**spoiler alert** This was a fast-paced, swash-buckling debut that follows the rise of Jacquotte Delahaye, a queer biracial female pirate as she sails**spoiler alert** This was a fast-paced, swash-buckling debut that follows the rise of Jacquotte Delahaye, a queer biracial female pirate as she sails the seas in the Caribbean. Told in three parts and based on true events, Jacquotte climbs her way out of indentured servitude to the ruthless pirate captain, Blackhand, until she and her motley crew of refugees and friends take charge of their own ship and later build their own island home. Filled with action, adventure, betrayals, sword and gunfights, Sapphic love and found family, this was a tender and hugely entertaining read from start to finish. It was also EXCELLENTLY narrated by Angel Pean, who does an amazing job with the full cast of characters in this story, making everyone's voice standout. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I think this one was a little more literary than I was in the mood for but it was still very well written and tackles race in America in a new and intI think this one was a little more literary than I was in the mood for but it was still very well written and tackles race in America in a new and interesting way. Great on audio but I just couldn't get fully invested in this story. Probably a me thing. Still definitely worth a read for fans of authors like Kiley Reid....more
This was a total departure from her middle grade book, Barely floating but I really, really enjoyed the slow burn horror story set in the NYC fashion This was a total departure from her middle grade book, Barely floating but I really, really enjoyed the slow burn horror story set in the NYC fashion world that has a Cuban American woman trying to impress her demanding fashion designer boss, battling alcohol addiction and inner demons. Perfect for fans of authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Especially great is the historical insights into the female immigrant garment workers and the terrible conditions they endured. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A grumpy x sunshine, dual POV, interracial romance that sees an ex pro Basketball player rescuing a single plus size Black woman in the middle of a snA grumpy x sunshine, dual POV, interracial romance that sees an ex pro Basketball player rescuing a single plus size Black woman in the middle of a snow storm only to have them sharing one bed in a small inn while they wait for the storm to pass. This one was a bit cheesy for my tastes but still an entertaining read and okay on audio. Not my favorite by this author but worth a read nonetheless. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Merged review:
A grumpy x sunshine, dual POV, interracial romance that sees an ex pro Basketball player rescuing a single plus size Black woman in the middle of a snow storm only to have them sharing one bed in a small inn while they wait for the storm to pass. This one was a bit cheesy for my tastes but still an entertaining read and okay on audio. Not my favorite by this author but worth a read nonetheless. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a hilarious, wild ride of a book. Sexy, smart and full of twists I didn't see coming. A loose Anna Delvney esque story has Iranian American rThis was a hilarious, wild ride of a book. Sexy, smart and full of twists I didn't see coming. A loose Anna Delvney esque story has Iranian American reporter Rose, clawing her way back from rock bottom determined to prove that Poppy Hastings, a popular social media con artist is an actual murderer caught up in a dangerous secret society.
Fired and with everyone thinking she's crazy, Rose finds herself teamed up with an undercover FBI agent who might be the one person who also thinks Poppy is a criminal. Suspenseful and great on audio this was an adrenaline fueled read with a jaw dropping ending that I absolutely LOVED! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Another great middle grade book about censorship, book banning and activism. Important reading for youth to get engaged about learning how to fight foAnother great middle grade book about censorship, book banning and activism. Important reading for youth to get engaged about learning how to fight for their right to read diverse books and the need to stand up for the freedom to read what you want. I also loved the friend group and the way the found a way to use social media and little free libraries to share the books that were getting banned in both their school and around the country. This was great on audio and I really loved the author's note at the end too! Highly recommended for fans of books like Ban this book by Alan Gratz or Answers in the pages by David Levithan. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
I'm soooo glad Indie romance author Caroline Frank's early books are finally coming out on audio! This second book in the Seasons for love series is pI'm soooo glad Indie romance author Caroline Frank's early books are finally coming out on audio! This second book in the Seasons for love series is perfect for fans of Dancing with the stars!!! I loved the grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, fake dating setup that has a child actress with epilepsy trying to make a comeback and dig her way out of debt and a pro dancer needing to win to help pay for the care of his grandmother who has progressive Alzheimer's. Full of humor and heart, this was a lot of fun to read with cameos from other characters in the series and a couple spicy open door scenes. Highly recommended especially for anyone who enjoyed Priscilla Oliveras' Matched to perfection series....more
I've generally been a fan of Sarah Echavarre's books and I usually enjoy a good sliding door what if romance but sadly this one was a bit of a flop foI've generally been a fan of Sarah Echavarre's books and I usually enjoy a good sliding door what if romance but sadly this one was a bit of a flop for me. I struggled to get invested in the characters or the plot and it was just okay as an audiobook. Not one I would go out of my way to recommend sadly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions....more
This third book in Martin's Elemental Love series can definitely be read as a standalone and is full of cozy small town vibes, features 3.5 rounded up
This third book in Martin's Elemental Love series can definitely be read as a standalone and is full of cozy small town vibes, features two paranormal Black characters caught up in a magical time loop as they try to fill wishes made the previous year. Good on audio and a perfect, feel-good, spicy, spookyseason read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This dual POV sports romance was my first book by Naima Simone and I absolutely LOVED it!! A Black female firefighter falls for a hot Black, single daThis dual POV sports romance was my first book by Naima Simone and I absolutely LOVED it!! A Black female firefighter falls for a hot Black, single dad pro hockey player. This was STEAMY, full of emotional depth (grief over the death of a wife and a fiance) and involved the feelings of grandparents and a little boy. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Deanna Grey or Alexa Martin. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I really, really enjoyed this traditionally pubbed paranormal romance debut by a new to me author! Set in a magical small Rhode Island town that only I really, really enjoyed this traditionally pubbed paranormal romance debut by a new to me author! Set in a magical small Rhode Island town that only those in the know can find, single mom Olivia is happily living life baking sweets for her fellow townsepeople. Things get shaken up though when Draven arrives - he has a secret connection to the town but has also been sent there from NYC to write an expose on the magical side of its residents.
