Friday, 22 April 2022

Head Stuck In A Book: ARC Review: Mirrors And Ashes - Cat Bowser

 



Releases: 27th April 2022


Mirror Mirror on the Wall—because of you, a kingdom falls.

When Ember’s mother makes a deal with a fae, she betrays
her own people and puts a death mark on her daughter’s head.
Ember has nowhere to hide.
Her life falls on the kindness of dwarves.

But while she finds sanctuary with the underground folk,
her people suffer, and will eventually succumb to the painful
death that the price of magic demands—
where even the soil of the earth turns to ash.

Unless Ember can save them.

Armed with only the life lessons from her Dwarven family,
Ember must overthrow her own mother and discover
where true love and loyalty lies.
 

Review.

I'm a big fan of fairytale retellings, so when I saw that Mirror And Ashes was a new Snow White interpretation, I was quick to grab a copy to review.
This story is a unique concept for a Snow White tale; I enjoyed the different takes of the characters we all know and some newly introduced to this story.
I did find that this book dragged a bit in some parts, and I did find myself a bit bored.
But for the die-hard Snow White fans, they should really like this version.

I received a copy of this book for review from Book Sirens; all thoughts are my own.



Monday, 18 April 2022

Head Stuck In A Book: Books Available For Pre-Order On Amazon Australia

 


Releases: 3rd May 2022


Set over one sizzling August, BOOK LOVERS is the new chemistry-filled 'rivals to lovers' romcom from New York Times #1 bestseller Emily Henry

Nora is a cut-throat literary agent at the top of her game. Her whole life is books.

Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers. And he's Nora's work nemesis.

Nora has been through enough break-ups to know she's the woman men date 
before they find their happy-ever-after.That's why Nora's sister has persuaded her to swap her desk in the city for a month's holiday in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. It's a small town straight out of a romance novel, but instead of meeting sexy lumberjacks, handsome doctors or cute bartenders, Nora keeps bumping into...Charlie.

She's no heroine. He's no hero. So can they take a page out of an entirely different book?


Releases: 10th May 2022


Read Twisted Hate now for a steamy enemies to lovers romance.

He hates her . . . almost as much as he wants her.

Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn't charm - except for Jules f**king Ambrose.

The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.

When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that'll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.

No jealousy.

No strings attached.

And absolutely no falling in love.

***

Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who's focused on one thing: passing the attorney's bar exam.

The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable . . . no matter how good-looking he is.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there's more than meets the eye to the man she's hated for so long.

Her best friend's brother.

Her nemesis.

And her only salvation.

Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they're faced with truths that could either save them . . . or destroy everything they've worked for.

Twisted Hate is a steamy enemies with benefits/enemies to lovers romance. It's book three in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

Warning: It contains explicit content and profanity. Recommended for 18+



Releases: 6th June 2022


An all-new, spicy murder mystery from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer...


It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod-just me and my beloved brother-but discovering a corpse in our rental house really throws a wrench into our tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe I can be helpful, despite countless hours of true crime podcast listening. Not to mention a fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders. 


A brash bounty hunter and an energetic elementary schoolteacher: the murder-solving team no one asked for, but thanks to these pesky attempts on my life, we're stuck together, come hell or high tide. 


I'm just here to do a job, not babysit an amateur sleuth. Although...it is becoming less and less of a hardship to have her around. Sure, she's stubborn, distracting and can't stay out of harm's way. She's also brave and beautiful and reminds me of the home I left behind three years ago. In other words, the insatiable hunger and protectiveness she is waking up in me is a threat to my peace of mind. Before I sink any deeper into this dangerous attraction, I need to solve this murder and get back on the road.


But will fate take her from me before I realize the road has been leading to her all along? 




Releases: 3rd May 2022


#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus

In Charlie Hall's world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences-but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone's feelings-and memories-but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden-a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms.

And sometimes, it has a life of its own.

Charlie is a low-level con artist, working as a bartender while trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading. She gets by doing odd jobs for her patrons and the naive new money in her town at the edge of the Berkshires.

But when a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie's present life is thrown into chaos, and her future seems at best, unclear-and at worst, non-existent. Determined to survive, Charlie throws herself into a maelstrom of secrets and murder, setting her against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister-all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.

With sharp angles and prose, and a sinister bent, Holly Black is a master of shadow and story stitching. Remember while you read, light isn't playing tricks in 
Book of Night, the people are.



Releases - 24th May 2022


'Something Wilder is exactly what we all need right now . . . a true escape within the pages of a book, filled with adventure, rekindled romance and second chances' Jodi Picoult, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

The New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners present a charming, laugh-out-loud novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

Lily has never forgotten the man that got away . . . but she certainly hasn't forgiven him either!

As the daughter of a notorious treasure hunter, Lily makes ends meet using her father's coveted hand-drawn maps, guiding tourists on fake treasure hunts through the canyons of Utah. When the man she once loved walks back into her life with a motley crew of friends, ready to hit the trails, Lily can't believe her eyes. Frankly, she'd like to take him out into the wilderness - and leave him there.

Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily is all business: it's never going to happen. But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn't a gimmick after all. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they'll risk their lives, and their hearts, on the adventure of a lifetime . . .



Releases: 31st May 2022


Hades, God of the Dead, does not take sides or bend the rules. He makes no exceptions to these values ― not for god or mortal, even his lover, Persephone, Goddess of Spring.

Usually, fear prevents retaliation.

But not this time.

When Hera, Goddess of Women, approaches Hades with a plan to overthrow Zeus, he declines to offer help. As punishment, Hera sentences Hades to perform a series of labors. Between killing mythical monsters and recovering deadly stolen artifacts, each feat seems more impossible than the last and draws his attention away from Persephone ― whose own tragedy has left her questioning whether she can be Queen of the Underworld.

Can Hades maintain the balance he craves?



Releases: 28th June 2022


Gods, demons and dragons collide in one final epic battle in The Discord of Gods, the unmissable conclusion to A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons

The end times have come.


Relos Var’s final plans to enslave the universe are on the cusp of fruition. He believes there’s only one being in existence that might be able to stop him: the demon Xaltorath.

As these two masterminds circle each other, neither is paying attention to the third player on the board, Kihrin. Unfortunately, keeping himself classified in the ‘pawn’ category means Kihrin must pretend to be everything the prophecies threatened he’d become: the destroyer of all, the sun eater, a mindless, remorseless plague upon the land. It also means finding an excuse to not destroy the people he loves (or any of the remaining Immortals) without arousing suspicion.

Kihrin’s goals are complicated by the fact that not all of his ‘act’ is one. His intentions may be sincere, but he’s still being forced to grapple with the after-effects of the corrupted magic ritual that twisted both him and the dragons. Worse, he’s now tied to a body that is the literal avatar of a star – a form that is becoming increasingly, catastrophically unstable. All of which means he’s running out of time.

After all, some stars fade – but others explode.

The Discord of Gods is the fifth and final book in Jenn Lyons’ epic fantasy series A Chorus of Dragons, which starts with The Ruin of Kings.



Releases: 6th July


Nisha Sharma’s new romantic comedy features enemies to lovers, a cast of best friends, and a gaggle of aunties determined to make a match.

Hi! I’m Kareena Mann. As cheesy as it sounds, I’m looking for my soulmate. In four months. And he must gain the approval of my meddling aunties.

Kareena dreams of having a perfect love story like her parents did. That’s why on the morning of her thirtieth birthday, she’s decided to suit up and enter the dating arena. When her widowed father announces he’s retiring and selling their home after her sister’s engagement party, Kareena makes a deal with him. If she can find her soulmate by the date of the party, he’ll gift her the house, and she’ll be able to keep her mother’s legacy alive.

Hi, I’m Dr. Prem Verma, host of the Dr. Dil Show. Prem means love, Dil means heart, and I’m a cardiologist. Don’t let my name fool you. I only fix broken hearts in the literal sense.

Prem doesn’t have time for romance, which is why it’s no surprise when his first meeting with Kareena goes awry. Their second encounter is worse when their on-air debate about love goes viral. Now Prem’s largest community center donor is backing out because Prem's reputation as a heart-health expert is at risk. To get back in his donor’s good graces, he needs to fix his image fast, and dating Kareena is his only option.

