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Genre: Historical fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9781668047279

ASIN: B0CL5FNMF3

Format: eBook (Kindle), Paperback
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Type: Novel (Standalone)

A BIG thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)

Honestly, it was my cup of tea!

And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!

Just keep reading, loves!

Blurb

For readers of The Secrets We Kept and Jill Santopolo comes an epic love story about Greta and Henry, who by chance meet in 1982 East Berlin and find a love that’s meant to last a lifetime—until Greta vanishes.

I’m sorry. I can’t stay.

East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider meets Henry Henderson, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she yearns to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a vital spark to his everyday life.

But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door of their Oxford home, leaving a simple note behind.

Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he really know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.

The Positive Points

This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.

The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!

Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).

I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…

This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.

What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!

My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.

Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.

I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.

Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.

Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!

I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.

And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.

As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.

Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.

I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.

I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.

While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!

The Negative Points

The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!

Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.

Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.

In Conclusion

All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.

If you want to learn more about the author, Caroline Bishop, you can visit her author website and follow her on her Goodreads Author account, as well as her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Day I Left You to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner: A Book Review

Book Reviews January 15, 2025 Leave a comment

Sarah Penner's Website

Amazon CA

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 9781662526213

ASIN: B0D6RSVHLR

Format: eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)
Publication date: January 01, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Type: Short Story

A HUGE thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The delightful cover which spoke of spectacle and ancient times what with the clothes and braid of the woman really caught my eye. But what intrigued me was the title, The Conjurer’s Wife! A conjurer? Interesting! And his wife… She’s clearly much more than what she appears to be at first.

I had to read this short story by Sarah Penner! Not only does it occur during the 19th century, but also in Venice, with a backdrop of illusionism and spectacles. I love everything magic and that relates to the arts of the scene.

So, I was kindly granted a digital copy, and honestly I read it so fast. When I had to do something else, I would keep thinking about the story and Olivia, the main character, until finally I could resume my reading.

This sounds like your cuppa too?

Keep reading, loves!

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Venice, a young woman’s marriage to an illusionist hides secrets that go deeper than his spectacular acts. The stage is set for transformation in a mesmerizing short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

The Positive Points

The prose is straightforward and includes much information in short sentences and fewer words than one would think. I love it! You know all you need to in a swift and direct way. The descriptions are succinct, yet they tell everything you need to know: like how common the clearing of throat is before a show as a spectator, and how the theatergoers are drunk, notably before it happens in the holidays and on a Friday evening. The author doesn’t shy away from less-than-agreeable truths and descriptions, and I appreciate it.

Also, I love the integration of gaslight system which is from that time period—it is accurate and well-thought of.

Plus, you can feel the tension between Oscar and Olivia right from his entrance! He doesn’t seem wholly good… what has he done in the past? It seems Olivia thinks it’s high time for a little rebellion of her own. I am intrigued about what truly happened to Olivia before the injury and what Oscar might have done to her… used her for his shows? Lied and manipulated her to wed her?

As I kept progressing in my reading, something clearly didn’t seem right about this whole thing and Oscar, was Olivia the magician before and then he met her and used her talents to become popular? Maybe he stole magic by causing her head injury… Argh, I didn’t know, but something was definitely wrong in this picture! He seemed to have no trick to his shows… which as a magician is highly improbable! Almost impossible. So what gives?

I love the scene with Olivia and the painting. It is much more important than we know at the moment!

Omg, the plot twist was great! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist until the very last minute. Fantastic and chilling at the same time. A grand number in the author’s show! The ending is excellent and rebellious—just like Olivia in the beginning. dang how I love her character! I would read a whole book about her.

Lastly, this short story reads like a show. I mean, it’s like I am watching a theater play or a tv show—it’s really entertaining and captivating.

The Negative Points

How can she be sure that thing (no spoilers here) is magic? She simply assumed when she saw it. Perhaps Oscar plans his shows with it? This would be more logical than assuming it’s magic right away. This seemed a bit illogical and it bothered me, jumping to conclusion like that—the right one at that, and much less plausible than anything else!

