2-in-1 Audiobook Reviews: A Match Made for Thanksgiving & The One Night

Author: Jackie Lau

Narrator: Khristine Rivière
Title: A Match Made for Thanksgiving

Series: Holidays with the Wongs #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Format: Audiobook
Published: October 8, 2019
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Advertising executive Nick Wong enjoys living in Toronto. He loves late nights partying and taking women back to his penthouse. And so it is with great reluctance that he returns to his boring hometown of Mosquito Bay for Thanksgiving.

This year, however, is even worse than usual. His interfering parents and grandparents, frustrated with the lack of weddings in the family, have invited blind dates for him and his three siblings. Nick’s brother Greg has been set up with Lily Tseng, who just so happens to be Nick’s latest one-night stand, the one he can’t get out of his mind.

Although Nick has never been interested in settling down, Lily has him reconsidering. Perhaps he’s good for more than a single night of sex, dumplings, and bubble tea after all. But first, he has to get through this painful weekend with his family and convince her that she should be with him, not Greg…

Review:

I meant to read this at Thanksgiving, but I totally forgot all about it. I then meant to save it for Thanksgiving later this year, BUT I couldn't resist. I needed a nice and spicy read for March. Weeee!

Here we follow Nick and Lily. Nick has loved his bachelor's life and doesn't plan to change now. Until he meets Lily. After a wonderful one-night stand with her, he can't get her out of his head. It's Thanksgiving, and he returns to his small hometown to his loving but interfering family. Enter his family, who set up some blind dates for him and his siblings. Lo and behold, Lily walks in, but she is set up with his brother. He will need to spend the weekend convincing her that she should be with him. 

I had a lot of fun with this one. It was cute and sweet. Love watching a womanizer and rogue finally settle down. It's always fun. 

I liked Nick and Lily. You could see the chemistry right away. I loved how different but similar they were at the same time. They are adorable. 

Nick's family was very sweet. Yes, they are a LOT to handle, but they love him, and they fall for Lily, too. So sweet.

My biggest issue was the narration at times. There were times it felt and sounded so robotic. The performance was so stiff at times. It took me out of the story a couple of times because of how stiff and robotic it was.

I really want to read the next book, but I might have to settle for either the ebook version or the physical version. The same narrator reads that one too. 

All-in-all, I did like this a lot. Loved the set-ups. Loved the characters. The spiciness was well done. My only issue was that I struggled at times with the narrator. 

I'll give this 4 stars.  

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #11

- Reading Romance Challenge #8 (Non-Christmas Holiday)

Author: Meghan Quinn

Narrator: Laurie West & Teddy Hamilton
Title: The One Night

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Format: Audiobook
Published: December 14, 2021
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Recently divorced Cooper Chance knows he’s officially in a rut when his parents take him barhopping in the hope of resuscitating his love life. At first, he’s skeptical. How could a gritty dive bar possibly solve his problems? But then he runs into Nora McHale.

Nora isn’t at the bar looking for love. She’s there to unwind after yet another exhausting day at her bakery. And even if she were hoping to meet someone, it sure wouldn’t be Cooper—her best friend’s ex-husband.

According to the unwritten rules of romance, Cooper and Nora are completely off limits to each other. But after a fun, flirty night at the bar, they can’t ignore the wild attraction between them.

Is this the beginning of something real, or will their passionate night together be their one and only?

Review:

I needed a Meghan Quinn book, and I picked up this little guy. I'm glad I read a review or two because this is technically a prologue to the next book. Oooo

So Cooper and Nora have known each other for years. They are completely off limits to each other. After a flirty night at a bar and a funny situation....the two realize that their is not just lust between them but something more. However, will their passionate night be their only one? 

This was fun. Cooper's parents were the stars of this little number. I love them so much. I can't wait to see what shenanigans they cause in the next book. Hilarious!!!!!!!!!

I did like Cooper and Nora. The ending was sad. Super sad. I wonder how this will all be resolved. 

The narration team was amazing. I hope they do the next book. 

But yes, adorable with an ending that really isn't an ending. It is a teaser to make you read the next book. And yes, I have it downloaded already. 

