ash-and-books

[ash-and-books]

🌷🧺📖Spring time mood 📖 🧺🌷

#me #bookstagram #bookish #spring reading #spring aesthetic

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird comes the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a hate-to-love dark romantic comedy packed with danger, chaos, and heat.

Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can’t stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.

There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood.

Tropes:

Hate-to-love

Marriage of convenience

Grumpy / sunshine

He falls first

Groveling, but make it psycho

Touch her/him and die

Review:

She's a musician that appears to be sunshine incarnate but has a darker side to her and he's the brooding contract killer that is determined to get discover everything about her... and being in a marriage of convenience while trying to avoid a killer is the perfect way to do so. Lark is an indie singer-songwriter who has had a hard past but has tried to hide all her pain behind her sunshine demeanor... and her extracurricular activities of hunting down predators and "deleting them" and making them into her own little home decor. Lachlan Kane is a contract killer who wants to get out of the business, he just wants to be left alone and to be freed from his psycho boss. One halloween Lachlan and Lark's paths cross and now a year later his brother is marrying her best friend. Lark and Lachlan can't stand one another, they get under each other's skin... but Lark is determined to keep her best friend's happiness in tact and that means protecting her best friend's husband's family. When a killer starts targeting people in Lark's family business and her parents think it's Lachlan's family... they'll kill him and his brothers, but to protect her best friend and her best friend's new husband Lark decides to enter into an arranged marriage to protect Lachlan and his brother from her family. Lark and Lachlan will have to work together to find out who this killer is and why they are targeting Lark and framing Lachlan.... but this new arranged marriage means both Lark and Lachlan will have to face each other and spend time together. Lachlan is beginning to realize that he judged Lark too soon and that everything he ever thought, that she was a spoiled princess, couldn't be more wrong and soon he finds himself falling for his new wife... if only she would let her guard down and let him prove to her that he's in this marriage for real. This was such a fun sequel to the first book and I was excited to see Lachlan and Lark's relationship play out in this one. Lark and Lachlan were such a fun couple and I enjoyed their constant back and forth, I loved how Lark just got under Lachlan's skin so much and how he was so determined to love her. Lark is a girl after my own heart ( plus she loves Constantine and calls Lachlan Budget Batman and is into crafts?!?!??? We might have to fight for her hand Lachlan). This was a fun sequel and I am so so excited for the next book in the trilogy( Rose x Fionn sounds so so angsty and amazing). This was really a delightful read and this entire series has been such a fun chaotic romance read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Zando | Slowburn for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #leather and lark #butcher and blackbird #ruinous love trilogy

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: Now with beautiful jade sprayed edges and brand-new original art! In the tradition of Legends & Lattes, comes a cozy fantasy steeped in sapphic romance about one of the Queen’s private guards and a powerful mage who want to open a bookshop and live happily ever after…if only the world would let them.

All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.

But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams.

What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.

Review:

A cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance between a palace guard and a mage who just want to open up a bookshop and be together... that is if they can just get the rest of the world to leave them alone/ Reyna and Kianthe are secret girlfriends, Reyna is the Queen's own private guard who is constantly forced to do as the Queen wishes...even if it costs her her own life. After years and after the latest attack really proves to Reyna just how little her queen actually cares for her, she finally takes the leap that Kianthe, her powerful mage girlfriend, has been begging her to, and they run away together. The only problem with running away is that the Queen will see it as treason and will come after her. Kianthe and Reyna just want to set up a small cozy bookshop and live their life in peace... but mishaps, mysteries, and a vengeful queen will all come after them. Can they have their happily ever after? This one was definitely along the veins of Legends and Lattes except Reyna and Kianthe's relationship is already established and the story drags on a bit more. This book honestly felt 100 pages too long, it's meant to be a cozy fantasy with some romance but it just felt like it was lacking the charm and sweetness that Legends and Lattes had. I really wanted to like it but found myself getting so bored while reading it. Getting to the end was hard, but I pushed through and honestly, I think it just didn't live up to my expectations. This book definitely is for people who want cozy fantasy but on a much slower and longer paced story.

