Book Review: Hooked by Emily McEntire

Hooked (Never After #2) by Emily McEntire
Genre: Adult Fiction (Dark Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: September 5, 2021
Publisher: McIntire Publishing, Co.

He wants revenge, but he wants her more…

James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.

Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.

Hooked is a dark contemporary romance and the first complete standalone in the Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. It is not a literal retelling and not fantasy. Hooked features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. 

Hooked is the first book in the Never After series by Emily McEntire. This is a dark reimagining of Peter Pan where Peter is the bad guy. I mean, they're both pretty much bad guys.One is just worse than the other. Wendy is caught between their feud. James and Wendy were pretty spicy. I was a little surprised at how innocent, little Wendy wanted things in the bedroom. I felt like that wasn't entirely realistic to her character.. at least not right out of the gate like that. I wasn't expecting all the naughtiness in general. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it was a little much at times, but the story itself was intriguing and fully kept my attention. It's essentially about revenge. James wants Peter to pay for a wrong in his past. These characters are flawed, and the author developed their histories quite well. I felt like I really got to know them. I love a good fractured fairy tale, and I'm definitely interested in reading more.

Emily McIntire is a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose stories serve steam, slow burns, and seriously questionable morals. Her books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and span across several sub-genres within romance.

A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.

To learn more about Emily McIntire and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, YouTube, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bride (Bride #1) by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: February 6, 2024
Publisher:  Berkley

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood was a really good read. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I liked the cover and the premise, so I decided to give a try. I fell in love with Misery and Lowe. I loved watching them get to know each other and get over each other’s prejudices. This marriage is an important and fragile thing for both the Vampyres and the Weres, and not everyone wants it to be a success. These characters and their World were so well built. It could easily be made into a series. And while it’s nice to have  an excellent stand alone story to read with all the series' out there, this is one I really want more from!! 

I'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!

To learn more about Ali Hazelwood and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, & Instagram. 

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Book Review: No Match for Love by Carol Cox

No Match for Love (A Match Made in Texas #3) by Carol Cox
Genre: Adult Fiction (Christian Historical Romance)
Date Published: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

No Match for Love is the third book in the A Match Made in Heaven series by Carol Cox. This was a short and cute romantic novella. I feel like the romance was a bit unrealistic, but i get that it’s a short story too. I think this would have been a lot more fun as a full length book, so the romance could form more believably and maybe the mystery be less obvious, but it was entertaining enough for a quick read.

Carol Cox has an abiding love for history and romance, especially when it’s set in her native Southwest. As a third-generation Arizonan, she takes a keen interest in the Old West and hopes to make it live again in the hearts of her readers. A pastor’s wife, Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where the deer and the antelope really do play—within view of the family’s front porch.
To learn more about Carol Cox and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads and Twitter.

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Book Review! The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
Genre: Adult Fiction (Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Avon Books

A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows. From USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard comes a scorching new romantasy that will leave you spellbound.

“His Imperial Majesty King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.”

When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.

But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeper—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.

When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard reminded me a bit of The Selection, but the competition of it all is more deadly. It's fast paced with interesting characters that really kept my focus firm. I like the mythology that's delicately woven into the world building and the characters themselves. It does read more like a Young Adult story, which I'm fine with. If you've been on my blog for more than 5 minutes you know I love YA. There is a scene or two that pushes it into the adult realm though. It actually surprised me, because I thought I was reading a YA book prior to that. All in all, I was impressed with this one. I'm not sure if the author plans for this to be a series, but the potential is definitely there, and I'm here for it!

The ARC of The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard was kindly provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley for review. The opinions are my own.

AMALIE HOWARD is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, most notably of The Beast of Beswick, “a smart, sexy, deliciously feminist romance,” and one of O-The Oprah Magazine’s Top 24 Best Historicals to Read. She is the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and Scottish historical romance, My Rogue, My Ruin and What A Scot Wants, and has also penned several young adult novels, critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection. Of Indo-Caribbean descent, she has written articles on multicultural fiction for The Portland Book Review and Ravishly magazine. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. 

To learn more about Amalie Howard and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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Book Review: The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison

The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison
Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance)
Date Published: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Dey Street Books

Chris Harrison, the beloved longtime host of ABC's The Bachelor, explores the perils and rewards of risking everything for love in his first novel.

As the longtime host of ABC's hit shows The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Chris Harrison has witnessed the joys and heartbreak of men and women searching for everlasting love. A true romantic at heart, he believes that everyone deserves their own fairytale ending. Now, in his first work of fiction, Chris draws on his unique insights and wisdom in a remarkable debut novel that explores love and its consequences--a must-read for Bachelor fans and hopeless romantics everywhere.

The Perfect Letter is written by the Bachelor host, Chris Harrison. I’m not a regular watcher of the Bachelor, but I’ve watched some episodes here and there over the years. So, I was curious to read his book. It wasn’t too bad. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. It was repetitive at times, but overall it kept my attention. If you’d like a Hallmark movie with some naughtiness, then you’d probably enjoy this book.

Chris Harrison has been the host of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor since it began in 2002. He’s also the host of The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Miss America Pageant. Chris has had the honor of hosting several Bachelor weddings and has spent his career helping men and women navigate their journey to love. He lives in Southern California with his two children and this is his first novel.

To learn more about Chris Harrison, visit his website. You can also find him on Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobbie Brown

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobbie Brown (Kathleen McGurl)
Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Fiction)
Date Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: William Morrow

The New York Times bestseller from iconic Emmy-nominated actress and producer MILLIE BOBBY BROWN: Nineteen Steps is a captivating novel inspired by the true events of her family's experience during World War II.

Love blooms in the darkest days…

It’s 1942, and air raid sirens continue to wail around London. Eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her.

After a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, Nellie becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world. Just when Nellie begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, tearing Nellie’s world is torn apart. But just when it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner inspired by the author’s family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown’s propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love.

“Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. I’m honored to keep her story alive.”—Millie Bobby Brown

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobbie Brown is inspired by a true story about Millie's family during WWII. I'm not sure what to think about this story. It's absolutely heartbreaking! That doesn't even need to be said. Am I disappointed that it was written by a ghostwriter? Yes. I was anxious to see if she was as talented at writing as she is acting. I didn't get to see that. This is not a shot at her or ghostwriting. It's just my preference in this particular case. I would have loved to read it in her actual words. 

I was a little disappointed in the story. I liked the characters for the most part, but I felt like I'd heard their stories before. Not the tragedy, obviously. But, the love story situation. There was a brief moment where I was really afraid we were going to have a "Pearl Harbor" like love story. It's written as fiction, so I'm not sure how much or little was actually a true story when it comes to the characters and their personal experiences. So, I'm on the fence overall about this story. I feel like it was a solid three stars that just wasn't entirely for me.

Millie Bobby Brown is a British Emmy Award–winning actress. She has been featured in the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Nineteen Steps is her first book.

To learn more about Millie Bobbie Brown and her books, visit her on Goodreads, 

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