[Review] The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake

   

Title: The Writer and the Rogue
Series: Debutantes of London Series, Book 2 (Interconnected Standalone)
Author: Lydia Drake
Genre: historical romance
Format: eBook 
Publication Date: April 14, 2025
Published By: Entangled Publishing, Amara       
Source: NetGalley (ARC)

Synopsis from Publisher

Desperate times call for drastic measures…and Miss Caroline Devereux is most certainly desperate. Her spendthrift father’s been gambling away every spare shilling, racking up debts, selling off their family’s coveted objets d’art, and bringing them to the edge of ruin. Up until now, she’s been able to stave off the creditors—and afford luxuries like tea—by penning sensational Gothic tales. But they’re out of time, and Caroline must play the one card she has left.

The Earl of Rockford cannot believe that any young lady would dare to blackmail him. Not only has she threatened to expose the darkest secrets of his family and destroy their name, but she’s done it all in an attempt to…marry him? And damned if he isn’t secretly delighted by her spirit. But first, Miss Caroline has a lesson to learn about who she’s dealing with…

No one warned Caroline that the handsome, wealthy earl she intends to marry isn’t remotely the gentleman she expected. Because the “Rogue of Whitechapel” isn’t about to go down without a fight…and the first to fall in love will be the first one to lose.

About Lydia Drake

Lydia Drake is a reader of all things romance and a drinker of all things tea. A New Jersey resident, her favorite activities include taking the train to New York City, scouring used bookstores, spending time with her family and wrangling her hyperactive cockapoo puppy. Cinderella and the Duke is her debut novel.

My Thoughts:

This one was a fun surprise!

The Writer and the Rogue is exactly the kind of historical romance I reach for when I want something light, witty, and just a bit rebellious. It’s got all the elements I enjoy—banter, a rogue with a mysterious past, and a heroine who is completely done with society’s expectations.

Our heroine is an aspiring writer who wants nothing to do with the ton or its silly rules. I loved how headstrong she was—smart, opinionated, and unwilling to play the part everyone expected of her.

She was made of ink and steel, it seemed.

The hero, meanwhile, is charming in that rogueish way that could have easily been cliché but somehow worked. Their interactions were full of tension, flirtation, and just enough vulnerability to keep me invested.

The banter sparkled in places, and the romantic tension had me turning pages to see how it would all play out. I also appreciated that while the story stayed relatively light, it still gave the characters emotional depth—especially toward the end, where things came together in a mostly satisfying way.

That said, it wasn’t perfect. The pacing in the middle sagged just a touch, and a few of the plot twists were fairly predictable. The third act breakup was annoyingly typical of these kinds of books.

But honestly? I still had a great time with this one. It was engaging, entertaining, and just the right kind of escape. I’ll definitely read more from Lydia Drake, especially if she keeps giving us strong heroines and swoony rogues. In fact, this is actually the second book in a series of interconnected standalones. I plan on going back to reach book one, The Duchess and the Wolf.

The Pros:

• Engaging Banter: The chemistry between the leads comes alive through clever, snappy dialogue.

• Strong Female and Male Leads: A headstrong, relatable heroine who refuses to conform makes the story feel refreshing, and an observant, kind, and caring, yet mysterious and daring male lead.

• Fun and Accessible Read: The book strikes a nice balance between romance, humor, and a hint of emotional depth—perfect for fans of feel-good historical romances.

The Cons:

• Slight Mid-Book Lag: The pacing slows a bit in the middle before picking up again toward the end.
  
  
• Some Predictability: A few of the plot beats follow expected romance tropes without much surprise and the third act breakup is predictably annoying.
  
  
• Language: The language throughout the story is predominantly very good, however, there are times when the word choice took me completely out of the story as it did not fit.

Final Thoughts:

If you're in the mood for a light, romantic escape with a touch of sass and a heroine who knows her worth, The Writer and the Rogue is a solid pick. It’s not without its flaws, but the charm, chemistry, and breezy writing make it an enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of Regency romance who don’t mind a familiar trope or two when they’re delivered with heart.

Rating:

Overall, using my rating system, this book is a 3.75 out of 5, but I rounded up to a 4 Super Splatters out of 5 because I am in love with Gabriel. 

[Review] Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

 

Title: Nettle & Bone
Series: N/A - Standalone
Author: T. Kingfisher
Genre: adult, fantasy, magic
Format: audiobook
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Published By: Tor Publishing Group       
Source: Audible

Synopsis from Publisher

After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.

Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.

On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.

About T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.

When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

My Thoughts:

If you love fairy tales with a dark twist, Nettle & Bone is definitely worth checking out. T. Kingfisher takes familiar fantasy elements—curses, impossible tasks, and a ragtag group of misfits—and turns them into something fresh and fun. It’s a little spooky, a little funny, and full of heart.

The story follows Marra, a princess who has spent most of her life in a convent, watching from the sidelines as her older sisters are forced into political marriages. When she discovers that her sister’s husband, a powerful prince, is abusive and dangerous, she decides she won’t sit back any longer. But killing a prince isn’t exactly easy, so she sets off on a strange and magical journey to gather allies—including a necromancer (who prefers to be called a dust-wife), a reluctant knight, a fairy godmother with unreliable magic, an enchanted chicken, and her ever faithful bone dog. Along the way, Marra must complete impossible tasks, face eerie supernatural dangers, and finally find the strength to change her own fate.

This book isn’t your typical high-stakes fantasy full of battles and dramatic showdowns. Instead, it’s a quiet, creeping kind of adventure, filled with dark fairy tale elements and quirky humor. The writing is atmospheric and immersive, making you feel like you’ve stepped into a story passed down through generations—one that’s a little grim, a little odd, but ultimately hopeful.

The Pros:

• Unique Spin on Fairy Tales – This isn’t your typical “hero saves the day” story. Instead, we follow Marra, a princess who’s been mostly ignored all her life, as she decides to take matters into her own hands. The story has a slow-burn feel, but it’s packed with cool, eerie moments—like a bone dog and a fairy godmother who’s more practical than magical.
• Quirky & Likable Characters – The best part of this book is the cast. Marra is quiet and determined, the dust-wife (a necromancer) is sarcastic and awesome, and even the chicken (yes, there’s a chicken, actually, there are two!) steals the show. Their interactions bring warmth and humor to an otherwise dark story.
• Engaging & Atmospheric Writing – Kingfisher has a way of making everything feel rich and immersive. Whether it’s the creepy, cursed objects or the dangerous journey, the descriptions pull you in without being overwhelming.

The Cons:

• Slow Start – The first few chapters take their time setting things up, and it gets a little confusing between locations, which might make it hard to get hooked right away. But once Marra gets her mission, things pick up.
• Not a High-Stakes Adventure – If you’re expecting a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy, this isn’t it. The story leans more on character interactions and quiet tension rather than big battles or epic magic.
• Underwhelming Villain – The antagonist (Marra’s cruel brother-in-law) is definitely evil, but he feels more like a distant threat rather than a fully developed character. A little more depth could have made the final confrontation more intense.

Final Thoughts:

Nettle & Bone is a beautifully written fairy tale for adults, full of wit, charm, and a little bit of darkness. While it starts slow and isn’t action-heavy, it makes up for it with fantastic characters and an original, eerie vibe. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings or cozy-yet-creepy fantasy, give it a try! Do it for bone dog!

Rating:

Overall, using my rating system, this book is a 3.5 out of 5, but I rounded up to a 4 Super Splatters out of 5 for Bone Dog. 

[Review] The Wise One by K.T. Anglehart

The Wise One
K.T. Anglehart
(The Scottish Scrolls, #1)
Publication date: October 28th 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Mckenna’s never thought much of her nightmares, but on her seventeenth birthday, a vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens her dormant abilities, thrusting her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy is tracking her every move.

Now, her overprotective dads, Seán and Andre, are forced to tell her the truth—they know who her birth mother is, and her life is not the surrogate story she’s always been told. Abigail, Mckenna’s mom, is some sort of mystic, and Mckenna a Wise One.

Whatever the hell that means.

With the help of a persistent little wren and company of a newfound friend, Mckenna journeys to Ireland in search of her mother and real answers. Along the way, she learns to harness her innate magic and trust her intuition, as best she can anyway—Cillian, a kind and passionate delegate who crosses her path, is proving much harder to read.

Only her mother could truly help her halt her ill fate and prepare her for what’s to come . . . before she gives in to the darkness she knows is buried deep within.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is a born and bred Italian-Canadian from Montreal. A devoted academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. After dabbling in TV writing and working as a digital marketing content manager, she left the nine to five to launch her freelance editing and coaching career. Today, she relishes in helping aspiring authors to develop and refine their stories.

Besides English, Katrina speaks French, Italian, and Spanglish. When she’s not writing, diving into magical reads, or Netflixing, she’s travelling with her favourite human–her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy–and obsessing over her pet bunny, Magic, and newly rescued pup, Nessie. Katrina currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

My Thoughts:

I'm going to be honest...this one had me a little worried at the start, but it won me over by the end.

I had a very hard time getting into the story initially. I felt the writing style was awkward and simple and not completely polished. Fortunately, as the story progressed the writing became smoother and easier to follow. There were still issues with pacing and the story being jumpy in parts, but overall it was good read.

I felt the story was too convenient a lot of the time, especially at the beginning. I found it hard to believe that a 17 year old girl would steal money from her parents and then take off on them, leaving to go to another country, all on a whim basically. That was hard to swallow. Together with other convenient occurrences like meeting the sweet couple. I don't like when things are too easy. I also found it hard to believe she would be away from her parents for as long as she is and not call them at least once to let them know she was safe at least.

The strengths of this book are the story itself, and the characters. Nissa was my favorite, reminding me of myself in my younger days, outside reading propped up against a tree. Sean and Andre are a cute couple. The sweet old couple later on are adorable (although too convenient), and Cillian has great depth and experiences growth throughout the book.

The story is very interesting. The author does a fabulous job of drawing you in by sprinkling little bits of information here and there to keep you intrigued enough to turn the next page. It's genius. And she got me. I had to keep turning those pages.

The author does a great job describing Ireland. I can't wait to visit one day now! The descriptions of the gorgeous views, stunning castles, beautiful nature, cozy bars and bed and breakfasts overwhelm you. The intriguing tidbits of Irish folklore were very interesting, and I enjoyed learning. 

The ending was a bit out there (holy cliffhanger!!!), I had to re-read it a few times, and the epilogue left me like huh? But, the main thing is I can't wait to read book two! I need to know more now!

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[Review] A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight by Jen White

A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight
Jen White
Published by: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication date: April 20th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Middle-Grade

Jen White’s A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is a sensitively-written middle grade novel about a girl struggling with anxiety, family secrets, and the meaning of friendship.

Cora is constantly counting the minutes. It’s the only thing that stops her brain from rattling with worry, from convincing her that danger is up ahead. Afraid of the unknown, Cora spends her days with her feet tucked into sand, marveling at La Quinta beach’s giant waves and her little sister Sunshine’s boundless energy.

And then danger really does show up at Cora’s doorstep–her absentee uncle, whose sudden presence in the middle of the night makes her parents nervous and secretive. As dawn breaks once more, Cora must piece together her family and herself, one minute at a time.

A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is an endearing and revelatory middle-grade novel that is perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Jen White writes middle grade fiction. Her second book, A THOUSAND MINUTES TO SUNLIGHT, releases on 4.20.21. Her debut, SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE, has been translated into several languages. She grew up in Southern California and currently resides there with her family. Jen received her bachelor of art’s degree in English and her master’s degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. You can find out more at www.jenwhitebooks.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this novel, I know this because I didn't take too many notes. I was too busy reading! It was a wonderful story of friendship, family, and self-growth.

I really connected with Cora, because I understand her. I have pretty bad anxiety, and it's honestly only getting worse as I get older, because there are more things to worry about! But, I really connected with her after reading this passage (that I also shared on my Teaser Tuesday post previously):

A silent house, in the middle of the night, might be one of the loneliest places on the planet.

Did you hear that?

Brain says: Absolutely an ax murderer.

Crouched in the hallway, I'm poised for anything. It's 11:31 P.M. to be exact, and a wonder that I can even hear Brain, with my heart hammering in my eardrums.

Inside my head, I count.

1 2 3 4 5

This is pretty much how I react to weird noises at night, or even without any noise to prompt me at all. I just lie awake thinking someone is going to try and get into my house and hurt us. The only difference is I don't count. I use a variety of other coping mechanisms, but I don't think I have ever counted. Counting is Cora's big thing, that and her conversations with Brain.

I hate Brain, but that's what the author wants. Brain makes Cora question everything and makes her keep to herself. Brain tells her she is no good, that no one will ever want to be her friend, and that people are always thinking bad things about her. I love watching Cora grow and realize that maybe Brain isn't right all the time and maybe she should ignore Brain and just go with the flow. The first time she told Brain to "Hush" I actually cheered out loud a little. It was nice to slowly watch Brain fade into the background and Brain to actually question "What the heck is going on?" as Cora becomes more and more independent. 

Patrick was my favourite character in the book. Everyone needs a Patrick in their life. He is so happy, energetic, and doesn't let anything, or anyone's opinions, get in the way of enjoying his life. He is a great friend and always there for you, supporting you however he can. I really enjoyed his storyline, and LOVED how they "resolved" it. I love how Cora and Patrick bond over their goals, just 2 kids with 2 impossible dreams.

The novel is simply written, and perfect for middle grade readers. The chapters are short and easy to get through, and I loved the intriguing and unique chapter titles. The subject of mental illness is addressed cautiously and with tact. I love that both parents are in the picture and are supportive. I love Cora's sister, Sunshine, and how supportive she is always trying to be, especially with the affirmations. She is such a little sweetheart! I love that therapy is used and medication is discussed. I also like how they worked in a possible family connection to show it's not just her and that mental illness runs in the family. 

My only issue was I wish they would have left out the two incidents that "may" have caused the issues with her brain, because I would have preferred a character with mental illness with no causation as I feel it might have been easier for other kids to connect with her and what she is dealing with without the causation aspect.

Overall it's a fabulous book that is very well written for the target audience and I recommend it to everyone.

The Pros:

• Mental health is addressed in a positive and helpful manner.
• The characters are all very well done and realistic.
• The importance of family and friendship is strong.
• Patrick!!!

The Cons:

• The idea of something possibly causing the mental health issues made me feel uncomfortable in this specific novel.

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[Review] Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz

Title: Of Wicked Blood
Series: The Quatrefoil Chronicles, #1
Author: Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz
Genre: YA, fantasy, magic, paranormal
Format: audiobook
Publication Date: January 11 2021
Published By: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks            Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

No rest for the wicked... or the cursed.

SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.
Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.
Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.
If any of us fail, I’m dead.
I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.
The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.

CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.
Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?
Wrong.
The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.
But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.
Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.
Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.

*Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind). (less)

About Olivia Wildenstein

USA TODAY bestselling author Olivia Wildenstein grew up in New York City and earned her bachelor’s in comparative literature from Brown University. After designing jewelry for a few years, Wildenstein traded in her tools for the writing life, which made more sense considering her college degree.

When she’s not sitting at her computer, she’s psychoanalyzing everyone she meets (Yes. Everyone), eavesdropping on conversations to gather material for her next book, and attempting not to forget one of her kids in school.

She has a slight obsession with romance, which might be the reason why she writes it.

About Katie Hayoz

Katie grew up in Racine, Wisconsin where she acquired an irreversible nasal twang and an addiction for books with a slightly dark edge. She now lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband, two daughters, and a very fuzzy cat. She has been an avid reader of YA fiction for years. While she has a penchant for the paranormal, she devours a range of books -- along with popcorn and black licorice. She consumes all three in large quantities. Luckily, the books don't stay on her hips.

My Thoughts:
Our story takes place in the cozy village of Brume, where their history is rooted in magic, but of course that's not really true...or is it? Of Wicked Blood takes place in the middle of winter, which I find adds to the magical setting. I just love how everyone is always bundled up in sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, and mitts. It adds the touches of realism needed in such a magical story.

Magic used to be a large part of Brume's history, but the majority of the residents just think the magic is a kind of fairytale, until Slate comes to Brume and puts on the cursed ring that starts the magical wheels in motion again. Now Slate, and three others, must work together to find their specific magical pieces to bring back magic as a whole to Brume.

The writing is very well done, and smooth, which is hard to achieve when working with two separate authors, but Olivia and Katie make an amazing team. I have since joined their Facebook page, The O.K. Crew, and it's great watching them interact live with each other. Everything is very descriptive. I was sucked in almost immediately. It's easy to imagine everything like a fantastic little movie playing in my head. I was completely immersed in the story almost 100% of the time. I just found the many French words and phrases inserted throughout off-putting. 

The conversations were fantastic, humourous, and realistic! No stuffy and stiff dialogue in this book. The internal dialogues were often even better than the normal dialogue, especially with Slate. I found myself laughing out loud often when he was internally speaking. Needless to say, Slate was my favourite character. It was hard to like him at first, but he grew with the novel, and I grew to love him along with it.

I was very happy with the development of the romance in this book. I often get frustrated because everything seems to happen so fast, but in this novel, even though it technically only happens over a matter of days, it feels slower, and more natural. I also really liked that when they had an issue with one another, THEY TALKED IT OVER! Not always right away of course, because you have to drag out the drama a little, but they did approach each other and discuss what was bothering them. They didn't just let things fester between them for the whole book and then blow up at each other and fix it just in time for the ending...which is pretty typical.

I struggled with the audiobook version for many reasons. First off, as much as I enjoyed listening to Thomas Locklear's deep, smooth, and sexy voice, I just didn't feel like it fit the college level character of Slate. Funnily enough my first though was he should be narrating adult romance or erotica novels, and low and behold, when I looked him up on Audible, that is primarily what he does narrate. I might have to pick one of those up! Holly Fielding on the other hand had a very pleasant voice that fit her character well, however she didn't do voices of the other characters very well and I often found it painful as she voiced Slate, her father, etc. Another irritating factor was the fact that the sound levels often changed even in the middle of the same conversation and it felt kind of oddly pieced together at times. This saddened me because the story is really really good!

There was one character that really got under my skin, the creepy Mayor. Usually when there is a creepy character there is a reason he is included, some part of the story he is meant to draw out, but I just found his creepiness unnecessary at the time, like being creepy just for the sake of being creepy, which really bothers me. I hope book #2 proves me wrong and there is a reason for this character, otherwise I think his specific creepy nature could have been reworked not to be so disturbing. I often found myself asking, "What is the point of this character?"

The end left me befuddled. What just happened? Argh! I can't say too much, because SPOILERS, but I don't get what happened. There are just too many unanswered questions. I need book #2 now!

The Pros:

• Dialogue, especially internal dialogue, is very well done.
• Slate is awesome!
• The romance aspect was well done.

The Cons:

• The French gets a little annoying.
• The audiobook could use some work.
• Too many unanswered questions.
• The creepy Mayor.

[Review] Clockwork, Curses and Coal by Rhonda Parrish (Editor)

Title: Clockwork, Curses and Coal
Series: Punked Up Fairy Tales #2
Author: Rhonda Parrish (Editor)
Genre: steampunk, fantasy, paranormal, gaslamp, short stories, fairy tales
Format: ebook
Publication Date: March 2 2021
Published By: World Weaver Press
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Fairies threaten the world of artifice and technology, forcing the royal family to solve a riddle to stop their world from irrevocable change; a dishonest merchant uses automatons as vessels for his secrets and lies; a woman discovers the secret of three princesses whose shoes get scuffed while they sleep. These and so many other steampunk and gaslamp fairy tales await within the pages of Clockwork, Curses and Coal.