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #cozy fantasy #can't spell treason without tea #lgbtq reads #sapphic books

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: From New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, comes Sound the Gong, the dazzling and sweeping conclusion to The Kingdom of Three duology.

All her life, Zephyr has tried to rise above her humble origins as a no-name orphan. Now she is a god in a warrior’s body, and never has she felt more powerless.

The warlordess Xin Ren holds the Westlands, but her position is tenuous. In the north, the empress remains a puppet under Miasma’s thumb. In the south, the alliance with Cicada is in pieces.

Fate has a winner in mind for the three kingdoms, but Zephyr has no intentions of respecting it. She will pay any price to see Ren succeed—and she will make her enemies pay, especially the enigmatic Crow. What she’ll do when she finds out the truth. . . Only the heavens know.

Featuring gorgeous map art by Anna Frohmann and black-and-white portraits by Tida Kietsungden, Sound the Gong is the second book in Joan He's riveting Kindgom of Three duology.

Review:

How much would you sacrifice to win? How far would you go to achieve success? Strategist/God Zephyr has now found herself jumping between bodies, trying to manipulate the war and her lordess for the outcome that she wants... but it all comes at a price and if she achieves it, it means her own demise. Can Zephyr win? Zephry will do anything to change fate, she will pay any price for Ren, her lordess, to win... even if it means sacrificing the one person she might have feelings for, even if it means dying and losing her body and soul.... but the war and humans are ever changing, and as a god with limited powers, she'll have to find a way to navigate every single decision to her benefit before it's too late. This was definitely an interesting ending to the duology, I loved the first book and enjoyed the back to back from the two strategist, but what this book was kind of missing was that magic, that kind of compelling back to back. However, this book was very heavy on the ever changing war environment and the decisions and political moves, which isn't a bad thing, it just felt like it was a shift from the fun of the first book. I did enjoy how determined Zephyr was to get what she wanted, she was determined to adjust to every decision and to manipulate every turn to her advantage. She was relentless in her quest to achieve her goals, and she still cared and loved those around her, sacrificing herself over and over for their happiness. The ending, especially with the way the Crow x Zephry relationship was going, had me begging for an extra epilogue, just to see them face each other, and to finally FINALLY admit their feelings for each other after they had both sacrificed each other for their own kingdoms. I think this series overall, is a really fun and unique read that is such a unique take on the Three Kingdoms story! Definitely check it out if you love strategy/war stories!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #sound of the gong #the three kingdom duology

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Blurb: Lakelore meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul.

Andres Santos of São Paulo was all swinging fists and firecracker fury, a foot soldier in the war between his parents, until he drowned in the Tietê River… and made a bargain with Death for a new life. A year later, his parents have relocated the family to Miami, but their promises of a fresh start quickly dissolve in the summer heat. 

Instead of fists, Andres now uses music to escape his parents’ battles. While wandering Miami Beach, he meets two girls: photographer Renee, a blaze of fire, and dancer Liora, a ray of sunshine. The three become a polyamorous triad, happy, despite how no one understands their relationship. But when a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, Andres and Renee are shattered. 

Then Renee proposes a radical solution: She and Andres must go into the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s spirit and reunite it with her body—before it’s too late. Their search takes them to the City of the dead, where painters bleed color, songs grow flowers, and regretful souls will do anything to forget their lives on earth. But finding Liora’s spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world. Because when Andres drowned, he left a part of himself in the underworld—a part he’s in no hurry to meet again. But it is eager to be reunited with him... 

In verse as vibrant as the Miami skyline, critically acclaimed author R.M. Romero has crafted a masterpiece of magical realism and an openhearted ode to the nature of healing.

Review:

A polyamorous retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice told in verse! The story follows two Miami teens as they travel to the Underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soul. Andres Santos is someone who swings his fist and lets his anger take hold, someone who is stuck in the middle of his parent's fights, and someone who drowned in the river until he made a bargain with Death for a new life. A year after the incident his family has moved to Miami... and thats where he meets two girls: photographer Renee and dancer Liora. The three become a polyamorous triad, happy in their love despite the fact that no one understands their relationship. However when Liora gets into an accident and ends up in a coma, Andres and Renee are broken... that is until Renee proposes that they both go to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soil and reunite it with her body. Yet as they travel into the underworld, their relationship will be tested and Andres will have to face his own demon... one he left behind on the day he drowned. This was definitely a really unique retelling on the classic story and while I didn't particularly enjoy the in verse style of the novel and felt that some parts were a bit muddled, the overall story itself is one I would recommend. I feel like if you enjoy in verse novels, this is definitely one you should add to your TBR! It's a gorgeous retelling and it definitely creates a unique story while staying true to the spirit of the classic.

