Mayhem and the Mortal review

Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams

I ended up really enjoying Mayhem and the Mortal. The story pulled me in pretty quickly, especially with Zaira being so determined to save her sister that she’s willing to risk everything. I liked that she felt strong, but still human. She makes tough choices and doesn’t always have things figured out.

The world was interesting and felt dangerous in a way that kept the journey exciting. The Shallows felt vivid and unpredictable. The setting is harsh and strange, full of creatures and magic that make every step forward feel risky. It gives the story a strong sense of adventure and that there’s going to be something unexpected coming. A lot of moments I genuinely wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.

I also really liked the dynamic between Zaira and Thane. Their interactions and banter kept me hooked. I love a morally gray hero and some good enemies to lovers tension.

Overall this was a fun fantasy adventure with all my favorite things... action, magic, and romance. I’m definitely curious to see where the story goes from here. Book 2 please!

** Thank you Red Tower Books for the gifted ARC. **

Review: The Sweet Life by Debbie Mason

 

Sometimes you can go home again . . .

 
Attorney Sage Rosetti is a force to be reckoned with. Work/life balance? Never heard of it. But when the unexpected loss of her mentor sends her spiraling, she’s prescribed a healthy dose of time off. Luckily, she’s just inherited the perfect home where she can recover. Unluckily, she’s now co-owners with her high school crush/nemesis, Jake Walker. How can she truly relax when her heart is at risk?

Sage’s mother, Gia, is dealing with a crisis of her own. A new book is about to reveal their family’s biggest secret—and Gia’s devasting heartbreak. The only person she can confide in is the one man she shouldn’t be getting close her sister’s ex.

But just as Sage and Gia are starting to find their paths, someone from Gia’s past resurfaces who could ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

My Review:

What an amazing story of love, family, resilience, and forgiveness. The Sweet Life starts out a bit sad with the passing of Sage's mentor, Alice. But it also quickly introduces Sage's once nemesis and soon to be love interest Jake, which is when things get really interesting. I love that this story also follows Sage's mom, Gia's adventures in finding love as well. How wonderfully blessed the Rossetti women are. Such a loving and boisterous bunch! Mason's writing is such a wonderful experience, and the ending was so heartwarming and just perfect. Love it!

** I requested and received an advanced copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. **

Summer on Sunshine Bay by Debbie Mason

 

Description:

 Welcome to Sunshine Bay, where the joys of summer last all year round.

 

Lila Rosetti Sinclair returns to Sunshine Bay a bundle of nerves. After being gone for years, sharing the news that she’s engaged—to a man her mother has never met—is going to be difficult to navigate. But when her fiancé David surprises her with an engagement party at Windemere, the upscale inn his parents recently purchased and that just may put her family’s restaurant, La Dolce Vita, out of business, Lila’s got a whole new set of problems.

     Eva Rosetti is so ecstatic to finally have her daughter home that she pushes aside her misgivings about having to come face-to-face with Lila’s father again. That is until he sweeps into town and feelings Eva thought far behind her resurface....

     With a family business to save and a wedding to plan, Eva and Lila’s reunion is more than either bargained for, but with a little luck and a whole lot of support from friends and family, it may just turn out to be the best summer of their lives.

 

 My review: 

Summer on Sunshine Bay is the perfect summer read. The Rossetti's are fun spunky women with lots of heart, who unfortunately believe that they are cursed in love. The family's love for one another is palpable and endearing and one of my favorite things about the story. The beach setting and the antics of the "Heartbreakers of Sunshine Bay" put a smile on my face and made this an extremely enjoyable read for me. Yet another great book by Ms. Debbie Mason! 

Let's talk vampire books

 So I've always loved vampire books and have read quite a few. There's a lot, particularly in the teen/YA category to choose from. Here are some that I've read and enjoyed at one point or another: 

  

I've also read a few adult fiction vampire books as well... 

 

Sookie Stackhouse Series

I'm sure there's even more that I haven't listed here. So as you can tell it is a favorite theme for me. What about you? What are some of your favorite vampire books and series? 

Review: Phantom Peak by Diane J. Reed

Phantom Peak by Diane J. Reed 

Phantom Peak is Book 2 in the Starlight & Sagebrush Series.

