https://amzn.to/48Mjv6I

Title: These Impossible Things
Author: Salma El-Wardany
Release Date: June 7th, 2022
Page Count: 401
Format:  Audiobook                                           
Start Date: October 2nd, 2023
Finish Date: October 7th, 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This book far exceeded what I would ever expected. I went into it blindly like I did most books. I’m glad I did. I feel like going into it that way made the story even more special to me. I feel like I got to learn about a culture that I don’t feel I read enough about. I also feel like it shows that there are things in the world that everybody struggles with. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they look like or how much they make.

This book was told in multiple points of view. I think it was best that way. We got to experience each of their lives and their struggles. They didn’t go to anybody about their problems because they thought they deserved them, or they thought that nobody would understand. They all dealt with shame and guilt. They all just wanted to make the ones they love proud and happy.

I do want to say that people should check any potential triggers. There are some very dark topics in the book. There’s abuse of various forms. I know topics like those are really sensitive to many people. Other people use them as therapy. Either way, I want anybody who needs to be aware to know about the situations.

I would love to read this again. I was happy that I found an audiobook and listened to it as soon as I could. I’d love to actually read it in ebook or physical book. I’d also love to see this as a movie. I think it would be inspiring and beautiful. I kind of feel like it’s Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants but the girls are all from the same religion.

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/3F59i7I

Title: Grave Peril
Author: Jim Butcher
Release Date: November 4th, 2008
Page Count: 465
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: October 1st, 2023
Finish Date: October 4th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I’m going to say this up front. This book gets a full star rating because I really love the series. I love the characters in it. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I can’t say this was my favorite of the three books I’ve read in this series. There are things that I really didn’t agree with that I just can’t get into. I’m never going to be the person that spoils a book for anybody. Unless they ask me to of course.

Now that I got the negativity out of the way, there are many things I enjoyed about the book. I feel like this book really introduces more characters that are in the wizard’s life. I also really enjoyed seeing more of the reporter. The only way I would have enjoyed this if I got some points of view from her.

Actually I am curious on how this series would differ if it was told in multiple points of view. Would it add to the story? Would it take away from the story. This isn’t a criticism against it being in first person. I really enjoy first person. I like the feeling of being that person while reading. It’s hard to explain. It’s more of a curiosity on how things would be different.

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the ending of the book. I didn’t really love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I’m very conflicted about it. It doesn’t make me want to stop reading the series. I see that as a good sign. I’ll be starting on the next book as soon as I can!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/48Fsw1m

Title: Velvet Was the Night
Author: Silvia Morena-Garcia
Release Date: August 17th, 2021
Page Count: 281
Format: Hardback/Audiobook
Start Date: September 17th, 2023
Finish Date: October 2nd, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This book was told in two points of view. Each of them are looking for the same person, but for different reasons. One of the main characters actually became a part of the entire fiasco by chance pretty much. The girl who went missing asked that she watch her cat. Then she disappeared.

I learned after the fact that the event that happened in the first part of the book is from an actual event in history. I took the time to look it up after I read that part in the afterwards. The event happened in the 70s if I remember correctly. It’s an event that I’d love to read more into when I have more time.

I actually juggled between reading this and listening to the audiobook. I loved the audiobook portion of it. It gave the book more character in my opinion. The narrator also had a very soothing voice. I was able to completely escape my normal life and live in the story with these characters because of it.

This isn’t the first book that I read by this author. The first book I read was Mexican Gothic. I have other books that are written by her that I have on my reading list. All of the covers to her books are just so attention grabbing. I’m actually going to be rereading Mexican Gothic here soon! I’ll probably read this book again in the future.

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/46bPmMp

Title: Witchlings
Author: Claribel A. Ortega
Release Date: April 5th, 2022
Page Count: 344
Format: ebook
Start Date: September 14th, 2023
Finish Date: October 1st, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I found this book through a friend. She was interested in it and wanted to know if I had read it. We decided to read it together. The cover was just too cute to pass up on! I was worried at first. I really didn’t care about the main character at all. I thought she was a little rude and judgmental. To be fair, she’s just a kid. I’ll admit to that. I got so annoyed that I almost put the book down. I didn’t though. I’m glad I stuck with it.

There were some things that happened in the book that I predicted. I was sad about some of my predictions and happy about others. That being said, I can also say there were many parts of this book that I didn’t see coming until they hit me in the face. One of which made me so mad at myself because all of the signs were there. I’ll leave it at that.

I’m really happy with how the book ended. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel. I was able to pick up an ebook from my library. I think this book would make the cutest adaptation. I think it would make a better television show than a movie. Especially since it looks like this will be a series. I’m sure there will be other books released in the future. I’m looking forward to every single one of them.

Favorite Quotes:

“If we have to bankroll our own death, I’m coming back as a ghost and suing the Town Gran,” Seven said. “I want to see if your shop has anything else on the Cursed Toads.”

Any witch can be a friend, if you just give them a chance.

Seven scoffed. “You’re too nice. Have you seen how they treat Spares? Spares … we, are the most vulnerable witches in this town because we don’t have powerful magic. We can’t protect ourselves against big threats. We’re at a disadvantage, so they should help us because we’re supposed to be a community, like we’ve been taught since we were littles. The same way we help make sure elderly witches are warm on the coldest winter nights, how we protect baby witches like Beefy. Spares are pushed to the sides and not protected because people on the Hill are more concerned with being able to treat their assistants like goose poop and to pay them only a handful of coins. They won’t let go of that power, so we have to pay the price. We have more than enough magic and potions to help all Ravenskill residents live comfortably, but they just won’t, for no good reason other than hate. I wouldn’t put anything past witches like that.”

