Can't Wait Wednesday: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Romanov by Nadine Brandes releasing May 7, 2019.

About the Book

From the author of Fawkes comes a magical take on the story of Anastasia Romanov.

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

Why I Need It

I've loved every Nadine Brandes book I've read and am excited that she's got another historical fantasy coming out soon. It should be a really interesting take on the Romanovs.

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's Top Ten is all about Halloween. I'm sharing some books that I think would be great to read around this time of year. Some are spooky, some are funny, but all of them are great.

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

Not much is scarier than a creepy, old house!

The Harbingers Series by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, Alton Gansky

A collection of short stories that deals with spiritual warfare. And let me tell ya, some of these stories (Hybrids, in particular) are still giving me nightmares!

Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire

A collection of ghost stories following Rose Marshall, the ghost of Sparrow Hill Road.

Nightshades Trilogy by Melissa F. Olson

A gritty crime series featuring vampire baddies.

An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire

The October Days series is my favorite, but this book, for some weird reason, terrified me. I had to put it aside for a little while. It ended up being really good though.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

A werewolf named Kitty. What more could you ask for?

The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin

This urban fantasy series is quite funny and features a plethora of different supernatural creatures. This book, in particular, was a little scary for me because of the whole demon thing. I don't do well reading about demons, lol.

The Wishcraft Mystery Series by Heather Blake

This is an enchanting and humorous paranormal cozy series where it feels like Halloween all year round.

Afterlife with Archie Comics

Zombies invade Riverdale and infect some of our favorite town residents. I was able to read the first five comics in this series through Kindle Unlimited and really liked them. Definitely not something I'd normally pick up but it was an interesting twist on the familiar characters.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

How could I make this list and not put Harry Potter on it?

What are some of your favorite Halloween reads?

Review: A Search for Refuge: A Haven Manor Novella by Kristi Ann Hunter

About the Book

Margaretta Fortescue desperately needs to disappear from London society, and her only hope is to follow the rumors of another young woman who recently made a life for herself away from the glare of society. Her search leads her to the market town of Marlborough where, in spite of her efforts to avoid attention, she can’t seem to elude local solicitor, Nash Banfield.

All Nash wants is a quiet, sedate life—no risks or surprises. When Margaretta, clearly on the run and unwilling to answer questions, interrupts his solitude, his curiosity and his principles won’t let him leave this determined woman without assistance.

But will the truth of what Margaretta is running from be worth finally opening his heart up to a chance at love?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

I recently read The Christmas Heirloom which featured a story by Kristi Ann Hunter. I absolutely loved it and wondered why I hadn't read more of her books. I thought I'd remedy that by starting the prequel to her Haven Manor series, A Search for Refuge. It was awesome! I read it as fast as I could and was sad when I reached the end. It was a quick read that had me instantly rooting for the characters – my favorite of which was Mrs. Lancaster. She was such a kind and generous lady, so sweet and helpful. The premise for this series is so intriguing and I can't wait to start A Defense of Honor. Highly recommended!

Five Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Emerald Illusion by J. Rodes

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Emerald Illusion by J. Rodes which just released yesterday. I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book and OH MY GOODNESS! It was awesome! You can find my review here. It's a book that I can't recommend highly enough and can envision myself rereading again and again.

About the Book

Abrielle used to dream of a different life. Adventure. Romance. Hope.
Not of Kansas.

Now, after the loss of her mother and a move she didn’t want to make, she’s lost the will to dream anymore, let alone believe in her father’s Somedays.

But a swirling wind, a wall of leaves, and a blinding darkness literally transform her world.

She and both of her brothers, Brogan and Matteaus, are swept from Kansas to someplace beyond—to a desert in which everything is watery-brown, including the sky and the light of the weak sun. Abrielle finds herself in the middle of a realm everyone had heard of but no one believed existed. Except this version is rundown and broken, void of color and hope. Not much different from her view of life in Kansas.

When she gathers her bearings, she discovers her youngest brother is missing, lost in a land that is foreign and dying. Finding Matteaus becomes her sole focus, but when she and Brogan meet a boy named Levi, who only adds more mystery to this world that shouldn’t exist, she finds out this kingdom is much more perilous than the children’s book ever told.
Matteaus is in great danger.

There is nothing safe about Oz.

