Title: The Ballad of Never After

Series: Once Upon a Broken Heart #2

Author: Stephanie Garber

Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she’ll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can…

My heart!
My heart!
It’s broken!
Actually broken!

My poor Jacks! Why oh why doesn’t he ever really listen to Evangeline, his Little fox?!!

I cant even write my thoughts so I’m just going to leave quotes whilst I weep into my duvet!

‘In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.’

‘He held her with the type of intensity that only happens when a person wants something that isn’t quite theirs.’

‘I do not want you dead, and I’ll kill anyone who tries.’

‘Nothing has been safe since the moment I laid eyes on you. And yet I don’t want to look away.’

‘Jacks no longer felt like her enemy, he felt like her home.’

‘Sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don’t end happily, and neither do the two of us.’

Pass the kleenex!

Title: House of Flame and Shadow

Series: Crescent City #3

Author: Sarah J Maas

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

‘Through love, all is possible.’

Oh wow, what a conclusion!

We’re back with the crew, Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, Dec, Flynn, Ithan, Hypaxia, Jesiba, Lidia, the sprites, Tharion and the Princes of Hel, and they all have a part to play in the downfall of the Asteri.

When we left off in CC2, Bryce had dropped into a world we know very well! I admit I read those chapters 3 times because I didn’t want to miss a word!

I’m not going to go on and on about the plot so will just say the parts I loved

~ Silene’s story – I was mesmerised,
~ The murals, the history = I’m sold, 
~ The return of the middengard worm!
~ A reveal that made my jaw drop,
~ Avallen,
~ Aidas (he has my heart),
~ Ruhn (ok, and Lidia and Ruhn together!)
~ Hunt’s love for Bryce, so pure,
~ Ember Quinlan and her love for a certain character!
~ ‘We’re obviously destined to be best friends’ IYKYK

How the story was all weaved together was nothing short of brilliant. I am in awe!

Now I’ve seen there will be another book in the CC world, I hope it’s about 2 certain characters and their HEAs after the little breadcrumbs at the end! I’m really hoping Avallen plays a part (but I doubt it!)

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Quick Reads/Books to Read When Time is Short

I’ve decided to do a mix of novellas and also books I devoured in a day (but they aren’t novellas!!)

Novellas
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
Thornhedge by T Kingfisher
A Court of Frost and Starlight by SJM
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson
Homogeny by Alek Cristea
Inside the World of Bridgerton by Catherine Curzon

Books I read in a day!
Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
From Blood and Ash by JLA
Gilded by Marissa Meyer
Gleam by Raven Kennedy

What would you choose?

Fairyloot YA January 2024

Regency and Scandal

A romantic fantasy set in a regency England inspired world. We follow a magical dressmaker who enters the world of balls, scandal sheets and royals.

A Fragile Enchantment by Alison Saft

Exclusive colourway cover
Foil design on the hardcover @bluelyboo
Dust jacket art @sashac_art
Endpapers by @sashac_art
Digitally sprayed edges
Bonus content
Digital signature

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hope you’ve had a good week?

Well here we are, hello February!

Not much to report from this week really, the week I’ve dubbed House of Flame and Shadow week!

My son had some injections and I had a couple of days off and all I did was read HoFaS and made a dent in it but still not finished, that book is huge!

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New Arrivals

Eliza Mace by Sarah Burton

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What I’ve Read

🎧 The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 To Cage a God by Elizabeth May
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Look out for my reviews soon!

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You might have missed…..

Review – The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
Review – The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Review – Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day

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What have you read lately?

Title: Hollen the Soulless

Series: Dokiri Brides #1

Author: Denali Day

He’ll mark her flesh. She’ll claim his heart.

Always the dutiful daughter, Lady Joselyn is weeks away from marrying a rival lord in order to secure the future of her father’s house. However, she suddenly finds herself in the clutches of an ancient beast she’s only ever heard of in legends. More terrifying than that is the beast’s master, a wild man who insists Joselyn is his bride by right, and plans to seal his claim in blood.

Wyvern-rider, Hollen, has finally captured the woman of his dreams, though he quickly learns waiting for her was less than half the battle. His new bride wants nothing to do with him and Hollen knows he only has one chance to change her mind. To win her over, he’ll do whatever he must, even if it means keeping secrets.

Their wills pitted against each other, Joselyn will go to any lengths to free herself from this savage and fulfill her marital contract. Her father’s life depends upon it. But even as she plots her escape, Joselyn begins to wonder if one can also be bound by a duty to their own heart.

I was recommended this book by a book friend, a savage Dokiri leader and Lady Joselyn – was totally up for that! I was thinking Game of Thrones material!

There are 2 things about this book that I can say with absolute certainty.

1) Hollen, even though a savage, is a dream man with the patience of a saint.
2) Joselyn Helena Elise Fury was a fool for the majority of this book!

Actually 3.

3) I am not up for closed door segsual scenes. I mean what the heck! I thought this was going to be a juicy offering!

But it was quite gory, there was one part where that I had to skip because it was vile!

Although I disliked Joselyn I must say she was most definitely loyal and determined, mostly for the wrong people and wrong things though! She really grated on my nerves!

I did love the writing and also the descriptions of the world they live in and I do think I’ll read the next book!

Happy February!

‘Though, February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.’ —Charmaine J Forde

‘In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold on to in this world is each other.’ — Linda Ellerbee

Title: The Mystery Guest

Series: Molly the Maid #2

Author: Nita Prose

Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

As the case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there’s one thing Molly knows for sure, it’s that dirty secrets don’t stay buried forever…

Molly the Maid is back with another mystery at the Regency Grand!

An author holds a press conference to make an important announcement but he doesn’t get to do it as someone poisons his tea! Scandal!

The pressure is on as the staff are all under suspicion coupled with the fact that Molly has a secret so her detective skills are put to the test!

In this book we learn more about her early life and the life of her Gran. Some of these parts broke my heart but what shone through was what a beautiful person Molly’s Gran was.

I loved this cozy mystery and the little revelation at the end made my heart sing!

Do I detect a change of employment for Molly? I’d be interested to see where that goes but would defo miss the Regency Grand and Mr Preston!

Title: The Scarlet Veil

Series: Scarlet Veil #1

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in its wake, each one drained of blood.

Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.

Back in the world of Cesarine and the Chasseur Tower, and with Celie (the first woman Chasseur) and her fiance, Jean Luc.

But all isn’t well and, let me just say now, shame on Jean-Luc – I know he thought he was coming from a good place but it so was not.

This led to Celie making the most horrendous decisions. Honestly Celie made me rage throughout this book, her decision making was poorer than poor but I will say her character growth was huge!

So after all that Celie went through (ugh that coffin part) she finds herself kidnapped and a Bride, but not in the way you think! Michal is a generous host and I loved him from the start – not sure if I was meant to, he’s a beautiful man!

I know I haven’t said much about the plot but I don’t really know what to say without giving spoilers so I’ll say nothing!

Nice to see Lou and Reid again, happy she had her sticky buns but was disappointed there was no big tiddy liddy!

But that ending….WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!!!Ready for book 2 now!