Platinum Diaries by K. August Rose

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I was excited to read Platinum Diaries because besides the pretty cover the blurb was giving me remnants of older YA urban fantasy. And I was intrigued by how it bring that into 2022 along with how the root-working grandmother and psychic dreams would play out. It being self published also intrigued me because of the freedom self-publishing provides to tell whatever stories without having to make it overly commercial. So I signed up to received an arc from the author for review.

Sayra has started a new school year and is upset when she's booted from her assigned parking space in favor of returning school golden boy Conrad Bishop. Conrad has returned after an accident and wears white gloves and is adverse to touch. His strange behavior is alarming but makes him even more popular at school. He and Sayra are enemies due to past incidents which include him accidentally pushing her down the stairs. One night Sayra has a dream about a mysterious man being murdered that shakes her to her core. Sayra's dreams always come true. Determined to prevent it from happening Sayra enlists the help of her best friends and grandmother. 

I thought the stuff with the family was done very well. Sayra has a connection to her grandmother who is also gifted. Her grandmother is a root work practitioner who offers her guidance throughout the story. Her parents are very involved trying to understand her dreams as well as keep her safe. Even though they clashed at times they were always able to talk it out and you could feel the love between them.

Sayra has a serious case of not like other girls going on which is a remnant of older YA that needs to stay in the past. She's not like the other girly girls at her school because she fixes cars. Well it's talked about how she enjoys tinkering with cars. We mostly see her on her bike or riding around with others since she can't drive her car to school every day. She's not wealthy like them because her parents are a doctor and an author.  And doesn't like to wear makeup like the other girls.

And speaking of makeup she just puts on some gloss and puts a little effort into her hair and transforms into some sort of goddess on earth the boys at school can't resist. After hearing so much about how awkward her height is and how the boys don't pay her attention the switch flips and suddenly every boy and some grown men are waxing poetic about how stunning she is.

There's plenty of drama to keep this story moving as they try to prevent the murder. Though sometimes the story slows down a little too much in favor of showing the day to day at the school. Despite some pacing issues at some points where it just seemed like the mystery was being dragged out I was mostly satisfied by Platinum Dreams. That is until around the 95% mark where the sole Black boy character we're introduced to and barely got to see on page was unnecessarily thrown under the bus with some harmful stereotypes. Sayra goes to very white private school. Readers are told multiple times that there's only 11 Black kids in the entire school. In a book with a lot of bad white characters and equally favored ones it was a strange decision.

The Sevenfold Hunters by Rose Egal

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm not usually a sci-fi girl but I spent the past weekend in fictional London at Carlisle Academy where things aren't exactly what they seem. This series starter lured me in with hints of mystery surrounding an elite school and promises of alien hunting. I received an arc from Page Street of this unique debut.

The Sevenfold Hunters is a dual pov YA sci-fi that follows Artemis and Abyan, two girls from similar parts of London who've been living very different lives. 

Artemis has been living a fairly normal life up until a few months ago when her boyfriend was killed after they were attacked by the Nosaru on an outing. Since then she's been trying to unravel the mystery surrounding Carlisle Academy which appears to be an elite private school with a stricter admissions process than Oxford and Cambridge.

Abyan and the rest of her crew are still grieving the loss of beloved teammate Jared who was killed by the Nosaru, vampire like aliens. As if Abyan needed one more reason to be out to destroy them. Losing a teammate was bad enough but now school administration is pushing her team to move on and has brought in newbie Artemis as a replacement. 

While there are some hints of  romance it was refreshing that romance didn't overshadow the rest of the story. Friendship shines in this book with the Sevenfold being a tight knit team finding themselves torn apart after Jared's death. Readers often get told characters are friends in books with large casts but we don't always see those relationships played out well on page. The Sevenfold banter with each other on a day to day basis and we see the ways in which the team is disconnected because of their grief. Newcomer Artemis finds it hard to fit in with the crew because they don't like that she's replacing Jared and they're even more suspicious when they find out she's his ex girlfriend. It doesn't help that she's terrible at fighting and she's discovering new things about herself.

As much as I love a loud badass sometimes it's nice to see a protagonist with quiet strength which we see here with Abyan. She's an elite fighter but doesn't constantly have to shout it from the rooftops, which makes her an ideal leader for the crew. Though she has her moments where her own agendas get in the way of missions there's a realistic fallout from that.

I will say the fights felt a bit breezed through when they faced off with the Nosaru and I wanted to linger a little bit more to really feel the impact. But the revelations at the end of this book have me ready to see how the Sevenfold are impacted in book 2 and this was a solid start the series.

Christmas in July Books

Welcome Back, Booklovers. The holiday season is my favorite time of year and even as a kid I loved watching the Christmas movies replay on tv in July. When I worked in retail I loved that our store would sell discounted Christmas stuff cheap because I would stock up on décor. Now people are even having big celebrations. But one of the cool things I've seen authors embracing is putting their Christmas books on sale so even if you don't want to read them this month there's still the chance to score a good deal.

The Holly-day After

In this story you can join Santa, and his family, as they celebrate their traditions in the North Pole. Help Santa's nieces and nephews as they cook up an amazing pancake feast. Bundle up and head outside to help them plant their future Holly-day After trees. After all, the traditions we start today can live on forever!

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread 

Christmas is Carla’s favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents’ house and eats grandma’s special recipe—a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc’s marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family.

But when Carla accidentally takes a bite out of Santa’s sugar cookie, she thinks she’s ruined Christmas. How will Santa know to stop at their house if they don’t leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother’s help, Carla comes up with a plan, but will it be enough to save Christmas?

Love at the Icicle Café

California lawyer Mina Richards spent her childhood helping her mom bake at their winter-themed café in the snowy village of Gosberg, Germany. When her retired parents want to sell The Icicle Café, Mina returns to facilitate the sale. She needs this to go right—she’ll fly in, finalize the deal and fly out to rescue her once high-powered career. But faced with Scott, her childhood friend and crush who doesn’t want to sell, Mina’s plan quickly falls apart.

Rising chef Scott Dawson has turned The Icicle Café into a destination restaurant. His parents and their partners want to sell the café to a hotel chain, and Scott can't meet their price. When Mina arrives—more beautiful and determined than ever—he sees the possibility of a new future for the business and the town he loves. He just needs to change her mind…about more than selling the café.

When Scott asks Mina to help with the café’s annual Icicle Fest, their icy relationship warms. Can these former friends find a future together in the snowy village of their past?

Alaskan Christmas Escape

An elite CIA kill squad has located hacker Zenobia Hanley’s Alaska wilderness hideout. With commandos hot on Zee’s heels, she’s saved from capture by her neighbor John Lowry. Zee has kept her yearning for the SEAL, who has a disability, in check to shield him. But, despite her secrets, John’s determined to protect Zee regardless of the risks. Because there’s more at stake this Christmas than just their lives.

Christmas at the Château 

Executive chef Viola Williamson has to have the kitchen up and running by the time the Bainbridge House restoration is complete. Working closely with Dom Shaw, Viola is struck by her hotter-than-mulled-cider attraction to her family estate’s handsome caretaker. It’s obvious that he feels it, too—yet Dom keeps his distance. Can Viola convince him that with all this cooking going on, he’s the only one stirring her heart?  

One Christmas Wish: A Novel

Vaughn Miller’s Wall Street career was abruptly ended by a wrongful conviction and two years in prison. Since then, he’s returned to his hometown, kept his head down and forged a way forward. When he is exonerated and his name cleared, he feels he can hold his head up once again, maybe even talk to the beautiful café owner who sets his blood to simmering.