About the Book : 

Finding “forever love” takes on a whole new meaning when it entails unlocking the secrets of Bandits Hollow’s ghosts…Devastatingly handsome Hayes Sellier comes from a long line of ranchers who love to roll up their sleeves and put in a hard day’s work. So it comes as a big surprise to Hayes when he inherits the town’s grand Victorian opera house, which is filled to the rafters with exquisite antiques. 

The problem? It’s also filled with ghosts…

Along with a very sexy antique dealer named Amber Rove who claims the Town Council sold her all the furniture inside the building for a fundraiser. When these two lock horns over ownership of the salvage, their passion and chemistry fire hotter than a branding iron. Only Granny Tinker holds the wisdom to guide them toward their timeless love story that rivals even the town’s most legendary outlaws. 

My Review : 

First of all let's talk about this awesome book cover. I love the amazing background that perfectly conveys the beautiful setting of the story. Also the very handsome cowboy on the front. My favorite things about the paperback though is that it says the main character's name "Hayes" on the spine and has that lovely Starlight & Sagebrush stamp on front. Definitely makes me want to own the physical copies of these books! Okay, so onto what I thought about the story... 

I don't think I can express how much this author's writing just grabs me. Each story feels so special, vivid, and magical. Phantom Peak is a wonderful contemporary cowboy romance with magical realism and lots of heart. The main characters Amber and Hayes, have so much spark right from the start. Even when he's laughing and making her mad lol. I love their witty banter together and how they just seem to complement each other so well and I can't talk about how much I love Phantom Peak without mentioning Hayes' spunky uncle Lester. He's such a fun character and I love how he takes an instant shine to Amber. There were several times that Lester actually made me cry, I felt so attached to him. His deep devotion to Gloria was so heartwarming. Of course it goes without saying that Bandits Hollow is just such a special place to me and I love every time I get to visit it through Reed's stories. All of the characters have a very special place in my heart and I always cherish my time with them (especially Granny Tinker), it was also very cool to get to meet some of Bandits Hollow’s Opera House ghosts. I highly recommend Phantom Peak to cowboy romance lovers, especially those who enjoy magical realism. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it'd be a shame to miss out on any of these amazing books. 

** I received this book from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review. ** 

Review: The Inn on Mirror Lake

Description:

They swear they’re not right for each other but the matchmakers of Highland Falls are out to prove them wrong.

 

Elliana MacLeod has come home to whip the Mirror Lake Inn into tip-top shape, the only way to prevent her mother from selling the beloved family business. In between watching over mischievous, cigar-sneaking Grandpa Joe and trying to help Highland Falls win the Most Romantic Small Town in America contest, Elliana’s plate isn’t just full, it’s overflowing. She can’t refuse Nathan Black’s offer to fix up the inn, even if the gorgeous law enforcement officer has made it abundantly clear he considers her a friend, and nothing more.

Nate knows he’s not cut out for long-term relationships or white picket fences, and that’s what Ellie deserves. Yet keeping her at arm’s length is nearly impossible, especially once they’re working—and living—side-by-side. The more time he spends with Ellie, the more he wants, and not just for today but forever. When Ellie’s ex returns to town, has Nate missed his chance with the woman of his dreams?

My review:

The Inn on Mirror Lake is a wonderful addition to the heartwarming Highland Falls series. I'm in awe of how there can be suspense and some pretty serious things happening at times, yet the humor and love seem to really shine through and leave you with that warm feel-good feeling after reading. I have a soft spot for Nate and I love how Ellie gets through his tough exterior and around the walls he's built up around his heart. I hope to see more of him in the future books. Maybe he can even get a smile out of baby Michaela! Ellie was not my favorite female lead from this series, but I feel like she was a good fit for Nate so I'm still on board with this ship lol. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series. When I see Debbie Mason's name on a book I know I must read it! 

** I received a digital review copy of this book via Netgalley.**

Review: The Book Woman's Daughter

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek!

Description from Netgalley:

Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.

In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.

Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.

If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

My Review: 

The Book Woman's Daughter is such a gripping emotional novel full of heart, hope, determination, and a fair share of injustice as well. I knew right away I needed to read this sequel to the powerful "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" that had me crying and thinking it over for days after I'd finished reading. I'm happy to saw I found the sequel just as compelling. I was certainly glad to see some familiar characters helping her along the way and was downright mad for all the horrible things she had to endure. Just like her momma she maintained her kind heart though. Which is one of my favorite things about this series. If you loved the first book as much as I did, then I definitely recommend you read The Book Woman's Daughter. 

** I received an advanced digital review copy via Netgalley. **