The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood ~ Review

Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair & honest review.

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

I picked up an ARC of this on a whim. I knew I wanted to read it, but I was content to wait until the book's release to pick it up. But then I saw it on NG and thought "why not?" and requested it. And then I got approved the next day and gave it a glance. I then proceeded to let this book take over my life until I finished it. So suffice it to say, that this book was fantastic and I LOVED IT.

From the very beginning The Love Hypothesis hooked me. Olive's voice comes through loud, clear, and arresting from the start. And the humor, the banter, is present right away. I wasn't even a full chapter in and already laughing. So I suppose all of this is my way of making a case that Ali Hazelwood is an excellent writer.

The plot is everything I could think to want in a romance. The tropes alone are magnificent. Grumpy & sunshine! Fake dating! Slooooowww beautiful burn! Did I mention the grumpy hero??? And Ali Hazelwood executed all of these tropes in a way that was so perfect, my ever aching heart was so full.

And the romance. The. Romance! I could write an entire love letter about the romance alone. I was so invested. So satisfied. So happy. Olive and Adam are 100% OTP material and will live in my heart as one of my favorite couples.

The setting and side characters complemented the story so well also. I haven't read a lot of STEM based romance, but I will need to search some out because I loved it here. And Olive's best friends? Top tier. And Adam's best friend? Also the greatest. And everyone together was so funny and supportive and amazing and I loved them all.

Overall, The Love Hypothesis brought me so much joy, and will for sure be one of my top ten reads of 2021. I adored the romance with all its well done tropes, and will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled so I can pounce on whatever Ali Hazelwood has coming next. And if you're on the fence, please allow me to peer pressure you into picking this one up! You won't regret it!

(...Especially if you're a fan of Mariana Zapata. This book filled the MZ-shaped hole in my heart that I always have between her releases.)

5 stars - The grumpy + sunshine slow burn fake relationship romance of my dreams!

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Review

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Source: ebook copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

So I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how to start this review and I just don't have words. Obviously I was excited when this book landed on my Kindle for review. I loved From Blood & Ash, I loved A Kingdom of Flesh & Fire even more, and The Crown of Gilded Bones was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. But now I've read it and it was amazing and I don't know how to put it into words.

So I'll do what tends to help me in these situations and resort to bullet points:

- From the very beginning, this book is interesting. It doesn't take a few chapters to draw you in. It picks up right where book 2 left off and takes off running.

- The romance is, of course, extraordinary. Poppy and Cas are such a strong couple--literally the power couple of my dreams. They have their sweet moments, they have their steamy moments, they have their badass moments...they're everything and I love them.

- I was such a fan of the all-around character growth. Poppy has come such a long way. She's brave, she's clever, she's caring. And she's not afraid to speak up when she has something to say. 

- And in that vein, I ADORE the way Cas supports Poppy in all ways. If she speaks up about something, he backs up her word. If she feels a certain way, he's at her side for whatever she needs. She needs to be able to protect herself? He's all in to fight along side her as she does. It warms my heart.

- I also am in love with Kieran. His bond with both Cas and Poppy--the trust and respect between all of them--is *chef's kiss*. I want 500% more Kieran all the time. He's the greatest.

- The. Freaking. Ending. I'm not going to say anything in particular because I don't want to spoil, but in hindsight I should have seen it coming. And I am in dire need of book 4 now!!!!!!

I could probably go on much longer about this book and how obsessed I am with it and how much it hurt me in all the best ways. But I'll wrap it up here. The Crown of Gilded Bones is not only the best book in this series so far, but also one of the best books Jennifer L. Armentrout has written, period. If you're on the fence about picking this one up: do it. If you haven't even started the Blood & Ash series yet: DEFINITELY DO IT. 

5 stars - One of the best books JLA has ever written!

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Source: KindleUnlimimted.

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I am always excited for new Mariana Zapata books. She's one of my favorite authors. An auto-buy and an auto-read. So when All Rhodes Lead Here released the Friday before Easter, I spent the weekend savoring it. And let me tell you that I absolutely LOVED IT, I LOVED IT SO MUCH, Y'ALL.

