Recent Reads: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming 

Series: Mead Mishaps #1
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: July 22, 2021

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/ Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis:  

Spice trader Cinnamon's quiet life is turned upside down when she ends up on a quest with a fiery demon in this irreverently quirky rom-com fantasy that is sweet, steamy, and funny as hell—perfect for fans of  Legends & Lattes  and  The Dragon's Bride. 

All she wanted to do was live her life in peace—maybe get a cat, expand the family spice farm. Really, anything that didn't involve going on an adventure where an orc might rip her face off. But they say the Goddess has favorite, and if so, Cin is clearly not one of them... 

After saving the demon Fallon in a wine-drunk stupor, all Fallon wants to do is kill an evil witch enslaving his people. And, who can blame him? But he's dragging Cinnamon along for the ride. On the bright side, at least he keeps burning off his shirt.

Review: 

I adore this cover, so much lovely rep! The older covers were adorable as well. I have seen this one pop up on BookTok and the internet a few times and it was described as a cozy, spicy, romance... and it help up well to that. 

The book follows Cinnamon, a spice trader, who gets drunk at a festival and is accosted by a demon on the way home. Interestingly she helps him out of a curse/spell he is under and now has to go with him on an adventure to save the rest of the demon population. The demon, is named Fallon and is both ...a demon... but sexy so Cin has some mixed feelings around the whole thing. 

I wnjoyed this read. I liked the adventure, it was a bit cringe/creepy in the spicy bits at times but fun overall. Sometimes very over the top but that brought out some of its charm. This would be a good in-between books read, if you need one. It was pretty light all things considered, and while there was action and adventure, I never really felt like I was anxious about the characters well being. They had each other and you just kind of knew they would be ok. 

I also greatly appreciated the diverse characters/cast and having a bigger girl that loves snacks being the MC... ummm wine, and cheese... and apple pockets - I love this girl. (I identified with her really well).

If you are looking for a quick read that probably has more spice than you anticipated... this one is great. I also believe it is on Kindle Unlimited. 

Monthly Re-Cap & TBR Pile (July 2024)

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Here is the progress from June

Much better than May!

The Whisperwicks didn't download properly, so no read til I buy/borrow a copy.

 

~~Books I Read in June 2024~~   

  

  

 TBR for JULY

• A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (friend rec)
• Scarred by Emily McIntire
• A Great Big Visual Hug by Andrés J. Colmenares (review)
• Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange (review from many moons ago)
• Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
• Hope it All Works Out! by Rexa Farazmand (review)

How was your June reading?  

Feel free to share it in the comments below! I would love to know what you are reading! 

Building the Book Pile #454

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

June flew by! I hope you did some fun reading this month. I certainly had a good reading month and am so excited about it. 

I am back at home from my conference and I have about 8 weeks with no travel planned so I am thrilled to just be home and play in the garden, have time with pets, and read.

Coming up on the Blog

This Week:

Monthly Re-Cap and TBR Pile (July 24)

Recent Reads: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (Adult, Spicy)

Recent Reads: The Maiden & The Unseen by Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose (Adult, Spicy)

Coming closer to their release dates: 

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan - Review up on July 25

Wacky Witches and their Peculiar Familiars - Review up on Sept. 5

Books Received Recently...  

 

The Mistress & The Renowned by Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose - Kindle Unlimited

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (Adult, New Adult) -5 stars

Recent Reads: Secrets & Masks by Emerald Slytherin (FacFic, Adult, Spicy) -3 Stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Secrets & Masks by Emerald Slytherin

Secrets & Masks by Emerald Slytherin 

Publisher: Self-pub 
Publication Date:  Completed November 12, 2022

  

Available at Archive of Our Own

Format: Ebook
Source: Downloaded from Archive of Our Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

9 years after the battle of Hogwarts, the war still rages on and everyone is much changed since their days at Hogwarts.

Hermione is the most lethal soldier in The Order, spending her days on rescue missions to free captured Muggleborn slaves and fight on the front line.

For years, she's been meeting in secret with a spy within Voldemort's ranks to exchange information.

But, when she's captured and made prisoner at Malfoy Manor, of all the dark and evil ways she'd envisioned Malfoy would torture her, she never quite imagined anything this horrific.

Review: 

I have been on a Draco/Hermione- ship fanfic kick lately, and I seem to always have one going in the background. I don't often review them becuase they are fan fic and I am reading them for me versus to really share opinions about them but this was a long one and I thought I would share some feelings about it. 

This fanfic follows the Harry Potter group after the war. Voldemort was not defeated but is still reigning with terror, with the help of his army, the mask-wearing elite of the dark order. The Order is trying to keep up and find Horcruxed with little luck. On one mission Hermione gets taken.  After her capture, she and Draco form a love/hate/spicy relationship with each other. 

I enjoyed this fanfic, but it was so long and the cadence had me all over the place. I had to amp myself up for the battles and possible losses and come back down for 'home time' and there was a lot of those ups and downs. The first third of this read was the best part- it all felt new and fresh and I liked the world build and the Voldemort army dynamics. Then things took a turn. Once Hermione and Draco where together, it just started to read like the originals - person in a found family group locates horcruxes to kill Volde.

