blissfullychristina's reviews
34 reviews

Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

I want to thank Shadow Forge Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of Illusion of stars by Sarah Marie Page comes out in July. 
….
It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry between Erik and Isabel is seen from the start. I fell in love with Erik immediately he was supposed to be the bad boy but he was always so attentive to Isa’s needs that even she didn’t realize. Isa is a physician to the queen and doesn’t see herself as anything special when they send her to be a scout and spy on the Volds. She’s got one goal, to show everyone she is good enough to be the physician to the king. the plot twist! I am screaming at the ending how cruel to end it like that!!! I can’t wait for the second part of this story. I am very much hoping to get my hands on that arc as well. 
#shadowforgepublishing #NetGalley

Secrets of Rose Briar Hall by Kelsey James

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

Secrets of rose briar hall by Kelsey James is a historical romance gem. I really enjoyed the storyline,  the MFC is in love with her husband and during a dinner party something goes wrong and everything changes. A unique tale about how women were at the mercy of their husband. Our MFC is made to believe she’s going insane but she knows something is amiss she is not crazy. A good cozy mystery. 

I would like to thank NetGalley and HighBridge audio for the opportunity of listening to the audiobook before its debut on 6/25/2024 #secretsofrosebriarhall 

Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

4.0

#AskNot by Maureen Callahan is the most scandalous read of the year! The Kennedy family has been on top for so long and stepped on many women along the way and this book shares just a fraction of what they endured and how they succumbed or rose above it! 
  A CAPTIVATING EXPOSE that I haven’t been able to stop talking about. At times while reading I was in tears and others filled with anger at what and how these women were used, objectified, and discarded. 

I want to think little, brown and company and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced readers copy. This read was phenomenal and i greatly enjoyed it. This will be on my bookshelf come July 2nd!

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

This was a very interesting and if not hard to read as a mother I couldn’t imagine putting my daughter through half of what Jeanette had endured. Although she endured so much and had to grow up at such a fast pace regardless of wanting to stay young forever she kept her heart and compassion and still found a place of love and forgiveness 

Timebound by Sara Samuels

adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Another captivating book in the blade of shadows trilogy by Sara Samuel’s time travel with different time periods with a new spin on the traveling in itself. This book keeps you wanting more

11/22/63 by Stephen King

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I love time travel and history woven into a bit of true crime! Stephen king does not disappoint with this what if scenario of the Kennedy assassination. So many different twist and characters woven into a piece of history. If only we could all find a wormhole through time in some random diner! Would love to read  more like this

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book has it all! It made my time traveling, witchy, history loving heart so full. I adorned the dynamics of vampire, witch, and daemon. Twist and turns, romance, history it has everything. Looking forward to come along for Diana and Matthew’s adventures.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring tense 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? Yes

5.0

The twist and turns and the character development in this series is phenomenal. Celeana is a bad ass and I’m ready for her true self to be unleashed. Choal and Dorian both drive me nuts but Dorian has definitely matured here while choal takes two steps back. I’m also sad that Nehemiah had to go but Celeana needs to stop being such a coward and get her big girl britches on!

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Loved every minute of it. In a land where a tyrant king destroys magic and rules with an iron fist is needing a kings champion which leads to a competition where the nastiest of killers and brutes test their strength. The crown prince finds the most unlikely of participant in cealena Sardinian a petite girl in the salt mines of endovier slave encampment also known as as Adarlans Assassin but nobody truly knows who the prince has let in their mist. Character development is amazing I truly feel like I know each and every character. 

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Started strong but then slowed.  although the struggles freya faced in life were a testament to her strength and confidence I do wish this was a bit more intricate and adventurous as an unfated. I am looking forward to how freyas story continues though it could go in so many different directions. Great period piece set in Viking era with a strong female character