ARC Review: Big Bad Wolf (Maple Hollow #1) by Laurie Gilmore

 

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dream Harbor series, comes a brand new paranormal romance set in the small town of Maple Hollow.

The darker the woods, the bigger the secrets...

Ruby Bellerose lives on the edge of the woods, in a cottage more akin to a fairy tale than modern day life. Her love life is basically non-existent, and she keeps away from the whispered gossip that travels through Maple Hollow.

Until a chance encounter with Rafe.

As mysterious as he is brooding, Ruby is drawn to the woodsman, curious to find out more about the stranger who lives deep within the woods.

But Rafe is hiding a secret. And with something lurking in the shadowy forest, will Ruby find that Rafe is her knight in shining armor or something altogether more dangerous...

Title: Big Bad Wolf (Maple Hollow #1)

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Publisher: Harper Collins/Harper 360

Expected Publication Date: September 8, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper Collins, Harper360, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really love Laurie Gilmore's writing. I was so excited to get to read this installment in this series and watch the paranormal romance bloom. I love paranormal romance, and I love werewolves! This one is totally different from her Dream Harbor series. 

This one seems as if it was a bit of a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but not totally. I saw some aspects but it's certainly not totally lined up with that story. It's a bit of a dark romance in a way, given the mystery over why the FMC, Ruby, and her sister, Lena, are being hunted by the Highlands pack. There's a bit of magic wrapped in the story, as well. Witches, seers, and nymphs, OH MY!

This one is a bit more steamy than the other books I've read by Laurie. I enjoyed that aspect. 

This one had me turning pages for sure. It was a fast read for me. I didn't want to put it down. I was totally immersed in the story.

My one complaint was the back and forth in the romance. I understood the reasoning for it, but it was so much. I wanted to smack them both many times and just say, "snap out of it!" There's definitely chemistry between these two, though. I was for sure there for it. 

This one 100% ends on a cliffhanger, so if you're not a fan of waiting, as the next book isn't out yet, I'd hold off reading. Or just re-read it right before the other comes out. I really want to listen to this one audio when it's released. Definitely a book that will be a re-read for me! If you're a fan of cozy fantasy, I think you'll enjoy this one! Small town feel, magical characters, and a fun plot.

Author:

aurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.

She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

ARC Review: An Archive Of Romance (A Study in Drowning Novella) by Ava Reid

“I will love you to ruination,” the Fairy King said, brushing a strand of golden hair from my cheek.

“Yours or mine?” I asked.

The Fairy King did not answer.

Effy and Preston have been torn apart by the wars of men, the power of words, and the specter of magic—but it was through stories that they found each other. Relive Effy and Preston’s love story through their own pens in this immersive collection of mementos, illustrations, maps, blueprints, diary entries, and more. Read Angharad with Effy's annotations; sneak excerpts of Preston's diary; see the architectural sketches that brought Effy to Hiraeth; get your own ticket to Saltney; and experience the never-before-seen epilogue to Effy and Preston’s romance. 

A perfect gift for fans of A Study in Drowning and A Theory of Dreaming and anyone who wants to embark on their own dark academia journey, this gorgeously illustrated novella collects ephemera from Effy and Preston as they remember the romance and prepare for a new chapter in their lives—together.

Title: An ARchive of Romance (A Study in Drowning Novella)

Author: Ava Reid

Publisher: HarperCollins

Expected Publication Date: December 9, 2025

Review:

Thank you to HarperCollins, NetGalley, and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I truly adore this series so much. The world building and character development are great. Plus I love the story lines from both book 1 and book 2. When I saw there was a novella, I had to have it and I'm so glad I got a chance to read this one early.

I will say, as a PDF/Kindle version, this book doesn't work quite as well as I would have liked. I definitely will need the print version to put on my shelf, and to re-read. I loved how the entire book up until you reach the novella towards the end is just a collection of snippets from the stories explained in the books to the journals and letters written and received by the characters. And, in the end, to find out why it is all laid out as it is was so great.

Of course, the novella part was the best part of it all. I loved seeing Effy, Preston, and their crew again. I loved watching as Effy and Preston glided towards their vows. And then to see it all connect, it was chef's kiss.

Definitely do not read this one before you read the other two. It is pretty much an epilogue to book #2. What a beautiful edition to a beautiful story!

