Book Review: “A Fate Inked in Blood” by Danielle L. Jensen

“A Fate Inked in Blood” by Danielle L. Jensen is a Norse/viking inspired fantasy romance. Readers are introduced to Freya, a unhappily married 20-something-year-old who dreams of becoming a warrior, rather than the abused, fish monger’s wife that she currently plays. Her dreams of becoming a warrior are thrust upon her after she is betrayed by her slimy husband to the local jarl. In order to keep her loved ones safe, Freya must become that which she has kept a secret her entire life - born with the blood of a god and imbued with magical capabilities, she is the prophesied shield-maiden that will unite Skaland.

Believing that Freya will be his “king maker” and that he is destined to rule all of Skaland, Jarl Snorri binds Freya through a blood oath, while simultaneously ordering his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya with his life. Tensions run high between Freya and Bjorn, as Freya must learn to fight and command her powers like the warrior she is to become. (Tell me you see where this is going!) 

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Freya and Bjorn. It was definitely slow burn for most of the book, but the constant flirting, banter, and “touch her and you die vibes” helped sustain me until we got to something more substantial between the two characters! 

I appreciated Freya’s character development too. She is in no way the “perfect heroine” and learns a lot as she begins to fulfill her role as a shield maiden. Freya is fierce and driven to make choices that constantly put others' well-being before her own - including that of her unappreciative family members. Despite this, Freya endures and remains altruistic despite the ungratefulness. Toward the end of the book, we see her start coming into her own and fighting for what she truly wants (hint: it’s the handsome Bjorn!)   

This was the first novel I’ve read by Danielle L. Jensen and it blew me away. I absolutely loved the way she painted her scenes with such vivid wordsmithing. And despite the book being 430+ pages, I easily devoured it in less than two days - it was THAT good! The book ended with some deep revelations (I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “cliff-hanger,” but it definitely had cliff-hanger vibes) that sets up what’s in store for Freya, Bjorn, and the rest of Skaland in Book 2. I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Book Review: "Wicked Ever After" by Alta Hensley & Zoe Blake

“Wicked Ever After” by Alta Hensley and Zoe Blake is a short collection of stories centered around familiar fairytales. These stories include “Snow and the Seven Huntsmen,” “Red & the Wolves,” and “Queen & the Kingsmen.” Each of these tales is a why-choose, dark fairytale romance retelling, with the last two tales intertwining with characters from the first.

“Snow and the Seven Huntsmen” tells the story of Snow White and her seven huntsmen. This take definitely had some dub-con/non-con situations early on in the tale, which was a little off-putting. (I like dark romance but this was dark.) The seven huntsmen eventually start to grow on you as the story goes on - even entertaining Snow’s pitiful attempts at cooking (which was probably one of their only redeeming qualities). However, there’s very little character development and plot outside of the bedroom. 

“Red and the Wolves” is a retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” - red cloak included! Red is a fierce female, despite growing up shamed and belittled by her grandmother. She’s ultimately chosen as a sacrifice to the wolves - in the hopes of staving off the impending “darkness” of the forest. Red eventually comes around to the idea of her alphamen. This story’s plot development was much more substantial than the first story in the series. And the steamy scene in the hot springs - wonderful! 

“Queen and the Kingsmen” is a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” as Queen Zelladine serving as a dark, wanton Maleficent-like character. Queen “Zella” Zelladine is taken captive by four kingsmen, in an effort to gain information about the missing whereabouts of Briar Rose’s body. (Queen Zella had enough of the King and cursed him while also whisking Rose’s body away.) Spoiler alert - we learn that Queen Zella is actually friendly with Briar Rose and steals her away so that she doesn’t have to marry the decrepit older man her father wants her to marry for political reasons, instead marrying the young prince she loves. The four kingsmen eventually turn to Zella’s side and are shocked when they find out the truth of Zella and Rose’s relationship.  This was probably my favorite story of the three - I enjoyed Disney’s live-action take of Maleficent and the friendship she formed with Aurora. This tale very much played on that storyline. This story was a great take on the story of “Sleeping Beauty” - choosing to focus on Queen Zella and her love of pain/pleasure instead.

Overall, I enjoyed the two latter stories more than I did Snow’s. I would give Red’s and Zella’s stories four out of five stars, with Snow’s story at a 2.5 stars. If you’re looking for a dark romance retelling of some familiar classics, make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving into this book.

