Christmas After All

*ARC review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Book Sirens, the publisher and the author Cece Louise for having this available as an ARC for an honest review.

This was an absolutely sweet, charming and adorable read. I was engaged the whole time and thought the initial premise was funny.

When the grand high school gesture from Tucker to Melissa goes wrong, who knew he’d write a song that would catapult his music career… at the expense of Melissa! 10 years is a long time to have a song written about you - with the well known public rejection of a prom date request! As Tucker has been living in the limelight, Melissa has been doing everything she could to raise her siblings after the unfortunate passing of her parents. Their lives are worlds apart, but when Tucker returns to town, what feelings are going to surface as they cross paths again?

A short read with a steady pace and I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed reading the dual perspective and really loved the characters. Melissa is a strong individual putting others before herself. Tucker is a kind hearted soul who would do anything to help another person. I liked the music country star element and how a small town can humble that stardom.

The interactions with Tucker and Melissa were funny. As they got to know each other, it was very cute with Tucker’s love resurfacing and Melissa actually starting to care. I definitely got teary in a certain section and it reminded me how kind acts go a long way. The Christmas spirit of giving can really make a difference in someone’s life and when Melissa realises Tucker’s kindness, it made my heart warm. It’s definitely a theme of this book - the spirit of giving.

For anyone loving small town charm, enemies to lovers romance with a dash of Christmas spirit, than this book is for you.

The Hemsworth Effect

I loved that this was set in Australia and there were many pop culture references. I do have mixed feelings on this book and it was a bit too slow paced for me.

The story follows Aimee who is a cranky Byron Bay local. She hates the influencers that have plagued her town. She calls it the Hemsworth effect where celebrities and, in this instance, Chris Hemsworth has boasted about this coastal town causing and influx of tourists taking over a once quaint locality. Her fiancé Tim has asked to take a break to see if they should really get married and that they should see other people. Aimee's landlord just passed away and the daughter wants to sell the building in which her bookstore is situated. It's tough as she has no savings to save it. She's protesting about a reality show the Brats of Byron Bay being filmed, only to find out her niece Fleur is going to feature on it. Aimee gets turned into a meme "Byron Karen" which goes viral and is then the produces see this as a golden opportunity to have her on the reality show too. With money tight, she goes against her own values to star on this show with the type of influencers she hates, only to find out one of them is dating her fiancé. With the support of her friends, she can survive, but will anything go right?

Is it bad that I loved the side characters more than the MC. I especially loved Rob as she was so funny and witty. If the best friends of Charlie and Rob weren't there and Aimee was soloing this story, I probably would have DNF. I wanted so hard to relate to Aimee, though I felt like she was making poor choices and didn't really accept responsibility in making good changes in her life. From her situation with Tim, then her bookstore's building being sold, to making money on the reality TV show with the type of people she hated, not letting people in when they were trying to help... yes, it was one thing after another in her life, but was I meant to be frustrated with her the whole time? Was that the point? Also felt like the ending left some parts unresolved... especially with Tim - I wanted a deep and meaningful conversation. Should Aimee have fixed her trauma over her sister's death? Could she have confronted Rozzie? I wanted more of a conversation with Heath.

What I did enjoy was how over the top Brooke was. She made me laugh with all the cringe worthy moments she created and it was like how I imagine some influencers to be - creating drama for the sake of the camera. I thought what happened on the reality show was funny and Addie and Luna with their outgoing personalities, especially on the podcast was hilarious. I thought the relationship with her niece Fleur was sweet and how she had to mum her because she loved her. The moments with Tim and his fedora made me cringe a lot but in a funny way. The time spent with Jules and Heath really did spark some change in Aimee and it definitely opened her up to trying new things.

Overall, I am 50/50 and if the book was shorter without repeated dialogue and description, I think I would have liked it more.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for having this available as an ARC. This will be available 30th November.

Found

Are you aware of the messages the universe is sending to you?

If you're trying to tune in, are you aware of the opportunities coming your way? Are you aware of what's going on in your environment? Are you able to take notice if you haven't before? It can come in the form of messages in music, a TV show you watch, maybe it's something you read in a newspaper or book, maybe you're seeing repeated numbers or even it's advice from someone you know, but you haven't really been paying attention or being open to receive.

They say the universe works in mysterious ways. Could there be repeated patterns that you're not aware of? If you start to pay attention, what answers could be within your reach? These answers could set you on the right path in whatever you're trying to achieve in life.

Sometimes we are working against the natural flow of events the universe is trying to convey. We can work against our intuition and instincts when there are signs the universe is sending for us to embrace change.

Be aware of your surroundings, dreams and time spent in meditation. Pay attention and see the opportunities around you. The universe is trying to subtly let you know, there are ways to have a steady flow on your path if you work with it. Don't stand in the way of natural events occurring that will set you in the right direction.

The Archer Princess

*ARC Review*

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for having this available as an ARC.

I was instantly drawn in by the cover as I thought “looks like an awesome warrior princess”. I didn’t realise that this was a sister series to the warrior midwife trilogy, so now I have to backtrack and read those also. Luckily on Ektaa’s website, she mentioned that this could be read as a standalone.

This follows the story of Altara who flees her kingdom with her maid Geravie to escape her evil step mother. When they arrive to Ellythia, Altara must keep her magic hidden so that she is not found out and go to a school to blend in. When she gets to the school, she finds that it’s just a school for women to be married off. The suitors are actually shifters of a demon clan Daanav that currently rule over this kingdom. Apart from this, her very presence wakes up four slumbering men referenced as the “Old Ones” who want to reclaim their kingdom after being placed under a curse. A goddess tells Altara that she is the one that can break the curse in which the leader of the Old Ones Zale can be freed from his cruel heart. What makes her so special?

The opening two sentences had me like woah! It engaged me from the beginning and I loved where the story took Altara. She’s a fierce, independent, strong individual who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to get it. It does get her in trouble as we saw in her double marriage.

The situation at the bride school was a bit messed up but I liked how Altara, Malika, Rani and Pia all supported one another. The Old Ones are hot and although we should hate them, we don’t! Kai is just an all round lovely person, so they aren’t all bad.

Can I just say that spicy scene at about 57-58% was one of the most hilarious scenes I’ve ever read! I was just like OMG OMG OMG WTF NO NO, NO WAY! I loved all the humour that came after with the girls in this very unique situation that Altara’s magic got her in.

I loved that this had so much going on - there’s magic, curses, prophecy, shifters, demons, god like men, goddesses, friendship, adventure, mystery, humour and fun. I’ve probably missed some too! Loved that the MC was POC and it’s mentioned on Ektaa’s website that Altara is biracial - it’s awesome having representation in books! It’s the first that I’ve read of Ektaa’s work and now I want to read more! Can’t wait for book 2&3!

Do check your trigger warnings on this.