Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey


306 pages, Hardcover


Published: February 4, 2025 by Random House


Magical realism/own





I seriously remember writing a review for this one yesterday, but I guess not.




Oh it made me cry at the end, it was just so, I can not say because spoilers. I did not believe I would but that last page. Ack bittersweet.




It is a slow book, but not in a bad way. It is set in Alaska and the pace is just slower. You just live. Her prose is so good and she sets this melancholy mood, and the the need to run away.




The book is about Birdie who lives with her young daughter Emaleen, and Birdie has this urge for more. So she meets a man called Arthur and goes to live with him in the wilderness. In a cabin not fit to live in. Far away from civilization in bear country. But there is freedom there and she craves it.




This is magical realism and she weaves it so well. I believe that would be true.




Oh and the name, seriously how did I not spot it before the end! Makes so much sense.




Well written, and good.






An unforgettable dark fairy tale that asks, Can love save us from ourselves?


Birdie’s keeping it together; of course she is. So she’s a little hungover sometimes, and she has to bring her daughter, Emaleen, to her job waiting tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but she’s getting by as a single mother in a tough town. Still, Birdie can remember happier times from her youth, when she was free in the wilds of nature.




Arthur Neilsen, a soft-spoken and scarred recluse who appears in town only at the change of seasons, brings Emaleen back to safety when she gets lost in the woods. Most people avoid him, but to Birdie he represents everything she’s ever longed for. She finds herself falling for Arthur and the land he knows so well. Against the warnings of those who care about them, Birdie and Emaleen move to his isolated cabin in the mountains on the far side of the Wolverine River.




It’s just the three of them in the vast black woods, far from roads, telephones, electricity, and outside contact, but Birdie believes she has come prepared. At first, it’s idyllic, but soon Birdie discovers that Arthur is something much more mysterious and dangerous than she could have imagined, and that like the Alaska wilderness, a fairy tale can be as dark as it is beautiful.


Caroles Monday

Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrator: Christine Lakin & Zachary Webber
Title: Just for the Summer
Series: Part of Your World #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
Format: Audiobook 
Published: April 2, 2024
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library



Summary: 
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?



Review:
This was picked as something to read by my Twitch community BUT I had my eyes on this one as well since I enjoyed the first two of the series. 

Here we follow Emma and Justin. They both have a wild curse where the person they break up with happens to find their true love shortly after. The two meet on Reddit and decide that maybe, JUST maybe, they can break the curse after they "date" and break up. Emma is a traveling nurse and decides to take her next assignment at the hospital near Justin. This is supposed to be a quick and fake summer fling, but they are catching real feelings for each other. However, they have a lot of baggage that could provide some major hurdles for them. 

You really should read the other two books before this one especially since there is a huge connection that is revealed. I do not want to say TOO much because it is a huge twist! I had zero idea. It really took me aback! I didn't see it coming! But this does okay as a standalone overall, but the connections make it just that more special. 

Loved seeing Justin find love. He was such a nice guy in the last book. He deserves all the happiness life has to offer. My heart broke for him learning about what is happening to his family. I feel for them all...even his mom. Life is never black and white.

Oooooh Emma!!! Her backstory and issues broke my heart. I HATE her mother soooo much! I was literally screaming for Emma to stand up and tell her to go away. Booooo!

This was adorable overall. Some humor. Some smexy scenes. Lots and lots of baggage these two had to shift through. Like the other book the author does have a layer of real life mental health or health issues that she gives her characters. I really love it. Yes, you know they will find their HEA but it just feels so real. The author really does a wonderful job of blending everything together that isn't TOO heavy ALL the time or TOO sweet or TOO ridiculously funny. It is simply perfect.

I enjoyed this a lot. I dare say I loved it. 

The narrators are just the cherry on top! They are perfect and bring the story to life. 

In the end, I adored this book just as much as the others. I love our characters and I loved watching them fall in love. It broke my heart seeing them go through all the issues, but it was worth seeing it so they could get to their HEA. 5 stars from me.  



Favorite Character(s): Justin
Least Favorite Character(s): Amber


 Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #32
- Library Love #18


Saturday, 19 July 2025

One dark window by Rachel Gillig

 

399 pages, Paperback


First published September 27, 2022


Series: The Shepherd King (#1)


Fantasy/own






Sometimes I give in and read hyped books, and this one it totally paid off.




It was set in a rather dark world where mist surrounds the land, people get infected and killed, and they have tarot cards that give them magic.




Elspeth caught the infection but was hidden away, but then she is thrown into the midst of highwayman, card thieves, family and royalty . She must hide what she is and the darkness that is taking over her mind.