This dual POV, steamy, next door neighbor, enemies to lovers romance had great disability rep (Olivia has cerebral palsy), emotional depth (Olivia grow up bouncing around foster homes and Draven lost his mom at a young age) plus plenty of SPICE!!! I actually wasn't quite expecting this one to be soo spicy but I was definitely here for it!
Great on audio narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, I loved that Olivia is Latine (her Mexican heritage is something she has only recently discovered) and that the Draven learns that he'd rather protect the town his mother came from than expose it to the world. Hot and full of heart, this was a fun read from start to finish and I definitely look forward to reading more by Adrianna Schuh in the future!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This is perfect for fans of authors like Ann Aguirre or Erin Sterling or anyone who enjoys a feel-good small town cozy paranormal romance!...more
This was a fantastic gender swapped Sapphic speculative fiction retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo by a new to me Trinidadian Canadian author! ThiThis was a fantastic gender swapped Sapphic speculative fiction retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo by a new to me Trinidadian Canadian author! This was a quick read as it's under 200 pages but it definitely bangs a punch and was excellent on audio too! Highly recommended for fans of authors like CL Polk. I look forward to reading more by Suzan Palumbo in the future!...more
An emotionally deep friends to lovers romance between a social media influencer and a best-selling author with anxiety. The mental health rep in this An emotionally deep friends to lovers romance between a social media influencer and a best-selling author with anxiety. The mental health rep in this book was excellent (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation)! And I loved the dual POV exchanges between the two main characters. Great on audio narrated by JD Jackson and Mela Lee and highly recommended for fans of authors like Tia Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: suicide attempt, drug overdose/use of narcan...more
This was a great and emotionally moving opposites attract, dual POV, Sapphic YA romance between Aiofe, a biracial 'mudane' who to feels smothered by hThis was a great and emotionally moving opposites attract, dual POV, Sapphic YA romance between Aiofe, a biracial 'mudane' who to feels smothered by her parents' social media influencer lifestyle and Luna, a young Black witch from a prestigious magical family who is destined to take over as Head of the witch council.
Both young women feel pressured by their families to live up to expectations that neither one is comfortable with. Together they fall in love (more than once) thanks to a spell gone wrong. Heartfelt and filled with witchy fun but very relatable and real family drama.
It was also good on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Liselle Sambury. This was my first book by Aisllinn Brophy and I look forward to reading more in the future!! Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!
I really, really enjoyed this small town, single mom, bartender, best friends to lovers queer awakening romance set in the Ridley Falls universe. It wI really, really enjoyed this small town, single mom, bartender, best friends to lovers queer awakening romance set in the Ridley Falls universe. It was heartfelt, funny and had a great cast of secondary characters. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Alexandria Bellefleur and Ashley Herring Blake! I can't wait to read the next book in this queer Sapphic romance series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
This paranormal debut had a unique premise - a witchy world where fewer and fewer witches are being born but despite high expectations I just couldn'tThis paranormal debut had a unique premise - a witchy world where fewer and fewer witches are being born but despite high expectations I just couldn't really get invested in this story. I did very much enjoy that the main female characters were all Black - something rare in this genre but i found myself not caring about either characters or the outcome of the story. Good on audio narrated by Imani Jade Powers but not my fav witchy read this year by any means. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
A heartfelt YA Royal romance featuring a disgraced gay prince from an imaginary African country who travels to LA with his sister to rec3.5 rounded up
A heartfelt YA Royal romance featuring a disgraced gay prince from an imaginary African country who travels to LA with his sister to reconnect with his mother's birth place and improve his image. With a diverse cast of queer characters, Black joy, activism, love and familial expectations and the pressures of royal life, this book was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Alyssa Cole and Jasmine Guillory or the movies Coming to America and The prince and me. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A moving coming of age YA story featuring a biracial teen boy sent to a new school after getting in a big fight. The book touches on class, race, brokA moving coming of age YA story featuring a biracial teen boy sent to a new school after getting in a big fight. The book touches on class, race, broken families and unrequited love. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Kacen Callender. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a SPICY dual POV Sapphic workplace sports romance between a Black professional basketball star and her trainer.
After a HOT one night stand, This was a SPICY dual POV Sapphic workplace sports romance between a Black professional basketball star and her trainer.
After a HOT one night stand, Khadijah and Shae realize they're going to be working VERY closely together and while Khadijah has no interest in starting a relationship right now, player, Shae loves a good challenge and isn't ready to let Khadijah go.
Great on audio with dual narration, this is perfect for fans of books like Anita Kelly's How you get the girl or Karmen Lee's The 7-10 split. I look forward to more books in this new sports romance series!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and gifted physical copy in exchange for my honest review!
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