Even though they have warring interests, the more time Prem spends with Kareena, the more he thinks she’s might actually be the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. In this Taming of the Shrew re-imagination, for Prem and Kareena to find their happily ever after, they must admit that hate has turned into fate.

 

Releases: 31st May 2022


The eagerly awaited finale of the Prison Healer trilogy, from Australia's #1-bestselling YA author Lynette Noni.

She'd failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.

Kiva thought she knew what she wanted - revenge. But feelings change, people change . . . 
everything has changed.

After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they've ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart.

A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive - she must fight for what she believes in. For 
who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall?


Releases: 3rd August 2022


The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it...

Just weeks away from ditching DC for greener pastures, Solange Pereira is roped into helping her wedding planner cousin on a random couple’s big day. It’s an easy gig... until Solange stumbles upon a situation that convinces her the pair isn’t meant to be. What’s a true-blue romantic to do Crash the wedding, of course. And ensure the unsuspecting groom doesn’t make the biggest mistake of his life.

Dean Chapman had his future all mapped out. He was about to check off “start a family” and on track to “make partner” when his modern day marriage of convenience went up in smoke. Then he learns he might not land an assignment that could be his ticket to a promotion unless he has a significant other and, in a moment of panic, Dean claims to be in love with the woman who crashed his wedding. Oops.

Now Dean has a whole new item on his to-do list: beg Solange to be his pretend girlfriend. Solange feels a tiny bit bad about ruining Dean’s wedding, so she agrees to play along. Yet as they fake-date their way around town, what started as a performance for Dean’s colleagues turns into a connection that neither he nor Solange can deny. Their entire romance is a sham... there’s no way these polar opposites could fall in love for real, right 



Releases: 28th June 2022


The fate of the world rests on a blade's edge.

Fighting beside her band of unlikely companions, Corayne is learning to embrace her ancient lineage and wield her father's powerful sword.

But while she successfully closed one of the Spindles, her journey is far from over.

Queen Erida's army marches across Allward with her consort, Taristan, right beside them, opening more portals into nightmarish worlds, razing kingdoms to the ground.

Corayne has no choice but to assemble an army of her own if she's to save the realm as she knows it. But perilous lands await her and the companions, and they face assassins, otherworldly beasts, and tempestuous seas all as they rally a divided Ward to fight behind them.

But Taristan has unleashed an evil far more wicked than his corpse armies. Something deadly waits in the shadows; something that might consume the world before there's any hope for victory.



Releases: 24th May


A soldier raised as heir to an empire, Zarrah is motivated by two truths. The first is that the Veliant family murdered her mother. The second is that her pursuit of vengeance will put every last one of them in their graves.

 

The Endless War between Maridrina and Valcotta has raged for generations, leaving thousands of Zarrah's people dead and countless more orphaned. So when she's given command of the contested city of Nerastis, Zarrah is prepared to do whatever it takes to destroy the Maridrinian forces who oppose her. And to kill the Veliant prince who leads them.

 

Yet a chance encounter with an anonymous, and handsome, Maridrinian causes Zarrah to question whether the violence she's perpetrated is justice or a crime. And as she continues to meet the nameless man each night, she finds common ground-and fiery passion-in his arms.

 

But when identities are revealed, Zarrah must decide whether to embrace a chance at peace... or march to the drums of war.

 

Return to the world of The Bridge Kingdom in this sensuous fantasy full of romance and intrigue that is perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Silver Flames.




















Head Stuck In A Book: Book Review: Queen By Blood (Lost Thrones #1) - D.H. Gibbs

 



Released: 21st April


The survival of an entire race or the freedom she desperately wants.

Held captive by an unknown assailant, Nika is thrust into a dark and mysterious world. Desperate to reclaim her freedom, the young orphan fights to regain a morsel of the life she once led. Soon, though, her plight reveals startling information about who she is and what she’s destined to become.

Demyan’s centuries-old search finally ends when he finds the rightful ruler of his race. Unfortunately, she knows nothing about her true identity or the great powers she possesses. But the clock is ticking. If he can’t convince her to claim her throne, her brother’s plan to extinguish the Immortal race will be fulfilled.