The ending was so sad, I didn't really care for the real ending, the epiloge was the 'real ending' in myu mind. It was sweet but didn't fully pull back my love for the 1st third of the book. I am glad that I read it though.

Recent Reads: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date:  April 26, 2022

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.

Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.

On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.

Content Warnings: This book contains - childbirth, miscarriage, references to abortion, domestic violence and abuse, references to suicide, infant death, references to cannibalism, as well as violence against women and murder/killing.

Review: 

I have heard great things about this book and grabbed it during my birthday shopping trip. It did not disappoint, but also what the heck did I just read - it was such a crazy ride!

Marra is the 3rd daughter/ princess. Her oldest sister, as one does, marries a prince to a neighboring kingdom to secure safety for her family and their land, but sadly dies during her time there. The family decide that the 2nd sister will now marry the prince to keep their safety. Marra realizes that her eldest sister didn't just die but was killed, and now her other sister is being abused. She is determined to free her sister, by the only way she knows she can, by killing the prince. 

Marra collects the help of a dust-wife, who is a witch of sorts, a godmother, a guy that was trapped in a goblin market, a bone dog that she created, and a demon chicken (my favorite) to go with her on this errand.

I really liked this twisted, dark, and strange fairy-tale esq thing of a book. It was so dark and odd and I LOVED the chicken (best quotes on p.82 of the paperback edition). Marra is stubborn but determined to do anything in her power, and with the help of others to save her sister. What I liked about this take was that, there wasn't this air of 'she isn't like most girls' or that she needed a man to do the job. (Yes, they picked up a man but his 'need' had not been determined yet). I liked the sisterly love element of this fairy tale. 

I also really liked this world building and the explanations for things, i.e. " some things come into being once its inevitable that they will exist" mentality. The author was really good at giving the reader enough to set a stage but also allowing for the mind to wander and make things possible on its own. In some books, that doesn't work, here it did wonderfully. 

This book is a stand-alone though, so I could have gone for something weightier, it still worked. I will note that the book has a pretty slow start as it sets the stage. Overall this was a macabre adventure that was just what I needed.

Building the Book Pile #453

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday folks. I hope you are well. I am here, alive, well enough (these allergies might be the death of me though). I am writing this before heading to Maine for a wedding on Saturday... to then come back on Sunday and prepare to leave for Oregon on Monday... things are just too busy. 

That said I have been reading lots. I have finished what I can of my TBR for the month. Sadly The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees didn't download properly and so I have to remove it from my TBR until I have a chance to pick it up. Which won't be for a little while because the end of June is busy with work travel and a conference.

I hope to have some reviews up for you this week of things I have read. 

How has your June been thus far? 

Coming up on the Blog

This Week:

Recent Reads: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (Adult, New Adult)

Recent Reads: Secrets & Masks by Emerald Slytherin (FacFic, Adult, Spicy)

Coming closer to their release dates: 

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan - Review up on July 25

Wacky Witches and their Peculiar Familiars - Review up on Sept. 5

Books Received Recently...  

 

 Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver - bought

Blood on the Tide by Katee Robert - bought

Have you missed anything lately?

Early Reader Review: Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair by Lucy Knisley -5 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Early Reader Review: Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair by Lucy Knisley

Source: From Netgalley and Random House Graphic in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Woe: A Housecat's Story of Depair by Lucy Knisley 
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Publication Date:  July 2, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

WOE! SCREAM! MEOW! ...PURR? Join the hilarious and of course dramatic world of Linney the House Cat, as her webcomic antics are gathered into graphic novel for the very first time! This collection is perfect for cat lovers and Linney fans alike.

What if our cats could talk? Would they ask endless questions about why we haven't given them wet food...again? Would they scream greetings at the first sign of life before the sun even rises? Linney certainly will.

Have you met Linney yet? If not, prepared to be blessed! Lucy Knisley's online Linney comics are collected for the very first time in this gifty hardcover featuring the internet sensation, Linney. With all-new comics, this collection shows us just how amazing, and what a true gift, all cats are.

 Review: 

Trigger warning: Pet death.

It was so hard for me to hold it together reading this graphic novel about Linney the cat. I had never heard of this author or her cat comics before but a cat owns me so I wanted to see if there was behavioral overlap. Spoiler - there is, cats are weird. 

Lucy gives Linney a wonderful voice in these comics, very 'cat' but also very woe is me... aka cat-like as well. I appreciated her candor around the age of Linney and chronicling the times they shared but also how she left the world. It was refreshing... but very sad. You may leave this one in tears, but it will give you a lot of great laughs beforehand. 

This collection is a great example of remembering the good times you have with loved ones. I think all pet owners would get a laugh out of this book, and if you love/have cats, you will certainly relate to a lot of it as well. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. 

Building the Book Pile #452 - a late edition

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

June is off to a great reading start, but many of my finished books are review copies and I am waiting until a bit closer to release date to post the full reviews. ...sorry :(

I am also SO busy this month. I think everyone has 'that one year with all the weddings', well it is our year. We went to one this passed weekend. It was lovely and the snack/ brunch spread was impressive. We have another one in 2 weeks and then 2 more this Fall. I am tired just thinking about it all.

How has your June been thus far? 

Coming up on the Blog

This Week:

Probably just a book pile... sorry.

Books Received Recently...  

  

The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees from Netgalley for review

Have you missed anything lately?

Monthly Re-Cap and TBR Pile (June 24)

Early/Recent Reads: Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill (Adult) - 4 stars

Early Reader Review: Upstaged (A Graphic Novel) by Robin Easter (MG, GN) - 4 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Upstaged by Robin Easter

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

Upstaged by Robin Easter  

Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Publication Date:  May 28, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:



Goodreads Synopsis:

 In a summer of goodbyes and new beginnings, shy Ashton Price hopes to confess to their theater camp crush in this heartfelt middle-grade graphic novel. Perfect for fans of The Tryout and The Girl from the Sea .

This is the last hurrah, the final curtain call. 

Ever since sixth grade, Ashton Price and their best friend and enduring crush, Ivy Santos, have spent their summers together at theater camp. Now it’s their last year before they part ways for high school, and Ash is determined to end it on a high note!

With Ash as stage manager and Ivy the lead in this year’s musical, this summer’s shaping up to be everything the two could have hoped for. Maybe Ash will even work up the courage to ask Ivy out! But between Ivy rehearsing long hours with her colead and Ash throwing themself into an ambitious stage production, will they end up drifting apart instead?

As summer wanes and September looms, Ash and Ivy’s friendship will change forever, one way or another.

Review: 

Happy June, Happy Pride month! 

Upstaged is a middle grade graphic novel about Ash and Ivy. Told from Ash's point of view. They are headed to their last summer of theater camp and Ivy is starring in the play while Ash is the stage manager. Ash has had a crush on Ivy and this is their last chance to tell her. 

Their time at camp is not going as planned from the start and Ash is starting to feel like everything is going to be ruined. Not only are they not bunk-mates but Ivy is also spending a lot of time with the other lead Lukas. 

I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see a middle grade LGBTQ+ representation, and it was throughout the book, not just the main characters. I appreciated the use of pronouns and that all that characters had them. I know it still feels a bit odd to read "my pronouns are..." but think that it should be the norm in all books, especially when people are introducing themselves to others anyway. 

The illustration and coloration throughout were really well done and I think that it was easy to read and middle grade readers will enjoy it. The story was great! Ash and Ivy's friendship and conflict aside, the other characters were great as well and the overall premise was fun and light. It was a sweet, straightforward graphic novel.

I don't want to give too much of that plot away, so if you are a fan of theater, summer camps, and a diverse cast of characters, this would be a fun book to pick up! 

A note about the review copy - I know they have to have watermarks before release bit it make some panels blurry and difficult to read. 

Recent Reads: Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill

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

Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill 

Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Publication Date:  May 21, 2024 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Two total opposites. One race through the Great Outdoors. In this grumpy-sunshine teen romance from the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends , the trail to true love doesn't always come with a map.

Natalie Hart has always been loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself. But then comes her freshman year of college, when she loses her merit scholarship and gains one pesky little anxiety diagnosis.

Hesitant to take out more student loans, Natalie decides to shoot her shot and applies to Wild Adventures , a popular outdoorsy reality show. Sure, Natalie prefers her twelve-step skincare routine to roughing it on the Appalachian Trail while competing in challenges against other college kids, but that scholarship prize money is calling her name. High risk, high reward, right?

Enter Finn Markum, her randomly assigned, capital- O Outdoorsy teammate whose growl could rival a black bear. These partners have more friction than a pair of new hiking boots. Or is it flirtation? Turns out falling in love might be the wildest adventure of all...

Review: 

This book follows Natalie, a college student looking to earn some money by winning an outdoor/ wilderness TV show competition. Natalie is an actress, in school, and needs to win this money to continue there. Her family is unsupportive of her dream and she is doing her best to do what she needs to do. Could she have worked this summer, obviously, but winning a large amount of money, while using some of her acting skills, is a better bet.  She is paired with the stoic and grumpy Finn. Finn is from Vermont, knows the outdoors and camping and thinks Natalie is ridiculous. 

This was your classic grumpy/sunshine, falls for each other, opposites attract romance. Finn and Natalie don't really have too much in common but forced proximity and only one tent have a hand in making them learn to like each other and even trust each other to succeed at the TV show challenges and attempt to win. 

Both characters were fun and stubborn. I found this book to be really entertaining, yes it was cliche in a lot of ways but that is what I needed. It was a pretty soft and  easy read and I think that if you like the outdoors it will hit in ways you will enjoy. 

I liked that they were running around the AT, the challenges were fun and funny at times and the banter was good. Overall, this was a cute and fun romance that would be a great summer read by a lake.