Ibby's Bookshelf

Book reviews and book quotes! Expect a lot of booktalk to come!

[pipperoni32-blog]

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies

by Jenny Elder Moke / narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen / 5 stars

I have had so much fun with this series! I need the next one immediately.

Simon Says is sinking. A fact that isn't helped when Kate Valentine decided to end her bestselling Loretta series, but Juliette Winters isn't about to let that stop her from saving the business. She's landed the book deal of the century, a juicy tell all from Warren Ellingham that exposes secrets in the business world. Now he just needs to turn in his manuscript, and she can announce the book.

Everything is set for him to do exactly that at a party on his super-yacht. Warren is handed a microphone that's been having trouble shorting out, and the spark takes him out of commission. Permanently. With Warren dead, Juliette needs to get her hands on that manuscript fast, or her dreams of saving Simon Says - and her job - are going to end just as suddenly.

Except the manuscript has been taken, stolen by someone who might have been willing to kill Warren to keep their secret hidden. The police aren't interested in some stolen pages, especially when it looks like Warren simply had an unfortunately timed heart attack. If they won't look into it, Juliette will. Even if it means pairing up with Doctor Dud.

The sharp wit, unskilled investigation and meddling co-workers had me laughing and enjoying this one so much. It's a great listen, with Sarah Mollo-Christensen at the helm. She's quickly becoming a favorite narrator, and a reason to love this series even more. Run don't walk to pick this one up today!

[pipperoni32-blog]

“Liza,” I said, interrupting before she could finish that scandalous thought. “Thomas would never be so foolish. We trust each other.”

“He’s human, you know. No matter how clinical and intelligent he may be, he’s got human emotions. I think you forget that sometimes. He buries them, but they’re there.”

— Escaping From Houdini

😰🥹 I am not ready for Audrey Rose to break Thomas’s heart. Treasure our sweet boy!

[pipperoni32-blog]

Homecoming

by Jude Austin / 5 stars

After escaping GenTech with Project Tau, Kata just wants to go home. Unfortunately, GenTech made him into a valuable weapon, and there are people everywhere who have plans for exactly how they can use him. If they can only find a way to keep him in line.

Already jaded and struggling in the aftermath of the trauma and psychological abuse he was put through, Kata's anger and bitterness toward the world only grow. Meanwhile, Project Tau struggles with finding his place in a world outside the lab. Projects were taught that humans will always be their master, and freedom is a luxury not meant for them. Without an owner, where is Tau's place in this larger, frightening new world he finds himself in?

Separated from Tau and sent on an impossible mission, Kata arrives on Atthiras and immediately runs into danger. In the unexpected form of a wasp's nest and a deadly allergy he wasn't even aware of. He wakes up to find himself in a hospital - too much like the lab that tortured him. Despite receiving only kindness from the surgeon in charge there, Kata is always waiting for the other shoe to drop and the latest person to betray him.

All Kata wants is to be free from the people who constantly want to use him, and for Tau to be safe. For them to be out of GenTech's reaches once and for all. With his newfound ally in Alan, will they be able to come up with a plan to do exactly that?

One of my favorite things about this book was the mental health aspect, as Kata and Tau are on very different journeys to come to grips living in the aftermath of GenTech. I feel like it was so well done, and the further development of these characters is top notch.

[pipperoni32-blog]

First and Forever

by Lynn Painter / 4 stars

I will always read Lynn Painter books! Her humor and chemistry sizzle, and I never know if she's going to pull her punches or thoroughly devastate me.

First and Forever starts with major sports fan and season ticket holder Duffy Distefano involved in an unfortunate accident with the team mascot. The mascot's hug turned into a grope leads to Duffy pushing him away - and unfortunately down a number of stairs. Now she's public enemy number one and can't go to a game without people booing and throwing concession snacks at her.

The team is struggling to manage its public perception as more women come forward admitting to being groped by the mascot. When Duffy is invited to appear on a sports talk show, the team sends their golden boy Connor Cunningham to smooth things over. Unexpectedly, their rapport (despite Duffy's father taking the spotlight with his unstoppable enthusiasm) has the public rooting for them as a couple. When Connor accidently kind of asks Duffy out on the talk show, his PR team wants to make it official. It only has to be one date.

Despite Duffy turning him down for a second date after their first one is pasted all over the news, Connor - and her interfering family - win Duffy over into giving him another chance.

Duffy's loud family, especially her father, attempt to take center stage in this one, with their personalities that can barely be contained and interfering ways. Despite them, Duffy and Connor manage to connect as Connor falls deeper for her. If only he can keep his agent and team owner from turning their romance into front page news at every step.

[pipperoni32-blog]

Project Tau

by Jude Austin / 4 stars

This book grabbed me, I was so quickly invested in it.

Kalin Taylor, a foul mouthed, overweight youth is on his way to the prestigious college, SACAS. He has a roommate that he actually gets along with, a miracle in itself. In an attempt to make his father proud, Kalin tries to join a fraternity. They give him an impossible task - break into GenTech and take a picture of Project Tau. Kalin knows there's no chance he can actually make it but decides to give it a try anyway. What's the worst that can happen, they escort him out of security?

GenTech has a darker side than Kalin could have imagined. Projects - human clones that are given advanced strength and other attributes, then trained and sold to the highest bidder. Except the process of creating and training them often leads to failure. With Kalin detained by security, GenTech decides to keep him and experiment on him.

What happens next is the torture and mental abuse as they try to convince Kalin - now Project Kata - that his memories are false. He really is just a project, and his defiance only leads to more pain.

As Kata bonds with Project Tau and struggles to hold onto his sense of reality, he soon realizes they'll need to escape. Before the "training" kills them both.

This was horrifying at times, but I was so drawn into the story telling.

[pipperoni32-blog]

Gods & Comics

by Kat Cho / 4 stars

A secret Webtoon artist, Grace is also an overachieving student who has her life plan in strict order. She makes sure her father eats on his infrequent breaks from shifts at the hospital, is all set to get into the college her parents went to and join the med program just like them. Except her grief over losing first her mother, and then her grandmother, led to a breakdown last year. Now she struggles to keep her emotions in check and not panic.

Belief is a powerful thing though, and as her Webtoon gains popularity the unexpected happens. The gods she writes about come to life, restored from where they disappeared as people stopped thinking of them. Now her main character is stalking her, and zombie-like creatures are out attacking people as the main villain shows up.

Grace can't keep juggling everything, so something will have to give. Can she take the chance on losing out on everything she's worked for to help a god she's only just met - and might be falling for?

This one was a fun, quick read. The Webtoon meets reality was such a fun concept, and I loved how she was able to mix in the memory of her grandmother and the stories she was told.

[pipperoni32-blog]

The Solstice Swap

by Danielle Garrett / 3.5 stars

Andrea thought finding out her food critic boyfriend had been cheating on her was bad. Then he writes a scathing review about her bakery, putting her business in jeopardy. She's torn - work on re-establishing her reputation or focus on the cookbook she's supposed to be writing, the deadline soon approaching.

When her business manager suggests she go on vacation, Andrea finds a place on Solstice Swap, an Air bnb like site where fellow witches can trade houses. She might live in a magic district, Hecate's Kitchen, but maybe some time away is what she needs?

The new townhouse where she's staying supplies a talking cat, Phantom, who's droll sense of humor often made me laugh. As well as noisy construction work that does not help her writing process. On the other hand, the cute foreman of the construction crew might be just what she needs. An attraction that has her questioning what she ever saw in her old boyfriend.

I felt like this one was a cozy, no fuss rom-com. Low angst, with people actually communicating (for the most part) and even when there was drama it was easily solved and well handled. Definitely a lovely listen to sit back with and enjoy when you're needing to recharge.

Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

[pipperoni32-blog]

A Pack for Spring

by Emelia Emerson / 4.5 stars

I adored this one! Seeing an omegaverse book (series!) in traditional publishing has me wondering just how unhinged all of us are. And loving every minute of it.

The third in the series set in Starlight Grove, our focus is on Lucy Andersson-Springs. She runs a shop she loves, making custom clothing and running a secret instagram account where she shares the outfits she makes for Starlight Grove's (real) mayor, the cat Felix. She has a great group of friends and loves what she does, but she's not been so lucky in love.

When she turns 29, she decides that maybe this is her year to find her pack. Or maybe she should accept what her exes told her, that she's too much and she should set about learning how to live alone.

When she finds three men she has a deep connection to - Leo, her beta neighbor she's been flirting with, to no success. Wilder the fire chief who rescues her from an ill-fated camping trip in the mountains and makes her feels instantly safe. And the billionaire King who might want nothing more than to be a one-night stand.

Each of the guys are dealing with their own reasons for thinking they aren't good enough for Lucy. Will their reticence keep them from forming their happy ending? Will Lucy be able to believe enough in herself and her own happy ending to reach out to them when they need it most?

A sweet romance with humor and a small town full of love and welcome. With delightfully, toe-curlingly hot spice, an instant hit for why choose fans.

[pipperoni32-blog]

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective

by Jo Nichols / 4 stars

Always unsure of how I feel about short chapters, this book threw a lot at a person all at once. With so many unique points of view, and such little time spent with each one, I had a little trouble settling in. The quirky set of apartments and finding how everyone fit in together was enjoyable though, so I stayed with it.

