All's Fair in Love And War is the first book in a new Regency romance series by Virginia Heath, Miss Prentice's Protegees. Henry Kincaid, a b3.5 stars
All's Fair in Love And War is the first book in a new Regency romance series by Virginia Heath, Miss Prentice's Protegees. Henry Kincaid, a bachelor and a Royal Navy captain, finds himself in charge of three unruly children, his nieces and a nephew. Since he doesn't know how to manage the children, he seeks a governess's help. As one of Miss Prentice's protegees, Georgina Rowe comes highly recommended. But she is too spirited and the polar opposite of buttoned-up Henry. They disagree on almost everything, but Henry has no choice but to hire her.
All's Fair In Love And War is a charming historical romance. Henry and Georgina have great chemistry and an entertaining banter. Their sweet slow-burn romance unfolds as they spend more time together and learn about each other. There are several interesting secondary characters, including children whose antics provide a lot of entertainment. The book has many sailor jokes and puns that made me chuckle. I found the pacing a little slow and repetitive at times, but I enjoyed the story overall.
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Jewish rep Age gap romance Mature successful heroine Single parents Workplace romance
Pulling Her Resources is a low angst/high-steam romance set in Tel AvJewish rep Age gap romance Mature successful heroine Single parents Workplace romance
Pulling Her Resources is a low angst/high-steam romance set in Tel Aviv, one of my favorite cities. I was excited to read this book because it has many tropes I usually enjoy. I liked both MCs, Dafna and Erez, and how their relationship progressed. Both were mature emotionally. They communicated well when problems arose and made the right decisions for the most part. The main conflict centered around office/work ethics. It was very nice to read a low-angst romance for a change.
Pulling My Resources is a quick read. The short chapters kept my attention on the story. Also, I enjoyed the Tel Aviv setting very much. I am very familiar with the city, so it was exciting to recognize the streets and landmarks and imagine Erez and Dafna's romance unfolding.
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*Jewish rep *WW2/Warsaw Ghetto Uprising *Survival against all odds *Forbidden Love *Multiple timelines *Femme Fatale *Revenge
The Goddess of Warsaw is an ex*Jewish rep *WW2/Warsaw Ghetto Uprising *Survival against all odds *Forbidden Love *Multiple timelines *Femme Fatale *Revenge
The Goddess of Warsaw is an exceptional historical fiction about one of the most horrifying events in recent history that many people are forgetting already or, even worse, denying. It's a poignant and compelling story of survival, featuring an incredible and complex heroine who had to make impossible choices to keep her loved ones and herself alive. And after surviving the Holocaust, she continued making dangerous choices to enact revenge on those who tormented and killed her people.
The Goddess of Warsaw was a difficult read at times. Seeing the parallels between Europe of 1930-1940s and the present time, with the explosion of anti-semitism and the dehumanization of the Jewish people that is so rampant right now, caused me considerable distress. (Lisa Barr also addresses these parallels in her author's note). Regardless, or maybe because of that, The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read for historical fiction fans. I am glad I had a chance to read this book. It's going straight on my "favorites" shelf.
I will leave you with my favorite quote: "Survival is about secrets, about extraordinary measures taken to stay alive. If you survived, it means others did not. The trauma of a second chance at life, a second act, is at once miraculous and unendurable."
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Demonica series spin-off Angels and demons Enemies to lovers Forced proximity
Legacy of Temptation is the first book in a spin-off series of poHighlights:
Demonica series spin-off Angels and demons Enemies to lovers Forced proximity
Legacy of Temptation is the first book in a spin-off series of popular Demonica books by Larissa Ione. It can be read a stand-alone, but I think it's more enjoyable if you've read the Demonica series. I haven't read Demonica books, so I was a little confused in the beginning. There are a lot of characters from previous books and many references to prior events. Once I got familiar with all the characters, it became easier to follow the story. Logan and Eva had great chemistry, and I liked their enemies-to-lovers romance. The second half of the book was more action-packed, and I enjoyed it more than the first half. Legacy of Temptation is a promising start to a new fantasy romance series, and I recommend it to paranormal romance readers and Larissa Ione fans.
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Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to read her new book, The Phoenix Crown, which she co-wrote with Janie Chang. The Phoenix CKate Quinn is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to read her new book, The Phoenix Crown, which she co-wrote with Janie Chang. The Phoenix Crown is the story of reinvention and survival, but most importantly, it's about strong women and supportive female friendships. Gemma, an opera singer from New York, arrives in 1906 in San Francisco to reinvent her career, where she meets Henry Thornton, a railway magnate and an avid collector of art. Her path also crosses with Suling, a young and talented embroideress from Chinatown. Their lives and destinies are on a collision course that will culminate during the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
The Phoenix Crown is an impeccably researched, well-written, and captivating historical fiction. It has mystery, a dash of romance, and complex and interesting characters. I enjoyed reading about Gilded Age San Francisco and the history of Chinatown and its inhabitants. The strong female characters and their friendships were my favorite aspects of the book. I highly recommend the Phonix Crown to all historical fiction fans.
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A Fire in the Flesh is the third book in the Flesh and Fire series, a companion series to the popular Blood and Ash books by Jennifer L. Armentrout. BA Fire in the Flesh is the third book in the Flesh and Fire series, a companion series to the popular Blood and Ash books by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire series have intricate and interconnected fantasy worlds, so A Fire in the Flesh is best enjoyed after reading all the previous books.