Book Beginning

I used to dream of a different life. Adventure and wonder. Maybe a little romance - because at seventeen, I still hadn't been kissed. My dreams, they looked like crystal-clear lakes whose invitation to swim would never go unanswered, magnificent waterfalls thundering their authority, and craggy peaks daring me to take them on.

They didn't look like Kansas.

Friday 56 (55% on my Kindle)

Cue the flying monkeys. Wait. No. They were bad...weren't they?

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Emerald Illusion by J. Rodes

About the Book

Abrielle used to dream of a different life. Adventure. Romance. Hope.
Not of Kansas.

Now, after the loss of her mother and a move she didn’t want to make, she’s lost the will to dream anymore, let alone believe in her father’s Somedays.

But a swirling wind, a wall of leaves, and a blinding darkness literally transform her world.

She and both of her brothers, Brogan and Matteaus, are swept from Kansas to someplace beyond—to a desert in which everything is watery-brown, including the sky and the light of the weak sun. Abrielle finds herself in the middle of a realm everyone had heard of but no one believed existed. Except this version is rundown and broken, void of color and hope. Not much different from her view of life in Kansas.

When she gathers her bearings, she discovers her youngest brother is missing, lost in a land that is foreign and dying. Finding Matteaus becomes her sole focus, but when she and Brogan meet a boy named Levi, who only adds more mystery to this world that shouldn’t exist, she finds out this kingdom is much more perilous than the children’s book ever told.
Matteaus is in great danger.

There is nothing safe about Oz.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Oh my goodness! This book left me speechless! It's so amazing! I'm sitting here struggling to find the words to describe the absolute beauty that is this novel. It was unbelievably poignant. The message was so soul-stirring and will linger with me for a long time to come. It's something that I didn't know I needed at the time and I'll definitely treasure it.

I felt so connected to Abrielle right from the beginning. Her emotions became my emotions. She was likable and relatable and so very real. And the setting! I loved that this story took place in Oz, although a very different Oz than what we're familiar with. It was the perfect setting for this journey.

Once I reached the end, I wanted to immediately read it all again. It moved me and spoke to me like no other book has done in a long time. It's a book that everyone should read and I'll definitely be recommending it to everyone I know.

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Five Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Enclave by Thomas Locke

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Enclave by Thomas Locke releasing November 20, 2018.

About the Book

It's been 50 years since the Great Crash and what was once America is now a collection of enclaves, governed on the local level and only loosely tied together by the farce of a federal government. Catawba, one of the largest and most affluent enclaves in the southern states, is relatively stable and maintains a successful business of trade with nearby enclaves, including the one at Charlotte Township. But when a new vein of gold is found beneath the feet of those in Catawba, it's only a matter of time before trouble finds them.

Now the future of Catawba may be in the hands of an untried 21-year-old trader named Caleb. And Caleb knows that if his secret were ever to come out, he would never see another dawn.

Why I Need It

I love dystopias so I'm always on the lookout for new ones. This one sounds like an interesting one. I'm super curious about what the Great Crash was and what life is like this "new America".

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: A Sparkle of Silver (Georgia Coast Romance #1) by Liz Johnson

About the Book

Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan's great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins' palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie's great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage--and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . .

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight as two charming characters get caught up in the adventure of uncovering the past and finding their way to an unexpected future.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

A Sparkle of Silver was such a delightful read. It combined a lot of things that I enjoy – great characters, sweet romance, an inspirational message, and a page-turning mystery. It's one of those books that once I reached the end, I was left with a big smile on my face. Now that doesn't mean things were all sunshine and roses. Real and serious issues were addressed. I had tears in my eyes many times. The characters' emotions were so authentic and it really felt like their struggles became my own. But the journey and the message were so hopeful. I often found it hard to tear myself away from this story.

Grandma Joy's struggle with dementia was heartbreaking. As some who's watched a loved one deal with the disease, she really tugged at my heartstrings. It's such a painful thing to see someone you love go through. Millie's care and worry for her grandma was endearing and relatable. She was such a determined young lady and wanted to make sure Grandma Joy had nothing but the very best.

A Sparkle of Silver was my first time reading anything by Liz Johnson and I enjoyed every second of it. I'm definitely gonna be checking out her previous books while I anxiously await book two! Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Five Stars