I don't even know how to get my thoughts together to form sentences in paragraphs that are organized and make sense. It's why it's taken mem a couple weeks to even try writing this review. So instead I think I'm going to do a little list of specific things that made this book such perfection.

- The main character, Aurora. She's kind and laid back and self aware and she cries. She cries sometimes, not in a dramatic way or anything, but in a way that I thought was genuine and just made her sweet character all that much more realistic to me. I loved her.

- Amos. He's such a little sweetheart, and I think I enjoyed the bond and friendship he formed with Aurora somewhere around as much as I enjoyed the romance. It was the kind of thing that warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

- Rhodes, of course. He's gruff and a bit of a grumpy hero, but as Aurora grows on him, he easily grew on me. And it was so natural. Like I blinked and BAM I was head over heels for Rhodes. I especially love how caring and sweet he could be for Aurora. Double especially because he had to learn gentler behavior because that was what Aurora needed.

- All the friends. Clara and Jackie. Yuki and her sister. Johnny. All of them. While Aurora, Rhodes, and Amos were the focus, their friends (and family) added to the world beautifully.

- Aurora's connection to her mother. The way she still deals with her grief so many years later. Just lovely.

- The ROMANCE. The way this book has my whole heart, I cannot even say. I mentioned Rhodes learning to be gentler, but he also learns to show affection regularly. He decided he was devoted and that was that, he was in and ready for the long haul. He said things and MEANT THEM. He proved he meant them. He backed them up. It's a slow burn, but that means they had a foundation built strong like a Taylor Swift bridge. 

I could probably gush about this book all day, but I need to stop somewhere. It's probably obvious at this point, but I adored All Rhodes Lead Here. As of right now, it is the best book I've read this year. Honestly, it just might be my new favorite MZ book...though I have to think about it because that's a big decision. But it's definitely up there with Wait For It for me! I'll just have to re-read the paperback I already bought until I know... :)

5 stars - A new all-time favorite!

Legacy by Hannah McBride ~ This or That, Review & Giveaway

 

The last book in Remy & Skye's story!

Available April 16th

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You may know that Hannah is a friend.  Before this Covid thing started, she started writing Sanctum.  I found out and demanded to read it.  I received chapter by chapter from her.  She was just writing for fun but I was POSITIVE that this book needed to be published.  There were a few of us that were reading her chapter and we began insisting that she publish it.  She finally gave in and the Blackwater Pack was born.  You can find us on Facebook.  Boy, have we grown.  We are all about the Blackwater Pack.  This is a word of mouth group that has fallen in love with the shifter world that Hannah built.  We demand that she writes more and she does.  Now there are 3 novels and and a novella in Remy & Skye's story.  Soon there will be spinoffs for other members of the pack.  Frankly, they are the best books I've read in a while.  

Legacy is the last book in Remy & Skye's story.  Their story started with an emotionally spent Skye and her mother just trying to escape hell, yeah Longs Peak was really that bad.  Skye's story is one of strength and triumph.  She finds her mate, Remy, but that's hardly the end of their story.  Together they work to make a difference in their world.  They move from high school to leadership and all the fun happens in Legacy.

Should I admit that I had a hit list for this book?  I did.  There some characters that just needed some justice.  I won't say if they all got it or not but I was not disappointed with the way things developed.  That's because these characters grow and progress in a believable track despite them being able to shift into wolves.  

Remy & Skye are the best.  They have struggles and get mad at each other.  They work together and succeed often but really they felt like friends.  I believe in these characters.  I hope to meet them in real life because our world would be a better place if I did.  Are they perfect?  Of course not, none of us are but they figured things out and that just made me happy.

The secondary characters own my heart too and I can't wait for the spinoffs to begin.  There's a list there of characters that need their own story.  A few I'm going to be very impatient about.  A certain mom and dad are at the top of my list followed quickly by a Russian witch - um elemental.  

This story picks up right where Prey left off and it's a good thing.  Yeah, most readers were struggling with the ending of Prey.  I knew it was okay so I just bugged the author to write faster.  She often received this little gif in her text messages.

It's an exciting story filled with lots of..."did that just happen?" and "yes!" moments!  One in particular involved a certain jerk from Longs Peak and a new favorite character we meet in this book.  No, I won't tell you more.  You need to experience these moments for yourself!  And I do suggest you experience them at your earliest convenience.  Remy & Skey's story is so much fun.  You will want to enjoy it without spoilers.