Ohh great world. A heroine I liked at once. Some evil people to hate on. And at the end even a sprinkle of romance. It also ends with such a cliffie that I NEEDED book 2 at once. Alas, I do not have it!





Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her. Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.




But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.




Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.


Thursday, 17 July 2025

Audio. Do not disturb by Freida McFadden

By: Freida McFadden


Narrated by: Megan Tusing, Daniel Thomas May


Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins


Release date: 07-01-25 by Tantor Audio


Thriller




I did not think it, but this one sure packed a punch! Every time I thought I was right I was proven wrong. Twists and turns and such epic ones. I am really impressed.




It starts with murder. And it does seem he deserved it. Quinn goes on the run but gets stuck at a creepy motel because of a snowstorm. Only one other guest who lives there all year around, a managed that seems nice and his wife who is spying from their house.




I really can not say too much because I would just spoil it, but wow, well done. I need to read more even she always gives twists like this.




A great one to listen too, those last 1,5 hours, oh they kept me at the edge of my seat and the narrator did an amazing job with all voices and povs. There is also a male narrator that comes in later.





Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime. To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she’s done.




But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, isolated Baxter Motel. The handsome and kindly owner, Nick Baxter, is only too happy to offer her a cheap room for the night.




Unfortunately, the Baxter Motel isn’t the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be. The motel has a dark and disturbing past. And in the dilapidated house across the way, the silhouette of Nick's ailing wife is always at the window. Always watching.




In the morning, Quinn must leave the motel. She'll pack up her belongings and get back on the road to freedom.




But first, she must survive the night.


Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Audio: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

By: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Series: Assistant to the Villain, Book 2

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Release date: 08-20-24 by Tantor Media

Fantasy/received from publisher







These are so much fun. Light fantasy, fairytale vibes, all in all while we are clearly on the villain´s side.




Evie is working for the Villain. The big bad in all the land, but he is just so...nice! Sure he is evil, but beneath that grumpy outside is clearly someone who wants to protect.




Book 1 ended with a cliffie, and well not all is as it seems. Is the villain really a villain in the end?




In this one they are trying to find her mother. Trying to find out what is happening to magic. Trying to stay hidden from the King´s forces. And just you know trying to keep everyone in check. Evie has a lot on her plate, so much office intrigues.




Oh and there is some romance sparking, but it is slow going. She fancies him, but she should not. He clearly fancies her, but he should not! So...it takes time.




Good, fun, and just different.




Great narration, she really does a amazing job with this series.





Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome, evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat . . . out-of-evil-office.




But Rennedawn is in trouble, and all signs—Kingsley's included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom's magic, and it's made The Villain's manor vulnerable to their enemies . . . including their nemesis, the king.




Now it's time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain's lair, his nefarious works, and maybe the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.




It's time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It's all so . . . so . . . delightfully fun.




But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?


Monday, 14 July 2025

Caroles Monday


Author: Kate Cochrane
Title: Yours for the Season
Series: Puck Struck #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, LGBT
Format: ebook
Pages: 352
Expected publication October 28, 2025
Where I got It: My shelf (Given to me for my honest and unbiased opinion)



Summary: 
Making the yuletide gay

JT Cox never quite fit into Hart’s Landing. Playing on the boys’ hockey team and coming out young didn’t help. Now, thanks to an Olympic gold medal, JT’s name is on a sign greeting visitors to her hometown. Her family of artists and creatives still treat her as an odd duck, but elsewhere there’s a warm welcome. Especially from her best friend’s older sister, newly divorced Ali Porter.

Single for the first time since high school, Ali is ready to take the reins of her own life. She’s never had the chance to date another woman, and JT is an irresistible force of nature. When they team up for the town’s holiday contest, cocoa tasting and gingerbread decorating give way to snow-melting chemistry.

If teenage JT thought Ali was the prettiest girl on the planet, adult JT is completely smitten. But JT can’t see herself living in Hart’s Landing again and Ali can’t imagine leaving her job and her newly purchased home. And with Ali’s mom trying to plot a reconciliation with her ex, this holiday season might be bittersweet…or the start of something magical.




Review:
I meant to wait a bit before reading this, but I needed some holiday joy. 

Here we follow Ali and JT. The two have known each other for years. Ali is JT's best friend's older sister. Ali is finally free of her stuck-in High School husband and is ready to move on. JT never quite fit in and always felt like the odd duck out. This has all changed and everyone wants a piece of JT after she won an Olympic gold medal. When they team up to take on the holiday contest, they realize there is a strong chemistry between them. However, JT doesn't ever want to move back to Hart's Landing and Ali can't imagine leaving her job. 