Retellings of Hansel and Gretel, The Princess and the Pea, Pinocchio, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and more are all showcased alongside some original fairy tale-like stories. Featuring stories by Melissa Bobe, Adam Brekenridge, Beth Cato, MLD Curelas, Joseph Halden, Reese Hogan, Diana Hurlburt, Christina Johnson, Alethea Kontis, Lex T. Lindsay, Wendy Nikel, Brian Trent, Laura VanArendonk Baugh and Sarah Van Goethem.

About Rhonda Parrish

Like a magpie, Rhonda Parrish is constantly distracted by shiny things. She’s the editor of many anthologies and author of plenty of books, stories and poems.

She lives with her husband and three cats in Edmonton, Alberta, and she can often be found there playing Dungeons and Dragons, bingeing crime dramas or cheering on the Oilers.

Her website, updated regularly, is at http://www.rhondaparrish.com and her Patreon, updated even more regularly, is at https://www.patreon.com/RhondaParrish.

My Thoughts:
I don't read a lot of short stories because I prefer to really immerse myself in a story and really get to know my characters, and I find I often can't do that when it's a short piece. I was drawn to this collection because of the Steampunk theme, and the whole idea of gaslamp, which I had never heard of before. According to the introduction, gaslamp fantasy is "set in the same Victorian/Edwardian era as steampunk, but with a focus less on tech and more on the supernatural and magic. Often with an obvious gothic influence." So of course I had to check this out, and I don't regret it for a moment!

The editor warned that some of the stories might be dark, and she assumes this is because of the whole COVID thing going on while she was choosing the stories for the collection. Boy was she right! Some of these stories are D-A-R-K! I am going to break the collection down by story, but let me start off by saying that the collection of 14 stories as a whole was very well done, enjoyable, and entertaining. I loved the twists on many of the fairy tales.

The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson

This story picks parts of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Princess and the Pea, wrapping them all neatly into a very well written and enjoyable tale. It does a very good job of showing the sexism of the time (1851). "Not many ask the girls if they want to go, but they all do anyway." The racism of the time is also emphasized as the girls in the story are split into two groups, girls of "porcelain skin" and girls with "darker complexions and more vivid fabrics." The story is filled with beautiful descriptions and is very visual. I loved how unique each girl is and how they are described by looks and talent. Unfortunately I found the story quite predictable and the ending quite rushed. I never really felt the connection that seems to be implied by the end. A good story, but could have been better.

Clockwork Tea by Joseph Halden

This story was one of my least liked stories. I understand the time and place they are writing about, but it still comes off a little racist to me. I also found the writing style very awkward and hard to get a good reading flow with, which in turn made it hard to enjoy. It was very dark and disturbing, which isn't a bad thing, seeing this evolution of what basically turns out to be a serial killer of sorts. He even keeps souvenirs like a serial killer would. There were some Pinocchio undertones that the author tried to work in, I am just not sure it really works. An odd little tale to be sure.

A Future of Towers Made by Beth Cato

I enjoyed this reimagining of Rapunzel. In this tale Rapunzel is a brilliant young woman trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage where her husband steals all of her ideas and markets them as his own. Rapunzel, with the help of her dear friend, comes up with a plan to keep her most recent invention under her own name, and escape her marriage. It is a very well written story of feminism and standing up for yourself, and I loved every moment of it. I will have to look for more of Beth Cato's work.

A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night by Sarah Van Goethem

This story was another one I didn't enjoy very much. It was very dark as well, which I don't mind, and intriguing, but it was just all very odd. I suspected the twist that comes up near the end of the story, so I wasn't surprised. I did however kind of like the feeling of female empowerment that was brought up near the end, and I like the way certain things worked out, but it was all just a little too weird for me, and it did leave me with some questions not answered.

Checkmate by Brian Trent

I enjoyed this story so much I wanted more. I would read a whole novel, maybe even an entire series, set in this world. The world building was just so well done. It was intriguing and dark. I want to know how it got to be the way it is. I want to know so much more! Edward's character was well done and I understood his motivations for what he does, which makes the ending make sense. I expected the very ending, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment for me in this story because it was so well done. Brian, please tell me there is more!

Necromancy by Melissa Bobe

Where to start with this story? There is so much going on, and all of it wonderful. It's a dark and mysterious reimaging of the Pied Piper tale. The plague is attacking all the women of town, but what exactly is the plague? It's not what you would expect. I don't want to spoil it, but it fits the time and works really well for this dark story. There is so much I want to comment on, but with short stories it's hard to say much without basically giving away the whole story. Just read it! The writing is beautiful, the story is well written, and I loved the end. I will be looking for more of Melissa Bobe's work for sure.

Blood and Clockwork by Wendy Nikel

This story is one of my favorites in the collection. I read it so quickly. I didn't even stop to take notes! As was typical in this collection the story is very intriguing, and very dark. It was a little predictable at parts, but it was so well written, and just so damn good, that the predictableness of it is forgivable. 

Sappho and Erinna by Lex T. Lindsay

This story is a very well done reimaging of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I loved all of the characters in this story, each one was their own character that stood out from each other. I really loved the end.

Divine Spark by Diana Hurlburt

I didn't enjoy this story at all. The writing style was very awkward and I just couldn't get into the story at all. It had a kind of Frankenstein feel to it, which is too bad as the original is one of my favorite novels. Overall I found this story very confusing and not enjoyable at all.

The Balance of Memory by Reese Hogan

This story was a very interesting and very well written reimaging of Hansel and Gretel. There isn't a whole lot I can say without giving things away, but I was intrigued right away. I likened it almost immediately to someone who is dealing with identity issues, only to later discover that the author is non-binary, so they obviously have a very strong understanding of this. I still was left feeling like I was missing something at the end, but maybe that is the way it was meant to be.

The Giant and the Unicorn by Alethea Kontis

The beginning of this story threw me off a bit as it was written like a steampunk version of the bible. Some might find if offensive, just as a warning, but it didn't bother me. It was just odd. The rest of the story is a reimagining of The Lion and the Mouse. It was a cute little tale, but awkward in places, and a little predictable, but still an enjoyable read.