In Conclusion

Overall, I give The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how excellent the storytelling is, how captivating and engrossing the story is, and also how much I love Olivia as a character and the amazing plot twist! Honestly, I would really read a whole thick book about Olivia! This story is genuinely that good.

I recommend this short story to all lovers of magic in all its forms, art, and spectacles, as well as those seeking to be captivated by a story and characters and taken aback by a plot twist cleverly crafted!

If you want to learn more about the author, Sarah Penner, you can visit her author website, and follow her on her Goodreads author account, as well as on her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Conjurer's Wife to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

The Draw Challenge: Choosing My Montlhy TBR Blindly

chit-chatting with Cat, Draw Challenge, What I'm Reading January 2, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, lovelies!

Every month, I have so many books to read: ARCs, books for book clubs, books from my bookshelves, and so on. But oftentimes, my OWN bookshelves are put aside for the other readings. So, I decided to do a monthly draw challenge where I pick a book blindly for six months from my curated TBR list. This makes things a bit more fun, and ensures I read at least one of my own books per month, too.

I was inspired to do this by a certain book vlogger I just love to watch (she's my favorite, hiya!), Sarah Hafidh (a.k.a SarahsCozyCorner). I figured it would be the solution to my problem of not reading enough of the books I own, while being amusing, too!

So, I picked six books for January to June 2025 to choose from blindly:

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende (Why not read also in Spanish when I can, huh?! So, to spice up this reading challenge, I decided to read in another language as well. As a polyglot, this is very helpful in keeping what I learned!)

The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Roseblood by A. G. Howard

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

Then, I took out some brown paper to wrap them in, scissors, tape, and a Sharpie to number them. I would have preferred an ecological solution, but I didn't haven enough cloths lying around at home. So, I am trying with this method first, and another time if I repeat this endeavour, I will use cloth.

I wrapped them up, then numbered them. I made sure that when two-three were done to mix them up on my table so I couldn't know which was which, and I didn't number them in order at all–only after I'd mixed them up. Otherwise, what's the point of choosing my next read blindly if I know which one it is in advance?

And tah dah, all done! Isn't it just beautiful?! Now, there's no book I can identify–besides the mega one, I know which one it is (it's The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black), but STILL! The rest is still a surprise, and it's fun just to pick the books blindly through an app.

Now, only one last step for January 2025: picking the actual book!

I chose an app called LuckyDraw, so that I could input six numbers and it won't pick the same number twice (great feature! It makes this draw challenge easier.) I turned the wheel, got the number 3, annnnnnddd…

January 2025 Read: Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig!!! YAY!!!!

I've been longing to read this book since I ordered it a few months back, and I couldn't be happier for the number 3 to have been picked! You can watch my happy unwrapping reel.

You can now expect a review of Teach the Torches to Burn towards mid-February, and a new pick at the beginning of February, and so on for the Draw Challenge! Fun, right?

Here's the blurb of this Romeo & Juliet LGBTQ+ retelling:

In Teach the Torches to Burn, a breathlessly romantic remix of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and seventh book in the Remixed Classics series, a queer teen boy discovers first love amid a bloody, centuries-old feud.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his womanly artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor–particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever encountered, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever–if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

Vilest Things (Flesh and False Gods #2) by Chloe Gong: A Book Review

Book Reviews December 28, 2024 Leave a comment

Chloe Gong's Website

Simon & Schuster's Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

StoryGraph

Fable

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance, Adult, Retelling
Number of pages: 372
ISBN: 9781668055014

ASIN:1668055015

Series: Flesh and False Gods (#2)

Format: Paperback, Hardcover, eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N, CD)
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Saga Press
Type: Book, Novel, Series, Sequel

*A HUGE thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Saga Press for a physical galley of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this book review willingly.*

Fun fact: When I requested Vilest Things by Chloe Gong, all I knew was the blurb (which grabbed my interest right away!) and that it was a retelling of Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare. Honestly, I had not read the first book, Immortal Longings, but the description of Vilest Things captivated me so much I asked for it and I am fortunate enough to have been granted a physical galley of it! So, of course, I rushed and purchased a copy of Immortal Longings to know what happened prior to the second book. I was NOT disappointed, as it shows in my bookstagram review.

