Always Lost in Words

By Isabel Ibañez

Rating: 4*s

NOW AVAILABLE FROM ST. MARTIN’S PRESS!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and a golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.”

REVIEW:

This book had everything. ANCIENT EGYPT, family secrets,  a smart and brave FMC, an MMC with a troubled past, dubious motives, and almost unhealthy heaps of tragedy that brought some very real feelings to the table. I was on the edge of my seat.

The felt like I was in Egypt making discoveries alongside the characters and could feel the dust and heat and fear and longing that plagued Inez. Ibanez always does a fantastic job setting a scene and a story, and the world building around magic felt so very subtle that you could see the artifacts actually existing here.

I usually have a really hard time with books that set out to break my heart over and over, but the raw emotions made the spicy, dramatic bits all the more delicious, and the pull between Inez and Whit is what kept me going. I definitely will need to pick up the sequel asap, but I am not sure I can let Ibanez keep breaking my heart yet. I know the adventure isn’t over for me, though, and there is still so much to discover!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

By EB Asher, Rating: 4*s of Epic Fun.

NOW AVAILABLE FROM Avon and Harper Voyager!!

“Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the realm from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except them. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.

But when they all receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages—with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her ex-love (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell. And if reuniting with former friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have also returned.

Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, Beatrice, Clare, and Elowen will face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.

This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?“

Thoughts:

This was honestly such a great epic adventure read with second chance romance and friends turned strangers opening back together, resolving their b*llsh**, and uniting to save the kingdom once again.

If there had been a first book, it would have been epic fantasy adventure, but the second chance thing is always cozier. The author handled the world building through the lens of times passed and it was well done and subtle without being so overbearing it detracted from the story, which tends to happen. This was just great. I really loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review!

By Kayla Olson

Rating:

Now Available from Atria Books!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment.

Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story.

But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.”

REVIEW

Think 90s boy band craze and Charlotte Steins “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” had a baby that was conceived on the board game Clue. I really like this book. It was a little predictable for me but the romance was good and the plot was fast and the ending tied up all the loose ends.

Honestly, I couldn’t ask for more in a romcom. I actually like when my suspicions play out and the author did it WELL. I love an HEA, and this was the perfect cozy read for a cool wintery day.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Copy in Exchange for a fair and honest review!

By Beth Revis. 5*s!

NOW AVAILABLE FROM DAW!

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Ada had no intention whatsoever to continue working for the rebel group that hired her to retrieve the government’s plans for a nanobot climate cleaner if they weren’t willing to pay her for it, but then they offer a different perk: an undercover mission to a charity gala where Rian will be in attendance. Rian, meanwhile, has volunteered his services for the gala believing that the rare items up for auction will attract Ada’s eye. Hoping to catch her in the act and pin her with a punishable crime, Rian has no idea Ada’s really after.

In a high-stakes game of theft and deception, Ada plays to win…and Rian will do anything to stop her.”

REVIEW:

REVIS! How can you do this TWICE with the same amazing characters? Another amazing scifi space heist story with a morally grey FMC and lawful MMC set in a museum full of Sol Earth artifacts on a far off planet. The villain is finally revealed and is entirely hateable and we get more background on Ada that gives more background on the struggles of OG Earth to stay alive. Plus there’s more push and pull with Rian, which gives that little spice that amps up the tension and character dev.

I am again super obsessed. I absolutely LOVE this short series and will recommend this to ANYONE who enjoys a good mystery/heist/scifi/romance situation. So excited for the next installment coming out soon!

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. Loved it!