Ningyo by Laura VanArendonk Baugh

This story starts out on what we later learn is an airship, but I originally thought it was a regular ship. I was glad that section was very short as all the sailing terminology was starting to irritate me, all the unfamiliar words pulling me out of the story. The rest of the story made up for the beginning though. Overall it was an intriguing and entertaining story with interesting characters.

Father Worm by Adam Breckenridge

This story was dark and odd, and very difficult to read with its run on sentences and awkward writing style. The only thing I really liked about this story was the one quote: "Even if the trip didn't reinvigorate her old friend, she would not let her duties as captain keep her from the obligation all keepers of animals have to see their beloved companions through to their deaths." As a loyal pet owner this is something I feel strongly about. Overall it was a very strange story, with an equally odd ending. I did not find it enjoyable.

The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas

For some reason I didn't take any notes while I read this story. I do remember enjoying it quite a bit, even though parts of it were very predictable. I think my favorite part of it is that there is no man needed to rescue the main character, and I remember being intrigued to figure out how she was going to get out of the mess she was in. Very well done and enjoyable.

I am not going to do pros and cons as it is very story dependent, but it was a very good collection and I am glad I took the time to read it.

[Review] The Anonymous Source by A.C. Fuller

Title: The Anonymous Source
Series: Alex Vane #1
Author: A.C. Fuller
Genre: general fiction (adult), thriller, mystery, suspense, crime
Format: audiobook
Publication Date: February 23 2021 (audiobook)
Published By: OrangeSky Audio (audiobook)
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

FIND THE SOURCE. BREAK THE STORY. STAY ALIVE.

ONE YEAR AFTER the 9/11 attacks, Alex Vane--a brilliant, fitness-obsessed reporter for The New York Standard--wants nothing more than to break into the flashy world of TV news. But when he uncovers the scoop of a lifetime, his tightly controlled world is rocked: his editor buries his story, a source turns up dead, and Alex finds himself at the center of a violent media conspiracy.

AS HE RECEIVES TIPS from a mysterious source, Alex enlists the help of a captivating professor, Camila Gray. Aided by an Internet genius, a billionaire's sexy widow, and a washed-up sports reporter, Alex and Camila discover a $500-million secret that could derail the largest media merger in history.

IT'S A SECRET THAT unearths dark memories from Alex's past. It's a secret that leads back to the morning of 9/11. And it's a secret that could get them both killed.

IN HIS DEBUT MEDIA THRILLER, A.C. Fuller brings you a young journalist chasing the biggest story of his career--from the courtrooms of New York City to the beaches of Hawaii, from a crowded newsroom to a lavish boardroom at the top of a media empire.

About A.C. Fuller

Once a journalist in New York, A.C. Fuller now writes stories at the intersection of media, politics, and technology. Before he began writing full time, he was an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU and an English teacher at Northwest Indian College.

He lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle. 

My Thoughts:
I am not typically a mystery/suspense/crime thriller kind of girl, but something about this book's description pulled me in. I do like to push outside of my boundaries now and then, and I find that even easier to do when it's an audiobook and I don't have to "fight" my way through the actual reading of it. I think the 9/11 aspect tied in with conspiracy theories idea is what really intrigued me. And boy was I right to chose this one!

Alex Vane is an interesting character who is fully fleshed out and has a somewhat complicated past. I love how much his food and fitness was part of the story, because it was part of what made him who he was. He reminds me of myself in some small ways, specifically they way of eating, and the way others look at you when you eat that way (healthy foods, lower carbs, etc.) There is also a part in the book where he is having some emotional issues and he all of a sudden starts binging on unhealthier foods. This is very true to character for a person who has gone through the whole dieting aspect and then hit a low and binged. I was very happy with how accurate certain portrayals were.

I also liked the character of Camilla. She was just as complex as Alex, maybe even more so. Both characters had some issues involving their parents, and again, they were very real with how they were portrayed and how they worked through those issues. Even the side characters are very realistic. Everyone has their own story and motives, etc., they are not there just to advance the story.

But the story, oh my the story! It was so interesting and had so many twists and turns, and that ending? Damn! I am just going to say I am intrigued enough to want to carry on with the rest of the story, and since it's available on Audible I might just have to hook that up sooner rather than later!

What to say about the story itself? It was so crazy with the twists and turns, the motivations, the whys... I honestly don't know what to say without giving things away, and this book needs to be experienced. I do have to say it is a little slow at first as it builds up the story (this is why I rated it 4 instead of 5) , but once the action starts going it never stops. 

The narrator, Joe Hempel, did an amazing job with this audiobook. His use of different voices for different characters was spot on, and he always was able to emphasize the given emotions needed for each individual scene. I had no trouble listening to his smooth voice for the duration of the almost 10 hour audiobook. On Audible he has over 18 pages of books he has narrated, including all 5 of the Alex Vane series. I look forward to exploring more.

The Pros:

• The characters are fully fleshed out and believable, even the side characters. I loved them all!
• The story was so full of twists and turns and characters it kept me intrigued right until the end.
• The narrator was amazing.

The Cons:

• A little too slow in the beginning as things build up.

[Review] The Bluestocking Duchess by Julia Justiss

Title: The Bluestocking Duchess
Series: Heirs in Waiting #1
Author: Julia Justiss
Genre: fiction, romance, historical, regency
Format: ebook
Publication Date: February 23 2021
Published By: Harlequin Romance
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Her good friend...

Is suddenly a duke’s heir! Miss Jocelyn Sudderfeld is working at Edge Hall, indulging her love of translating ancient texts with her librarian father—and evading the need to marry! She’s always enjoyed a teasing friendship with estate manager Mr. Alex Cheverton. Until he unexpectedly becomes the duke’s heir. Now his first duty is to marry a suitable debutante, not consort with an earnest bluestocking like her… So where does that leave their friendship?

About Lexi Post

Julia Justiss grew up breathing the scent of sea air near the colonial town of Annapolis, Maryland, a fact responsible for two of her life-long passions: sailors and history! By age twelve she was a junior tour guide for Historic Annapolis, conducting visitors on walking tours through the city that was a hotbed of revolutionary fervor. (Annapolis hosted its own tea party, dispensing with the cargo aboard the "Peggy Stewart," and was briefly capital of the United States.) She also took tourists through Annapolis's other big attraction, the United States Naval Academy. After so many years of observing future naval officers at P-rade and chapel, it seemed almost inevitable that she eventually married one.

But long before embarking on romantic adventures of her own, she read about them, transporting herself to such favorite venues as ancient Egypt, World War II submarine patrols, the Old South and, of course, Regency England. Soon she was keeping notebooks for jotting down story ideas. From plotting adventures for her first favorite heroine Nancy Drew she went on to write poetry in high school and college, then worked as a business journalist doing speeches, sales promotion material and newsletter articles. After her marriage to a naval lieutenant took her overseas, she wrote the newsletter for the American Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia and traveled extensively throughout Europe. Before leaving Tunis, she fulfilled her first goal: completing a Regency novel.

Children intervened, and not until her husband left the Navy to return to his Texas homeland did she sit down to pen a second novel. The reply to her fan mail letter to a Regency author led her to Romance Writers of America. From the very first meeting, she knew she'd found a home among fellow writers--doubtless the largest group of people outside a mental institution who talk back to the voices in their heads.

Her second goal was achieved the day before her birthday in May, 1998 when Margaret Marbury of Harlequin Historicals offered to buy that second book, the Golden-Heart-Award winning novel that became THE WEDDING GAMBLE. Since then, she has gone on to write fourteen novels, three novellas and an on-line serial, along the way winning or finalling for historical awards from The Golden Quill, the National Reader’s Choice, Romantic Times, and All About Romance’s Favorite Book of the Year.

Julia now inhabits an English Georgian-style house she and her husband built in the East Texas countryside where, if she closes her eyes and ignores the summer thermometer, she can almost imagine she inhabits the landscape of "Pride and Prejudice." In between travelling to visit her three children (a naval officer son stationed in Washington, DC, a textiles and design major daughter who cheers for University of Texas at Austin, and a mechanical engineering major son also at UT Austin) keeping up with her science teacher husband and juggling a part-time day job as a high school French teacher, she pursues her first and dearest love--crafting stories.

To relax, she enjoys watching movies, reading (historical fiction, mystery, suspense) and puttering about in the garden trying to kill off more weeds than flowers.

My Thoughts:
I have to admit in advance that I am not the hugest fan for romance novels, unless they are really well done. Thanks to the popularity of Bridgerton on Netflix, and the books by Julia Quinn (which I have already devoured The Duke and I) I have started to delve into some more historical (especially regency) romance novels. But, if you are looking for another Bridgerton type novel, this is not really for you.

While Bridgerton focuses more on the social season, the ton, extravagant social gatherings and gorgeous dresses, this novel focuses on Miss Jocelyn Sudderfeld and her relationship with her father, brother, and her dear friend who is the estate manager for Edge Hall, where she lives and works. Although there are a couple references to the ton and social events, etc. it is not the basis of this novel. So if that is what you are looking for, then this is not the book for you, and it really wasn't quite the book for me either, even though I did enjoy it somewhat.

The language often felt awkward, but I understand that is because the author is trying to seat us firmly in the place and time of the novel. But I found this took me out of the novel multiple times to look up words like bluestocking (an intellectual, well-read woman), hoyden (a rude, ill-bred, boisterous and noisy girl), and several others as well as forcing me to re-read several passages multiple times for understanding. At least I know some new words now! Not sure where I would use them however.

The story is very predictable, as I personally find most romance novels tend to be. I know a lot of people love that part of romance novels, but that is one of the main things that stops me from reading them a majority of the time. If I already know how it's going to go then where is the entertainment? In this case it's even more predictable because the very short summary, and the title, both give away the main exciting part, that Alex ends up becoming the Duke's heir!

The one thing I really liked was the character of Jocelyn. She has a secret she has been hiding for a very long time, and the discovery of this secret would ruin her whole family's life. She is a true intellectual. Even though everyone knows she helps her brother and father with translations by transcribing what they dictate, what they don't know is that she often comes up with translations and interpretations herself. If the secret was ever to be discovered that a woman helped on these projects they would be fired, evicted, and previous work would be rejected and ridiculed. This is the main reason why Jocelyn feels she cannot form an attachment with any man, as he would never understand her need to be part of this work, and even continue on her own later down the road once her father retired and her brother married.

I welcomed the addition of Lord Dansbury about halfway through the book as it was a nice break from the boring back and forth of Jocelyn having feelings for Alex, but knowing they couldn't be together because of her work and his rank, and Alex feeling a pull to Jocelyn, but being stopped by his rank. He knew he would be expected to marry a high ranking female with a large dowry, which of course Jocelyn did not have. Things had been so slow and boring during the second quarter of the book! Lord Dansbury was quite dashing for a somewhat older gentleman, and he seemed willing to wait for Jocelyn to finish her project to marry her, and they had so many things in common. I actually almost found myself rooting for him, even though I knew how things had to end (typical romance novel). 

Overall the story was pretty good. The second half more than made up for the first half. I really liked the way most of the story was wrapped up, but the very ending was a little too conveniently happily ever after, especially for the character involved. It didn't fit the way their character had been described throughout the novel, so it left a bad taste in my mouth, like the character was changed just for that happily ever after. Even a typical romance reader would find this disconcerting I think. Let me know what you thought if you read it.

I would have rated it a 3.5/5 if my blog or Goodreads allowed for it, but I didn't like it enough to bump it up to a 4.

The Pros:

• The character of Miss Jocelyn Sudderfeld was very well done.
• The addition of Lord Dansbury added to the story. I actually wish there was more of him.

The Cons:

• The back and forth between Jocelyn and Alex was often annoying and repetitive.
• The too happily ever after ending irked me.

[Review] A Pocket in Time by Lexi Post

Title: A Pocket in Time
Series: Time Weavers Inc. #2
Author: Lexi Post
Genre: romance, time travel, sci-fi and fantasy, historical
Format: ebook
Publication Date: February 22 2021
Published By: Entangled Publishing, LLC: Amara
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Katz Almira’s mission is clear—travel to the past, steal the note that ruins the world, travel back to the present. Easy. She’s the best pickpocket Time Weavers, Inc. has ever had. Posing as a poor widow in Regency London, she convinces her target, Lord John Byron, a man as sexy as he is wealthy, to take her in off the streets. But at her request to keep her hidden, instead of his cushy manor, he allows her to stay in a warehouse full of orphan boys he cares for there.

It’s the perfect place to hide, and bonus, her new roommates can help her find the mysterious note. With John as their pseudo-father, they know what he does every day, and with who. Katz can’t afford any distractions, but she soon finds herself getting attached to the orphans—and John—even helping him plan for their futures.

Each day she spends in the past is another day closer to her deadline, another day closer to returning to her own time, and another day John and this makeshift family get dangerously closer to her heart. But Katz staying in the past would have dire consequences for them all…

About Lexi Post

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels. In an effort to marry her two first loves, she started writing romance inspired by the classics and found she loved it. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

My Thoughts:
A Pocket in Time is an enjoyable romp about Katz Almira, the time-traveling woman from the future who is attempting to stop her future from being torn apart by someone who has gone back in time to mess important events up. She is thrown into Lord John Byron's path by her duties and finds his pull quite strong.