But what about Vilest Things?

Well, I was pleasantly surprised, and while it was different than the first book, it was nonetheless a great read!

Want to find out how so?

Just keep on reading, loves!

The Positive Points

The characterization in this book is excellent! Calla is not becoming a better person per se, but there is some character development to her. She is softer with orphans now and kids (who clearly remind her of when she used to be one), and she has a bit more trouble maneuvering the twin cities from a high standpoint since she reintegrated the royalty. It’s also interesting to note she admits to be at ease with some people while she would never admit this in the first book. She’s still not likeable person, yet she is as interesting as before, if not more as we discover more of her personality and past.

The angst is angstin’ so much in Vilest Things (even more so than in Immortal Longings, the first book)! There is such pressure on Calla and Anton, and between them, wow! The tension, ish! It’s chef’s kiss, so deliciously painful.

There is the truth. There is her pulsating heart, pulled bloody from her chest and harvested for the threads of deceit she wove into it herself. – Calla Tuoleimi (p. 57, Vilest Things)

The angst between Calla and Anton is strong in this story. And I love how it’s mostly Calla’s fault for it all, and that she admits it, at least to herself; this drives the story in Vilest Things, in my opinion.

Calla Tuoleimi has ruined him, so he’ll have to ruin everything in return. – Anton Makusa (Chapter 17, p. 177, Vilest Things)

As for Anton Makusa, this quote explains very well how heart-broken he feels, how vengeful, and how he altered his behaviour due to strong conflicting feelings. He loves her, and that’s part of the problem. So, he wants to take vengeance on Calla by ruining everything… except her, it seems. Because he’s a lovesick fool, and it’s so adorable AND angsty.

The main antagonist is a certain surprise someone from the ending of the first book: Otta Avia. Yes, that one… At least, to me, she seems like the villain throughout most of the book (of course, it doesn’t help that we’re mostly on Calla and Anton’s side as readers). When I learned something important about her though at the end of the book, my perspective wavered: she is the enemy, but for an excellent reason. She’s shrewd, and pulling the strings of everyone (yes, even Calla, and mostly Anton) like a master puppeteer. Otta is a little bitch, and she’s a pest, meddling in things she shouldn’t (or so we think) just for a grand plan of hers we don’t know anything about. Also, she loves to make trouble for Anton and Calla, and kind of puts herself between them sometimes, as well as against them. She’s also dangerous and well-versed in qi feats previously unknown to us as readers and to the other characters. In addition to that, or because of all these reasons most likely, she’s a very interesting character. I love to hate her, you see. It is clear Otta Avia’s got several aces up her sleeve… and so far, they’ve all blown my mind! Just who is she? 😉

On another note, I love that despite Anton having taken August’s place in his body, the author still uses Anton’s name in the descriptions. I’ve read books where the author uses the disguise’s name instead and it’s a bit silly because we KNOW who the character really is, and can sometimes be confusing. So, kudos!

Also, I’ve never read Antony & Cleopatra by Shakespeare (one of his rare works I haven’t read yet!), so I can’t talk much about the retelling aspect of the story. However, I am a big admirer of Cleopatra and what she did to save and help her kingdom. Thus, I noticed something: I love how the author cleverly weaved in Cleopatra’s story into the country of Talin in Vilest Things! It is both fascinating and entertaining, as well as it brings even more depth and intrigue to the story at hand. I can’t tell you how, it would be a spoiler. But remember this while reading the book: it’s about a great queen who was about to lose the war, and knew she had to do something about it.

