BOOK REVIEW | The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Edition: independently published | Status: standalone | Buy it here: Amazon | Price: 15,67€

★★★★★/5

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THEMES: romance ; contemporary ; adult
TRIGGER WARNINGS: sexism ; cancer

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— SYNOPSIS  —

A wedding. A trip to Spain. The most infuriating man. And three days of pretending. Or in other words, a plan that will never work.

Catalina Martín, finally, not single. Her family is happy to announce that she will bring her American boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. Everyone is invited to come and witness the most magical event of the year.

That would certainly be tomorrow’s headline in the local newspaper of the small Spanish town I came from. Or the epitaph on my tombstone, seeing the turn my life had taken in the span of a phone call.

Four weeks wasn’t a lot of time to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic–from NYC and all the way to Spain–for a wedding. Let alone, someone eager to play along my charade. But that didn’t mean I was desperate enough to bring the 6’4 blue eyed pain in my ass standing before me.

Aaron Blackford. The man whose main occupation was making my blood boil had just offered himself to be my date. Right after inserting his nose in my business, calling me delusional, and calling himself my best option. See? Outrageous. Aggravating. Blood boiling. And much to my total despair, also right. Which left me with a surly and extra large dilemma in my hands. Was it worth the suffering to bring my colleague and bane of my existence as my fake boyfriend to my sister’s wedding? Or was I better off coming clean and facing the consequences of my panic induced lie?

Like my abuela would say, que dios nos pille confesados.

The Spanish Love Deception is an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating romantic comedy. Perfect for those looking for a steamy slow-burn romance with the sweetest Happily Ever After.

“The chances of him, » I told Rosie, « being actually serious are the same chances I have of having Chris Evans pop out of nowhere and confess his undying love for me.”

― Elena Armas, The Spanish Love Deception

Pfiou! Such a wonderful romance we have here. This book was perfect for me, and I loved every single details. Elena definitely became one of my auto-buy authors!

New Releases | April 2021

Hi lovelies,

Again, there are so many releases I am THRILLED to discover this month!

Twice Shy
by Sarah Hogle
Released date: April 6th by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Themes: romance ; contemporary ; adult

Summary:
Can you find real love when you’ve always got your head in the clouds?

Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn’t the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who’s as grouchy as he is gorgeous–and it turns out he has very different vision for the property’s future.

Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley’s scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one’s comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.

BOOK REVIEW | Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

Edition: Kindle (NetGalley) | Status: standalone | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 12,03€

★★★★/5

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THEMES: romance ; contemporary ; adult
TRIGGER WARNINGS: alcoholism ; emotional abuse

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— SYNOPSIS  —

The cozy comforts of an English village bookstore open up a world of new possibilities for Evie Starling in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.

“I don’t want you, or anyone, to wake up in ten, twenty years’ time, and wonder what could have been. Such benign little words – ‘what if’. But at some point in life, those two words become the scariest two words in the English language.”

― Samantha Young, Much Ado About You

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Samantha Young really is one of my favorite author. Her contemporary romances aren’t my favorites, but I always have a good time reading them, and Much Ado About You is not an exception.

BOOK REVIEW | House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Edition: Bloomsbury publishing | Saga: Crescent City, #1 | Status: ongoing (one book out) | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 24,60€

★★★★★/5

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THEMES: urban fantasy ; romance ; adult
TRIGGER WARNINGS: mention attempted suicide ; blood ; death ; grief ; depression ; discrimination ; drugs ; murder ; near death experiences ; slavery ; racism (fantasy)

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— SYNOPSIS  —

Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

“Through love, all is possible.”

― Sarah J. Maas, House of Earth and Blood

Such a gorgeous book. And I am not only talking about the cover. This book IS gorgeous. But the story in it? Even more beautiful.

February Wrap-up | 2021

Books
Hi guys! Time to make a little wrap-up of the last month. :

― The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
― Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle, #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
― Bound by Forever (True Immortality, #3) by Samantha Young
― Marriage for One by Ella Mais
― A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Didn’t read a lot this month because I had plenty of work for Uni. But all those reads were GOOD! Like, REALLY good. 