I chose this book because I love well written time travel romance novels, and this sounded like it was going to be a really good one, and I wasn't wrong. I also thought (wrongly) that the cover depicted a man wearing a kilt, but I now realize it was just the many buttoned breeches of the past. Let me start off by saying I was lead to believe that even though this was the second book in a series that it was considered to be a stand alone and I could read it without context. Although this might be true, they do make quite a lot of references to the previous book, and I find myself wishing I had read On Highland Time first. I will certainly be going back to read it at some point in time. 

The title is a great play on words as she is a pick pocket, from the future, back in time trying to fit in, but also because the story references the fact that a time traveler who visits the same point in time more than one can cause a pocket in time, which of course foreshadows events that will occur.

The future is very intriguing, and I would like to learn more about it. Once again I assume I might learn more from reading the first book. But there is also something thrown in right at the end that was very confusing, and I am guessing will hopefully lead to a third book? I would like to know more about how the time travel works, the genetic mutations that allow for that time travel, and why it's only women (except Go-Lucky). When exactly is this future? I would like to know more about some of the more interesting characters like old Arthur with his grey/silver eyes who is their researcher and has the ability to "download" information to the agent's mind, kind of like in The Matrix, but without technology?

Katz is strong and sassy, and doesn't take any shit. She has been on her own for a very long time, has learned from the streets, and knows how to survive. She also refuses to love again. A woman named Sadie took her in at some point and helped her survive, but not much else is known about her except that she died. I would like to learn more about this Sadie and her time with Katz. Sadly, Katz was left alone again, with promises to herself never to love again, because love causes pain and makes you vulnerable. She doesn't want to be put in that situation ever again. She feels unlovable.

No. I don't love anyone. Love means you lose perspective, become vulnerable. I refuse to do that.

Lord John Byron is a wonderful man. He used to be a typical rich white man who only cared for himself, but war has changed him. Not only has his leg been damaged, causing him to limp with pain quite often, but his eyes have been opened to the world around him, and all the suffering. Upon his return from war he takes in several homeless pick pockets and lets them stay in a hidden section of his warehouse. He cares for them as much as they will allow. He takes a percentage of their takes from the streets (because they wouldn't have it any other way) and donates it to care for the soldiers on the front lines. He was my favorite character in the story, as well as a few of the boys.

A few minor things bothered me, like the fact that Katz has only been with the agency for a year and is already the best, and can almost defeat her trainer? That seems hard to believe. Also, sometimes the language would throw me out of the story. I loved the general flow of the book, the story-telling and the dialogue of all the characters, but there were a few scenes when things were getting a bit hot and heavy and a word like "cock" was thrown out, and I just didn't feel like it fit in the specific situation. Better choices could have been made to portray the actions but with the more gentle language of the story overall. I hope that makes sense.

Overall I highly enjoyed this story, and the world it exists in. I will be going back to read book one, and I hope to hear updates of a third book in the near future, however with almost 3 years between books one and two, I am not holding my breath.

The Pros:

• Wonderfully full and realistic characters like Lord John Byron.
• The world building is very well done, both past and present. I would like to know more about the present/future.

The Cons:

• Katz is a little too talented and perfect at what she does to be believable at times.
• Some awkward word choices took me out of the story at points.

[Review] Guiding Emily by Barbara Hinske

Title: Guiding Emily
Series: N/A
Author: Barbara Hinske
Genre: general fiction (adult), literary fiction, women's fiction
Format: audiobook from the publisher on NetGalley
Publication Date: December 1 2020 (audiobook)
Published By: Podium Audio (audiobook)
Source: audiobook from the publisher on NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Sometimes the perfect partner has four paws…

Emily Main had it all: a high-powered career with a leading technology giant and a handsome fiancé bounding up the corporate ladder. Their island wedding and honeymoon were idyllic—until a tragic accident causes her retinas to detach.

Her well-ordered life is shattered as all treatments are unsuccessful and she slips into blindness. How will those around her cope with her tragedy? Can she rebuild her life in this most unwelcome, new normal?

Meanwhile, a black lab puppy named Garth fulfills his destiny to become that most esteemed of all creatures: a guide dog.

Guiding Emily is a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and courage as Garth and Emily make their way to each other.

About Barbara Hinske

Barbara Hinske is an attorney who recently left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time novelist. She inherited the fiction gene from her father who wrote mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood. Barbara is the bestselling author of the beloved ‘Rosemont’ series and has recently launched a collection of murder mystery thrillers in her "Who's There?" collection.

She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled dogs. She is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking and gardening. Now that her novel The Christmas Club has been made into a Hallmark Channel movie, she is completely star-struck and thrilled to have her work on the screen.

My Thoughts:
Guiding Emily is my favourite book of the year so far. Yes, I know it's only early February, but it was very enjoyable. I found myself impatient to get back to my audiobook, damn that silly thing called work getting in my way.

Guiding Emily is really two separate stories that join together at the end. First off we meet Garth. He is an adorable and smart black lab puppy who is in training to be a guide. Secondly we meet Emily, a head programmer at a firm who is just getting ready to leave for her wedding and honeymoon. We already know from the synopsis the Emily will have an accident that will take away her sight and so we know that Garth will obviously end up as her guide.

Even though we already know what is going to happen, there is a lot of extra foreshadowing at the beginning of the story, and I found it a little annoying as it went on. For example Emily kept mentioning to her husband how she is afraid to do certain things because her retinas might detach. Later we have her mother going on about it as well. We get it, she has to be careful, but we also already know it's going to happen. That was one of only two things that annoyed me about the story, and they were so minor I didn't even deduct a point for them.

The other slightly annoying thing was how Garth just happened to keep running into Emily and her friends before Emily was even partnered with Garth. Dhruv at the dentist. Zoey at the center. Emily and her group at the restaurant. It kind of gives the impression it's a very small town they all live in, but we know that's not the case. So I just found all that a little too coincidental, but again, not a major issue. Even though the meeting at the restaurant highly coincidental, I did like how Garth was immediately drawn to Emily, and the way he described her. 

The story as a whole sucked me in. Even though I knew she was going to be blind, the whole time she was fighting to get better from her surgery, and keeping her head down, and sleeping on the massage board, I just felt all of that. The hope, and the agony of being so uncomfortable but having no other choice. I was frustrated right along with her when things didn't work out, and I understand the anger and the resistance to acceptance and moving forward, and the depression that followed.