4 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #11

- Reading Romance Challenge #8 (Non-Christmas Holiday)

Movie (Documentary) Review: The First American (2016)

Title: The First American

Length: 1h 35m

Released: 2016

Genre: Biography, Documentary
Rating: Not Rated (I would say MAYBE PG)
Where I Got It: Amazon

SUMMARY:

George Washington is central to understanding America's founding. He was the crucial figure in winning the American Revolution, in creating the Constitution, and in establishing the precedents for effective self-government as our first President. George Washington's sense of virtue, his lifelong activity as a citizen, his reverence for the rule of law, and his commitment to establishing the American Republic make him the essential figure for every American to know and study.

Trailer

REVIEW:

I technically watched this July 4th weekend, but I honestly forgot to write this review. I watch so few movies these days. I've been more into my TV shows lately. So yeah - I went back and watched this just so I could remember what I watched. 

Here we dive deep into George Washington and his life and impact on the United States. He was the first president. He was very beloved back then and for some...still beloved today. 

I thought this was very well done overall. I'm happy that the creators kept this bi-partisan and didn't try to push their political parties' agenda. This was about Washington and his impact on this country. Nicely done. 

I'm glad they dug into his pre-Revolution life; his childhood and his young adult life. From the research I've done on the man, his early life is really interesting and really would lead him to victory in the future. He was a complex man and unknown man. He was quiet and reserved. I think the documentary did a good job reflecting that. 

The acting scenes were.....okay. Some bits were really good like the battles. But there were some cringey moments. I'm not sure the person playing Martha was the person to do it. Maybe it was the script? She seemed SO awkward. George was nicely portrayed, but Martha was a bit off. 

This was a nice documentary and I would recommend it to people who would like to learn more. Very informative AND interesting. It wasn't boring at all. I think this would be a nice tape for students. 

I'll give this 4 stars. 

Book Review: Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller

Author: Tamara L Miller

Title: Into the Fall

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Format: ebook

Pages: 253

Published: February 1, 2025

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

For better or for worse, Sarah Anderson has it a thriving career, a nice home in Ottawa, two young kids…and a marriage coming apart at the seams.

Then her husband, Matthew, vanishes without a trace during a family vacation up north. Sarah and her children are nearly lost among the slumbering lakes, treacherous cliffs, and brooding forests of the Canadian Shield. A glacier-scraped realm of ancient beauty and terror, it’s a world away from the safety of the suburbs. And a big storm is brewing.

A kind rural lawman comes to their aid and takes an interest in the case. The trail goes cold, however, launching Sarah into a yearlong odyssey to find her husband. On the way, she must reconnect with her estranged sister and duck the suspicions of a slick city police officer. But that’s nothing compared to unearthing the dark secrets buried deep in the granite of her marriage—and in herself.

Review:

I've been itching for some more mystery lately. Can't get enough!! I have another one I'm ready to dive into. Honestly, I go through spells I feel. Read none and then a bunch. This was free on Amazon so I grabbed it up. 

Here we follow Sarah and her family. She has a thriving career and a nice home in Ottawa. Two kids and a husband....but her marriage is coming apart at the seams. The family decide to head up north and do some camping and bounding. However, her husband, Matthew, vanishes without a trace. Sarah and the kids are nearly lost in the woods and there is a big storm brewing outside. A nice rural lawman comes to their aid and picks up the case. When the trail goes cold, Sarah will take over and start a yearlong odyssey to find her husband. 

This sounded absolutely epic when I grabbed it up, but I ended up wanting to DNF this multiple times. I stuck through this because I HAD to know what happened to Matthew. Curiousity kills the cat...right?

Don't get me wrong, the author has a way with words! The way they can bring the scenary to life was beautiful. However, I didn't really care about the characters. I didn't like jumping back and forth in time. I get WHY we did, but it just messed with the flow at times. 

The mystery was mysterious and like I said it kept me hooked enough to finish this. However, the reveals at the end annoyed me. It was fitting in a way, but eh. Lots of build up and it felt anti-climatic in a way. 

All-in-all, this just wasn't for me. The mystery had me hooked until the end and then I felt deflated. Hopefully you like this better than I did. Just not for me. However, I will give some kudos. The author does have a way with description that is beautiful. 

2 stars from me. 

Favorite Character(s): Sarah?

Least Favorite Character(s): Matthew FOR sure. 

 Challenge(s):

- Cloak & Dagger #11

Audiobook Review: As Luck Would Have It by Sonya Lalli

Author: Sonya Lalli

Narrator: Amrit Kaur

Title: As Luck Would Have It

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook

Published: October 10, 2024

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Hockey coach Ashley Jaswal doesn't take nonsense from anyone … except her overbearing and superstitious family. They believe she's a good luck charm for her brother Jas, the newest Vancouver Canucks draft pick, forcing Ash to attend all his games as he rises up the NHL ranks, sacrificing her personal life (not that she has one—who decided hockey season needed to be 10 months long anyway?).

