tessa_talks_books's reviews
1186 reviews

 Genre: Witchy RomCom

Trope(s): Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract

One-word review:  Charming

Emojis: 😉😂🥰🫠

Rating: 4.5 🌟s

Favorite Character: Tia Hightower. She's a witch and a confident, determined, and straightforward woman. No one is more loyal than Tia; I love her energy and strength. The main character of this story, Leah Turner, is a close second. She is human, and everything is upbeat and light, with a heart that shines as brightly as the rest.

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. I'm eagerly anticipating booking 3 to delve deeper into Tia's story and the High Family of the Witching World. The prospect of finally meeting the enigmatic and always-absent Henry is also a thrilling thought!

4. The found-family themes in this story are not just heartwarming, they're downright soul-stirring. They beautifully illustrate the unbreakable strength of these bonds.

3. The chemistry between Leah and Gabriel is so authentic, it's palpable.  She fills the void in his life, and her unwavering determination to help him brings about a genuine transformation.

2. I'm a sucker for a story full of magic, and De-witched doesn't disappoint despite the premise.  This story's magical world still holds some mysteries, but I enjoy its many facets.

1. I love an excellent grumpy/sunshine romance, and this one always delivers.  Leah is everything sunshine should be, and Gabriel, well…his baggage definitely weighs down his disposition.  I always enjoy the transition from the grumpy character to an individual who is complex, nuanced and has learned to laugh.

 One-word review:  Emotive

Emojis: 🥹😢😭

Rating:  5🌟s

Favorite Quote: "All those things / are so simple, yet perfect, / and in those moments / happiness shivers."

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. I marveled at Hopkins’ use of dual POVs (twin siblings) in a story told through poems.  This technique is new to me, and I would never have guessed how effective it could be.

4. Several trigger warnings are understandable, considering the dark scope of the story, so potential readers should be sure to check them. StoryGraph is a great place to easily find them.

3. The book skillfully weaves in more hopeful themes of friendship, love, and resilience,  providing a stark contrast to the darker, heart-wrenching moments. This emotional rollercoaster, with its highs and lows, had me bawling as my heart ached for these very realistic characters.

2.The palpable authenticity of this story is a testament to the author's courage.  The author fearlessly delves into the harsh realities of the twins’ lives, a rare but much-needed experience for teenagers and society at large. Their courage is something to be respected and admired, fostering empathy in all who read.

1. The raw, relatable, and emotive nature of this story, told through poems, is truly transformative.  Each poem had the power to reach in and grab my heart, leaving me inspired and deeply moved.

One-word review:  Poignant
Emojis: 🤔🥺 🥰
Rating:  5🌟s

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. The unique tone and plot of this story have completely captivated me. It's a narrative unlike any other, with dual timelines and a character's journey from the US to Italy to uncover what happened to the youngest of the three sisters the series is based around.  This approach vividly underscores the diverse impacts of WWII on individuals, keeping me intrigued throughout.

4. The setting, so idyllic, serves as the perfect foil for the WWII timeline. The contrast between the serene beauty of the setting and the harsh realities of war in the timeline creates a compelling backdrop, immersing readers in the story's world and enhancing their reading experience.

3. I highly recommend reading the series in order, so I would only read this book after reading the other two books. However, this story is so well-crafted that it can be enjoyed as a standalone without any confusion about the plot or characters.

2.The research and portrayal of the events and, more importantly, the experiences during WWII are not just phenomenal, they are enlightening. The characters in this series could easily be real people alive during that time. The authenticity is practically palpable, connecting readers to the characters and their experiences in a way that few other books can.

1. The series' themes of family, found family, and sisterhood are not just moving, they are deeply touching. They resonated with me in a way that few other series have. This story didn't just allow me to imagine, it made me truly feel the realities of that time.

 

One-word review:  Intriguing

Emojis: 🤔😥🤫

Rating: 3.5🌟s

My Top-Five-Style Review:

5. I enjoyed the narration a lot. It’s sarcastic and self-deprecating in a way that kept me amused.

4. I would have loved to see more world-building.  I never felt on solid footing with this world or even the characters. Did they resemble the animals they represented, or were they fully human-like?  How could things like hot dogs exist in this world that’s nothing like ours?  I needed to know a lot more to become fully immersed.

3. The cast is quite extensive, and I often found myself in a state of confusion about who was who and who was in a relationship with whom.  This was as disorienting as the lack of world building, and it was a struggle to keep track of everyone.

2. Among the characters, Grasshopper stood out as my favorite. Despite her young age and small stature, she possesses an inherent power and purity that I found truly admirable.

1. The 'locked-room' style mystery in the book was a highlight for me. While the solution to the mystery required a bit of a leap, I found this mystery style to be a fun and enjoyable read.

 

 One-word review:  Shocking

Emojis:💡🧐🤯

Rating: 5🌟s

Favorite Quote: “Angelenos would totally tell you you’re a f-ing idiot, but we’d also hand you a kale smoothie while we did it, and tell you it’s okay that you’re dumb; at least you’re skinny.”

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. This story was utterly compelling - holding my attention without fail from beginning to end.

4. While the main characters may not be the most likable, they are undeniably relatable. This relatability is all you need to become fully invested in the story.

3. The dual perspectives of Meredith and Aspen were a delightful addition to the story. They not only added depth but also facilitated the truly shocking twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat and fully engaged in the story.

2. The social media angle is just so relatable. Is it wrong that I was getting Instagram ideas from this story?

1. That ending!!! It's so thought-provoking, I don’t even know what to think, and I love that I don’t know what to think.

 

One-word review:  Irresistible

Emojis: 😍🫠🥰

Rating: 5 🌟s

Favorite Quote: “You distract me so I can’t think straight. I’m not even supposed to be here right now. I should be in the city, dealing with work, but instead I’m here. With you. There are a thousand other things I need to be thinking about every day, but all I think about is you.”

