The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Available now

Here’s a list of CW from The StoryGraph.

From the Publisher:

With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home.

The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own.  

Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever.

Reader Friends, this book contains a secret family, a secret library, a secret society, and a magical secret! It’s just secrets on secrets on secrets! I’m a sucker for a gothic romance and one that contains a hidden library with magical powers? Instantly hooked. I listened to this one on audio and the things I did to make sure I could keep listening…my floors were so clean and my house has never been so free of dust.

Fox does an excellent job of crafting one of the most sympathetic and enraging characters I’ve read. Ivy, young, alone, and living in poverty, is like a fish out of water in her new home. She wants nothing more than to spend her days in the hidden library cataloging and reading every book she can reach, but her household staff do everything in their powers to keep her away from her precious books. Unsure of how to truly conduct herself, Ivy is torn between asserting her place of power in the home and her easy-going, non-confrontational nature. At every point that I wanted to shake Ivy for acting so naive and trusting, the author not so gently reminds the reader of the era in which Ivy lives and her lack of agency as a young, single woman. Nearly every character felt like they had their hands tied in some way when it came to protecting Ivy, which was both infuriating and begrudgingly made sense with the story.

I really enjoyed how much Ivy was completely enthralled by her new home and it’s secrets. A former abbey, Ivy’s new home is incredibly large and she is constantly getting lost in newly discovered halls and rooms and there are even hidden passageways! She is hopelessly in love with her Library and immediately wants to share her new-found literary wealth with the rest of the village. It’s pretty hard to get too mad at a character who finds herself newly titled and her first thought is to start a Bookmobile!

For such a charming and magical story, this book is actually quite dark and disturbing. There is some serious gaslighting that goes on and Ivy is placed in some seriously dangerous situations by people who are supposed to care for her so definitely take care when reading this one.

If you want to add this enchanting tale to your library, you can click on the cover above or here for ordering information. I borrowed the audiobook version from my local Library using the Libby app so don’t forget to check if your Library already bought it for you.

This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Available now

CW: Here’s a list provided by The StoryGraph. Please check before reading.

From the Publisher:

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she suspects that her great-aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. When Altha was a girl, her mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience.

This book is absolutely captivating! Beautifully written with lush descriptions, this book broke my heart over and over again-but in a good way, promise. If you enjoy books that combine female rage with a healthy dose of female empowerment, this book should be on your TBR. Hart effortlessly wove together the lives of three incredible women into a compelling and enthralling story of love, revenge, and resilience. The incredible descriptions of Weyward Cottage and it’s gardens were absolutely enchanting and I loved how books were an integral part of Kate’s story. Her love of them, her aunt Violet’s gorgeous collection of science based books and books by women authors, and how a bookstore became so important to her own story. You can tell the author has a deep love and appreciation for books and that love shone on the page.

Weyward, with it’s gorgeous cover and lush writing, is actually a pretty dark and haunting story of tragedy and trauma. But underneath that darkness is a great deal of hope and love. This book has an extraordinary ending that stayed with me for weeks after reading. It’s a powerful and enthralling story and once again, I can’t believe this another debut author! I don’t know what Emilia Hart has planned next, but I can’t wait to read it.

This book was my March 2023 Book of the Month pick and yep, I waited way too long to read it. If you’re interested in BOTM, you can use my referral link to get your first book for $5. Full disclosure: I get a free book when you use my link. I spend my own real money on BOTM and have really enjoyed the wide selection of books and authors and the ease of skipping a month if you’re not into any of the titles.

If you would like to add this enchanting novel to your shelf, you can click on the cover above for ordering information. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb, Graham Halstead, and Nicholas Boulton

Available now

CW: murder, child abuse. It is kept pretty brief and matter of fact, with the majority of the story being quite light, but there are a handful of violent scenes.

I don’t remember adding this to my KU library but Past Me has excellent taste! This book was the perfect field mowing companion and I immeadiately downloaded the second book in the series as soon as I finished it. It’s so sweet, a little silly, and incredibly compelling. If you’re looking for a light, magical, cozy fantasy read with a dash of romance, this book is perfect.