Ash also clashes with Jas’s teammate, Canucks captain Devin Snyder. Devin is yet another arrogant hockey bro—and admitted total babe—who is fresh off a scandalous break-up with a global pop-star. But she soon finds the ice melts between them, and they share an unexpected chemistry. As Ash wrestles with her family’s demands, her brother’s career and her feelings for Devin, will she find a way to take a risk and make her own luck? Or will she puck this up?

Review:

Weeee love hockey love stories!

Here we follow Ashley Jaswal who is a hockey coach and a school teacher. She doesn't take nonesense from anyone, except for her family. They are overbearing and superstitious. They believe she is a good luck charm for her brother, Jas. If she misses a game, he doesn't do well, so now she has to go to every.single.game. Things are about to change and Ash will have to make some tough choices when Jas is drafted for the Vancouver Canucks. Will she sacrifice her personal life to attend every game or will she finally put some boundaries down. At the same time, she clashes with Jas' teammate and captain, Devin Snyder. Devin is a babe, but he seems to be an arrogant hockey bro who is fresh off a scandalous break-up with a global pop-star. Nothing is as it seems though. 

This was truly entertaining!! I didn't want to stop listening! 

Poor Ash, but there are times I wanted to shake her. However, it's hard to really set boundaries with family, especially when you do love them. Her father is a piece of work so F him. Sexist for sure. You can say he is simply just "old school" but still....F him. 

I loved Devin once we really get to know him. 

Jas...........he has potential to be a good man someday, but he has too much of his father in his head right now. There is hope for him especially near the end. I hope we get to see him find love in the future but I don't think this is going to be a series. Booo!!!!!!

Love a good romance, but I love a romance with some depth. We go over sexism and racism in sports and life in general. The author did a nice job weaving it into the story and it actually helped push the plot along. It didn't muddy the story at all. It was beautifully done. 

As much as I enjoyed this, I did have some issues with the ending. It was very sweet and adorable and yes, Ash and Devin find their HEA. However, I'm still debating on how I feel about Devin's decision. I also wanted more of an epilogue if this isn't going to be a series. There are a lot of questions I have that I need answers for. Sure, I can assume but where is the fun in that? 

The narrator was nice. She did a good job with the different genders and different age groups and different accents. Lovely job. 

All-in-all, this was a nice read. I really did enjoy it. I wanted a hair more from the ending and I'm not sure how I feel about Devin's decision, but even with that I enjoyed this. A lovely story with some depth. 4 stars from me. 

- Favorite Character(s): Ash and Dev

- Least Favorite Character(s): Ash's father and Jas (he DID get better but his transformation still has a mile to go)

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #19

- Romance Reading #15 (Snow/Ice on Cover)

Book Review: Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge

Author: Meghan Ciana Doidge

Title: Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic

Series: The Dowser #1

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 266

Published: June 18, 2013

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

If you’d asked me a week ago, I would have told you that the best cupcakes were dark chocolate with chocolate cream cheese icing, that dancing in a crowd of magic wielders — the Adept — was better than sex, and that my life was peaceful and uneventful. Just the way I liked it. That’s what twenty-three years in the magical backwater of Vancouver will get you — a completely skewed sense of reality. Because when the dead werewolves started showing up, it all unraveled … except for the cupcake part. That’s a universal truth.

Review:

Picked this up because I loved the cover and the title....and it just sounded like pure fun. Oh and free is always nice ;) 

Here we follow Jade who owns her very own bakery. She loves baking and that is all she wants to do in life. However, she is dragged into the magical world....a world she has tried to avoid....and into a murder mystery.

Jade was a nice girl. I liked her a lot. She is sassy, but she has a deep avoidance issue so it was nice to see her dragged into things. 

Sadly, I only liked Jade. Everyone else was kinda crappy. Sienna is selfish and manipulative. Her Gran is overly protective. Her mom is not even there. Rusty was eh. The wolves....eh. The vampires? Super eh. Maybe in book 2 I'll grow to like someone other than Jade. 

This was campy, but fun. I did struggle because I didn't like anyone except Jade so it made it hard to appreciate more of the story lines. 

Oh! I loved the Canadian setting! That was super different. With this genre, we are so often stuck in a big US city so it was nice to get a different local. 

All-in-all, I did have some fun with this one. Jade was a delight and I loved the setting. Plus...cupcakes? Nommy. Not sure if I'll read forward though. Maybe...one day....we'll see.

I'll give this 3 stars. Bonus star for a fun local and an awesome cover.

Favorite Character(s): Jade

Least Favorite Character(s): Everyone else.

  

Challenge(s):

- Cloak & Dagger #7

Audiobook Review: Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Author: Jenny Holiday

Narrator: Joshua Jackson & Emily Ellet

Title: Canadian Boyfriend

Genre: Sports romance, Contemporary, fiction

Format: Audiobook

Published: January 30, 2024

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

A charming and heartfelt romance about a woman who comes face to face with the fake Canadian boyfriend she made up as a teenager.

The fake Canadian boyfriend. It's a thing. The get out of jail free card for all kinds of sticky social situations. “I can't go to prom; I'm going to be out of town visiting my boyfriend in Canada.” It's all over pop culture. But Aurora Evans did it first. Once upon a time she met a teenage hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. He was a boy. She may have fudged the “friend” part a little, but it wasn't like she was ever going to see him again. It wasn't like she hurt anyone. Until she did—years later—on both counts.

  

When pro hockey player and recent widower Mike Martin walks into the dance studio where Aurora Evans teaches, he's feeling overwhelmed with the fact that his wife may not have been exactly who he thought she was and the logistics of going back to work. As one of the few people his angry, heartbroken daughter connects with, Aurora agrees to be a pseudo nanny to help him navigate the upcoming school year and hockey season. To his surprise, she turns out to be the perfect balm for him as well. Aurora gets him. The real him underneath his pro jersey. And yet, he still finds himself holding back, unable to fully trust again—especially when he finds out the secret Aurora’s been hiding from him.

Review:

Picked this for book club because why not? We needed a little bit of fluff, plus this matches up with a couple of my reading challenges. Win-win-win. 

Here we follow Aurora (aka Rory) and Mike. The two met years and years ago...briefly...at a mall. From there it was history. Rory found herself a fake Canadian boyfriend so she wouldn't look like a loser at her school. Time went on and she slowly moved on. However, things changed when they met again. Mike is a star hockey player who thought he had it all until his wife died in a car accident and now he is a single dad who is picking up the reigns his wife left behind. Which includes getting their child to dance class. Enter in the teacher....Aurora Evans. He's overwhelmed and she's great with kids. Maybe she can be a nanny while the season goes? However, will they be able to fully trust each other? They both have secrets and guilt. 

I did really like this one. There is a lot of mental health talk in here (so be prepared) but it was fitting. Rory was a ballet dancer with a Godzilla of a Ballet-mom. Poor thing did develop an eating disorder and anxiety issues. Poor thing. 

Mike, of course, is dealing with his wife who passed and he uncovered that his wife was not FULLY telling the truth. There is guilt and anger and sadness. Plus, dealing with a sad daughter? Oof. 

They both have a lot on their plate, but it was nice seeing them become friends first. They def are super supportive of each other and I loved it!

However there was ONE thing that bothered me. When Rory's whole "fake boyfriend' thing came out (yes not a spoiler...you know it will) he.....acted like shit. I won't spoil anything but I was SO annoyed at him. Yes, how and when she revealed her big ol' secret wasn't great. However........it's not that big of a deal. Yes, he felt like she betrayed his trust by not telling him the truth right away. But like dude....chill.

Besides that whole exchange, I really liked this book. Great characters. Lots of internal things for them to fix. I loved Rory at the end. So proud of her. This was very sweet. 

The narrators were great. It was a duo set so it was fun to hear them sound like they were actually conversing. He would read Mike's dialogue and she would read Rory's. It was nice. I wonder why duo narrators don't do that more?

All-in-all, this was a nice sports romance dealing with mental health issues. I think Mike was overdramatic at the end, but it was resolved and they made up. The narrators were great and I def recommend listening to this. 

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Nice

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #21

- Romance Reading Challenge #13 (Sports romance) 

Audiobook Review: The Stand-In by Lily Chu

Author: Lily Chu

Narrator: Phillipa Soo

Title: The Stand-In

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published: July 15, 2021

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible) 

Summary: 

Gracie Reed is doing just fine. Sure, she was fired by her overly "friendly" boss, and yes she still hasn't gotten her mother into the nursing home of their dreams, but she's healthy, she's (somewhat) happy, and she's (mostly) holding it all together.