Book Review: "Come As You Are" by Jess K. Hardy

“Come As You Are” by Jess K. Hardy is the perfect cozy read as we head into Fall. Ashley Cooke is a 46-year-old mom and business owner who is desperately trying to save her struggling ski resort - and her father’s legacy. Drowning in credit card debt and dealing with an aggressive, ex-husband who’s intent on buying the resort from her, Ashley hires local men from the sober living house at the behest of her mother, and fellow co-owner.

Matthew Madigan, a recovering addict and ex-grunge rocker, has dedicated the last decade of his life to helping fellow recoverers. The sparks fly between Ashley and Matthew from their first meeting and only heat up when the two start spending more time together on the slope. Ashley even teaches Matthew how to ski, while he in turn, teaches her St. Bernard to be the rescue dog he should be. Matthew opens up to Ashley, exposing his own vulnerabilities and fears, as Ashley overcomes her own insecurities and lets herself fall for mix-tape master Matthew.

When sabotage threatens Ashley’s operations on the mountain and Matthew’s career, the pair’s compatibility is questioned. (Can we all guess who the villain is at this point in the story? Spoiler alert - it’s Ashley’s slimy, cheater of an ex-husband.) Ashley and Matthew respond to the threats spectacularly and send the asshole packing - just in time for Matthew’s return to the stage.

This book was full of raw emotion and storylines that were so well-developed they were palpable. My heart was aching at certain points and I was SO invested in Ashley and Matthew’s love story - I was rooting for them (along with all of Matthew’s men who complimented the story so well, especially Sam!) I originally gave this story four out of five stars - but I’m revising my original score to be a 5/5. This book continues to hold me in its clutches, even weeks later.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt, wintery romance book featuring older characters and full of second chances, redemption themes and more, check out “Come As You Are” by Jess K. Hardy.

Book Review: "Making Her Theirs" by Lily Manning

“Making Her Theirs” by Lily Manning is a fast-paced, lust-filled adventure that sees Georgia Presley Henry across the Atlantic and into the pub below her newly rented flat, as she travels to Edinburgh on business, after recently securing a new promotion at work. 

A self-proclaimed numbers/math nerd who shelters her own insecurities about love and worth, Georgia finds herself swept up and in the arms of Scottish brothers Knox and Finn after some heavy flirting at the bar. She ends up in the bed of the third and final brother, Lachlan, by the end of the evening thanks to a faulty keypad on her flat’s door. 

The story follows Georgia and the ten days that follow as she spends more time with the three very distinct brothers. Knox, the family protector and guide, is possessive, intense, and knows exactly what he wants. Finn, the charming, sweet, bartender who shares his kitchen favorites with Georgia. And Lachlan, the brooding, quiet “fixer” of the bunch who knows almost immediately he wants to take care of Georgia. 

The whirlwind romance was almost break-neck in speed and I felt there could have been more character development between all of the spice (which comes a-plenty in this book). I love that the female lead character is smart, intelligent, and kind of a nerd - but that she’s able to connect with and find something she needs in each of the three brothers. I’m not sure how realistic the love arc is, considering she’s only supposed to be in Scotland for 10 days…but hey. If I were in her shoes with three insanely hot brothers in the enchanting land of Scotland, steeped in history and lore, I could very well fall in love in less than a week too, I think. And let’s just say the spice was…consistent and explosive throughout the entire novel. 

If you’re looking for your next quick and dirty (and I mean that in the best way possible), why-choose romance, check out “Making Her Theirs” by Lily Manning.

Book Review: "Till There Was You" by Lindsay Hameroff

“Till There Was You” is a cute, insta-love story between aspiring chef Alexa (Lexi) Berman and rising musician Jacob (Jake) Taylor. 

After swearing off men to focus on her career as a newly hired kitchen chef, Lexi meets Jake at the tail-end of a girls night out. The best weekend of their lives ensue…only to have Lexi not hear from Jake again after he’s swept off to Los Angeles to record his debut album (where he’s subsequently signed by a record label). Lexi is devastated but figures it’s for the best - until she hears Jake’s first single, “Blueberry,” on the radio months later and realizes the song is a tribute to her. 

Jake comes back into Lexi’s life and what follows is a messy, heart-gripping account of what happens when two big-time dreamers pursue their ambitions…while also trying to pursue each other. I absolutely loved that - despite how they first came together over their tumultuous, love-fest of a weekend - their care and concern over the other’s life goals was genuine and deep running. 

