Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 4-29-25 Adult - Fiction |
The Amalfi Curse- Sarah Penner: Haven Ambrose has loved the sea for as long as she can remember. She followed in her late father's footsteps by becoming a nautical archaeologist and has landed a lucrative job investigating shipwrecks along the Amalfi coast. Haven is intrigued by the mysterious history of this stretch of sea, but she also has ulterior motives for this job. She's hoping to locate the priceless gems her father stumbled upon on his last dive before passing away. But when Haven and her crew arrive in Positano, they're plagued by dangerous weather and bad luck. Haven takes the opportunity to start digging into the village's history, and discovers a tale unlike any other of one woman's quest to save her town and lover with magic that harnessed the power of the ocean. Could the magic that wreaked havoc on Positano centuries ago be the same that Haven is presently facing?
One thing I've got to give Penner's props for is her settings. She manages to make you feel transported to wherever the story takes place. I felt like I was with Haven, swimming around shipwrecks or digging through Naples archives. I liked how we had dual timelines, but I was much more interested in the past period with Mari than I was with Haven in the present day. I almost wish the story had only focused on Mari because I found her so intriguing. I wanted to learn more about her and her magic, and see how everything played out with her and Holmes. I found myself bored with Haven's chapters since not much happened in them (besides a very insta-lovey romance that was pretty bland), and kept wanting to go back to Mari. It's not a new favorite, but it was entertaining, and I would recommend it for a summer beach read.
One thing I've got to give Penner's props for is her settings. She manages to make you feel transported to wherever the story takes place. I felt like I was with Haven, swimming around shipwrecks or digging through Naples archives. I liked how we had dual timelines, but I was much more interested in the past period with Mari than I was with Haven in the present day. I almost wish the story had only focused on Mari because I found her so intriguing. I wanted to learn more about her and her magic, and see how everything played out with her and Holmes. I found myself bored with Haven's chapters since not much happened in them (besides a very insta-lovey romance that was pretty bland), and kept wanting to go back to Mari. It's not a new favorite, but it was entertaining, and I would recommend it for a summer beach read.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 1-11-22 YA - Fantasy |
Daughter of the Moon Goddess- Sue Lynn Tan: Growing up on the moon, Xingyin had an idyllic but lonely childhood, with only her mother and a maid for company. Her mother got exiled after stealing an immortality elixir from the Celestial Emperor and has been hiding Xingyin's existence for her safety. But when Xingyin's magic flares and her existence is discovered, she has no choice but to flee her home, leaving her mother behind. Determined to break the imprisonment of her mother, Xingyin arrives in the Celestial Kingdom and befriends the emperor's son. As his companion, Xingyin learns alongside him, everything from archery to magic. Xingyin's quest to save her mother leads her to face many dangers, but when an enemy threatens the kingdom, she strikes a bargain with the emperor that has the potential to rock the entire realm.
I've had this on my TBR for ages now, so it was time I picked it up. The writing was pretty and quick to read. It's quite a long book, but it never felt dense or dragging. I wasn't familiar with the myth that inspired it, but I didn't feel like that hindered my understanding of what was going on. I did have a few issues with the plot, mainly that it felt very rushed. I was excited that there was a competition aspect, but it only lasted about two pages and that was it. Whenever a conflict popped up, it felt like it was resolved without any thought or real effort on the character's part. I thought Xingyin was an okay main character, but her decision-making skills frustrated me. There's also a love triangle of sorts, which was meh. I wasn't invested in either love interest, so I didn't care which way Xingyin went. I'm unsure if I'll continue the series, but I'm glad I finally ticked this off my TBR.
I've had this on my TBR for ages now, so it was time I picked it up. The writing was pretty and quick to read. It's quite a long book, but it never felt dense or dragging. I wasn't familiar with the myth that inspired it, but I didn't feel like that hindered my understanding of what was going on. I did have a few issues with the plot, mainly that it felt very rushed. I was excited that there was a competition aspect, but it only lasted about two pages and that was it. Whenever a conflict popped up, it felt like it was resolved without any thought or real effort on the character's part. I thought Xingyin was an okay main character, but her decision-making skills frustrated me. There's also a love triangle of sorts, which was meh. I wasn't invested in either love interest, so I didn't care which way Xingyin went. I'm unsure if I'll continue the series, but I'm glad I finally ticked this off my TBR.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 3-4-25 Adult - Romance |
Promise Me Sunshine- Cara Bastone: Lenny's best friend recently passed away after battling cancer, leaving Lenny adrift. Lenny can't fathom living without Lou by her side, and she doesn't know what to do. She's avoiding her parents and spends most nights riding the Staten Island ferry to avoid staying at the apartment she and Lou shared. The only thing stopping Lenny from falling apart is a part-time babysitting gig helping overworked Reese care for her charming daughter, Ainsley. It would be perfect if it weren't for Ainsley's overbearing uncle Miles hovering around. Miles comes across as a broody jerk, but the more time Lenny spends with him, the more she realizes how caring Miles is. Miles is no stranger to grief, so he offers to help Lenny with her 'live again' list if she'll help him fix his relationship with Reese and Ainsley. As the weeks go by, both begin to shed the weight of their grief and learn to move forward together.
I don't cry at books, but jeez, if Bastone doesn't have me toeing that line. This was a beautifully tender look at grief and how it impacts someone. Lenny felt like a real person. Her pain was so visceral that I felt like I was grieving along with her. It was heartbreaking watching Lenny try to navigate life after losing someone so close to her. Her sadness brings her together with Miles, and the two of them are perfect together. Miles was everything to me. He was thoughtful, caring, and always willing to show up for anyone. He was so patient with Lenny, and I loved watching him help her learn to enjoy life again. Their relationship was a very slow burn but so satisfying at the end. Despite the heavy topics, I thought Bastone did a wonderful job adding bits of levity throughout the story in a way that felt natural. She reminds me of Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez in that her writing can go from playful to sucker-punching you in the gut in a snap, and I love it. I can't recommend this one enough if you want a more emotional read.
I don't cry at books, but jeez, if Bastone doesn't have me toeing that line. This was a beautifully tender look at grief and how it impacts someone. Lenny felt like a real person. Her pain was so visceral that I felt like I was grieving along with her. It was heartbreaking watching Lenny try to navigate life after losing someone so close to her. Her sadness brings her together with Miles, and the two of them are perfect together. Miles was everything to me. He was thoughtful, caring, and always willing to show up for anyone. He was so patient with Lenny, and I loved watching him help her learn to enjoy life again. Their relationship was a very slow burn but so satisfying at the end. Despite the heavy topics, I thought Bastone did a wonderful job adding bits of levity throughout the story in a way that felt natural. She reminds me of Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez in that her writing can go from playful to sucker-punching you in the gut in a snap, and I love it. I can't recommend this one enough if you want a more emotional read.
Rating: 5/5
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