Mar 23, 2023

Recent Reads: Ruthless Villains by Marion Blackwood


Ruthless Villains by Marion Blackwood 
Series: Ruthless Villains #1
Publisher: Black Dagger Publishing
Publication Date:  October 24, 2022



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Ebook
Source: Borrowed - Kindle Unlimited.


Rating:



Goodreads Synopsis: 
The enemy of my enemy is not my friend. It is the person whose heart I want to cut out.

In a world where magic is distributed equally, there are some people who refuse to share their power. Dark mages. Lethal. Selfish. And utterly without morals.

Audrey Sable is one of them. As a poison mage, she can bring men to their knees with a flick of her wrist. But the man she really wants to kill will not go down so easily. Callan Blackwell is also a powerful dark mage, and he would like nothing better than to see Audrey beg for mercy at his feet. But their hatred for one another will have to wait.

When the heroic champions of equality prepare to launch an attack that will wipe out the remaining dark mages, Audrey and Callan are forced to put their war on hold and instead work together. They have one chance to stop the self-righteous heroes before it is too late, but their mutual animosity is bound to get in the way of the mission. And the problem with blazing feelings like hatred is that it only takes one spark to turn it into burning passion.

Audrey and Callan's temporary union is undoubtedly a dangerous one. To the world. And most of all, to their own ruthless hearts.
Review: 
I found this book on Kindle Unlimited and picked it up, it is pretty much all steam with some plot. The story follows dark mages who are fighting to ensure they can keep their powers. Audrey and Callan are feuding mages, and they are literally trying to kill each other but when there is a threat on their livelihood they are asked to work together for a little while to ensure the threat is nullified. Although they loathe each other, they work together and pretend to be a couple in order to finish the task at hand. 

Audrey is impulsive and bold, and Callan is strong and determined and they are both super stubborn leading to hilarious sexy altercations and interactions, if that isn’t your jam, I understand, but it was funny. 

The plot was overall ok, it was an enemies to lovers to enemies situation that I think was done ok, there was enough of a plot to make their togetherness somewhat a thing… that being said the writing is pretty bad and there were even some minor errors. This is the first in a series, and leaves the reader on a cliffhanger, so there is enough for me to continue the series if I have the time. I am not totally sold on that yet. 

Mar 20, 2023

Recent Reads: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent


The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent 

Series: Crowns of Nyaxia #1
Publication Date:  August 30, 2022



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Ebook
Source: Borrowed- Kindle Unlimited


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Review: 

I don't even remember how I found this book. Might have just been browsing but also might have been one of those TikToks with an excerpt, either way it was boasted as a vampire fantasy with a romance element. I have been looking for a fun fantasy series and this one was a good one to start. 

The book follows Oraya, a human brought into the vampire court by the current king when she was a child. She is now older, and she is entering a tournament in order to receive a wish from a goddess in the hope of becoming more to her vampire father, and stronger for herself. The tournament has a number of trials that she must pass through and only one can win, and she is the only human competing, the rest are vampires. Oraya is strong, has learned to protect herself, and is fighting for herself throughout this book. 

I really enjoyed the tournament and the various trials that she is put through, there is a lot of world building around them. We get some of the vampire world and history before she begins the trials and then little by little also gain more information about this goddess that they are fighting for. Oraya is such a passionate character it is hard not to root for her, although sometimes she is not taking the smartest path. She is stubborn and strong-willed almost to her detriment at times. 

The overall plot was a little slow, the trials themselves moved pretty quickly but some of the interludes were a little boring to me at times, I wanted the action and movement in the story. There were a lot of great plot twists and interesting politics that arose as you continued the story that I enjoyed. I think that the next book with have more of that as well. 

The romantic element is a slow burn enemies to lovers thing, that worked well and got spicy in the end. I think that it was easy to see coming and that these two have a lot of respect for one another in the end... but boooooy that ending... I was not expecting it and I cannot wait for book 2. 

I want to say more about this book, but I think leaving more to the reader is best for this book. There were a lot of interesting surprises and characters and I think it had more impact because I went in pretty blind to what the plot was really about... Overall if you are looking for a fantasy with a vampire focus, but also don't mind some steam, this could be for you.

Mar 19, 2023

Building the Book Pile #427

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Well hello there book-fam. I hope you are doing wonderful! I am suffering from weird jet-lag/ sleep schedule issues becuase I just returned from my work trip overseas. I had a lovely time and here are some pics. I went to Israel with 23 students, we did cultural activites for a few days and then visited Start-Ups for the remainder of the trip. 