From the Publisher:

Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home—until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.

Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.

It’s so good! This one is hard not to spoil, so apologies for the brief and excited squealing. Keeper of Enchanted Rooms is incredibly fun. It begins with dual narratives. One is from a wealthy wizard who has a tragic childhood and the other is Merritt Fernsby, bachelor writer who inherits Whimbrel House. The magic found within Whimbrel House is quite whimsical in the beginning, balancing out the darkness of the story of our tortured wizard. There is a light romantic element that is full of pining and Great Concern for Propriety but isn’t the main focus of the story, more of a delightful bonus. There is delightful banter amongst all the characters, as well as some found family elements. The magic system, widely known to all in the world, is simple and easy to follow and provides some great comedic moments. Hulda holds an important and respected position within the BIKER, the magical agency that oversees enchanted homes. I love a heroine with an interesting job and Hulda definitely has an interesting job! She’s incredibly competent and I don’t remember her dealing with any type of patriarchal b.s. It could be there, but I don’t remember. Quite refreshing, to be honest.

I found the Keeper of Enchanted Rooms to be delightful and engrossing story with a fantastic mystery. I listened to the audio version and the performances were absolutely fantastic. If you would like to add this magical mystery to your shelf, you can click on the cover above, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward

Available now

CW: mental illness, suicidal ideation, gaslighting, murder, child abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, homophobia, bullying. Read with care.

Reader Friends, my favorite author has released a new book that doesn’t include my all-time, hands down, favorite group of fictional people in Caldwell! It left me a little wary but a whole lot of intrigued.

And she left me emotionally wrecked. This book is going to twist you up in so many ways and take you right on back to the emotional roller coaster that is high school. This book tackles some extremely heavy topics like suicide and mental illness and Ward lays out her writing process in her Author’s Note and I felt the care and love she has for her characters. Definitely check the content warnings on this one and I realize how wild it is to love a book that is this dark and heavy.

Oh, and Jessica Ward is J.R. Ward, aka The Warden, author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

From the Publisher:

When Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she’s carrying more baggage than just what fits in her suitcase. She knows she’s not like the other girls—if the shabby, all-black, non-designer clothes don’t give that away, the bottle of lithium hidden in her desk drawer sure does.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, picks Sarah as a target from day one and the most popular, powerful, horrible girl at school is relentless in making sure Sarah knows what the pecking order is. Thankfully, Sarah makes an ally out of her roommate Ellen “Strots” Strotsberry, a cigarette-huffing, devil-may-care athlete who takes no bullshit. Also down the hall is Nick Hollis, the devastatingly handsome RA, and the object of more than one St. Ambrose student’s fantasies. Between Strots and Nick, Sarah hopes she can make it through the semester, dealing with not only her schoolwork and a recent bipolar diagnosis, but Greta’s increasingly malicious pranks.

Sarah is determined not to give Greta the satisfaction of breaking her. But when scandal unfolds, and someone ends up dead, her world threatens to unravel in ways she could never have imagined. The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a dangerous, delicious, twisty coming-of-age tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This book contains so many of my favorite tropes: boarding school, scandal, mean girls getting what they deserve (not that anyone really deserves murder,) dark secrets, and strong female friendships. All of the characters felt real and fully developed, especially Sarah. You could feel how desperately she wanted away from her home, but also how much she knew she didn’t fit in with the rich girls at the elite St. Ambrose. She was so aware of her mental illness and how tightly she had to keep it in control to guard her secret from everyone. When all of that stress, exacerbated by the horrible bullying from Greta and her girlfriends, leads to Sarah making some very dark and misguided decisions, my heart broke. You could feel how lonely and isolated she felt, even when she was constantly surrounded by her teachers, roommate, and advisors.

This is one of those novels where every character has a dark secret to hide. It seemed like every secret was darker and more disturbing than the last. (Like I said, it’s real doozy of a book!) All of those layers of secrets really added to the impact of the plot twist and made the ending one of the most explosive I’ve read. I absolutely loved it and flew through it in just one sitting.