But when a mysterious SUV pulls up beside her, revealing Chinese cinema's golden couple Wei Fangli and Sam Yao, Gracie's world is turned on its head. The famous actress has a proposition: due to their uncanny resemblance, Fangli wants Gracie to be her stand-in. The catch? Gracie will have to be escorted by Sam, the most attractive—and infuriating—man Gracie's ever met.

If it means getting the money she needs for her mother, Gracie's in. Soon Gracie moves into a world of luxury she never knew existed. But resisting Sam, and playing the role of an elegant movie star, proves more difficult than she ever imagined—especially when she learns the real reason Fangli so desperately needs her help. In the end all the lists in the world won't be able to help Gracie keep up this elaborate ruse without losing herself...and her heart.

Review:

Been meaning to check this out for a bit now. I've heard lots of good things. Finally decided to dive in. 

Here we follow Gracie. Things are not going great for her. She was fired by her creep of a boss, is still on the wait list for a nursing home that would be perfect her for mom, and she is running short on money. Things are about to change when a mysterious SUV pulls up beside her and reveals the Chinese cinema's golden couple Wei Fangli and Sam Yao. Wei Fangli has a proposition for her. The two look extremely alike and Wei Fangli wants Gracie to be her stand-in for a couple of months. The catch? Gracie will have to be escorted by Sam to events. However, Sam is too attractive and infuriating. He doesn't like or trust Gracie. Soon Gracie will move into a world of luxury...but soon she will unearth some secrets that could change all of their lives. 

That was a fun read. I could hardly stop listening to the audio! I was able to finish in just a couple of days/sittings (dang life getting in my way). 

I adored Gracie. She reminded me a lot of me. I could relate to a lot of her inner thoughts and feelings. She is dealing with anxiety and depression which I can fully relate to. I loved how this book really did discuss mental health issues and even medical issues. There are some other issues touched upon like sexual harassment in the workplace, racism, and etc. Even with the unrealistic stand-in part, this book felt realistic in how people react and act and some of the issues we face in society. I loved how the author also showed that even celebrities are people and have their issues too. Too often people glorify and objectify celebrities. We sometimes forget they are people with emotions and feelings.

Now, this wasn't all sadness and gloom. There was a lot of humor. Lots of moments that had me chuckling. It was a perfect blend of reality with unrealistic story plots and some humor. Kuddos to the author for that.  

OooOOooooo the ending had a huge twist that I didn't see coming!!!! It came out of the left field, but then everything made sense when the big secret came out. It was a nice twist there. Loved it. With that reveal, I want to read more. I would love a book 2 or even a prequel!

I also appreciated how slowly Gracie and Sam realized their feelings for each other. He didn't trust her and for good reason. He wants to protect his lifelong friend. And how he acted was asshole-ish so I can see why Gracie was meh about him. Lots of talking and learning about each other. It was nice seeing them become friends and then lovers. It was the perfect way for them to fall in loveeee.

There is one scene (no spoilers from me) that didn't sit well with me. I didn't fully accept or like why a character did what they did. I think that resolution could've been dealt with differently...it felt like a typical rom-com reason. It didn't fit the "crime" or that character. 

The narrator was flawless. A perfect person to narrate this story and these characters. I simply adore her! I would love to listen to more audios by Phillipa Soo! She is fantastic. 

In the end, I really enjoyed this. It was so good. There was one resolution/scene/reveal that I was not a fan of, but the rest of the book? I highly enjoyed it! Great characters...great story...great narration. I would love a sequel or prequel one day! 4 stars from me. 

 

Challenge(s):
- #2 for Audiobook challenge

- #2 Romance Reading challenge - "Audiobook"

Movie Review: Turning Red (2022)

Title: Turning Red

Length:  1h 40m

Released: 2022

Genre:  Animation, Comedy, Adventure
Rating: PG
Where I Got It: Disney+

SUMMARY:

A 13-year-old girl named Meilin turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited.

Click here for the trailer

REVIEW:

Finally got to finish watching this movie. I honestly kept forgetting to go back and watch the last half. Dang wedding getting in my way!

Here we follow Meilin who just turned 13. After turning 13 she finds herself turning into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited. 