Anyway, this book is the perfect ending to their story.  I very much enjoyed it and will definitely need to read it again.  It's the kind of book, series that takes you through an emotional rollercoaster and leaves you whole on the other side.  It's the fight in Skey that does that.  She doesn't give up.  It's the strength in Remy.  He is always there.  

I really can't recommend this series more.  If you haven't started, get on that.  If you need to catch, do it now.

INT as long as you can accept a kindle book.

Winner's choice of any Blackwater pack eBook by Hannah McBride that is available as of 4/16.

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Sanctum (Blackwater Pack #1) by Hannah McBride ~ Review

Source: eARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Sanctum (Blackwater Pack #1) by Hannah McBride

A survivor on the run

Barely escaping with her life, Skye Markham and her mother flee their sadistic pack and seek sanctuary within Blackwater. Against all odds, Skye tries to create a new life for herself. A life she thought only existed in dreams is now within reach.

An alpha with a pack to protect

Remy Holt has spent years guarding his pack - his family - from threats as the next alpha in line. When the Blackwater pack decides to help the Markhams, Skye becomes one of his own … In more ways than one, if his wolf has anything to say about it.

A bond unlike any other

As Skye and Remy’s lives collide, the shifter world starts to implode. Missing shifters, a dying population, and pack wars are causing their sanctuary to crumble around them. Skye thought she was finally safe … but maybe there’s no such thing.

Goodreads | Amazon 

*Available through Kindle Unlimited!*

I've been trying to think of what to say in this review for a while. I've read the book twice and I still have trouble finding good words. So instead of "writing a review" per se, I'm going to make a list of things I loved about this book--because I really did love Sanctum.

- I LOVE SHIFTERS. I love many paranormal creatures, but shifters have a special place in my heart for their possessiveness and tendency toward soulmates. And the shifters introduced in this series were *chef's kiss* exactly my kind of thing.

- It was so easy to get interested in the story. I'm always here for the romance, but even before Skye met Remy I was pulled into her life and what she was going through. I was all in to be here for her journey from page 1.

- Of course, the romance is lovely. Skye and Remy make the perfect couple. They are the cutest and complement each other endlessly well. Remy is patient and caring while Skye is strong and calming. Together, they can do anything and I'm excited to see that as the series continues.

- All of the characters. Their friends, families, and pack. So good. Even the villains were written in a way that I hated them just right. I especially loved Larkin and Katy--them two with Skye are the best friendship trio.

- I said it was easy to get interested in the story, and that was true. But it's also so easy for this world to feel like home. As I said, I've read this book twice and the second time around was so comforting. That's a sign of a GREAT read for me--when I can pick it up again and again and enjoy it all the same without getting bored. 

Overall, I truly loved Sanctum. It's a story of romance, strength, and finding your place when you least expect it. I'm looking forward to falling for the story even more as the series continues!

5 stars - Strong start to a series I cannot wait to devour!

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L Armentrout ~ A Kingdom of Feels & Gifs, Review & Giveaway

 

A Betrayal…

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice...

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret…

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

Goodreads

Amazon |B&N | Apple | Google Play

Audio available 12/1

A Kingdom of Feels & Gifs

Val's got the feels on this one.  Gif's by chapter!

As I read the book, I stopped to find a gif that matched my feelings at the end of each chapter.  Here's how that went!

Chapter 1

No words! No one's got any words for Casteel.

Chapter 2

No fear? Hmmm...seriously?  Has me thinking.

Chapter 3

Let me go!  What is that man thinking?

Chapter 4

Craven blood!

Chapter 5

What's in a name?

Chapter 6

There's more to this story...he never says why he wants to marry her.

Chapter 7

bad dreams

Chapter 8

Who has more questions?  Poppy asking Kieran or me just wondering??

Chapter 9

Have you been to the 911 memorial?  I feel like we just visited it.

Chapter 10

Truce?  Right.

Chapter 11&12

We're all happily flamingos' here.  No really!

Chapter 13

BOOKS!

Chapter 14

The ascended have concealed oh so much!