Author:

Ava Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming, Lady Macbeth, Juniper & Thorn, and The Wolf and the Woodsman. Her books have been published in over fourteen territories. She lives in the New York area. Follow her on Instagram @avasreid and find her online at tumblr.com/avasreid.

 

ARC Review: The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin

In the thrilling conclusion of the duology set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series by Shelby Mahurin, a vampire and the woman who tried to kill him prove that true love can conquer anything, even Death. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Mass.

Célie’s life is over. She took her final breath trying to save the people she loves—including the powerful and enigmatic vampire king, Michal, who refused to let her go. When Célie wakes, she cannot walk in the sun; she can hear her friends’ heartbeats and she craves their blood. Michal has cursed her to the eternal existence of a vampire.

But Célie isn’t the only dead roaming the earth. Her sister, Filippa, has returned as a shadow of her former self, and other revenants are rising from their graves intent on revenge. The fragile balance between life and death has broken, awakening an even darker force—and he is coming for Célie, ready to claim her as his Bride. With the fate of their world at stake, Célie and Michal must set aside their searing attraction to mend the veil and right the balance, once and for all.

Title: The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2)

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: March 25, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Harper Colins and Edelweiss for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

To say I was excited to read this installment in the Serpent and Dove world is an understatement. The Scarlet Veil was one of my top reads for 2024. I enjoyed Serpent and Dove by The Scarlet Veil too Mahurin's story and writing to the next level. And since it ended on a huge cliffhanger, I had been chomping at the bit to get an early copy and see the outcome.

This book starts off right where the last book left off, so don't go reading this thinking you'll understand anything at all. You have to have the background from the first book. I would even say you need the background from the Serpent and Dove trilogy to truly understand it all. Reading this series without having read the trilogy will ruin relationships for you and leave you wondering about the magic system and how the world was built.

Celie is a vampire and her world has been thrown into upheaval. Death is hounding her to take her place as his bride and she is trying her hardest to adjust to her new life while keeping her friends safe.

I really loved Celie's growth in the first book of this series. I wasn't a fan of hers from the trilogy but The Scarlet Veil really pushed her to a height I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, she didn't grow more with this book. That growth leveled out and this book was more about her fighting the good fight and saving the world (and her friends and family along with it). She does come into herself a bit as her new form: a vampire. She learns what she needs to do to survive. But above that she is the same.

I will say I enjoyed the romance in this. It was a slight slow burn, which we had in the first book, as well. But the first book showed the relationship might not go anywhere where this book focuses on her and Michal becoming closer and falling into each other. Michal had the most growth in this book of any of the characters. I do wish there was more than one point of view in the book so I could have been a bit inside his head.

More than anything, I love the side characters in this book. I feel like they are my friends given their development from the beginning of the first trilogy. I enjoyed how they were always there for Celie, accepting her for who she is and not judging her for who she was.

The pacing of this book was definitely slower for me than the first. I didn't feel drawn to run and read it whenever I had a chance, though I wanted to. And there were times I was actually bored and found myself skimming and then having to go back so I could understand what was happening. I dare say it suffers from second book syndrome even though this series is a duology. The journy the characters take is kind of all over the place jumping back and forth between the veil but never getting anywhere until the very end. The story was a little disjointed, as well. Sometimes I was totally lost as to what the characters were talking about or doing and how it related to the story. Other times they would come to conclusions that I didn't really understand. Perhaps had I read the books back to back I may have been more in tune, though I do remember the first book quite well. 

There were quite a few plot holes, with things being forgotten that were important to the story line making for a messy read at times. Elements that made no sense being part of the story and leaving me wondering why they may have even been introduced if they were never fully developed. It pulled me out of the story and made me feel lost. And I had a hard time visualizing some of the scenes.

Overall, this was more disappointing to me than I would have liked. I did enjoy the story and I was pretty happy with the ending but overall I just felt like it wasn't as tightly put together as the first book.

Author:

Shelby Mahurin grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn't fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches the Office and obsesses over her Twitter feed. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband, semi-feral toddlers, two dogs, and one cat.

 

ARC Review: Unlock the Dark by Sasa Hawk

 

Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer and Lexi Ryan, this debut romantasy stand-alone novel blends an immersive world, unique magic system, and swoon-worthy romance to create an unputdownable read that explores the great and terrible lengths to which love compels us to go.

Elia Tallis’s key conjuring abilities, when used with her father’s magic, allow her to open a path to any location. But Papa is dying, and Elia has been forced to painfully tether him to life so she can siphon his magic to provide for her siblings. The god of death, angry to be denied his due, punishes her by claiming her youngest brother as a servant.

