Tag: fantasy

This Chick Read: Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman

A different take on the Scarlet Pimpernel story, Scarlet takes place during the French Revolution in a world where vampires are among the elite in society, and are being put to their deaths via guillotine. Marie Antoinette and her children are being held in prison awaiting their trial and eventual deaths. The league of the Scarlet Pimpernel want to save the French monarchy and find the perfect distraction, a young English maid who is the spitting image of the French queen. Now embroiled in a mission beyond her life’s normal scope, Eleanor is determined to help save their lives and in return improve her position in society.

I’m a big fan of Genevieve Cogman’s previous series, The Invisible Library, and really enjoyed the intricate world she created full of dragon’s, fae, and librarian’s who fought agents of chaos. I was eager to pick up Scarlet and see how this author’s creativity would apply to a well-known historical reality and fictional cast plus vampires and mystical elements. I’ll admit to feeling a bit let down. This novel felt like it was a little lost. Eleanor was a naive young maid who wished for a better life and was thrown into this secret spy society, and despite the situations she found herself in, never seemed to grow into the character I know this author wished most fervently for her to become. I say the word fervently because I could almost feel the push and pull of machinations in plotlines that somehow seemed to fall a little flat. Disappointment thy name is Scarlet.

I’ve read a lot of Scarlet Pimpernel stories, seen movies, watched tv shows, etc. and this novel was certainly a different take, but what it failed to do was make what Percy was doing feel real. I think part of the problem is that we were viewing the story through the eyes of Eleanor, a young maid who was educated by books, but not in life. A lot of what she viewed (and there wasn’t much of it truly) was through the eyes of naiveté and/or a greed to get out of her circumstances into something better. The contrast between that ‘want’ and what was going around her in Paris during the Revolution was a bit jarring and hard to overlook. I mean the citizens of France rose up against the wealthy because they were hungry and poor and this girl (and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel) wanted to maintain society as it was. I’m not sure how you could fix that problem in her character except by making her more sympathetic. I don’t know, but what I do know is that I too felt like I was left bereft… of a plot that made more sense.

I had hope for a more intricate world building from this author. The story and world didn’t feel very detailed, which I know this author can do and I kept waiting for it to kick into another gear and it just never did. ❤️❤️❣️

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

If you’d like to purchase a copy of this book please click this link!* Scarlet

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Magic Tides (Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years #1) by Ilona Andrews

Kate, Curran, and their young son Connor have moved away from Atlanta to start fresh in Wilmington, NC. Their aim is to build their home and live a quiet life, with a low profile, and stay out of trouble. When one of their contractor’s family members is kidnapped that quiet life gets upended when Kate decides to involve herself and make sure his young nephew is returned to his family safe and sound. Needless to say, her low profile is blown. Magic, sea monsters, and gods, OH MY!

This short novella was a great fix for fans of the Kate Daniels series, but dare I say it? It was not long enough! Kate Daniels is one of my all-time favorite heroines and reading a brand new story with her bad-@$$ attitude? Needless to say, I was all in and launched into my 6th re-read of her series to prepare myself for this four hour re-immersion. It was so wonderful (sigh).

What starts off as your basic recovery of a small child turns into an epic Kate adventure. We travel from the dregs of Wilmington, to the local vampire base, and Kate tries to stay undercover. In the meantime, Curran is waiting at home for all those she’s pissed off. Fun! Sorry, this is a totally biased review, but I’m a huge fan of this author duo and will read and re-read everything they release. Speaking of which, I read on the authors website that Wilmington #2 will be out in June so you don’t have to wait too long to get your next fix, and these two books will be released as audiobooks together. This year is going to fly by with so much to look forward to. 🙂 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Magic Tides

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (3/20/23)

I have gone down the rabbit hole of previous season’s “best of” book lists and have recently added to my already overburdened TBR. BUT, I’ve also knocked off a couple of these new, wonderful books from that list already. I’ve had an awesome week of reading and listening to some great audiobooks. Here’s what’s on my nightstand.

JUST FINISHED

I’ll admit to having looked at this book quite a few times, but I’d never picked it up because I’d read a couple of average “witchy” books last fall and didn’t want a repeat of mediocrity. However, I was sent a ‘best of 2022’ romance books list by an audiobook company and this book fell into that list. I took a look at it again, had an extra couple of credits and downloaded it to my Libro.fm app. I adored the English narrator, and loved the story. This book was so much more than a romance, it was really about an outcast finally finding a place where she belonged. Who can’t get behind a story like that? The narration was seriously good too.

JUST STARTED

This is a new one for me. I haven’t read the other books in the series, nor have I read any books by this author. However, it has a ghostly-mysterious feel and I was in the mood to switch up my genre’s and felt like reading a mystery. I literally just started it, so I’ll let you know how it goes!

The above two books are different choices for me but I feel really good about spending my time with these characters. How is your current book treating you?

