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bsbookkorner's reviews
174 reviews
The Last Red Wolf by Kurtis A. Dolman
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book deserves every star it gets and then some. For an independently published debut novel, this book is fantastic. The atmosphere is great. The characters are dynamic. The story is unique and engaging.
Lyle. Poor, sweet, innocent Lyle. His growth throughout this novel is amazing. I felt for him so much throughout different parts of the book that my heart hurt. He deserves the moon, and it's unfair he got such a shit deal. His insecurities are accurate for his age and experience in addition to his long history of solitude.
Chess is also great. While he was gifted with a much easier life, he never seemed to take it for granted. He was kind, understanding, and willing to fight for what he believed in. He knew what he wanted and he wouldn't take no for an answer.
The characters' connection to one another was so pure. Neither of them had these weird ulterior motives you so often see, just life forcing them around until they were brave enough to do something about it.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves shifters, romance, queer representation, and a little drama that can hit close to home.
Lyle. Poor, sweet, innocent Lyle. His growth throughout this novel is amazing. I felt for him so much throughout different parts of the book that my heart hurt. He deserves the moon, and it's unfair he got such a shit deal. His insecurities are accurate for his age and experience in addition to his long history of solitude.
Chess is also great. While he was gifted with a much easier life, he never seemed to take it for granted. He was kind, understanding, and willing to fight for what he believed in. He knew what he wanted and he wouldn't take no for an answer.
The characters' connection to one another was so pure. Neither of them had these weird ulterior motives you so often see, just life forcing them around until they were brave enough to do something about it.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves shifters, romance, queer representation, and a little drama that can hit close to home.
Meet Me in Ivy Falls by Amy True
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
A second-chance romance in a small town set in the southern United States. Wonderful chemistry and prolonged grief make for an interesting read that doesn't seem too far fetched.
Torran is a contractor who specializes in restoring her hometown's oldest houses. When the opportunity to restore her long-lost love's old home, she knows she has to be the one to restore it. However, when said love, Beck, returns and buys the house out from under her, her dreams are shattered. Can she work with him to restore the house after everything he put her through? Are their feelings going to get in the way of her success?
Beck wants his parents' old home to honor his parents and hopefully fix his sister's addiction problems. But the project quickly becomes more than he knew he was signing up for and unexpected obstacles appear at every corner. In addition, his feelings for Torran never left and he's willing to put in the work for her dreams in an attempt to win her over. Their relationship is rocky, full of tension, and gut-wrenching at times. But watching the two of them work through their own grief as the work on the house and each other is a real treat.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
Torran is a contractor who specializes in restoring her hometown's oldest houses. When the opportunity to restore her long-lost love's old home, she knows she has to be the one to restore it. However, when said love, Beck, returns and buys the house out from under her, her dreams are shattered. Can she work with him to restore the house after everything he put her through? Are their feelings going to get in the way of her success?
Beck wants his parents' old home to honor his parents and hopefully fix his sister's addiction problems. But the project quickly becomes more than he knew he was signing up for and unexpected obstacles appear at every corner. In addition, his feelings for Torran never left and he's willing to put in the work for her dreams in an attempt to win her over. Their relationship is rocky, full of tension, and gut-wrenching at times. But watching the two of them work through their own grief as the work on the house and each other is a real treat.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
4.25
This book was super fun! I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I enjoyed the banter and the tension. Not much to say as far as content goes. Cute, spicy, challenging. Definitely an adult novel.
However, the ages of the characters threw me way off. This is definitely an adult novel, like I said. But the characters are 17/18 like it should be classified as young adult. They're still in high school? Seriously? This could have easily been moved to a college campus and made me feel less concerned about what enjoying this book means about me on a subconscious level.
But if I ignore their ages and the type of school they attend, this book had me captivated. I love Ryen and Misha. I love their dynamic. I love their fighting and how much they challenge each other. And I love they both learned to trust through each other.
However, the ages of the characters threw me way off. This is definitely an adult novel, like I said. But the characters are 17/18 like it should be classified as young adult. They're still in high school? Seriously? This could have easily been moved to a college campus and made me feel less concerned about what enjoying this book means about me on a subconscious level.
But if I ignore their ages and the type of school they attend, this book had me captivated. I love Ryen and Misha. I love their dynamic. I love their fighting and how much they challenge each other. And I love they both learned to trust through each other.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
adventurous
mysterious
tense
3.75
This book.. I really enjoyed it, once I was able to get through more than five pages without falling asleep.
The beginning of this book is slow and hard to follow. There are a lot of characters, with a lot of backstory, in a lot of locations. Some characters meet each other early on, too. Overall it's pretty hard to follow what's happening until you get 100-150 pages in. And out of all the main players, I only liked one of them until well over half way through the book.
