Snowbound Second Chance by Reese Ryan

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Whenever I need a light quick romance read I turn to Harlequin. Reese Ryan knows how to deliver. RIP to Harlequin's Desire line but luckily there's still so many books in the backlist I still need to read. And tackling Reese Ryan's Valentine's Vineyard series is definitely on my agenda. I love romances that also include families. I want to see the interactions with parents, siblings, and cousins on page. You can get Snowbound Second Chance here and keep reading for more. 

Snowbound Second Chance follows Sebastian Valentine and Evelisse “Evvie” Jemison. Both live outside of Magnolia Lake and are working at jobs that are unfulfilling. Sebastian ends up coming back to Magnolia Lake after having a panic attack at work over some changes to worker's conditions that the new company in charge wants to implement. Since his father sold the textile company he is acting CEO in name only. Evvie is working as a personal assistant after her Hollywood Actress Dreams failed to pan out. This job was supposed to lead to work behind the camera but her boss isn't delivering on his promise. Evvie's sister Kayleigh asks her to come home and help her run the inn that she has just opened on their family's old land. And though Evvie is reluctant at first due to childhood trauma that she's been running from, she decides to return home. The two met the year before and nothing came from it but with Sebastian at the inn for a long term stay and Evvie as acting innkeeper thing really heat up when the temperatures drop.

These are characters in their forties who act like it but that doesn't mean they have life completely figured out. Evvie has been putting in a lot of work on herself over the past year with therapy and it's refreshing to read. She's also reflected on her previous relationship and understands what both of their faults were so she doesn't plan on repeating the same mistakes. Sebastian despite having gone through a divorce because of his unhealthy overcommitment to work, still isn't ready to quite let go of what he believes is his family legacy. Even though his family has moved on to their vineyard venture he isn't on board yet and has a lot to learn. These two have great communication with each other which only enhances their chemistry. And like the title suggests you can be prepared for a sexy snowbound scene. 

Why We Play With Fire by Giselle Vriesen

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Why We Play With Fire caught my attention after seeing it on Bookstagram and it promised a different kind of gods and goddess story from the ones that are currently dominating the lists.  You can check out the book here and keep reading for my thoughts. 

Thea's world is turned upside after her mother pushes her in a well and she winds up in an enchanted house known as Malachite. Malachite is a safe haven for the children of gods and goddesses. She then has to embark on a journey to find the missing keys and awaken the magic within herself while also battling shadowy enemies hunting her down.

A character finding out they are descended from gods and goddesses is not a new concept. However this book offers a very unique take on the gods and goddesses mythology. I like how it pulled from all different cultures rather than just focusing on one religion and mythos. It was very realistic for the diverse cast of characters. While these children usually come from more than one god or goddess they must choose only one. After hearing the spirit of her Nana she knows that despite being new to this world she must go on the journey to find the missing keys to discover her true self. 

Right away readers are immersed in this new world as they discover Malachite a long with Thea. Then we're taken to different lands as Thea and her new friends search for the keys. There are illustrations sprinkled throughout which was a fun added touch and the book ends with a satisfying conclusion but just enough for the story to continue. 

Out of Body by Nia Davenport

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I read The Blood Trials by the same author writing as N.E. Davenport and knowing the love she has for the YA genre I was interested in her YA debut. It's a genre change for her as well since Out of Body is a thriller. I haven't had the best of luck with YA thrillers the past few years but I'm always open to trying new ones and it helped that this was from an author I already enjoyed. So thank you to Nia Davenport and HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase the book here. 

Megan just wants to fit in with the cool kids. So when her new friend LC urges her to try molly at a party she does against her better judgement. Megan passes out and when she comes to she feels different. Then when she heads home she sees herself staring back at her. Only it can't be her. She soon realizes she's occupying LC's body and LC is inside her body. It doesn't take Megan long to realize she's been duped but not before she ends up in another town pretending to be Jade, a girl who has been missing for the past three months whose body she is currently occupying. Megan must race against time to switch herself, LC, and Jade back to their original bodies.

