Brambles by Intisar Khanani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved Thorn. So it was a no-brainer that I would read this when I found it on Scribd recently.
“Brambles” tells the full story of how Alyrra earned the contempt of her family and even her closest friend.
It’s a story that is briefly mentioned in “Thorn” but while I STILL don’t get the cruelty of those around her (Alyrra did the right thing. Guess that makes us both silly, naive geese. It’s cool. We don’t mind) it was enlightening to see the full story.
The short story took is quick to read but packs a quick emotional punch. We also get to see how her relationship with the magical wind starts.
“Thorn” was one of the last books I truly enjoyed before Covid and “Brambles” really took me back to that feeling of being involved in a story without really realizing you are reading a story.
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Tag: Books
Fiction Friday: Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Claire Danvers is a college freshman who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. When she gets on the campus mean girl’s radar, Claire is left beaten and bruised, desperate for another place to stay off-campus.
She finds a friendly face looking for a room-mate but her new living situation might not be any better.
Instead of mean girls and cruel pranks, Claire now has to deal with vampires and magical books. Her room mates are older, nicer and hiding secrets of their own.
I’ve had several books from this series just sitting on my shelf for years (like most of my books do) and boy, do I regret not picking it up sooner.
Morganville is a TOWN FULL OF VAMPIRES. This book is basically everything I wanted and I really hate past me for taking so long to pick it up.
The worldbuilding and backstory of the vampires is really in depth and I loved how the characters all seem pretty well-rounded for supernatural beings.
If you’re a fan of fantasy or fangs, give this a go.
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- My Five Dates (A Love Like That #2) by R.L. Kenderson
My Five Dates by R.L. Kenderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this book partially because I enjoy this series but mainly because I REALLY like this cover. Sloan decides to take revenge on her best friend’s cheating boyfriend but unfortunately gets caught by his brother, Caleb.
Caleb is not a fan of his brother and his crappy behavior. But when he sees the opportunity to get ahead at work with Sloan playing the part of his dutiful girlfriend, he takes it.
She’ll pretend to be his girlfriend to impress his boss and in return he won’t tell his brother about her damaging his beloved car.
They agree on five dates but of course, it isn’t long before they start having genuine feelings for each other.
I loved how this was such a quick read. It was fun and light-hearted and I absolutely adored Caleb’s character.
Definitely give this a go if you want a book that isn’t too heavy and will leave you with all the feels.
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Devil Wears Black by L.J Shen
The Devil Wears Black by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Maddie is a free-spirited, kind-hearted designer who doesn’t know how to say no. Her ex, Chase Black, is a cheating scoundrel who has no qualms about being a jerk.
So when Chase walks back into her life and demands that Maddie pretends to be his fiance, she takes great joy in refusing him. At first.
But eventually Maddie realizes Chase just wants to act out an engagement in order to please his dying father.
Maddie goes along with Chase’s plan in an attempt to help him and his family. But it isn’t long before she starts to develop genuine feelings for both him and his family.
This was very different from L. J Shen’s usual work however I enjoyed it regardless. This was so much less angsty but still very beautiful and well-written.
Chase Black is an asshole but it is hard not to root for him considering his messed-up past with his bro/cousin. Maddie reminded me of Jess from New Girl but she was adorable and I just wanted to see her get the happy ending she deserved.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, give this a go.
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreakers #3)
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
IT IS HERE!!! The final Cursebreakers book.
This book has the viewpoint of EVERYONE and I am so here for it.
“A Vow So Bold and Deadly” takes a look at both princes and their attempts at preparing for the war that lies ahead.
Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles with her people who do not respect her and her wishes for peace. They see her as weak and waste no opportunity to show her that.
What I really liked about this book was that no one was the way they seemed. The unassuming, meek serving girl, the headstrong Princess, the bloodthirsty Prince of Emberfall.
Brigid Kemmerer has a gift for creating rounded characters with real flaws and that really shines out in this book.
I also enjoyed seeing how Rhen and Grey prepared for war, neither of them sure whether they could trust the other or not.
From the very first book, I loved how close these two were and in my heart, I knew this was basically their story. “A Vow So Bold and Deadly” cements that fact.
This was a wonderful read that I enjoyed immensely and I am so sad to be leaving this world behind. Maybe I should go in for a reread?
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So heads up, this book has very little in common with the movie.