If you want to add this dark and explosive thriller to your shelf, you can click on the cover above, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions and mistakes are my own. Like those commas. I never get those right.

Pride Reads: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

There are numerous lists (yay!) of amazing books to read during Pride Month, and all year long! Here is one of my favorites!

Available now

I finished this book last night and I’m still devastated. Be sure to keep the tissues handy during this one! If you loved The House on the Cerulean Sea, you are going to love Under the Whispering Door. Not only does Klune have a way with long, whimsical titles, but he has crafted another heartfelt and emotional story about being a human and finding love.

Wallace Price has lived his life consumed by his career. Demanding perfection from his employees and spending each day working until the point of exhaustion has been his M.O. until, one day, he finds himself dead. Standing over his body, bewildered about his situation, and then suddenly, at his own funeral. What should be a well-attended, proper, and expensive affair, turns out to only be attended by his ex-wife and his partners from the law firm. There were no kind words, no tears, and to Wallace’s astonishment, a remarkable amount of sports talk. But there is one person at his funeral that Wallace has never met. And even more startling, she can see Wallace. Mei, Wallace’s reaper, has come to guide him to his next place and Wallace isn’t having it.

Finally relenting, Wallace and Mei make their way to a tea shop run by Mei and Hugo. But of course, this is no ordinary tea shop. It’s a way station for those newly departed before they make their way to other side. Residing in the tea shop with Mei and Hugo are Hugo’s faithful pup Apollo and Hugo’s grandfather, the deceased Nelson. Slowly, day by day, Wallace learns from this remarkable team the ins and outs of ghost life, and begins to realize how little he actually lived.

This is an emotional, tender, funny, and remarkable story of life and love and I was immediately caught up in Wallace’s story and his journey to the afterlife. Wallace experiences all the stages of grief over his own death and does so in a way that felt incredibly real and relatable. His journey to discovering how to be a friend and to become part of a family never felt forced, it was a gentle progression that we saw every step of the way. Klune has given us beautiful characters with full lives and distinct personalities. Every character is crucial to the story and grows within the book. Klune has created an interesting take on the Reaper mythos and I really loved how The Manager, no spoilers!, was imagined. The characters were so well thought out and imagined that it made the story really compelling and I was unable to put it down.
No lie, I finished this while eating dinner with my guys and sobbed over my mac ‘n cheese. The Kid was quite worried.

I cannot express how much I love this book. It’s compelling, beautiful, heartfelt, and just really, really lovely. If you would like to add this story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and TOR Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Pride Reads: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

There are numerous lists (yay!) of amazing books to read during Pride Month, and all year long! Here is one of my favorites!

Available now

If you are looking for a low stakes, soothing, warm hug of a book, this is it. It’s the perfect way to spend a few hours, lost in a world that is just discovering the joys of coffee and pastries, and the community that can be built around the mysterious concept of café.

This book is lovely.

Set in a fantasy world, Viv is an orc who is tired of fighting and pillaging. Determined to make a fresh start, she follows the ley lines to discover the perfect location for her next business venture: a café. But not just any café, it will be the first café in the area. With the help of some new friends, and a purse full of coins, Viv begins to turn a ramshackle stable into a place of warmth and community. But, not everything goes smoothly. People from her past are determined to make life difficult and there’s a pesky mob group demanding protection money.

Reader Friends, this book is perfect! I love it so, so much. I was looking for something light and you can’t get any lighter than this one. It is just a delightful account of people coming together as they transform a run down stable into a beautiful little shop. It’s full of shopping lists, shopping trips, and thoughts on decorations. It’s about making menus and arranging furniture. It’s about discovering new foods and the processes needed to make those foods. It’s about people becoming friends and being oblivious when the friendship develops into something more.

It’s just so lovely. If you are looking for something light that is both humorous and sweet, I highly, highly recommend this one.

If you would like to add this delightful book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Available now

Love this cover!

If you, like me, saw this book all over social media last fall but put off reading it, stop waiting! It truly is just as good as everyone was saying. It’s one of those delightfully genre bending romances that immeadiately hooks with you with the detailed and unique world building, interesting characters, and compelling romance.