Desperate to save her brother, Elia accepts a potentially deadly commission from Trys, a kindhearted prince with his nose stuck in a book. Trys wants Elia to help him find a legendary scroll. In exchange, he’ll give her his hand in marriage, securing her and her siblings’ futures and allowing her to release Papa to the afterlife.

Despite the danger of their quest, Elia and Trys find themselves increasingly drawn to each other. But when Trys finally reads the scroll, it transforms him into a monster beyond comprehension. Elia will have to wield her power in ways she never thought possible, braving a world of endless darkness and the nightmares dwelling within it to bring home the prince she’s growing to love.

Title: Unlock the Dark

Author: Sasa Hawk

Publisher: Storytide/Harper Collins

Expected Publication Date: February 25, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Edelweiss and Storytide (Harper Collins) for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

You don't find a lot of stand alone fantasy books. I know it's hard to build a world and bring the story full circle in only one book. I have to say Hawk did a fairly good job with it. Though I could definitely see where this could have been at least two books, maybe more.

The world Hawk creates is unique and intoxicating. She builds the world easily without holes considering the time constraint of it being just one book. I would love to see more stories in this world even if they are novellas. I'd also love to see the other kingdoms. We had a glimpse of one outside of the main kingdom but not enough. It would be amazing to see a follow up with the characters in that world and see how they heal it! The magic system in this one is unique. It was nice to see the magic could manifest itself in anyone, not just those of a specific position. 

Elia was an interesting character. I honestly think she felt younger than her 18/19 years of age. This was mostly due to her recklessness. She is definitely an act before you think kind of character which bites her more times than not. But she's feisty, smart, and witty and that made me feel a kinship with her. I wish we would have seen her stretch her magical boundaries just a bit more. Her relationship with her sister and brothers was done very well. And her found family was also a great support. I really liked the interactions we did see with them. You can feel her love and protection for them. It would be fun to follow their stories, as well. 

Trys was not as fleshed out as I would have liked. I know that's harder when you only have one point of view, and with the fact that he spent a good amount of the book not being able to talk. I would have loved more background on him besides being told he is the 9th prince. His development was lacking for me though I did like him from what I was given.

I definitely felt an emotional attachment to theses characters. I enjoyed the romance, though it was a bit too insta-love for me and I would have liked to see the FMC and MMC spend just a bit more time together, learning each other, before they fell for each other. I think the fact that the book stands alone limited this a lot. It felt a bit rushed as the author only truly had a short time to bring them together.

I think the plot was interesting but it truly felt like totally different stories. One part takes place in Elia's homeland and the other in a dark battlefield. It made for a little of a disconnect in the story. This is where I feel like a duaology would have done this book justice. Because this was just one book, the pacing felt a bit rushed to me. I did love the different monsters Hawk presented to us, though. They were very interesting though I would have liked to see more of the lore attached to them so we could understand how they might fit into the magic system.

I am not sure I would classify this as a romantasy. Yes, there is a romantic aspect, but the plot truly focuses on something else and that overshadows the actual romance that is happening. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Hawk's writing was incredibly easy to read and her descriptiveness was great. I am looking forward to more stories from her in the future.

Author:

Sasa Hawk lives in Tennessee with her husband, three toddlers, and mountains of books. When she isn’t writing or running after her children, you can find her nose-deep in a good story, working in the garden, or watching anime and Marvel shows. Unlock the Dark is her debut novel.

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ARC Review: All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom #3) by Tahereh Mafi

 

The highly anticipated third novel in the This Woven Kingdom series, full of explosive magic, searing romance, and heartbreaking betrayal, from the award-winning and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, and Tomi Adeyemi.

As the long-lost heir to the Jinn throne, Alizeh has finally found her people—and she might’ve found her crown. Cyrus, the mercurial ruler of Tulan, has offered her his kingdom in a twisted exchange: one that would begin with their marriage and end with his murder.

Cyrus’s dark reputation precedes him; all the world knows of his blood-soaked past. Killing him should be easy—and accepting his offer might be the only way to fulfill her destiny and save her people. But the more Alizeh learns of him, the more she questions whether the terrible stories about him are true.

Ensnared by secrets, Cyrus has ached for Alizeh since she first appeared in his dreams many months ago. Now that he knows those visions were planted by the devil, he can hardly bear to look at her—much less endure her company. But despite their best efforts to despise each other, Alizeh and Cyrus are drawn together over and over with an all-consuming thirst that threatens to destroy them both.

