Review: Circle of Guilt by Dorothy Daniels

Circle of Guilt by Dorothy Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eve Bennett, a talented singer, marries the charismatic Barney Anders against her sister Judith's concerns. However, Eve's letters reveal her growing unhappiness until she shocks Judith with the news that she is imprisoned for her husband's murder. Determined to clear her sister's name, Judith travels to San Francisco where she encounters a vibrant yet treacherous world. Amidst this unfamiliar environment, she discovers an unexpected romance and realizes that she has become the target of a desperate killer who will stop at nothing to silence her.

I absolutely love gothic romances with all of the mystery and the strong female characters. Dorothy Daniels is an amazing author who incorporates an unforgettable story with amazing characters.

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Review: The Cold King by Amber Jaeger

The Cold King by Amber Jaeger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Calia Thorn has lived her entire life in a small town sheltered by the Cold King’s mountain. Working day and night to care for her younger siblings, complete her unending chores and please her selfish, lazy mother has left her with few dreams for her own future. But then even those meager hopes are taken from her when the Cold King comes down from his mountain to demand a new servant. Ungraceful, unladylike, undesired and unwanted by even her own family, Calia is chosen to be sent to the palace. The Cold King has lived for three hundred years under a curse imposed by his own father. With no hope of ever breaking it, he settles for keeping his heart frozen against any pain— or hope.
When his new servant arrives, she challenges him in ways no one ever has and sparks fly. But not every Beast is a prince charming at heart and not every beauty is a maiden just waiting for love.

The storyline was okay for a quick read. The characters were not overly developed and the reader did not really get much out of them or their backstories. I would recommend it for a quick beach read but I have read a lot better adaptations of the Beauty and the Beast trope.

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Review: Amber House by Kelly Moore

Amber House by Kelly Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Sarah Parsons inherits Amber House, her family's ancestral estate in Maryland, upon her grandmother's passing. Intrigued by the legends surrounding the house and the hidden diamonds within its walls, Sarah embarks on a quest with her friend Jackson to uncover its mysteries. To her surprise, the house comes alive, granting her visions of its past and the people who have inhabited it.

As Sarah delves deeper into the history of Amber House, she forms connections with both Jackson and Richard Hathaway, a young man whose family shares a tangled history with her own. However, as her supernatural visions intensify, they begin to pose a threat to someone she deeply cares about. Determined to protect her loved ones, Sarah must unravel the secrets of Amber House and alter the course of history before it becomes irrevocable.

This book was a mixed bag for me. While I didn't despise it, I also didn't fall head over heels in love with it. One aspect that bothered me was the inclusion of a love triangle, which seemed to divert attention from the main plot. The ending, however, was decent. I appreciated the fact that the characters were able to alter their circumstances and create a different life for themselves. It provided a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Overall, this book had its ups and downs. Although it didn't completely win me over, I found some aspects enjoyable, particularly the positive changes the characters experienced in the end.

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Review: Courtesans: Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century by Katie Hickman

Courtesans: Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century by Katie Hickman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the nineteenth century, a remarkable group of women transcended their impoverished backgrounds to attain extraordinary power, independence, and wealth. These women, known as courtesans, defied societal norms and wielded significant influence, shaping their own lives and the lives of others.

With exceptional talents, extensive education, and remarkable literacy, courtesans held positions of authority in society. Although they were not accepted in the royal court, they established their own distinct world known as the demimonde. Within this realm, they governed their own hierarchies, adhered to unique etiquette and protocol, and enjoyed tremendous influence.

Courtesans excelled in various fields, including fashion, language, music, political intrigue, and, notably, their captivating erotic abilities. Simply being seen in public with a renowned courtesan was a highly coveted achievement, symbolizing social status and admiration.

I found this book to be a valuable resource for my college senior thesis. It provided me with informative content presented in an accessible and straightforward manner.

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Review: A Bride for Keeps (Unexpected Brides, #1) by Melissa Jagears

A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Everett has always had bad luck with mail-order brides, that is until Julia comes to visit. However, her past has made her scared of having a relationship so they have to try and work together to work out both of their problems

The story itself dragged on a bit. I was not too enthralled with the characters either, they fell flat on the pages.

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ARC Review: The Last One by Will Dean

The Last One by Will Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss+.

Caz embarks on a dream vacation with her new love, Pete, aboard the luxurious cruise liner RMS Atlantica. However, their blissful journey takes a chilling turn when Caz wakes up to find Pete missing and the ship eerily deserted. With no passengers or crew in sight, she realizes she is entirely alone as the ship sails through the mid-Atlantic. Caz is now caught in a gripping and suspenseful mystery that unfolds onboard the empty vessel.

The book began with an intense and captivating suspense, drawing me in from the start. However, halfway through, the plot started to lose its grip on me. It became overwhelming and required a significant suspension of disbelief, which affected my overall enjoyment.

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Review: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in Italy during World War II, this novel follows the story of Yossarian, a bombardier who is frustrated by the fact that his own army poses a greater threat to him than the enemy. As the number of missions they must fly keeps increasing, Yossarian finds himself caught in a paradoxical dilemma called Catch-22. According to this bureaucratic rule, if he tries to avoid the dangerous missions, he will be considered insane, but if he requests to be relieved, he will be deemed sane and ineligible for exemption. With a blend of humor and darkness, this book explores the absurdity and challenges of war through Yossarian's experiences.

One of my junior year high school war section books. I found this one I liked the best out of all of the others we had to read that year. Even though this book expresses the hardships of war and the relationships between the soldiers it does it in an almost comical way that was very entertaining for high school reading material.

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