*Thanks Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink | Peachtree Teen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #lgbtq reads #orpheus and eurydice retelling #death's country

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her... until she meets her cohost.

Her first impression of Colin McCory is...hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.

A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder... is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?

Review:

When a historical romance author finds her fiancee cheating on her and immediately goes on a dating podcast... the last thing she expects is to fall for the very snarky (slightly bratty) divorce lawyer. Truly Livingston is a bestselling romance novelist. She's believed to be an expert on happily-ever-afters... except when she walks in on her (ex) fiancee cheating on her, it has her rethinking love. Then she ends up on a dating podcast to give love advice and comes face to face with a gorgeous guy who just happens to be a divorce lawyer and immediately gets under her skin on the podcast. To top it off, Truly finds out that her parents, the people who were the blueprint to why she believes in true love, tell her they are separating. Truly finds her belief in love shaken to the core... and meeting Colin McCory, the one guy who manages to get under her skin yet can't leave her mind, is definitely going to shake up her world. For some reason, bickering with Colin is fun, and when he asks for a fresh start on his sister's podcast after their confrontational first episode together...it begins to turn into something more as they bond over their queerness, their belief in romance, sharing weird facts with each other, and sending each other texts all throughout the day. From coffee shop dates to running into each other at the grocery store, Truly and Colin can't seem to stay away from one another. Yet can Colin convince Truly that she shouldn't close her heart off to love, and can he convince her that he's the one for her? This was a sweet and deeply romantic read, I adored Colin so much. No matter how hard Truly pushed him away, he always supported her and stayed by her side. Colin and Truly were so adorable together and I loved reading their romance. This book was a fun rom com and I loved how both characters were bisexuals. My all time favorite quote from the book that had me tearing up was when Colin and Truly were talking about being Bi and Colin tells her "My point, before I got off on a personal tangent, was that there’s no such thing as being queer enough. Action and attraction are two different things. You could go the rest of your life never dating a woman and it wouldn’t change a thing.” It's a beautiful book and I would absolutely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #lgbtq books #bisexual book #truly madly deeply

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you.

Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne.

Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he can’t afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night?

At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystan’s unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isn’t their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast incorporates themes and motifs from Phantom of the Opera, and is set in a gaslamp fantasy world with strong gothic vibes. It should appeal to fans of romantic and atmospheric retellings and fairy tales by authors such as Hannah Whitten, Tessonja Odette, and Stephanie Garber.

While this is book 4 in the Reimagined Fairy Tales series, it can be read as a standalone.

Review:

A talented flutist who secretly plays music on her rooftop is suddenly drawn into the mysterious life of a reclusive duke with a monstrous secret. A unique twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story with hints of Phantom of the Opera! Ceridwen plays her flute at night on her roof, in spirit of her mother who died. Yet on one fateful night when she is attacked she is rescued by a monster... or so she thought. The next day the famous reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne offers her a deal: if she agrees to live in his manor and play music for him for one year he will provide her poor family with money to support them. It's too good of a deal but Ceridwen wants to provide for her family, so she agrees to the deal. Drystan might be a bit unkept and have a bit of a harsh demeanor... yet he is passionate about her music for some reason and she knows he is hiding a secret. Drystan is has only a few rules: do not enter the tower, never leave the grounds, and make sure to be in her room at night least the monster come for her. Drystan has a secret: he is the monster, or rather, one of the monsters in the town. He was cursed after being gifted with magic and now turns into a wolflike creature that he can barely control... the only thing that eases it is Ceridwen's music. Yet if he tells her the truth he risks losing the only thing that is keeping the beast at bay. Ceridwen and Drystan may be falling for each other, yet with the Drystan's many secrets... can their romance really survive when the truth gets out? I've loved reading Megan Van Dyke's reimagined fairy tale series so much and I have found that each one of them is such a unique and fun twist. I loved the gothic atmosphere and story in this on with the monster twist and the romance was sweet. It's definitely a fun read for fans of reimagined fairytales and I would absolutely recommend the series!