This sequel really delves deeper into the question of identity. Who is Calla Tuoleimi? What happened to the real Calla, the child who was invaded by the Calla we know? Who is Anton Makusa, the guy who always jumps, never in his own body? Who does that make you when you jump and are not in your birth body anymore? What about it? The question is threaded throughout the book, and is strung tight with intensity, right up until the end for one of the biggest reveals I have EVER read (similar to the shock I had with Maven Calore in the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard)!

Moreover, Vilest Things doesn’t read like an ARC. What I mean is that I focus on details and take notes for ARCs to write up my reviews, but with this book I read it like any other excellent book on my bookshelves! I picked it up and read through, it’s so intriguing and engrossing, a lot of times pleasantly forgetting to focus and take notes. So it did writing up this review a bit more difficult, haha, but the reading experience was fluid and so thrilling! It might have been slow in the beginning, but once things get in motion, omg, it’s exciting and pleasantly confusing the more you read because you learn things and connect the dots and it’s astonishing what is happening! Plus, some events occur that I was surprised by since it seems unbreakable rules in the first book. I won’t say which implicit rules, but it’s to do with the characters and their own limits. There were SO MANY surprises in Vilest Things! A captivating read that left me breathless, just like Immortal Longings! Now, when’s the third book coming out?!

The Negative Points

The story is slow compared to Immortal Longings. It takes a long while to truly become exciting and intriguing. It does, but it’s not the big fighting mess of the first book with threats and stakes around every corner. It’s more subtle, and more political. I like it, don’t get me wrong, but since I was expecting it to still be as thrilling with the fighting mess, I was surprised, so it needs to be mentioned. The intensity just shifted—it turned into severe angst between Anton and Calla, the return of Otta Avia, and Anton being the new King under the guise of August. So, like I said, it’s more subtle, yet it grows more intriguing and exciting as you read through the book.

A point that really bothered me is how Galipei, who clearly loves August romantically (I am sure, don’t tell me otherwise!), takes sooooo long to realise that August is in fact… Anton now, because Anton jumped into August. I understand there was no flash of light or anything they stand by as rules for jumping, but when you love someone, you notice how different and weird they sound as another, it seems to me… Yes, he does know something IS off with his August, but… it’s not enough. He doesn’t seem to be really taking action about it or truly trying to seek him out in private (I know he did try, but it’s only mentioned, we don’t see it). This annoyed me because Galipei is not an idiot, and he obviously loves August, so this should be obvious something is wrong with his love… But he acts just a bit different with August, more worried and more distant, as we see in his own chapters. However, he does plan things behind August’s back, which is interesting—but it never mentions that he knows it’s not August, it’s always as though he thinks something is off but nothing more. At last, a great thing is that Galipei now has his own chapters, yay!

In Conclusion

Overall, I give this gripping and exciting read with a bit of a slow start a solid rating of 4.5 stars out of 5! Vilest Things is an excellent sequel to Immortal Longings, and I can’t wait to read the third book! Please please please, will it be out soon?!

If you want to learn more about the author, Chloe Gong, you can visit her website, follow her on her Instagram account, her Goodreads Author Page, her Tumblr account as well as her Pinterest (you can view her boards for her books! <3). You can even listen to her series' playlists on her Spotify! Don't forget to add Vilest Things to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood: A Book Review

Book Reviews December 22, 2024 Leave a comment

Sarah Underwood's Website

HarperCollins' Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

Fable

Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance, Retelling
Number of pages: 400
ISBN: 978-0063234529

ASIN:B0CRQG9R8F

Format: Hardcover, eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N)
Publication date: October 01, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Trigger Warnings: Emotional and physical abuse by a parent.

*A HUGE thanks to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.*

As soon as I saw the cover and the blurb for Gentlest of Wild Things, a sapphic Ancient Greece story, I yearned to read it! I’m so delighted HarperCollins Canada offered me an e-ARC of this book, iiiiiiiihhhhhh!!! It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I am proud to bring you this review! 😀

Do you want to know why I’m so thrilled about Gentlest of Wild Things?

Read on, loves!

Blurb

On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire―love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros.

Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire’s thrall. Until Leandros’ wife dies mysteriously and he sets his sights on Phoebe. Determined to keep her sister safe, Eirene strikes a bargain with Leandros: if she can complete the four elaborate tasks he sets her, he will find another bride. But it soon becomes clear that the tasks are part of something bigger; something related to Desire and Lamia, the strange, neglected daughter Leandros keeps locked away.

Lamia knows her father hides her for her own protection, though as she and Eirene grow closer, she finds herself longing for the outside world. But the price of freedom is high, and with something deadly―something hungry―stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood . . .

The Positive Points

What a thrilling beginning chapter! I wasn’t expecting that chase. The prologue is confusing, but in a thrilling “I need to know MORE” kind of way. Honestly, the more I kept reading, the faster I read it and I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. I was so enraptured by this book! Another great thing was how the gods were mentioned in expressions such as “Damn her principles to Hades and back”, and other times Eirene thinks about the gods and how she works and none has ever helped. Like, they’re here and alive, but she only believes in them and doesn’t know they’re real. Like it’s a hint to us, readers. About what’s to come and how the story is more supernatural than we think at first.

As for the characters themselves, I must say that both Eirene and Lamia are loveable in their own ways. Their first meeting was explosively dramatic, emotional, and fun as a ready. I wasn’t expecting that to go this awry! It was different from the usual “I like you already” or “love at first meeting” that is prevalent in so many stories it’s become bland. Eirene is so cute and protective, I love her! She is the strong determined sister to protect her sister Phoebe, weaker in health and in a bad situation. On a side note, I love how each girl has a passion. For Eirene, it’s plants and herbs. For Phoebe, it’s weaving. And for Lamia, it’s drawing. It’s more realistic and it’s nice to see they have something, a hobby, to hold onto, something they love. Lamia is such a cutie! Poor her though, she is so ignorant of the world and abused for the villain’s own riches. She was brainwashed into thinking what her father was doing was good… I love her, she is so kind-hearted and caring, and, poor her, innocent, too! What Lamia has as a special gift, I thought it was just so beautiful and poetic, and well handled throughout the story, with an evolution tied to the character’s arc. Wow! Her character arc is where she becomes more assured and grounded in reality. It was beautiful to see! And the fact that Lamia tried so much to save and help Eirene even if it meant she might run away… Awwwwwww, my FEELS! Plus, there is some closure I wasn’t expecting for one aspect of Lamia’s life later on which echoes the very first chapter. What a great thing to weave into the story!

As for the villain, wow, he’s very dangerous just like I thought before we actually met him. Even with Lamia, his own daughter! He emanates shrewdness, danger, and violence. He is so cruel and abusive, both with Lamia and Eirene, mostly with words, and threats, and mean tricks and lies, but also with physical violence and manipulation. I’m sure he’s a beast—at least, to me.

Speaking of Eirene and Lamia, the sapphic romance is sweet and easy to follow. I love how Eirene is rebellious with boys and wishes not to marry, while Lamia is all compliments and admiration for Eirene. Great ways to show them being sapphic before getting to know each other and falling in love. It’s innate even though they don’t know what it is or means. Their little attraction and romance is so cute. It’s soft and sweet by moments, throughout the big problematic mess they’re in. It’s also really sweet how their affection grows naturally and you can notice it through thoughts, awkward touches, and words like “Our Lamia” when Eirene is proud, and more. For example, it is romantic and soft and sensual per moments with them discovering they desire each other. Like how being close to the other feels, and wishing she would just lean over and kiss her… I also let let out a gasp when I learned that Eirene’s goal is in direct conflict with Lamia herself and her affection and love for her. Ouch! You’ll see! The longing was real, I was so waiting for them to get together, iiiiiiihhhhhh! It was very satisfying! This is a story of love (in many shapes), and also of a void of loneliness being filled by someone you come to love.

Fun fact: I didn’t know wrapping a bandage could be so sensual and romantic, but wow, it is, and it’s beautiful.

Awwww, I love when FMCs cut their own hair. I did it twice too for the unease I felt with my long hair and I was at a time where I couldn’t pay for a haircut, so I tried to cut my hair and felt thrilled and wild. And it wasn’t so bad. I love when the FMC feels the same and tries the same thing. It’s also an act of rebellion and to seek wellness in one’s body.

Oh, and I love how Eirene discovers the source of Desire. I have been waiting for their two storylines to merge like this for the intrigue to have its answer. The “how” took me by surprise because I wasn’t waiting for it anymore. Fun!

Gentlest of Wild Things is a clever retelling in ancient times of Psyche and Eros, but make it sapphic. It’s lovely and magical. It’s also a strong “do it yourself” story, which I always love.

Every one of Eirene’s task was fun and exciting, but the last one was the most thrilling and exciting, and full of magic and mythology. What a retelling, and what turn it took! I noticed, like I mentioned earlier, that Lamia underwent the most changes in her arc. Eireine’s is more subtle, yet still there.

This story respects mythology, like the path to Hades not being for mortal eyes, and more. Also, same respect with the time period, like with men acting out the plays.

Lastly, this is a doubtlessly a story of women who stand up to men who abused them in more ways than one. It’s powerful. As for the conclusion itself, it was veeeery satisfying and had me feeling all warm and fuzzy and giddy, rocking my legs and smiling.

The Negative Points

Hm, let’s skip this, shall we? None was to be found, whatsoever. The writing, the character development, the intrigue, everything was great!

In Conclusion

All in all, Gentlest of Wild Things was excellent to the end! It is a feminist, and cutely romantic sapphic tale! And the villain gets what he deserves… Mythology was well mixed with magic and romance as well, it was so nice! I give Gentlest of Wild Things a rating of 5 amphoras out of 5, because it was such a great read and sweet from the beginning to the end with strong emotions, thrills, and a soft romance. I loved all of it! Honestly, I would take a dozen more books like this one!!

If you would like to learn more about the author, Sarah Underwood, you can visit her website, follow her on her Instagram account, and on her Goodreads Author page. Don't forget to add Gentlest of Wild Things to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade: A Book Review

Book Reviews May 4, 2024 Leave a comment

(Photo by me, May 2024)

Janet Skeslien Charles' official website

Simon & Schuster's Book Page

Add to your Goodreads shelves!

The StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction

Pages: 336

ISBN: 9781668008980

ASIN: B0CL5FXNQX

Audio ASIN: B0CLHJMV7P

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N Audiobooks)

Publication date: April 30, 2024

Publisher: Atria Books

Type: Book, Novel

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster CA and Atria Books for a physical ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

I’m an avid historical fiction reader, and even more when they’re based on true stories and people and thoroughly researched. So, as soon as I saw Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles up for review, I requested it. How fortunate am I to have received it! Honestly, this has been such an amazing read—it sure didn’t disappoint, and it checked all my boxes for a great historical read.

The Positive Points

I love that it starts with a reminiscence of a CARD woman of something very meaningful to her while she’s going through her closet: her brigade uniform. It’s beautiful, like a dance with the past—like Anastasia and her song Once Upon a December! The reminiscence with her uniform (the unknown CARD) makes for perfect time travel in the following (first) chapter. The best part of this is that we come to learn who the CARD woman from the first chapter (who’s unknown to us then) is at the end. This was a delightful surprise, and much realistic, too.

The first chapter introduced a bit of thrill and fear, which was very promising. And the book kept on delivering on this promise!

Kit Carson’s exchanges with kids are lovely. Her kindness with children to help is obvious. Very sweet. Also, I love how she talks about “double standard” that we, women, experience. The MC is quite intelligent, it’s so pleasant!

Plus, it’s so cute that she fitted as many books as she could in her trunk. Ain’t that true! It’s cute, and the reader’s life is on display. I think the “library of her mind” (Kit Carson) is so cute. It’s adorable to read about a mind library so detailed and loved, because not enough people have them nor think about this; which is even rarer in books, I find. I speak from experience—I’ve got one such mind library.

Moreover, I am fond of how Jessie Carson reaches out to help those in need (in many different ways, some more dire than others). Sometimes a shared tragedy can open people up, or help them, when they’re unreachable. It was both beautiful and tragic, poignant and hopeful.

As they checked out books, Madame said, “A town needs a library in the same way that a home needs a hearth.”

p.503 of 669 from the digital copy of Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.

This quote describes the whole ambiance of this story. It is warm like an embrace, bookish, familial, and much inclusive of found family. It speaks of a deep need and unity too, something that all families and all towns revolve around: the hearth, a.k.a the library.

Surprisingly, it also tells the tale of Wendy Peterson in the 80s. When it switches to modern times with that specific character, I find the humour is priceless! It’s still bookish, just modern.

As for romance, I shipped Kit and her lover so much! They’re so cute and he’s so lovely with her. Two readers, awww! But I won’t tell you more about him, or it might ruin a few surprises ;). In addition to that, I think the sex scenes were done with gusto. It was full of feelings and emotions, yet suggestive but not vulgar. I was just surprised that there were sex scenes in my historical read. A special shout-out the sapphic love (between two women): the way sapphic love is tackled is gentle and beautiful. Genuine. Thank you, it touched me.

While this story isn’t built on action, a few moments are quite fearful and exciting. During a high-voltage chapter (what I call it since there was, let’s say, an urgency to it), I had goosebumps all over my body during this thrilling chapter. There is a place where the character mentions that “always courage”. And I agree. Always courage, indeed. And that’s why I love humans, and such stories that are inspiring.

On top of all this, I noticed the research was thorough, because the CARDs a Peugeot car and it fits the time period and setting since it’s in and from France, and it needed to be imported in America and Canada back then.

As for the book itself, the chapters’ layout is interesting, with the title cards of the characters, location and dates being on the right. It makes it easy to read and discover we’re with which character for this chapter. Our eyes usually go instantly to the right of the next page, so this layout is great and intuitive!

An admirable thing was that I could feel the author’s love and respect for CARDs through Wendy Peterson. Thank you for bringing them forth into the light; they deserve this literary spotlight. Lastly, the fact that the author included some of her research with photos, and resources about the CARDs, makes me so thrilled! I love when authors do that—as if this book couldn’t get any more perfect!

The Negative Points

Sometimes, the rhythm of the read would slow down—a bit too much to my taste. But it’s also quite normal considering how CARDs were there to help rebuild and not directly at war, though quite close, it was still very dangerous. Despite this, I acknowledge these slow parts were necessary for this tale. I’m not taking any points for this, but I just wanted to let you folks know this read can slow down here and there, and that if you’re looking for a completely high-tension historical book, this is not for you. But if you like your historical fictions realistic, emotional, and character-building, this is your book!

In Conclusion

I had such a fantastic time reading this book. I can remember tracking my reading time (yes, I love doing that!), and when I was not reading, I just longed to track my time again and discover more of Jessie “Kit” Carson and the CARDs’ story! For all these beautiful positive points, I give Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles a lovely rating of 5 out of 5 stars! It was a beautiful, sometimes thrilling read, but always touching and engrossing.

(Photo by Krystal Kenney)

If you want to learn more about the author, Janet Skeslien Charles, you can visit her author webpage and her page on Simon & Schuster's website, you can also follow her on Amazon author page and Goodreads. You can also add Miss Morgan's Book Brigade to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Bad Liar: A Dark Romance Anthology – Book Tour with Romance Me with Books

Blog Tours May 3, 2024 Leave a comment

It has a gorgeous cover, doesn't it? Plus, it's a dark romance anthology! Multiple explicit dark stories for you to enjoy. I will warn you though, it is more "dark erotica" than simply "explicit dark romance". Nevertheless, if that's your thing, how about we explore more of it together?