This book had me in a death-grip from beginning to end - will they end up together? Will Jake’s fame scare Lexi away? (I almost had to chuck my Kindle across the room after the antics Madison & Vinny pulled!) Hameroff’s pacing was impeccable and made for a quick but thoroughly enjoyable read. I also loved the secondary characters (Chloe and Chad’s banter was HILARIOUS - I loved how Chloe just shut him down and put him in his place half the time.) 

“Till There Was You” is the perfect second-chance at love book. The characters were so well developed and the book had me cheering for Lexi and Jake by the end. Jake’s love song tribute at the end was just the piece de resistance and the perfect culmination of them coming full circle. If you’re a fan of films like “Notting Hill” or “Beyond the Lights,” of love stories between celebrities and “normals,” Hameroff’s debut novel will not disappoint.

The Down & Dirty of Book Box Subscriptions

Although digital reading and devices have gained popularity in the last few years (especially since COVID halted many businesses - bookstores and libraries included), nothing beats having a physical book in hand. Similarly, book box subscriptions have also grown in popularity and offer readers a curated selection of books (and often goodies) delivered directly to your doorstep. Book box subscriptions are also a great way to get introduced to new books - and to grow your library, especially if you’re looking to collect limited/special editions of books. 

I’ve subscribed to many book boxes over the last couple of years and I’m giving my recommendations and thoughts on what’s worth the money every month and what’s not.

CRATEJOY

If you’re brand new to book box subscriptions, a great place to start is Cratejoy. This website curates monthly subscription boxes for literally everything. (It’s a great site to grab a box as a gift for someone!) The site supports tons of small businesses  - which is great. The only downside of Cratejoy is that - despite some some-time/one-time discounts, the boxes are almost always more expensive on the site than going through the actual business.

PRO TIP: Shop around on Cratejoy. If you find a box you like - check out the business’s site first to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

THE BOOKISH BOX

The Bookish Box is hands-down one of my favorite book boxes and they only seem to get better with time. I really appreciate that they have a variety of boxes (at differing costs) - including a YA and Adult selection, a “goodies” box vs. a “book only” box, etc. They are relatively priced; the “Adult Book & Goodies” box which I subscribe to is $48 a month and includes shipping. They also allow you to skip months if you didn’t want to order the book every month. The books themselves are absolutely stunning and are hardcover special editions, often with sprayed edges and foiling. 

The best bang for your buck if you enjoy special editions of books!

The one - and probably biggest - con to this particular box is their shipping timelines. I’m not sure how much of that is determined by these special editions or understaffing or whatever…but it takes MONTHS for these boxes to get here. Case in point - my March 2023 box JUST arrived two weeks ago (6 months after I paid/ordered it). I had other special edition book boxes from other companies and none took that long to get a book.

THE REVEAL BOOK BOX

The Reveal Book Box is a good box for romance readers, as they send out strictly romance books. The price is great for what you get - I subscribed to the “4 Books & Goodies” box and it cost me $43.95 per month. They offer three different boxes (2 books/4 books/6 books). Each book comes signed by the author and I think it’s great that they offer a mostly indie selection of authors.  Like other book box subscriptions, they also allow you to skip a month if you want.

I ended up discontinuing my subscription with Reveal mostly because I wasn't reading through the books as quickly (to be fair, some that were sent to me were not necessarily ones I would pick out for myself - which could have been both a good and a bad thing). I also wanted to put my monthly book fund money toward other subscription boxes and had to make a choice.

UNPLUGGED BOOK BOX

I had subscribed to Unplugged and had them longer than I did other subscriptions. The cost per box was $39.99 (Adult Box) but paid $12 for shipping, bringing the grand total for the box to $51.99 per month. They had a good variety of boxes (boxes with goodies vs. book only) and many had newly released books within them. They were also pretty consistent with delivery times, which is great considering the luck I had with other boxes.

Some of my cons were that they often included bath products/goodies that weren’t always up to par - many times they were from smaller boutiques and shops and while I appreciated them supporting other artists/small businesses, as someone with sensitive skin, I really needed to know the products I was using were legit. There were also no special editions or hardcovers.

Like Reveal, I eventually ended my subscription and put the money toward other book subscriptions. (However, I will say that they recently announced a new “Romantasy” book box subscription that I might have to check out!)

