This Chick Read: Only Good Enemies (Galactic Bonds #2) by Jennifer Estep

When we last saw Vesper Quill, she had been kidnapped, thrown into a war, found herself bonded to one of the world’s famous military warriors, raised to a Lady in society, and taken over the tech company she used to work for… I know, this is a lot for a first book! Book 2 jumps right in where book 1 left off. Vesper is the head of Quill Corp, making all things tech work smoothly. Yes, she’s still a lady, but she stays as far away from society as she can until she gets kidnapped and is thrown back into that hellish world, with her bonded partner, Kyrion Calderon right by her side. Will they be able to keep their bond a secret or will their brutish leader syphon off their powers as they did Kyrion’s parents, ultimately killing them. This fast-paced novel never left us hanging for answers. It delivered the plot in a wham, bam, thank you ma’am kind of way… and I loved it!

The Galactic Bonds series is my favorite kind of sci-fi serial. Gutsy heroine meets alpha male hero and they strike up an unlikely partnership all while fighting enemies and a growing attraction. This story was filled with heaps of action adventure, and a whole lot of sassy and grit, and it never stopped moving. If you pick up this novel, be prepared to not be able to put it down until you’ve read the final page. The action never stops and you just have to see how this couple will fight everyone to stay together.

I really enjoyed the first novel in the series, but I have to say that this one blew book #1 out of the water. What made it better? Vesper is no longer fighting against these powers she is developing and is learning how to use them, for herself, but also in the fight against evil. I love good vs. evil plots. Also, Kyrion is no longer worried about how his parents died, he realizes that what he and Vesper have is worth fighting for and chooses to do that almost from the start of the book. That is a hard combo to resist! There are also plenty of fun side characters who ad humor, camp, and also create a team with Vesper and Kyrion so that they aren’t going it alone anymore.

If you like sci-fi serials with a hint of romance, you’ll enjoy this series. I swear, I have never been disappointed by a Jennifer Estep novel. Her style is so easy to read and I always enjoy every page turned.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Only Good Enemies

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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This Chicks Audio Review: House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Bryce Quinlan was a party girl and then her best friend was murdered leaving Bryce to spiral into the darkest of places. Hunt Athalar a fallen Angel, was once a fierce warrior and is now slave to the Archangel. He is tasked with partnering with Bryce to find the killer. As the two of them search out the killer they dig through Crescent City’s underbelly developing a trust for each other that draws them out of the darkness.

This novel was a commitment at over 800 pages. When you translate that to an audiobook, it is 27+ hours of your time. I’ll admit that was a bit daunting but Elizabeth Evans, the narrator, did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life and embuing them with different voices so that I didn’t have any trouble following each character and piecing together the story. The world this author creates was fascinating and strange. Filled with angels, demons, fae, were, mer, sprite’s, etc. There was every fantasy and paranormal race in this novel that it could have been a bit much, but somehow the hierarchy all made sense and we were given a path to follow with two great characters in Bryce and Hunt.

Bryce was my favorite kind of heroine. She was sassy, layered, emotional, loyal, and most of all easy to love. As half-fae, she dealt with discrimination but was strong because of that difference, and in fact that strength is what carried her through her investigation. She had balls and didn’t back down from a challenge and she was given several in this novel. As her partner, Hunt was kind of the antithesis of Bryce. He was once a deadly warrior, able to bring lightening down on his enemies. As a slave to the Archangel, he has to do his bidding. Luckily he is partnered with Bryce, who brings a little light into his life despite also driving him crazy. Their chemistry was amazing and I loved how they grew into each other throughout this novel.

In an 800 page novel you aren’t going to be able to keep the plot going full speed ahead the entire time. Yes, there were chapters that could’ve been cut to shorten the book, but if you stick it out to the final third the culmination of their investigation reaches a catalyst that had me on the edge of my seat. It was so worth the 600 pages I had to read to get to that point. Such a great conclusion and it had me immediately reach for the second novel. I wasn’t scared to jump back into another 800 page story (or 27 hour audiobook!). ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* House of Earth and Blood

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

When Ari and Josh first met Ari was a rising comedian doing odd jobs to pay the rent while sharing a flat in New York with a girl Josh hoped to make his girlfriend. They couldn’t be more different, he was a chef with a very rigid schedule and timeline to fall in love whereas Ari was carefree and didn’t want to be constrained by the rules of a relationship. They clash and then don’t see each other again for a few years, when inevitably they run into each other again with the same kid of results. This happens a few times over the years until they are both handling break-ups at the same time and strike up an unlikely friendship until their turning to each other for comfort becomes something more. You, Again is a slow burn enemies to friends to lovers romance that takes the reader on a journey.

I couldn’t help but make comparisons to When Harry Met Sally as I was reading this novel. Ari and Josh literally run into each other at different points of their lives over about 10 years. Despite Ari’s job as a comedian and some witty conversation it didn’t have as much humor as When Harry Met Sally, but it had just as much of an emotional hit. Over those 10 years both of these characters change so much and even though they seem to make unlikely friends, when they finally get to that point of needing each other the reader is just really ready for that relationship to evolve. From that point forward the pace speeds up just a little but Kate Goldbeck held back that happily ever after until just the right moment. I felt wrung out by the delay but it was really worth the wait.

I know there were other characters in this book that helped make our heroine and hero real, Josh’s sister, Ari’s best friend, and a couple of other friends who meandered in and out over the years, but the real heart of this story was Ari and Josh that I now can’t even remember the side characters names in order to give them a shout out. All I remember was how I felt as our two main characters fell in and out of like and love, and as they got older seeing what used to be important to them change and become not so concrete. I liked the realness of this plot. We are not the same people we were 10 or 20 years ago and it’s natural to shift our perspectives or bend for a good friendship. How Ari and Josh evolved then fell in love was not easy but it was really rewarding.

You, Again was not the book I expected to read when I read the plot, it was a lot more. It has a bit of humor, yes, but it was the emotional depth in these characters that took me by surprise and kept me interested. At times it wasn’t easy to read and I was a little uncomfortable but those are the best kinds of books aren’t they? This one made me think while reading it and that is the sign of a really good book. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* You, Again

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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It’s Monday, what are you reading? (9/11/23)

I’ve spent the last two weeks moving so I really haven’t read too many books, but I did finish one book by Ashley Poston that was cute, and started a new one last night. I miss my reading time! Here is what is on my virtual nightstand!

JUST FINISHED

I’ve enjoyed this author’s recent adult contemporary novels and wanted to finish out this young adult series I’d started a few years ago. The Princess and the Fangirl was a cute re-telling of The Prince and the Pauper, although I certainly wouldn’t have gotten that reference if I hadn’t read it in the synopsis. It was a fun story and I really enjoyed the comic con setting and interesting characters!

JUST STARTED

Very easy to get into and as entertaining as Meghan Quinn’s novels usually are. This was the perfect book for me to pick up and escape into!

Have a great Monday and happy reading!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score

Sloane Walton and Lucian Rollins were once close friends but are now frenemies at best. They are on two opposite ends of the spectrum, she’s sunshine and rainbows and he’s surly and too good looking for his own good. Constantly thrown together by their best friends, they argue and bicker, making everyone think they hate each other, but deep down are remnants of that friendship they used to have. When Lucian’s investigation into a local criminal bleeds over onto his friends, Sloane is the first person he wants to lock in a room for her own safety, but Sloane’s just like her dad. A bleeding heart do-gooder who wants to help and get to the bottom of the mystery, despite jeopardizing her own safety. This is the story that fans of this series have been waiting for- Lucian and Sloane’s story.

I enjoyed the first two novels in the series but Lucian and Sloane’s story was the one I was really waiting to read. Surly bad guy Lucian was such a mystery, we were never really given any backstory and only the fine polished surface of good looks and possible villain. We knew he really wasn’t though. Sloane, in the previous books, was always a fun best friend and the person you went to for good advice. The author dangled their dislike in front of the reader’s faces making us want to take a big chomp out of them but we were never given the chance. Boy, that wait was worth it.

Once you dive into this novel and understand their backstory, everything makes sense. I fell in love with Sloane’s do-gooder attitude even more and my curiosity about Lucian only grew until by the end I was all in for these two seemingly mis-matched pair, who were actually a perfect fit. One of the things I love the most about enemies to lovers plots is seeing the alpha male go from serious to cracking a smile and there were many smiles to be had by everyone by the end of this book. Well done Ms. Score! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* Things We Left Behind

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: The Long Game by Elena Armas

When an altercation between Adalyn and the Miami FC soccer mascot goes viral Adalyn is forced to take a leave of absence, sent by the owner of the team (her father) to troubleshoot a team in North Carolina, the Green Warriors. What she finds in North Carolina isn’t a minor league soccer team but a team of young girl misfits and their surprising coach ex- pro soccer goalie Cameron Caldani. From day one, Adalyn and Cam but heads but they both have a soft spot for these girls and team together to provide this struggling team a winning formula.

Honestly, this author had me at the soccer romance, but I was also along for the rom-com and enemies to lovers tropes. Adalyn was that type A pencil skirt and high heels exec who was definitely out of her element in the wilds of North Carolina, but I admired her spirit and her need to redeem herself if not only for her father and team, but also for herself. Cam had his own reasons for being in NC and finding out those reasons took a good long while, but luckily the tension between our two main characters kept my interest and then those sweet girls provided the comic relief and heart tugging moments.

Like I said above, I love a great sports romance and whereas this one was a little light on the sports it still fit the bill. The small town romance aspects with the kooky characters, lovable kids, and fish out of water elements helped keep the plot moving providing enjoyable scenes and heart-warming moments. Elena Armas certainly knows how to deliver.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and from the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Long Game

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Big Little Spells (Witchlore #2) by Hazel Beck

After helping her sister beat back evil in the first novel, Rebekah Wilde is drawn back to St. Cyprian to come before the Joywood (think witch tribunal) to go through the same trial she took that had her banished from her friends and family and told she couldn’t practice magic anymore. Now, back in her hometown, she’s been embraced by her friends, and has come face to face with the immortal who trained her as a teenager and whom is offering his help once again. Nicholas Frost is still as remote and arrogant as ever, but for Rebekah he is willing to take chances and beat the odds and win her heart.

