sour taste in my mouth.

I'm all for angst and building romantic tension between characters, but they have to break at some point. I was annoyed with Cat's lack of commitment and self-loathing. She should have grown and gotten more comfortable in her own skin. She has trust issues, which are understandable, but Griffin and the others repeatedly prove their love and genuine concern for her. She would trust them with her life and her love, but not with her secrets? What kind of a relationship is that? Eventually, she should have broken down and confided in her new "family," but she didn't. We as readers know what is going on (for the most part), which only made it more maddening when Cat wouldn't confide in anyone else. I know she thought she was protecting them, but I wanted to pull my hair out. *click here for the original post and full review

Rule (Rule, #1) by Ellen Goodlett

Review Snippet: Firstly, Rule ends with a cliffhanger. I understand that some people enjoy remaining suspended in a story until the next book is released, but not me. Especially when the cliffhanger leaves more questions than answers, and none of the major plot points are resolved. Ren, Zofi, and Akeylah are all being blackmailed throughout the book, but we still have no idea who is responsible when the story ends.

Now with that being said, I enjoyed the overall story. I thought Rule had a unique concept with an interesting setting. However, there was a lot of world-building at the start, so it felt a little slow until I was about halfway through. The story picks up significantly when the three sisters start working together to find their common enemy, instead of second-guessing each other and looking for motivations that are not there. I wish they had all been a little more honest when revelations were made, but each sister still guards their individual secret. (It really bugs me when a single conversation can clear up sooo many issues.) *click here for the original post and full review

You Don't Know My Name (The Black Angel Chronicles, #1) by Kristen Orlando

Review Snippet: is was a lot darker than I was expecting. I knew it was going to be about spies and espionage, secret agencies and double lives, but I wasn't thinking about the unpleasant aspects. That's my fault, honestly. I should have known it wouldn't be a romantic, happy and carefree story. The romance is subtle, but I wish it had been nonexistent. Their relationship just wasn't something I could get behind wholeheartedly. It never clicked for me.

As for the unpleasant aspects, the author doesn't explicitly mention the gory details, but she skillfully nudges the mind in a specific direction. She encourages certain thoughts, and those played out very vividly in my mind. *click here for the original post and full review

I think Spell the Month in Books is a really fun way to highlight old posts and reviews! Some of these are OLD. I had a blast reading back through them and seeing how I've grown as a reviewer and as a person. Have you read any of these? I never finished the Kingmaker Chronicles, but I would definitely need a refresher at this point! Happy reading!

Don't forget to check for giveaways over on the right. ❤️