Danita Reads

On the Plus Side

By Jenny L. Howe

Coming soon on December 26, 2023!

(4 / 5)

Everly has not really been herself since the loss of her grandmother, and she’s afraid of being “too much” – too loud, too colorful, too big. So it’s easier to hold a job where she doesn’t have to show her art to other people and dress in dark colors to blend in with background. Then everything changes when she’s nominated to be a guest on her favorite reality TV show, On the Plus Side, a show that puts plus size people under a positive light. It’s an opportunity to find herself and follow her dreams, but it also means big changes and being in the spotlight. Add in the Thor lookalike from work and the grumpy cameraman from the show, and things could get interesting…

As a plus size person myself, I was drawn to this book that features a plus size main character. I really love the positive outlook it has for people of all sizes, stressing pride in who you are and not being afraid to show your true self. There are several plus size characters, so it gives our main character, Everly, a place to feel seen and like she belongs. The show she is on concentrates on both fashion and life changes, so it was great to see her embrace her art and look at how she could make a career out of it. Everly was a character that I could really relate to, and I loved watching her grow over the course of the story.

Of course, with this book being a romance, we know going in that there’s going to be a relationship that blossoms through the story, which I really enjoyed as well. There are definitely some ups and downs along the way, but it was great to see Everly find someone who truly respects her for who she is. It was a heartwarming story that made me feel like I could learn some things about myself along the way.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the free advance copy of On the Plus Side! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

Draw Down the Moon

By P.C. Cast; Kristin Cast

Available April 2, 2024

(3 / 5)

It’s a modern-day world where magick exists, but only for a small portion of the population who are Moonstruck. Mundanes (non-magickal people) do not even know it exists. In our story we meet Wren, who is Mundane but knows of the magickal world because her late parents were part of it, and Lee, Wren’s best friend who is magickal. Recently graduated, Wren is fine with being Mundane. But the moment she turns 18, everything changes for Wren, and now she’s attending a magickal school with her friends, Lee and Sam. On the surface it seems like an amazing place, but the more she learns, the more Wren realizes that something is very wrong here. Meanwhile Lee is under a lot of pressure from his family to excel.

I really wanted to love this book, but for some reason it just didn’t grab my attention like I hoped it would. It felt like something was missing for me, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. In the end, I think it might just be written for a younger audience than other books I usually read. I will say that it gets more interesting as the story goes on. It’s the first book in a duology, so it’s pretty obvious there’s still more left to this story when the book ends. I’m curious about where things will go next.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the free advance review copy of Draw Down the Moon. All opinions expressed in my review are solely my own.

December 10, 2023 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

Fairytale of New York

By Zoë Folbigg

Available now (read for free with Prime Reading)

(5 / 5)

Charlotte “Charlie” Brown is a professional makeup artist in London. She hasn’t seen her boyfriend, Harry, for 6 months, so she’s taking some off to visit him in New York City. She arrives just days before Christmas, but Harry isn’t there to greet her at the airport and isn’t answering his phone. Where could he be? And where does Charlie go from here?

This book was a great December read since maybe half of it takes place around Christmas and New Year’s. The story has a lot of depth to it and was very immersive – it was very hard to put this one down. I loved the settings of New York and London – it felt like a bit of an adventure exploring these places with the characters, especially when I recognized a few places from my own travels.

I really enjoyed the main character, Charlie. She is accomplished and hardworking, but she also has some self-doubts and ghosts from her past that she needs to resolve. Along the way she befriends Pete, another likable character who helps show her around New York City. These characters are joined by a diverse cast of side characters that were interesting and had their own stories.

I thought the style of writing was interesting in this book. It follows Charlie, but internal thoughts and feelings are shared from the characters that are around her too. I don’t usually see a narrative like this, but it really worked in this book, giving additional insight and even a sense of mystery since we obviously don’t know the whole backstory yet. I would love to read some more books by this author.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a free review copy of this book. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

December 3, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Women's Fiction 0

Chicano Frankenstein

By Daniel A. Olivas

Available on March 5, 2024

(3 / 5)

Chicano Frankenstein is inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and takes place in the near future. In this world, people can donate their bodies for reanimation after they die, helping maintain a dwindling workforce. Memories are wiped and physical features are changed, and parts from multiple donors can be combined, making them a different person. But there’s a lot of controversy surrounding reanimation, especially within the US government.