I'm a Book Tour Stop for Romance me with Books.

Scroll and find interesting links–and if you reach the end, you're in for a little treat (an excerpt from the book)!

Here are the anthology's trigger warnings: sexually explicit scenes – profanity – mention of child, physical, and sexual abuse – death – fire – slut shaming

Want the blurb? See the image right below :)!

If you wish to learn more about the book, its authors, and the book tour, please head to the Book Tour page.

You can also add the book to your Goodreads shelves, and purchase it on Amazon.

Excerpt from Bad Liar: A Dark Romance Anthology

My gut has been twisted all day.

First, I watched as she sobbed alone in a graveyard. Only a heartless monster wouldn’t feel anything as she sat there in the cold. But I am a monster, my choices in life have forever cemented my place there.

I knew she would go back to the bookstore after. It’s always been her safe place, her home away from home. She’s spent hours in the little nook reading to children or helping somebody find what they didn’t know they wanted. She’s captivating in her love of books, and it draws people to her. It drew me to her.

But I wasn’t ready for the things I saw when she got to the store. My heart, or the place where my heart would be, sank when I saw a little boy run to her. The way he wrapped around her, left no doubt that he is her son.

She’s a mother. The thought was still echoing in my head as I watched her embrace some guy. There was love between them, easy enough to see from across the street.

Now she’s alone, walking down the street towards her bank. How do I know this? Because I know her. Probably better than the guy who tucked her hair behind her ear. Just the thought has my jaw tightening. Where is this guy now as she walks down the street alone?

I stick to the shadows. There’s no reason for her to know that I’m here. Truthfully, I could have gone home already. But I won’t leave until she makes her deposit and is safely in her car. My phone vibrates in my pocket, I know who it is without looking at the screen.

“You didn’t tell me about her kid.” I snap into the phone. Avoiding unneeded pleasantries.

“God damn it, Sawyer.” Dalton’s voice is horse and clipped in my ear. “You shouldn’t be there, and her life now isn’t something I’m required to tell you about.”

“I should have been told,” I snarl back.

I glance up to see if she’s made it to the bank, but she’s gone. I end my call without a word and look around trying to find where she could be. There’s an ally right before the bank. What if somebody grabbed her?

Leaving my place in the shadow of a building I move to the alley. My pace quickening with my pulse. Just then she comes out of the bakery in front of me. There’s no time to react, so I turn my back to her. Praying she doesn’t pay attention.

I hear her breath hitch, “Adam?” She says it just above a whisper, but with all the hope of a woman lost.

“Sorry, my name is Sawyer.” I don’t turn around, not even to speak over my shoulder. Instead, I pull the collar of my coat closer to my face.

“Sorry, my mistake.” The hope in her voice crumbles.

I start walking back in the direction I came. It’s time to go. Maybe Dalton was right, I shouldn’t be here. But I had to see her for myself.

Mafia Pawn by A Riebold – 📚 Romance me with Books – Book Blitz 📚

Blog Tours January 3, 2023 Leave a comment

Mafia Pawn

A Riebold / @ariebold.author

Available Now!

Download here: https://amzn.to/3jGvtKj

Blurb

Natalia De Luca is freshly 18 when she is forced to marry Matteo Moretti, a man 20 years older than her. It's all a game and she is just a pawn to the men around her. So she marries a man that doesn't seem to even try to act like he wants her around at first, pushing her closer to his best friend, Lorenzo, who has his own secrets.

Will Matteo start to treat her as his equal and not just someone to carry his heir? And what happens when she gets kidnapped by his enemy just to be used as another pawn in their games? Can Matteo get her back before too much damage is done? And treat her as his wife and not just a roommate.

'“Can you gag your bitch when you fuck her late at night? She ruined my sleep.”

Lorenzo laughs as Matteo leaps to his feet, making his chair fall back onto the floor behind him. He crosses the room to me with his hand around my throat before I have time to regret what I said.'

Please make sure to read the triggers. It also includes grape