cwrose's reviews
395 reviews

When we were friends by Jane Green

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A compelling, bite sized read about friendship gained and lost. This one hit close to home, as someone who has been in a similar situation. Was rooting for our heroine, Lily, and all 44 pages kept me engaged throughout! 

Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved The Lake House movie, and this was essentially that, set in a college campus with a compelling mystery woven in. So, mystery, romance, and BIPOC main characters? Sign me up for this. 

It did not disappoint. I wanted to keep turning the pages and unravel with mystery of Jay’s disappearance with Aleeza. They get their HEA. Overall, loved the premise and really enjoyed reading this. 

The Rules of Playing with Fire by Varsha Chitnis

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-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

I absolutely adored this book! I loved the first book in the series, The Art of Taking Second Chances, and was so excited to hear that the author had written book 2. It did not disappoint. 

I enjoyed Mihir and Sona’s non-traditional relationship arc. Both have been burned before, but can’t seem to stay away from each other. Like Tara and Sameer, Sona and Mihir felt like real people with multifaceted personalities. They don’t always make the best decisions, but it’s understandable for their characters why they make the choices that they do. Sona is an absolute queen and I was rooting for her and Mihir to have their HEA. 

Varsha Chitnis always injects a healthy dose of Indian culture, language, and food into her books, and I always appreciate learning more about various cultures. I’m looking forward to book 3! 

Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

An atmospheric, haunting read! Ghost Train is a YA historical with fantasy elements, and tells the story of Maru, a samurai’s daughter in Meiji-era Japan who’s trying to find her place in a changing world.

The worldbuilding is lush and I could truly envision their surroundings. I loved Maru’s growth, from not knowing where she belonged to discovering her worth. Beautifully written and compelling, the ending had me gasping!

Recommended for readers who like YA historical fantasy and Japanese mythology. 

Companion to the Count by Melissa Kendall

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

5.0

Imaginary Strangers by Minka Kent

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The Serpent's Bridge by S.Z. Estavillo

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This isn’t my usual genre, so I didn’t know what to expect going in. 

I loved it and it kept me on my toes! I found myself wanting to pick it up whenever I had a break so I could know what happens next. 

We get three third-person POV characters: The Witness, Esperanza, The Detective, Anaya Nazario, and The Pastor’s Wife, Millie. Each has a part to play and a stake in the murders striking their Southern California city. Despite there being multiple POVs, I felt like I got to know the characters on a deeper level. Their fears, what makes them tick, what’s important to them, and most importantly, their personal stakes in the larger plot, in a way that all comes together at the end. 

The author also touches on topics of anti-police rhetoric, religion, and the issue of undocumented immigrants, but she does so through a careful, well thought out lens where you see where each side is coming from. 

The twists and turns at the end were many and I did not see the conclusion coming! Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one. 

A Chorus of Ashes and Shadows by Melissa Karibian

adventurous challenging hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A fantastic, action and romance-packed end to Kae, Aqeara and their crew's stories! Loved seeing the crew back together, and that everyone gets their well-deserved happy endings. 

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee

adventurous mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ensnaring the Siren by Desirée M. Niccoli

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the author (thank you Desiree!) and was so excited to dive in, after loving the first two books in the Haven Cove series.

Ensnaring the Siren did not disappoint. This follows Coast Guard rescue swimmer Reid and mermaid Nireed, who was a secondary character in books 1 & 2. This has the sweet and spicy human-mermaid romance that I loved with Lorelei and Killian in the previous books, and has an added layer of real-world issues involving corporations and the damage they can cause, which I appreciated. 

I also loved getting to know a softer, cuter side of Nireed, and I also loved getting to know Reid. I was really rooting for them to get their HEA, especially after everything Nireed went through. The small town setting is as always, described immmaculately. 

Without spoiling anything, this is a wonderful addition to the Haven Cove series and I recommend it for anyone who loves small town setting, spicy romance, and merfolk lore.