Book Reviews Archives - Page 30 of 114

Book Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Oct 27, 2019

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Pages: 519
Publish date: September 3, 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780062971135
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.

Serpent & Dove:

Firstly before I start this review, I do want to apologise for being away for so long. The past month and a bit have been a little hectic, but I feel like things have finally settled. So here we go.

As soon as I read the synopsis for Serpent & Dove., I knew that I wanted to read. It sounded like it had everything that I love in it. Then I started to see reviews coming out, and they were really positive. And I knew that there was no doubt that I was reading it. And I was right from the start, I loved Serpent & Dove.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin follows Louise Le Blanc who fled her coven and now is trying to survive in a place where magic is strictly forbidden. Witches are feared, they are hunted and they are burned. She is surviving until she has a run-in with Reid Diggory. Reid is a huntsman of the Church and has always lived with the thought that all witches have to die. Forced into something that they both didn’t want, Lou and Reid not only have to navigate feelings for one another but also have their views on the world challenged.

Tikkho Maciel

Lou was such an interesting protagonist throughout Serpent & Dove. I’m not going to lie, it took me a little while to really connect with her. But once I did everything started coming together so well. I loved that Lou wasn’t easy to get along with. It made it so much more interesting. I feel that if she wasn’t such a complicated character, the novel would have fallen flat for me. Lou was tough as nails, she didn’t take no for an answer. But she was also really vulnerable. And I loved that combo. The reader is able to see that she feels a whole damn lot. Another thing that I loved about Lou was that she’s a strong female character. It’s something that I am always looking for and I found it very prominent in Serpent & Dove.

Reid was a really great match for Lou. And I’m not even talking romanticly. I felt that his characterisation was the opposite of Lou, but also complements her as well. Ried is a tough character to get along with. And not for the same reasons as Lou. Reid has a wall that he keeps up nice and strong, and the reader doesn’t get to really see him as a person until Lou starts to break those walls down. I loved that we got to see this “macho” man being brought to his knees by Lou. It’s just a great contrast of characters. I loved what Shelby Mahurin did with Reid’s character arc. The reader really gets to see him grow and really discover who he is.

Luke Porter

The romance in Serpent & Dove utilised two of my favourite romance tropes; hate to love and fake marriage. And I loved how both of them were done. Lou and Reid are on two opposites sides of this war between Cesarine and witches. They have both grown up hating each other, but when they are pushed into this marriage. They both start seeing each other and who they are in different lights. And while it takes them both a little longer to find out they are not half bad. It was really great to see. One of my favourite things about Serpent & Dove was Lou and Reid getting to know one another, I think it was done really well and I loved it. In saying all this I did feel that their relationship went from 60 to 100 very quickly.

I loved the world that Shelby Mahurin created here in Serpent & Dove. There is so my fantasy world out there now, that it’s getting harder to be unique. But Mahurin found a great way of doing that. I loved the different types of witches and magic. It made everything way more dynamic. It added a whole new dimension. There were times where I was a little confused by the magic, but it didn’t take me too long to understand it.

I’ve read a couple of reviews recently, where people found parts to boring and I think I understand why. Serpent & Dove does have a lot of court intrigue. And for a lot of people, it’s not something that they are into. But I find it utterly fascinating. I think it’s where readers can see the characters’ true nature. It’s a time where the reader can see the character as more than someone of a page. They make them real. I think that Shelby did a fantastic job at this. These times didn’t just add more to Lou and Reid, but also other characters. As well as the world itself.

Johannes Plenio

Another thing that I really enjoyed about Serpent & Dove was the sense of friendship and family. Both Lou and Reid come from next to nothing in terms of family. But the reader is able to see throughout Serpent & Dove, that they make their own family. I love seeing things like this espically in young adult novels. It just adds another dimension for me into the novel. It makes everyone, not just the protagonist way more interesting.

Overall, Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is a fantastic novel. I keep on recommending it to customers at work because I want more and more people to read it. This is an intriguing debut novel from Shelby Mahurin and I cannot wait to see what else she has to bring. Serpent & Dove is a captivating fantasy novel that intwines magic in such an intriguing way. Combined that with a romance that is off the charts and you are in for a ride. Serpent & Dove is such a refreshing YA fantasy and I cannot wait for the next book.

Have you read Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman

Aug 21, 2019

Dalliances & Devotion (The Truitts #2) by Felicia Grossman

Pages: 265
Publish date: August 26th 2019
Publisher: Carina Press
ASIN: B07Q3LDH34
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

A change in course can be refreshing…when it’s done together.

1871
After two disastrous marriages, beauty columnist Amalia Truitt’s life is finally her own—well, it will be if she can get herself back to Delaware and demand access to her share of the Truitt family fortune. After all, the charity she’s organized for women who can’t afford their own divorces won’t fund itself.
However, not everyone wants her to reach her destination. When her family learns she’s been receiving anonymous death threats, a solo journey is out of the question.

Enter David Zisskind, the ragtag-peddler-turned-soldier whose heart Amalia broke years ago. He’s a Pinkerton now, and the promotion he craves depends on protecting his long-lost love on the unexpectedly treacherous journey across Pennsylvania.

That their physical connection has endured the test of time (and then some) is problematic, to say the least.
In very close quarters, with danger lurking around every curve, with each kiss and illicit touch, the wrongs of the past are righted. But David can’t weather another rejection, especially with his career in jeopardy. And Amalia can’t possibly take a lover, never mind another husband…not with so much depending on her repaired reputation. Not when she’s hurt David—her David—so badly before.

Dalliances & Devotion:

I received an e-arc of Dalliances & Devotion from Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Earlier this year I read Appetites & Vices, the first in this series and adored everything about it. When I heard there was going to be more books, I had to get on it. Dalliances & Devotion was such a fun and intense read, and I really enjoyed it so much.

Dalliances & Devotion follows Amalia Truitt as she travels back to Delaware after her second divorce has finally been finalised. And now she needs access to her family fortune because there are women depending on her. But after she starts receiving more death threats, travelling along isn’t something that she can do. So her family send along David Zisskind, who’s heart Amalia broke years ago. Now they have to cross Pennsylvania together with danger just around the corner, will they both make it back in one piece.

This was such a fun and intense read. I was both smiling and nervous about what was going to happen next. There is so much at stake in Dalliances & Devotion and both Amalia and David are put to the test. There is so much tension between Amalia and David which makes for such an interesting dynamic between the two of them. Add in the death threats and attempts and you have one hell of a ride.

Amalia was such an interesting character. I loved her fire and determination, but I also felt for her. At first, it seemed that Amalia was okay with being divorced twice. But there were times throughout the novel that I think it really hit her. While she never hinted at wanting a real family, deep down I think she did. She just never found the right person. In saying that I loved that Amalia got to really find herself throughout Dalliances & Devotion.

Felicia Grossman really knows how to write powerful and strong female characters in historical fiction and I can’t wait to see what more she can bring.

David was also a really interesting character in Dalliances & Devotion. It did take me a little while to warm up to him. But as soon as his walls started to break down – he became more real. That is something I’ve noticed over the last couple of months, characters have to have some realness to them for me to connect with them. At first, David just seemed angry and very stubborn. He started to mellow out as the novel went on and he got closer with Amalia.

The romance in Dalliances & Devotion wasn’t my favourite I’ll admit. But I still really loved it. There were times when David’s demeanour really put me off loving them together. However, as I started to like David more, I loved seeing him more with Amalia. I loved getting to know the history between the two of them and then seeing them grow as they are now.

One of the things I love about reading historical romance novels is the differences in characters that you can get. This all depends on what time it’s set, where it’s set, and even what it’s all about. But that is also what makes them so fantastic. I really want to write a post soon more about this.

The plot of Dalliances & Devotion was really interesting. I loved that it wasn’t just a basic historical romance per se. But it also had that crime element throughout. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The reader is kept guessing on who is sending the threats and everything else that follows.

Okay, I’m going to have to admit to something. I can remember a lot of things, the one thing that always trips my mind is to remember names and characters. So it took me nearly the whole book to realise who Amalia was. And now I feel ashamed that it took me so long especially since I loved Appetites & Vices. I had to go back and re-read the synopsis for the first book for me to realise.

I also really loved the secondary characters throughout Dalliances & Devotion. Not only did they make it way more entertaining, but they also really helped with the flow of the book. It wasn’t just David and Amalia stuck together, but everyone with them as well.

Overall, I really loved Dalliances & Devotion. It was fun, intense and full of romance. It’s a great second chance romance in a historical setting. With a female character that is strong and willing to do what it takes for herself. I loved Amaila and I really got to like David as well. Together they were totally adorable. I can’t wait to see what else Felicia Grossman brings. If you are looking for a historical romance with a little twist this is for you.

Have you read Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What are some of your favourite historical romance novels? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy

Aug 10, 2019

Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy

Pages: 306
Publish date: August 5th 2019
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, Crush
ASIN: B07TCVRPDM
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

I may know everything there is to know about baseball, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or like him. Garrett Reeves: sidelined player and the embodiment of everything I’ve learned to hate about baseball. He’s gorgeous, he’s cocky, he’s laser-focused on getting back in the game, no matter the cost.

When he convinces me to call games alongside him, our chemistry heats up the booth. We’re good together, whether I want to admit it or not. I’m finding that I like baseball again, but even worse, I’m liking Garrett. A lot.

But when he has to decide between our future and a new shot at his dreams, I know baseball will win out every time.

Announcing Trouble:

I received an earc of Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy from Entangled Publishing: Crush via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t hadn’t heard too much about Announcing Trouble but it when it came up on NetGalley, I knew that I needed it. Announcing Trouble follows Josie Walters as she tries to get through her last year of school. But when her best friend convinces Josie to go to a school baseball game everything changes. Josie can’t handle how the game is being called and crashes into the room, to greeted by Garrett Reeves. Garrett has now somehow convinced Josie to join him calling the games and everything heats up. But Josie once convinced herself that she didn’t just not like baseball, she hated it.

Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy was just so much fun. I loved reading it. Josie and Garrett were fantastic together and the book left me with a massive smile on my face. It just gave me all the feels.

Matthew T Rader

Josie was a really interesting protagonist. She wasn’t the easiest character to get along with at times, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like her. Actually, I really enjoyed her. Josies ‘faults’ are what made her real. I felt that Josie was an honest character and that really drove me into the novel. The reader gets to know more about Josie throughout Announcing Trouble and I think that her character development was fantastically executed. Slowly throughout the book, the reader finds out what happened to Josie. And in a way what made her cold, and I thought it done really well. Everything wasn’t thrown to the reader at one shot, instead, it was slowly given to us.

Garrett was such a fun character. I could talk about him all day. After an incident left him out of the baseball season and potentially out of baseball forever, Garrett needs something to do. And calling the baseball games is the closest that he can get. Like Josie, Garrett’s character development was fantastic and I loved getting to know more and more about him. He is a really interesting character and it broke my heart seeing him suffer at times.

The romance in Announcing Trouble was totally adorable. Seriously I adored the way that Garrett pushed Josie our of her comfort zone, but not in a bad way. He wanted her to have fun, to be herself and not let her past take over her life. Both Josie and Garrett were totally adorable together and just made me melt. I loved their interactions, their teasing was just so good. I did feel that there might have been a little too much angst for me. And I would have loved it more if they talked to each other just that little bit more. But, other than that they were great together.

Abigail Keenan

There are a lot of themes that are reoccurring throughout Announcing Trouble. And family and friendship are just some of them. Both Josie and Garrett didn’t have a great way of growing up. Both of their dads weren’t the best and it took a lot out of both of them. But I think that Josie took her dad leaving the hardest. And this is really shown through her characterisation. And while I love seeing amazing family dynamics, broken ones are also so important.

Overall, I really enjoyed Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy. Josie was a fascinating protagonist and I loved getting to know her and her life. Garrett was an absolute sweetheart that just made me smile. And together they just made my day. While an emotional read, it’s also very beautiful. Fellner Dominy creates characters that are real and strong. They show the power of standing up for yourself and finding different ways of getting where you want to. There was amazing banter, a fantastic friendship group and an adorable romance, which made Announcing Trouble seriously a great read.

Trigger Warnings: Abandonment, Family Separation.

Have you read Announcing Trouble by Amy Fellner Dominy yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!