Enemies-to-Lovers | Ad Librum Aeternam

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!

How to Choose Your Next Read: Mood Reader Edition

Reader Edition June 13, 2024 Leave a comment

As a mood reader myself, these are methods and techniques I experimented and found success with. I recommend using this article like a method bank because the same method won't always work. It hasn't for me because each "reading slump" brought by the end of the previous book is different and unique related to the story, characters, and the emotions and feelings it left me. So, I have to use either this one or that one at some time, and another time I have to try the other two again.

But the good news is that there's always one method that works—the trick is finding the right one at the right time for us, mood readers.

What I noticed is that this state of indecision and generalized bleariness towards each and every book seems to stem from boredom and routine.

So, let's explore my favourite methods to stave off that state and win over it!

Ready?

Okay, scroll!

Go with the Season

Okay, this one sounds like a given, but have you reeaaally tried it? I mean, not only with the holidays it includes, but the season and moods themselves. If so, a bit of reviewing the pros of this technique will help! If not, get ready to find a few new ideas.

Your Favorite Genre

Here's my favorite one: choose a book of your favorite genre which either fits the mood, the ambiance, or the holidays of that season.

For example, I was in October (Fall), and I loooove fantasy! I wanted something Halloween-like (holidays), yet familiar and cozy. So, I went with Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw (you can see my bookstagram and read my review here), knowing Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite Halloween movie (it's a tradition!), it's not that scary, and it fit all the boxes for the season all while being in my favorite genre.

Something You Love

Now, I mentioned this tip with the previous paragraph, but it's: choose a topic you love (like a TV show, or a book series), and try to find a book that is either set during the season in question OR that has the ambiance and vibes. Some will do special season books, or one of them is set during winter and that's what you're looking for, for example.

For me, it was during the month of December, and as a big Doctor Who fan, I wanted to read something about that TV show, yet I wanted to feel Christmastime and winter.

I looked up Doctor Who books and I stumbled upon Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas, and it was an instant purchase!

It did checked my favorite topic and seasonal boxes. The stories are warm and wintery, and perfect for Doctor Who fans!

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

This one is an old trick, but it is tough for a reason: it works. Not always, but it helps shake the routine and boredom.

For this one, I have two different methods: trying an unfamiliar genre and looking for a different trope.

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

More often than not, we read what we love most and what we're familiar with. For example, I'm all about fantasy and romance, as well as documentaries. But, if I wanna shake up my world and try a different genre, I will choose a memoir, or a travel book written by someone who went to that country. See?

The first travel memoir—or memoir, for that matter—I ever read was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes because it's about Italy. Enough said. No, but, truth is, I love the Italian culture and I speak Italian as a self-taught language since I was 14 years old. So, it was meaningful to me. And, thanks to this book, I found another genre to read sometimes: memoirs.

So, if you read mostly fiction, try a non-fiction by a researcher, or a writer you like, a memoir by a celebrity of some kind, something other than fiction.

If you read non-fiction instead, try a light novel, or a poetry book. Something that can grip you instead of always giving you information to feed on (which is awesome, I love that too, but you know, to shake things up a bit ;)).

Look for a Different Trope

A trope is a certain pattern that comes back so often it's common. For example, in Romance books I always go to enemies-to-lovers, but once in a while, if you're like me, try a friends-to-lovers, perhaps? Ok, not the same stakes, but that's what we're looking for here. These are both tropes, but since I'm quite the enemies-to-lovers gal, changing it up to friends-to-lovers will shake up my perspective and routine.

Another example is how I love morally grey characters (*cue April Jay's bookish song, Morally Grey*), then when I'm looking for a different trope, I'll try a goody-two-shoes.

I know, I know, these examples can seem rather daunting, but that's the point with getting out of your comfort zone!

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Playlists are a great way to establish mood and ambiance, whether it's for reading, writing, cooking, and other any fun activities. Some prefer a classical playlist, others a moody one, and some others a lyrical playlist…

Here are a few suggestions, feel free to try them out to find the mood you're looking for:

Dark Academia Classical

Sometimes lyrics are too overwhelming and confusing as you read, but others will enjoy it. As for classical music, it's mostly great for thrillers and fantasy, I found from experience, or deep drama readings like the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or dark romance.

Did you know there are also playlists compiled by the authors themselves for specific books or series?

Why not try and find one (if it exists) for the book you're about to read?

For example, the If I Stay playlist by the author Gayle Forman.

The Splintered Series playlist by the author A. G. Howard (my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling).

Oftentimes the authors will leave a link to their playlists on their website, or do a manual search in your music app.

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

An essential in my opinion is a beverage. But not any beverage; it must be your favorite, or at least held in the same esteem.

For example, I am a coffee gal, but mostly iced coffee. I'm all about iced coffee; from Tim Horton's, Starbucks, from my home Nespresso, and more. I need that iced coffee, and what better way to drink it than to pair it with a book for a perfect mood?

Exactly what I thought: there is no better way than that!

If you're not a coffee gal or lad, how about some tea? You can use a little tea infuser with tea herbs, or you can use a tea bag. Either way, as long as it's a taste you love to sip and smell.

And how about brewing your own coffee if you like that? This could get you into an enthusiastic mood with the smell and the movements, right before an interesting read!

Whichever drink you prefer, make sure to pair one of your favorites with a book. It never fails to delight!

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Settings are as important in real life as in stories. For example, would the Shadow and Bone trilogy be the same without a Russian-inspired Ravka? Nope. How about Harry Potter without Hogwarts? Not the same feel at all.

Well, same goes for you!

Do you have a comfy chair? I call mine my "potato chair", because then I can become a potato on it and not move except for turning the pages and drinking my favorite iced coffee.

Perhaps it's a cozy or favorite room in your house or apartment? Go there!

If you prefer the calm and quiet of the library, or the cozy bustle of the coffee shop, why not spice things up by reading in these locations? I can lose myself for hours in a book in both the library and a coffee shop. Or if it's new to you, how about changing the pace of your reading and trying these places out?

In order for the reading to be more enticing and immersive, find yourself a pleasant spot.

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Clothes are often overlooked as a means to create mood. But sometimes, it can be the missing element!

If you want a cozy, calm and soothing reading experience, how about slipping on comfy clothes? Those baggy pants, or how about these leggings you bought last month? A big shirt or a tight tank top. Whatever your comfy is, make sure to aim for it. Clothes can put us in certain moods, and comfy is the one we're going for here for reading experience.

However, if you want to shake things up and be ready for the adventure at hand, let's say you're about to read a fantasy novel, how about putting on a Harry Potter shirt or scarf? If you have a shirt from Game of Thrones, it works, too! As long as it fits the topic/genre you're going to read, there's no trouble.

How about sexy underwear or cute pyjamas full of kisses or hearts for a romance book?

I mean, why not? It's all about the right mood!

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Remember when I mentioned how it's all about routine? Yeah, exactly, so let's make it special! Because, routine is good for daily life, but it can become tiresome, even in reading for we go to our favorite genres, things we like, but it sometimes loses that sparkle. You know the one! That sparkle that gets us giddy before a read, like we're an enthused two year-old before a new toy.

That one, yeah!

How do we find it back? Here we go!

Enjoy yourself!

You know how routines can become… well, routinely. Boring. Tiresome. Same old, same old. This happens with our reading, too! When our "want" changes to "must" because we've been meaning to read that book for so long, or perhaps we have a bookstagram or review coming up… But thing is, "I must read" is no fun, it's routine–reading's become a chore. Yikes! The horror! We love reading mostly for escapism (except those unique ones who don't and I can't relate, but hey, welcome to the party!), so when it stops being escapism… No, that's too terrifying to consider.

So, the trick is to subtly change the "I must read my book" to "I WANT to read my book".

Start by changing the word in your thoughts and in conversations with people. That'll help. Then, try to view it as some me-time, to relax, to reappropriate your pleasure of reading.

Don't let it be tiresome–make it awesome!

These Are Not Just Words

No, I did not make a mistake. Books are NOT just words. The ever so practical will tell me : "Of course not, there is glue, paper, ink…." Yes, alright, but dear fellow, that's not what I mean, so sit down.

What I mean is books are much more than words. There are mental images, stories, knowledge… and the best of all: they give us friends! Come on, don't tell me you never loved a book character so much as to think of them outside of your reading time, and some of us go as far as purchasing items about them and writing fanfics, making fanvids, and more.

These friends we find in the pages of books are our friends and no one else's. Why? Because every one reads a bit differently, so every one has their own versions of said characters. And that makes it unique, because books contain more than words–they contain friends we yearn to discover and develop a friendship with in the first read, or reconnect with through a second or third reading.

The Ultimate .gif Database

And that, my dears, is beautiful.

Magic is what it is, I think.

Magic of the heart, and mind, and soul… Magic of the story!

So, keep that in mind to enthuse yourself about your read, ok? 😉

Friendship: Lessons from "Harry Potter"

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

Last but the funniest is please please please make it fun. Sometimes, to go back to my "tiresome routine" point, we can lose ourselves in the daily grind. But, reading is no simple feat (psychologically and emotionally). We immerse ourselves into these worlds or into that knowledge. At least, make it some kind of privileged time! A party, if that's what it takes.

For me, I do love to dance and laugh on music to psych me up before sitting down with a book. Perhaps you'd like to play a game to have a good mood before reading, or read jokes.

Geez, you're going on an adventure to discover and befriend people (fiction) or learn tons (non-fiction) on how the world or people work!

Don't make it something casual or too ordinary–reconnect with its fantastic nature! Put a movie in the background, or listen to classical music while reading.

Whatever you do, remember: reading is an adventure.

So act like it's one!

Round 3: Holiday Adventure - Monks - Nerd Fitness Rebellion

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Don't forget to try out these tricks any time you get stuck as a mood reader (which happens, let's be honest, every day!).

See you next post, lovelies!

How to Choose Your Next Read: Mood Reader Edition

chit-chatting with Cat, Reader Edition, Writing (Routine, Tips, and Discussions) March 1, 2024 Leave a comment

As a mood reader myself, these are methods and techniques I experimented and found success with. I recommend using this article like a method bank because the same method won't always work. It hasn't for me because each "reading slump" brought by the end of the previous book is different and unique related to the story, characters, and the emotions and feelings it left me. So, I have to use either this one or that one at some time, and another time I have to try the other two again.

But the good news is that there's always one method that works—the trick is finding the right one at the right time for us, mood readers.

What I noticed is that this state of indecision and generalized bleariness towards each and every book seems to stem from boredom and routine.

So, let's explore my favourite methods to stave off that state and win over it!

Ready?

Okay, scroll!

Go with the Season

Okay, this one sounds like a given, but have you reeaaally tried it? I mean, not only with the holidays it includes, but the season and moods themselves. If so, a bit of reviewing the pros of this technique will help! If not, get ready to find a few new ideas.

Your Favorite Genre

Here's my favorite one: choose a book of your favorite genre which either fits the mood, the ambiance, or the holidays of that season.

For example, I was in October (Fall), and I loooove fantasy! I wanted something Halloween-like (holidays), yet familiar and cozy. So, I went with Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw (you can see my bookstagram and read my review here), knowing Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite Halloween movie (it's a tradition!), it's not that scary, and it fit all the boxes for the season all while being in my favorite genre.

Something You Love

Now, I mentioned this tip with the previous paragraph, but it's: choose a topic you love (like a TV show, or a book series), and try to find a book that is either set during the season in question OR that has the ambiance and vibes. Some will do special season books, or one of them is set during winter and that's what you're looking for, for example.

For me, it was during the month of December, and as a big Doctor Who fan, I wanted to read something about that TV show, yet I wanted to feel Christmastime and winter.

I looked up Doctor Who books and I stumbled upon Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas, and it was an instant purchase!

It did checked my favorite topic and seasonal boxes. The stories are warm and wintery, and perfect for Doctor Who fans!

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

This one is an old trick, but it is tough for a reason: it works. Not always, but it helps shake the routine and boredom.

For this one, I have two different methods: trying an unfamiliar genre and looking for a different trope.

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

More often than not, we read what we love most and what we're familiar with. For example, I'm all about fantasy and romance, as well as documentaries. But, if I wanna shake up my world and try a different genre, I will choose a memoir, or a travel book written by someone who went to that country. See?

The first travel memoir—or memoir, for that matter—I ever read was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes because it's about Italy. Enough said. No, but, truth is, I love the Italian culture and I speak Italian as a self-taught language since I was 14 years old. So, it was meaningful to me. And, thanks to this book, I found another genre to read sometimes: memoirs.

So, if you read mostly fiction, try a non-fiction by a researcher, or a writer you like, a memoir by a celebrity of some kind, something other than fiction.

If you read non-fiction instead, try a light novel, or a poetry book. Something that can grip you instead of always giving you information to feed on (which is awesome, I love that too, but you know, to shake things up a bit ;)).

Look for a Different Trope

A trope is a certain pattern that comes back so often it's common. For example, in Romance books I always go to enemies-to-lovers, but once in a while, if you're like me, try a friends-to-lovers, perhaps? Ok, not the same stakes, but that's what we're looking for here. These are both tropes, but since I'm quite the enemies-to-lovers gal, changing it up to friends-to-lovers will shake up my perspective and routine.

Another example is how I love morally grey characters (*cue April Jay's bookish song, Morally Grey*), then when I'm looking for a different trope, I'll try a goody-two-shoes.

I know, I know, these examples can seem rather daunting, but that's the point with getting out of your comfort zone!

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Playlists are a great way to establish mood and ambiance, whether it's for reading, writing, cooking, and other any fun activities. Some prefer a classical playlist, others a moody one, and some others a lyrical playlist…

Here are a few suggestions, feel free to try them out to find the mood you're looking for:

Dark Academia Classical

Sometimes lyrics are too overwhelming and confusing as you read, but others will enjoy it. As for classical music, it's mostly great for thrillers and fantasy, I found from experience, or deep drama readings like the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or dark romance.

Did you know there are also playlists compiled by the authors themselves for specific books or series?

Why not try and find one (if it exists) for the book you're about to read?

For example, the If I Stay playlist by the author Gayle Forman.

The Splintered Series playlist by the author A. G. Howard (my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling).

Oftentimes the authors will leave a link to their playlists on their website, or do a manual search in your music app.

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

An essential in my opinion is a beverage. But not any beverage; it must be your favorite, or at least held in the same esteem.

For example, I am a coffee gal, but mostly iced coffee. I'm all about iced coffee; from Tim Horton's, Starbucks, from my home Nespresso, and more. I need that iced coffee, and what better way to drink it than to pair it with a book for a perfect mood?

Exactly what I thought: there is no better way than that!

If you're not a coffee gal or lad, how about some tea? You can use a little tea infuser with tea herbs, or you can use a tea bag. Either way, as long as it's a taste you love to sip and smell.

And how about brewing your own coffee if you like that? This could get you into an enthusiastic mood with the smell and the movements, right before an interesting read!

Whichever drink you prefer, make sure to pair one of your favorites with a book. It never fails to delight!

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Settings are as important in real life as in stories. For example, would the Shadow and Bone trilogy be the same without a Russian-inspired Ravka? Nope. How about Harry Potter without Hogwarts? Not the same feel at all.

Well, same goes for you!

Do you have a comfy chair? I call mine my "potato chair", because then I can become a potato on it and not move except for turning the pages and drinking my favorite iced coffee.

Perhaps it's a cozy or favorite room in your house or apartment? Go there!

If you prefer the calm and quiet of the library, or the cozy bustle of the coffee shop, why not spice things up by reading in these locations? I can lose myself for hours in a book in both the library and a coffee shop. Or if it's new to you, how about changing the pace of your reading and trying these places out?

In order for the reading to be more enticing and immersive, find yourself a pleasant spot.

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Clothes are often overlooked as a means to create mood. But sometimes, it can be the missing element!

If you want a cozy, calm and soothing reading experience, how about slipping on comfy clothes? Those baggy pants, or how about these leggings you bought last month? A big shirt or a tight tank top. Whatever your comfy is, make sure to aim for it. Clothes can put us in certain moods, and comfy is the one we're going for here for reading experience.

However, if you want to shake things up and be ready for the adventure at hand, let's say you're about to read a fantasy novel, how about putting on a Harry Potter shirt or scarf? If you have a shirt from Game of Thrones, it works, too! As long as it fits the topic/genre you're going to read, there's no trouble.

How about sexy underwear or cute pyjamas full of kisses or hearts for a romance book?

I mean, why not? It's all about the right mood!

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Remember when I mentioned how it's all about routine? Yeah, exactly, so let's make it special! Because, routine is good for daily life, but it can become tiresome, even in reading for we go to our favorite genres, things we like, but it sometimes loses that sparkle. You know the one! That sparkle that gets us giddy before a read, like we're an enthused two year-old before a new toy.

That one, yeah!

How do we find it back? Here we go!

Enjoy yourself!

You know how routines can become… well, routinely. Boring. Tiresome. Same old, same old. This happens with our reading, too! When our "want" changes to "must" because we've been meaning to read that book for so long, or perhaps we have a bookstagram or review coming up… But thing is, "I must read" is no fun, it's routine–reading's become a chore. Yikes! The horror! We love reading mostly for escapism (except those unique ones who don't and I can't relate, but hey, welcome to the party!), so when it stops being escapism… No, that's too terrifying to consider.

So, the trick is to subtly change the "I must read my book" to "I WANT to read my book".

Start by changing the word in your thoughts and in conversations with people. That'll help. Then, try to view it as some me-time, to relax, to reappropriate your pleasure of reading.

Don't let it be tiresome–make it awesome!

These Are Not Just Words

No, I did not make a mistake. Books are NOT just words. The ever so practical will tell me : "Of course not, there is glue, paper, ink…." Yes, alright, but dear fellow, that's not what I mean, so sit down.

What I mean is books are much more than words. There are mental images, stories, knowledge… and the best of all: they give us friends! Come on, don't tell me you never loved a book character so much as to think of them outside of your reading time, and some of us go as far as purchasing items about them and writing fanfics, making fanvids, and more.

These friends we find in the pages of books are our friends and no one else's. Why? Because every one reads a bit differently, so every one has their own versions of said characters. And that makes it unique, because books contain more than words–they contain friends we yearn to discover and develop a friendship with in the first read, or reconnect with through a second or third reading.

The Ultimate .gif Database

And that, my dears, is beautiful.

Magic is what it is, I think.

Magic of the heart, and mind, and soul… Magic of the story!