Mrs. B, the landlord, has gathered together a group of people she feels strongly about, renting to them at different rates to ensure they all have a place to live that's affordable for them. While the residents of the Marigold Cottages might not be sure how they feel about each other, they all share their respect for Mrs. B.

Anthony, the newest resident, has them all in something of a tizzy. The ex-con, with his size and tattoos, seems to be the epitome of trouble. Yet Mrs. B vouches for him and assures the residents that he's a good man. Until the dead body shows up. The investigator, who is wanting to solve his case fast, has to look no further than Anthony before pronouncing the case closed.

While an uneasy alliance has formed in the form of a group chat among the residents, along with meetings to support each other through the finding of the body. Some agree with the investigator, sure that Anthony wouldn't have been arrested if he didn't do it. Mrs. B is adamant that they need to help him clear his name, and when it looks like there's no other answer, she confesses to the crime herself.

Anthony might be a lost cause, but the Marigold Cottages members rally to same Mrs. B. She's brought them all together, and they're not about to abandon her in her time of need. But that leads them to consider - if Anthony really is innocent, then does that mean that there's a killer still among them? What if one of them is targeted next?

By the end, short chapters be damned, I was invested in this group. Becoming closer knit, you learn to care about them at the same time they're learning to care about each other. A brilliantly woven mystery, with good twists. I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series!

[pipperoni32-blog]

The Locked Ward

by Sarah Pekkanen / 3.5 stars

This is my second story by Sarah Pekkanen, and I'm still debating if I like her style of short chapters and frequent POV changes. It does provide a broader picture of what's happening, but is it too distracting?

Mandy's life is simple but fulfilling. She lost her adoptive parents but feels close to them as she runs the bar they opened. She has a place she feels she belongs, and good people to work with. Until she receives a shock - she has a twin sister she's never known about. A sister that is suddenly reaching out to her asking for help. To prove that she didn't commit the murder she's been locked up for.

Georgia's life depends on her ability to remain detached. She can only hope for leniency by being proved mentally incompetent, to convince everyone that she's unresponsive, emotionally cut off. But the ward she's in isn't safe, and there's another patient who seeks to harm her. How can avoid reacting while also keeping her distance as he tries to trap her. In a long shot, she reaches out the twin sister she's just discovered, hoping that familial ties will run deep enough, despite never knowing each other.

I thought the exploration of nature vs nurture was well explored, along with the connection between twins. I was much more drawn to Georgia's story, both because she knew what happened leading up to the murder, and what was happening in the locked ward. Mandy frustrated me at times, but she also had very little to work with, and was going into this investigation very blind. Her life was turned upside down as what she thought she knew about her parents and who they were becomes questioned when it's not clear why the twins were separated.

I enjoyed the story, but at times felt like it was trying to accomplish too much and needed to scale back in size. I think I'll have a greater grasp of my feelings of Sarah Pekkanen as a story teller with her next book, which I look forward to reading.

Thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for the ARC.

[pipperoni32-blog]

Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

by Michelle Miles / 4 stars

Michelle Miles is such a must read author for me, that as soon as I saw this one I was ready to read. So much so that I didn't read the summary. When things started getting a little spooky and darker than I was used to from her retellings, I had to see what was up. The Raven has been on my to read list for years, but I still haven't gotten to it. So this retelling was my first experience with the famed story.

Victoria Ravenwood has been living with her aunt and uncle following the death of her parents. An arrangement that would be fine, if it weren't for her aunt's efforts to marry her off. Then news comes of an inheritance Victoria had never expected - the old manor Ravenfell, when she remembers living for a time as a child.

The manor is dark and gloomy, much in need of repair, and the caretaker Gabriel seems to be holding back information. It doesn't take long before strange things start to happen, and a chilling presence makes itself known. Now that Victoria is here, the manor has no intention of letting her go.

I'm normally not big on spooky, gothic horror (which shows you how unprepared I am for the original story!) but with Miles' story telling ability, I was able to stick with it. Plus we learn even more about the subplot of Marigold and Hilde, who open and close each tale in Miles' enchanted realms series. Are we getting closer to their own story?

Overall, not my favorite in the series, but I enjoyed it despite being some of my less favored genres. This series has me hooked, and I have a feeling I'm going to need to go back through all the books to look at the prologues and epilogues to see what secrets might have been revealed!

I received an ARC through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

[pipperoni32-blog]

The House Saphir

by Marissa Meyer / narrated by Rebecca Soler / 3 stars

Marissa Meyer is one of my go to authors when it comes to fairytale retellings. Her characters and knowledge of the plot - with her own signature twists - are something I can expect and rely on, and I'm always excited to see what she has in store next. At this point, her books go hand in hand with Rebecca Soler's narration, a partnership I fully enjoy. Rebecca brings the characters to life, they're so vibrant and easy to picture, and her pacing always makes the book feel just right.

