Fallen City by Adrienne Young
Goodreads blurb: In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate’s daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.
Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city’s Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.
aris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel’s inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.25 out of 5. Great potential and I am absolutely not opposed to continuing the story because now I am invested fully, but it just went way slower that I wanted. For an Adrienne Young book it was just taking way to long to get through. As it is a trend with fantasy books, there is a significant cliffhanger, we will definetly need to continue to know what happens. I enjoyed the characters even though it felt very YA in my annoyance as to their actions and decisions, but yet they are young. I kind of wanted more of the gods, and I think I Wanted more information, like it was given out very sparcely, and I just wanted it all right away.
Never Over by Clare Gilmore
Goodreads blurb: A swoony second-chance romance where facing the one who broke your heart could be the thing that makes your dream come true.
Twenty-five-year-old Paige Lancaster is one contract away from earning a living doing her favorite thing in the world: writing songs. But when a music industry professional suggests she might be holding back with her lyrics to lessen the heartbreak of an old flame, Paige doubts if her music is ready to be heard.
In a rare, impulsive move, Paige contacts Liam Bishop after four years of no contact to ask him for a small favor: date her, and then re-break her heart, all so she can remember what those big, songworthy emotions felt like. And since Liam is the one who first set Paige on this career path, he hesitantly agrees.
Across three months of Liam’s summer work travel, the exes are forced to share hotel beds, rehash the past, and date in the present, all while navigating the building attraction between them they both swore was the one line of their agreement they wouldn’t cross.
But when it becomes near impossible not to act on their rippling chemistry, and as ever intensifying feelings blur the lines of what’s actually real and what’s driven by the music, Paige and Liam will both have to decide what’s more important: art for the sake of it, or love over everything
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.25 out of 5. I thought the premise to start was stupid but I was somewhat convinced by the end. I think the concept of rekindling an old romance and getting some closure is always a good idea but how it was presented here was just weird and strange. However how all the relationships in this book develop, both the romantic and friendships and their personal development was lovely so I will forgive the crazy start and go along for the musical ride (i think this book needs a companion soundtrack)
Bound by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads blurb: A reluctant con artist and professor with too many secrets are bound together in Ali Hazelwood’s intoxicating new dark academia romance – available only in audio!
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her – politely – and makes an unusual offer: forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to wonder: what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
MY take: 3 out of 5. I think we are at that point where Ali Hazelwoods 5th (or is it 6th) outing this year might just not be up to the standards i expected from her. This was a perfectly enjoyable audiobook that i devoured in one sitting. Good story, just not great. The end got exciting even though it was thoroughly predictable.
First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Goodreads blurb: A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.
Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.
When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.
The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. If you are a book lover and a football fan like me, this is a book for you. It is a perfectly adorable love story set in the football world with a fun meet cute. It is absolutely predictable but none the less the ride is very enjoyable! Also I absolutely adore that the FMC is a big football fan can outsmart most of the men in this book, women can know sports too!
Something Wicked by Falon Ballard
Goodreads blurb: From the beloved USA Today bestselling author Falon Ballard comes a seductive romantasy that blends Macbeth and Moulin Rouge! into a hypnotic saga of sex, love, and murder.
The country of Avon is in deep turmoil. The Uprising has overthrown Avon’s monarchial rulers, and a decree has been issued. Candidates for the first presidential election will be selected by the completion of a special task: to kill the former monarch of their home province.
Callum, the son of the recently dethroned king, is determined to be in the running. But to do so, he must come to terms with killing his father, the key to which lies in the hands of Lady Caterine, a Gifted courtesan at La Puissance, Avon’s premiere sex club.
Lady Caterine has always had the magical ability to manipulate the emotions of anyone who experiences an orgasm in her presence. If Callum can only open up to Cate, he will be able to commit the newly fated murder without suffering the guilt and take his place as the rightful candidate from his province. But Callum has a deep-seated mistrust of the Gifted. And the last thing he expects is to be confronted with an undeniable connection with Cate that neither of them understands, nor wants.
With the fate of the country at stake, Callum and Cate search for ways to bare themselves to each other, and discover a darker force building within La Puissance, one that might ruin the future of Avon for good. To stop Avon from violently falling to ashes, they must sacrifice everything they have . . . even if it requires betraying each other
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 2.75 out of 5. This was a hard one because I love Fallon Ballard (and her book coming out next year I absolutely adored) but this one was a bit of a mess. I know everyone wants to go to the multiple book fantasy world, but sometimes staying in your lane is also great. There were some story plotholes that just didnt sit right with me (no spoilers but there was a lot of convolution that was not needed) also this could have been just one book, why a cliffhanger? I think a standalone book would have been better. It is very spicy, but given the context of the courtesan world it didnt feel gratuitous, although I have to say her power was a little over the top.
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