NetGalley

A Cruel Thirst

By Angela Montoya

Coming December 17, 2024

(4 / 5)

Lalo has been turned into a vampire, but he is determined to undo the curse and not lose his humanity. Carolina wants to hunt vampires with the rest of her family, but her parents would rather arrange a marriage and life of safety for her. Will the two be able to work together to rid the world of vampires?

I enjoyed reading A Cruel Thirst. It integrates a lot of common vampire lore while also providing explanations for its origins, stemming back to gods and the first vampire. I liked both of the main characters, with Lalo being rather dramatic and terrible at being a vampire while Carolina was strong, spirited, and independent. The relationship that develops between them had the right amount of push and pull to keep it believable and interesting. I thought the Latino background of the characters was enhanced with the use of Spanish words throughout the story, but in a way that someone who doesn’t know the language can still understand the meaning. Overall, I felt that this story was done really well, and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thank you to Random House Children’s, Joy Revolution, and NetGalley for the free review copy of A Cruel Thirst! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

Heist Royale

Thieves’ Gambit #2

By Kayvion Lewis

Coming November 12, 2024

(4 / 5)

Heist Royale is the sequel to Thieves’ Gambit, taking place around 6 months after the events of the first book. It has the same fast pace and nonstop thrills that kept it interesting and exciting. I was happy to see the return of several characters from the first book while still meeting some new characters too. I did find that I didn’t love this book quite as much as the first one… I felt like a few parts of the book just didn’t seem to piece together like I thought they should. Plus, some of the reveals were things that I saw coming, so it just didn’t have the shock factor. By all means, Heist Royale was still a good read that I enjoyed, but maybe my expectations were a little too high going into this one.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Heist Royale! All opinions are completely my own.

October 7, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

If I Stopped Haunting You

by Colby Wilkens

Coming October 15, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Four months after rival authors Pen and Neil have a rather public fight that results in one throwing a book at the other, they find themselves on the same writer’s retreat in Scotland. With the castle they are staying at rumored to be haunted and feelings between them getting complicated, can they survive the whole week together?

If I Stopped Haunting You was an interesting combination of spicy romance with paranormal activity and some horror elements. The settings gave the story a creepy undertone that was fitting, and I enjoyed the detailed descriptions. The story begins with Pen acting a bit childish and impulsive, which doesn’t give the best first impression, but I ended up enjoying her character anyway. I liked that the book alternated between the points of view of both of the main characters, which helped me understand and like them both better. For the most part I liked the story, though it lost some momentum for me for maybe the last third of the book – characters seemed to make some illogical choices given the circumstances, and the ghost mystery was resolved in a way that left me a bit underwhelmed. A few things seemed to go unexplained too, though I can see how it adds to the mysterious atmosphere of the story. Of note, I appreciated the insight into the experiences of Indigenous authors, an ongoing theme throughout the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the free review copy of If I Stopped Haunting You! All opinions presented in my review are completely my own.

September 29, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

The Bletchley Riddle

By Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin

Coming October 8, 2024

(4 / 5)

It’s 1940 in Britain, and World War II has begun. After their mother disappeared when Poland was invaded, presumed dead, teenage siblings Jakob and Lizzie find themselves working in Bletchley Park. Jakob is working with some of the brightest minds in Britain, trying to break Germany’s encoded messages. Meanwhile, Lizzie is convinced that their mother is still alive and is determined to find out what really happened to her.

While I typically don’t read a lot of middle grade books, The Bletchley Riddle really kept my interest. It was hard to put down, and despite being 400 pages, I felt like I was flying through the book. Lizzie was definitely my favorite of the two protagonists, with a spirit and determination that kept the story exciting. I went into the book with little knowledge about Bletchley Park or the World War II codebreaking efforts, so I enjoyed the insight into such a historically impactful place. We even get to meet some real people who were part of the effort, such as Alan Turing, which gave the story even more validity. I thought the explanations of the Enigma machine were explained in an understandable way, even though it obviously was quite complicated. It was a nice touch that some puzzles/riddles were included in the book, so I could try to solve them along with the characters.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the free review copy of The Bletchley Riddle! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

September 27, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Historical Kindle Middle Grade 0

Wished

By Sarah Ready

Coming October 1, 2024

(4 / 5)

Anna has been in love with Max since she first met him 3 years ago. The problem is that he doesn’t notice her at all, she’s just one of the hired people cleaning his house. When she makes a wish on an heirloom necklace, an unexpected turn of events ensues.

Wished is the 4th book in Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series. Since there’s very little references to the previous books, it could easily be read as a standalone, though there are some possible spoilers in the epilogue if you intend to eventually read the earlier books.

I thought this was an enjoyable read. It’s not surprising that we experience some insta-love along the way, given Anna’s love at first sight and then reality changing from a wish. There’s some pretty intense feelings involved that turns up the spice. I enjoyed some of the philosophical aspects that the book explores, such as the impact of changed realities, freedom of choice, and the things that make people happy. There was at least one aspect of the scenario that was never really explained, though given the magical/paranormal aspect the story is based on, that might be explanation enough for most people. This book definitely brings a rollercoaster of emotions.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles and NetGalley for the free review copy of Wished! All opinions expressed are completely my own.

