Review: Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by JENN MCKINLAY

Series: n/a

Publication date: May 14, 2024

Published by: Berkley 

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading .

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.

Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.

When Siobhan’s health takes a bad turn, she’s more determined than ever to finish her novel, while Kieran tries every trick in the book to get his mother to rest. Thrown into the role of peacemaker, Emily begins to see that Kieran's heart is in the right place. Torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her own growing feelings for the mercurial Irishman, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

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Praise for Love at First Book:

"Hilarious, deeply emotional, and brimming with swoon-worthy passion, this is an enemies-to-lovers tale that every romance reader should have the pleasure of enjoying at least once in their lives. Dazzlingly fabulous!”

—Holly Cassidy, author of The Christmas Wager

"Whimsically wonderful and wryly witty…. This is a swoon-worthy romance that has not only a great deal to say about self-love, forgiveness, and the importance of living in the moment but also celebrates the undeniable magic of books and the important place they hold in a reader’s life."

—Booklist (starred review)

"A cleverly written forced proximity romance for book lovers."

—Kirkus Reviews

"The ultimate bookish romance! With the endlessly charming backdrop of a cozy bookshop in the idyllic Irish countryside, a wholly lovable supporting cast, and several heartstring-pulling subplots, Love at First Book is the perfect escape for any romance fan."

—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of Nearlywed

"Love at First Book is so tender-hearted, and I couldn’t help but root for Kier and Red! A delight for book lovers and anyone who loves to armchair travel, I couldn’t love this novel more! The setting in Ireland was an escapist dream. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down!"

—Jamie Varon, author of Main Character Energy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

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REVIEW

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay


I have a personal rule: if a book manages to make me cry, then it gets an automatic five stars. Which is why I am giving this book an enthusiastic five stars with zero hesitation. A story has to really reach your heart in order to bring on a physical, emotional reaction. What elevated this book to another level was the fact that not only was it a deep-diving, emotional story, it managed to give the feel of a lighthearted rom-com at the same time.

Within the first few pages, I immediately connected to Emily. She's a romantic dreamer, a book lover, and occasionally a bit socially awkward. Her inner dialogue was often a funny daydream or a connection between her current situation and something in classic literature. 

His brow was furrowed and his mouth 

turned down in the corners. 

I was struck by how much he 

resembled the Fitzwilliam Darcy 

of my imagination from Jane Austen’s 

Pride and Prejudice, 

a favorite novel of mine. Oh, yes, 

I was a hardcore Mr. Darcy fangirl.

Her anxiety and insecurities produced a hilarious meet cute with the hero who happens to also be her new boss. Judging by the synopsis, I was imagining an enemies-to-lovers trope, but I wouldn't exactly call them enemies. Kieran was unwelcoming, sure, but his animosity was shown and explained in a way that made you understand his reasoning behind it. One of the big problems I tend to see with this trope is that the animosity/rivalry is written in a way that their behavior or attitudes make no sense. Their anger feels very contrived and surface level in order to present them as enemies. She never really, truly dislikes Kier, she is upset that he's trying to drive her away and that he uses underhanded tactics in order to do so, but she's crushing hard from minute one. On his side, he may be a bit of a jerk early on, but there are subtle hints that he thinks she's cute and that he respects her intelligence and backbone. Their shared encyclopedic minds filled with infinite book quotes is something that he can't help but challenge her with. He is constantly surprised and impressed with her ability to match his knowledge of books. I really loved that about these two.

Kier is a protective son whose only concern about Emily's job assisting his mother is that her health will suffer again if she becomes too focused on writing again. After a 10 year writing hiatus, Siobhan wants to write the long awaited conclusion to her bestselling series, but a horrible case of writer's block has prevented her from doing so. After receiving an inspiring letter from Emily, she invited her there to help her find her passion for writing again. As much as I loved Emily and Kier's combative/cute connection, I loved Emily and Siobhan's equally so. What really touched me was the deep friendship that developed between them in a short amount of time that Emily so desperately needed. She became a loving mother figure that she had never had and it was wonderful to see her blossom under Siobhan's sass and affection for her.

