January 2021 Wrap Up
Hi Lovelies! It has been a long time since I have posted in this blog. Honestly, I had a hard time last year with reading and writing. I had the longest reading slump and whenever I do pick up a book I was not into the story. I was not interested and I was forcing myself to read and that I believe contributed to prolonging my reading slump. Since I was not reading as much, I also did know what to write. Anyway, December 2020 I was slowly getting out of my slump and last month I was enjoying reading again. I read 7 books and I enjoyed a majority of the books that I read.
1. Majesty by Katherine McGee (American Royals #2)
PLOT:
Is America ready for its first queen?
Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we're looking at you Daphne Deighton.
As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her "party princess" persona...and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace--and Prince Jefferson--at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne's carefully laid "marry Prince Jefferson" plans.
MINI REVIEW:
As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her "party princess" persona...and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace--and Prince Jefferson--at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne's carefully laid "marry Prince Jefferson" plans.
MINI REVIEW:
I did not like the first book of this series. It was exaggerated drama over exaggerated drama. The characters were also annoying AF. I only liked the story of Beatrice, Teddy, and Conner. That is why I decided to read the second book. But as I was reading, it felt like I was reading a different book. The story really took an 180 degree turn. For me, you don't even need to read the first book because the author changed so much, especially with the pairing. Also, there was minimal character growth from the characters, which is good as compared to the first book. Anyway, I do not know if I am still going to read the next book. Maybe for closure but I would rather read other better books.
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.
MINI REVIEW:
I will do a full review of this book on my next blog post so stay tuned for that. But overall, I enjoyed this retelling of Romeo and Juliet. For me, I like that it is set in the world of gangsters in 1920s Shanghai. The characters were also very likeable her, especially Juliette. I like how strong she is but yet vulnerable at times. She also knows when to show her ruthlessness or niceness.
I also like the politics within this book. One of the theme is colonization and Western influence in 1920s Shanghai, which is interesting because reading about the history and the politics helps in understanding the characters and how they interact with others. The only troubling for me was the fantasy aspect of the book. The monster was not really explored in this book but hopefully in the next book it will be.
3. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (Bromance Book Club #1)
PLOT:
The first rule of book club: You don't talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
I also like the politics within this book. One of the theme is colonization and Western influence in 1920s Shanghai, which is interesting because reading about the history and the politics helps in understanding the characters and how they interact with others. The only troubling for me was the fantasy aspect of the book. The monster was not really explored in this book but hopefully in the next book it will be.
PLOT:
The first rule of book club: You don't talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
4. Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (Bromance Book Club #2)
PLOT:
Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction.
Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.
Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.
Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart... even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.
PLOT:
Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.
Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.
Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.
A hacktivist and a cat café owner decode the friend zone in this romantic comedy from the author of Undercover Bromance.
MINI REVIEW OF BOOK 1-3:
This series is a fun and light read. It is hilarious especially the interaction between the Bromance Book Club members. I love how each book delved on different romance tropes: 2nd Chance Love, Enemies to Lovers, and Friends to Lovers. Out of the three books, my favorite would have to be the 2nd. Gavin is just a fun character to read. But I did have issues with the characterization of Vlad aka the Russian. For me, it was boarderline racist. Hopefully, this issue can be redeemed in the next book, which is the book of Vlad and Elena.
PLOT:
In this warm-hearted love story for fans of One Day in December, a man and woman who were born at the same hospital on New Year’s Day meet on their thirtieth birthday and discover the many times their paths almost crossed before.
Down-to-earth baker Minnie Cooper knows two things with great certainty: that her New Year’s birthday has always been unlucky, and that it’s all because of Quinn Hamilton, a man she’s never met. Minnie and Quinn were born at the same hospital just after midnight on New Year’s Day thirty years before, and not only did he edge her out by mere minutes to win the cash prize for being the first baby born in London in 1990, but he stole the name she was meant to have, as well. With luck like that, it’s no wonder each of her birthdays has been more of a disaster than the one before.
When Minnie unexpectedly runs into Quinn at a New Year’s party on their mutual thirtieth birthday, she sees only more evidence that fortune has continued to favor him. The handsome, charming business owner truly seems to have it all–including the perfect girlfriend. But if Quinn and Minnie are from different worlds, why do they keep bumping into each other? And why is it that each frustrating interaction somehow seems to leave them both hoping for more?
MINI REVIEW:
I love the idea of the book but the execution was poor. There was a lot of boring parts and it was a struggle to get through the book. I also did not like the characters, which did not help getting though the boring parts.
7. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
A Modern Hades and Persephone Retelling
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.
After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.
MINI REVIEW:
Is this my new favorite retelling of Persephone and Hades? No but the angst and smut between Persephone and Hades made the book entertaining. Honestly, this is a good trashy book with an addicting quality to it. Plus, the storyline is promising. I really want to see the war between Demeter and Persephone.
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What are you currently reading? Please tell me below. Be sure to follow my social media accounts to see bookish stuffs or chat about books, or be reading buddies.
XOXO,
Bella
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