Mercy Birdsall is doing her best to keep Birdsall & Son Undertakers running while her father’s health recovers and her brother finishes mortuary school. But running a business single-handedly is exhausting work, especially when a rival company wants to put you out of business and the local marshals are so irritating and exasperating. Exasperating and handsome. So handsome.

Hart Ralston is a marshal who keeps people safe from the many drudges roaming the wild lands of Tanria. Delivering bodies to local undertakers is just one part of his job, but some undertakers are far more annoying and exhausting than others. Especially those undertakers who are tall, curvy, beautiful and fiercely independent like Mercy Birdsall. And her having a lovable dog doesn’t hurt.

For four years, Mercy and Hart have traded increasingly hostile barbs at one another, all fueled by a bad first meeting. After a particularly unpleasant encounter with Mercy, Hart writes a letter to “A Friend.” Pouring out his feelings of loneliness in an uncharacteristically vulnerable letter, Hart is surprised and delighted to receive a response. What he doesn’t realize, is that kind, warm, and funny person he is corresponding with is none other than Mercy Birdsall. That’s right! They’re falling in love through anonymous letters.

As the two fall head over heels for each other, the world around them seems to be falling apart. Mercy’s undertaking business is in grave jeopardy. Hart is battling an increase in drudge attacks. And then the unthinkable happens. Hart discovers Mercy is his pen pal. Terrified that he’ll lose her friendship and hate him forever, he keeps his discovery a secret.

You guys. This is one of the best enemies-to-lovers I have ever read. These two can’t stand each other in the real world but are so smitten with each other in their letters it’s unreal. It’s so good! Also, the world building is really interesting. Magic is so prevalent in this world that it’s almost an afterthought. Hart is a demigod. His father is one of the Old Gods and it’s quite possible that he is immortal, but he won’t know until he dies. Or doesn’t? A magical occurrence/disaster/something caused “drudges” to be created. Souls that take over the living and can only be killed by piercing their appendix. I love how quirky this is. All of this is just normal and treated as such. And the best part-those magical letters that made it to “A Friend?” They are delivered by magical animal postal workers!

I love how passionate Mercy is about her job. She truly feels that ushering people into the afterlife is a calling and one that she enjoys doing. She has to deal with all sorts of patriarchal b.s. that is infuriating to read and completely relatable. And of course, Hart is perfect throughout all of it. He’s such a delightfully tall cinnamon roll.

This book is fun, quirky, sweet, sexy, and very romantic. If you love family drama, magic, witty banter, and epistolary novels, this will be perfect for you. If you’d like to add this fabulous book to your collection, you can click on the book cover above or here for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

Available now

From the Publisher:

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

I really, really enjoyed this one! Klune has this way of making, what I felt was, a very action packed and plot driven novel still seem very quiet and contemplative. Set in a dystopian future, our characters always seem to be on the verge of grave danger and yet, still find humor and joy throughout their days. If anyone can write a whimsical, dystopian love story, it’s Klune. Full of adventure in a futuristic setting, at it’s heart, In the Lives of Puppets is a magical story of found family, loyalty, acceptance, and love.

If you’d like to add this wonderful novel to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne

Available Now

Spring is in full swing on the farm and finding time to read has been a struggle! One of my favorite things to do when I’m short on reading time and can’t seem to pick out a book from either my own stash or upcoming arcs, is to hit Kindle Unlimited and find the most bonkers cover and dive right in.

It works every time.

I really enjoyed this wonderfully wild and slightly chaotic book. I do, of course, say this with love. While I found the world building to be a little uneven, I loved the characters and found their journey to love to be sweet, super hot, and quite adventurous.

Reia has been shunned by her entire village. Forced to live alone and treated horribly for supposedly bringing on the deaths of her family, Reia has been offered by the village to be a virgin sacrifice to a Duskwalker. Faced with with a lifetime of imprisonment, Reia has no choice but to be the one who ensures the Duskwalker renews the ward that keeps the village safe from demons.

