The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville

DESCRIPTION
She said, We needed a tool. So I asked the gods.

There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

In a collaboration that combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, these two inimitable artists have created something utterly unique, sure to delight existing fans and to create scores of new ones.

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
ISBN: 9780593446591
Pub Date: 23 Jul 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was thoroughly intrigued by this book, and it was truly unlike anything I have ever read. The writing style is such that you are reading a graphic novel. That is, your mind processes and narrates the illustrations in real time while simultaneously reading and interpreting the dialogue and onomatopoeias. The Book of Elsewhere is written in this manner, and it took some time for me to acclimate.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed, violent thriller involving themes of military, mythology immortality/mortality, time shifting, and questioning the meaning of life.

If you enjoy graphic novels and thrilling, mind-bending comic books like BRZRKR, definitely move this unique collaboration between two great artists to the top of your TBR list.

#TheBookofElsewhere #KeanuReeves #ChinaMiéville # RandomHousePublishing #Ballantine #NetGalley #Thriller #Action #SuspenseThriller #AdultFiction #SciFi #Fantasy

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them.

The very last person anyone should worry about is Emma. Yes, hi, she’s an alcoholic. But she’s officially been sober for one entire year. That’s twelve months of better health. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. It’s also been 365 days of not dating. And with her new dating profile, Emma, 26, of New York is ready to put herself back out there.

Except—was dating always this complicated? And did Emma’s mother really have to choose now to move in with her new boyfriend? Being assigned to plan her office’s holiday party feels like icing on the suddenly very overwhelming cake until her estranged father reappears with devastating news. Icing, meet cherry on top. But then there’s Ben, the charming IT guy who, despite Emma’s awkwardness and shortcomings, seems to maybe actually get her? Sobriety is turning out to be far from the flawless future Emma had once envisioned for herself, but as she allows herself to open up to Ben and confront difficult past relationships, she’s beginning to realize that taking things one day at a time might just be the perfectly imperfect path she’s meant to be on.

Bittersweet and darkly hilarious, Ava Robinson’s debut novel about navigating sobriety and complicated family dynamics is witty, heartbreaking and profoundly relatable.

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing - MIRA
ISBN: 9780778310594
Pub Date: 31 Dec 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I knew this book was going to have an underlying darkness to it, given that the FMC Emma is an alcoholic. I was mentally prepared to be emotionally ripped to shreds, but that didn’t really happen (which was perfectly fine to be honest), as Emma’s story of life and exploration of dating after one year of sobriety begins after the majority of the ugliness of alcoholism has subsided for her. Based on the book description, I was expecting more romance and then her alcoholism possibly causing serious issues with that. All’s well, though, I still enjoyed the book. Emma takes things one day at a time and slowly allows herself to open up again at work, and she even takes interest in the IT guy, Ben. I liked the relatability of the complexity of it all. Navigating relationships, being vulnerable, and learning to trust again is so hard in her situation. I think the author did a great job with it. There were moments of humor as well, a welcome reprieve when things are just intense. Overall, I was pleased with Definitely Better Now and look forward to other books by this author.


#DefinitelyBetterNow #AvaRobinson #Harlequin #NetGalley #NewAdult #WomensFiction #AdultFiction #ContemporaryRomance #ComingofAge

The Rumble and the Glory by JA Huss - eARC Review

DESCRIPTION
Collin Creed is a killer. But he's Lowyn's killer. And after a twelve-year separation, she wants him back.

Deep in the hills of West Virginia, three small towns have found a way to flourish in the face of extreme poverty. Disciple runs a side-show tent revival that brings in millions of dollars a year. Bishop flaunts traditional ways in the vein of Colonial Williamsburg, luring weary city people to the slow-living lifestyle. And Revenant offers them an experience of sin filled with tattooed bikers and live-music dive bars.

It’s a sacred trinity that worships the almighty dollar and everyone plays their role like a well-trained Broadway actor.

But these hills have secrets, and so do the people.

Twelve years ago, when he was just eighteen and dreaming of a future with his high school sweetheart, Collin Creed learned something about himself. Something so disturbing he left Disciple to join the Marines and didn’t once look back. But all that came to a screeching halt with the congressional hearings, forcing Collin to return home and rebuild his black-ops empire brick by brick.

Lowyn McBride’s heart broke when Collin shut her out and left town without an explanation just as they were getting ready to start their adult lives together. The death of her mother the following year was a make-or-break moment and Lowyn rose to the occasion, giving up her university education to parent her younger sister while building an empire of her own as a specialty antiques dealer.

Anger and desire, guilt and shame—the return of the enigmatic Collin Creed ignites the town and sparks an explosion of emotions inside Lowyn. But he’s not the only one with a secret in his past. Lowyn has always played the good girl to Collin’s bad-boy reputation. But it turns out—she’s just like everyone else up in these hills—not as wholesome and pure as she looks.

The Rumble and the Glory is a cinematic and spicy small-town secret, second-chance romance wrapped up in a cloak of mystery and suspense. It honors the themes of found family, redemptive anti-hero, and is filled with bigger-than-life, morally-grey characters against a backdrop of deceit and deception.

TROPES:
Small Town Secrets
Touch Her and Die
He Falls First
Enemies to Lovers
Morally Grey
Found Family
Second Chance
Childhood Sweethearts
Anti-Hero

NOTE: JA Huss does not use trigger warnings unless the story is very dark. What she considers ‘very dark’ is VERY dark. This book does not qualify for a trigger warning.

Publisher: JA Huss
ISBN: 9781957277189
Pub Date: 27 Jun 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I am a longtime fan of the author and was excited to see what was in store with this new world. It has been stated that this series does not have an end in sight. That confirmed, reading The Rumble and the Glory felt like the first bite of an appetizer leading into a journey of an elaborate multi-course meal meant to blow your mind and definitely have you telling all your friends. I felt a bit tickled at the end because I cannot wait for what is to come. In this first installment, though, there’s a little bit of everything, it seems. Small town vibes, childhood sweethearts, military ops, morally grey characters, found family, suspense, action, politics…the list can go on!

Lowyn and Collin are childhood sweethearts that reunite after twelve years. They become immersed in the sideshow tent revival put on by the Trinity towns, which goes on for many chapters of the book. Hopefully this was done with intent to give us insight on the mysterious innerworkings of the “Revival” as well as introduce us readers to other characters. I think Lowyn and Collin are a great duo, and I loved Lowyn’s independence, work ethic, and ability to resist her former beau’s advances. Seeing Collin’s protectiveness and possessiveness of Lowyn emerge (aka “touch her and d!e”) was so satisfying. We are given a glimpse of his secretive and intriguing military occupation as well.

I would love to learn more in depth the history of the region in which they live and the formation of the towns. There were plenty of twists and turns that had me questioning my theories from beginning to end. I am so pleased with this opening story and will eagerly devour all accompanying books in this series. Five stars!

#RumbleAndTheGlory #JAHuss #NetGalley #SmallTownSecrets #Romance #Suspense #HeFallsFirst #MorallyGrey #FoundFamily #SecondChance #Antihero

The Unraveling by Vi Keeland - eARC Review

DESCRIPTION
This chilling, sizzling, and addictive thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland follows a New York psychiatrist’s dark descent into dangerous obsession.

This isn’t a love story.

It’s a story about obsession.

After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. How is he doing so well while her life is in shambles?

But when Gabriel walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is, she knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him. Yet, Meredith can’t bring herself to turn him away and becomes further entangled. With her life and career continuing to unravel, it appears that things could not get any worse…until they do.

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
ISBN: 9781668046852
Pub Date: 9 Jul 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I am a longtime fan of the author and was curious to see what was in store with the genre change. This psychological thriller had me on edge! With jaw-clenching, heart-thumping intensity, I could not put this book down and absolutely devoured it in one day.

Dr. Meredith McCall is a psychiatrist in Manhattan who experiences a major tragedy and is dealing with the painful aftereffects. Enter Gabriel Wright, a man to whom Meredith is connected. As she knows she should not treat him as her patient, Meredith can’t help but feel righteous in her initial choice to do so.

Constant twists and turns had me questioning my theories from beginning until the very end, and I had things wrong many times. I loved every second of The Unraveling and will hungrily devour any future thrillers by this author.

#TheUnraveling #ViKeeland #Atria #NetGalley #PsychologicalThriller #RomanticSuspense #SuspenseThriller #Thriller

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.

When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.

And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.

But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend—until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN: 9781250867933
Pub Date: 6 Feb 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was everything. If you love a good slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, steamy, work romance, then this one is for you!