In this book, Sera and Nyktos are separated, and both have to fight for their lives and each other. Sera is held prisoner at Kolis's court, who believes that Sera is his long-lost love, Sotoria, reborn. Nyktos is also imprisoned and entombed after being injured during a battle with Kolis and his minions. Sera is plotting to trick Kolis into releasing Nyktos, and Nyktos will do anything to keep Sera safe.
I enjoyed A Fire in the Flesh but didn't love it. The first half of the book was a little slow and repetitive. The second half of the book was more fast-paced and action-packed. I found Sera's character frustrating at times. She kept making bad decisions and repeating the same mistakes, speaking or acting before thinking, which would land her in trouble repeatedly. I wanted to see more character growth from her. I did like the progression of Nyktos and Sera's relationship. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the sex scenes between them were hot.
Also, we got more clues related to the Blood and Ash universe and its characters, especially Poppy's. Fans of the Blood and Ash series should not skip this book....more
Highlights: Italian setting, fashion world, personal growth, summer fling, brooding hero.
I love books set in a fashion world and stories that transporHighlights: Italian setting, fashion world, personal growth, summer fling, brooding hero.
I love books set in a fashion world and stories that transport me to a different country, and Ciao For Now hit both of these spots. It made me dream about a visit to Italy. The romance between Violet and Matteo was sweet and swoony, and their banter was top-notch! They had great chemistry. I also loved Violet's friendships with her friends and competitors, Marco and Holly, and the new friends she made in Italy. Ciao For Now was a delight from start to finish. It's a perfect summer read.
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In The Marriage Auction by Audrey Carlan, four women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidder for no3.5 stars rounded to 4
In The Marriage Auction by Audrey Carlan, four women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidder for no less than three million dollars. Each woman has decided to participate in the auction out of dire circumstances. The story follows all four women and the men who won them. The Marriage Auction has a unique but a bit of a dark premise with content warnings available on the author's website.
It started a little slow. I found the first few chapters to be repetitive, with each women's POV going over the same information about preparation for the auction. But once the men were introduced, the story heated up, and I started enjoying the story more. Each woman and her man have their own secrets, personal dramas, and circumstances, which we learn gradually. Not surprisingly, I was invested in some couples more than others. This book is the first installment out of four, so we only get the beginning of each couple's journey. Overall, I enjoyed The Marriage Auction and am intrigued enough to continue with the series. ...more
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a dual-timeline novel about two remarkable women, Suzanne Belperron, a jewelry designer and a member of the French ResThe Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a dual-timeline novel about two remarkable women, Suzanne Belperron, a jewelry designer and a member of the French Resistance during WW2, and Violine Duplessi, an appraiser for an auction house in NYC in the 1980s.
In occupied Paris, Suzzane, with the help of other members of the Resistance, is helping Jewish families to flee from the Nazis. In 1986, during an appraisal for one of her new clients, Violine discovers a hidden cache of jewelry in an old travel trunk. With her supernatural abilities as one of the daughters of La Lune, Violine senses that the jewelry hides painful secrets, and she feels compelled to discover these secrets. Her investigation leads her to Paris, where she learns about Suzanne, her role in the Resistance, and her connection to the jewelry.
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a part of the Daughters of La Lune series. It's part historical fiction, part romance, and part mystery with a supernatural twist. It's a captivating and well-written story that I found hard to put down. Suzanne Belperron was a real-life character. I found her story very compelling. I enjoyed reading the author's note at the end, and as soon as I finished the book, I googled Suzanne Belperron (her jewelry designs are exquisite!). Violine is an entirely fictional character, but I enjoyed her story too. I highly recommend The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams to historical fiction and mystery fans.
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Blackmail and Bibingka is the third book in the cozy mystery series Tita Rosie's Kitchen. In this book, Lila's cousin and Tita Rosie's estranged son, Blackmail and Bibingka is the third book in the cozy mystery series Tita Rosie's Kitchen. In this book, Lila's cousin and Tita Rosie's estranged son, Ronnie, returns to Shady Palms, bringing trouble with him. When one of Ronnie's business partners dies under suspicious circumstances, and Tita Rosie receives a blackmail e-mail, Lila has no choice but to investigate both crimes with the help of her friends and family. Overall, this was a fun mystery, and readers who enjoyed the first two books will like this one too. My one complaint is there were too many very detailed food descriptions at the expense of the actual sleuthing. After all, this is a book about solving a murder and not a food guide, mouth-watering as it was.
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Hallows End by Kristen Proby is a paranormal romance set in Salem, about a modern-day witch, Lucy Finch, and Jonas Morley, a man from the past whose tHallows End by Kristen Proby is a paranormal romance set in Salem, about a modern-day witch, Lucy Finch, and Jonas Morley, a man from the past whose town, Hallows Ends, has been hidden and frozen in time for three hundred years. One night they meet in the woods at the edge of Lucy's garden, and their meeting triggers events that will shake up the lives of inhabitants of both Salem and Hallows End. As a paranormal romance, it has all the fun elements: a spooky atmosphere, magic, curses, evil creatures, and even a murder mystery.
The book's setting reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows, Charmed. Lucy has two cousins, Breena and Lorelei, the three of them are very close, and all three are witches. The spooky atmosphere is just perfect for an October read. One aspect that disappointed me was the romance between Lucy and Jonas. It was very sudden and not well-developed. There is no anticipation, no getting to know each other and falling in love gradually, which are the best parts of romance, in my view.
I would give Hallows End four stars for the premise and the worldbuilding and two stars for romance. The main arc of the story is not resolved in this book, it will continue in the next installments, Breena's and Lorelei's books. It will be interesting to see how the story progresses.
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