Book review: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I jumped from this book to the next one right away so the complete review is in the third book.


*******************
My favourite quotes :

“I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.”

“If you think I'm jealous because someone else got to stab you, then you're right.”

“He held on to her as if she were a grudge, his body rigid and tense, as if he really didn't want her there, and yet his arms were tight around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting her go.”

“Stop flashing your fangs. I’m the only one who gets to bite her.”

“He looked like a bad decision some unfortunate person was about to make.”

“I'm curious about a lot of things. I'm curious about you, but I don't want you to bite me!"
The corner of Jacks's mouth twitched. "I've already done that, Little Fox.”

“She didn't make being alone seem lonely as Evangeline had always feared. She made it seem like an adventure, as if every moment were the start of a story with endless possibilities.”

“His teeth grazed her pulse. 'Jacks-' It was suddenly impossible to form words. His mouth was against her throat and his teeth were on her skin. HIs teeth! Evangeline finally pressed against his chest. But it was as useless as trying to battle a block of marble. Hot, sculpted marble. She wanted to tell him not to bite her, but saying the word bite didn't seem like the wisest idea just then. 'You won't want this later.'
'Not really thinking about later.' He licked her, one languorous stroke up the column of her neck.
She gasped. 'You don't even like me.'
'I like you right now. I like you a lot.' He gently sucked her skin. 'In fact, I can't think of anything I like more.”

“She could picture him flashing those deceptive dimples as he tricked an angel into losing its wings just so he could play with the feathers.”

“Wait- are you saying that your kiss isn't deadly if you don't want it to be?'
'Careful, Little Fox, you sound curious. But you shouldn't be.”

“If Evangeline had a dagger, she imagined she could have sliced into that night as if it were a cake and stolen a piece of it to take a bite of all the wondrous dark.”
*******************

My favourite scenes in Once upon a Broken Heart:
Lala's home
The crypt

View all my reviews

Book review: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a disappointment. I had to force myself to complete it after a certain point. The writing was too dragged on and repeatitive. Not engrossing enough for me and then the characters were not much endearing or relatable for me. I sometimes regret that I can't review a book as a reviewer but as someone who connects or feels stuff with the book. It did had a surprise of mention of 'around the corner cafe' from 'Marriage for One'. And a few snippets of where there was losing-control and assertive Mr. Aaron Blackford came into being, I was swooning. But mostly it was almost bearable. Not re-reading kinda stuff.

View all my reviews

Book review: Marriage for One by Ella Maise

Marriage for One by Ella Maise
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book started on not a very promising note because I wasn't able to digest the fact he asked her to marry for her property and it was kinda crude till he kept up the Charade. But the moments they shared were sweet and so well detailed and written. The concept for me was on a 3 star level but the depiction was another story. Could have been much better but yet didn't disappoint in that regard. The feelings matter was again another story, I couldn't connect to any of the characters much. Something was amiss from the start. I loved their banters, their arguments. The make up after the fight was really really good. And again I'll go back to the tender moment, one of my favourites so far. So 4 stars it is.

View all my reviews

Book review: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

6% - one chapter down and I KNOW this is the lake house thing! I am so sure. The server was the chef and man... It's going to be a roller coaster isn't it? Ending the first chapter with that huge grin is my first sign of "hooked, line and sinker". I know... It's gonna be good!

58% - 24 chapters down and this is not lake house or mix of Divine rivals with letters that travel. It's an apartment. There is nostalgia and grief. The way the story about her aunt and her death(suicide) is talked about is tearing. Heartbreaking. How grief can settle inside your bones and never let go. This is a really unique concept of a book. I am sure it's going to be 5 stars. It already is till now..

100%
It was poignant. Sublime. The way the author kept the mystery of him knowing about the 7 year slip was good. Everything was tied well in the end. I related most to her aunt. She carried a monster on her shoulder. The way the grief of losing has been the integral part of life of both the female and male lead, it has been done in a very delicate manner. Everything is done in refinement. Beautiful.

View all my reviews

Book review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had a particular seed of contemplation on the people pleasing instinct of some people. It was well presented. The storyline was good, about the academia and the way the politics is handled and shown is quite correct (I am in academia as well). The power play of mentors, I am thankful I haven't had to experience it that way but yes it exists. The fierceness of Jack's calling out Elsie's bullshit was good too. I liked Ali Hazelwood's writing the funny and pure way of putting things and especially the analogies she brings up. Hilarious and entertaining. I finished the book in record time because again it's Ali Hazelwood. I love her. She grips from the start. The way the book starts at a point of the interest and slowly eases you into her world. Amazing.

View all my reviews

Book review: Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A dedication followed by a John Keats poem. Do I need to already give this book a five star?