     
 

I finished a few steamy-romances on the trip... they are quick reads, so I will have some reviews up for those soon and some YA releases in the beginning of April as well. 

Stay well. 
-S



Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (Adult)

Recent Reads: Ruthless Villains by Marion Blackwood (Adult)


Books Received Recently...   
 

Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson - Bought on sale on Amazon


Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.
Happy Reading!

Mar 10, 2023

Recent Reads: The Unstoppable Startup: Mastering Israel's Secret Rules of Chutzpah by Uri Adoni


The Unstoppable Startup: Mastering Israel's Secret Rules of Chutzpah  by 
Uri Adoni
Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership
Publication Date:  September 7, 2020



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Hardback
Source: Bought for work


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 
Discover the bold secrets to Israel’s incredible track record of success in this new guide that will help make any startup unstoppable. More than half of all startups fail - often during the crucial early stages of development when they need to prove their viability on a limited budget. However, when it comes to startup success, one country stands out: Israel. Even though it is a relatively small country, Israel has one of the highest concentrations of startups in the world, has the highest venture capital per capita, is one of the top countries in terms of number of companies listed on NASDAQ, and is well-recognized as a global leader in research and development. In  The Unstoppable Startup , veteran venture capitalist Uri Adoni goes behind the scenes to explain the principles and practices that can make any startup, anywhere in the world, become an unstoppable one. Packed with insider accounts from leaders who have realized bold visions,  The Unstoppable Startup  distills Israeli chutzpah into six operational rules that will help you to: Adoni implemented these practices throughout his more than 12 years as a venture capitalist for one of Israel's most successful venture funds, and he continues to utilize these same proven startup strategies today in metropolitan areas in the US. The Unstoppable Startup  provides readers with insights and operational advice on how to run a startup, and how to overcome challenges?that almost every startup faces.
Review: 
I was asked to read this book for a work trip and it was very interesting. We are headed to Israel for a Global MBA requirement and so we will experience start-ups in Israel first-hand when we arrive with company visits. This was a great lead up to that. The author did a great job talking about all different types of tech start-ups and how Israel is positioned so well to help build them. He overviews the people and the qualities that make good start-up leaders and then shows through examples. 

The beginning of the book is all about Israeli chutzpah and how the people can be a bit different than those in other parts of the world and how it works in their advantage. He then talks about start ups the rules to help you and then gives lots of detail about how to go about certain aspects. Even if you aren't in Israel I think this would be a great book for those interested in learning how to build a start-up and what it might entail, both the good and bad. 

Mar 8, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner


 



 
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Publisher: Park Row
Publication Date:  March 21, 2023


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17608898-the-killing-jar?from_search=true&search_version=service
Synopsis:  

Why I Am Waiting:
I really enjoyed The Last Apothecary, and this one sounds like a fun mystery!

Mar 7, 2023

Early Reader Review: Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir 
Publisher: Level Best Books - Level Elevate
Publication Date:  March 7, 2023


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20


Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 
Seventeen-year-old Scarlett, unlike her theatrically gifted parents, is not one to spend time near a spotlight. Scarlett dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer, where she can flex her creative talents away from a crowd. So it's no surprise when she sneaks into her school's costume shop to explore the racks. Unexpected, however, is coming face-to-face with Nathaniel Wilder, a talented theater student who piques a new interest.

With fashion still as her main priority, Scarlett vows to learn how to make a 50s-inspired dress for her best friend, Macie. After all, she needs a strong portfolio of work to help her get into her dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology. The one problem? She has no idea how to operate a sewing machine. Thanks to Nathaniel's encouragement, Scarlett decides to shadow the school's drama teacher to practice her skills, hoping to fuse her passion for fashion with theater...and be closer to him for the spring play.

Scarlett's designs are unfolding, but a distressing event involving Macie shakes everyone in Scarlett's world—causing their friendship to falter and Nathaniel to unexpectedly pull away. With building stressors threatening the rest of the year, including a rival who wants to tarnish Scarlett's reputation, Scarlett must rely on her determined spirit and newfound sewing skills to keep her fashion dreams—and her most important relationships—from unraveling.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Attempted sexual assault and threatened violence. 

Review: 

This Young Adult novel follows Scarlett, a 17-year-old junior in high school who is an aspiring designer. She is an only child and pretty much perfect. Her parents trust her and support her, and she has everything she could want or need. In this story she is living through some of her first teenage turmoil, her best friend Macie isn't talking to her as much as she used to and there is a boy, she likes that is giving her mixed messages. 