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Movies and TV shows
I had not lot of times  so I didn’t watch lot of movies this month. But I have been watching The Voice every week. I am sad because I love Mika, and sadly he isn’t part of the show this season, but Vianney replaced him and I love him too. Plus, they are really good singers this year again!
I started re-watching Burn Notice. I discovered this TV-show years ago, and seing it being available on Disney + made me want to rewatch it.

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Music

And that’s it!
I know February is shorter than other months, but gosh time really flies.
What about you all pumpkins, Did you have a good month? What did you read?

 

BOOK REVIEW | Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Edition: Kindle | Saga: The Harbinger, #1 | Status: ongoing (two books out) | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 14,25€

★★★★/5

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THEMES: fantasy ; young adult ; romance ; paranormal
TRIGGER WARNINGS: sexual assault (stopped) ; violence ; death

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— SYNOPSIS  —

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

I’m guessing the sky is full of stars?” “It is, but the only ones that matter are the ones you see.”

― Jennifer L. Armentrout, Storm and Fury

Just so you know: The Harbinger series is a prequel to The Dark Elements series, and the story happens after, so in order to not be spoiled, you should definitely read The Dark Elements series first -which is a wonderful series that I love a lot, even more than this one.

New Releases | March 2021

Hi lovelies

Oh my… so many books I’m tempted by this month!

The Wedding Game
by Meghan Quinn
Released date: March 1st by Scholastic Press
Themes: romance ; contemporary ; adult

Summary:
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s latest bauble is the charming story of a crafting queen battling a jaded divorce lawyer on a wedding reality show.

Luna Rossi is a veritable crafting genius—she can bedazzle and bead so hard her Etsy site is one of the hottest in the world. So it’s only natural that Luna would convince her brother and his husband-to-be to compete on The Wedding Game, a “do-it-yourself” TV show, for the title of Top DIY Wedding Expert.

As a jaded divorce lawyer, Alec Baxter scoffs at weddings and romance. But when his recently engaged brother begs him to participate in The Wedding Game, Alec grudgingly picks up a glue gun and prepares for some family bonding.

Both fierce competitors, Luna and Alec clash on national TV as harsh words and glitter fly with abandon. But as they bicker over color swatches and mood boards, they find themselves fighting something else: their growing mutual attraction. While Luna is torn between family loyalty and her own feelings, Alec wonders if he might have been wrong about love and marriage all along…

BOOK REVIEW | A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Edition: Kindle | Status: standalone | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 16,68€

★★★,75/5

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THEMES: romance ; Christmas ; contemporary ; fiction

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— SYNOPSIS  —

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world.

Leo Ricci’s already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a « princess » in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he’s got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car. 

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn’t be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time. 

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

“I think, » he drawled. « This Hallmark movie is about to get a lot more interesting.”

― Jenny Holiday, A Princess for Christmas

A Princess for Christmas was a beautiful Christmas romance! I’m quite use to Christmas romance movies, all silly and goofy -don’t mistake me, I love that- but I love more realistic romance with gorgeous and dreamy Christmasy atmosphere even more. And this book definitely seemed realistic, even though I think not a lot of sexy taxi drivers has the chance to accidentally met with a beautiful princess in distress. 

January Wrap-up | 2021

Books
Hi lovelies! January is already over… Time flies! If I didn’t found lot of time for reading at the beginning of the month, I catch up and read a lot the second half of January. Lot of good reads, but also some disappointments. And I have lot of beautiful reads waiting for me in February! However, here is what I read this month:

― Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams
― Just the Two of Us (Just the Two of Us, #1) by Ryu Hyang
― Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long
― The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
― House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
― A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas
― Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
― Supermad (Campus Drivers, #1) by C.S. Quill
― Book Boyfriend (Campus Drivers, #2) by C.S. Quill
― Crash Test (Campus Drivers, #3) by C.S. Quill

I’m really happy, because much of those books were really good reads. There are even three favorites in all of these! Three out of eight! That’s a pretty good number. So yeah, a really good month.