But, of course, our Duskwalker is not the soulless monster that everyone assumes. He is instead a kind, caring, and thoughtful (as much as he can be) individual who has been horribly hurt by a previous lover and has his own emotional issues to overcome.

This was a fun book. Reia doesn’t really fear Orpheus, our Duskwalker, and that really throws him off. Every time she shows him the slightest kindness he nearly loses his mind with joy and Orpheus expresses his emotions through the glowing orbs that are his eyes which leads to some really cute scenes. Just like the cover, our hero has a skull for a head. Just a bony skull. When Reia discovers the different colors signify emotions, she is determined to see his “happy” colors as often as possible. It’s really quite sweet.

This book is also super hot. It’s a slow burn but it’s definitely worth the wait. Reyne’s Duskwalkers are incredibly complex and unique in their anatomy and that made for some wild and creative sexual adventures. Reia was forced to remain a virgin until her sacrifice to Orpheus, but don’t worry, he pledged to never touch her without her permission, and she is quite confused about her feelings and desires towards him. If you love the microtrope of a human discovering she digs a “monster,” you’re going to love this.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and already started the second book in the series. I’ve been on a bit of a monster romance kick and this was definitely worth the read.

If you’d like to add this book to your collection, it’s included in Kindle Unlimited or you can click on the cover, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Available now

This book is incredible! Absolutely one of the best books I’ve ever read. Told in alternating points of view, we watch as The Bridegroom falls hopelessly in love with Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada, an incredibly wealthy and enigmatic woman. He’s known from the beginning that he can never ask about her past and is so swept up in his love for her that he manages to never question her until they are summoned to her childhood home to say goodbye to her dying aunt. As The Bridegroom wanders the mansion, he discovers the house wants to reveal secrets that Indigo is desperate to remain hidden.

Indigo’s childhood is revealed to us through the eyes of Azure, her closest friend. Orphaned as a young child, Indigo inherits not just her family’s wealth and business empire, but closets full of designer clothes and jewelry. Together, they crafted spells to take them to the world of fae and spent their days in preparation of becoming fae royalty and a life of immortality.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is hauntingly beautiful. It’s part mystery, part fantasy, and completely engrossing. Chokshi is an incredibly talented writer and has crafted some of the beautiful sentences I’ve ever read. This ended up being far darker than I anticipated, but was so enthralling that I couldn’t put it down.

If you would like to add this amazing book to your collection, you can click on the cover for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort

Available now

Guys, once upon a time, while doom scrolling on the bird app, I came across an author posting one star reviews of her books. If I’m remembering correctly, this author shared a review that stated the book was pure filth and nothing but sex (or something along those lines).

I immeadiately bought the book. And I’m now realizing I didn’t post about it here! It’s The Astronaut and the Star and it’s fabulous! Go read it. Equally hot and fabulous is her latest novel, Midnight Duet.

In Midnight Duet, we meet Erika Greene, a beautiful and talented Broadway star who can’t seem to keep her hands to herself. After sleeping with her co-star’s boyfriend, and being very publicly called out about it, Erika suffers a tragic accident on stage and is left badly injured and traumatized. Feeling like the universe is punishing her for her sins, Erika moves to the Paris Opera House (in Nevada) that has been in her family for over one hundred years. Business is almost nonexistent, debts are piling up, repairs desperately need to be made and Erika now has to come up with $10K to cover a loan or she’ll lose the theater.

In a last ditch attempt to save the theater, and not leave herself homeless, Erika agrees to rent out the theater, slightly illegally, to the band Nachtmusik. Assuming that a German band would need several weeks to pack and plan their trip, Erika plans to use the down payment to make some repairs and prepare for their arrival. Except…the tall, handsome band leader Christof is also extremely organized and determined to get their record started and shows up the next day.

What follows is a delightfully chaotic story, full of quirky and lovely characters. Every character is interesting and I would a read a book about every single of one of them, especially Sibylle’s. The chemistry between Christof and Erika is off the charts. Because the band is only set to be in Nevada for two months, and Erika has even less time to save the theater, the timeline is quite compressed. Erika’s urgency to save the theater and Christof’s pressure on the band to write the next album mirror the intense feelings the two share for each other, and it’s just so well done. And intense is no exaggeration when it comes to these two. Erika and Christof are absolutely explosive together!

