Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I don't often read a lot of sci-fi. It's more a genre I'd rather watch than read, but after skimming the synopsis, I knew I had to pick it up. I mean, it's described as Titanic meets The Shining. How could you pass that up? Right off the bat, I loved how eerie it was. I liked the creeping tension that builds and builds throughout. It was so unsettling, and there were a few times I felt uneasy reading it. It's told in the present and flashbacks, and you start to get the impression that maybe Claire isn't the most reliable narrator. She has a troubled past, so there are times you're not sure if you can trust what she's saying. Due to this, there were times it made the story feel all over the place, but it was still engaging. I was a little disappointed with the reveal of what caused all the destruction of the ship and passengers because I wanted something a little more paranormal, but it was still good, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a creepy sci-fi read.
I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I was instantly swept away. The prose was so enchanting and like you were in some fairy tale fever dream. I liked how it was told in alternating POVs, as it helped to flesh the story out. In one, we're following the bridegroom as he's trying to unravel the mystery of his wife, and in the other, we're following Azure, Indigo's childhood best friend who disappeared. Both perspectives are important to the story, and I loved seeing the events unfold through their eyes. I did figure out one part of the twist at the end, but I still liked seeing how it all came together. If you like the whimsy of a fairy tale and the darkness of a psychological thriller, I highly recommend checking this one out.
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| Pub Date: 4-25-23 Adult - Historical Romance |
A Rogue's Rules for Seduction- Eva Leigh: Dominic Kilburn and Lady Willa Ransom were once engaged to be married, but their relationship fizzled when Dominic left Willa at the altar. Not wanting anyone to know how hurt she was, Willa fled to the Continent, but now she's back after a year of traveling and is ready to move on with her life. Willa agrees to attend a summer house party on a remote Scottish isle with her two brothers and their wives, but to her surprise, they also invited Dom. It's clear to everyone in attendance that the pair still care deeply for one another but are too stubborn to work things out. The more Willa and Dom try to ignore the other, the more they can't seem to stay away. But when Dom finally reveals why he left Willa, will she be able to put aside her fears and open her heart to him once more?
I've been obsessed with this series since the first book, and I've been dying to read Willa and Dom's story. Let me tell you, Leigh did not disappoint. It's probably the best second-chance romance I've ever read, and the fact that it also used the forced proximity trope was just the icing on the cake. The tension between Willa and Dom was so palpable, and it was explosive once they came together. (Seriously, the steaminess of this book is next level.) I love all these characters, so it was fun seeing Willa's brothers and their wives pushing her and Dom together. All of Leigh's signature wit and banter shines in here. My only slight issue was that I thought the first half was a little slow, but everything ramped up by the end. Even though I'm sad to see this series wrap up, I'm so excited to see what Leigh comes up with next.
I've been obsessed with this series since the first book, and I've been dying to read Willa and Dom's story. Let me tell you, Leigh did not disappoint. It's probably the best second-chance romance I've ever read, and the fact that it also used the forced proximity trope was just the icing on the cake. The tension between Willa and Dom was so palpable, and it was explosive once they came together. (Seriously, the steaminess of this book is next level.) I love all these characters, so it was fun seeing Willa's brothers and their wives pushing her and Dom together. All of Leigh's signature wit and banter shines in here. My only slight issue was that I thought the first half was a little slow, but everything ramped up by the end. Even though I'm sad to see this series wrap up, I'm so excited to see what Leigh comes up with next.
Rating: 4.5/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 2-8-22 Adult - Sci-Fi/Horror |
Dead Silence- S.A. Barnes: Claire Kovalik and her crew are one job away from being obsolete. For their last mission together, they've been sent out to the most remote part of space to check on the communication beacons. It's a routine inspection, but the crew discovers something odd. They pick up a distress signal and decide to investigate. To their shock, they're met with the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that went missing on its maiden voyage twenty years earlier. A discovery of this magnitude would set Claire and her crew up for life, but once they step on board, it's clear that something is very wrong. The passengers all seem to have died in violent ways, there are words written in blood on the walls, and Claire and the rest soon start hearing whispers and seeing things that can't be explained. If they hope to get to the bottom of what happened on the Aurora, the crew must fight to hold on to their sanity or meet the same deadly fate.
I don't often read a lot of sci-fi. It's more a genre I'd rather watch than read, but after skimming the synopsis, I knew I had to pick it up. I mean, it's described as Titanic meets The Shining. How could you pass that up? Right off the bat, I loved how eerie it was. I liked the creeping tension that builds and builds throughout. It was so unsettling, and there were a few times I felt uneasy reading it. It's told in the present and flashbacks, and you start to get the impression that maybe Claire isn't the most reliable narrator. She has a troubled past, so there are times you're not sure if you can trust what she's saying. Due to this, there were times it made the story feel all over the place, but it was still engaging. I was a little disappointed with the reveal of what caused all the destruction of the ship and passengers because I wanted something a little more paranormal, but it was still good, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a creepy sci-fi read.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 2-14-23 Adult - Fantasy |
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride- Roshani Chokshi: Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada has always believed in fairy tales. She's lived her life waiting for the moment she'd be swept away to another world. She thinks she's found her storybook love when she meets her Bridegroom, a scholar of myths and legends. But their relationship has a catch. He must never pry into Indigo's past. When Indigo learns that her aunt is dying, the pair return to her childhood home, and it gets more difficult for the bridegroom to keep his promise. For within the walls of the house lurks a secret of another girl lost to time and memory, and it's been silent too long.
I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I was instantly swept away. The prose was so enchanting and like you were in some fairy tale fever dream. I liked how it was told in alternating POVs, as it helped to flesh the story out. In one, we're following the bridegroom as he's trying to unravel the mystery of his wife, and in the other, we're following Azure, Indigo's childhood best friend who disappeared. Both perspectives are important to the story, and I loved seeing the events unfold through their eyes. I did figure out one part of the twist at the end, but I still liked seeing how it all came together. If you like the whimsy of a fairy tale and the darkness of a psychological thriller, I highly recommend checking this one out.
Rating: 4/5
Dead Silence and The Last Tale of the Flower Bride are both on my TBR!
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