Rebekah is a bit more of a rebel than her sister, so her perspective seemed more fiery and unapologetic, which I’ll admit, I like in a heroine. She definitely has a chip on her back, but she’s also hiding a secret that she knows will be revealed. This secret is the catalyst to why she has remained absent for the last decade, and facing her own demons is harder than facing the Joywood. I’ll admit that Nicholas, because of his stoic demeanor isn’t the kind of hero I typically root for because he was so hard to understand. However, I liked the combustible chemistry these two characters had in every scene, and that kept me turning the pages, curious as to how their relationship would develop.

I love good vs. evil stories and that’s what this series brings to the table. The Joywood have a hidden agenda that Rebekah and her friends will slowly unveil. In this novel we get glimpses of the why’s and wherefore’s without revealing every bit of that story line, leaving the reader curious about what the next book will reveal. I liked this book enough to want to read the next novel and see where the story leads me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Big Little Spells

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase a book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

Cassie Greenburg defines the words “struggling artist”. About to be evicted from her apartment, she answers an ad for a roommate despite the amount of rent being questionably inexpensive. When she meets Frederick, he is odd, but beggars can’t be choosers and she really doesn’t have any other option if she doesn’t want to sleep on her friends couch for the rest of her adult life. He works completely different hours than she, so really she shouldn’t see him that much anyway. When she comes home one day and finds bags of blood in the fridge, Frederick has to come clean.

This plot sounds fun, right? Could be campy but I do like to give debut authors a chance. I thought Jenna Levine did a good job of giving the reader a great feel for our heroine, Cassie. She was a little naive, had low self esteem due to her upbringing, but had a positive outlook on life. I actually liked her as our heroine. Frederick though, was a caricature of a European vampire. Very good looking, formal way of speaking, and dressed to the nines all the time. All of these things could have made for a fun character, but old Freddie just seemed kind of stiff and uninteresting, and admittedly he should have been the more interesting of the two due to his vampire status. Despite these minor problems, I kept reading hoping that the author would either deliver the camp or make our characters feel real and get me to root for their romance. Neither thing happened.

I did finish the book, and after reading through to the end and sitting on my feelings before writing the review I can say with confidence that this wasn’t my favorite book…. but I have definitely read worse. The author had some trouble with her characters, but the idea for the novel was sound. I just didn’t fall in love with this book. ❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* My Roommate is a Vampire

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: The Love Plot by Samantha Young

Star Shine Meadows believes in bringing happiness to others and her jobs as a line sitter and professional costume character actor let’s her stay true to herself. When she meets grumpy (and very attractive) veterinarian Rafe Whitman at his niece’s birthday party while wearing a princess costume she doesn’t allow his surliness to spoil her day. When she spots him while waiting in line for a client she doesn’t hesitate to embarrass him publicly while calling out a greeting. While Rafe doesn’t understand Star, he also doesn’t hesitate to hire her to be his fake girlfriend to get his mother and sister in law off his back. Star isn’t sure about this offer but accepts because it’s a lot of money, but she is curious about this handsome, surly man. The Love Plot explores their journey.. and it’s a surprising pleasure!

Star was raised by hippie parents and although her upbringing was not the best has a determination to be happy that I can’t help but admire. Always trying to bring a smile to people’s faces, and live a stress-free, no strings attached life is completely different than how Rafe Whitman lives his own. He is very structured, has expectations, and comes from a privileged family. He is tired of his mother and sister in law trying to set him up with various women and takes this leap of hiring Star so that she can give him six months of peace. What he doesn’t expect is to be drawn to this woman, not just for her spectacular looks, but also because of the way she has chosen to live her life. Reading about their journey and how they both change through this novel was rewarding and I realized how skilled this author was to draw me in by such a simple plot.

This plot may be simple, using trope’s I’ve read before, but Star was a completely new character to read and I really enjoyed seeing her open Rafe’s eyes, as well as transforming her own life to be a more complete person. It was interesting as well as heart warming. I truly enjoyed reading this book, it was a weekend well spent. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Love Plot

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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It’s Monday, what are you reading? (8/28/23)

It’s my birthday! Woot Woot! Needless to say, between that and moving this week it’s been a bit busy and I’m reading comfort books. Sometimes you just have to pick up something you know you like and do a re-read, right? Here’s what’s on my virtual shelf.

JUST FINISHED

A bit like When Harry Met Sally, You, Again follows Ari and Josh through about 10 years. It’s not until they meet again just when they need each other the most that they strike up that friendship that turns into something more. I liked this one a lot. It made me think!

JUST STARTED

The second book in this series just came out and reminded me how much I love this author. So I picked up this book for the fourth time for a re-read. If you’re a fan of the Great British Baking Championship you’ll love these characters!

It’s going to be another busy week but I hope to find more time to read.

Happy Monday and happy reading!

Deb

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