*Thank you Megan Van Dyke for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #fairytale reimagined #beauty and the beast #phantom of the opera #megan van dyke #the musician and the monster

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: After missing his flight back to Seoul, a disillusioned K-pop idol finds love, acceptance, and the strength to fight for his own happiness at last. As a member of the internationally beloved K-pop group Apollo, Eunjae has learned firsthand that fame and fortune come at a steep price. But leaving it all behind is easier said than done, and it seems Eunjae has no choice but to continue… until he steps through the orange door at Wanna Waffle on the way to the airport, fails to catch his plane to Seoul, and upends his entire existence. Jiyeon and her family don’t know the truth about this quiet, handsome stranger who stumbled into their restaurant. Regardless, it’s clear that he needs them. And the longer he stays, the more Eunjae realizes that he might just be willing to trade the adoration of millions for home, family, and even one chance at true love. But his powerful entertainment agency will never let him go without a fight, and Apollo’s fate hangs in the balance along with his own. If Eunjae hopes to win, he must stand his ground and fight back — not only for himself, but for the brothers who have loved and supported him all this time.

Brimming with warmth, waffles, and too many brothers, "This Place Is Magic" will resonate with any reader searching for a comforting escape. Debut author Irene Te delivers a cozy contemporary read interwoven with found family and gentle romance. Step through that orange door for a heartfelt, hilarious, and irrepressibly hopeful journey of self-discovery, perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han.

Review:

When a famous K-pop star stumbles into a waffle house, the last thing he expects is to find happiness, found family, and possible romance... that is if he can remain hidden from his agency and his band. Eunjae is part of Apollo, an extremely famous K-pop band. Eunjae is tired, he wants to leave the band but he doesn't want to hurt his bandmates who he loves like brothers. Eunjae yearns for more, he wants freedom, he wants to escape the constant pressure, the fans, the spotlight, the grueling lifestyle that he never asked for and is afraid to leave in case he disappoints people. So when he stumbles across an orange door like the one in his favorite novel he goes inside... and is immediately warmly welcomed by a sweet waffle shop family. Eunjae meets Jiyeon, a sweet and beautiful girl who works in her families waffle shop. When it's time for him to leave he realizes he missed his flight and Jiyeon and her family welcome him to stay with them, no questions asked. The longer he stays the more he yearns to never leave. But his bandmates need him back, his company is threatening him, and his fans will come after him.... can he find a way to escape it all and hold onto this little bit of happiness that he's finally found? This was such a cozy little read, there was an adorable found family ( both Jiyeon's family and Eunjae's bandmates were all so sweet and cute), and the growth that Eunjae went through was a sweet read. This book really focuses on the struggles that many K-pop stars go through and I loved that this book was from Eunjae's POV. We get to see him dealing with so much and finding a way to go after his happiness and his own freedom, how he stands up for not only himself but for his bandmates. The romance was really light but it was sweet and cute, Eunjae and Jiyeon were a light and very supportive couple with cute moments. This book just felt like a warm hug, it's a cozy read that is perfect for reading at your favorite cafe (and with a waffle of course).

*Thank you to @irenewritesthings for this heartfelt story and @literaryinspired for bringing us together for this read. Ready for an escape into a world where authenticity shines? This novel is for you.  #LiteraryInspiredARCs *

#book review #bookish #cozy books #LiteraryInspiredArcs #literaryinspired #this place is magic #irene te

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, weaves a dreamy gothic romance worthy of the heavens in Song of the Six Realms. Xue, a talented young musician, has no past and probably no future. Orphaned at a young age, her kindly poet uncle took her in and arranged for an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. She doesn’t remember much from before entering the House of Flowing Water, and when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she is devastated to lose her last connection to a life outside of her indenture contract.