One thing Nia succeeds in is writing very readable fast-paced prose that keeps readers turning the pages. The answers to Megan's questions do come a little bit quickly thanks to Tik Tok and it's hard to connect with her at first do to how quickly the body swapping happens but overall it's a thrilling story. That feeling of unsettledness builds the further into the book readers get. There's a little bit of romance but not so much that it detracts from the plot. And themes of friendship and body autonomy are explored throughout this book. Teens who are interested in sci-fi but want something that's not so science heavy to ease them in will appreciate this. Outside of falling for LC's peer pressure Megan is genuinely a smart and resourceful teen which is a much needed contrast to the more impulse driven characters that usually dominate these types of stories. I also appreciated getting insight into LC's head at different points while trying to figure out the mystery behind the switch.

Fake Famous by Dana L Davis

Welcome Back, Booklovers! January is my month of  trying to get caught up. And I decided to read some of the books I've had on the backburner for a few months. I've read all of Dana L Davis' YA books so far. And for the past couple of books she's been going with the set around the music industry theme. Check out my Roman and Jewel review here and my Somebody That I Used to Know review here. And if you're interest in Fake Famous check out my review below and purchase your copy here. 

Fake Famous follows a girl named Red who ends up going viral when she's caught on camera singing in a pile of manure. People mistake her for a famous pop singer Zay Zay  Waters who ironically enough has also just dyed her locks red. Red is even more surprised when Zay Zay shows up at the farm offering to pay her to be her stand-in for a week while she's off on a special mission. With Red's family farm struggling she agrees to take the cash, gets her celebrity makeover, and heads to Los Angeles. 

The concept of a regular girl switching places with a wealthier person is nothing new but it's always fun. And what really carried this story is what Dana L Davis always does so well and that's the banter between characters. Red and her love interest Koi have an easy chemistry that carried throughout the book. And Red is a genuinely sweet girl who puts her family and their best interest first all the time.

It was very awkward  and confusing seeing the mentions of the main character wanting to visit Israel and film a movie in Israel as if it's some beautiful vacation destination. Especially since this book was written during the past year when we've seen Israel constantly in the news. That was a choice!A choice that made no sense and leaves me with questions for everyone involved with this book. And it was the beginning of things that took me out of an otherwise mostly enjoyable story by the end. 

The ending did come off a little Disney Channel movie and the last few chapters while predictable didn't have good buildup for me. We saw so little interest in what she was actually interested in outside of her family's farm that it didn't quite fit. I feel this could've still had a happy ending without the fairytaleesque path it went down. But overall this book will be fun for the younger YA audience who is looking for a quick read.

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I had been meaning to read The Art of Scandal since last fall but I was waiting to be in the right mood for it. I decided January would be a good time to finish books I carried over into the new year. You can buy The Art of Scandal here. 

The Art of Scandal follows Rachel who receives a nude text from her husband on the night of his fortieth birthday and instantly realizes it wasn't meant for her. But since she's dedicated so much of her life to being his wife and has built nothing on her own she can't just walk away without having to start all over. Matt is a white politician who has higher political aspirations and is willing to pay her off to keep of the facade of a happy couple. While Rachel is regretting her life, she meets Nathan Vasquez, a struggling artist in his mid 20s who makes her feel alive again. 

I was pleasantly surprised by The Art of Scandal. It starts off with a bang jumping right into the major of scandal of the story. I enjoy when stories get into the action on page one because with so many books out there to read I want to be immediately drawn in. While Regina Black writes a believable politician in Matt and gives insight into what he's campaigning on she doesn't get caught up in the specifics. This is Rachel and Nathan's story and the focus remains on them. Rachel is older, she has a daughter in college and so much of her life has been wrapped up in being the perfect politician's wife that's she's not even sure who she is anymore. Nathan has grown up privileged but he's also lost and struggling to find his purpose in life. His older brother is somewhat of the golden child who has always been seen as the successful one. While Nate is running a laundromat passed on to him and doing fanart while he ignores his true calling. 

The book is steamy and full of soap operaesque drama but it's still grounded in reality. It's written in a way where I felt like I was peeking in to these people's every day lives. These are two people who are at a crossroads and are holding onto trauma. I really enjoyed how this book explored uncertainty in your career as well as balancing family relationships. It also explores the challenges to interracial relationships in a way we don't always see depicted.

The audiobook narration is great and the book is pretty fairly paced. I can easily see where this would make a good tv series.

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm here with my first blog review of the year. Blood at the Root is one of the most anticipated YA releases of 2024. And as someone who spent all of 2023 searching for an HBCU set fantasy this one caught my eye after I saw it trending on Twitter. And then when LaDarrion Williams offered me the chance to read the arc I jumped at the opportunity. So preorder it here and then keep reading to hear my thoughts.

                                                                                                   

10 years ago Malik's life changed forever after he lost his mother during an attack where he discovered he has special powers. Now, newly emancipated Malik decides to use his magic to help escape with his foster brother to start anew. However their plans go awry after an incident at a gas station. Malik ends up meeting a mysterious man who tells him about a long-lost grandmother who has been searching for him. Malik finds himself in New Orleans being pulled into a world full of magic and secrets. And it seems the key to unveiling the truth about his mother is attending a magical university for Black students. While Malik is reconnecting with an old friend and learning how to wield his powers, students are disappearing and it may have a connection to a powerful type of dark magic his mother was dabbling in.

The book started a slow build up to Malik attending the school and though I would've preferred we end up on campus right away I did understand why that was done. And good bit of care is put into tying different plotlines together. Often in these types of stories set at schools, the school aspect becomes an after thought. Williams does a good job utilizing the school. Different sororities and fraternities were introduced that I can see playing a larger part in the next book. The world pulls from a lot of different elements from hoodoo to Kreyol with class sessions combining magic with Black history lessons.

Outside of some very millennial references here and there the dialogue did feel pretty realistic for Black boys from the hood in college. There was some AAVE here or some descriptions here and there that threw me off but it wasn't egregious. It's possible that will be cleaned up in the final version of this book. But then there were some references though maybe corny at times were well thought out and clearly sending a message to young Black readers.

While previously the author said this is a book without trauma I'd like to refute that. The book is not trauma free. Malik has been through it in life and still goes through a lot. There's some reflection on history that includes slavery. There's a side plot with Black children disappearing. But what set this apart from some of my other YA fantasy reads is I didn't see a lot of graphically detail violence on page. And we get to see Black people fighting back without having to suffer at the oppressor's hands first. White people were never centered. Absent was that white bff that often appears to show white readers that  Black people are human too. At a time when writers are advised to write for everybody it was very clear the audience here was Black boys who haven't really seen themselves in fantasy. 

Overall this is a very engaging story with enough twists and turns to keep reader's interested as secrets unfold.

The Honorable Mentions 2023

Welcome Back, Booklovers! As someone who reads over 100 books each year there's just so many books that are good but don't immediately come to mind. But these books still deserve attention so I decided this year to give you my honorable mentions. These are books that still stood out that I think you should check out.

Patchwork Prince

This is a sweet story about a mother and son who make out of their situation and turn scraps into something beautiful. 

What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure—ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for royalty: No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince. 

The Ghost Tree

Out of all the books we've read this year this series is my 10 year old niece's favorite. She really enjoyed this book.

Asim's new town is freaking him out! There are weird noises at night, eerie lights, and now an evil tree that is growing way faster than it should. he's sure there's something supernatural going on.

His friend Rokshar believes that everything can be explained by science. But even she's worried when the tree takes control of their teacher! It's starting to look like an evil spirit straight out of Guyanese folklore is to blame. Can Asim and his friends save their teacher--and the town --from the ghost tree?

Sign of the Slayer

This is a fun teen urban fantasy with vampire slayers vs vampires and Black main characters.

High school is supposed to be about studying, socializing, and marching-band practice. Not fighting vampires. Then one night flipped my world inside out―now, my life sucks. But it isn’t all bad. I’m at a slayer academy, learning things like the real origin of vamps and how to make serious weapons out of thin air.