Sierra Crane escaped a disastrous marriage—barely. She and her six-year-old goddaughter have returned to the only place that feels like home. Determined to make it on her own, Sierra opens a soup café. Complication is the last thing she needs, but the moment Vaughn walks into her café, she can’t keep her eyes off the smoldering loner.

When they give in to their attraction, what Sierra thought would be a onetime thing becomes so much more. Vaughn knows she’s the one. Sierra can’t deny the way Vaughn makes her feel, but she’s been burned before. With Christmas approaching, Vaughn takes a chance to prove his love, and it will be up to Sierra to decide if her one Christmas wish—true happiness—will come true.

One Snowy Seduction

‘Tis the season for getting great gifts and Teesha Palmer just won the trip of a lifetime to the French Alps. The only pitfall to her holiday vacation is the appearance of her distractingly sexy friend-turned-enemy, Kendrick McLaughlin. An unexpected blizzard that traps them in a mountain-side cabin might be exactly what they needed to face the past…and one snowy night is all it takes to convince Teesha and Kendrick that some things are better together.

A Chase for Christmas

The pursuit of love has always been high on Preston Chase's priority list. But the video game developer has yet to find the soul mate he craves. His sister's best friend—artist and studio owner Blythe Ventura—is a world away from the shallow glam girls who've thrown themselves at him. With her creative spirit and passionate commitment, she's the ideal candidate for his Winter Wonderland project. Too bad she doesn't seem interested in being the one to win his heart. 

After a string of dating disasters, Blythe isn't ready to believe in a romantic relationship with Preston. Until their work giving sick children hope and joy for Christmas brings them together—and reveals a very different side of the notorious millionaire playboy. All she has to do is trust in the feelings Preston is awakening and this just might be the year that they both find the happy holiday ending they've been searching for…

Compromised into a Scandalous Marriage by Lydia San Andres

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Though I do like reading Historical Fiction I usually stay away from Historical Romance. Mainly because publishing has very strict ideas about the types of stories they'll consider for historical fiction and if it doesn't fit the imagery of European colonial with pretty ballgowns it's not considered valid. With race-bent Bridgerton being so popular right now it's nice to see some genuine diversity appear more in mainstream historical romance. The Spanish Caribbean is the backdrop for this romance stemmed from a forced marriage. I recieved a finished copy from Harlequin in exchange for review.

Paulina may live in a once lavish house but she's far from the wealthy society girl she appears to be. Her abusive brother Antonio controls every aspect of her life right down to how she dresses. And while he's a penny pincher when it comes to spending on her he has no problem blowing money on gambling debts. In an attempt to exort their neighbor Sebastation in to giving him money. Using the power he has over the magistrate and local guardsmen he forces Sebastian and Paulina into marriage.

Sebastian and Paulina settle into a routine with Sebastian spending much of his time a the sugar mill he owns and Paulina helping make his house feel like a home. But Antonio's threats are still looming and the couple must keep their guards up as they fight their attraction to each other.

I really did enjoy reading this book. I thought it was very well developed and I had a great sense of how they lived in the country vs the contrast of how life was in town. Sebastian has a good relationship with the mill workers as well as his housekeeper. And you can really tell he cares so much for his community and made sure to not only improve work conditions but raise wages. He also looks out for Dillia who is a widowed family friend.  

Paulina doesn't have those familial relationships has to do a bit of adjusting now that she's finally away from her brother. We really see her growth as a woman who is able to finally speak her mind and make her own decisions.

Paulina and Sebastian had great chemistry that made their slow-burn romance worth the journey. 

And for those looking for pretty gowns we still do get some pretty clothes moments but they're also moments that add value by moving the plot. 

Things to Buy on Prime Day

Welcome Back Booklovers! Prime Day is July 12-13 and it's a great time to buy those items you've been eying up. So keep reading for some items that you just might want to pick up.

Perfect for nighttime reading this rechargeable lamp has 9 adjustable settings and is super lightweight

Forage Candle Company has a variety of bookish candles to fit everyone's tastes but the one I saved to my cart is Bookstore. Who doesn't love the scent of chai and cappucino?