This book was an interesting combination of the Frankenstein, modern politics, latinx culture, and marginalized populations. The story follows an unnamed reanimated man and Faustina, who have a budding relationship. Intertwined through their story are various interviews and presidential conversations discussing the reanimated and what rights they should have in our society. It has a similar feel to recent political controversy, so this book probably won’t be for everyone.

“The man” seemed to have a very logical, almost a robotic, feel to him, and he actually reminded me a lot of Star Trek: TNG’s character, Data. It’s understandable though, given that he has no history or family, and basically became a clean slate only 3 years ago. Through his interactions with Faustina, I think his character grows, and he starts to feel more human.

The book has a very abrupt ending, leaving me feeling like there were things I still didn’t understand or feel were resolved. It felt like things were starting to get really interesting, to suddenly come to a screeching halt. Maybe that’s the point, since it keeps you thinking, but it just didn’t work for me. In the end, the book fell a bit short for me, but it definitely had some interesting concepts in it.

Thank you to Forest Avenue Press and Edelweiss for the free review copy of Chicano Frankenstein. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

December 1, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Sci-Fi 0

Baby X

By Kira Peikoff

Coming March 5, 2024

(5 / 5)

In the not-so-distant future, embryos can be created from the DNA of any two people with something as simple as a saliva sample. Most pregnancies begin with the selection of an embryo with optimal genetics. But there’s a new kind of crime happening – stealing DNA from celebrities to have their genetic offspring without their permission.

Baby X follows three women who are connected to embryo selection: Quinn, a surrogate mother; Ember, who is working to protect the DNA of a famous musician; and Lily, an aspiring journalist whose mother is going through the selection process, but Lily feels inferior for being conceived the traditional way. At first it took me bit to feel acquainted with each character since they are going through different experiences, but I quickly grew to like all of them. I enjoyed the various side characters as well, and even the more villainous were interesting – I loved to hate them.

The book has a fast pace to it. Split into four parts, the first part takes place in the span of a year, and the plot gets more complicated as things continue. I’ll admit, I had a hunch about some parts a while before they were actually revealed, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. Things were complicated enough that there were still plenty of surprises along the way.

Overall this was a really interesting book to read. It felt like a future that could very well happen and was an interesting take on genetics and how future generations could be affected. It was different, thrilling, and satisfying.

Thank you to The Quick Brown Fox & CO, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the free advance copy of Baby X. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

November 27, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Sci-Fi Thriller 0

The Mystery Writer

By Sulari Gentill

Coming soon on March 19, 2024

(3 / 5)

A young woman named Theo drops out of law school in Australia to move in with her brother in Kansas and become a writer instead. By chance, she befriends a famous author who provides feedback and mentorship as she writes her first book. But then he is murdered, and Theo’s life takes a surprising turn…

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of this book, but it was definitely different from anything else I have read. While it mostly follows Theo’s point of view, we see from some other characters as well, including posts to a conspiracy theory website. The book seemed to have 3 distinct parts to it, at least for me: Theo working on her first book in hopes of becoming a successful author, mentored by famous author Dan Murdoch; the events following Dan’s murder; and Theo’s disappearance. Along the way we meet a whole cast of characters, some of which are quite interesting. The story takes some unexpected turns, though there were some parts to this puzzle that I pieced together on my own long before they were revealed. The book is written well with great descriptions, but at times it felt like the story was moving too slow for me, especially in the middle part. I typically read mystery books that are more of a thriller, so I tend to prefer a faster pace. There were also some elements that felt unresolved or left me feeling a bit confused. In the end, I could see this being a book that would be loved by the right reader, but for me it was a bit too drawn out.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the free advance copy of The Mystery Writer. The opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

November 20, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Literary Fiction Mystery 0

Baby, One More Time

By Camilla Isley

Coming soon on January 20, 2023

(4 / 5)

Baby, One More Time is the second book in the True Love series by Camilla Isley. A few parts actually overlap with the first book, Not in a Billion Years, so it was fun to revisit the characters AND see some events from a different perspective. While I think reading both books is the better way to go, Baby, One More Time could easily be read as a standalone. I see the potential setup for another book in the series, so I’m hoping the series will continue!