That being said, once the story took off, it really took off. The scenes were tense. The connection between the characters was there. There was some sexual tension and some good old fashion tension. And you never know who to trust. They're all liars so you have to question all of them, regardless of how much you like them. By the end, I was thoroughly enthralled and shocked at how everything unfolded.
I am looking forward to the sequel. I'm hoping it will progress faster without the world-building. And since I'm already familiar with the characters, it should make more sense as well.
The beginning of this book is slow and hard to follow. There are a lot of characters, with a lot of backstory, in a lot of locations. Some characters meet each other early on, too. Overall it's pretty hard to follow what's happening until you get 100-150 pages in. And out of all the main players, I only liked one of them until well over half way through the book.
That being said, once the story took off, it really took off. The scenes were tense. The connection between the characters was there. There was some sexual tension and some good old fashion tension. And you never know who to trust. They're all liars so you have to question all of them, regardless of how much you like them. By the end, I was thoroughly enthralled and shocked at how everything unfolded.
I am looking forward to the sequel. I'm hoping it will progress faster without the world-building. And since I'm already familiar with the characters, it should make more sense as well.
Night of Death and Flowers by Rebecca L. Garcia
4.0
When you hold the power of a god that you shouldn't have, it's usually best to keep it a secret. But when one mistakes forces Calista to use her power in order to save her best friend, the future as she knows it is turned upside down.
When the vengeful God of Death, Azkiel, learns he cannot use his powers to kill Calista, he goes out of his way to make her as miserable as possible. But when he selects Calista's sister for the Harvest, a competition to the death every ten years, he doesn't anticipate Calista joining those on the island with the intention of saving her sister.
These two love to hate each other with every fiber of their being. The tension is definitely there. Neither can stand to be away, but they can't stand each other's presence, either. As they journey through the competition with the intent of stopping a long foretold prophecy, everything changes among them and their cohorts. Will they stop the prophecy? Will everyone make it out? Are they going to actually express their interest in one another? These are questions that continued to spiral during my read.
Dual points of view? Check
Slow burn? Check
Twists and betrayal? Check
God magic? Check
**Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
When the vengeful God of Death, Azkiel, learns he cannot use his powers to kill Calista, he goes out of his way to make her as miserable as possible. But when he selects Calista's sister for the Harvest, a competition to the death every ten years, he doesn't anticipate Calista joining those on the island with the intention of saving her sister.
These two love to hate each other with every fiber of their being. The tension is definitely there. Neither can stand to be away, but they can't stand each other's presence, either. As they journey through the competition with the intent of stopping a long foretold prophecy, everything changes among them and their cohorts. Will they stop the prophecy? Will everyone make it out? Are they going to actually express their interest in one another? These are questions that continued to spiral during my read.
Dual points of view? Check
Slow burn? Check
Twists and betrayal? Check
God magic? Check
**Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
dark
funny
4.0
What a fantastic sequel to a fantastic book. Leather and Lark is such a fun journey that I can’t help but fall in love the characters.
Lark is a bright woman who keeps herself busy at all times. Her hobbies include crafting, playing the guitar, and slaughtering pedophiles. I think a lot of people aspire to be like Lark, but murder is illegal even if the victim is a creep, and we aren’t all talented enough to get away with it.
Lachlan is your stereotypical oldest child. Took care of his siblings, always puts their needs before his own, and is a general unpleasant person to be around on the surface. But if you crack open that armor, he’s a sensitive soul who is fiercely loyal and willing to do anything in his power to protect the ones he loves-even the things that make him sick.
I wouldn’t call this an enemies to lovers, although it definitely fits the vibe. It’s clear from the first time they meet face to face that there is passion and chemistry between them. Hell, they made out on a balcony within hours of meeting one another. But when Lark learns who he is, she is determined to hate him, and he willingly reciprocates. What follows is a wild tale of two people learning to own their god damn feelings and put petty shit to the side as the plot unfolds. It truly is a joy to read through.
Overall: absolutely great. Less spicy than the first book. Also slightly less descriptive of other scenes that might make some people uncomfy. The plot was good. The romance was good. The banter was great. And his nickname for her? Absolutely adorable. 10/10 would recommend.
Lark is a bright woman who keeps herself busy at all times. Her hobbies include crafting, playing the guitar, and slaughtering pedophiles. I think a lot of people aspire to be like Lark, but murder is illegal even if the victim is a creep, and we aren’t all talented enough to get away with it.
Lachlan is your stereotypical oldest child. Took care of his siblings, always puts their needs before his own, and is a general unpleasant person to be around on the surface. But if you crack open that armor, he’s a sensitive soul who is fiercely loyal and willing to do anything in his power to protect the ones he loves-even the things that make him sick.