This rechargeable led light is perfect for filming and better than some ring lights I've tried. Stackable and small enough to carry around in a bag for on the go filming. Great for use during virtual events, filming videos, and taking pictures.

This Stash Tea sampler pack has some of my favorite teas. If you're someone who likes to get cozy with a cup of tea and a good book I highly recommend.

Prime Day is the perfect day for book shopping. So here are a few of my faves to check out.

I adored this book and it's a fun and sexy beach read. In Don't Go Baking My Heart, Devon just wants to learn how to bake something for an office competition while Reba is determined to teach him how to relax and let loose.

Wash Day Diaries is so much fun and beautifully illustrated. My only complaint is that it's too short. I'm hoping it's the start of a series. Readers looking for a story that depicts Black friendship and every day life will enjoy following these 4 friends through the ups and downs of their day living in the Bronx.

Step aside Bridgerton and make way for a historical romance that's actual diverse on page. Compromised into a Scandalous Marriage is set in the Dominican Republic in the early 1900s and features a sprited heroine, a compromising position, and a scheme for money and power.

Secrets and Truth is the first book in a romance prequel to the popular urban fantasy series Shadows of the Otherside. A half elven bounty hunter and a loner vampire cross paths at a nightclub and find themselves in the middle of a battle.

What a Match was short, sweet, and sexy. Great dirty talk in the sexy scenes but I also appreciated the friendship that was established by Gwen and Anthony and the fact that he knew he was in love first.

PLATINUM DIARIES: Book 1: Psychic Dreams doesn't release until next month but now's the time to pre-order. Premonitions, root-work, and attempted murder! I'm intrigued and August can't come fast enough!

Prime Day is always a great day for Kindle deals too! So if you're on the hunt for a new e-reader check out the Kindle Paperwhite.

And if you like audiobooks you can get your first 3 months of Audible free.

Wish out of Water by Holley Trent

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been gone for a couple of weeks but I'm back with another review of a book you might've seen floating around on your timeline. The cover lured me in like a siren's song so continue reading if you want to hear my thoughts on my first Holley Trent book.

Wish Out of Water starts out somewhat reminiscent of a familiar mermaid tale with Brook saving prince Cooper from a parking lot accident. He's entranced by her upon first sight and thanks to the wallet she dropped, he's able to track her down. Brook lives in a house out of the way with her siblings who help her run a swim academy. Cooper and his royal aid want her to sign a non disclosure agreement but she refuses. Instead he proposes to her with the promise of money to help her swim school as a part of a scheme to get out of being heir to the throne. 

Brook's characterization is way too vague for most of the book. She's seemingly perfect as Cooper consistently reminds me and we know little about her beyond the fact that she's a mermaid with a swim academy. We're not really explained the transformation process to her mermaid form nor do we see it until closer to the end. Her mermaid powers aren't well explained.

Despite spending so much time with Brook and Cooper I didn't get understanding for why they fell in love with each other outside of love at first site. At first readers are constantly told about the special abilities merfolk have to draw in people. And we're supposed to believe that's drawing Cooper in. But then we're told those abilities aren't having an effect on him. While they spend days at sea together they don't really open up with each other much because both are so guarded when it comes to their families.

The last 30% of the book had all the world building that should've been scaterred throughout and I was left confused. There were so many reveals that we didn't have time to linger on the fall out of any of them. The monarchy was very confusing and I wasn't sure how it operated. Cooper for example is the illegitmate son yet he was in line for the throne despite having legitimate siblings. The merfolk dynamics also were hard to understand. This all seemed to set up for the next book in the series which will follow Brook's brother River. 

I went in expecting Black mermaid magic instead I got an ambiguously described sheltered and meek woman who doesn't even try to learn more about her mermaid heritage. The love story with the prince was slowburn to the point of standstill before being rapidly rushed along and overall their fairytale left me feeling hollow.