Tome Thursday: Tempt

 

Hello everyone!

 

I have a rather delectable book for you tonight.

 

LOL that came off way worse than I thought it would, but anyway. Let's move on with the show.

 

So my main focus, when reading and choosing books to review for this blog, is usually fantasy-related or maybe it's going to be sci-fi or something.

 

Every once in a while, however, I end up on the other side of the fence.

 

I like to call it my personal Dark Side, because I'm dramatic like that.

 

And this particular dark side is relatively harmless - it just has a lot of very thirsty books that don't engage the brain all that much and mostly just give you a rush of endorphins so you can then go about your day happier haha.

 

Tonight's choice is exactly one of those. I stumbled over it randomly enough - I think one of my Goodreads friends read it and it popped on my feed.

 

So I figured, why the heck not, right? Let's take a look at a book very aptly named Tempt.

 

Talkie Tuesday: The Swan Princess

 

"For longer than forever."

 

Hello everyone!

 

It's time to sit down for another review, and man do I have a fun one for you tonight.

 

I've fallen into a bit of a movie hole and am retracing my steps to some of the older ones that I loved, LOVED growing up.

 

Loved so much, in fact, that I might have worn out the VHS tapes we have them on.

 

Honestly, some movies just stick with you like that, is what I'm going to say.

 

Tonight's choice is exactly like it, because unlike modern interpretations that always have to have some sort of twist or whatever to them, this one follows the story pretty closely and doesn't try to be anything new or exciting.

 

Other than infusing it with humour where it can.

 

So make sure you have some snacks ready to feed angry swans, because they're vicious when provoked. The Swan Princess sails onto your screens, right now!

 

Saturday Snippet: Maria Hill Tribute

 

Thank you for your loyalty and sass, Agent Hill. 

You will be missed.

 

xx

*images not mine

Tome Thursday: Survaine

 

Hello everyone!

 

Back to the inhospitable lands of Sziveria we go!

 

Honestly, I'm SO stoked, and so excited to be reviewing this book. I didn't anticipate to enjoy the series as much as I am, because originally when I picked up the first book I totally expected it to just be a sort of easy-read, mind-numbing romance where the main characters do the deed more than there's substance to plot.

 

Turns out, there's plenty of that to go around AND the plot is even better!

 

I'm all for espionage and grand conspiracies, and the theories are thickening now more than ever, the further we go into the universe at large.

 

We started in a pretty self-contained group, but it's expanded SO. FREAKING. MUCH.

 

And I'm totally here for it, particularly with what I can see coming in the not-so-far future.

 

Before I get carried away, though, let's just sit down and review the latest installment in this riveting series, shall we? Survaine, if it pleases the audience.

 

Talkie Tuesday: A Recap

 

"TU-DUM!"

 

Hello everyone! I'm sort of cheating a little bit this week but, it's been a busy weekend what with summer FINALLY hitting us as well, so we've been out socializing, and then there's been other things happening that I'm just going to leave proof of down below.

 

You know, from Trooping the Colour to Netflix's TUDUM event in Brazil, this is a full on workday of entertainment put together! Honorary mention also goes to The Order of the Garter.

 

Enjoy.

 

Saturday Snippet: Trooping the Colour

 

 

xx

*images not mine

Tome Thursday: Tides of Torment

 

Hello everyone!

 

I come bearing gifts.

 

Or at least, a sequel to a book we read a little bit back, and which will conclude with the third part coming in early 2024.

Yep, yep indeed this is a slated trilogy, and I'm here for it, because one of my personal pet peeves is when you think you have it down pat - you've blocked out reading time, you know how and when and why - and then all of a sudden it's not a trilogy but it's ballooned into eight books.

I'm sorry, what now?

I mean OKAY I do get it, sometimes stories happen that way and you don't really see where it's going until you're on book three and you haven't told even half the story yet, but most of the time lately it just feels like expansion for expansion's sake not for plot's sake.

This one will hopefully stay a trilogy, it's definitely sounding like it.

So let's get our goggles and our best Ariel voice, because Tides of Torment are taking us both above and under water!

Talkie Tuesday: Carrot Cake Murder

 

"If you respect the process, you could end up with perfection."

 

Hello everyone!

 

This week, we take a look right back into the world of sleuthing.

 

That's right, if you know me, then you know that detective stories are among some of my favourites - and that Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot take the cake, with Sherlock Holmes either right there with them or close behind, depending on my mood.

 

Tess Gerritsen is also an author that I truly enjoy, so can you see a trend forming here?

 

A while back - this is now probably a few years back, actually - I very accidentally ran into a series that Hallmark Movies & Mysteries did called Murder, She Baked.

 

I was originally enticed into watching because of its male lead, but stayed for the adorable stories.

 

They rebranded into Hannah Swensen Mysteries and have just released its second installment out into the world in this new series.

 

Which means that we got to put our thinking caps on, everyone! Because it's time to solve a murder, and not just any kind, but a Carrot Cake Murder.

 

Saturday Snippet: Wildfires

 

Our new reality?

 

xx

*image not mine

Tome Thursday: Gift of Darkness

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm back with another fresh installment from the Elemental Bloodlines series, which if you haven't discovered or picked it up yet, you absolutely should.

 

It's been a while since I've last read anything about magic which would cover the elements as well as this one does, though I'll admit it occasionally does leave something to be desired and you might struggle on moments.

 

BUT the important thing?

 

Is that these are fun, heartwarming books with an underlying tension that's slowly starting to come to the fore, and I love it.

 

I also love how even though we're seeing repetitions of certain elements, we also get to see slight differences of them and how people use them.

 

Besides, it's not like we have a ton of said elements to begin with, after all.

 

But enough blathering on my side. Because it's time to dance with the darkness and see if we can come out unscathed. Gift of Darkness will tell us all about it!

 

Talkie Tuesday: Queen Charlotte, a Bridgerton Story

 

"What matters madness when true love flourishes?"

 

Hello everyone!

 

Or should I say, dearest gentle reader?

 

That's right, a month after the release on Netflix, I finally sat down to watch this show over the weekend.

 

See I'm REASONABLY on time for this merry-go-round.

 

I'll admit that I was a little bit apprehensive, because my past experiences with anything coming out of Shondaland have been ... skewed, really.

 

Because while most of the time it's OKAY, it then starts to deviate a little from what you'd expect, and not in the best way possible.

 

To my intense surprise, however, I truly, deeply loved this one. Loved it to the point I'm actually considering re-watching it, which hasn't happened with any of the regular seasons thus far.

 

If that isn't an endorsement I don't know what is!

 

So let's find our best manners, and have a look at Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

 

Tome Thursday: Her Latent Charm

 

Hello everyone!

 

This week, we continue our journey through The Ambience Series, which tells the story of how certain individuals can access a well of power, or a lake of power, called the Ambience, and which allows them to perform some pretty amazing feats on the regular.

 

It can also, like any other magic or power out there, be used for dastardly and evil things, and it's one of those situations where you really just want to keep to the bright side, you know?

 

Dana C. Brentson is an author I would say really bears watching and paying attention to, if her debut full length novel is anything to go by.

 

And what's better, the book's official release date is TODAY!

 

Yep, that's right, you can go ahead and pick up your copy right now if that's what you want, and honestly why wouldn't you?

 

There's action, there's magic, there's mystery, there's love ... it has a little bit of everything.

 

Even the pickiest of readers should enjoy it. So without further ado, let's have a look at Her Latent Charm, shall we?