abeyerlein's reviews
271 reviews

Vibes! But also, that ending!

The fifth standalone in the Les's Bar series set in NYC starts quickly as Leo discovers Chris in need of a place to stay. What starts out as roommates moves quickly into a relationship and healing wounds from a bad past partner. I enjoyed their dynamic and loved how only danger toward Chris seemed to ruffle Leo's calm demeanor. Chris had a lot of baggage, but the fit between the two men seemed perfect. A very enjoyable read!

Y'all! I've been sleeping on this author - I own a bunch of her books, but for some reason, I haven't read them yet. Oops! My biiiiiig mistake, because I loved this one so much! I enjoyed the magic system, the politics of trying to meld the two kingdoms even though the distrust is huge, but especially the main characters. Jax and Callyn's longterm friendship and the situations their parents have thrust them into set the book up to be nailbiting as they both make choices with missing information. For much of the book, I felt as unsure as they were as to who was truly in the right. However, when the implications of everything finally starts to come to be, I thought Callyn's line said it best: "Taking a choice from someone else isn't devotion, and it isn't loyalty. " p. 376

And Tycho! The boy breaks my heart with his struggles to overcome his trauma and his true sense of loyalty. I don't want to say too much, but for my fantasy loving friends, this book is a winner! 💟

This is my first read outside of her Empyrean series, but her ability to tell a story is strong. There were several times that I had to remind myself that the two main characters were really young even in the second timeline (because I wanted to shake them!), but I enjoyed the whole story so much. Our local book club found a lot to talk about as well. 

I have been a huge fan of dragons since discovering the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey in my late teens. I've read the books written by her son and then found this one written by her daughter. Although the novel shows high on the nostalgia factor, I was disappointed by the fact that it didn't feel like an original plot, but just some of the events in the series told from a new point of view. I still enjoyed the read (and finished it the same evening I started it), but nothing holds up to the originals by Anne McCaffrey. 

Fun fact: I have a signed book plate from Anne McCaffrey that I sent off for during my young married years. I kept the envelope, too, because it was the only mail I'd ever gotten from Ireland.

Set in Nova Scotia, this novel finds our main character learning his unknown grandmother wants to meet him. He falls into a town where everyone knows there is a pirate treasure that may or may not have been found in the past and then lost again. As he meets other people also drawn to the town, stakes get even higher as people begin to die. 

I enjoyed the twists in this story and the way that we were given the past of the youths that originally found the treasure. The last few chapters shocked me - and I found myself flipping back to see what I missed. Such an enjoyable romp of a story

This one was more of a miss for me. I found the main character really whiny and the situation ridiculous! But I also wondered how much of it was a meta-fiction for the author's own life (3rd book, different genre, similar names). I think it was clever but it just didn't connect for me. Again, our book club found much to discuss so it worked well for that. 

The second book in The Broken Blades series builds on the story began in the first novel. There are just as many interesting twists and surprises, and again,  short chapters and POV changes that keep you turning the pages. No spoilers - just know that I am so glad that book 3 comes out this summer because that ending! (Of course, I pre-ordered the next one when I was only half- way through this is!) I still have no idea how this is all going to work out!

And aren't both volumes so beautiful? I love how @redtowerbooks is putting out such gorgeous editions!

I was excited for another series in this world, but like Rory, I miss the dragons! However,  Rory's need for a true home was the driving factor in this story. He is so helpful and has made a place for himself, but still feels slightly lonely and that he doesn't truly belong with the wolf pack. However, meeting Fen shows him his true purpose. The two of them are cute and I enjoyed how this book continues the tradition of surprise pairings and "humans" that have no idea they are actually magical. 

As is to be expected from this author (I've read all of her books), the twists are coming. With a theme of grief and a major case of writer's block for our main character, this novel is full of wild things. At around the middle, I felt like either the author was gaslighting the reader OR that everyone on the island was tricking Grady. That conflict alone kept me reading when I didn't like anyone in the book. The final outcome shocked me because I didn't see it coming at all. However, I am a suspense reader that prefers to be surprised so I don't try to guess. 

This was not my favorite book by this author (either His & Hers or Rock Paper Scissors holds that title), but I still enjoyed myself.