I adore red pandas so I was so excited to see them get some love here!

Plus what a fun coming-to-age story! I loved it so much! So dang cute. I'll admit I had a couple tears during a certain scene. 

This had all the feels. There are lots of laughs, sadness, joy, anger, and the feeling of wanting to dance! I would've LOVED to be friends with these guys when I was 13. 

That ending was perfect.

People are all mad about them insinuating that Meilin getting her period. Like chillax. Little kids and babies won't get adult humor or insinuations. They will be distracted by the huge red panda! People need to relax and grow up. 

In the end, I loved this film!! Def worth the watch. 5 stars from me. 

   

2 in 1 - Short Stories Review: The Party by Mona Ingram & Ignite by Hannah Parker

Author: Mona Ingram

Title: The Party

(Dear Santa #2)

Genre: Romance, Novella/Short Story, Contemporary

Format: ebook

Pages: 91

Published:  October 7th 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

He’s the town’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s more than that… much more

Exhausted after catering a high-profile company Christmas party, Paige accepts an invitation to relax with the man in charge of the clean-up crew. He’s handsome and intelligent, but most of all he’s a good listener. When they say goodnight, she has no idea that the meeting will trigger consequences that will change her life.

Review:

A random find on Amazon. Gotta love my freebies!

Jake and Paige are from completely different worlds. Jake is the town's most eligible bachelor and owns one of the biggest companies. Paige owns her own catering company. She is hired to cater a high-profile company for an Xmas Christmas party. After the party she accepts an invitation to relax with the man in charge of the clean-up crew. He is handsome and intelligent, but he seems like a good egg. Little does she know that this man is Jake. 

I believe this is book 2? Not seeing book 1 listed in Goodreads, so I am unsure if that is a typo or what? Not sure if they are all tied in together or not, but it didn't feel like a book 2. So no worries there. However, I am curious about the other books now! 

This was quick and cute, but it worked and I loved our two. I was a little concerned about Jake, but he was a sweetie and he actually cared about Paige and her brother. Adorable. 

The little side romances were very cute too. 

So yes - another cute and short story for the holiday season. I'll give this 4 stars. 

And here is the 2nd. Such a genre shift...I know. LOLLL. Whoops. 

Author: Hannah Parker

Title: Ignite (Skyborn #1)

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Format: ebook

Pages: 72 

Published:  January 19th 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Ever since her village burned, Alina has been afraid of fire. But when she discovers a mysterious gem inside dying embers, she becomes enthralled by the strange object. Where did it come from? Who left it there? And why, just for a moment, did she forget her fear?

When an army of marauders attacks her new home, intent on finding the stone and destroying all who stand in their way, Alina soon finds herself thrown into a world of danger and uncertainty.

Determined to keep the stone from the army, and with nobody but her friends at her side, she must travel to the Ethereal Realm to uncover the origins of the gem – and with it, the truth about herself.

Forced to face her fears, and the only one who can hope to stop the army’s rampage, will Alina be able to harness the power of the stone? Or will her new life burn just like her village?

Review:

Haha. Went from Xmas to a YA fantasy. But I oddly was craving something like this because I have been reading SO much romance and xmas books these last couple of weeks. Time to end the year with a fantasy hehe. 

We follow Alina who is terrified of fire because her entire life and family went up in flames years ago. Her whole village burned up and she is the only survivor. But everything changes when a mysterious gem appears like magic in dying embers. She becomes enthralled by this gem. When an army of marauders attacks her new home, she soon finds herself in a world of danger and uncertainty. Determined to keep the gen away from those who would use it for evil, she travels to the Ethereal Realm to uncover the origins of the gem and about herself. 

This has the makings of an exciting world and story. I am curious to see what happens next especially how this one ended. Oooo mama. That was an ending...I was left mouth agape. WHA? NO!

It is short, but there is a lot of content but I do want to learn more about this world. I feel like something is missing. Maybe book 2 will have the answers I seek. 

Poor Alina. I just want her to be happy and live a good life. She keeps getting tossed into crazy situations. 

This was a fun way to end the year. My last book of 2020. Fire and dragons and battles! It was a freebie on Amazon and it is short so I do recommend it. I'll give this 4 stars as well. 