  It struck me that ever since I’d arrived 

Siobhan had shown me more maternal affection 

and kindness than my own mother had in 

my entire life. Siobhan always listened to me 

when I spoke, she asked questions 

about me and my life, and she . . . cared.

Emily is still dealing with insecurities and issues with hypochondria because of her mom's manipulative control and verbal abuse. Through therapy, she's much better, but she desperately needed more people in her life to give her positive affirmations and care. Kier's mother gives that to her, but the small town as a whole gives her a feeling of home and family that was beautiful to read.

Finn's Hollow was a quaint small town in Ireland that was described to perfection. The small town was so picturesque that you could imagine yourself there along with Emily, exploring and seeing exciting new places with new friends. You can tell when a book has been well researched based on the descriptions of food, clothing, locations, and the culture in general. Without a doubt, the author did her homework because it shows without feeling too wordy. As well, I found the writing to be beautifully heartfelt in the most unexpected moments.

  They smiled at each other and it was such a look 

of pure affection and devotion that I found myself 

smiling as well, as if they’re love for each other

included me just because I was there to bask in it.

The ending really hit me in the feels. Some of it was bittersweet, but Kier and Siobhan's complex mother-son relationship was closely tied to her last book. The lingering resentment that he held for her writing tied into painful memories from his past. They both needed to make peace with some traumatic events and Emily helped bridge the gap between them. Just as Emily found comfort and peace in Finn's Hollow, she helped to bring the same to the new people in her life she had come to love. None of the characters were without their own flaws, but was what helped them shine. We saw the light and the shadow, the pain and the strength in all of them and it's what brought them to life so well. This book was grand (as Kier and Siobhan would say) and I recommend it to anyone who loves these things in books:

• small town destination story
• found family
• great banter and rivalry
• endearing heroine with quirks
• brooding but sweet and protective hero
• poignant/emotional plot with humor
•literature quotes and references

I'm a new fan and can't wait to read more from this amazing author! This is going on my 2024 favorites list for sure!

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Review: Fable by Adrienne Young

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.

FABLE by ADRIENNE YOUNG

Series: Fable #1

Publication date: September 1, 2020

Published by: Wednesday Books

Genre:  YA fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

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Praise for Fable:

A dark maritime fantasy...immersive...and rich in sensory details. For readers who can't get enough of strong female protagonists... - Kirkus

The salty sea and the promise of something hidden in its depths, had me reading this book at a furious pace. You don't simply read Fable, you are ensnared by it. This is Adrienne Young's best work of storytelling yet!" - Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep

Gripping, immersive, and absolutely masterful, Fable reels you in with the promise of beauty, and holds you tight with Young's signature grit. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All The Stars and Teeth

I could taste the salt in the air and feel the waves beneath the Marigold. In a brutal world Fable shines as tenacious yet vulnerable, unafraid to do what she must to survive. This story caught me by the throat and refused to let go! - Shelby Mahurin, New York Times bestselling author of Serpent & Dove

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author of SKY IN THE DEEP, THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK & the upcoming FABLE duology from Wednesday Books. Agent: Barbara Poelle, IGLA

Adrienne Young is a born and bred Texan turned California girl. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun.

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REVIEW

Fable by Adrienne Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'd almost forgotten how much I loved Adrienne Young's writing. Reading Fable had my old feelings rushing back with crystal clarity. She has a way of describing things with such precision and beauty that you feel as if you've physically stepped into another world for a few short hours. From my experience, the time spent with her characters is never quite enough. This heroine was a character unlike any other I've read in the fantasy genre which is always a head start towards a five star book for me. Originality pulls me in like nothing else, even if it's a fresh spin on something familiar.

As a fourteen-year-old girl, Fable was abandoned on an island of bloodthirsty thieves, and she managed to survive for four years through sheer force of will and a backbone of steel. She managed to feed herself, find shelter, and outsmart the thieves who would cut her throat for her valuables without blinking an eye. For the last four years, she's had one single goal: get off the island and find her father who left her without a backward glance. They have unfinished business, and she's determined to get answers to the questions haunting her for so long.

    The man who’d taught me to tie knots 

and read maps wasn’t the same man 

who’d put the knife soaked with my blood 

back into his belt and sailed away.