This was my first, and probably last Bluebeard retelling. I went in not knowing what to expect, I can't make comparisons to the original. All I can say is that this story wasn't for me personally.

[pipperoni32-blog]

Burn the Kingdom Down

by Addie Thorley / 3 stars

This one was a little bit of a miss for me.

Vanzador, ruled by cruel king Soren, has always made demands of Tashir. Their rulers have the ability to command the earth, raising great mountains to contain bandit tribes. The cost of their protection is the Bagrava fruit, that only Tashir master gardeners can grow. Over the years, their demands have grown higher and higher, so that Tashir has almost nothing left for themselves, barely enough to grow the next crop of Bagrava. Then comes their latest demand - a marriage alliance between their two countries.

They leave with beloved princess Rowenna, only to return a year later with her coffin. And the intentions to take the second princess, Indira, in her place. Indira, one of the most powerful master gardeners Tashir has, who lost part of herself when they took her sister. Who rages when they bring her back broken and destroyed. She'll go to Vanzador, but only so she can learn the secrets of their power and bring down the people who've taken everything from her.

I liked the concept and felt like we were given sufficient world building. I like Indira and Alaric; they had a true partnership that was a joy to see developed though I felt like not enough space was given for the supporting characters. The pace was slow at times, and I feel like that caused the ending to feel rushed. Overall, this book was worth reading, it just wasn't able to hold my entire attention at times.

[pipperoni32-blog]

The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)

by Tiffany Hunt / 5 stars

I'm going to be honest - I picked this book up mainly for the title. It sounded fun, whimsical, and a little naughty in all the right ways. It delivered and had so much more!

Kazimir has a reputation for being menacing. One he's very well earned, along with the title of Dark Lord (amongst others) and ownership of the floating Citadel, a formidable fortress brimming with arcane powers. With the relic he's spent years searching for finally in his grasp, he's ready to enact the ritual to activate it, and give him dominion over his final enemy. The only catch? He now requires a bride, one with the first hero's bloodline.

Arabella has a reputation of her own. The clumsy, bumbling girl with faint healing magic - who's successfully dodged all her father's suitors so far. Being captured and forced into a marriage with Lord Blackrose was far from her list of things to do. He's almost certainly lying to her, and no doubt has multiple hidden agendas up his sleeves. Yet, for the first time in her life, he's offering her something more. Freedom. The chance to cultivate and claim her magic. Being trapped in a floating fortress and married to a villain isn't ideal, but she was already trapped in a tower waiting for her father to marry her off. At least now, she has some bargaining room.

This book was next level fun. The chapter titles alone had me smiling, I loved the balance of humor, character depth and development, magical successes and failures, and a plot that draws you in. Writing this now, there were aspects that reminded me of Patricia Wrede's "Dealing with Dragons" series, and to have that delivered in an adult fantasy will always leave me wanting more.

[pipperoni32-blog]

“Let’s go,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “We’ve got a realm to save — so we can ruin it on our own terms.”

— The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)

[pipperoni32-blog]

My wife had woken up and chosen violence. And fuck me if it wasn’t the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

— The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)

[pipperoni32-blog]

Avarium

by Mel Torrefranca / 4 stars

Cal Avarium has been given a second chance.

Before she became the Belladonna Savior, Cal was chosen to be a Nightshade Academy trainee. The only thing her roommate, Evaris Starfall, and the rest of the trainees knew about her was that she had killed a boy.

Evaris keeps her distance from Cal, though it isn't hard. Cal is aloof and not eager to talk to anyone in the program. She eats her meals alone, while Evaris tries to find trainees to befriend. When someone starts sabotaging the other trainees, every eye turns to the obvious spot. Cal isn't doing anything to defend herself against the accusations either.

Evaris spends her nights worried that she's next. If her roommate can't be trusted, then how can Evaris be expected to sleep in the same room? Everyone is on high alert, and Evaris starts to realize that while every finger may be pointing at Cal, not all of the evidence is.

If she wants to make it as a Guardian - or out of her graduating class alive - Evaris is going to have to find the right people to trust.

Mel Torrefranca, in her second novella in her Belladonna series, offers us yet another unique look at the lives of trainees who have gone through the program, and their journey to become Nightshades. While making us eager for the third book of the series to come out, she also gives us a broader look at the world she's built, and brings us back to cherished characters.

Always a Lost Island reader, the Belladonna series was my introduction, and I'm loving every book that has come out in the series since. Thank you for letting me be a VIP arc reviewer, because I will forever want first glimpses at these stories!