While all of this seems like I might give the book a meh review, it really was a cute book about romance and love in high school. I just found Scarlett to read a little younger than her stated 17-year-old age. It is possible that I read her as younger because of how naive she is. She is somewhat sheltered by her parents, and it shows in her language and inner monologue. 

Scarlett is just going about her life when she meets Nathaniel and then she is swooning. He is wonderful and he likes her and pays attention to her. While navigating this new relationship her bestie, is being a typical teen and getting herself into not ideal situations, some not her fault, and now she is frustrated with Scarlett too. All the while, Scarlett is trying to be a supportive and protective friend and also live her dream of trying to be a fashion designer someday.  

While her passion is fashion, I felt like those were second note to the romance in this story, and the friendship, while important to the story, also fell a little short because of the love interest. Overall though it was charming and light and a very quick read.  

If you are looking for a young adult romance, that is fairly light, and don't mind some insta-love, you should be good to go, but I would put a trigger warning on this book for attempted sexual assault and threatening violence. 

Mar 6, 2023

Recent Reads: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 
Publisher: Celadon Books
Publication Date: 
February 5, 2019 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true  https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Harbdack/ Audible Audio
Source: Little Library find/ bought with Audible credit.


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.
 Review: 

A few months ago, I found a lovely hardback of this book in a local little library and snagged it. It has been on my ‘to read’ list for a while and it got a lot of hype when it was released so I wanted to see what that was all about. I really didn't want to read the full synopsis or any comments about the book, since I know that thrillers can so easily be ruined by them, and I was so glad I didn't peek. 

The Silent Patient is about a woman accused of her husband’s murder, but no one know why she did it since she has not spoken since the murder. The book has some of her journal entries leading up to the accident, but most of the story is told from the point of view of a psychotherapist who placed himself in that path of the hospital she is in in order to be her doctor. So the story is essentially the doctor, Theo, trying to get her to talk to him and open up about why. 

The interesting part of this book is that while Alicia is sitting there not talking and Theo is patiently trying to help her, he life is in turmoil. His wife has been cheating and he has figured it out and it is driving him a bit mad as well. 

This book was so oddly, and wonderfully written, the twists, turns, and red herrings were so well done. I could feel what was coming but not in the way it was inevitably revealed. Suspicions were torn apart little by little and left with lingering questions of how that came together beautifully in the end. 

The only thing that I felt off-putting was the number of times the author mentioned things were Greek-like, Greek statues, used Greek references, one or two, fine, but one in almost every chapter was excessive and I felt I could have made a drinking game out of it because it was so frequent.  

Overall, this book was a wild ride that I couldn't put down. Once I started reading, I wanted to read more and more until I figured it out.


Mar 5, 2023

Building the Book PIle #426

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Lots of scrambling this week to get things done, read some required reading for a trip... pack and all that jazz. I am traveling for work over the next 2 weeks, and I am excited about it but will miss my hubs and pets, so that will be hard. 

I wasn't very productive this week on the reading front, but I should have a review or two up for you this week.

Stay well. 
-S



Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (Adult)

Early Reader Review: Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir (YA)

Waiting on Wednesday

Recent Reads: The Unstoppable Startup: Mastering Israel's Secret Rules of Chutzpah by Uri Adoni (Non-fiction, Adult)


Books Received Recently...   
 
  
  


The Lost Galumpus by Joseph Helgerson, and Illustsated by Udayana Lugo - from Librarything Early Revierwers Program for review


Also got some Summer Publications sent along 🌴

The Byways by Mary Pascual - from the publisher for review. 

Love & Resistance by Kara Chen - from the publisher for review.

Thief Liar Lady by DL Soria - from the ublisher for review.


Have you missed anything lately?

If you are interested in supporting my ability to stay awake and read please consider dontating - Coffee  is appreciated ... Ko-fi

Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.
Happy Reading!

Mar 2, 2023

Monthly Re-Cap (Feb 23) and TBR Pile (March 23)


Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Here is the progress from February



Not the best showing, but it was a short month.
I was sad to DNF one this month.


~~Books I Read in February 2023~~  
   
         

        
~~Links to Some Reviews~~
Others might be coming soon...


 TBR for March


  1. Your Dream for Me by Alison Schaffir - finishing from Feb.
  2. Cooper & Packrat: Mystery of the Lost Lynx by Tamra Wight
  3. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
  4. The Other Side of Infinity by Joan Smith
  5. The Cherished by Patricia Ward
  6. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

How was your January reading? 
Feel free to share it in the comments below! I would love to know what you are reading!