Fable was born with sea legs and saltwater running through her veins. Her father is one of the most successful traders with his own fleet of ships that he rules with an iron fist. Anyone who crosses him in business is either reckless, foolish, or both. Fable and her mother were his only weaknesses but the love he had for them was too great to turn his back on. Her mother came from the Unnamed Sea, and held special abilities as a gem sage that she'd begun to pass on before she died. This ability is a natural born gift to identify and sense the properties in gems. It's been vital in helping Fable as a free diving dredger, someone who dives and locates undersea valuables to sell for profit.

Eventually she finds an ally in West, another trader who visits the island and agrees to give her passage off the island. From first introduction, you can tell that West has a closet full of skeletons. He's shifty, unwelcoming, and suspicious of her. He agrees against his better judgement to help her, so you know that he isn't as hard as he would like her to believe. I immediately liked him, seeing through his facade to the softie at heart. He's the kind of guy that takes in strays and helps the underdog to his own detriment. His crew is only a handful of four people, who are even less welcoming than him. Fable doesn't let deter her in her quest to earn their trust and respect.

I really loved reading the time Fable spent on the Marigold with the crew. The author clearly did her research on the body of a ship, the detail that goes into sailing, and described the underwater dive scenes in crisp, vivid imagery that dazzles all of your senses. West, Paj, Auster, Willa, and Hamish all have an air of desperation as if they are on the edge of disaster. Fable isn't sure what they're hiding, but as long as she's on deck with them, their trouble becomes her trouble. She wants to earn their trust, and uncover their secrets, but can they be trusted to deliver her safely to the Narrows? As you're gradually fed information, you can't help but root for this group of misfits. They've formed their own family with an unbreakable bond-something that Fable has been missing and longs for with every shred of her being.

    This crew had already been in trouble 

when I stepped onto their ship, 

but I couldn’t help but wonder 

if I was going to be the storm 

that finally sank them.

This book was exquisite. There was romance, fast paced action, suspense, treasure, and danger around every corner. There was quite literally never a dull moment, and that includes the breathtaking cliffhanger that left me hanging anxiously on the edge until I get my hands on the conclusion. The characters were multi-faceted, often with morally grey characteristics that made them irrefutably human and interesting to read about. When secrets are brought to light and hearts are laid bare, will Fable and West's surrender be their downfall as it once was for her father? I cannot wait to find out what adventures are in store for us next.

Namesake is the final installment in the Fable duology and is scheduled for publication in March of next year

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Review: I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love Walked In and Belong to Me comes a profound and heart-rending story about a horrific tragedy that marks one woman and her hometown and about the explosive secrets that come to light twenty years later.

I'D GIVE ANYTHING by MARISA DE LOS SANTOS

Series: Love Walked In #4

Publication date: May 12, 2020

Published by: William Morrow

Genre: women's fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

Ginny Beale is eighteen, irreverent, funny, and brave, with a brother she adores and a circle of friends for whom she would do anything. Because of one terrible night, she loses them all—and her adventurous spirit—seemingly forever. While the town cheers on the high school football team, someone sets the school’s auditorium ablaze. Ginny’s best friend Gray Marsden’s father, a fire fighter, dies in the blaze.

While many in the town believe Daniel York, a notoriously troubled local teen, set the fire, Ginny makes a shattering discovery that casts blame on the person she trusts most in the world. Ginny tells no one, but the secret isolates her, looming between her and her friends and ruining their friendship.

Over the next two decades, Ginny puts aside her wanderlust and her dreams. Moving back to her hometown, she distances herself from the past and from nearly everyone in it. She marries a quiet man, raises their daughter, Avery, and cares for her tyrannical, ailing mother, Adela. But when Ginny’s husband, Harris, becomes embroiled in a scandal, Ginny’s carefully controlled life crumbles, and, just when she believes she is regaining her bearings, the secret she’s kept for twenty years emerges and threatens to destroy her hopes for the future.

With the help of fifteen-year-old Avery and of friends both old and new, Ginny must summon the courage to confront old lies and hard truths and to free herself and the people she loves from the mistakes and regrets that have burdened them for so long.