So, keep that in mind to enthuse yourself about your read, ok? 😉

Friendship: Lessons from "Harry Potter"

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

Last but the funniest is please please please make it fun. Sometimes, to go back to my "tiresome routine" point, we can lose ourselves in the daily grind. But, reading is no simple feat (psychologically and emotionally). We immerse ourselves into these worlds or into that knowledge. At least, make it some kind of privileged time! A party, if that's what it takes.

For me, I do love to dance and laugh on music to psych me up before sitting down with a book. Perhaps you'd like to play a game to have a good mood before reading, or read jokes.

Geez, you're going on an adventure to discover and befriend people (fiction) or learn tons (non-fiction) on how the world or people work!

Don't make it something casual or too ordinary–reconnect with its fantastic nature! Put a movie in the background, or listen to classical music while reading.

Whatever you do, remember: reading is an adventure.

So act like it's one!

Round 3: Holiday Adventure - Monks - Nerd Fitness Rebellion

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Don't forget to try out these tricks any time you get stuck as a mood reader (which happens, let's be honest, every day!).

See you next post, lovelies!

In The Moment Before: A Book Review & Book Tour by CG Coppola with RMWB (Romance, Enemies to Lover, Secret Romance, Close Proximity)

Blog Tours, Book Reviews December 22, 2022 Leave a comment

Hello, dear folks!

I've got the chance to be a Book Tour Stop for Romance me with Books a second time, yay! Now, it's for In The Moment Before by CG Coppola, an enemies-to-lovers secret romance story!

The gorgeous has me just fawning over it. It's gorgeous and well-rendered! The characters are quite alike, too. A rare feat on covers.

Look for yourself:

Interested? I know, me too!

I have this cute graphic with the blurb within and honestly, it's my style. Plus, you get a preview of Robin's voice, the main character! 😀 (I go over it in my review right below!)

You can read more about this awesome Book Tour with RMWB and the incredible author CG Coppola over here.

Visit the Amazon page for more information and pick up the book for your own enjoyment.

Don't forget to add it to your bookshelves on Goodreads!

And now, enjoy the review! 😀

*I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever. Thank you Romance me with Books and CG Coppola for the e-galley!*

Introduction

So, when I was offered to be part of this book tour, I must admit I was dubious because “cutey love” isn’t really up my alley. However, enemies to lovers? Got me there! And a nerdy girl for MC? Okay, count me in!

I figured it was worth a try—and I had a blast reading In The Moment Before by CG Coppola! So many feels, heated moments and surprises!

Want to know more? Ah, I betcha!

Keep on reading so I can show you how great a recommendation this book is. 🙂

The Positive Sides

The dedication, folks! Oh, wow. The author wrote “for Batman”, which is the best dedication I have ever read, and honestly, I feel this one! Finally someone who gets me, you know?

As for the writing itself, I liked that the MC’s voice (Robin) is soft and teenager-like, which makes it quite believable and pleasant to read. Also, the sharp humour is good; it had me smiling and chuckling a few times. And I laughed out loud twice!

OK, nice, a vigilante superhero named Black Coyote and the MC is the daughter of the Police Sergent. This reminds me of Barbara Gordon with her father and Batman.

Wait a min… Grayson Knight… Like Gray Knight to the Dark Knight (a.k.a Batman)? And Grayson is the first Robin’s last name. Yup, yup, yup. I see ya, dear author, and I love what you’re doing.

I Love Your Work - Hannibal GIF - Hannibal Hannibal Lecter Hannibal NBC - Discover & Share GIFs

Oh you gotta be kidding me! The MC’s name is Robin, ok, fine… But her last name is Drake?! The last name of the third Robin is Drake (for Tim Drake) in Batman, and look at her whole name for the MC: Robin Drake! HA! Amazing. You and I need to talk for fun, dear author. Hahaha! Please do reach out so we can gush over everything Batman together.

As for the school f bullies, I hate them. They’re despicable and cruelly remind me of those who used to torment me. Poor Hailey—what about her weight? She’s a PERSON, and also curvy girls are sexy, PFFF. Don’t argue with me on that one, nuh-huh! It’s a personal taste, thank you very much.

Moreover, I gotta admit that the first kiss is deliciously written. Powerful, even. And the romance buildup is really intense, good and intriguing, and it feels like a roller coaster ride. Sweet!

The subsequent making outs got me hot. Wow, well written. Quite seductive too!

But dang! Is Grayson playing a feels game, leaving Robin every time with no explanation? Gosh! He does infuriate me, but at the same time, it’s so enticing and I. just. want. them. together.

The Negative Sides

The only negative point that struck me is unbalance between Robin’s soft voice and the heated moments. Don’t get me wrong—the writing is very good. However, the MC’s voice sounds too… young and naive and innocent, and somehow clashes with the very hot moments. It’s like they don’t fit together. I do get she has such a personality, but it’s still… a bit too childish for an 18-year-old. Otherwise, excellent writing and wow, the hots definitely gave me the hots!

In Conclusion

Thanks to the lovely, funny, heated, and infuriating romance (yes, all at the same time) and the amazing hints at Batman as well as the original vigilante story, there’s no way I’m giving In The Moment Before by CG Coppola any other rating than 5 out of 5 stars for the sheer pleasure and thrill (and oulà là…) reading it. Pick up this book and have an excellent time like I have! It’s fun, short, hot, feelsy, and there are vigilantes. Come oooooon! 😉

Opposed Desires (F/F, Sapphic Romance): A Book Review

Blog Tours, Book Reviews December 3, 2021 Leave a comment

Universal Link (Books2Read)

Goodreads (Add it to your TBR!)

By Katherine McIntyre

Author: Katherine McIntyre

Publishing Company: Hot Tree Publishing

Release Date: Friday, November 12 2021

Format: eBook

Is This Book Romance?: Yes

ISBN: 978-1-922359-94-0

Price: 3.99

Story Type: Novel, more than 50k words

Word Count: 50k

Cover Artist: Booksmith Design

Genres: F/F Contemporary Romance

Pairings: F/F

LGBTQ+ Identities: lesbian

Tropes: enemies to lovers

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given, and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Katherine McIntyre and Other Worlds Ink!*

Introduction

What can I say besides that I saw a cute sapphic romance with my favorite trope (enemies to lovers) offered to me for a blog tour and I was so thrilled I just jumped on the bandwagon and shouted HOOT-HOOT happily?

Yeah, basically that's me with Opposed Desires!

Curious about my blog tour post and an excerpt from this book?

I feel like sapphic romance are rare; more so than gay books, y'know. While I love both, I identify with the first… Representation matters and so does romance, not only erotica. So, I think this book, with its great and lovely characters, incredible voices, and the rollercoaster romance is true to us.

And I love it.

How about I show you around Opposed Desires by Katherine McIntyre?

Have fun discovering your next fave romance!

Blurb

Closet Romantic falling for the Hookup Queen? Never gonna happen… until one memorable vacation changes it all.

When it comes to women, Aubrey Moore believes in no-strings-attached hookups and keeping things simple. On her beach trip, her plan is clear—hit the bars and find single hotties. What she doesn't bargain on is the phone call from her sister. Distraught, Aubrey would like to have a breakdown in private, but the one woman who’s never fallen for her slick lines takes her by surprise and blurs her simple rules.

The last thing owner of the Renegades bar, Selina Beckett, expects to see on vacation is Aubrey Moore in the middle of a personal crisis. Every time they meet, they clash—whether Aubrey was picking up women at Selina’s bar or flirting to try and get her attention. Selina’s not interested in flings, cheaters, or womanizers, so she’s made a point to avoid Aubrey at all costs. But this raw, real side of Aubrey convinces her to bend those rules, just a little.

The more Selina gets to know Aubrey beyond the bravado, the more she begins to fall. But each day closer to the end of their vacation marks a return to reality—one where this entanglement between them won’t survive.

The Positive Sides

First of all, the character of Aubrey struck me instantly as a badass hilarious woman I wished I was as cool as. I connected right away with her sense of humour. Next came her charming gang of friends, and Selina… Oh, dear Selina. She's a bookworm–romantic, at that!–, naturally cool, confident, and witty. I related strongly and decided right then and there she was my favorite. Sorry, look the other way, Sel's mine!

Then, the enemies-to-lovers trope is in its own way quite amusing AND sweet. I mean, it's not the big "hatred" story, no; it's more like Aubrey wants to have a fling with Selina, but said awesome woman doesn't say yes, so Aubrey teases her instead–it's become almost an art. It's more like teasing bickering, you know? And I'm a sucker for that! But then, Aubrey shows some vulnerability, and Sel gives her a helping hand by talking with her on the beach. Isn't that just sweet?! And it just keeps going like this, a rollercoaster ride of sweetness, feels, and awwwwwwww's.

Moreover, the representation is amazing! I just love how the author showed not only "smut" (which seems like the trademark of LGBTQ+ stories, unfortunately…), but also various types of personalities, likes and dislikes, and love stories in the community. I felt like part of the gang.

I felt somehow like I was with friends.

Or better yet: home.

It doesn't get much better than that!

The Negative Sides

No matter how entertaining and sweet this book is, there is a certain point that bugged me. Her repetition technique sounds much like drilling vocabulary or notions to me. For example, when Selina discovers a new, vulnerable side to Aubrey, she finds it extremely alluring (which is cute in itself). However, every two sentences or so, she will reiterate this fact using other words for the whole chapter. It made me feel like: "yeah, okay, I know, I get it."