BOOK OF THE MONTH 

This is one of my newer book box subscriptions, even though I want to say that they’ve been around the longest. Book of the Month offers a hardcover book for $17.99 (shipping included); you can purchase more than one book, but it’s $17.99 per additional book for the first three months and then $10.99 per book after those three months. BOTM has newly released and about to be released books which is great! They also offer discounts to new users - I got my first book for $9.99. I pay more for hardcover books at Barnes & Nobel - so even the $17.99 price tag seemed reasonable to me to get a new book before it hit B&N or Amazon.

Books have always been cool, IMHO.

The only con I’ve seen so far is that 3-month waiting period to get additional picks at the discounted rate of $10.99.

AARDVARK BOOK CLUB

Shortly after joining BOTM, I also heard about Aardvark. Aardvark is BOTM’s top competitor, offering books at the same price point ($17.99 shipped) and also offering additional books for $10.99 - without the 3-month waiting period!

Like BOTM, I was also able to get a discount code for joining which dropped that first book’s price. The books are also hardcovers and newly released titles. 

One con I’ve experience so far is that the selection for Aardvark isn’t as extensive as BOTM is currently. When I went to add additional titles for Aarvark, they were “sold out.” I don’t know if this was because I started a subscription so late in the month and cycle. I will have to see how this next month compares when I get access to the books.

Whichever book box subscription you decide to go with, make sure that the subscription works for you and provides you with what you’re ultimately looking for whether that is special edition books, newly released titles, indie authors, or more. And if you know of any other ones, please share below! I’m always looking for my next book box.

How to Get Started on Netgalley

I often get asked how I get copies of books to review before they're out to the general public. I've been lucky to have had a couple of physical copies sent to me via publishers - those have been recently published books that they are hoping to get into book clubs. The bulk of the ARCs (advanced reader copies) that I have received have been through a site called Netgalley.

NetGalley is a site that helps publishers and authors get advanced copies of their books in front of readers and reviewers, in the hopes of garnering feedback from those books. It's free to join the site and browse the available electronic ARCs (also referred to as e-ARCs). Based on your preferences, Netgalley will recommend e-ARCs to you. 

Here are some tips for getting started...

You may not get popular e-ARCS right away.

I went into Netgalley thinking I'd get approved to review the latest Katee Robert book. That wasn't the case. What I learned is that publishers are looking for higher feedback rates when approving requests for e-ARCs. When I initially started, my "Feedback Ratio" was non-existent. It took several reviews of books from smaller publishing firms to start boosting my feedback score. (I'm forever thankful for those first e-ARCs!) 

Once you reach the 80% or above feedback threshold, your requests should get approved more regularly - for the most part. Those popular e-ARCs are still unicorns sometimes. Don't get discouraged if you're not approved for those right away.

Feedback ratios are recommended to be 80% or above.

Providing feedback is critical for continued e-ARCs.

When I first started receiving e-ARCs, I requested multiple books at once and this lowered my feedback ratio as I was approved to review each of these books. When requesting e-ARCs, know that providing feedback is critical to maintaining a higher feedback score. It's recommended that once you request a book and get approved, that you provide feedback within 30 days (if not sooner). I usually put the dates in my planner because it's easy to forget which books need to be reviewed and by when. 

Keep track of what books you've review and the feedback shared.

Provide honest feedback - even if hurts.

When giving your feedback, be honest. During one of my first reviews, I had to "DNF" (did not finish) a book. It was just SO slow and all over the place - I just could not get through the story. I was fair to the author - I read over 60% of the book before having to stop. But I was honest with my feedback and had to tell the publisher that I didn't finish the book (and why!) If you can't finish a book, I recommend trying to get through a 1/3 of the book before making a decision about it. If you can't finish it, state that in your review. 

Share your feedback and connect with authors on socials.

I've been introduced to new or new-to-me authors via Netgalley through the books I review. I've even reviewed books on Netgalley and then went on to purchase the physical book when it hit the shelves at the bookstore. Authors don't always see the feedback shared on Netgalley, so if it's a good book I go on to share the review on my blog and then share on social platforms like Instagram. I try to connect with the authors and tag them - sharing how much I loved their book. It's free promo for them and something I don't mind doing since I was able to read their book in advance. 

I hope these tips have been helpful. So often I see book influencers trying to gate-keep with this type of stuff and that's not how it should be. There are plenty of books for everyone and I hope this inspires you to join Netgalley and start reading those e-ARCs!