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Praise for I'd Give Anything:

“Written in gorgeous prose, I'd Give Anything is a novel about the mistakes we make, and how we can confront them and move forward.”
- Popsugar

“As fans know, de los Santos uses exquisitely luxurious, poetic writing to tell her characters’ stories. She knows exactly where she’s going and how and when to get there. The rhythm of the prose will more than please those who love the thoughtful, precise language of Anne Tyler and Joshilyn Jackson.”
- Booklist

"Smart prose and sharply drawn characters set this domestic drama apart."
- Library Journal

“De los Santos’s heartfelt latest illustrates how tragedy can be overcome by love, honesty, and forgiveness. . . . Thoughtful musings, engaging dialogue, and ironic wit . . . add to the drama.”
- Publishers Weekly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marisa de los Santos is the New York Times bestselling author of Love Walked In, Belong To Me, Falling Together, The Precious One, and her newest novel, which continues with characters from the first two, I'll Be Your Blue Sky

Marisa has also co-authored, with her husband David Teague, two novels for middle grade readers: Saving Lucas Biggs and Connect the Stars.

Marisa and David live in Wilmington, Delaware with their two children, Charles and Annabel, and their Yorkies, Finny and Huxley. 

Goodreads 


REVIEW

I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's kind of shocking that I hadn't been introduced to this author until now. I had no idea what I was missing out on, but based on first impressions she just found herself a faithful follower. Marisa de los Santos is such a master at expressing emotion, setting the scene with lush descriptions, and telling a weighty story that stays with you. Even though the page count is just under three hundred pages, every theme was explored with precision. Grief, depression, the complicated relationship between mother and daughter, the burden of secrets on our lives, and healing fractured friendships were just a few of the things touched on.

The story centers around Ginny Beale, both in present time and in the past when she was in high school. Alternating between her teen years and the current mess of her life, we learn how she transformed so drastically from a vibrant, optimistic girl who reveled at new experiences to a woman satisfied with safe.

    I’m not sure how anyone else sees me, but I know how I see myself: fiery and funny Zinny, a rare bird, a wildflower, a comet. I love my friends the way I do everything: entirely.

She no longer sought out adventure, she abandoned her creative passions, and settled for a life that brought her no joy. We know that there was some sort of tragic catalyst that flipped a switch with her. A betrayal from someone she loved made her retreat within herself and erect a barrier against those closest to her. In the present time, most people perceive her life as perfect. The truth is, that stable life she thought she was giving her daughter Avery is tumbling down around them like a flimsy house of cards.

Ginny had a very complex relationship with her mother. De Los Santos could have made her a caricature of an antagonist. Wicked, mean, and hateful to the bone with no shades of grey. That kind of character would be easy to despise, but the authenticity would suffer. Adela was a cold woman, not prone to display any affection towards her two children. She was selfish, and cared about appearances rather than what made her family happy. She could also be ruthless and liked to control every situation and person she interacted with. But there were moments when she allowed a glimpse of softness to peek through her armor. In those moments you wonder what could have been just as Ginny does.

Then there was the relationship between Ginny and her own daughter. When her marriage suddenly and dramatically implodes, her only concern is how it will impact Avery. Her marriage was a mistake from the very beginning, but the one thing they did right was her. As a mother you want to shield your child and protect them from hurt. She gave up a piece of herself when she chose Harris. "It seemed like a good idea at the time" couldn't be more appropriate in describing how that choice panned out.

That shining spirit that she had as a teen was suffocated and snuffed out by a series of events that she couldn't recover from. The past must be dredged up now in order to heal that long-standing wound. For the good of her family, and to finally right a wrong that had taken so much from her. It took a lot of courage for Ginny to finally face what she'd pushed down for so long.

    Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes weighs almost nothing, a tiny wedge of time I can pinch between my thumb and forefingerand scatter like ash. Fifteen minutes can only ruin everything if you let it.

I'll admit, I guessed very early in the book what the twist would be. And yes, the romance was minimal, but I never felt that the story lacked because of it. The focus was placed primarily on Ginny making her way back to her true self and putting the broken pieces of her friendships back together. I enjoyed every minute spent on this touching story. This is going on my favorites list for 2020!

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Review: You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

Acclaimed author Colleen Oakley delivers a heart-wrenching and unforgettable love story about a woman who must choose between the man she loves and the man fate has chosen for her, in a novel that reminds us that the best life is one led by the heart.

YOU WERE THERE TOO by COLLEEN OAKLEY

Series: Standalone

Genre: women's fiction

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Synopsis:

Mia Graydon's life looks picket-fence perfect; she has the house, her loving husband, and dreams of starting a family. But she has other dreams too—unexplained, recurring ones starring the same man. Still, she doesn’t think much of it, until a relocation to small-town Pennsylvania brings her face to face with the stranger she has been dreaming about for years. And this man harbors a jaw-dropping secret of his own—he's been dreaming of her too.

Determined to understand, Mia and this not-so-stranger search for answers. But when diving into their pasts begins to unravel her life in the present, Mia emerges with a single question—what if?

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Praise for You Were There Too:

“You Were There Too is a surprising and incredibly satisfying story of chance and fate. From the book’s enticing first pages to its startling and electrifying conclusion, Colleen Oakley knocks it out of the park.”—New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid

“A beautifully woven story of love, grief, and the power we do and don’t have to choose our fate, You Were There Too brought me to tears. I read it in one long gulp and didn’t want it to end.”—New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo

“Hypnotically beautiful, You Were There Too delves into the chasm between the life we have and the life we imagine for ourselves. Unique, lyrical and thoughtful.”—New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins

“A rare gem of a novel. Colleen Oakley checks all the boxes with this one: exquisite, careful writing, beautifully drawn three-dimensional characters, and a twisty plot that defies premonition. This is a book about connections, and discovering that why we are connected to each other is a lot less important than the fact that we are. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, while at the same time hated for this lovely book to end. This is the kind of book we all long for, one to read and savor, and then read again.”—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of Dreams of Falling

“I have been a fan of Oakley since her debut novel, but with this book, she has risen to a new level. You Were There Too took me through the gamut of emotions–confusion, anticipation, grief, hope. Oakley’s writing is taut, fresh and doesn’t waste a single word. I devoured this novel in three sittings but I will be thinking about it for much, much longer. A slam dunk bestseller for sure.”—Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Family Next Door and The Mother-in-Law

“A heartbreaking and thought-provoking exploration of fate, love, and choice sure to bring on a few tears.”—Kirkus

“There is a splendid blend of humor throughout Oakley’s alternately romantic, idiosyncratic, and foreboding love-conquers-all tale that easily engages new readers and will please the author’s fans.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fans of relationship fiction that explores women’s inner lives and choices by Jennifer Weiner or Amy Hatvany will be unable to put this book down.”—Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

Colleen Oakley’s novels BEFORE I GO and CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH have been named best books by People Magazine, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and both were long-listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. Formerly the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health & Fitness and senior editor of Marie Claire, her articles and essays have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Women’s Health, Redbook, Parade, Marie Claire and Martha Stewart Weddings. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, four kids and the world's biggest lapdog, Bailey. Her third novel YOU WERE THERE TOO will be published by Berkley/Penguin in January 2020.

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REVIEW

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What initially appealed to me about this book was the metaphysical dream element. The meeting of souls through the dream world and the possible meaning behind it. Could two people know each other before they ever really meet? Are we predestined to be drawn to one person over any other in our lifetime, or is everything purely circumstance and chance? The idea of a married woman having a bizarre connection to a mystery man in her dreams was highly intriguing to me! You Were There Too was masterfully choreographed to its heart-pounding ending by Colleen Oakley with perfect precision. When I flipped the last pages, not only was I a soggy mess, I was turning over how and why we got there and managed to feel at peace with it. Without spoiling things, the ending of this is pretty difficult to read. But it's a mixture of happy and sad tears because she wrote a lot of beauty in that pain.

Mia and Harrison are a married couple who just moved to a small town from Philadelphia. They needed a change of pace and scenery, but now that they're starting fresh it's been difficult for them to acclimate and adjust. On top of having a new home to furnish, a new town, and new job for Harrison, they tragically dealt with miscarriages. This has been a heavy blow to their otherwise seemingly healthy relationship and your heart really goes out to both of them for the pain they're going through. The author does a phenomenal job helping you to know each character in an insightful way. Almost from the very start you feel as if you understand what sits so heavily on their hearts and minds. You care for what happens to them without having to try.