Otherwise, the whole book was pretty fun, light, romantic and a good enemies-to-lovers trope!

In Conclusion

Overall, even with its repetition flaw, Opposed Desires is one of the best sapphic romances out there! I give it a shoutout and I throw my recommandations your way. I had a blast reading it and falling in love with both Aubrey (who made me laugh at first read) and Selina (with whom I related right away) and their ship! Hence, I give this sweet and fun book a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. If you want to have a good time relaxing with a couple you'll just love and make friends with a whole new gang, this is your book! It definitely scored on my favorite sapphic reads, and that's coming from one who feels well represented! 😉

Don't forget to check out my blog tour post for an excerpt of Opposed Desires and an exclusive author guest post!

If you want to learn more about the author, Katherine McIntyre:

(Come on, she's adorable! And she looks so funny!)

Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—and there's an equally high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races to all varieties of men and women.

You can follow her on:

A huge thanks to Other Worlds Ink for this amazing blog tour opportunity!

See you next post, lovelies!

plan it

Blog Tour – Opposed Desires by Katherine McIntyre with Other Worlds Ink (F/F, Sapphic Romance)

Blog Tours, chit-chatting with Cat December 2, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

Today is a special blog tour day for the sapphic romance (F/F) novel, Opposed Desires, by author Katherine McIntyre!

There's a fun bonus, too: if you read till the end, I share an author guest post with you. 🙂 Also, you can read my book review to get an insider's look.

Let's start with more info about the book!

Author: Katherine McIntyre

Publishing Company: Hot Tree Publishing

Release Date: Friday, November 12 2021

Format: eBook

Is This Book Romance?: Yes

ISBN: 978-1-922359-94-0

Price: 3.99

Story Type: Novel, more than 50k words

Word Count: 50k

Cover Artist: Booksmith Design

Genres: F/F Contemporary Romance

Pairings: F/F

LGBTQ+ Identities: lesbian

Tropes: enemies to lovers

Where you can purchase Opposed Desires:

Universal Link (Books2Read)

Goodreads (Add it to your TBR!)

Book Blurb

Closet Romantic falling for the Hookup Queen? Never gonna happen… until one memorable vacation changes it all.

When it comes to women, Aubrey Moore believes in no-strings-attached hookups and keeping things simple. On her beach trip, her plan is clear—hit the bars and find single hotties. What she doesn't bargain on is the phone call from her sister. Distraught, Aubrey would like to have a breakdown in private, but the one woman who’s never fallen for her slick lines takes her by surprise and blurs her simple rules.

The last thing owner of the Renegades bar, Selina Beckett, expects to see on vacation is Aubrey Moore in the middle of a personal crisis. Every time they meet, they clash—whether Aubrey was picking up women at Selina’s bar or flirting to try and get her attention. Selina’s not interested in flings, cheaters, or womanizers, so she’s made a point to avoid Aubrey at all costs. But this raw, real side of Aubrey convinces her to bend those rules, just a little.

The more Selina gets to know Aubrey beyond the bravado, the more she begins to fall. But each day closer to the end of their vacation marks a return to reality—one where this entanglement between them won’t survive.

(Selina, my baby. She sounds just like me!)

Want to know more already?

I knew it! I was just the same when I was offered this blog tour opportunity!

Here's an excerpt for you to be thrilled over (I think it depicts Selina–my fave–and Aubrey–a funny, cool woman–and their rollercoaster-relationship well!):

They reached the edge of the boardwalk, the sand and the sea stretching before them in a pale strip that clashed with the inky darkness of the waters. Something loosened in Selina’s chest at the sight. The ocean always calmed her, especially at night when most of the daytime rabble had retreated. She was used to being surrounded by people, but sometimes she preferred the solitude.

“I’m sorry for dragging you away from your friends,” Aubrey said, loosening her ponytail to run her fingers through her hair. The moonlight highlighted her deep brown strands, and the way they fell down to her shoulders made her seem a little softer than the sharp, pointed woman Selina’d come to know. She found this side of Aubrey far more alluring.

“I could’ve done this by myself,” Aubrey admitted. “I just lost my mind a little bit back there.”

“I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t want to.” Selina shrugged. “Bars aren’t really my scene.”

“Said the bar owner.” Aubrey gave her the side-eye. “Why even own one then?”

Selina swung her arms by her side, staring at the half moon overhead. It glowed with pearlescent promise, a steadiness she’d always longed for. “Spend your whole life traveling from one town to the next and you get desperate to set down roots. I wanted to create a safe space for folks like me, and I needed to stay in one place. Renegades ensured that.”