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/3RDtDbN

Title: A Killer’s Game
Author: Isabella Maldonado
Release Date: June 1st, 2023
Page Count:  365
Format: ebook/audiobook
Start Date: September 24th, 2023
Finish Date: September 25th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This book was intense from the very beginning. We start out with the FBI and police being called out to a bomb threat. That bomb threat was a ruse to cover up a hit that happened right in front of the building. Everything goes to chaos from there. I wasn’t able to predict anything at all. I was floored with how many twists were thrown into the book.

I really did enjoy the book. I am very excited to see that it’s the first book in a series! This means I have more time and more stories with this characters. I really feel like characters like these are why series are born. People fall in love with the characters in the book they are writing so they wind up writing more books because of it.

In my opinion, this is like a crime show, but better. I also really loved the diversity in this book. I also really recommend the book. I would be very happy to see this become a television show or movie!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/3rvEuKc

Title: Fool Moon
Author: Jim Butcher
Release Date:  January 1st, 2001
Page Count: 432
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: September 20th, 2023
Finish Date: September 25th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This book was a bit more action packed than the first book. In different ways though. I also feel like there wasn’t as much of a buildup in this book. I guess that makes sense since it’s a sequel. We have already been introduced to the main character and the people who are constantly in his life. Well, as much as we can know the main character that is.

Speaking of characters, there was a character that I just really started not liking in this book. They don’t listen. They immediately jump to conclusions without having a conversation to figure out why things happened the way they did. It was frustrating. I also feel like said conflict kind of got brushed over. I mean it was discussed in a way, but not to a point where any actual resolution has been fully explained.

I’ve only read two books so far but it seems like these books can be read as standalone books. I personally won’t be reading them in any order other than the order they are written in. That’s just because I’m a weirdo. Either way, I’m fully reading all of the books in the series. They are witty and fun. They are also intense and full of intrigue. I’m also really enjoying the fact that I’m buddy reading it with somebody important to me. That makes it even more special to me.

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/3LyocXK

Title: Christmas Desserts and Devious Deeds
Author: Meredith Potts
Release Date: November 2nd, 2023
Page Count: 35
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: September 24th, 2023
Finish Date: September 24th, 2023

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Review:

I’m going to keep this review brief. It’s a very short story. It was very cute. I would have liked it a lot better had it been drawn out more. I also feel that it’s a bit of an incomplete thought in many ways. That’s not saying that I didn’t enjoy it. Maybe it’s the fact that I was enjoying it so much that I was just wanting more. It’s kind of like getting a sample of a really delicious food and not having access to more of it. Either way, I really enjoyed the book. I can’t wait to read other books by this author. They will make wonderful holiday books!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/48pl7Dp

Title: The Librarian of Crooked Lane
Author: C.J. Archer
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Page Count: 284
Format: ebook/audiobook
Start Date: September 23th, 2023
Finish Date:  September 24th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I had no idea what this book was coming into it. I also didn’t know what time period it took place in. I felt like it might have been a cozy mystery. I was right about that. There’s more to it than that. It also takes place in the year 1920. It takes place in London. There are magicians in the book.

Sylvia is trying to find out about who she is. Her brother and her mother have died. She never knew her father. When she went to pursue a lead, she finds herself as a witness to a potential kidnapping. Sadly, that puts her on the radar as a suspect for the case.

I really enjoyed the book very much. There were so many elements in the book that I really enjoyed. There were many witty characters. There were magicians and references to magic. That’s not even mentioning the mystery that everybody is trying to solve through the book. I do mean EVERYBODY. There wasn’t a single person that didn’t help in some kind of way. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series! I’ve added them all to my wish list!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/46sZaS9

Title: Northern Spy
Author: Flynn Berry
Release Date: April 6th, 2021
Page Count: 276
Format: Paperback/Audiobook
Start Date: September 21st, 2023
Finish Date: September 23rd, 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This book is set in Northern Ireland. I read this book for one of my library book clubs. I switched between reading the hardcover copy of the book I had and listening to audiobook. That way I could expand my time reading the book. I really loved the narration in the book. It really pulled me into the story even more than I already was.

I didn’t really feel a connection to the main character. I did understand and relate to why she did what she did though. I probably would have made many choices that she made. I think what I didn’t really care for was how judgmental she got once she found out things. She shut down and wouldn’t even listen to reasons. It was a bit infuriating.

I do feel that this book was a bit of a slow burn. That is not a complaint to me. I really feel like the buildup was needed if I’m being honest. There were parts that I did feel got a bit rushed, but that may just be a me thing. I got used to a certain speed and then BAM. I’d still reread it. I’d also read other books by this author!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

https://amzn.to/3Zth2tQ

Title: It’s Always the Husband
Author: Rosemary Willhide
Release Date: September 15th, 2023
Page Count: 227
Format: ebook
Start Date: September 16th, 2023
Finish Date: September 21st, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I’ve been excited about this book since I read the third book. This is the second book that I’ve read by this author. I can promise you that it won’t be the last. I plan to read all of the author’s back log and any book she releases in the future when I’m able to. This author has a way of drawing you in and then smacking you with twists and turns. Once I thought I figured it out, I was smacked with a curve ball.

I also want to comment on the fact that something that happened in the third book is referenced in this book. I am not going to say what. I will say that it was something that has nagged at me since I finished the book. That’s all that anybody needs to know until they read the book for themselves.

I’m going to be honest, there was a big part that I kind of guessed. Just because of certain key words that were brought up through the book that kind of made it obvious. That being said, I mean obvious to ME. Not obvious in general. I’m sure that there will be a lot of people who are smacked by it. That’s the ONLY thing I was able to figure out about the entire book though.

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!