Book Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series/Standalone: Lux Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

Pages: 421

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"BEING CONNECTED TO DAEMON BLACK SUCKS....

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connections. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

SOMETHING WORSE THAN ARUM HAS COME TO TOWN

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked. I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard. 

BUT THEN, EVERYTHING CHANGES

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them- from me?

NO ONE IS WHO THEY SEEM. AND NOT EVERYONE WILL SURVIVE THE LIES."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I still enjoyed this second book in the series. It remains nostalgic and fun. The only complaint I have for this one is the extreme stupidity of our main character. Which is kind of a part of books written in this time, but as a grown woman, I was screaming at her to make better choices, on repeat! Still fun, I look forward to continuing to read the series and having fun with the concept.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver

Title: Leather and Lark

Author: Brynne Weaver

Series/Standalone: The Ruinous Love Trilogy (Book #2)

Genre: Adult, Fiction, Dark Romance, Rom-Com

Pages: 390

Publisher: Slowburn

Year Published: 2024

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss's biggest client, Lachlan knows he'll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she'll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can't stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend's soulmate, Lachlan thinks she's just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend's happiness on the line, she's willing to make a vow to the man she's determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it's not just familiar dangers that haunt them.

There's another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I was hoping to love this as much as the first one, and for the first half of the book, I was completely on board. As it went on, I found it was both dragging and racing. I think if the intimate aspects had been introduced earlier in the story, I would have found the romance itself more believable, but because everything seemed to take so long to get to the end, it felt rushed. I'm excited for the next book, but nervous if it'll be on the same trajectory as this one. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Finaly Donovan Jumps the Gun by Ell Cosimano

Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan (Book #3)

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 304

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audibook

"Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before- after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons- but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had 'borrowed' in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizens' police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and  some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches- all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood."

My Rating: 4/5

 I love this cozy mystery series. It's fun, ridiculous and fast paced, keeping my interest, while staying semi-light considering the content. I'm looking forward to continuing the series. I loved that this one had me second-guessing myself, and I still didn't realise who the villain was until the full reveal. The humour is excellent, the characters are unique, and the story is fantastically fun. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Historical Fiction

Pages: 393

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child- neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of the mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love."

My Rating: 3/5

I love the idea of these books, but I find that once I'm reading them, I find them hard to get through. The stories themselves are interesting, and seeing how they relate to the original mythology is so fascinating, but the endings and stories themselves don't capture my attention the way I wished they would. I would certainly read more by the author. I enjoyed this one more than the last one I read by the author. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series/Standalone: Lux Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 416

Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Year Published: 2011

Format: Audiobook (Own physical copy)

"Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. 

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I really enjoyed reading something so fun, and some very 2010s. It's nostalgic in such a fun way, but a little cringeworthy. The alien aspect isn't something I've read a ton of, but what a fun addition. It was pretty obvious what was going on based on all the "hints" about aliens. It was fast-paced, fun and just the right amount of spice. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series via audiobook soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Title: The Housemaid

Author: Freida McFadden

Series/Standalone: The Housemaid Series (Book #1)

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 329

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Every day I clean the Winchesters' beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. 

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lie about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew, seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew's handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it's hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina's life. The walk-in closet, the fancy, the perfect husband. 

I only try on one of Nina's pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it's like. But she soon finds out... and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it's far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don't know who I really am.

They don't know what I'm capable of..."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I love a fast-paced thriller. There is something about a story that has twists and turns throughout the story, and the quick action scenes that make it so fun to me. This author did a great job of landing those turns, making them surprising, but not unbelievable. The book was a quick read, and I look forward to continuing on with the series to see how the author will continue on with some of our characters. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny