amywrites's reviews
450 reviews

The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

5.0

This plot. I loved it. Jane starting a ladies' gambling circle? Eli coming back from the dead? Yes, please!

The relationship between Jane and Eli was great. She's so begrudging and he's so oblivious to her feelings. There weren't many spicy scenes (2 1/2, to be precise), but y'all, they had me blushing!

I kinda wish I had an Uncle Bertie to match-make for me. But Cecily...

I honestly wish Jane would have just told her to pound sand and not forgive her for her horrible behaviour.

Since this is the first book in a series, is it too much to hope our Greek friend will be a love interest at some point? 😅

Listening to the audiobook, I wasn't crazy about the narrator (Blythe Fortune) at first, but she quickly grew on me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscapes Media for the ARC!

Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a really fun read. I love archaeology so this was right up my alley.

Ellie is a strong character and stays true to her values (though I did find her, at times, a bit of a know-it-all). Adam is clever and resourceful (though I wish he would have been less... chill?). Their relationship was nice and I think their first meeting was one of my favourites I've ever read. There was great chemistry between them.

While I really liked the lead up to the adventure, when they reached their destination, everything seemed very rushed. But I can't wait for the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox

2.0

I read one of the author's previous books and was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately, it ended up falling flat.

Following along with both of the sisters living completely different lives, it seemed like too much was happening. So much was squeezed into the book that there was little substance and depth.

I found the summary to be very different from what really happened in the book. It talks about the sisters coming together to solve the mystery surrounding their mother, but they don't even meet until 70% in!

Only one of the sisters finds out the truth and, in the end, she doesn't even tell her sister.

The really was more about Cornelia's love life than anything.

That being said, I found all of the romantic relationships very shallow. Whenever someone confessed their love, I just never believed them.

ARC from NetGalley.

Darkness Before Dawn by Kellie Wallace

1.0

At a certain point, I started to think 'this must be an alternate history'. Unfortunately, it was incredibly historically inaccurate and didn't depict the Occupation of the Channel Islands well at all. The same goes with Max's experience as a POW in England at the end of the book.

The book was riddled with inconsistencies where the plot and characters are concerned.

I was shocked by Catherine's rape and found it didn't do anything to further the plot. If it wasn't there, the book wouldn't have changed. Despite what this book portrays, rape and violence towards Islanders wasn't at all common and there was only one recorded case of rape. It was a serious offence that the army wouldn't have taken so lightly.

Project Duchess by Sabrina Jeffries

2.0

I just don't think I'm a fan of this author's writing style. Honestly, the dialogue between the siblings sounded like bickering teenagers.

I didn't feel any connection between Beatrice and Grey and don't really know how they ended up together. It was defo insta-love though without all the actual love.

Also, why did they stop to have sex when they were in a time sensitive situation? Come on.

They don't even find the killer in this book and I'm not reading the next to figure out who it was. Why isn't anyone actually pointing fingers at the mom?

Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin

3.0

Okay, I actually liked how raw this was. I'm not on the up and up with the reality of how the pirate life was, but I'm guessing it (at times) was pretty brutal. This book defo shows that.

I love the idea of Priest being obsessed with Bennett and hunting her down. It was very intriguing and I really liked his character though

obviously not the infidelity bit

. And I get the whole bit with Ashley - at first.

Her plan to trick him was great, but then she fell in love. What? Why? Ashley showed her nothing but his most horrible side before she declared she was falling for her. He brutalised her. Bruh. 

I can't say I was a huge fan of the 'throuple'. My best version would have been that there was bad blood between Priest and Ashley, Ashley becomes darkly obsessed with Bennett, she escapes, he chases her and it ends in a duel with Priest. But that's just me 😂

The Daring Girls of Guernsey by Gayle Callen

2.0

My biggest problem with this book is the characters. Helen sucked for dragging her friends into the whole mess. Catherine was a crybaby. Poor Betty deserved better.

The timeline was very confusing and there were character inconsistencies and historical inaccuracies.

A Sound Like Thunder by Diana Bachmann

3.0

I liked that it seemed pretty historically accurate, but there were waaaay too many characters and it was hard to keep track of everybody. Also, I didn't like all the cheating that was going on.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

4.0

It was nice to be back in Emily's journal.

I missed Wendell - he has to be one of my favourite MMCs. And Emily - we don't get to see a lot of FMCs like her.

As usual, the writing was lovely though this time I felt it was a bit slow going in the beginning. Though it seemed like they didn't have much time to save Wendell, nothing was really high-stakes.

The Apothecary's Garden by Jeanette Lynes

3.0

The writing was really flowery. Though pretty, it made it hard to get into at first and it wasn't until about 1/3 or 1/2 of the way in that I can honestly say my attention was captured.

This is one of those books where not a lot actually happens, but the vibes are there.