thebookishmechanic's reviews
266 reviews

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

3.5

It’s giving Gilmore girls 

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen

5.0

The Anaconda Downstairs by Amy Award

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Penelope appears strong and confident on the outside, yet like many of us, she struggles with body positivity beneath the surface. Enter Everett “the Love Guru” Kingman, a self-proclaimed expert in all matters of the heart. When Penelope seeks his dating advice, it seems like nothing could possibly go wrong—right?

While I enjoyed Penelope and Everett's journey, I found the lack of communication a bit grating. Many conflicts in romance books can be resolved with straightforward conversation, which is part of why contemporary romance isn’t usually my go-to. However, the Kingman family remains a delightful ensemble of supportive, green flag, men who genuinely uplift the plus-size women in their lives, striving to make the world a better place.

Once again, Amy Award excels with her heartfelt portrayal of a fat woman navigating life and love. Penelope’s experiences resonate deeply, and it's refreshing to see such authentic representation on the page

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Icebreaker - Hannah Grace 

My friends have been telling me to read this book for a while now, and to be completely honest I’ve been putting it off because I didn’t think it would really be my vibe. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong. 

“I’d say she’s going to ruin all other women for me, but I don’t think about anyone but her”

Icebreaker strikes a delightful balance between charming romance and steamy moments, enriched with witty banter and tender scenes. I was immediately captivated when Nate Hawkins entered the scene. Anastasia's observation that “Nate Hawkins was most definitely a man written by a woman” made me smile, as he reminded me of my own husband.

However, I felt the initial portrayal of Nate was misleading. We first meet him waking up from a drunken night, expressing a desire to become a better man, yet this playboy persona seems to vanish too quickly. Genuine character development doesn’t happen overnight and insta love shouldn’t change a characters entire personality from one page to the next. 

Anastasia on the other hand had a ton of reasonable and realistic character growth that was extremely relatable. Hannah Grace skillfully portrays Anastasia's anxiety in a way that resonates deeply. As someone who has experienced anxiety firsthand, it was refreshing to see it represented so authentically. There were moments when I wished I could reach into the book and give Anastasia a nudge—after all, she’s got the perfect man in front of her, but she’s distracted by a less-than-ideal roommate. Anastasia's struggles with food were also depicted with sensitivity and realism, reflecting challenges many face in a way that felt genuine and relatable. 

Overall, this book offers a light, enjoyable romance with lovable characters and an engaging plot.

My only significant gripe is the “surprise pregnancy” at the end, a trope I find quite off-putting and which slightly marred my overall enjoyment.

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

adventurous fast-paced

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

5.0

After some enthusiastic recommendations from friends, I finally picked up Spark of The Everflame, and I’m wondering why I waited so long. I’m absolutely hooked.

In a recent landscape dominated by heavy hitters like Iron Flame and Crescent City, I’d been feeling burnt out on fantasy. However, from the moment I started this book, I was captivated. Thanks to Marissa and Becks for the recommendation—I devoured it in just two days. Which if you know me and my schedule says a lot for this book. 

Penn Cole’s world-building and unique characters won me over immediately. Diem, the fiercely independent healer, is both relatable and compelling. Trained to heal and defend, she struggles with inner conflicts and the sudden disappearance of her mother that leads her to the palace and the enigmatic Luther. Speaking of Luther—I’m already hooked. Shadow daddy? Say no more. 

While the book may seem somewhat predictable, especially from the outset of its world-building, this predictability isn’t necessarily a drawback. It made for an enjoyable and easy read that didn’t require too much mental energy.
Some reviewers criticize Diem’s decision-making, but I find her reactions and choices completely understandable. She’s thrust into unforeseen circumstances, grappling with high-stakes decisions under immense pressure. Her sass and quick-witted remarks make her a refreshing and relatable character, embodying the “tough woman who won’t take any nonsense” archetype that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall, Spark of Everflame was a five-star read for me, and I’m diving into the next book immediately!

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Imagine my surprise when I check my email only to discovery that net-galley and Source Books had granted my wish for an advance copy of Dark Restraint, just one day before its release! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Dark Restraint delves into the evolving relationship between Ariadne and The Minotaur. I'll admit, I initially struggled to connect with the characters. While Ariadne began to win me over in the previous book with her intriguing situation, I found myself hesitant about The Minotaur's chapters at first. However, his devotion and compelling words gradually won me over. I'm always a sucker for a character who is dark and rugged yet tender with his love interest, and The Minotaur's intense, almost obsessive affection for Ariadne delivered just that. 

Katee Robert's talent for world-building is truly captivating. She seamlessly blends politics and romance without detracting from the story's momentum. Dark restraint has left me begging for more particularly with the intriguing Dionysus and the enigmatic Hera, whose presence added depth to the plot. 

Overall, this book represents a significant improvement over its predecessor. While the earlier book was enjoyable, it left something to be desired. While I wish more had been done to introduce us to both Ariadne and The Minotaur and their blossoming relationship leading up to Dark Restraint, the characters managed gradually won me over, despite my initial reservations. 

Thank you, Katee Robert, Source Books and Netgalley for the ARC. 

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

5.0

Did I absolutely love this book? Yes! 

Was this book necessary? No even a little bit. 

Here's the thing, the only useful and current information you get from this is in the first and last chapter. Boy was that last chapter a doozy though. 

I love Casteel, he's a cheeky bastard and I wouldn't want him any other way. I love hearing scenes from his POV and finally getting to understand what pushed him to do what he did. Watching Cas fall in love and not knowing it has been a pleasure, and also so frustrating. 

The internal battle between his budding love for poppy and his devotion to Malik is both heart breaking and annoying (because I already know what his choices are). It's pleasing to see Kieran pissed at Cas for making bad decisions when it comes to Poppy. Casteel is his most genuine murderous self in FBAA, and you really get to see and feel that again in this book. 

Now; onto the spoiler 

•SPOILER 

I was not prepared for Casteel to shift into a cave cat just as poppy finished coming into her power. It was interesting and shocking, however in my opinion it did not feel integral to the story. Poppy is gonna be pumped to find out she can shift . 

Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli

5.0

I want to start by saying that Nisha is probably my new favourite author and I only tag authors in good reviews. 

Rule Of The Aurora King is book 2 in The Artifacts Of Ouranos series. Picking up book two was like coming home, even though I hadn't been gone for long. Lor has been keeping her secrets safe all of her life, she's not about to just let them slip free because a handsome fae prince wants her to. He's going to have to work for them, and work he does. 

The world building in this book improves on the foundation laid out for us in book one. Lor continues to be true to herself and never wavers in her strength despite the many tests this life has thrown at her. The dynamic between Lor and Nadir is so entertaining and I can't wait to see where things go from here. The second I finished this book I was ready to email Nisha and beg her for the next instalment. 

Thank you to Nisha J Tuli, netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy.