#boookish

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: It’s hate-at-first-sight when a jilted Irish chef returns home to Inishmore and immediately clashes with a mouthy American tourist. This steamy romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Tessa Bailey.

Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it.

The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights.

Featuring a lovable band of quirky supporting characters, The Irish Goodbye is a steamy, emotionally gripping tale of love, passion, art, food, and finding where you belong.

Review:

A photographer dealing with grief, looks to find inspiration by renting a cottage in Ireland... only to encounter a recently jilted grumpy Irish chef and sparks fly. Cordelia James was a renowned street photographer with everything going for her: a large following, gallery showings in New York, and a book deal... but the sudden death of her father leaves her struggling to even leave her apartment. Cordelia has been grieving for two years and decides that she's going to get out of her apartment, she sees an ad for a summer job at a cozy cottage on Ireland's picturesque Inishmore island and instantly buys a ticket. The moment she steps off the boat she crashes (literally) into Niall O'Connor, a grumpy local who has returned from Dublin after finding his fiancee sleeping with his business partner in the restaurant he was planning on opening. Niall and Cordelia immediately get off on the wrong foot but can't avoid each other as it's a small island and everyone knows everyone. Yet as they spend more time together on the cozy island filled with sweet characters, they begin to heal and fall in love... but Cordelia is only meant to stay for three months... how will their relationship work after her time is up? This was such a sweet and fun read, it gave me Leap Year (movie) vibes and I adored it. The romance was really sweet and fun and I loved that both of these characters were healing and found comfort in each other. The island itself and the community was amazing and so sweet. This book was just a feel good book with a bit of spice *wink wink*. I would absolutely recommend it!

Two of the books read were arcs. But I think I had a great reading month.

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

*A very special hardcover edition, featuring foil stamp on the casing and custom endpapers illustrated by the author.*

There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.

Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?

But nothing with fairies is ever simple.

Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…

Review:

There is a princess in a tower under a sleeping spell, but this is the story of the fairy tasked with guarding her and the gentle knight on a mission that has gone sideways. Toadling was stolen from her family by fairies and instead of being killed and discarded. she was raised and loved by the creatures in the warm waters of faerieland. Yet once she became an adult she was asked a favor: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. It sounds like a simple quest but it very much is not and the blessing goes wrong and now centuries later Toadling is still standing guard over the sleeping fairy, trying to keep knights, princes, and people away from the sleeping terror. Yet when a wayward knight approaches the bramble and tells her that he is here to break the curse... a curse that Toadling will do anything to uphold... chaos ensues. This was such an interesting take on the Sleeping Beauty story but told from the perspective of the fairy and I had fun with the unique changes made to the story. Overall it was a really fun read!

5 star read https://amzn.to/3ZDoPDL <—— Check out the book on Amazon Goodreads summary: Liz Brander’s grandfather used to tell her that all the time. Could they be more than just words? Not long before a planned trip, a personal tragedy leads her to uncover a long-kept secret. Determined to fulfill her journey—or perhaps run away from her problems—she leaves for Florida, only to be stranded…

Aurora Rising by Amie KaufmanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsGoodreads Summary: The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch… A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasmA…

Mini Library Book Haul