“Kindness takes effort. It can have rough edges and it can be impolite, but it’s still genuine and good. But if you’re nice… well, you can be nice to someone and still stab them in the back…it just means when you do it, you might have a smile on your face.”

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. The chemistry in this story is so palpable it's almost a character in its own right. This kept those pages turning and made even the miscommunication trope (which I usually dislike) take a back seat.

4. The book features both spice and closed-door scenes, each handled uniquely. One couple provides the spice, while the other's scenes are kept behind closed doors. This creative approach to handling the spicy scenes adds a unique touch to the individual couples' dynamics.

3. The setting is perfect on so many levels. I always enjoy a beach setting, but this one had the added ability to demonstrate the differences between the haves and have-nots while keeping true to Pride and Prejudice.

2. The two romances in the novel are not just delightful but also feel fully authentic. Elizabeth and Will's excellent enemies-to-lovers story and Jane and Charlie's instant attraction both felt real and kept me invested in their journey.

1. Elizabeth in East Hampton successfully captures the very essence of Pride and Prejudice while preserving a contemporary retelling. This unique blend of modernity and tradition kept me intrigued and curious, and I believe even Jane Austen would give it a nod.

 

 One-word review:  Thought-provoking

Emojis: 😔🤔😢

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. The author's skill in making this AI story accessible, without being hindered by technical jargon, is commendable. It ensures a comfortable read for all, making the audience appreciate the author's writing style.

4. I believe the novel could benefit from more 'show, not tell', especially in the early parts.  This constructive feedback is aimed at maintaining the fluidity of the reading experience  and keeping the reader fully immersed in the story.

3. The heroine - Riya - is not one of my favorite FMCs. She came across as immature and lacking the excellent sense her father's trust in her implied she had. Multiple times, she made choices that had me yelling at her in disbelief.

2. As a counselor, I was offended by the portrayal of bulimia. If a topic as complex as eating disorders is going to play a role, I would expect it to be handled with empathy and a great deal of knowledge of the many intricacies associated with mental health disorders, but I didn't see that in this story. The story almost made it sound like a social media-inspired fad or something similar.

1. The premise of this novel is not just relevant, but also conceivably possible.  This potentiality is what intrigued me and kept me engaged throughout the book.

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis

One-word review: Thrilling

Emojis: 🫣🤔🤫

Rating: 5 🌟s

My Top-Ten-Style Review:

10. Book 2's competition-driven plot is a masterstroke. It keeps the suspense at a peak and the pace brisk, leaving you on the edge of your seat.

9. The competition, a high-stakes battle for the organization's leadership, is the heart of book 2. It's a thrill to see all my favorite characters again, especially as they're teamed differently than in book 1.  The changed dynamics are a refreshing twist, adding an extra layer of excitement to the narrative.

8. The different parent-child relationships are very intriguing and act as a foil for the character's growth and development as the story progresses.

7. I adore Ross and find Devroe incredibly hard not to like.  Despite everything they have been raised to think and feel, they realize there is much more to life than their parents taught them.

6. The characters are detailed and developed as much as any late teens trained since birth to be cons can be.

5. I loved all the beautiful themes of friendship, family, and even the enemies to lovers' romance.

4. The characters, each unique in their own way, contribute to the diversity of the story. This diversity adds an authentic touch to an otherwise larger-than-life narrative, making everyone feel included and part of the journey.

3. The end surprised me, and I loved it. The unexpected twist, which I won't spoil, added an exciting and satisfying element to the conclusion.

2. The pacing is breakneck, and plenty of thrills and spills keep me glued to the page.

1. What I love the most about this series is the clever solutions to completing the quest. Heist Royale is full of ingenious solutions that will impress and engage you.

 

 One-word review:  Twisty

Emojis: 🧐🫣🤫

Rating: 4 🌟s

My Top-Five-Style Review:

5. The dialogue could be over the top, and the names/characters were hard to keep straight. Still, overall, this is a good mystery with an excellent premise.

4. The twin trope in this book is a fascinating twist.  The complexity of figuring out which identical twin committed the murder, or if either did, is a puzzle that keeps you engaged. This trope has a similar allure to a locked room mystery, making it a delightful read.

3. The whole series's true crime angle is great. I enjoy multimedia approaches to murder mysteries. This book is the eighth in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

2. Despite being a slow-burn mystery, the book is a manageable 250 pages. This brevity ensures that the story doesn't drag on, making it a comfortable read.

1. The plot of this book is a delightful puzzle, twisted and complex, making it hard to predict the outcome. This unpredictability adds to the intrigue of the story, making it a compelling read.

 The Dragon in Winter, the third book in the Kagen the Damned series, is a compelling conclusion to Jonathan Maberry’s epic saga. Maberry’s unique style is a delightful blend of Tolkien-like fantasy, Arthurian legend, Monty Python hijinks, Stephen King horror, and Holmesian mystery, creating a narrative that is both familiar and refreshingly original. 

The story features a vast array of characters, each meaningfully developed. Some characters persist throughout the story, while others meet their tragic demise, serving the tale’s progression. Dragons, elves, fairies, witches, and various monsters adds to the richness of this fantastical world. This book stands out as something genuinely different from anything I have read, and I'm sure it will excite and intrigue any fantasy literature enthusiast.

My anticipation for this installment of the Kagen trilogy was high, as I couldn’t wait to discover who would ultimately prevail. Maberry masterfully keeps readers guessing until the very end. The story concludes just as it began, focusing on family and its complexities.

I will greatly miss some of my favorite characters who now disappear behind the book covers. Kagen, Tuke, Filia, Jheklan, and Faulkner, along with many others, kept me heartily entertained throughout the series.