Aubrey shook her head, a throaty laugh escaping her throat. “I’ve known you for four years now, and I’m pretty sure that’s the most you’ve ever shared about yourself.”

“Well, we’re having a truce tonight,” Selina said. “Tomorrow I can go back to loathing you, and we can return to the usual witty repartee.”

Aubrey pointed at herself. “Me? Witty? Glad you think so, doll. I don’t keep track of half of the things that leave my mouth.”

“Good to know,” Selina murmured, a smile nudging her lips. The earnest note in Aubrey’s voice had her warming up to the woman far faster than she had in years. The lack of an agenda helped too. Selina slipped off her sandals to hold them in her hand, walking barefoot on the sandy shore. “Won’t the girls be wondering where you went?”

Aubrey shrugged. “They’ll assume I took someone home. It’s my MO when I pull the vanishing act.”

“That sounds pretty lonesome.” The words slipped out before she could help herself. Selina licked her lips, not knowing what to say. The salt air wove past her, caressing her senses.

“Different bed every night? How could that be lonely?” Aubrey joked, yet her voice scraped over the words like a tire crunching uneven rocks. She cast Selina a sideways glance. “Maybe a little,” she admitted, her dark eyes somber in the surrounding dark. The slight gleam from the moonlight only enhanced that sharp, vibrant beauty. This version of the woman, framed by moonlight and unguarded with her hair down, struck Selina as far more gorgeous than the sweet-talker she regularly saw at the bar.

Aubrey bent down to slide off her sneakers, and Selina couldn’t help but follow the motion. Those long legs were on full display, all corded muscle and defined calves, and the red shorts she wore showcased a gorgeous sculpted ass. Selina never argued that the woman was hot—Aubrey Moore undeniably, unequivocally raised her temperature, but she was also the exact sort of person Selina needed to avoid.

She wanted someone to settle down with. Someone who wouldn’t get bored, or cheat, or ditch her when the routine got too monotonous. Been there, done that. She’d learned her lessons well and committed them to heart.

These two characters are hot-and-cold and I love it. Anyhow, what about that SURPRISE I mentioned earlier?

Here comes the amusing and insightful author guest post by Katherine McIntyre (thanks for sharing this gem with us, Miss!):

How Opposed Desires Came About…

            One of the things I’ve noticed through the years is that even if you plan for a standalone, occasionally characters come along that demand a sequel. Or, usually in my case, enough of them cluster to turn the whole thing into a series.

            When I first started writing Confined Desires, I planned for a standalone—a fun jaunt for me while I was furloughed during the pandemic. I certainly hadn’t planned for a sequel, let alone a trilogy. However, then Aubrey made herself known, a side character in Confined Desires who was snarky, flirty, and so blunt that I fell in love immediately. With a character like Aubrey though, I knew she wouldn’t fall quietly into a relationship though. No, she’d be loud, abrasive, and fight it every inch of the way.

            Hence my enemies to lovers vacation romance was born. Selina had been mentioned briefly in Confined Desires, and the aloof bar owner formed the counterpoint to Aubrey. If Aubrey was fire, Selina was ice, and the two opposites clashed on just about everything. Except in this book, once they start getting to know each other behind their defenses, that’s when they begin to uncover similarities too, things that end up drawing them together.

            And, of course, while I was writing Opposed Desires, the third member of the Rehoboth Pact crew, Kyle, came along and stole my heart. She was the adorkable cinnamon roll sort who charmed me immediately, and writing the third and final book came as fast as the second in this series, all inspiration as this noisy band of best friends chattered in my ear. So, if you’re looking to return to summer for a little bit, dive into Opposed Desires today!

Katherine McIntyre, author (look at the sweet-looking woman, awww! <3)

About the Author

Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—and there's an equally high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races to all varieties of men and women.

You can follow the author on:

Thank you so much to all readers of sapphic romance (yay for representation, WOOHOOO! Call me maybe? Ok ok, just jokin'… maybe I'm not? All women are wonderful! YOU ROCK, SWEETHEARTS!), to Katherine McIntyre for creating Aubrey and Selina I just adore and instantly clicked with (it's rare), to Other Worlds Ink for this blog tour offer. I had a blast writing this post and sharing Opposed Desires with you!

Don't forget to check out my book review of Opposed Desires!

And if you've stayed to the end (well, first of all, CONGRATS!), there's a giveaway for you with this awesome tour 🙂 :

Katherine is giving away an Amazon gift card with this tour:

Giveaway for fantastic readers

May the sapphic love be with you on this December 4^th–What, we're on December 2^nd? Bah, still, the mantra still stands, loves. 😉

Make sure not to miss the rest of the blog tour by Other Worlds Ink!

Next stop: Emotion in Motion's blog tomorrow, Friday, December 3^rd!