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Movies and TV shows
I finished my rewatch of Mentalist! And I already miss Patrick Jane so much…
Also, with the students I’m watching (I’m working at a boarding high school), we started watching movies every night and I watch Logan for the first time. I am huge fan of Marvel movies, but not really fan of the X-men. However, I still liked this one!
I also watched The Bridgertons and liked it, but not as much as all people seems to have. Oh, and I am finally finishing Brooklyn 99. I still have some episodes to watch. I will be sad to quit the characters.

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Music

And that’s it!
January was a difficult month psychologically. Stress is starting to impact my sleep, and I often end the day with an head ache. So it is quite difficult to find time to read. Also I don’t want to take to much drugs so I often just go to sleep when the head ache starts. Which means not a lot of time for reading. But I am still trying to read as much as I can, because it helps me evade a bit, and I definitely need that right now. I hope I will be able to keep this reading rate for February!
Hope you all had a beautiful month, and that February will be good to you.
What about you all lovelies, Did you have a good month? What did you read?

New Releases | February 2021

Hi Pumpkins

So many books are tempting me this month! Hope they’ll be as good as they seem!

Much Ado About You
by Samantha Young
Released date: February 2nd by Berkley
Trigger warnings:
Themes: romance ; contemporary ; adult

Summary:
The cozy comforts of an English village bookstore open up a world of new possibilities for Evie Starling in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.

BOOK REVIEW | Brambles and Thorn (Dauntless Path, #0.5 and #1) by Intisar Khanani

Edition: Kindle | Saga: Dauntless Path, #1 | Status: standalone | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 13,62€

★★★★/5 (Brambles)

★★★,5/5 (Thorn)

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THEMES: fantasy ; young adult ; retellings ; romance
TRIGGER WARNINGS: animal death ; attempted sexual assault ; harassment ; mental abuse ; murder ; rape ; physical abuse ; violence

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— SYNOPSIS  —

For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she’s never had… until she’s betrayed.

Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.

But powerful men have powerful enemies–and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman’s, giving Alyrra the first choice she’s ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she’s never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometime the hardest choice means learning to trust herself.

“We all need our quiet, I think. We all have our unspoken wishes, hopes we cannot mention, choices we may yet regret.”

― Intisar Khanani, Thorn

Thorn is a beautiful story of betrayal. Alyrra had to hide for survival almost her whole life. She never had a single choice. So when a king from a powerful territory asks her if she is ready to come in his territory and marry his son, Lyrra finally has a choice. And a chance to escape her cruel brother.
On her way to this new home, Lyrra is betrayed and sees her identity being switched with another woman. Unable to talk about it to anyone, Lyrra ends up seeing her misfortune as the greatest opportunity of her life: a new life with no responsibilities. But walking away means letting the Prince’s enemy take his life, when she has the possibility to save him. Will Lyrra be able to do that?

BOOK REVIEW | Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Edition: Illumicrate | Edition fr: Romans Casterman| Saga: Aurora Cycle, #1 | Status: ongoing | Buy it here: Bookdepository | Price: 18,00€

★★★★,5/5

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THEMES: science fiction ; young adult ; fantasy ; space
TRIGGER WARNINGS: blood ; death ; undead ; violence ; war

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— SYNOPSIS  —

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch:

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass tech-whiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into her squad leader, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

Nobody panic.

“A lot of those stars actually died millions of years ago. It’s just they’re so far away, the light they created before they died hasn’t finished reaching us yet.” He waves at the galaxy beyond the glass. “You’re looking at a sky full of ghosts.”

― Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, Aurora Rising

Wow.
I mean… WOW!
You got it. I absolutely loved this books. I read it with my sweet friend Agnès and we had lot of pleasure. We read it in three days and it was so fun sharing our theories about this curious universe. We both had our favourite but we definitely agreed to the fact that every characters is nice and very attaching in his own way. So yeah, we really are excited for book two and to know who was right (or if we were both completely mistaken haha).