Book Review: Frenemy Fix-Up (Six Gems) by Yahrah St. John
Early Book Review: Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time by Marc Zao-Sanders
Book Review: Recipe For Mr. Banksy (Recipe for Life) by Anni Rose
Early Book Review: Nothing Special, Volume One Through the Elder Woods (A Graphic Novel) by Katie Cook
Early Book Review: Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle
Fish Out of Water is a fun and engaging read. I liked Dahlia and Winston, their chemistry, and they way that communicated. There was fun and humor, but they did also do a little deeper sharing and getting to know each other. I liked that there was plenty of getting to know you time, and that neither of them were dismissive of the other's interests or concerns. I did feel a bit like most of it was less deep and layered than I was expecting from this author. The story that was here was entertaining and fun to read, and there were a couple moments of deep understanding between the two, and a dose of danger towards the end. However, I wanted something more. There was enough groundwork laid to cover so much more of the history and families of both Dahlia and Winston- but it was barely touched on. I get that it could very well be the groundwork for a series, but I still wanted more in the here and now.
Early Book Review: When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
Book Review: That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf (Mead Mishap) by Kimberly Lemming
Book Review: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (Mead Mishap) by Kimberly Lemming
Early Book Review: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde) by Heather Fawcett
Book Review: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Book Review: Overgeared, Vol. 1 Art by Team Argo, Adapted by Monohumbug, Story by Saenal
Book Review: Frosty Proximity (Winter Wanderlust) by Liz Alden
Frosty Proximity is exactly what I was looking for. Peter and Kara are both likable characters that find their way from a working relationship and friends of friends to so much more. This was a fast and fun read, and I loved the get to know you stage and the move on forward. I like that they are both mature enough to talk about disagreements, misunderstandings, and real things while also still having fun and light moments between them. The family moments and caring aspects of this story we just as important and engaging for me as the hotter moments, and I think this novella balanced a lot of important aspects to both Kara's and Peter's lives nicely. I enjoyed this read and think many other readers will as well.
Book Review: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
Audiobook Review: Pirates, Parley, Plunder! (Dungeon Runner) by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Jackie Meloche
Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is the second book in the Dungeon Runner series by Dustin Tigner, the audiobook is narrated by Jackie Meloche. This book picks up right where the first left off, and I highly recommend reading them in order.
Entin’s guild flourishes, eager to face the untamed dungeons of Eternal Fantasy Online. These dangerous places are worlds within worlds, each presenting unique themes that truly stretch the definition of what a dungeon should be. All seems well until Entin meets a young woman by the name of Aymie Avys. She brings a wealth of knowledge and secrets that challenge everything he thought he knew. There is something dark in this world, a festering corruption that might hold the answers to questions no one is asking. But pursuing these answers could threaten everything Entin and his Runners have built and force him to choose between who he was in the past life and who he is now.
Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a much more cohesive and engaging read than the first book in the series for me, mostly because it was written to be. I enjoyed getting to know the characters more and seeing them grow as individuals and as a team. I am glad that the author continued to give us the story through several points of view. This gave me a much better understanding of the bigger picture and each character's emotions well before the rest figured things out. I like that while there is romance, and in some sections very important, I like that the book did not become all romance. The pairing off did not derail the other aspects of the story, instead just made the mundane interactions more intense and important. I think readers that enjoy fantasy and Game lit will enjoy this very much. I am grateful that the author unearthed the stories that became the first book in this series and continued it.
Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a fabulous follow up to the first runners book. I cannot wait to see what Entin, Aymie, and the rest get up to next.
Book Review: Enchanted to Meet You (Witches of West Harbor) by Meg Cabot
Audiobook Review: Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello, Narrated by Ben Bailey Smith, Nneka Okoye
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello is a young to new adult romance. The audiobook is narrated by Ben Bailey Smith and Nneka Okoye. Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland. Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.
Love in Winter Wonderland is a great read for young adults, new adults, and everyone else that loves a good holiday romance or underdog coming out on top tale. To make the listen even better, the narrators are absolutely wonderful. The inflections and emotions that they pour into their performances added so much to the book. Honestly, I think I could listen to this pair read the phone book and they would make it entertaining and engaging. I loved Ariel's character, her fears and self doubt felt very realistic and relatable to me. Trey's ambitions and circle of friends were a little less relatable to me- as I was never one of the cool kids myself and hung out with those more like Ariel's group instead. I thought the balance of getting to know each other, figuring out who they are and what they want, and working towards a worthy goal together. I really enjoyed the uncovering of their personalities and coming together. I thought the drama of college age antics and family dynamics was very well done, and I have to admit that there were several points that had me angry or frustrated on the character's behalf. Not the most calming read, but overall it was extremely engaging and entertaining.
Love in Winter Wonderland is a wonderful story that fits so many of my favorite categories, I think there is something for everyone here.
Audiobook Review: Exploit, Extract, Exit! (Dungeon Runner)by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Jackie Meloche
Exploit, Extract, Exit! is not quite what I had expected when I started listening, but that is because I read the author's name and not the description. This is not related to the Arachnomancer series- this is a different game world, with different characters and rules. Once I got past my own expectations I was able to get drawn into the story much more. I thought the characters and world building were well done, and I enjoyed getting to know new aspects of the world along side the characters. I thought the dynamics on Entin and his circle of friends and found family were fantastic, and I enjoyed that those relationships grew and changed without making it the focus of the story. I really liked the development of the main character of the alternating stories, and think she shows a great deal of growth in her stories as well. I liked the world building, and while the author admits in the forward and afterward of the book that it comes off as a little disjointed, because of the format the stories were originally written in, I think it still is very much worth the read, and I look forward to reading more to find out how everything comes together.
Book Review: Words from Hell: Unearthing the Darkest Secrets of English Etymology by Jess Zafarris
Words from Hell is a book crafted for readers that love learning about words, and take joy in discovering the dirty, unexpected, and unusual path some words have taken to get to their current connotation, and dictionary definition. I was glad that the author took the time to point out how much of the English language has been stolen from other languages, and how many cultures, languages, and people were destroyed via colonization over the years. Not to mention the classism, racisms, and xenophobic tendencies that seem to pepper themselves trough out the way the language has developed. I thought the book was well organized, and offered a sardonic tone, with facts and humor balancing nicely. I think word nerds will enjoy the read.