I wouldn’t call this an enemies to lovers, although it definitely fits the vibe. It’s clear from the first time they meet face to face that there is passion and chemistry between them. Hell, they made out on a balcony within hours of meeting one another. But when Lark learns who he is, she is determined to hate him, and he willingly reciprocates. What follows is a wild tale of two people learning to own their god damn feelings and put petty shit to the side as the plot unfolds. It truly is a joy to read through.
Overall: absolutely great. Less spicy than the first book. Also slightly less descriptive of other scenes that might make some people uncomfy. The plot was good. The romance was good. The banter was great. And his nickname for her? Absolutely adorable. 10/10 would recommend.
The Cottage Around the Corner by D.L. Soria
emotional
5.0
Ughhh this book was so cute! I stayed up until 5:00 in the morning finishing it.
Charlie is a force to be reckoned with. She’s strong, independent, filled with self-doubt, and stubborn beyond belief. She’ll go to great lengths to prove herself to her parents and the small town of Owl’s Hollow. What she won’t stand for is anyone getting in the way of her family’s generations-old witch’s cottage thriving long into the future.
Fitz is a tall, handsome, brooding, outsider. His escape to Owl’s Hollow is a chance to start fresh with his own company. But when his company threatens the livelihood of Charlie and the rest of the town witches, his feelings on the matter aren’t as black and white as Charlie would like them to be.
This book is cute, cozy, has a great magic system, adorable romance, and great banter. I cried at some parts and was overwhelmed with joy at others. I can’t wait for everyone looking for a cozy read to pick this up in the fall. And I might just have to explore more by this author.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
Charlie is a force to be reckoned with. She’s strong, independent, filled with self-doubt, and stubborn beyond belief. She’ll go to great lengths to prove herself to her parents and the small town of Owl’s Hollow. What she won’t stand for is anyone getting in the way of her family’s generations-old witch’s cottage thriving long into the future.
Fitz is a tall, handsome, brooding, outsider. His escape to Owl’s Hollow is a chance to start fresh with his own company. But when his company threatens the livelihood of Charlie and the rest of the town witches, his feelings on the matter aren’t as black and white as Charlie would like them to be.
This book is cute, cozy, has a great magic system, adorable romance, and great banter. I cried at some parts and was overwhelmed with joy at others. I can’t wait for everyone looking for a cozy read to pick this up in the fall. And I might just have to explore more by this author.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
The Forgotten Prince by Akira Varma
3.25
This novella was cute. The plot was interesting, and the location is adorable. A bakery with an FMC who always has doughy hands? Adorable. And an MMC who’s mysterious and devoted with a hidden past? Super cute.
However, there were a lot of inconsistencies that kept tripping me up. I don’t generally review based on grammar or writing style, because I feel it doesn’t help anyone. But there were a lot of repeated sentences and incorrect wording that could have easily been fixed with a simple proofread. At one point one character is given two different eye colors in adjacent sentences.
Overall, it was a quick cozy read. I’m inclined to give the second one a chance when it’s released.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
However, there were a lot of inconsistencies that kept tripping me up. I don’t generally review based on grammar or writing style, because I feel it doesn’t help anyone. But there were a lot of repeated sentences and incorrect wording that could have easily been fixed with a simple proofread. At one point one character is given two different eye colors in adjacent sentences.
Overall, it was a quick cozy read. I’m inclined to give the second one a chance when it’s released.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
The Clarity of Light by Jade Church
3.0
This is the second book in the Kingdom of Stars duology. Saiph and Auren have learned they are mates and are working to rebuild Auren's kingdom. There was a nice little recap of the previous book in the front, which I greatly appreciated. I think more sequels should include something like that.
The plot of this book, however, fell kind of flat for me. The first was so intriguing with the banter, the tension, and the conflict. Most of that was resolved in book one, so the only thing left is a quest into the forest and the final battle. I think more conflict and tension with the characters would have really helped push this novel to better heights. The final battle also seemed rushed. There was no real loss from any of the protagonists and the antagonist seemed to fall a little too quickly.
The best parts of this book were the spicy scenes. The connection between the two FMCs can be felt while reading, which I really enjoyed.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Kobo Originals for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**
The plot of this book, however, fell kind of flat for me. The first was so intriguing with the banter, the tension, and the conflict. Most of that was resolved in book one, so the only thing left is a quest into the forest and the final battle. I think more conflict and tension with the characters would have really helped push this novel to better heights. The final battle also seemed rushed. There was no real loss from any of the protagonists and the antagonist seemed to fall a little too quickly.
The best parts of this book were the spicy scenes. The connection between the two FMCs can be felt while reading, which I really enjoyed.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Kobo Originals for access to this title in exchange for an honest review**