The story is very realistic, and I love how they easily work in all the terminology and explanations around living as a blind person and all the assistive technologies and personal trainings they have to help the blind. I was intrigued by the differences between a guide dog and a therapy dog, and all the different things they can actually help out with. One of my favorite sections, but also the most traumatizing, is when Gath has an incident with a fake service dog in a restaurant and how the handler goes on her rant about how dangerous fake service dogs are. It was very eye opening. 

Garth was adorable! I loved his parts of the book the best. Seeing things through his eyes made me wish even more that I was able to communicate with my pup. One of my favorite parts with Garth was when he was trying to help clean up the spilled soda and accidentally ruined the child's homework and everyone was so upset with him but he doesn't understand why because in his mind he was just trying to help. It made me wonder if there were ever times I got mad at my own pup when he was just trying to help out. My only issue is sometimes he would say things that he obviously couldn't know, like when he described the pop spill and compared it to Niagara Falls. How would he know about Niagara Falls? But most of the time his parts fell well within what he would actually know, which made it easy to submerse myself into the story. Garth meeting the puppy raiser's cat for the first time was truly hilarious!

The characters were all pretty amazing, with Dhruv, the autistic coworker and Zoey, the young girl neighbor who befriends Emily after her accident, being my top secondary characters. Dhruv was just so sweet always doing research to help out his friend, and doing what needed to be done, unlike her husband who just can't seem to wrap his head around his wife's blindness and how to help her. Both Dhruv and Zoey help Emily in different ways come to grips with her blindness and gently help prod her towards next steps like the blind lessons at the center, and eventually applying for a guide.

With regards to the audiobook presentation itself, it was wonderful. The two narrators, Fred Berman and Julia Whelan were perfect fits for this story. Both of them are well known audiobook narrators with over a dozen pages of choices for each of them over on Audible. I have actually listened to a book with Fred before, the Time Traveler's Wife, and even though I didn't enjoy the story, I did enjoy the narration, and he makes an awesome Garth. 

The whole story was very visual. I could see this as a movie I would enjoy watching. As I already mentioned I didn't like stopping. If I could have just sat in a quiet corner somewhere and indulged in the whole book, I would have. Sadly all my audiobook listening comes during my commutes to work, and I only travel about 20-30 minutes each way, so I don't get a whole lot of listening in on each session.

The overall impression of the book, that life sometimes changes, even if for the worse, but that life can still be a full life if you just make some adjustments, resonated a great deal with me. I have been a chronic pain sufferer for many years, and finally last year I took matters into my own hands and changed my diet and activity and made things so much better. I now how a much better outlook on life, and so does Emily.

The Pros:

• Garth is adorable and I could listen to him describe his life forever
• The story was very immersive and informative.
• The secondary characters were big additions to the story, very realistic, and very loveable.
• The narrators were amazing.

The Cons:

• I wish there would have been more time spent with Emily and Garth together.
• Some of the meetings with Garth and the other characters beforehand were too coincidental.
• It was very predictable, but that still didn't take away from the story at all.

[Review] Star-Crossed Dragons by Chris Cannon

Title: Star-Crossed Dragons
Series: N/A
Author: Chris Cannon
Genre: YA, fantasy, dragons, magic
Format: ebook from the publisher on NetGalley
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Published By: Entangled Teen
Source: ebook from the publisher on NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Ice-princess, Sara Sinclair, is the most un-Blue Blue Dragon of her Clan. And now her parents signed a marriage contract to an absolute asshat. Sara has no interest in being one half of a snobby Blue power couple. In fact, all she can dream about is biting her obnoxious fiancé’s head off and burying him in the garden. Since that can’t happen, her future seems like a lost cause, until she meets Ian, a fire-breathing Red Dragon—who is everything her fiancé is not.

Now Sara’s jumped from the frying pan into the fire because dating outside of your Clan is against Directorate law. Ian could be thrown in jail or executed without a trial. But now that she knows what love feels like, she can’t imagine being with anyone else.

Talk about a rock and a hard place…

About Chris Cannon

Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series, the Crossroads Chronicles, the Boyfriend Chronicles, and the Dating Dilemma series. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.
She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

My Thoughts:
Star-Crossed Dragons tells the story of Sara Sinclair, a well off member of the blue dragon clan. She has been promised to another high ranking blue dragon clan member, and she is struggling with the idea of this union and her role in the blue dragon clan as a whole. She runs into Ian, a member of the red dragon clan, while she is fleeing her intended. Ian is like no one she has ever met before. She likes that he actually listens to her and involves her in things, unlike Ferrin, her intended, who believes the role of blue dragon women is only to bear children and support their husband.

The story starts off very strong. The world building is fantastic and I was quickly pulled into the world of the dragon clans. I loved how every color dragon had their specialty and their role in society. I think I would have been a black or green dragon. I would have loved even more about their difference and how their society came to be. However, I was often caught wondering why the clans were kept so separate. Why can't they have relationships outside their own color?

I felt there were explanations missing for many things, like the directorate. Why were they formed. Why did the rest of the dragon society allow it. Why do the rest of the dragons not fight against the amount of power and fortune the blue dragons hoard? What was the punishment for being out past curfew? Why was there a curfew? What is the extent of their powers?

The writing was pretty basic throughout the majority of the book, and for some reason it got worse as the book progressed. The first half was wonderful, but the second half dragged in places, but then the epilogue raced through so much where I would have liked more details. The pacing was just awkward overall.

I also felt like parts of the book were missing that dangerous feeling that I felt it should have had. Sara and Ian are doing things that could get them killed. Yet even though it's mentioned, the danger isn't really felt. I don't feel them being careful, sneaking around. There should have been more people that were curious about their actions. There should have been that rush of the directorate coming after them, the actual chase, but I just never felt it. The ending was just too slow, too basic, too much back and forth, should we, shouldn't we. Just not enough drama/action! It just seems too much happily ever after with not enough fight/suffering. Too easy.

I was also left wondering what happened to the characters left behind. I would have liked a little focus on their reactions, maybe how they handled the directorate questioning them (because I am assuming that would have to happen). Maybe there will be another book? Hopefully?

Overall I enjoyed the story, it was a light easy read, and I would be interested in reading more from this world.

The Pros:

• The world building is fantastic.
• Ian was my favorite character.
• Sara's attitude and her always wanting to shift and bite off Ferrin's head.

The Cons:

• The writing is basic, almost feels like a rough draft, especially nearing the end.
  
• The back and forth, should I, shouldn't I gets tiring fast.
• Sadly seems to be a one off, I would like to read more in this world.