August 30, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

This is Not a Holiday Romance

By Camilla Isley

Coming September 4, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Nina does not get along with her brother’s best friend, Tristan, and the feud has been going on for 15 years. When she finds out Tristan will be spending the week with her family for Christmas, Nina is livid. With some unexpected feelings brewing, is it possible for things to change between these two enemies?

Camilla Isley is an author whose work I really enjoy. This book didn’t turn out to be one of my favorites by her, but it was still a cute, quick, light story that was perfect for a vacation read. Of the two main characters, I liked Tristan but found Nina to be a bit childish, especially in the beginning. Some of the pranks between the two were funny, but others were too vindictive for my taste. I did enjoy the romance aspect of the book, and it kept my interest easily enough. Parts of the book were predictable, but this wasn’t the type of book that I was expecting to produce a bunch of surprises. I’m wondering if this book will be the first in a series, since the epilogue seems to open the possibility for a couple more storylines.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of This is Not a Holiday Romance! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

August 21, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Women's Fiction 0

Worst Case Scenario

By T. J. Newman

Narrated by Joe Morton

Released today!

(5 / 5)

A passenger jet pilot has a heart attack during a flight. The plane crashes, and to make things a lot worse, it hits a nuclear power plant. This book truly is a Worst Case Scenario.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Worst Case Scenario, and I thought it only made the book better. There were some really nice touches, such as voices over the radio, that made the experience all the more immersive. If you can read the audiobook version, I highly recommend it!

This book turned out to be as intense, thrilling, and heartbreaking as the title suggests. We follow a number of different characters, from schoolteachers to first responders to the president of the United States, so we see how the events of the story unfold from many angles. It was well-done though, so it didn’t feel confusing or jarring. So many of the characters were really likable, with complicated backstories and values that are tested over and over. The descriptions throughout the book were great, and the explanations of a nuclear disaster with the resulting trickle effects was explained well. This isn’t going to be a book for someone who might find the theme upsetting, as it had a tone reminiscent of 9/11, but if you’re looking for a good thriller, this book definitely fits the bill.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Worst Case Scenario! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

August 13, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Thriller 0

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry

By Ransom Riggs

Coming August 27, 2024

(4 / 5)

Seventeen-year-old Leopold “Larry” Berry is completely average. After losing his mother when he was twelve, Leopold became obsessed with a TV show he found on VHS with his mother’s things. But then he begins to see strange things from the world in the show, Sunder. Is he losing his mind, or does Sunder actually exist?

Sunderworld, Vol. I was my introduction to author Ransom Riggs, and I was impressed at how readable the book felt. I’m not the fastest reader, but I felt like I was flying through this one. Leopold, the main character, felt very relatable, and I enjoyed watching him gain confidence over the course of the book. Sunder, the magical world, introduces some bizarre experiences, though entering that world wasn’t as strange as I thought it might be. I enjoyed the sense of adventure and mystery this book brought, with a decent amount of action along the way. I did feel like the book ended somewhat abruptly, leaving most things that were going on unresolved. I still have so many questions! I think this was a strong start to a new series, and this first book left me anxious to find out what will happen next.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

August 7, 2024 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

This Will Be Fun

By E. B. Asher

Coming September 10, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Ten years ago, four heroes saved the realm, an event that is joyously celebrated by the Queendom… except for the heroes themselves. After losing their leader in the battle, the remaining three heroes split on bad terms. Now the queen is getting married, and the heroes must face each other again for the event.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It’s more character driven than plot driven, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting. For the first half, it felt like not a lot was happening, and there was a lot of eluding to past events without completely revealing what exactly happened (until around the 40% mark). Things did pick up a bit maybe around the halfway mark, but I wasn’t really feeling either of the romances. The magic in this world led to a lot of modern-world parallels – chain coffee shops, riding sharing, tabloids, social media, video streaming, etc. It made the story a bit quirky, though for me this magic almost felt a little too convenient at times. In the end, this book didn’t capture my interest as well as I thought it would, but I could see how others might really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the free review copy of This Will Be Fun! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

July 26, 2024 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend

By MJ Wassmer

Coming August 6, 2024

(3 / 5)

Dan, an underachieving average guy, is on vacation with his girlfriend in the Bahamas at a new beach resort. But suddenly they are plunged into darkness, with the sun presumably having exploded. Welcome to the apocalypse.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend has a satirical approach to an apocalyptic event, so it’s not necessarily something that can be taken completely seriously. The book felt fittingly chaotic, especially as a societal hierarchy formed between the different buildings of guests. A lot of the characters weren’t necessarily very likable, especially in this situation where humanity is at its worst, so I never really connected completely with the main characters. Along the way the story has a bit of a twist to it, but honestly, I had already suspected it, so it probably didn’t have the impact on me that it would have otherwise. There was enough going on in the story to keep my interest, and it felt like a pretty quick read, but it wasn’t quite as much “the book for me” as I thought it would be.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the free review copy of Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

July 22, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Humor/Satire Kindle 0