This book follows the story of Marissa and John, who dated in high school but had a rather abrupt breakup 16 years ago. Marissa has decided to try to have a baby through IVF, then discovers that John is a doctor at the clinic she is going to – let’s just say that was an awkward way to see each other for the first time in 16 years! The story alternates between both characters’ points of view, giving a clear picture of where things stand with each of them. I thought both Marissa and John were likable characters, and I enjoyed seeing Blake and Gabriel again from the previous book.

This book was a quick read and flowed well. At times it seemed a little redundant, especially within Marissa’s thoughts, but it was also understandable given her complicated situation. It’s definitely a slow burn romance, but it has a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the free advance review copy of Baby, One More Time! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

November 17, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Not in a Billion Years

By Camilla Isley

Available now: read for FREE on Prime Reading!

(4 / 5)

I discovered author Camilla Isley a few months ago and have enjoyed her books. I didn’t manage to get an advance copy of Not in a Billion Years, so it’s been on my “want to read” list since it released in September. This week I was approved to read the ARC of the next book in the series, Baby One More Time, so it was the perfect excuse to finally read this book. And what luck, it was even available to read for free through Prime Reading on Amazon!

Not in a Billion Years is a closed-door romance story following Blake and Gabriel, two New York City business owners in the fitness industry who have very different backgrounds. The book alternates between both of their points of view, so I took a liking to both characters from the start. The characters themselves got off to a rocky start, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were enemies. It was fun to watch their interactions, bantering, and funny situations they found themselves in, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow as they came to know each other better. Overall, I really enjoyed the story – it kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading until I reached the end. I’m looking forward to the next book, which follows Blake’s best friend Marissa, a side character in this book.

November 15, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

These Deadly Prophecies

By Andrea Tang

Coming soon on January 30, 2024!

(5 / 5)

These Deadly Prophecies brings us to a modern world where sorcery is a viable career option. Our narrator, Tabatha, loves the occult, and is the apprentice of Sorcerer Solomon, one of the most well-known sorcerers in eastern America who specializes in prophecies. Unfortunately, Sorcerer Solomon prophesized his own death, and the book begins where his life ends. But who murdered Sorcerer Solomon?

I was absolutely enthralled with this book. I loved Tabatha as the narrator of this story, giving her account of what happened. Her narrative is engaging and full of excitement. At times she addresses the reader directly, which makes the story feel even more real. I think the fact that Tabatha is not originally from the sorcery world makes her very relatable to readers, explaining the intricacies of sigils, spells and traditions.

This book really takes on the feel of a murder mystery, as Tabatha teams up with Solomon’s youngest son, Callum, to try to find out who committed the murder. This book had me making my own theories then changing my mind as I learned more, just like the characters did in the book. The book really kept me guessing until the very end when everything was revealed. I enjoyed the interactions between Tabatha and Callum and enjoyed both characters a lot. There’s also a cast of side characters who are diverse and add to the charm of the story.

I felt like this book was very well written. It was nearly impossible to put down, and I ended up staying up until 2am to finish the story – once I got so far into the book, I just couldn’t wait until the morning to find out the solution to the mystery and how things would end. I’ll be seeking out more books by Andrea Tang for sure!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the free advance copy of These Deadly Prophecies. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and all opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

November 11, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Mystery Young Adult 0

Love, Just In

By Natalie Murray

Coming soon on January 3, 2024

(4 / 5)

Love, Just In follows the story of Josie of Zac, written from Josie’s point of view. The two have been best friends since they were teenagers, though they have drifted apart over the past couple years, following the death of Zac’s fiancé. Josie, a news reporter, is temporarily assigned to work in the city Zac has moved to, giving them the opportunity to reconnect. The book alternates between “today” and various moments from Zac and Josie’s past together.

One of the big themes of this book is Josie’s anxiety, especially about her health. After losing two family members to breast cancer, plus the loss of Zac’s fiancé at a young age, Josie worries that she will get cancer and die young. The anxiety is so bad that it’s caused her to panic on live tv, affecting her career. The portrayal of this anxiety felt very real while reading Josie’s story. This specific anxiety isn’t something I see much in fiction reading, so it definitely brings some awareness to a very real condition.

I enjoyed Josie and Zac’s interactions with each other, both as friends and as a couple, so I enjoyed being able to see their current story and pieces of their history. At times it felt frustrating when I could tell that they were more than friends who weren’t acting on it, but it was also understandable given the issues each one of them needed to sort out first. It was an overall good story that kept my attention, was quick to read, and had a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for the free advance copy of Love, Just In. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

November 8, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0