An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan

 

A Romeo and Juliette retelling but with Chinese mythology?

Sure it will not be a pick up from a store but since it was part of a Fairyloot box I gave a try

Also the cover is simply stunning!

I was pretty ready to DNF this book as soon as I saw the description BUT after a few pages I was not ready to leave that story like that...

Luna and Hunter was born in the same year, month and day and yet their lives are a complete opposite: 

Hunter's family live in a constant state of fear due to one bad choice and they simply can't see the good in their oldest son.

Luna's family is the portrait of a perfect family and yes, you got it, they are proud of Luna in everything! 

But both families have secrets and while the worlds of Luna and Hunter start to fall they can only focus on themself and on their love. 

While I was reading it I was passing from a lovely moment to a very sad one in result of how both families put such pressure in the kids: Chang family want Luna to have the best of the best and Yee family keep putting all the frustration in Hunter but and their fear in Cody. 

At the end, as soon as I finished the last page I knew it was a 5⭐ rating book! 

You may thing that is not worth it as you have a lot of Chinese expressions but nothing that a translate can't solve and actually it's part of them and it's cultural so no cutting stars due to that for me! 

A book full of magic with a mix of lovely and sad moments. Really beautiful to read! 

The Darkening by Sunya Mara

 

Vesper only wanted to saver her father

Dalca wanted to save everyone from the Storm. 

To understand that they are all in this situation because 300 years ago 1 Regia wanted to reign alone full of power.... it's like "oh really? how it that even possible?" 

And no one was remembering the other God? Really?

Well ok... 300 years is a long time but not all proofs can be erased like that.... 

Loved the fact that Vesper always want to help everyone (and fail most of the time or the price to pay is always very unfair)

But my big issue was that Iz was also an important character and his story stoped in the Storm... 

Where is he now? 

Did he came back to normal?

I need the book 2 as I have a lot of questions and I need answers and I really need to see if that 2 Gods will have a decent conversation instead of starting a war that make no sense!

Overall this book got a 4⭐ rating!

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

 

I'm surprised that I actually enjoyed this book as I was hooked by the cover but the description was something that I actually was not sure to like. 

Everything in Saiorse is connected: families, business, traditions and of course secrets. 

14 years ago a violent fire started in the island and the body of a young girl named Lily was found. Everyone blamed August and even if no proof it was him, he was forced to leave the island with his mother. 

But the old people of the island keep saying that Saiorse call everyone back and it's true: August need to go back to bury is mother. 

The plan is to go, bury his mother and leave. He never wanted to stay in the island even when he was 18 and he knows that the people will know he's there and will not be happy. 

And they knew and was not happy: not only because they still believe he killed Lily but also because the council have a big and dark secret that they don't want to come to surface! 

The island itself have a will and will help, or not, the villagers. 

That's what she have done once and will do it again! But this time in the form of a true love and redemption. 

Secrets uncover, lies discovered, an unsolved murder and the truth about everything got me gripped in this 4⭐  story

The only thing that I was not ok was with Leoda. She have so much to tell and we only heard of her twice. She is the villain of this book and only at the end we understand how her influence go and how she put her wanting before everything else.

THE FEMININE WAY: Pete Jackson private Detective bt Dr. Man

 

Following the storyline of The Unpaid Debt, this book as also full of action! (please click in the book title to have access of my review)

My heart missed some beats in the first events of the 1st chapter and after that I was able to hear it beating faster each time the events was getting into a bad moment plot! 

Got Pete stabbed by a guy seeking revenge of a pretty good lie, 3 women saved Pete until the end of the book and we can't forgot that Pete have a pretty good family and friends!  

This book got the rating of 4⭐ and next time I will read a Dr Man book I will start from the start of the story of Pete Jackson! 

Once again my big thank you for the author to providing me also this book 😘

THE UNPAID DEBT: Pete Jackson Private Detective by Dr Man

 

This book is following The Sinister Sickness where the mob is paid to end up the life of an old lady 

(click in the name book to have access to the review)

I want to thank the author for sending me this book via email and by not making any kind of pressure or asking for a review in a defined time 😍

This book only have 52 pages but they are full of action! 

Pete know that this is not over with the mob but he's not quite sure about why they stopped any plans. That's until you have 2 murders in 2 weeks and an invitation to actually lunch with the bosses. 

