This was my first novel by Shanora Williams. I received this book free from the author for an honest review. This story begins with our female MC Samira Wilder. Samira has always struggled to keep jobs and pay the rent because she refuses to waste her life away the same way their mother did. In a bind for money, she takes a one-night celebrity serving event where she meets pro golfer, Roland Graham. They fall up for each hard, celebrate a quick engagement, before she moves into his Colorado mansion. Soon, she discovers an abandoned shed of his deceased wife that Roland hasn’t entered since her death. Samira offers to clean it out and repurpose it, but the secrets she uncovers could undo her new happy life.
Alert: Spoilers below.
I struggled with my rating for this book. While the ending was nothing I could have predicted, I struggled to get there with Samira as the main character. While I can sympathize that the American work system is broken, Samira seemed to have unrealistic expectations of when her brother should be helping her out. She had no problems asking for money while at the same time complaining that he worked too much and would follow their mother’s footsteps. I could not connect with her as a character and Melanie and Dylan were truly monstrous. Roland was the only redeeming part of this story. I’m glad other people were able to enjoy this, but unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them. (2/5 rating)
Tag: adult
Book Review – Wolf Gone Wild (Stay a Spell 1) by Juliette Cross
This was my first novel by Juliette Cross. After a werewolf is cursed out of his ability to shift into his wolf, he is forced to seek a cursed breaking witch. Even though their coven denies their services to werewolves, Evie can’t help but say yes after she witnesses his pain. I’ve discovered a new favorite author in Cross. She did an excellent job of balancing the romance aspect and the plot. Evie, Mateo, and their band of characters were intriguing, and I became invested in their world. The only aspect of this book that I would change, is the pacing as it did draw out a bit in places. I will Be reading book 2 soon. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – Gild (The Plated Prisoner 1) by Raven Kennedy
This is a re-telling of the King Midas story. Auron is our female MC and a gold touched part of Midas’s royal household. With her gold touched skin though, she spends much of her time in a cage to keep her safe. Auron admits she loves him, especially after he saved her from a childhood of poverty. Her feelings are put to the test after Midas betrays her trust by using her to manipulate a king and usher in war. A lot happens in only 400 pages. I know it’s obvious that Auron loves Midas, and he might love her back, but I hope he isn’t the main romance angle in this series because it’s obvious to me that he doesn’t treat her like he loves her. The relationship appears to be very one sided. War breaks out amongst several kingdoms and the ending certainly sets up the next book. I am hopeful Auron realizes she is worth more. (3/5 rating)
Book Review – Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
This most recent release of Kingfisher’s is centered around our heroine and Princess and waiting, Marra. Her older sister is wed to an abusive Prince to secure the future of the Kingdom. When Marra discovers that her parents knew of his dangerous behavior and imply that she will take her place if her sister dies, she decides to save herself. Paired with a fairy godmother, and ex-warrior, a dog of bones, and a dust witch, they set out to save her sister and the Kingdom from a tyrant.
I am always surprised and how well Kingfisher can weave a story, even when it’s barely 250 pages. This stand alone is buried under a dark and succulent atmosphere that creates its own kind of fairy tale story. I loved watching Marra refuse to exist where everyone expected her to and choosing her own fate regardless of the cost. Few of us are brave enough to do that. I know I’m not the only one who would love to see a sequel for this in the future. (4/5 rating)
Book Review – Demon Kissed (Darkest Flames Book 1) – by Katie May & Ann Denton
This was my first book by Katie May or Ann Denton. This was a supernatural, urban fantasy, set with Demons and high schoolers. There are plenty of great YA’s that I enjoyed immensely, though as the name implies they are usually suited towards younger age groups. That being said, this one seemed more juvenile than most, I couldn’t finish this after Chapter 14, as the main character was impossible to emotionally connect with. I gave this a 1/5 and I can’t recommend it unless this is the genre you prefer to read.
**Spoiler Alert**
The main character was a female attending high school and the book seemed to be a non stop run of her internal thoughts. And given her age range, it made my head just trying to keep up with so much of it altogether. It made the plot a bit hard to follow but there also wasn’t much of a plot and the main character, Katrina, was irritating and impossible to root for, even with her constant internal soliloquy. This one just didn’t so it for me, sorry guys.
Merry Christmas
Ladies and Gentlemen!
What a year this 2020 has been, but I am always grateful for the Christmas Holiday. As a child, I never understood some parents asking children for socks as a Christmas gift until I became an adult. Well, maybe I can’t claim adulthood, but at least the age one usually reaches adulthood. Overnight my socks became a much bigger deal to me since my feet are so often cold, all. the. time. Even in the dead of summer, don’t ask me how, they don’t play by the rules. So this year I am thankful for receiving multiple rounds of those plush, mid-calf socks.
Santa was listening. To everyone else out there, I hope today was a great one.
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”
― Roy L. Smith
Illustration property of Pixababy.