I found the story to be incredibly compelling and entertaining and the pacing felt perfect. I really, really enjoyed this one and if we could continue on with some more of these characters…that’d be great!

If you’d like to add this title to your collection, you can find ordering information here or by clicking on the cover above. It’s also included in Kindle Unlimited if you’re looking to make the most of your membership.

I was offered a free copy of Midnight Duet in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Available now

If you are new to Rachel Hawkins as a thriller writer, I am so jealous! This is a true gift for those that seek their thrills between the pages. I read this nearly a year ago and I still think about how cleverly it comes together.

I love a book about a Book. One that requires the Other to become something magnificent. That book that lets you believe that you may own such a Book and the adventures that could be found both between the pages and by simply owning it. That’s The Villa. It’s about Emily and Chess, and their inseparable friendship, even into adulthood. It’s about the lengths we go to as adults to hang on to those friendships that shape us and define us humans.

Emily and Chess, have been friends for years. The type of friends that should transcend everything. When they find themselves renting a villa in Italy for a much needed vacation and chance at reconnection, they discover the villa is the home to a legacy far deeper than either woman believed. Found in the villa’s library is a journal from the time the villa was home to some of rock and roll’s most famous murders.

This one is so good! Hawkins is so skilled at amping up the tension until you can’t possibly believe it will all work out and then, deliver a twist so sharp you can’t but help to be humbled by her skill. I loved this book. It’s full of complicated, sympathetic characters; kind of? Or at least, not feel guilty for supporting. There are some very real reasons for Emily to do what she does. While Chess was who I thought she would be, I was still shocked by the ending and fully invested in the story and characters. This is also one of those magical books that gives you two compelling stories: we get the complicated relationship between Emily and Chess and the intriguing story or what actually happened at the villa all those years ago.

It’s so, so good!

If you’d like to add this incredible thriller to your collection, you can find ordering information here or click on the cover. As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Available now

Welcome back to Graves Glen! This time, we get to see the witchy and romantic adventures of Gwyn Jones, cousin to Vivi from book #1, The Ex Hex. Gwyn is the owner of Something Wicked, a witchcraft shop that appeals to the many tourists that flock to Graves Glen each fall for the many festivals and fairs. She’s currently apprenticing three “baby witches” from the local witch college and is living a genuinely happy life.

Then Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow shows up. That’s right, Rhys’s brother who couldn’t be bothered to come to Vivi and Rhys’s wedding. Not only does he show up in Graves Glen, he has the audacity to open a similar store directly across the street from Gwyn. When their competitiveness takes a steamy turn, Gwyn and Wells find themselves in quite the predicament.

As Gwyn and Wells fight their attraction to each other, Gwyn finds her magic fritzing out more and more, especially now that a mysterious newcomer is in town. Can Wells and Gwyn work together to find a cure for her magical woes? Can they work together without destroying the town or Vivi’s honeymoon?

This book is so much fun! Gwyn and Wells play perfectly off of each other and the banter is top notch. Wells and Gwyn kind of know each other from college so while they have some history, it’s definitely more memorable for one of them than the other. Wells is a very straight laced scholar who likes to talk in a very classic and old fashioned way. Gwyn, has a more fun loving and open personality and she loves to poke fun at Wells’ suits and old-timey phrases. One of the best parts of this book is when Gwyn discovers that Wells is a truly talented filthy talker. Absolutely amazing dirty talk. It comes out of nowhere and lands quite the punch. These two just have stellar chemistry and they were a true joy to hang with.

In The Kiss Curse, we get a little more information about Rhys and Wells’ relationship with their father and other brother, Bowen. I really like how Sterling has crafted this tight knit family of Gwyn, Vivi, and Gwyn’s mom Elaine, but the Penhallows are very divided and can barely stand each other. I just found it really interesting how Gwyn immeadiately knows Vivi and Elaine have her back and Wells is just like, well my family is full of dicks so I guess I’m on my own…except for Bowen-I think there’s a preview for book 3 going on here. I think it all shows how the ladies want to protect and preserve their community and the Penhallows have been raised to see as a legacy and status symbol. Simon Penhallow is a true dirtbag and I’m hoping the next book really puts him in his place.

