jaimes_mystical_library's reviews
1495 reviews

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

lighthearted mysterious

5.0

This was a wonderful Christmas read! This book is a perfect blend of cozy mystery and romantic comedy. I loved the characters Maggie and Ethan in this story and the locked room mystery that they found themselves in. This was such a well written and atmospheric mystery full of suspects and twists and it is a perfect read for the holiday season. This book had me smiling throughout the story and I loved every second of this reading it. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Locked room mysteries

📖 Rom-coms

📖 Forced proximity

📖 Enemies to lovers

📖 He falls first

Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted copy, I loved it!

A Trinket for the Taking by Victoria Laurie

mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This was an excellent cozy mystery! It took me a couple chapters to get into this one, but then I was hooked. I loved the overall concept of this book and all the magical trinkets. I really liked all the characters, and I loved how main character, Dovey, has a pet hedgehog. This book had a unique magic system that I appreciated and I really enjoyed the mystery that Dovey and Gib were working together to solve. This was such a fun and captivating read and a great start to a new series.

Read this if you like:

🦔 Magical trinkets

🦔 Mysteries

🦔 Unique magic systems 

🦔 Complex characters

🦔 Pet hedgehogs 

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. 

Can't Help Faking In Love by Swati Hegde

4.0

This was a great, sweet romance! I loved the main characters Harsha and Veer in this story and enjoyed following them in this fake dating plot. This was such a quick read that immediately had me invested in the story and the characters and I loved seeing how their relationship developed throughout the course of the book. If you are looking for a closed door, fake dating romance you should consider checking this one out when it comes out on February 11th. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Fake dating

📖 Only one bed

📖 Indian culture 

📖 Complicated family dynamics 

📖 Closed door romance 

Thank you to Swati Hedge and Dell Romance for the gifted arc. 

Liar's Kingdom by Christine Calella

5.0

I absolutely loved this retelling! This book was such a unique twist on the classic Cinderella tale. I loved this story and the characters within it. This was a book I didn’t want to put down and binge read it in a day. I appreciated the references to different Cinderella adaptions throughout the book as well as having its own original twist on the tale. This book had me smiling throughout the and I can’t recommend this book enough. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Cinderella retellings

📖 Fairies & fae

📖 Lies & deception 

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc, I loved it!

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

3.75

This was a pretty good contemporary romance. Scott And Bothered is a second-chance romance that is told through a dual timeline. I liked how the past chapters gave insight as to the history between Brooke and Jack, but I found myself enjoying the chapters that took place in present times more. I loved this book’s atmospheric Scotland setting as Jack and Brooke hiked Skye Trail and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed throughout the story.  Overall, this was a great read. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Second-chance romance 

📖 Dual timeline 

📖 Only one tent

📖 Atmospheric setting 

Thank you to HTP Hive for the gifted book. 

Nightweaver by R.M. Gray

4.0

This was a great young adult romantasy book. I haven’t read many books with pirates in them, and I found myself really enjoying that element of this story. There was so much packed into this book and I loved its cast of characters. This was an excellent start to the Nightweaver series and I look forward to reading the next installment. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Pirates

📖 Unique magic system 

📖 Forbidden romance

📖 Elemental magic

Thank you to @thenovl for the gifted copy. 

Bound Paths by Jillian Witt

4.0

This was a great conclusion to the Compass Points trilogy. The author did a great job of wrapping up the storyline and I loved seeing how the characters worked together in this installment. I liked how this book incorporated dual timelines as a way to give us insight as to the past. Overall this was a great fantasy series that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to the author for the gifted arc. 

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle

lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

This was a cute, heartwarming Christmas romance. I loved this book’s small town feel and sense of community. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and following Sheila and Tucker in this story. Christmas In Chestnut Ridge is book two in the Chestnut Ridge series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Overall this was a great, feel-good Christmas romance. 

 

Read this if you like: 

 

📖 Small town settings 

📖 Sweet closed door romance 

📖 Christmas 

 

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the gifted copy. 

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

This was a great mystery/thriller! I loved following Alex in this story as she starts a job as an advice columnist after the lady who had the job previously was murdered. I liked learning about Alex and her hidden past as she got swept up in a case of mystery and murder. This book had plenty of twists and turns as well as a great cast of complex characters. I also loved having advice column letters inserted throughout the book as it made it a more immersive read. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Workplace mysteries

📖 Complex characters 

📖 Bingeable reads

📖 Amateur sleuths

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This was a delightful cozy fantasy! I loved all the characters in this book and I loved the overall storyline. This was an excellent, feel-good read that had me smiling quite a bit. If you are looking for a cozy read, I definitely recommend picking this one up. 

Read this if you like:

📖 Cozy vibes

📖 Slow burn romance

📖 Found family

📖 Small town/island settings

📖 Magical creatures & talking plants