This is technically book 2 of the series, but it did well as a standalone. The first book was about another couple. I totally forgot I wanted to read book 1 first...oh well. This was fine. 

The two had a lot of family stuff to deal with and I felt so bad for them. Screw both of their families (minus Ali's brother). Honestly, I think they both needed therapy because a lot of the hurdles they face were internal. But they were an adorable couple and I adored them soooo much. They deserved all the love!

Don't even get me started on KYLE. >_> Ugh. Such a stereotypical jerk. 

Awwww this made me miss Christmas!!!! I want some hot chocolate now!

I did enjoy this overall, but I did feel that some of the side characters seemed so 2D and in some case pretty stereotypical. 

All-in-all, this was a very sweet romance between two gals who deserved all the love in the world. I loved that couple!!! The side characters needed some fleshing out since they felt so 2D to me. This was adorable and a nice Christmas read. 4 stars from me. 

 

Favorite Character(s): Ali and JT
Least Favorite Character(s): KYLE!




Visa citerad text

Friday, 11 July 2025

Great big beautiful life by Emily Henry


Format: 416 pages, Paperback


Published: April 23, 2025 by Penguin Australia


Fiction


Library






Seriously, what do people categorize this one as? Because it certainly is not a romance. Yes there is romance, but is more romantic fiction  if that even. I enjoyed it, but this is my second Henry book and neither has been romance, and still...oh I do not know.




This is a book about two journalist competing about who can write the tell it all book about a famous socialite. And see that is the story, Margarets story. She tells about her family, and her life. Alice is a side character who gets to listen, and when she is not listening she runs into Hayden and sparks does fly in the end. Byt yes to me this is truly The Ives family story.




Romance, well I would say there is as much romance between these two as there are between others in the book. Margaret does tell about a lot of people.




The book was good, I really enjoyed learning the Ives tragic story. Did I agree with some choices they made, no, but that was life.





Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.




When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.




One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.




Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.




Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.




But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.




And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.


Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Audio: Assistant to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer


By: Hannah Nicole Maehrer


Narrated by: Em Eldridge


Series: Assistant to the Villain, Book 1


Length: 13 hrs and 54 mins


Release date: 08-29-23 by Tantor Audio


Fantasy/ received from publisher





Wait,  this was first a viral tiktok thing? I really need to check that out.




This one was funny, and this villain is more like grumpy meets sunshine. I know he is supposed to be evil, but aww, he just awww. And then he kills someone, but aww.




Evie takes care of her sick dad and her little sister. And she needs money so an accident makes her meet the dreaded villain. But he is hot, and she needs a job. She becomes his assistant.




There are other people to at his Evil castle. The dragonkeeper, a healer who loves pink, someone in the office that she butts heads with and she will meet more. She is sunshine and happiness, and clumsiness. She also speaks faster than she thinks.




And the villain just can not say no to her.




But something evil is afoot, and it is not the villain.




Great narration. She kept a good pace and brought everyone to life.






With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.




But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.




Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.




After all, a good job is hard to find.


Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Caroles Monday



Author: Mary Wine
Title: Between a Highlander and a Hard Place
Series: Highland Weddings #5
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: ebook
Pages: 320
Published:  November 6, 2018
Where I got It: Borrowed from library



Summary: 
Athena Trappes thinks she's in love...until she discovers the scoundrel only wanted her as his bit on the side. Enraged, she does what any spirited Englishwoman would set fire to his belongings, incur his dangerous wrath, and flee—immediately. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks freedom in the wilds of Scotland.

Highland Laird Symon Grant lost his wife years ago, and it's his duty to find another. Athena is not exactly what the clan has in mind for him, but Symon's heart burns with unexpected passion for the woman who would risk everything to be free.




Review:
Weee Symon's story!!!

Here we continue with seeing Symon finally find love after an arranged marriage. It's his duty to marry and provide an heir, but no one seems to fit what he wants...until he meets Athena Trappes. Athena thought she was in love until she discovered that he only wanted her as a mistress since he had his eyes on a richer prize. She runs away and seeks a new life. 

This was all unrealistic and sometimes silly, but for some reason it all seemed to be crazy enough to work. 

I liked Symon and Athena. They were perfect for each other. I loved the fact that Symon fell hard first and fell fast. Athena was worried...but look at happened when she thought she loved someone? So I get her taking time and made Symon do the work to woo her. 

The external and internal struggles worked very well. I loved the whole scene with the King near the end. I was unsure how everything was going to play out. Bless you Brenda! You are the darling of the clan!

The ending left on a HUGE cliffhanger........what are they going to do? EEEE *requests the next book to the series right away from the library* I gotta know. 