Every last one of them will pay for what they did. I’m doing great.

Until I come face-to-face with the actual vampire prince…and I’m not sure of anything anymore. Vampires are supposed to be soul-sucking demons. But Khamari is…something else. He’s intelligent and reasonable―and he seems to know things about me that could change everything.

He’s also hiding something big, even from his own kind. And when a threat from an ancient evil is so extreme that a vampire will team up with a slayer to take it down, it isn’t just my need for revenge that’s at stake anymore.

It’s the whole damn world.

When the Vibe Is Right

This is a sweet YA Romance between two rivals who have to work together to carry on a legacy. 

There are two things Tess Crawford knows for sure:

• She’s destined to be a great Trinidadian Carnival costume designer like her renowned uncle, Russell Messina, and will one day inherit leadership of the family’s masquerade band, Grandeur.

• Her classmate, the popular social media influencer, Brandon Richards, is the bane of her existence. Everything about him irks her, from his annoying nickname for Tess (Boop) to his association with David, her awful ex.

But when the future of Grandeur nears the brink of collapse in the face of band rivalry, Tess finds to her chagrin that she must team up with Brandon in a desperate attempt to revive the company.

As Tess and Brandon spend more time together, Tess begins to wonder if everything she thought she knew might not be so certain after all. . . .

Set in lush, gorgeous Trinidad, this is a novel about finding love in the most unexpected places.

The Thing About Home

This is a story about family, self discovery, and great food. It's inspirational without being overly preachy and you can feel the heart on every page.

Casey Black needs an escape. When her picture-perfect vow renewal ceremony ends in her being left at the altar, the former model turned social media influencer has new fame—the kind she never wanted. An embarrassing viral video has cost her millions of followers, and her seven-year marriage is over. With her personal and business lives in shambles, Casey runs from New York City to South Carolina’s Lowcountry hoping to find long-lost family. Family who can give her more answers about her past than her controlling mom-slash-manager has ever been willing to share.

What Casey doesn’t expect is a postcard-worthy property on a three-hundred-acre farm, history, culture, and a love of sweet tea. She spends her days caring for the land and her nights cooking much needed Southern comfort foods. She also meets Nigel, the handsome farm manager whose friendship has become everything she’s never had. And then there are the secrets her mother can no longer hide.

Through the pages of her great-grandmother’s journals, Casey discovers her roots run deeper than the Lowcountry soil. She learns that she has people. A home. A legacy to uphold. And a great new love story—if only she is brave enough to leave her old life behind.

The Princess of Thornwood Drive

A beautiful exploration of grief and how it manifests that also discusses abuse within the medical field. 

One year ago, a tragic car accident killed 22-year-old Laine’s parents and left her 18-year-old sister, Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal. Now—instead of studying animal nutrition or competing as one of the few equestrians of color—Laine is struggling with predatory banks, unscrupulous health care organizations, and rude customers at the coffee shop where she works. That’s why when Lake Forest Adult Day Center offers to take care of Alyssa, free of charge, Laine is relieved.

Alyssa isn't relieved, though. After all, in her mind, there was never a car accident. Instead, she and her parents—the king and queen of Mirendal—were attacked one year ago in the forest, her parents kidnapped while she was cursed, and now must spend her days in Lake Forest's Home for Changels—a temple caring for mortals such as herself. Perhaps there, she could meet other changels who show her how to embrace her new life.

However, there is a dark prince at Lake Forest, one who has taken a peculiar interest in not only Alyssa but her sister as well. And while Laine struggles to make ends meet on an everyday basis, Alyssa finds herself leading a battle that threatens to destroy not only her and her sister but their entire kingdom.

Family Lore

This was a beautiful story about different women reflecting on life as they anticipate the death of one of their own. 

Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake—a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she’s led—her sisters are surprised. Has Flor foreseen her own death, or someone else’s? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila.

But Flor isn’t the only person with secrets: her sisters are hiding things, too. And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own.

Spanning the three days prior to the wake, Family Lore traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo’s inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an indelible portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces—one family’s journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come.