Book Review: The Worst Dogs by Matthew De Lacey Davidson

Author: Matthew De Lacey Davidson 
Title: The Worst Dogs - A Progressive Murder Mystery
Genre: Contemporary, Murder Mystery
Format: ebook

Pages: 194
Published: July 11th 2020
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: In the Maritimes of Canada, a series of murders have baffled the police force in the small town of Feckless Bay. Enter Detective Sergeant Natalya Stone, an African American detective – originally from Chicago – currently working for the Provincial Police. She quickly discovers that these violent murders are most likely by the same perpetrator – and are, most likely, hate crimes.

“Murder is not an entertainment,” she quips to Zev Arendt, a young local Detective Constable, whom she has taken under her wing to assist her in solving the hate crimes. They encounter dead end after dead end, and weeks go by with no leads. Finally, based on her experience and intuition, and with the skills that Zev has acquired from his mentor, they find exactly what they are looking for: hiding – in plain sight

Review:

I've enjoyed this author's previous works so I was excited to check this one out.

In the Maritimes of Canada there has been a series of murders that have baffled the small town police force so they call in Detective Sergeant Natalya Stone. She is an African American detective who is originally from Chicago. She teams up with Zev Arendt who is the local Detective Constable. The discover that these terrible murders are done by the same perpetrator and seem  to be fueled by hate.

This was good. I did not expect that reveal at the end. It was good. At first it didn't make sense to me, but as killers go...they reveal all and why and then it made sense. That was a good ending for sure! I had my suspects...but I was wrong with all of them. 

I do like the fact that this had a huge focus on the issues our society has to deal with still....hatred. We have so much hate still especially when it comes to race and even gender. It's so sad, but that is the reality even in small Canadian towns. But having this really made the story feel real. 

I adored Natalya and Zev. They made a great team and I hope they continue on and solve more crimes together. They worked well and they seemed like they could be great friends. Zev for sure has a talent and I think with Natalya's experience and if he stays under her wing Zev could be an amazing detective. The small town is too small for Zev for sure. 

Again...this was good. I finished this in a single sitting. I could not put it down! The writing style is wonderful like with the author's previous works. The author really does have a way with words! 

All-in-all, this was a really good mystery. This kept me locked in placed and I had to read it all in one shot. The big reveal shocked me! So good! If you need a good murder mystery I suggest this one. I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

Book Review: Serenade by Heather McKenzie

Author: Heather McKenzie 
Title: Serenade
(The Nightmusic Trilogy #1)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Format: ebook
Pages: 346 
Published: April 17th 2017
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)

Teenage heiress Kaya experiences her first taste of freedom when she’s kidnapped from her sheltered life. But as she forms an unlikely connection with her abductor, Luke, her adventure takes a strange turn.

There is nothing magical about growing up in a mountainside castle, when it’s your prison. Kaya’s ruthless and powerful father keeps her under lock and key, watched every second of the day–and Kaya’s not really sure why. She’s just a normal girl…no one special. She doesn’t understand her father’s obsession with her safety – until she is kidnapped.

Dragged through a brutal wilderness, Kaya’s captor shows her the devastating truth, and even though he has dark secrets of his own, she is inexplicably drawn to him–when the stars are in your eyes, sometimes the line between right and wrong is blurred. Passion obliterates common sense. Love... makes you reckless.

As Kaya's father’s men and her devoted bodyguard scour the woods to find her, she wonders if staying in the arms of her abductor is the safer place to be. At least, that’s what her heart is saying—her head is saying run…

This has been collecting virtual dust on my kindle for a while now. Finally, time to buckle down and read this. 

The story follows Kaya who is held like a captive in her own home by her father. The moment she thinks she finds happiness in the arms of one of her guards, she is swept away by kidnappers. As she is being dragged through the wilderness, Kaya finds true freedom and love. 

OooooooOOOooooOOOoooo Kaya. You are a true victim here. She is a Stockholm queen. She falls in love with one of the guards at home and then immediately falls in love with one of her captors. Poor sweet girl. She is 17/18 so I get it. If I counted all the times I thought I was in love at that age I would still be counting by the end of this review. Oh the youth. 

I was intrigued by this story until about halfway and then I really couldn't get myself to care. I felt bad for Kaya. I want her to be alone and free for a while. Not surrounded by overly protective dudes. She is not truly free. Maybe book 2 she will rise as a strong independent woman. Yes, you can love someone and be a strong woman. 

But yea - this was not what I was hoping for. I feel meh about this overall. It wasn't horrible, but not for me. I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #13 for NOT US/UK setting