This book filled a few cracks. Breathed some life. The magic, the tangible current, the keys of the typewriter, the notes of the violin. Of Enva and Dacre. Of purity and ambition. Of loss. Of fear. Of mourning.
Everything was beautiful. A carefully woven fabric of everything aligning in the end. I missed Marisol and Keegan's story at the end. Forest and Sarah were tragic. Helena was a force to reckon with. Darce was too scary. Enva.. pitiful.
Iris E. Winnow.. she was as strong as they come. Strong and soft and very human. Relatable.
Roman C. Kitt, a deep breath, a person to behold.
I liked Attie and Tobias too. Everything was perfect. I don't have anything to point out. The book, though long, never once felt it was dragging. Everything, the folklore, the tales of god's, the dreams of Iris and Roman. Perfect. Just perfect. It was the first trophy book I ordered without a prior read. I knew it was going to be good. Since the first one was THAT amazing.

View all my reviews

Book review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what I was expecting when I saw this romance book recommendation, but it wasn't this. This deep, raw and bloody tale of war and love and loss. Roman C. Kitt, Iris Winnow they have wrenched my heart. Squeezed out the emotions and love and fear and longing. This is such a beautiful story. It has everything, ambition, doubt, bravery, love, apprehensions, love, more bravery, suspense and sadness. So much sadness. I am in tears. I shouldn't have started this thinking it was a light read. It wasn't. It's heavy and oh-so emotional. Even the story of the typewriters. The war, the sibling's relationship.
For a change, in this book, I could never ever predict anything even though there were tropes of forced proximity and hidden identity. Everything was up in the air, like a fresh leaf falling from the tree, nothing repetitive about it. It's amazing Rebecca Ross.
The cliffhanger had been reading a snippet of the next book and I hope it'll be a happy ending. Onto the next one. Thank you for this reason, Rebecca. Soul-filling.

View all my reviews

Book review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the depiction of Asperger's syndrome. That's the only reason I read it all in one sitting. There was a bit of repetition of the issues on both sides but eventually it was good. I liked it more till the 95% part. The end was a bit flat. But the book itself had lots and lots of fireworks. A good read in all. Very beautiful and relatable writing.

Spicy scale: 5

View all my reviews

Book review: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At 35% of the book. Part of your world.
I knew it was going to be good because Abby Jimenez didn't disappoint in her writing style in Yours Truly. I wanted to know the story of Alexis from book 2. I knew they would end up together but I wanted to see the journey. After just finishing chapter 35 of Daniel's POV I literally cried like anything. The way Abby portrays the emotions is always a shipwreck inside me, the rawness, the relatability. Everything is so beautiful. The characters, even the side ones are so wholesome. This is a 5 star one, just gonna read up the rest and be back soon.

It was a feel good book. Just like the second part of this, the handling of everything related to family drama was beautiful. Aptly wrapped and concluded. I am in love with Abby now. Gonna read the third part as well. She has calmness in her work. Especially the men she writes about. They are green forests instead of just flags.

View all my reviews

Book review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ofcourse I read the book because I have already seen the movie and ofcourse I love the movies.
The writing is so pretty, so relatable and this book has such a warm fuzzy feeling of thick socks in the peak of winters. I loved the narration and the Easter eggs of Ms. Rothschild and John Ambrose McLaren. And I didn't know the book would end at this point. Onto the next one of course now.

View all my reviews

Book review: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

4% of the book:

Okay. This female protagonist is suffering from social anxiety and I am hooked. Chapter 1 was good enough to reel me in. I am gonna love it , I can feel it. Bring it on Sarah Adams!

At 7% of the book:
Awww she's clumsy. I love it more and more.

At 53% of the book:
So far I like their chemistry. Annie the angel is kinda repetitive and his denial is too. But the chemistry is good. I like the characters of Annie and Will. So far. And this entire chapter is on a kiss or an extensive makeout session. That was really... Something out of the pirate novels that Annie so loves. Fingers crossed.

At 73% of the book:
I like the honest conversations that they had about what they want from life but I am having a hard time reeling in the feeling that their actions are falling all over the place. I mean, yes of course that's how we are in real life, not set in stone about how we are supposed to be, but at the same time in a book we usually expect for the character arc to start from somewhere and go somewhere entirely different. But here I am somewhat unconvinced about their actions and reactions. Let's see, what happens further.

At 100% of the book:
It was fine. But I am not that convinced. Yeah, she's an introvert, yes I connected with her but the rant going on about the same things gave me a headache and wanted it to end about the third time she mentioned she was not 'angel Annie'. I'll give it 3 stars. Fell kinda flat after the first half.

View all my reviews