With no family and no patron, Xue is facing the possibility of a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles that praise her talent with one breath and sneer at her lowly social status with the next. Then one night she is unexpectedly called to the garden to put on a private performance for the enigmatic Duke Meng. For a young man of nobility, he is strangely kind and awkward, and surprises Xue further with an irresistible offer: serve as a musician in residence at his manor for one year, and he’ll set her free of her indenture.

But the Duke’s motives become increasingly more suspect when he and Xue barely survive an attack by a nightmarish monster, and when he whisks her away to his estate, she discovers he’s not just some country noble: He’s the Duke of Dreams, one of the divine rulers of the Celestial Realm. There she learns the Six Realms are on the brink of disaster, and incursions by demonic beasts are growing more frequent.

The Duke needs Xue’s help to unlock memories from her past that could hold the answers to how to stop the impending war… but first Xue will need to survive being the target of every monster and deity in the Six Realms.

Review:

A heartbreaking magical story about a musician who finds her fate thrown in with gods, monsters, and secrets. Xue is a talented young musician who was orphaned at a young age and taken in by her kind poet uncle who arranged for her to get an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. Xue doesn't have a lot of memories of her youth before her apprenticeship at the House of Flowing Water, but when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she feels like she's resigned to a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles. Xue is unexpectedly called in for a private performance for the mysterious handsome Duke Meng. Meng is oddly kind and shy, yet he makes her an offer: if she agrees to serve as his private musician at his residence for one he'll buy her contract from the house. Xue knows it's too good to be true and that the Duke is hiding something... like the fact that he knew her uncle and that he is actually a celestial being, the Duke of Dreams. Xue now finds herself encountering more celestial beings and gods as well as nightmarish monsters. Duke Meng tells her that he actually wants her to help him unlock Xue's memories of her past so that they can stop the impending war and free his wrongly accused father. But the gods can be cruel and the games and backstabbing is at every corner. Xue finds herself falling for Duke Meng but how can a mortal musician be with a celestial being? The closer they get to unlocking all her memories, the more danger they find themselves in... and there must be sacrifices made. This was such a bittersweet read but it was really good. I enjoyed the story and the romance was sweet. The mystery was what really did it for me and I liked how it played out. The ending was so bittersweet and I wish there was a bonus epilogue or something to just give me one more chapter of Xue and Meng together or reuniting... please I beg of you. Overall, it's a great standalone fantasy read that really builds the story well and is a easy fast read.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #song of the six realms

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb:

It’s an honor to bring light to the dark.

The nineteenth-century whaling village of Warbler is famous for its lucky ship figureheads—and infamous for people disappearing into the nightly fog. In this murky locale, the lamplighter is synonymous with safety and protection, and it’s a position Temperance assumes when her father is found hanging from one of the lampposts. Though Tempe proves competent, the town is still hesitant to let a woman handle this responsibility.

When a girl disappears after two lamps go out, Tempe’s ability to provide for her mother and younger sister hangs in the balance. She scrambles for answers, hindered at every turn by the village authorities’ call for her removal. As more villagers vanish under her watch, Tempe discovers unsettling truths about the famous Warbler figureheads and her own beloved father. But her warnings of a monster are ignored, even by her own family. Now she must follow the light out of her own fog of despair, as she faces the choice to look the other way or risk speaking out and possibly dooming herself and her sister to be among the lost.

Review:

A girl must face off against a dangerous monster of a man who is closing in on those she loves most in this horror story set in a 19th century whaling village. In the little village of warbler, famous for it's lucky ship figureheads, people have been known to disappear in the nightly fog. It is the job of lamplighters to light the lamps at night to guide people home. Temperance loves her job as a lamplighter, it lets her support her ill mom and her sister. After her father's suicide, Tempe has been trying to be everything for her family. The only thing that she hates is Gideon, the wealthy and respected individual man in town that her father had warned her about... and the very same man who had assaulted her when she was 16 and now is her sister's new fiance. Tempe wants to do everything in her power to save her sister but she refuses to tell her sister the truth about what he did. Tempe begins noticing more girls disappearing and finding a connection to Gideon as well... she knows she has to stop him but he might be more powerful and monstrous than she could have ever imagined. This book started off interesting but I just did not have a good time with it. I loved the premise and loved the setting, however, I did not enjoy Tempe as a protagonist and that ending just left a bad taste in my mouth. The characters were all so frustrating and it just does not end well. I love horror books, especially historical horror, and this one missed the mark for me. If you enjoy historical horror with women suffering, then this is for you, otherwise I would absolutely steer clear of this one.

*Thanks Netgalley and North Star Editions | Flux for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #the lamplighter

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: A pro hockey player falls for an interior designer in this charming debut sports romance. For fans of Icebreaker and Set On You, this flirty workplace rom-com explores mental health, belonging, and finding your way in the world.

Nick Sorensen had once been one of the fastest men in hockey—until the devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Now he’s physically ready to get back on the ice, but his coach is concerned Nick isn’t doing as well mentally as he says he is. Case in point: Nick’s apartment is completely empty, apart from a single chair and a mattress on the floor.

To prove he’s fine, really, Nick hires Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer, to decorate his space. Alyssa’s thrilled at the chance to prove herself to her demanding boss—with job security at last, maybe she can finally put down roots and create a home for herself too. But Nick turns out to be infuriatingly stubborn and impossible to work with, and just when Alyssa decides to throw in the towel on the whole thing, Nick shows up for her in a way she never could have expected.  

The icy path ahead of these two lost souls may be slippery and cracking, but when it comes to love, sometimes all you need is someone on your team.

Review:

A pro hockey player who is recovering from a traumatic plane crash finds himself falling for an interior designer who is trapped in a toxic company. Nick Sorensen is the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends. He's recovering and getting ready to get back on the ice... but his coach is concerned about his mental health. Although Nick might be physically fine, he is still dealing with the grief of losing his friends and has survivor guilt. Then there is Alyssa, a sweet and charming interior designer who is getting her clients stolen by her boss. Alyssa catches Nick's attention and he hires her to redecorate his apartment. Soon they find themselves spending more time together and finding someone to support them in each other. This felt like a hallmark-esque romance, but without the charm or depth of a good one. I just felt kind of meh about the two characters and their romance just felt kind of bland unfortunately. I wish I liked it more but it just didn't really catch my attention and I just found myself tuning out a bit. I finished the book and overall it just missed the romance aspect to me If you like fairly simple romances with a touch of sports and a bit of angsty backstory, give this a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #hearts on thin ice

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes a YA murder mystery noir set in 1930s Los Angeles’s Chinatown.

“A captivating and crackling noir full of suspenseful twists. Readers will fall in love with the Chow sisters and their quest for the truth.” —Kathleen Glasgow, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas

LOS ANGELES, 1932: Lulu Wong, star of the silver screen and the pride of Chinatown, has a face known to practically everyone, especially the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—Lulu’s former classmates and neighbors. So the girls instantly know it’s Lulu when they discover a body one morning in an out-of-the-way stable, far from the Beverly Hills home where she lived after her fame skyrocketed.

The sisters suspect Lulu’s death is the result of foul play, but the police don’t seem motivated to investigate. Even worse, there are signs that point to a cover-up, and powerful forces in the city want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, even more reason it should be demolished to make room for the construction of a new railway depot, Union Station.

Worried that neither the police nor the papers will treat Lulu fairly—no matter her fame and wealth—the sisters set out to solve their friend’s murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood in the bargain. But with Lulu’s killer still on the loose, the girls’ investigation just might put them square in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded murderer.

Review:

A noir mystery about two sisters who must solve the murder of their starlet friend, set in 1932 Los Angeles... where the silver screen is a deadly place and filled with secrets. Lulu Wong is a starlet who is the pride of Chinatown, she was friends/neighbors with the Chow sisters- May, Gemma, and Peony before she made it big. The girls discover Lulu's body one morning while doing their job as flower market girls, and are convinced that her death was a murder. The police are not motivated to solve it so the girls take it into their own hands to figure out what happened... yet the more they dig into it the more the signs begin to point to a cover-up and that there are powerful people involved in it. All the while May and Gemma are dealing with their own perspective relationship drama, with May reconnecting with a suitor who she never considered and Gemma seeing a handsome doctor with secrets of his own. Lulu's killer is still on the loose, and the closer the girls get to uncovering the truth the closer they are to being the next target. This was definitely a noir mystery that I think people can have fun reading. It just felt a little slow and a bit flat to me, however I did love the cultural aspects and the sister relationship between Gemma and May. The historical setting was really well done and the overall mystery definitely fit the noir theme. Overall, it was an okay mystery read that I feel like other mystery lovers will have fun reading!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #kill her twice