Even after that the big questions is: why?

This book got the rating of 3⭐ not because I didn't enjoy the plot but because a lot of questions stayed to be answered. 

I will for sure continue my journey into Pete Jackson and will read the full collection!

Wicked Villains #6 Queen Takes Rose by Katee Robert

What a waist of time at the end! 

All the book is built in how Malone is strong and deathly and how Aurora hates her for good reasons.

It's not even that smutty at a certain point... yes you have the scenes but it's no hit as the previous books.

The plot is there and is not.... 

I spent the full book hoping for Aurora split the tea and try to kill Malone and what I get? 15 days to Aurora finally be sincere with Malone. 

Malone was hurt but no blood, no fight,.... just a "get out" 

And why bring the Sabine Valley situation if you are not to clarify further than until 30% of the book? What happened to the nieces? Did the sister call to update? I mean.... 😠

Arf.... only got 2 stars rating because I really like Aurora but it was a disappointment.... 

 

Wicked Villains #5 The Sea Witch by Katee Robert

 

Almost finishing this series and with it it will be the end this genre! 

This book got a rating of 5 ⭐ and I was more than delighted after that 3 star book... 

This one got everything so.... real

Ursa is a sage women: she got to fight a lot as a black women in a white men world. 

She was betrayed, never let her guard done since and she know she is rotten apple by how far she is now but she is not ashamed of what she needed to have done to reach the top and be a territory leader. 

For someone that got so far and alone it is very unexpected to see that she is tired and Alaric and Zuri are actually what she need even if she don't believe in it. 

Alaric got into a mess thanks to his family and Zuri was a way to make sure Triton pay for what happened to Ursa in the past but Zuri can be all innocence as she is a fast learner.

That's where this book is so good to read: Zuri actually didn't change thanks to Ursa and Alaric as you can think. They actually only opened the door to her be herself and see the world as it is and the result was more than what they think they deserve.

Zuri is the kind of princess locked in the tower that got sick of it and want to live on her own. Her love is so strong that actually she don't blink when a solution to help Alaric came from Ursa. She is an hurricane and she only needed to have space to understand everything and stand for. 

Almost 300 pages where you can see all the power games Ursa show and keep working, a strong black women, a young women that came with a hurricane of emotions, friendship that sound more real than anything, Alaric that is more than a pretty fuck boy and ofc the BDSM parts that actually was hard this time but Ursa is actually very harsh so..... 😅

The plot was perfect! 

The side characters are as I expected and even more! 

Wicked Villains #4 The Beast by Katee Robert

 

This book got a 3⭐ rating and it was not even hard to come to that decision!

In this volume you have the story of Gaston, Beast and Isabella and also a promising war between Ursa and Isabella's sister Cordelia (that is the heir of the territory after the death of their father)

You may think that I didn't like this book due the M/M/F relationship and maybe was part of the reasons but like 1%

All the book seems that they only make choices in the heat of the moment. It's a lot as "let's try this and hope it works otherwise I think in something else". 

Beats over and over again show that it's not a made up moment decision but we are unable to understand when he came with the idea and it's frustrating! 

It was more than obvious that Izzy will never choose Gaston or Beats. It was more than clear in the previous books that she was unable to do such a thing.... 

The plot was so promising that I got shattered when it was not as expected. 

I was hoping a fight between Cordelia and Izzy about Gaston and Beats. 

I was hoping for Ursa break in the territory and deal with Beats in the next seconds 

I was hoping Beats on knees and Izzy bossing him and lecture Gaston

What I got? 

Cordelia and Izzy fight was very stupid (and glade it was mentioned actually in the book)

The promising war with Ursa after half the book look like what it is for real: a decoy

Izzy submit without any resistance.... they fight but it was all cleared in 1 day

From what I saw in the final pages, Ursa book look like more promising and with a lot of games and I really hope that actually it get that as I need smut and power games

Wicked Villains #3 A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

 

Time can heal a lot of things but the memories will never fade. 

5 years ago Tink make a bargain to get out of an very abusive relation and during that time she survived and took control of herself. 

Now the contract took an end and she realize that the menace was never gone... And all memories comes back and the strong women she built is a facade. 

Hook always got his eyes to every movement Tink have done since the first day they met but what 5 years ago he didn't finish is now coming back and to finish him. Having Tink at his side only make Peter go wild and can make the end of all the troubles. Only is a problem: Peter's ex is Tink and more than wanting the territory back, he want to make her suffer. 

During this all book you can see how deep marks can go when you go into a very dark and possessive relationship. 

You see the build of trust between Tink and Hook, the way the correct partner can make miracles and that's why it got a 5⭐ rating. 

Also my congrats to Katee as she made a great research regarding BDSM and Bondage. It's not slutty at all... it's erotic and after 3 books I'm not deceived reading that scenarios!

Moving for book 4 and unto a Love Triangle!

Wicked Villains #2 Learn My Lesson Katee Robert

 

I ended up now the book 2 of Wicked Villains Serie and it got my 4⭐ rating. 

This book is about Meg, Hades and Hercules and no, they are not enemies this time! 

Meg and Hades had a 10 years relationship that started as a normal an usual bargain but with a love interest from both parts. 

But the years pass and Meg is not happy, Hades keep is last plan out of her as finally is 30 years revenge can start. 

Hercules is done with is father and got out of Olympus after failing a rescue. Everything is normal until he got between the legs of Meg and wanted to save her from Hades. 

Hades plan is moving but something unexpected happens and it can cause the lost of everything. 

Repleted with threesome scenes this book got less sex scenarios than the first one as the main plot was about trusting and healing a relationship and learning from the past but it was very very well done!

I'm now heading for the book 3 that is about Hook and Tink!

Wicked Villains #1 Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

 

It was thanks to Tiktok that I learned about this serie BUT nothing was preparing me about the intense smut parts. 

By surprise, this book have a plot: 

Jafar always wanted to have the control and power but here Ali (Aladin) is the real villain as Jafar indeed have a love interest! 

Jasmine look fragil and it's really not her fault! Her father simply saw her as something to get more power, a trophy and she never was allowed to fly! 

Not only she finally see what life can be outside the mansion as she is growing. 

Of course this book is +18 and BDSM so the description of that scenarios are really well done and not in a disgusting way as many other books make it look more pornographic and "savage". 

Katee make sure you enjoy reading that parts without tending to pass them as too savage, vulgar,... The word "erotic" is the most accurate to describe that scenes.

This book got my 4⭐ rate in Goodreads.com

As this serie have 6 books (that I got them all at the same time) I'm moving for the second one where Meg and Hades (you read correctly) are the MC 

Lakesedge (World at the Lake's Edge #1) by Lyndall Clipstone

 

Language: English

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 380

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 3⭐

This rating is not because the story is bad but more because you turn in circle for a while and nothing "important" happens. 

However, Leta is one of a MC! 

Nothing was easy to Leta when her parents got the sick and died. She was alone with her brother and then "mother" came but it was not the same... 

Until one day darkness took care of her brother during his sleep and while she was thinking that he was safe... Rowan appear and took them to Lakesedge.

When she arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. 

She knows the terrifying rumors about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. 

As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…


Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unraveling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under but the cost can be hard to handle.

Why is the Lord Under saying "for now" at the end?

They All Had A Reason by Michele Leathers

 

Rating: 4⭐

Sixteen-year-old Charlotte is convinced her life would be perfect if she could only get past her bully: A girl named Bellany Silverfield, who seems to have it all -- beauty, popularity, power and the boy of Charlotte’s dreams. 

But when Bellany is murdered, Charlotte’s life doesn't get any better! 

Charlotte worries that circumstantial evidence and rumors of motive will make her a prime suspect. 

Not only that but she is forced to question the loyalty of her closest friends and to place her trust in a boy she barely knows as she see secrets coming out and attitudes changing. 

But who killed Bellany and why are they trying to frame Charlotte? 

As far you go in this book, more you are convinced that you have an answer but only the true will come in the last pages! 

I understood that this is a serie of 6 books so I already ordered the second to keep this tale ongoing!

The Sinister Sickness by Dr. Man

 

Rating: 4 ⭐

Another book that I was able to read via the program Booktasters (Twitter)

Annette is not happy with her sister Constance and with no regrets she ask the Mafia to kill her. 

As Constance's friends try to keep her alive they call Pete to investigate as they saw a lawyer firm letter and think it's related with her money and will

Pete jump to the case to understand and solve it while the doctors fights to keep Constance alive 

But the danger is high and they all are targets!

Even if this book is only 56 pages it's very well done and easy to follow!

The action if super and yes I was more than happy with that end! 

Raven: A Modern Gothic Thriller by Tim Pea

 

I received this book from Booktasters for free and in exchange I shall give an honest review. 

Well at first I got a little bit confused about what the book was about and where Raven' story will fit with the others characters. 

Raven is old but looking young. She most survive in an unique way due a condition that make her unique and alone. 

She cross the path with Susan and Richard not thinking that this will become a problem but Phil die and they want answers. Raven escape from them and ready to start over once more but her past comes back and she must keep going.

While the couple seek for revenge of the death of a friend and Susan's parents, they find themself in a total and more dark situation in the middle of Africa. 

Susan changes after Raven last encounter and Richard don't understand why or how to get his wife back as the only thing she's concerned is to revenge her mother's death. 

This book is full of twists and you can't get for trusted was the characters will do or how they will end. 

As I was reaching the end of the book I was thinking that it was pure luck that Raven "escaped" from Susan but guess what? Tim Pea wrote 3 books and now I must get them to see if Raven, Susan and Richard will see each other again and if so how it ends! 

This book got a full 4 starts rating for me and I hope the others books don't deceive me 

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

Language: English

Format: Hardcover (Macmillan Collector's Library Edition)

Pages: 280 

Genre: Classic, Fiction 

Rating: 5⭐

"When young Sara Crewe is brought from India to London by her doting father to join Miss Minchin's school, she can have little idea of the changes in circumstance that lie ahead. While at first her life of privilege continues, the tragic death of her father and failure of his business alters everything. In a dramatic reversal of the tradition fictional 'rags to riches' formula, Sara plunges from privilege to penury in the space of one day. Now she is no longer a princess but a beggar, and must depend on the power of her imagination, and the kindness of strangers, to lift her above the misery of her circumstances. She is cast out from the comfort of her rooms as Miss Minchin's 'show pupil' into the chill despair of a lonely garret, and set to endure back-breaking work in the school. But if humility, patience and dignity are virtues to be rewarded, will Sara perhaps experience another reversal in her fortunes? A Little Princess is a timeless and gripping drama about the transformative power of positive thought and the imagination."

I have nothing bad to say about this classic book! 

The story is just beautiful and I saw myself smiling a lot during this reading. We can see that some kids are evil but the adults are worst since they got a power over the rest: not only no one can fight back as they don't need to justify anything or any action. 

You have 2 strong messages here: 

1. No matter what, keep your dignity, humility and patience 
2. Is importante to keep your imagination active. It's importante and without it you can be in a very dark world.

And I can't write more since you really need to read it to feel the nostalgia of this book.

Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 9) by J.R. Ward

 

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 632

Genre: fantasy

Rating: 4⭐

"Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.

When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.

As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy."

I started this book hating Xcor! Really hated him for his way to do stuff but at 80% something changed for me... Let's see how it continue

Regarding Payne and Vishous POV it was as opening new doors and sincerly it's a lot of door to reach the center.

Having Manello in the middle is something very confusing and I feel bad about him (really) but we have hope in this guy! He is really Butch brother? Can he be a vampire too? questions, questions

Oh gosh I can't wait to pick up the next volume to make sure my thoughts are correct about Xcor, Gylmera and the King! 

April RECAP + May TBR

 

Hello my bookworms! 

April was a complicated month and May will be more busy at work. 

I'm entering in that part of the year where work is crazy and that I start checking the hour to see when I can log out and pick up my book to read! 

I want also to share that I start to make 5D painting (you know, the diamantes ones) and that helps a lot to not DNF any kind of book but in revenge I take longer to finish them.... 😅

Ok from April TBR I didn't read 4 books and one of them is in current read still and it's my plan to finish it this month.... I simply got very tired and didn't want to read and go directly to the bed.... and it feels good and correct!

My Goodreads Goal is still very good and I'm almost at 50%: 

I also made an order and got Mangas: 

My May TBR is very simple but have a lot of pages: 

1. Finishing the serie "The Dark Tower" of Stephen King
2. Read Blood Summons (ARC)
3. Read "Family Ties" 

The first point are 7 books and some are massive and it's full of details and a lot but a lot of information so good luck for me! 

The other two are in my TBR as priority since they are free and need reviews ASAP 😊

Hope you April was good (private and professionally) and I'm curious to know about your plans! 

If you have any suggestion of hobbies, recs for books or want someone to read with you or just to talk, go find my in Social Media and speak with me! (I'm shy and forgot to reply in a normal time but I will try my best!) 

Also if you try to check my Instagram I'm very sorry but it's not updated or with a lot of posts... It's a work in project for me so better to Tiktok me ;)

The Gunslinger by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #1)

Language: French

Format: Paperback

Pages: 378

Genre: fantasy, horror

Rating: 4⭐

 "A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake."

This book is basically an introduction to this world and to Roland role here. 

The book is full of details and time to time you travel to the past. It makes a total sense to better understand the present story. 

Roland follow his way to find the Man in Black and during his journey i found Jake, a little boy that claims to not be from this land but another one. 

Jake follow Roland knowing that something will happens and until the very last minute i believed that this kid will be present in all books but no.... 

Even if I wanted to know more about some parts it was only for curiosity since the plot line was very complete. 

I was thinking to end this book in 2 days but it took me more due the details of everything!

Again I found necessary to tab this book and I think I'm getting better at it! 

Also this book have a little story that show a part of Roland's route until when this book start. 

I didn't saw the movie but will do it as soon as I end the serie!

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 8) by J. R. Ward

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 615

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 5⭐

"John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates."

How to express that I was hoping all the time that they got an happy ending? 100% the time Xhex or John name was on the pages I was hoping they get along with their feelings and accept that it's possible to be happy even if everything i's against that!

Also the other couple of this book need a real conversation! Quinn and Blay... I already know that they have books about them only and I can't wait to reach it.

I mostly swear while reading since it was the best option that getting crazy about Lash and all the going on/off the action but it a good choice. 😉 

Oh and we have a new member to the story... Payne. And who is Payne and what she mean to the Brotherhood? Well I will need to read the next book to discover it 😋

Riding High in April by Jackie Townsend

 

Language: English

Format: Audio Book

Pages: 9h45

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 1⭐

Riding High in April is the story of Marie and Stuart, who have found themselves in the big tech world of Asia. 

Stuart is consumed by work and Marie seems to be along for the ride.

I've never read a book about business, and honestly I can't related the need of reading about "getting stuff done", "board meetings", "pressure to have success" after I've done that all day.... 

I really give a try for this book but at 25% I considered to DNF it.... I guess I only keep going to see if something different was coming with the relationship and friendships...

I found it hard to follow along in to the world of tech even if the location was a perfect scenario for more this couple. (Im not from Tech world and it was hard to get some therms)

I think it would be a great book for someone who is familiar with big tech startups and Silicon Valley or someone who wants to get to know more about the industry.

Christmas Hideaway by Wendy Davy

 Language: English 

Format: Kindle 

Pages: 104 

Genre: Suspense / Romance 

Rating: 4⭐

"Material witness Mandi Foster is running. And for good reason—if she testifies her family will pay the ultimate price. With no choice but to hide until the trial is over, she finds an isolated cabin to ride out Christmas alone—except she isn't alone.

A mysterious stranger follows her through a treacherous winter storm into the Blue Ridge Mountains, and then saves her from a potentially fatal accident. But as coincidences pile up, Mandi suspects her handsome rescuer is harboring dangerous secrets.

Security Specialist Rylan Copeland is hunting. And for good reason—he has witnessed murderers walk away unpunished. He isn't about to let that happen again—not when he can do something to stop it. But as he catches up to Mandi, danger comes in ways he hadn't anticipated.

Will he convince her to testify in time? Or will another killer get away with murder?"

Mandi even if not looking is very strong and know the risks!

She knew the risks to be a witness and even then she did go make her civil duty and everything go wrong... not because they want to target her, but her family.

Even if this book as relatively small it was full of action and was well done: plot, storyline, characters,...

Only was missing more about Eric and his connections but may it's because the book was small.