My biggest issue with the book.............Athena's name. The probablity of a 16th century English woman having that name is slim to none. It bugged me. Maybe there was one or two but one of nobility? Eeeee not sure about that one captain!

All-in-all, just a couple little bugs that annoyed me, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. The last couple have been just okay, but this was much better and worth wading through the others to get here. 4 stars from me.
 

Favorite Character(s): Brenda
Least Favorite Character(s): Esme......








 Challenge(s):
- Library Love #14


Sunday, 6 July 2025

2025 Audiobook Challenge Mid-Year Check-In

 


I am doing a mid year check in :) Here is what I have listened to so far:



1. A sorceress comes to call by T.Kingfisher


2. Written in red by Anne Bishop


3. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop


4. Wilde abandon by Jennifer Ryan


5. Vision in silver by Anne Bishop


6. Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop


7. The secret daughter by Anne Gracie


8. The Bennet Inheritance by Jann Rowland


9. One thing leads to a lover by Susanna Craig


10. The mystery of the Spanish chest by Agatha Christie


11. Laird of Misrule by mary Wine


12. The two of us by Lori Foster


13. The river knows your name by Kelly Mustian


14. The never list by Jade Presley


15. Master of Mayhem by mary Wine


16. Still hung up on you by Liz Maverick


17. One of those flings by Lauren Blakely


18. Bryony and roses by T.Kingfisher


19. In love with the Viscount by Julianne McLean


20. A wizards guide to defensive baking by T.Kingfisher


21. Guarded by the warrior by Eliza Knight


22. Sweet talk by Cara Bastone


23. Booked for the holidays by Liz Maverick


24. Cowboy under the mistletoe by Elena Grace


25. Swordheart by T.Kingfisher


26. Assistant to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer


27. Apprentice to the villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer


Thursday, 3 July 2025

By a silver Thread by Rachel Aaron


Series: DFZ Changeling (#1)


Format: 380 pages, Paperback

'

Published: May 2, 2023 by Aaron Bach LLC


Own/urban fantasy





What can I say, in the end nothing compare to Heartstrikers. I know, I lost my heart and soul to that series.




This is DFC many years after what happened there. Now more beings have come to light, or are still hiding. Among them fairies, and Lola is a changeling. A magical thing brought in to existence. One that should have faded but she is still alive thanks to a bloodmage named Victor that uses her for his own good.




And so Victor goes missing. She needs him to stay alive. She meets new friends and foes and something sinister is growing in the DFC.




There was danger and intrigues. It was good, but alas nothing compares....





In the world’s most magical metropolis where spirits run noodle shops and cash-strapped dragons stage photo-ops for tourists, people still think fairies are nothing but stories, and that’s exactly how the fairies like it. It’s a lot easier to feast on humanity’s dreams when no one believes you exist. But while this arrangement works splendidly for most fair folk, Lola isn’t one of the lucky ones.




She’s a changeling, a fairy monster made just human enough to dupe unsuspecting parents while fairies steal their real child. The magic that sustains her was never meant to last past the initial theft, leaving Lola without a future. But thanks to Victor Conrath, a very powerful--and very illegal--blood mage, she was given the means to cheat death.


For a price.




Now the only changeling ever to make it to adulthood, Lola has served the blood mage faithfully, if reluctantly, for twenty years. Her unique ability to slip through wards and change her shape to look like anyone has helped make Victor a legend in the DFZ’s illegal-magic underground. It’s not a great life, but at least the work is stable… until her master vanishes without a trace.




With only a handful left of the pills that keep her human, Lola must find Victor before she turns back into the fairy monster she was always meant to be. But with a whole SWAT team of federal paladins hunting her as a blood-mage accomplice, an Urban Legend on a silent black motorcycle who won’t leave her alone, and a mysterious fairy king with the power to make the entire city dream, Lola’s chances of getting out of this alive are as slender as a silver thread.


Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Best of June

 





Here are the best of the bests for June. 


Best Book of the Month:

"I like her books and this was a new series with a twist to it!"




"So good. All the feels. 100% recommend"






Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  Clue (1985)
"Entertaining and funny!"






"Best movie. It was funny."






Best TV show of the Month:


Blodeuedd - Love, Death, & Robots
"I watched a new season of Love sex and robots. I liked the cat one."


Carole - The Daily Show
"Been nonstop watching. Funny but informative."






Best Cover of the Month:


C's pick: Adorable!!!

B's pick: Cute, all those holiday feels!!











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I review from most genres on this blog, and those genres are: fantasy,chick-lit, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA, historical/+romance, contemporary romance and literary fiction. + some other genres read by my guest reviewers.

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