Mia is floundering to find her creative inspiration as an artist, and trying to make her new house become home. But after their horrible losses, she becomes fixated on finding a way to carry a healthy baby to term. She once wasn't sure she ever wanted children, and now isn't sure can live without one. She goes through many stages of emotions: devastation, helplessness, hope, and depression. When a couple isn't on the same page about having children, it can be a ticking time bomb for the marriage. In Harrison and Mia's case, the fissures start early and crack a wide gulf that they struggle to bridge. There is a huge lack of communication on his part as he internalizes his guilt and pain, which makes it hard for her to be the support that she needs to be. On the other hand, she was stuck in her own confusion and heartache that she often failed to see the signs that he needed her.

Despite the faults they each had, I loved them both equally. I rooted for them, I ached for them, and shed lots of tears. They had a natural camaraderie of two people who've been together for years and know each other's idiosyncrasies. The banter between them, and revisiting those moments they cherish in their relationship journey were really special. It brought some much needed levity and heartwarming moments. I loved his dry sense of humor and how he was as solid as a rock for her when she needed him. She was under an unbelievable amount of stress, and always managed to try to see the positives in her situation. To keep putting one foot in front of the other and face hard circumstances in life, head-on. They were, in a word, special.

Enter Oliver. A figment of her imagination, until he waltzes into her life in the flesh and her emotions go into a tailspin. Even stranger, not only has he dreamt about her too, but they share a specific dream. They are both noticeable shaken and confused, determined to make sense out of a mystifying situation. As they race to find answers, you feel as if you're running downhill on unsteady legs. Trying to reach the final destination as quickly as possible but not sure you can make it there without falling. You just know you're heading for heartache, but you have to know.

    It feels a little dangerous. Not deadly dangerous, like swimming with sharks, but mildly dangerous, like touching a candle flame on a dare. Although, sometimes, I guess, it only takes a tiny flicker to burn an entire house straight to the ground.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot and spoil the experience for anyone. What I will say is that if you're on the fence about reading this one, worried that it may not be the book for you, I urge you to at least give it a chance. This is one talented author and I'll definitely be revisiting her work in the future. It's not often that a book rips my heart out the way this one did, and for me to have that reaction she did her job well. I was worried that the ending might feel manipulative for emotion's sake, but that wasn't the case at all. Looking back, everything happened for a reason, and the sacrifices were not senseless or in vain. This is on the heavier side, but so worth the difficult moments. This was my first read of the year, and I really started things out with a bang.

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Review: Rage by Cora Carmack

From New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack, the second in the captivating new YA fantasy/romance Stormheart series, perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Victoria Aveyard.

RAGE by CORA CARMACK

Series: Stormheart #2

Publication date: August 27, 2019

Published by: Tor Teen/Macmillan

Genre: young adult fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Princess or adventurer.

Duty or freedom.

Her Kingdom or the Stormhunter she loves.

If Aurora knows anything, it's that choices have consequences. To set things right, she joins a growing revolution on the streets of Pavan.

In disguise as the rebel Roar, she puts her knowledge of the palace to use to aid the rebellion. But the Rage season is at its peak and not a day passes without the skies raining down destruction. Yet these storms are different—they churn with darkness, and attack with a will that’s desperate and violent.

This feels like more than rage.

It feels like war. 

Purchase links:

Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM 

Praise for Rage:

“A rich and unforgettable fantasy forged from the power of storms, the danger of secrets, and the magic of Cora Carmack's imagination.”—Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures & author of The Lovely Reckless

“Carmack shines with this unique fantasy and alluring romance.”—# 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Captivating and altogether unique. Roar is a force of magic and romance to be reckoned with!”—Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult Romance and YA fantasy. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora lives in Austin, TX, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss and her dog Sherlock.

FOLLOW HER:  Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW

Rage by Cora Carmack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't have been more excited to return to Pavan after being completely swept away by the tempest otherwise known as Roar. I loved the worldbuilding centering around storms, and the royals with affinities who could defeat them. There were storm hunters and witches and a mysterious Stormlord out for revenge. Of course as the first in a trilogy we left off with a cliffhanger and many unanswered questions. Sometimes with a second in a series it tends to feel like much of it is unnecessary or page filler, but that wasn't the case at all here. I enjoyed this one just as much as the first, if not more. There were quite a bit of surprising revelations, twists, and action to keep me quickly turning the pages. Hold on tight, readers. You're in for an exhilarating ride you won't be ready to get off of.