Happy Monday and happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Series #6) by Ilona Andrews

Sean’s werewolf mentor is captured and the only way Dina and Sean can get to the planet where he is being hidden is to use a portal held by the Dominion. To get permission they have to hold the Dominion’s spouse search in Gertrude Hunt, their Inn. Expanding their Inn to provide comfort, safety, and food to multiple species is all in a day’s work for Innkeeper’s Dina and Sean, but when an assassination plot is thrown into the mix their skills are stretched to the breaking point- and this is all before they can save Sean’s mentor. Life as an Innkeeper is never boring!

This series has all the things that make you love reading fantasy novels. Interesting characters, vibrant world-building, great action sequences, and heart. Dina is the heart of these novels and it’s her actions that drive the story. When she and Sean agree to host the spouse search in return for gaining access to the portals to the world where Wilmos is being held, she goes all in on making this project for the Dominion’s ruler a success. The comfort and safety of all of her guests is of utmost importance to an Innkeeper and managing each species while not killing anyone, or having anyone be killed is a challenge, but this team is up to the task. The descriptions and needs of each species are so varied and interesting, it’s amazing to me that these authors can make a tree species come to life in a way that makes the reader react with feelings of like or dislike is amazing. To steal from Paul Hollywood’s Great British Baking Show – their writing is not style over substance, it’s an amazing balance of the two.

Sweep of the Heart’s spouse search is political machinations at its best. Each species receives an ask for taking part in this competition. If they get sent home without winning, their minor ask is received by the Dominion who chooses to either grant that request or deny it. If they win, their major ask is given and granted. All of these are puzzles pieces on a large playing board that will affect the balance of all of their lives as well as their planets. As a reader we are just along for the ride, and it’s so much fun. I can’t imagine being the author who must put it all together so that it’s cohesive and makes sense! Sweep of the Heart was definitely a master class in writing.

The underlying story that runs through the Innkeeper series- the mystery of the disappearance of Dina’s parents and their Inn, does move forward in the culminating chapter in this book. I know it will wrap up in the next novel which might be the end of this series, which will break my heart, but I do think it’s time for us to know the answer to that storyline. Given the cliff-hanger I hope that the authors don’t wait two years to write the next novel. Of course, if they do I’ll have read and re-read (and listened!) to this book multiple times, so I’ll be ready. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Sweep of the Heart

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (1/30/23)

I’ll admit that I haven’t picked up my next book yet and am going back and forth between a few. I have started re-listening to one of my all time favorite series and have pretty much been spending my time with my earbuds in my ears and being anti-social. It’s funny how each time I listen to this series it’s like it’s the first time. I find something new every time. I’ll tell you a little more about it below.

JUST FINISHED

One of my favorite books in this series. Why? Kate and Curran finally decide what to do with their relationship, plus theirs some kick @$$ action! As much as I love the paranormal romance aspects of this series it’s really the mystery and action scenes that keep me coming back for more. Oh, and for Kate as well. She is one bad mother!! LOVE her.

JUST STARTED

Just started #5. I know it won’t disappoint because I’ve picked it up and read it a million times before. Sometimes you just need the comfort of a much loved series. This is my comfort read.

Enjoy your Monday and happy reading!

Deb

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Happy Release Day! The Gorgon Agenda (SPI Files #8) by Lisa Shearin

Have you, like me, been waiting on the next release in the SPI Files series? Wait no more! The Gorgon Agenda came out on January 24th on Kindle and in paperback. Here’s a quick peek.

THE GORGON AGENDA

Lisa Shearin

A planet-killing weapon, sinister sisters, and immortal monsters.

All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI

protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder,

Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.

Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.

The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of

the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its

reflection are instantly turned to stone.

Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the

Aegis:

Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister

Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the

Titans, and Medusa’s sisters

The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order

The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization

Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the

making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.

Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it

alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this

ancient evil once and for all.

Click this link to purchase on Amazon!* The Gorgon Files

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (1/23/23)

What happened to the last week? Time flew by and despite all of the things on my calendar I still managed to have a little down time and complete a book. I look forward to that hour of reading every night. It helps my mind relax and release the stresses of the day. Here are the books on my virtual nightstand.

JUST FINISHED

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and I have to say that it really surprised me. I am not familiar with this author and didn’t really know what to expect but the characters were well developed and the plot was absolutely fun. Truly this one was a great weekend read.

JUST STARTED

This is book eight in the series so if you haven’t read the other novels, run out and borrow, buy, or well, borrow or buy these books! A Sinister Revenge picks up in the middle of Veronica and Stoker’s separation, but when his brother asks for their help they jump at the chance to investigate together again. I love these books and this one is especially well written.

Have a great Monday and happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

A sequel novella to the best-selling A Sorcery of Thorns, Mysteries of Thorn Manor gives us a peek into the manor, er courtship, between Elisabeth and Nathaniel. Thorn Manor’s wards seems to be under a magical attack and Elisabeth and Nathaniel must solve the problem before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Investigating this mysterious manor reveals all sorts of secrets of current and past inhabitants and when they find out it’s those inhabitants who are creating the problem their relationship takes a turn.