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb: "Omigosh! I've just found an author to put on my list of I've got to read everything they ever wrote! The Warden is a gem of the first order. Aelis is my hero."—Glen Cook, author of The Black Company, on The Warden series

"These books are addictive and I can’t wait to see what Aelis and the gang get up to next.”—C.L. Clark, author of The Unbroken

Aelis de Lenti, Lone Pine's newly assigned Warden, is in deep trouble. She has just opened the crypts of Mahlgren, releasing an army of the undead into the unprotected backwoods of Ystain.

To protect her village, she must unearth a source of immense Necromantic power at the heart of Mahlgren. The journey will wind through waves of undead, untamed wilderness, and curses far older than anything Aelis has ever encountered. But as strong as Aelis is, this is one quest she cannot face alone.

Along with the brilliant mercenary she's fallen for, her half-orc friend, and a dwarven merchant, Aelis must race the clock to unravel mysteries, slay dread creatures, and stop what she has set in motion before the flames of a bloody war are re-ignited.

Review:

Picking up where the first book left off, we are set on another with Aelis and her companions. Aelis is tasked with finding more magic to protect her village and along for the journey includes the mercenary she's fallen for, her half-orc friend, and a dwarven merchant. It's a good second book but I did end up preferring the first book. Aelis felt a bit more juvenile in this one, compared to the last one. Overall it is a good fantasy series.

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#review #bookish #book

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

Marry or lose his inheritance? That’s the ultimatum billionaire Damon Everett faces. There’s one problem. The woman he craves is his sunshine PR rep…who wants nothing to do with him.

Ruthless, arrogant, cold-hearted are some of the words I would use to describe my a**hole of a boss, Damon Everett.

That doesn’t stop the goosebumps from rising along my neck every time he says my name, or the way my pulse races when his stormy gray eyes pierce mine.

So, when he coerces me into a fake marriage to uphold his family's tradition, I can't resist pushing his buttons.

He's a walking red flag, and I should run the second this arrangement ends. But the very thought of losing him is suffocating - a dangerous addiction that I can't seem to break.

Is this really love or just a twisted desire to own me? And deep down, do I secretly crave to be possessed by him?

A Tempting Arrangement is a red flag billionaire, marriage of convenience, standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author, J. Wilder

Review:

Billionaire Damon Everett faces a dilemma: marry or lose his inheritance... and the solution, the one woman he's been in love with since he met her, his sunshine PR Rep for his hockey team, Misty Hart. Damon is a ruthless, arrogant, cold hearted boss. His one weakness? His PR Rep, Misty Hart. Misty with her beautiful bright hair, green eyes that captivate him, and her fiery angry that only comes out around him. Damon will do anything to make Misty his wife... including creating a fake inheritance issue and claiming that he needs a wife, but the only woman he'll have is Misty. When Misty's visa renewal has issues... the only person she can ask for help is her very hot boss who gets under her skin. Misty needs the visa renewal to go through, she wants to escape her traumatic past and is running away from her ex. Misty agrees to marry Damon, but can she resist him when he moves in and proves at every turn that he'll be there to support her and love her through it all? This book right here is all the shades of obsessed unhinged lover that I adore. Damon was so gone for Misty he was calling her his wife from chapter 1. Damon would do anything for her, kill for her, protect her, and give her everything she could ever ask for, all she has to do is ask. Misty is dealing with so much and is guarding her heart, but Damon's sincerity and actions, his persistence and adoration, have her ready to open her heart up again. I adored this book and I can't get enough of these two. I loved Damon's brothers so much and can't wait to read their books and see what romance awaits them!! This is such a fantastic spicy read and I would absolutely recommend it!!

*Thank you J. Wilder for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #j wilder #jessa wilder #billionaire romance #a tempting arrangement

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

Yasmine is a red wolf girl stuck in rural Alabama. Her world is small: pick up shifts at the greasy late-night diner and endure her pack’s petty squabbles. She’s not good at being a wolf or being human, directionless in life and disconnected from her ancestors.

Blessed by a century-old enchantment, the local red wolves have escaped extinction by blending into the human world. But with the old witches’ blessing wearing thin, the wolves face an uncertain future.

An answer arrives in the form of an exiled blood witch whose magic is steeped in reckless grief. Kalta rides into town in her dead brother’s truck, prophecy following on her heels. Despite the danger Yasmine can smell swirling around the witch, a fated bond tangles their futures—and those of all the wolves.

After an accident threatens the wolves’ secret, Yasmine has no choice but to join Kalta on the road, carving a path through the South’s backroads and hoping the magic brewing between them is enough to overcome their bloody pasts.

Review:

A werewolf meets her mate in a blood witch... and things begin to unravel. Yasmine is a red wolf girl stuck in a small rural town in Alabama. She spends her day working at a little diner and enduring her pack. She's never been really good at being a wolf or a human, she's just listless... and then she meets an exiled blood witch who she can't stay away from. Her wolf wants to be close to this girl... but this witch, Kalta, has a prophecy following her. Kalta and Yasmine can't seem to stay away from each other... but can their bond survive the prophecy that is closing in on them? This was a short paranormal sapphic romance read. It felt like it was missing something, and I guess I was hoping it would hook me in more. It might be a case of "its me and not you" but I just felt that this book was lacking a depth to it that could have made it perfect. Overall it's an okay read and if you are looking for a sapphic paranormal romance, then give this a go!

#book review #bookish #lgbtq books #sapphic reads #sapphic books

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb: A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga.

Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love.

Review:

A charming and sweet story about two girls who find friendship and romance when they try and find the missing volumes of their favorite manga. Neesha Sparks is a disabled community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is a optimistic surfer, and both girls are new kids at school. When they both discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become friends. Neither of them has actually finished reading the series and decide to track down the remaining books together... and along the way find romance and friendship in each other. This was a really sweet read and the story was touching, I love the emphasis on friendship and the slice of life aspect of the story was great. I would absolutely recommend this book!

*Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios | Maverick for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #lgbtq reads #sapphic books #navigating with you

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: A charming fantasy set in an underwater world with magical academia and a heartwarming penpal romance, perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light, Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries and The House in the Cerulean Sea. “An underwater treasure-chest to be slowly unpacked, full of things I adore: nosy and loving families, epistolary romance, gorgeous worldbuilding, and anxious scholars doing their best to meet the world with kindness and curiosity.” —Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.'s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.'s sister Sophy, and Henerey's brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery, piecing together the letters, sketches and field notes left behind—and learn what their siblings’ disappearance might mean for life as they know it. Inspired, immersive, and full of heart, this charming epistolary tale is an adventure into the depths of a magical sea and the limits of the imagination from a marvelous debut voice.

Review:

A delightfully cozy story told through letters, part penpal romance, part mystery, and a all around cozy time. The story is through 100% epistolary (writings and letter correspondence). The story revolves around two scholars that share an interest in marine life, who begin sending slightly flirtatious letters between each other while trying to solve an under sea mystery (they also live in separate pressurized spheres under the ocean in the year of 1002) and we flash forward to 1003, where both of them have suddenly disappeared, and a correspondence between their siblings begins, as they try and piece together what happened between them. Henry and E are both introverted individuals who are socially awkward but find a blooming pen pal relationship growing between each other. They are so sweet and their romance was adorable. Sophy (E's Sster) and Vyerin (Henry's brother) begin a correspondence with each other in which they read their siblings letters to each other as they try and figure out what happened to E and Henry. The book is the first book in a duology! This is an extremely cozy slow build book, it builds a beautiful deep sea life and the loneliness and depths of the ocean are so beautifully detailed. I had fun with this one and enjoyed the various character dynamics and the letters were great. I am excited to see where the next book goes and what happens to E and Henry!

*Spoiler: it is revealed that E and Henry survived their departure together and landed somewhere. Sophy and Vyeryn both agree to go out and try and find them*

*Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Orbit for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #a letter to the luminous deep