Can Demyan convince Nika to accept her destiny before it’s too late?

Fans of Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout will devour this introductory novella to the Lost Thrones series.
One-click your way into this epic adventure.
*This book was previously titled Nika and has since been updated and rebranded for the release of additional titles in the series.*
 

Review.

Queen By Blood was a one sit read that had me intrigued from the start.
I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the whole world it was set in; being only a novella-length story, I flew though it in no time and then wished I had the next book on hand to keep going on with.
The whole idea of the story was original and fresh, and I cannot wait for the next book, especially after reading the small sneak peek for book two that was at the end.
A great start to what seems to be a really exciting series.

I received this book for review from Booksprout; all thoughts are my own.

Sunday, 17 April 2022

Head Stuck In A Book: ARC Review: The Resurrected Queen (Nemesis #2) - Jayce Carter

 




Released: 19th April 2022


Revenge is dangerous, but love is a far more lethal game.

Only one of the people who betrayed me is still alive—my father. Nothing matters more to me than making him pay and saving my sister from his influence. But my attempts to rescue her only made him paranoid, and now the sister I wanted to save is being forced into marriage with an associate of his, all because of me.

I tried to keep the Quad, the four men I can’t stop falling for, at a distance, but the temptation they offer is more than I can resist. I tell myself I can enjoy their bodies while refusing to trust them, but, as the days pass, keeping those lines straight becomes harder.

I’m in more danger than ever and my enemies are closing in on me. I don’t believe in happily ever after, and the further I go, the surer I am that this will end with me dead—this time, for good.

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of murder and attempted murder, violence and bloodshed, and a morally gray heroine.
 

Review.

The Resurrected Queen was a satisfying end to the Nemesis duet series.
Continuing straight on from the first book's events, we return to Nem and her plans for revenge against her Father for arranging the murders of her and her Mother, with Nem being the only survivor and her plans to rescue her younger sister Kenzi.
With the help of the Quad, Nem's plans and purpose in returning finally come together in this conclusion.
While I definitely enjoyed this final instalment, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first book, 'The Corpse Princess'; I can't quite put my finger on why I just know that I prefer the first book more.
I would have liked an epilogue set a couple of years later, just to see what had happened to these characters after the events in this story, but I'll have to use my imagination.
All in all a fantastic series that I highly recommend.

I received this book via Booksprout for review; all thoughts are my own.

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Head Stuck In A Book: ARC Review: A Beautiful Liar (Hades And Persephone #1) - Beena Khan


Released: 8th April 2022


I gave Hades a fake name at the club, and now, he's chosen me as his mate.

Once upon a myth...
I've always been sheltered by my overprotective mother, hence the nickname given to me by my tormentors. "The nun." As a geeky scholarship student at the ancient and prestigious Saint Eudora Academy, I craved freedom, so, I sneaked out into the nightlife for the first time to mend my broken heart. There, I met a pair of alluring blue eyes and our worlds collided leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

It was a single night, and we both wanted to forget someone. He said, I have six months before he returns. Six months to tell my old life goodbye. In my drunk state, I agreed, and he declared us as betrothed. The next morning, I ghosted him.

Imagine my surprise when I see him at my academy six months later. He's returned like a raging inferno to claim me.

The connection and recognition are still there. He was supposed to only be a myth. The man I meet now is different. He's tortured, dark, and deadly like Hades. A sense of danger surrounds him, trapping me toward him. I don't know what he is capable of until a favor from the reaper and a chilling murder forces us to bond.

I fear the unknown ahead of me when I finally unmask him. I'm entangled in a web of secrets and lies where money and power rule in his dark world. He says he collects souls, and now he is here to take mine.

Valerius Vitalli will never let me go.

Loosely based on the myth of Hades & Persephone.
 

Review.

A Beautiful Liar is a Hades and Persephone based dark academia, mafia story set in an atmospheric world perfect for this kind of story.
What drew me to this book was the myth of Hades and Persephone; I'm definitely not someone that will turn down anything Greek mythology related.
I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about this book, I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it either; in saying that, I will read the next book so I can see how it all ends.

I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gems; all thoughts are my own.