Chapter 15

That was just disturbing 

Chapter 16

This is what I want to do to the ascended.  I do not like them, Sam I am!

Chapter 17

Nothing happening here...in the pantry.  Nothing at all.

Chapter 18

Dimples...

Chapter 19

Yeah, that's about it. 

Chapter 20

Hmmmmm.....

Chapter 21

She has feeling for him.  She can deny all she want, but I'm not buying it.

Chapter 22

When a society has convinced everyone that things are all just fine.  Yeah, it feels a little too close to home.

What just happened?

Chapter 23

Yep. This.

Chapter 24

The whole idea that you, Poppy, are pouty about this makes me all kinds of HAPPY.

Chapter 25

Let's do this thing!

Chapter 26

Swoon!

Chapter 27

Pretend.  So sweet to pretent.

Chapter 28 

Ummm...say what?

Chapter 29

Things just got really interesting...

Chapter 30

Finally!

Chapter 31

All the swoony feels!

Say what?  What did you say?!

Chapter 32

That's my girl! Give them hell!

Chapter 33

Hawke...Casteel - I love him hard.

Chapter 34

This cannot be good.

Chapter 35

Among the mess all around, there's this! YES!

Chapter 36

Something I LOVE about this author, the happy in the middle!

Chapter 37

This is good.  Happy.

Chapter 38

Hate is too mild a word for how I feel about the ascended.

Chapter 39

So much going on and I'm so proud of Casteel & Poppy!

Chapter 40

I don't know what that means but it CANNOT be a good thing!

Chapter 41

This cannot be a good thing.  STRESSED

Chapter 42

Freaky and WHAT just happened???

Chapter 43

Explain...I need to understand! What the actual...

Chapter 44

What the what???

Chapter 45

So um, I'm channeling Poppy here.  I have lots and lots of questions.  What just happened to the last 4 hours of my life??

And put it all together!

That's pretty much what it felt like.

About the author...

#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Border Jack Apollo, six judgemental alpacas, two rude goats, and five fluffy sheep. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications.  Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

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You need to read this book and when you do, you'll need to clear your schedule.  I have not had time just melt away as I was stuck in book like this before.  It's an almost 500 page book and I read it in about a day and half.  I have no recollection of that time except the story that is this book.  It is that captivating. 

Yeah, I was mad at Hawke at the end of book 1.  He let me (and Poppy) fall for him over a bunch of lies.  But I had the same problem that Poppy did.  I had fallen for him.  I was still mad, though.  So was Poppy.  Until this book.  I was stunned how much I didn't really know him.  But now I do and I gotta say that I'm amazed at this authors ability to leave out details for later that change ones thinking.  Casteel wasn't a name I even wanted to say at the end of the last book but now I care deeply for him.

As for Poppy, she needed to figure things out about herself during this book.  There is a lot to process and deal with as her life has changed so dramatically.  I was proud of her being angry at Casteel.  And then I was proud of how she came to terms with it all.  Lots of character growth for her.  Mostly, I was so very happy that she listened to her heart.  

There was that ending part with Poppy.  That had me doing a double take and re-reading several pages - say what now??  I can't believe what an amazing job this author did of creating a perfect book 2.  There was no middle book syndrome.  There was no real cliff hanger.  There was shock and awe for sure.  I want more like NOW.  I'm so excited for these two and for this people.  I want some ascended behind to be kicked.  There needs to be some questions answered.  Ian.  Malik.  More.  I cannot wait for the next book.

I love this world.  Reading high fantasy doesn't come easy for me.  I prefer the urban fantasy where there is some things I already know.  Otherwise, it feels like work reading it.  This is really the first time I've read high fantasy where I didn't get lost with all the "new", trying to keep everything straight.  This world makes sense to me.  The characters have captured my heart.  The enemies are worthy of death and I'd be happy to help dish it out to them.  So much of my heart is involved in the pages of this book.  It's like nothing I've ever read.

If you haven't read book 1, From Blood and Ash, you will need to reserve a whole week to binge these two together.  These are must reads for JLA fans.  They are also must reads for anyone who loves good high fantasy.  Don't make excuses, just read these two.  You won't be sorry.

 

                                             

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