We take off right where we left off, with Aurora coming to terms with the unexpected effects the skyfire storm left on her mentally and physically. After training with the hunters on the road and searching for an alternative to marrying into the corrupt Locke family, she's coming back to Pavan a changed princess. Once unsure and ashamed, she's now determined to make a difference for her people who are hurting.

    She had discovered so much about the world and herself. She’d faced danger and taken control of her own choices. She’d seen deserts and mountains and walked unfamiliar roads. She knew what it looked like when someone loved her. In some ways, Aurora had lived more life in her few short months with Kiran than all her previous years combined.

With storms causing complete havoc, the need for remnants to find shelter within her kingdom's walls is greater than ever. But the Lockes have been heartlessly breaking up their camps and terrorizing the victims who have lost everything. Instead of showing kindness, they're treated as a plague that needs to be removed.

Injustices have been done and covered up in order to keep the Stormlings in absolute power and everyone else vulnerable to their whims. Not only with the lack of empathy for the homeless, but there is a dark history hidden as well. The witches with affinities towards various magic have been persecuted and almost eradicated. Now they live in hiding, concealing their gifts and unable to live without fear of discovery. In the prologue, we're introduced to Cruze who was rounded up and left to die out in the forest with others of his kind. The cruelty that he and others suffered is unimaginable and it caused hatred to harbor deep within his soul. We learn much more about this character and he really plays a pivotal role in more ways than one.

One thing that I wasn't looking forward to was Aurora finally coming clean about her identity to her new group of friends. Keeping this information put all of their lives in danger, and to be honest I wasn't really down with that. She showed a major lack of trust in those who took her in when she needed them the most and in my eyes that's a betrayal that I knew wouldn't go over well. And of course the ramifications with Locke/Kiran specifically would be earth shattering.

    She had stretched him beyond what he had thought himself capable of, and now the world was brighter and bigger and more dangerous, but sweeter too, and once a life had been expanded as his had been, he did not think it could be shrunk down to what it once was.

It took him a long time to let down his guard and accept his feelings for her and in return he was about to get a barrage of pain. I felt horrible for him as he had to come to terms with the reality of how this impacted their new relationship. Aurora really did step up in this installment. Not only did she acknowledge that she was wrong, she vowed to do whatever it took to make amends and earn their trust. Understandably, there's a decent amount of angst as Kiran and Aurora navigate their future and what their roles will be in each other's lives.

I liked that we got to learn a little more about some of the storm hunters! Bait and Ransom still didn't play much of a role, but Duke, Jinx, and Sly were much more fleshed out. We got a new story arc with a romance involving Jinx, Sly has shown herself to be much more than the quiet girl with the silent feet, and Duke has a bombshell of a secret that rocks everyone back on their heels. Not only did we have these character progressions, but with Aurora and the rest of the hunters joining the rebellion we're given new and intriguing characters to fill the cast. Zephr is the mysterious leader of the underground resistance. She's powerful and ruthless, and even though she's about as soft as a porcupine, you can't help but like her. I'm excited to read more about her in the next installment.

This book may have been even more action packed than the last. The romance was nicely layered in, there wasn't a moment of boredom, and I'm more invested then ever before as we wait for the conclusion. A lot of times my interest fizzles out with a trilogy but Cora Carmack has delivered the goods with this one. She had some recent health issues and that delayed the book release considerably but let me assure you it's worth the wait. Admittedly, since it's been two years since reading the previous book my memory was murky on the details of where the plot left off, so I went ahead and skimmed through some sections of Roar to clear the cobwebs away. However, I didn't let that affect my rating because that's just me. If you're thinking of starting this series, don't hesitate! If you're a return reader, you're in for another thrilling adventure that will not disappoint.

    She was not the same girl she had been last time she stood this close to her home. She’d left powerless with nothing more than hope in her hands, and she’d come back with a storm wrapped around her heart.

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