We also get to see Gwyn take on the responsibility of three “baby witches” and the friendship and admiration they all have for each other was great. Such a fun and funny dynamic between the four of them.

The Kiss Curse is an absolute delight and I loved every page. If you’d like to add this incredibly book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover for ordering options.

As always, the post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. These are also my opinions, and all mistakes are completely my fault.

Resting Witch Face (Stay a Spell #5) by Juliette Cross

Happy Halloween and do I have a huge treat for you! Today is the release day for one of my most anticipated books of the year. I fell in love with the Stay a Spell series with the first book, Wolf Gone Wild, and the series continues to deliver super hot romance set in a well-crafted magical world.

Resting Witch Face by Juliette Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CW: gore, violence
Friends, this book opens with a literal bang! We have been witness to the potent tension between Jules and Ruben for many books now and, in Resting Witch Face, the fifth book in the Stay a Spell series, we finally learn the history behind the longing and animosity. What we also get is more insight into the governing council of all supernatural beings and its history and power structure.

As Jules and Ruben travel the world, meeting with the leaders of the various covens to petition the inclusion of the werewolves into their guild, they are forced to come to terms with their attraction to each other and the complexities behind the failure of their relationship years before. Overcoming distrust, dealing with the effects of their gifts, and the constant need to balance work and family is a lot for any couple to grapple with, let alone two of the most powerful and respected members of their covens. There are real, complex reasons that their relationship collapsed in the past and Cross does an excellent job of showing two people who genuinely want to repair the damage and forge a new path forward.

Resting Witch Face is a hot, second-chance romance, full of political intrigue and danger. Cross is known for her dirty talking heroes and Ruben is no exception. This book is full of incredible banter, angst, and intense longing. I really, really loved it.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.


View all my reviews

If you’re interested in adding this amazing book to your collection, you can click on the cover for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (RePost)

Hey all! This has been a long and stressful few weeks so I’m going to bury myself in blankets and tea and enjoy a re-read of this cozy, warm hug of a book.

Available now

If you are looking for a low stakes, soothing, warm hug of a book, this is it. It’s the perfect way to spend a few hours, lost in a world that is just discovering the joys of coffee and pastries, and the community that can be built around the mysterious concept of café.

This book is lovely.

Set in a fantasy world, Viv is an orc who is tired of fighting and pillaging. Determined to make a fresh start, she follows the ley lines to discover the perfect location for her next business venture: a café. But not just any café, it will be the first café in the area. With the help of some new friends, and a purse full of coins, Viv begins to turn a ramshackle stable into a place of warmth and community. But, not everything goes smoothly. People from her past are determined to make life difficult and there’s a pesky mob group demanding protection money.

Reader Friends, this book is perfect! I love it so, so much. I was looking for something light and you can’t get any lighter than this one. It is just a delightful account of people coming together as they transform a run down stable into a beautiful little shop. It’s full of shopping lists, shopping trips, and thoughts on decorations. It’s about making menus and arranging furniture. It’s about discovering new foods and the processes needed to make those foods. It’s about people becoming friends and being oblivious when the friendship develops into something more.

It’s just so lovely. If you are looking for something light that is both humorous and sweet, I highly, highly recommend this one.

