"He looked at the photo of Lauren again and thought about all the strange coincidences and seemingly otherworldly things that had happened since meeting Tanika. Was this predestined? Maybe she was right. Perhaps someone was pushing them together. Helping them to write a new chapter in their lives."

GENRE: Romance
RATING:4.75/5
FORMAT:eBook
Tropes:MCs over 40s, Sport Romance, Magical Realism

Review:
Losing Sight is the first book in an inter-connected series and we get to follow the journey of Tanika and Gideon, both older MCs and watch them fall in love while finding the one.

I really enjoyed getting to know both our MCs in here. Tanika is a Sports reporter who is currently struggling because she loss her spot in her Thursday Night football and we get to dive into this throughout the story, seeing how she works and copes with different individuals in her work as a Black woman.

We also get to see her as part of her friend group, which is called Boss Chick Village and see how Tanika fits in with her best friends. Their friendship is a lovely group and you can see the love they have for each other plus the support and trust that is there.

And through her friend group, Tanika meets Gideon, our MMC. Gideon is an optometrist and recently widowed. I think the way we get to know Gideon through his POV was lovely as you get to see him struggle with his grief and balancing that with moving on with Tanika. We get to see him try to build his life after his loss and I think the development that happens throughout the story is done in a way that is very much a reality of the ups and downs of losing someone you love.

And them getting to know each other and learning to be vulnerabilities together? That was a lovely read and journey as we got to know both Tanika and Gideon separately and then together and just watched how they come together and build a life together.

If you're looking for book 2 review, check it out here!

"Bookstores: the one place in the entire kingdom that promise something beside dull conversations about economics and local politics and whatever else I'm meant to be thinking about. Books promise you that your life can change in an instant. And bookstores? Bookstores offer refuge, a home away from home. No matter how far you travel, you can always find a little piece of home inside a bookstore."

GENRE: Cozy Romantasy
RATING:4.25/5
FORMAT:eBook ARC

Review:

I love when we have books about books and Stay for a Spell was a lovely combination of Cozy fairy tale vibes with an FMC that loves books and wants to own a bookshop. Her dream comes to life through a curse, which she can't undo unless she unlocks her heart's desire essentially.

Tandy (our FMC) was lovely to get to know as she moves into her bookshop ins the small town of Little Pepperidge, which again SO cute. This is a tale of Tandy learning to not be a people pleaser and to put herself first for once, despite feeling the weigh of her responsibility as a Princess. As another people pleaser (not exactly like Tandy because I don't have a bookshop), I felt that a lot of this was relatable. She got to slow down and learn what she wants from life, even if it takes her a while to admit it to herself.

We also get to see her blossom in her friendships with Sasha and other characters plus we get to see her blossoming romance and the start of her falling in like with her pirate, Bash. The setting is so fitting for Tandy as a person to allow her to breathe in for the first time in her life and realise who she is and what she wants.

I think the only thing I wanted a bit more of is a bit world building and an understanding of where the various Princes came from and how they differed. I feel we got this a little as we they were all unique and stood out, with some of them being funny, some droopy...etc.

All in all, this was a lovely Cozy book that features a bookshop and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"Cosmic," Bronwyn said, squeezing her friend's hand. "Nothing is a coincidence."

"Our lives are full of these magical moments if we pay attention to them."

If you haven't read the first book in the inter-connected series, check out the review in here first!

GENRE: Romance with magical realism
RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: eBook ARC
Tropes: Women in Sport, Magical Realism, Second Chance & Rekindling

Review:
Can I just say that I really enjoyed Struck Speechless so much? Yes, I know I can in this review but it's worth emphasising it because this book was funny, wholesome and filled with so much warmth and emotions that I had the best time reading it!

I read Losing Sights first and then read Struck Speechless and Tati Richardson has a way of maintaining a perfect balance between the emotional aspects that our MCs go through while adding just the right amount of humour, spice and friendship. Truly, both books would are amazing as books and would be AMAZING as tv shows/movies.

Jackie is the group's "strong" friend. She doesn't need love or anyone in her life, aside from her friends and her dog. She is an independent, strong woman we all strive to be and is not scared to say what she thinks. So the impact of her losing her voice? It's BIG and forces her to deal with a lot of emotions she spends a long time avoiding.

And Antonio? Oh, what a perfect man for Jackie. I loved how we got to see his life outside of Jackie, seeing him interact with his family and the people in his life as well. We get a perfect balance of both of our MCs in my opinion. AND (x2) the way Antonio treats Jackie? So well deserved AHHH!

Essentially, Struck Speechless is a story that allows us to watch both characters explore who they are and be more vulnerable with each other in a fun, humour filled story while focusing on the same concept we had in Losing Sight: That things are destined for us and nothing is a coincidence!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"That's always the problem with watercolor, of course. You have to know when to stop. The temptation to add just one more wash is so strong sometimes..."

GENRE: Horror (Botanical x Parasitic Horror)
RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc

Overall Impression: Honestly? Just read it and enjoy this creepier version of T.Kingfisher's work that has the same humour and wittiness we have come to expect and enjoy

Review:
T.Kingfisher has done it again and this time it's a parasitic x botanical horror and guys? This one is CREEPY in the best of ways with the typical humour that we get in all of the author's book and the wittiness we have come to expect from all of T.Kingfisher's books

Let me start by saying the description of bugs, plants and colours is done so beautifully and lyrically in here. I think this makes it so much more imaginative, even for someone like me who has hypo-aphantasia and could still very much imagine the bugs as well as I could

The story itself is a combination of historical horror with us following Sonia, a scientific illustrator and getting to know her setting, employer and the people she works with. We slowly have the story unravel, as we go through the adventure with Sonia to find out what is happening? And the ending, where we understand what's been happening, was in a lot of ways UNEXPECTED

This is definitely one of my favourite T.Kingfisher books and I love how it slowly builds up over time and delivers an amazing tale for us to enjoy throughout. I think if you enjoyed What moves the Dead, then this one is perfect for you (AND its creepier).