I have to gush over the MMC Alfie, who is a former athlete selling his memoirs (but he’s not a writer) and the FMC Mabel, who is a ghostwriter. This duo was just thoroughly enjoyable in all regards. For me, there was so much laughter and delight—absolute pure satisfaction from this story. 10/10 highly recommend!

#GrumpySunshine #Romance #OppositesAttract #SlowBurn #Spicy #CharlotteStein #WhenGrumpyMetSunshine #WorkRomance #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Protecting the Gray Wolf by N. J. Walters - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
If they want his immortality—they’ll have to take it…in the second deeply sexy and bold Lone Wolf Legacy series from New York Times bestselling author N.J. Walters.

I’m used to other wolves coming for me. They want their chance to try and take out the infamous Gray Wolf. And every single one of them fails—because lone wolves aren’t like the others…we’re stronger. Harder. Meaner. Immortal.

But it also means I’m alone. No pack. No alpha. Just the three of us—white, gray, and black. Two too many, if you ask me.

But with power-hungry mages gunning for us, I don’t have the luxury of reflection. They’re in New York City, and I Will. Hunt. Them. Down.

Which is when I see her, and every cell in my body is on alert, filled with the kind of primal longing I never knew I was capable of. Luna West may be human, but there’s some kind of thread connecting us. Call it destiny, fate…or voracious animal hunger.

I know she’s bait. She’s meant to tempt me, to make me weak. But even if I could resist her, I’m not sure I want to.

Because I’ve never denied my wolf anything…especially the chance to raise some serious hell.

And I’m not about to start now.

Each book in the Lone Wolf Legacy series is STANDALONE:
* Taming the White Wolf
* Protecting the Gray Wolf

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Ebook)
ISBN: 9781649376800
Pub Date: 12 Feb 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read the preceding book in this standalone, interconnected series, Taming the White Wolf, and absolutely loved it. So I just knew Protecting the Gray Wolf would deliver, and may I say…it absolutely did!

For me, this story was an easy, quick read with great pacing. There was so much going on beginning with a setup from the White Wolf that turns into the Gray Wolf, Kade, doing his best to resist the meticulous, measured, and very tempting artist, Luna. These wolves have their innate need to mate, so the steam factor in the story did not disappoint!

Full of action, thrill, spice, and mystery, Protecting the Gray Wolf is really an exciting paranormal romance. The author does a fabulous job with this genre/subgenre, so the third installment in this series, the Black Wolf’s story, is really calling to me now.

#Paranormal #Romance #Shifter #Werewolf #ProtectingtheGrayWolf #NJWalters #Entangled #NetGalley

Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher - eARC Review

DESCRIPTION

Some follow their destiny.

Others fall for it.

For humans, Salizar’s is a place of mystery and wonder. For Harrow, it’s a place to hide from those who slaughtered her entire clan. A haven where she can disguise both her abilities and who she really is.

Until he arrives.

He has no recollection of who—or even what—he is. He only knows that he’s a monster, with wings and powerful abilities never seen before. But beneath the layers of rage and isolation, one glimpse into those inky black eyes reveals a soul that calls out to the loneliness in Harrow.

And so she chooses him.

She is drawn to the mystery of him, her unquenchable need for his kiss. And as powerful enemies align and conspire against them, Harrow knows their only hope is escape.

Now, with every secret she unlocks from his past, a shadow from her own whispers free—luring enemies who will stop at nothing to get their final revenge on Harrow. And she’s given them the perfect weapon…because her winged beast is not what he seems.

But maybe it’s time they finally learn—neither is she.

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Ebook)
ISBN: 9781649374110
Pub Date: 9 Jan 2024

REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sanctuary of the Shadow is one heck of a carnival ride. What an intriguing storyline! I love the dark carnival them with an amnesia-affected shadow beast and a powerful young fortune-teller as the main characters.

This fast-paced story will have you feeling like you are speedreading through the journey of Harrow and Raith. I suppose I was expecting more of a slow burn, but it. is. not. and I am just fine with that. I also admire that Harrow has strong friendships in this story; it helps identify the layers of her personality.

I loved the inclusion of important themes like consent, deceit/grudges/revenge leading to forgiveness and redemption, personal growth and forging a path forward. All of these themes are packed in for a quick ride, and I am so beyond excited to find out what happens next in this series!

#Fantasy #YA #Romance #SanctuaryoftheShadow #AuroraAscher #Entangled #NetGalley