The beautiful cover perfectly matches this author’s fantastical style of writing. It’s been a little while since I read A Sorcery of Thorns, but it all came rushing back in the first few pages. The author weaves a tale between Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas that leaves me feeling like Elisabeth may have more than one beau. What that just my imagination? There seems to be a lot of hand kissing and declarations of affection. If so, then Elisabeth will have one busy future! I will admit, once my brain went in that direction I did start to question things. Regardless, it was certainly interesting!

Just in case you were unaware, a novella is a short story. This one was about 188 print pages or 105 on my kindle, which is quite short. The story didn’t feel short though, it was very well rounded and quite complete. I just took a look at it on Amazon and I do feel like the kindle price may be a bit expensive for what you get though. This is a light-hearted bit of fun and unless you’re a super-fan, you may want to wait until it goes on sale.

If you are that super-fan and have been jonesing for another Margaret Rogerson story then jump on this one. It will give you a quick fix that will leave you wanting more. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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!* Mysteries of Thorn Manor

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (12/26/22)

For all of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas! I hope everyone got a little “me time” in the craziness of the holiday. I got a couple of Colleen Hoover books for Christmas and believe it or not, I’ve never read one of her books before and am looking forward to seeing what all of the hoopla is all about. Yesterday afternoon while my husband was watching football, I finished a book and read a short novella. So I successfully carved that “me time” and let my mind decompress from the holiday madness. Here is what’s on my shelf.

JUST FINISHED

Ilona Andrews releases chapters from the Innkeep series in real time and it is so hard to NOT read it as they write it. FINALLY the entire book was released and I purchased my kindle copy and dug in this weekend. It was sooo good! It moves us closer to finding out what happened to Dina’s parents but the mystery is not yet solved. Whew! I don’t want this series to end!

JUST STARTED

I haven’t started this book yet, but I think I might pick it up and give Colleen Hoover a try. This and the second book in this series was given to me for Christmas. I’ll let you know if I give it a try! If you’ve read it let me know what you think.

Happy Monday and happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: My Top 5 Most Anticipated Book Releases – Jan’23

If you’re wondering how I find out about book releases, I’ll give you my secret. There isn’t one. Ha! I look at the Goodreads list of January’23 book releases which is based upon people clicking “want to read”. I’ll admit to reading a couple of blog posts as well because some bloggers are genre specific and I’ll find more obscure books by favorite authors who may not be as mainstream, but I generally rely on Goodreads. I’m often amazed by surprise releases that I haven’t heard anything about. I have one or two of those in my top 5 this month. Let me know if you are surprised by any of my picks!

#5 BOOK RELEASE

This is the sequel novella to Rogerson’s A Sorcery of Thorns, which I loved. Despite the short length, I’m excited to see what these characters are up to.

Synopsis:

Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’’ occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…

With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas—along with their new maid Mercy—will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Mysteries of Thorn Manor

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase any books on this list from an attached link I’ll receive a small stipend.

#4 BOOK RELEASE

I’ve enjoyed Emma Lord’s novels in the past and was excited to get an advanced reader copy of this book. Taking place on a college campus, this story revolves around friendships, heartache, secrets, and love. I enjoyed it!

Synopsis: Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Emma Lord’s Begin Again is an unforgettable YA novel of love and starting again.

As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Begin Again

#3 BOOK RELEASE

Jill Shalvis is my go-to author for feel good novels with great friendships. The Backup Plan is more Women’s Fiction than romance but it certainly checked all of my boxes that make up a great novel.

Synopsis:

When Alice receives a call about an unexpected windfall, she’s stunned to learn the gift is a falling-apart-at-the-seams old Wild West B&B she once considered home—and she’s inherited it along with two strangers. Except they weren’t always strangers. Once upon a time, they were friends. One is her ex-BFF Lauren. The other is Knox, the only guy to ever break her heart, all while never even knowing she existed.

It turns out their lives are unknowingly entangled because they once separately helped the same woman without expecting anything in return. Years later, Alice, Lauren, and Knox are broken in their own way, with their own history—and secrets— causing them to start out on the wrong foot with each other. But according to the will, they must renovate and be partners in the inn for one year or else lose their inheritance.

Stuck together, they make a list of rules to keep the peace—rules that end up doing the opposite, but by some miracle they find what they didn’t even know they were looking for—acceptance, true friendship, and in a case (or two!), true love.

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Backup Plan

#2 BOOK RELEASE

Kate Clayborn writes heartfelt poignant romance novels. The synopsis grabbed me on this one and I can’t wait for a little time off to dig in and spend a day with it.

Synopsis: Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.  

But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.  

Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back. 

Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . .

Click this link to purchase this book!* Georgie All Along

MY MOST ANTICIPATE JAN’23 BOOK RELEASE

Ninth House stayed with me for a long while, so I can’t wait to read Hell Bent. It’s hard to describe this series but it’s set in modern day but has elements of supernatural, horror, and mystery. I can’t wait!

Synopsis: Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory—even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Hell Bent

I’m sure my choices might be different than yours, so feel free to shout out a book you’re looking forward to reading after its release next month. OR if you are digging my list, let me know the one you can’t wait to read.

Happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments