Another Year!

Tags

5 stars, academia, Ahsley Poston, Blake Crouch, books, cartography, Contemporary Romance, fairies, genetic engineering, ghosts, Heather Fawcett, historical, historical romance, humor, India Holton, Madeline Martin, magical realism, maps, Mimi Matthews, paranormal romance, Patricia Briggs, Peng Shepherd, romance, scifi, series, urban fantasy, witches, WWII

7 years ago today, I shared my first book review on Whiskey With My Book.  To mark this occasion, I thought I’d recap last year by listing my 10 favorite 5-star books of 2022.  It is really hard to choose only 10, but for your sake and mine, I did.  It is even harder to rank them, but I managed.  Note: If I reviewed the book, I included the link. Clicking on the cover will take you to Amazon. Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated. I also recommended checking with your library (if you want to save some $$$)!

10 and 9 – The Bell of Belgrave Square and The Siren of Sussex.  These are the first two books in The Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews.  The historical romances are about women and men who find love outside society’s expected boundaries. 

8 – Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson, #13) by Patricia Briggs.  Between 2021 and 2022, I read (or listened to) the entire Mercy Thompson series.  Binging the urban fantasy series was a great way to soak it up. I reviewed 1-12 before I read #13.

7 – The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin.  Wartime in London is fraught with danger and heartbreak.  This was a moving story enriched by historical detail, complex characters, and books.

6 – The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd.  An absolutely fascinating bit of magical realism, secrets, maps, mapmakers, and intrigue. 

5 – Upgrade by Blake Crouch.  This was one of two Blake Crouch books I read last year.  Upgrade examines the ethics of scientific advancements.

4 and 3 – The League of Gentlewomen Witches and the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton.  The first two books in the Dangerous Damsels series are highly entertaining.  Crammed full with humor, romance and flying battlehouses, what’s not to love?

2 – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.  I was completely charmed by this tale of two academics whose study of faeries becomes an adventure you will never forget.

1 – The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston.  I don’t read a lot of fiction set in current times, so I was quite surprised that this contemporary romance turned out to appeal to me so much!  I even recommended it to my library’s book club.  I hope they love it as much as I did.  I plan to share a review of this book eventually.  I might save it for Valentine’s week.

Thank you for following my blog. I hope, if you are looking for a good book to read, you will find something great here! 

Changed by Trust (Razor’s Edge Chronicles, #7) by Celine Jeanjean – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, Celine Jeanjean, magic, paranormal, series, urban fantasy

Review of Changed by Trust

Just when things are going so good with Apiya and Sarroch, things get complicated between the Mundanes and the Mayak. Well, it was complicated before, but now disaster is about to strike. It all begins when Apiya and her mortal enemy, Yue, are kidnapped by some mercenary Mundanes. If you must know, the kidnapping is just the beginning. Apiya has a huge task in front of her. Escape from the kidnappers, keep Yue from killing her and prevent an all-out war between the Mayak and Mundanes. No problem. And if that all works out, she an Sarroch might get to go on another date. I’m rooting for you two kids!

This series continues to charm me with its setting, quirky characters, ongoing (very slow burn) romance and Apiya’s menagerie. Changed by Trust even takes Celine Jeanjean fans to a place they’ve been before and perhaps did not expect to go again! I loved this surprise trip! I know, a little cryptic, but I don’t want to spoil anything!

Change by Trust is another short novel in this series. I have enjoyed every one of them. Reading the series in order is best. If you start with this book, you are just want to go back and start at the beginning. Trust me.

Many thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book. My review is my honest opinion.

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About Changed by Trust by Celine Jeanjean

How did I wind up chained with silver and pumped full of drugs to keep me unconscious? Good question.

I was under the impression that there was no crisis on the horizon, and that I was therefore free to go with Sarroch for our first proper date. Except that I’m clearly a glutton for punishment, because instead of just enjoying myself, I couldn’t help but feel like I needed to talk to Yue, to clear the air. So even though it went against every survival instinct, I set up a meeting with her.

Surprisingly, Yue didn’t end up being the biggest problem I faced, despite her very clear desire to rid the world of me. The masked kidnappers who injected us with drugs and silver in order to grab us are clearly far more dangerous.

Which is how I find myself groggy, chained with silver, with no idea of where I am or who kidnapped us and why. Now not only do I need to find a way to get out of this mess, but I need to do it while collaborating with Yue, which is a bit like trying to work with a rabid dog and hoping you don’t get bitten.

I really hope I’m able to get away from our kidnappers while surviving Yue so I can make it to a second date with Sarroch.

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Shadows of the Past (Fae Files, #5) by Cecilia Dominic – Review

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, Cecilia Dominic, fae, gargoyles, paranormal, romance, series, urban fantasy

Review of Shadows of the Past

The fifth book in The Fae Files delves into Reine’s past.  Let me start by saying Reine is fae.  (Fae Queen to be precise.) Anyone that expects her past to be without imperfections is just plain misguided.  Everyone knows that fae are selfish, fickle and tricky.  Reine’s banishment from Faerie means that the human world had tempered her fae personality….to the better.  

No longer banished, but back in the human world to ‘tie up loose ends’, Reine embarks on mission to find some friends.  On route, she is waylaid by unknown players.  She and her friends are stranded in a time bubble in an unknown time for an unknown reason.  While using her fae powers to determine a way out, Reine will end up witnessing events in her past.   The events Reine relives are not entirely new to the story, but do add more complexity to the story of Reine and her brother Rhys.

Meanwhile, Reine’s love interest, gargoyle Lawrence, is dealing with his own problems.  The top issues are 1) intrigue at the PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigations, 2) being apart from Reine, and 3) dealing with the young Kestrel who is considering leaving the world of paranormals.  In doing so, they meet a very elusive paranormal.  I’m not going to say what/who, but certain cryptologists will be very interested!

Some aspects to the story will eventually be tied together.  Reine will meet Lawrence in the dream world.   And she will end up in Faerie to face her enemy and her past.   

Other aspects of the story will not be resolved.  This book, more than any others in the series, seemed to ignore loose ends.  Many loose ends.  And a cliffhanger ending had me groaning.  Cliffhangers are evil!

Despite the incomplete story, Shadows of the Past does nicely enhance the overall story arc of The Fae Files.  This book is best read as part of that series.  

Thanks to the author who sent me a copy of her book.  My review is my honest opinion.

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About Shadows of the Past

No good deed goes unpunished. As for Fae deeds, well, those get a bit more complicated…

I thought I came to Scotland to rescue friends who disappeared under mysterious circumstances connected to the Fae. However, a deadly attack on the highway drives me and my allies into the woods and straight into my history.

History I’ve tried to forget. I’d avoided the witch’s cottage since the fateful night my brother Rhys and I were exiled from Faerie, and I soon discover the supposed sanctuary hides its own deadly secret.

To escape the trap, I need to confront the deeds of my past, which will require me to risk my own and the others’ futures. Can I figure out the puzzle in time to save us all, or will I have to sacrifice everything, including my gargoyle lover, to make amends for my mistakes?

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If you haven’t read The Fae Files, now is a great time to start the series. The Shadow Project is currently on sale for 99 cents!

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