So if you’re looking for the exact same plot line, don’t pick this up.
However if you’re looking for a fun read about a toxic boss, I highly recommend this book.
Andy gets a job as an assistant to the demanding (and probably mildly delusional) Miranda Priestly. It’s a job many girls would kill for.
Andy has no interest in fashion and certainly doesn’t fit in with the glamorous, skinny girls at work. But all she has to do is stick it out for a year.
But as time goes on, Miranda’s demands become more and more ridiculous and the job starts to take its toll on Andy’s life outside work.
I really related to the toxic work environment and loved that it was such an accurate portrayal of how a job can affect you mentally.
This book took me back to my first job after uni and surprisingly, it was a trip I really enjoyed
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Villain by L.J Shen
The Villain by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cillian (or The Villian as the media likes to call him) is perfect. The perfect son. The perfect businessman. But he is also an awful human being.
When all the bad press gets to be too much, Cillian has to either marry to soften his icy, unfeeling image or risk losing the business he gave up so much for.
Persy Penrose is whimsical and kind- the total opposite of Cillian. She has also been in love with Cillian since the moment she first set eyes on him.
When Persy needs money to pay off her deadbeat ex-husband’s debts, she turns to Cillian.
The two of them strike a bargain- he will pay off the debt in return for Persy playing the role of the perfect wife and providing him with heirs.
Their sham of a marriage comes with an NDA and a very long contract that both eventually start breaking.
I loved returning to the world of Boston and I especially enjoyed seeing Hunter once more. Cillian was a difficult character to like in “Hunter” and I actually despised him. Surprisingly, it only took one chapter from this book to endear him to me.
I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a romance book that you won’t be able to put down.
L.J Shen is a gem and this book is no different!
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- Tempting Fate by Nora Roberts
Tempting Fate by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When Diana Blade receives an invite from her sister-in-law to meet her brother after several years, she accepts it albeit reluctantly.
But while she is trying to reconcile the man her brother is with the boy she knew growing up, she gets to know his best friend and brother-in-law, Caine MacGregor.
Caine’s reputation precedes him- both personally and professionally.
Diana has heard all about Caine and his conquests and has no desire to be another one of them. But when Caine decides to expand his practice, he picks Diana to be his partner.
It isn’t long before the two have to start juggle their professional relationship with whatever is brewing between them romantically.
I loved having another look at the MacGregor family. Daniel is hilarious as always with his constant demands of marriage and grandchildren. I don’t remember Caine that well from the first book but it was great seeing the family again and getting to know the characters of future books.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy, I definitely recommend this book.
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Book Review: Playing With Fire by L.J Shen
Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It took me a while to get into this novel but it was a nice sort of slow burn- sort of like West and Grace’s relationship.
West is running away from his past traumas and his method of escape involves drugs, alcohol and fighting for money.
Grace is trying to hide away from her past where she was involved in a fire that ruined her beauty. Her method of escape involves isolation, baseball caps and hoodies.
When West signs up to work with Grace at her best friend’s food truck, no one expects anything to happen between them. The town’s hottie bad boy and the girl burned so badly she looks like toast? Highly unlikely.
But the two strike up a friendship and the more time they spend together, the more they start to realize that they might not be that different after all.
“Playing with Fire” was a book I looked forward to for a while but was reluctant to approach because it seemed too angsty.
There is a whole lot of angst which is why I couldn’t binge read it the way I wanted to but I enjoyed reading this nonetheless.
This is one of L.J Shen’s finest work and if you want to cry and feel good thereafter, this is the book for you.
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Finding Audrey” is the story of Audrey who is unable to leave her house or take off her sunglasses- even inside her own house.
Something traumatic happened to her leaving Audrey scarred and unable to trust people.
But then she meets Linus who decides to write Audrey little notes in order to help her get used to him.
The two of them strike up a friendship and eventually with him at her side, Audrey is able to slowly face the world again.
So I had a family member recommend this book to me because I don’t like leaving the house and I was annoyed with them so I never read this book at the time.
Now that I have read it, I wish I had done so sooner (Story of my life).
It is hard not to feel compassion for Audrey and while she never goes into the story of what happened to her, I was rooting for her throughout the book.
Audrey makes me feel seen and reading this book calmed down my anxiety.
100 stars!
(P.S feel free to send more recommendations like this my way)
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