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"What good was having a heart if you didn't give it away to every other person you met?"

GENRE: Cozy Romantasy
RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: eBook/physical Arc

Review:
I always enjoy cozy fantasy and historical fantasy and when you combine them? I am always down for that, especially when its funny and filled with whimsy. We get introduced to Hilde, Elmwood and a lot of other characters that just make the whole story so fun!

Let me give first start by giving my love to Rollo, who is an adorable dog in the the book and I wish we could have gotten a way to pet him! And now about the book, I really enjoyed the plot in this one and the humour in it. The fact that we get so much excitement and it's more of a adventurous type of cozy romantasy was a fun read! I think the writing and the type of characters we have in here fit so well for the type of plot they are going through.

Elmwood is very much done with life and about to call it quits. He essentially decides he has had enough with life and that it's not worth it anymore. Hilde, on the other hand, is determined to solve the entire world and decides that only she can do so.

Both of our MCs also have Charm, which is our magic bit in here! I really enjoyed learning more about Charm, how it fits into the historical elements of the world and the world building overall. I think I would have liked to have a bit more details into the Charm as it played such a big role in both Hilde and Elmwood's lives but that's just me wanting more of the book really!

I also really enjoyed the interaction between our MCs and how it allows them to look back and to see that they both deserved better overall, whether from themselves or from others around them. I think the book does a good job of diving into how people in the position of power abuse it, whether its with their own family members or for a relationship and this is something we tend to see more in historical fantasy.

In summary, A Widow's Charm is a fun, witty story that shows us we dont have to carry the whole world in our own shoulder alone and we can rely on others to help and support us along the way and who knows? You might fall in love with the necromancer along the way!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"She had me for as long as she wanted, and I don't think she even realized it."

GENRE: Romance
RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Tropes: Strangers to friends to lovers, Latine Leads, One bed, College Romance, Dual POV

Overall Impression: What a wholesome, beautiful love story between Ita & Jake!

Review:
Okay what a lovely Romance book! I really enjoyed reading from both our FMC and MMC's perspectives and the letters from Jake to his dad? That is SO wholesome and healed a little of my own grief in reading them🥺

There are so many beautiful things about Craving You and it truly is a book about two people getting to know each other in the best of ways and carving space for each other in their lives without trying to force the other person to change. We meet Ita (Margarita) and see her experience in life, what shaped her and how she comes out of her stressful experiences in her past and builds her own future. Jake, on the other hand, has just had a loss in his life and we get to go through his journey of grief and how he copes with it.

I think the thing that captured my attention the most is the way both of the characters fitted SO well together and their relationship grew alongside their lives. Both of the MCs were so lovely and wanted the best for the other. It's the kind of love we spend a lifetime looking for and a few of us are lucky enough to find it.

Also, the food that Jake makes for Ita? The way Ita gives Jake space and time to process things? The way they take care of each other in the small and big things? May this love find us all and for those of us who have found it, may we experience a lifetime of it

Also, I loved how we get to see both MC's families, how they grew up in different cultures and how it shaped them. I love when we get books that have multiple languages as usually any mixed culture families will have that happening in reality (or if you're from so many, you'll have more than 2 languages that you grow up around but never fully speak) and it's a beautiful thing to read in Craving You! I think Kaila did this in a way that is a needed representation for a lot of us and I loved exploring it in the book

Thank you to the author and Amor En Paginas for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"I wish I could really, really get myself to understand that the things that make you happiest are the things that can tear you apart and leave you so empty that nothing feels any more."

GENRE: Romance
RATING: 4/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Tropes: Single Dad, Sports Romance (Lacrosse), Small Town, Mental Health Rep

Overall Impression: A lovely tale that takes you on an emotional adventure (literally) with the characters as you experience their journey with them.

Review:
I've started getting into Sport Romance and when I saw that this was Single Dad x Sport Romance? I was in for the adventure!

Now, Long Hot Summer was an interesting read for me in that the way we get to know the MCs was done differently than what I'm used to. In the beginning, I had a lot of questions as to who were both of our MCs, Jordan and Rod? We only knew them as they knew each other, which was superficially and that left space for a lot of curiosity as a reader. As we progress through the story, we get to know them as they know each other and I think this was uniquely done and super fitting for both of our MCs, who have been scarred in the past and do not trust easily.

This writing style and way of exploring their love for each other won't work for all readers and will require patience from whoever reads it. I do think it is worth it, seeing them find love and finding support in one another that they never did elsewhere.

My favourite thing might just be how they both eventually shed their tough exterior and open their hearts up to each other at last. It's been a lovely way of seeing it blossom and I think it was a fun to see Jordan bonding with Rod's family, especially Tali (my recent obsession in Romance is Single parent trope as it leads so naturally to found family).

And the way Esha Patel wrote Rod and his mental health journey? Oh what a way to read it and how accurate it felt as someone who has gone through something similar. I think, ultimately, Long Hot Summer does not shy away from the heavier theme but is done in a unique narrative style that has it hitting you all at once and you get to feel the entire journey with the characters. This is especially true with both MCs, with Rod and his mental health journey plus his past with his ex and how he became a single dad. It is true with Jordan, her past and childhood, which led to the fear of being in a relationship.

I am very excited to read Esha Patel's other stories, see how her narration style plays out in there in comparison to Long Hot Summer. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.