If you would like to add this delightful book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Available Now

Are you ready to read the best book of the year? Because this is it! I absolutely love every page of this soft, cozy, delightful novel of magic, found family, and love. In Mika Moon’s world, witches hide their powers from the rest of society and live in near isolation, only gathering together every few months to keep each other apprised of personal updates and new magical discoveries. For her entire life, Mika has believed that too many witches gathered together can trigger a magical disaster and has resolved herself to a lifetime of loneliness. But one day, a message arrives for Mika, begging her to assist in the magical training of three adopted sisters-all witches. How have these three young, untrained witches been allowed to live together? How did someone discover her true nature? Maybe it was those “fake” witchy videos she was posting online…

When Mika accepts this unusual proposal, for a trial run only, she discovers a lovely cottage in the country filled with lovely people. Ian and his husband Ken take care of the grounds while Lucie, the housekeeper and household manager, help with taking care of the children. Also in residence is Jamie, Librarian and pseudo-father to Altamira, Rosetta and Terracotta. While the girls are technically the legal wards to a world traveling archaeologist named Lillian, their daily care comes from Ian, Ken, Lucie and Jamie, who can provide love and guidance in all subjects except for magic. This is where Mika is greatly needed. The three young witches know little about their powers and are unable to stay safely under the radar and so have been housebound for nearly two years. They also need to convince their guardian’s lawyer that they are definitely not witches.

As Mika settles into the attic rooms of Nowhere House with her lovely dog Circe and a koi pond (wait until you see how she transports the pond!) she finds herself deeply conflicted about informing the other witches about the girls. She was never allowed to have friends, let alone sisters, growing up and hates the idea of taking that away from the girls. Determined to give the girls an education, and hopefully keep them together, Mika finds herself growing more and more attached to this quirky family. She is definitely feeling some feelings about the quiet and grumpy Jamie. But can those feelings ever become something more?

Reader friends, this book is amazing. It’s a lovely, quiet book that is beautifully written. The characters are fantastic and you can feel the love everyone shares for each other. The girls are precocious without being obnoxious and Mika is a magical goddess that I desperately want to be best friends with. If you love a found family surrounded by magic and warm, cozy romances with a little bit of spice, this book will check all your boxes.

This is a great witchy book for those who want their magic and witches without the spooky or scary bits. I highly, highly recommend this book.

If you would like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover or here for ordering information.

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R. F. Kuang

Available Now

I was lucky enough to go into reading Babel with very little information about the book. I knew it was about Oxford University in the nearish past and that was about it. Having recently read The Poppy War, I knew I was in for gorgeous writing and a well executed plot, but I was not prepared for the scope and emotional impact this book would deliver!

If you would like to enjoy that same experience, know that I loved this book highly, highly recommend it. Now stop reading and go buy it or put it on hold at your library. Bye!

If you want some more excited ramblings…thanks for staying!

Robin Swift finds his life forever changed when, after his mother’s death, he is taken from his home in Canton to the home of Professor Lovell in London. His days are spent with tutors, learning Greek and Latin, and spending hours memorizing new vocabulary and learning how to adjust to life in London. These grueling days of study are all in preparation of his enrollment at Oxford University and a lifelong career of words, languages, and translations. In Robin’s world, a complicated magic system employs the use of silver bars and match-pairs, words that trigger a magical event, to make life easier and in some ways, just function. Finding students who are fluent in multiple languages are crucial to the creation and maintenance of these silver bars.

Once Robin is fully enrolled at Oxford, he discovers that there is a much darker side to the world around him. He and his fellow language translation students, Babblers to those at Oxford, find themselves the subjects of racism, colonialism, and sexism, as well as many other forms of discrimination, all while their work and study is crucial to everyone’s daily lives. Together, Robin and his friends discover how friendship can become family, how hard work and determination are just as important as love and hope, and how to forge a path towards a better world.

This book is incredible! It truly is a masterpiece of fantasy fiction. Kuang has crafted a book for adults who grew up wanting to be a part of a magical school and shows us all the good and evil parts of that experience. At first, I felt it was moving along too slowly and was anxious for the real action to begin. But then once the action began, I had a true moment of Ah! That was why we had to see them all develop this incredibly close and fond friendship that made them a family. We are shown all the ways they hurt through overt racism and discrimination, as well as the microaggressions they have to endure by those closest to them. We watch them go from innocent, people-pleasing children to brilliant and disillusioned adults who know that world cannot continue forever as it is. Babel is a glorious mix of dark academia, found family, magical realism, and historical fiction. Kuang has created a brilliant world and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

If you would like to add this amazing book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.