Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
What a delight! This series is so charming and cozy, and this was no exception. I adored Layla and Caleb. I've read books that utilize the grumpy/sunshine trope, but this was more sunshine/sunshine, and it was so cute. They're both so cheerful that I couldn't help smiling the whole time. They had great banter, and Caleb was one of the sweetest book boyfriends. The pacing was a little slow, but I enjoyed watching them go on all their dates. The reason I didn't rate it higher was that I wasn't a fan of the third-act conflict, but other than that, I thought it was solid.
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| Pub Date: 7-2-24 Adult - Historical Fantasy |
Masquerade- O.O. Sangoyomi: Òdòdó lives in the small town of Timbuktu, where she, her mother, and her aunts work as blacksmiths. The townspeople already looked down on Òdòdó and her family, calling them witches, but their quality of life has gotten even worse now that their town is under Yorùbá rule. Then, one day, Òdòdó is kidnapped and taken to the royal city of Ṣàngótẹ̀, where Òdòdó is shocked to find her captor is none other than a passing vagrant she met. Only he is draped in riches instead of rags and proclaiming himself king, and Òdòdó is to be his bride. Suddenly, Òdòdó is thrust into a life of fortune and finds it difficult not to get drunk off the power at her fingertips. Òdòdó is drawn into the political maneuverings of her new home and finds herself at odds with her husband-to-be. Can she sway the court in her favor without risking her life?
I was drawn to this because of the stunning cover, but then I read the synopsis and immediately added it to my TBR. It was described as a West African take on Hades and Persephone, but it didn't deliver on that. Sure, there were some similarities, like Òdòdó getting kidnapped, but other than that? Hmm...not so much. I thought Òdòdó was a strong character who used her intelligence and cunning to her advantage, but I never found myself rooting for her. The romance also didn't work for me at all. While I found Sangoyomi's writing style lush and immersive, the pacing was too slow for my liking, and I had to keep convincing myself to pick it back up. I may not have clicked with this story, but I'd still pick up whatever the author writes next.
I was drawn to this because of the stunning cover, but then I read the synopsis and immediately added it to my TBR. It was described as a West African take on Hades and Persephone, but it didn't deliver on that. Sure, there were some similarities, like Òdòdó getting kidnapped, but other than that? Hmm...not so much. I thought Òdòdó was a strong character who used her intelligence and cunning to her advantage, but I never found myself rooting for her. The romance also didn't work for me at all. While I found Sangoyomi's writing style lush and immersive, the pacing was too slow for my liking, and I had to keep convincing myself to pick it back up. I may not have clicked with this story, but I'd still pick up whatever the author writes next.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 6-18-24 Adult - Mystery/Thriller |
Middle of the Night- Riley Sager: When Ethan Marsh was ten years old, he and his best friend, Billy, camped in his backyard. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the tent is slashed, and his best friend is gone. Now, years later, Ethan is back living in his childhood home and can't stop the bad memories from bubbling back up to the surface. Unable to sleep, Ethan spends his nights staring out at the neighborhood and notices strange things going on in the dark. Ethan swears he feels Billy's presence, and his suspicions only grow when he finds a baseball-- Billy's calling card when he wants to play-- in his yard. Ethan has never forgiven himself for what happened between him and Billy the night Billy disappeared, so Ethan takes it upon himself to investigate. When clues lead to a mysterious institute in the woods, Ethan is left wondering if Billy's insistence that something unnatural was going on there was fact, or if the real culprit is closer than he thinks.
I always go into Sager's books hoping to love them, but I usually end up disappointed. I'm thrilled to say that wasn't the case here. I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to see what would happen. I liked Ethan as a main character, and I'm crossing my fingers that Sager sticks to MMCs from now on. I also liked how we got flashbacks to when he was younger with Billy. It helped to flesh out the story and make it more compelling. The mystery is slow to unfold, but I was never bored. I figured out one part of the twist but not the whole, so the ending was still satisfying. It also gave me all the '90s nostalgia of going on adventures with friends during the long summer. I've recently heard the term "popcorn thriller," and that's exactly what this was: entertaining and bingeable, and my new favorite of his.
I always go into Sager's books hoping to love them, but I usually end up disappointed. I'm thrilled to say that wasn't the case here. I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to see what would happen. I liked Ethan as a main character, and I'm crossing my fingers that Sager sticks to MMCs from now on. I also liked how we got flashbacks to when he was younger with Billy. It helped to flesh out the story and make it more compelling. The mystery is slow to unfold, but I was never bored. I figured out one part of the twist but not the whole, so the ending was still satisfying. It also gave me all the '90s nostalgia of going on adventures with friends during the long summer. I've recently heard the term "popcorn thriller," and that's exactly what this was: entertaining and bingeable, and my new favorite of his.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 8-30-22 Adult - Contemporary |
Mixed Signals- B.K. Borison: After a disastrous string of dates, Layla Dupree has given up on finding her happily ever after. All she wants is someone to sweep her off her feet, not leave her to pick up the check at dinner. It doesn't help that Layla spends her days surrounded by the love-drunk couples that come into the bakery she owns at Inglewild's most romantic farm destination. But lucky for Layla, Caleb Alvarez has a plan. When Caleb rescues Layla from another horrible date, he poses a bargain: the pair will date for a month, where he'll try his best to renew her faith in men and relationships while she gives him tips to help his romantic game. It's a win-win for both, but neither expected their attraction to be so hard to ignore.
What a delight! This series is so charming and cozy, and this was no exception. I adored Layla and Caleb. I've read books that utilize the grumpy/sunshine trope, but this was more sunshine/sunshine, and it was so cute. They're both so cheerful that I couldn't help smiling the whole time. They had great banter, and Caleb was one of the sweetest book boyfriends. The pacing was a little slow, but I enjoyed watching them go on all their dates. The reason I didn't rate it higher was that I wasn't a fan of the third-act conflict, but other than that, I thought it was solid.
Rating: 3/5
i love the lovelight farms series!
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