Meanwhile, Prince Kamran has arrived in Tulan, ready to exact revenge…

Layered with exquisite tension and heart-stopping romance, All This Twisted Glory is the explosive third book in the captivating, bestselling This Woven Kingdom series.

Title: All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom #3)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: Harper Collins

Expected Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for providing me with a digital copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Picking up from the cliffhanger that was These Infinite Threads, we continue to follow Cyrus, Alizeh, and Kamran as they fight for their empires.

To say this is one of my most anticipated books for 2024 is an understatement. I was so excited to see it pop up for review, but also hesitant because I didn't want it to end. So I waited a bit to read once I had it and I'm kind of glad I did because...

Right away I'm going to say I had NO CLUE this was not the end of the series! I guess I just have missed that announcement from Mafi. I was so excited to read this, thinking I'd get a great conclusion and then Mafi went and made THAT ENDING and now I am going to be chomping at the bit for the next book. There's gonna be a next one, right? Because with that ending, it's impossible for there not to be!

Let's talk about how I could not put this book down. I wasn't sure Mafi could take me there, as she did with the first two books, but she did. And I had to close the book several times to catch my breath and allow my heart to slow down. The pacing is perfect. That being said, no one can read this without the first two books. This is definitely a series and you need all the background.

This story follows much more of Cyrus and I like it. I need to learn all about him. I need to know ALL his secrets. And yet, we're still kept in the dark, anticipating him telling everyone why he's "evil" - SPOILER obviously there is much more depth to him than we know about at this point. I love his addiction to Alizeh. And I say addiction because he really is quite obsessed with her. And Alizeh, she just wants to understand him. And despite his kidnapping her (yes, spoiler from book #2, sorry but IYKYK), she feels a pull to him she cannot explain. Kamran, well, he's kind of gotten annoying. Like, does he actually love Alizeh, or is she just a prize for him? And Hazan, I'm not even sure what to think. He's definitely got some feelings for Alizeh though I'm not sure if they are simply a dedication to his queen or more. And the side characters continue to grow and I love them all: Huda, Omid, Deen, give me all the supporting characters!

Mafi's writing is spectacularly lyrical. I don't know how she does it! She draws the reader in and makes them not want to tear their eyes from the page. There's not one moment when her writing doesn't flow well. Or a moment when I don't want to read more and just hope beyond hope she'll give me what I need.

There's one chapter where Cyrus is dreaming and on my gosh it is exquisite how Mafi writes it. The tension you feel and the longing and wanting. I don't want to spoil that too much but let's just say it had me squirming quite a bit for a YA book. Mafi definitely takes this book a little further with the sexual tension than she has in the previous two books.

And that ending? WHAT? Honestly, I was reading and waiting for a wrap up. Then I was suddenly 90% into the book and realizing there was zero chance it was wrapping up and I was going to be left gutted at the end! I'm putting Mafi in the queen of cliffhanger endings. And I don't even see a fourth book announced or a cover or ANYTHING! How will I live with this? But WOW, Alizeh, she's gonna be badass in the next book, that's all I can say!

I will mention the cover because it's just gorgeous (just as all the covers are with this series) and I really hope they keep them because they are perfect!

There are zero things I dislike about this book. I give it ALL the stars <---see what I did there? Bring on more of this story with an endgame I'm going to love.

Author:

tahereh mafi

is the #1 New York Times bestselling, #1 international bestselling, and National Book Award-nominated author of over a dozen novels. Best known for the Shatter Me series, her books have sold millions of copies, and have been translated into over thirty languages. Her first contemporary novel, A Very Large Expanse of Sea, was named by Time magazine as one of “the best YA books of all time”, and is in development for film with Levantine Films. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband, fellow author Ransom Riggs, and their daughter. Her most recent novel, the second book in a new fantasy series, These Infinite Threads, is on shelves now.

Her work is represented by Jodi Reamer of Writers House, LLC.

ARC Review: My Contrary Mary (Mary #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

 

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?⠀
⠀
Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she's a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It's a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.⠀
⠀
Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But after the king meets a suspicious end, things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis are forced to navigate a viper's nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary's secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

Expected Publication Date: June 22, 2021

Publisher: HarperTeen

My Review:

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I picked up this book because of the authors. I have read books by all three and was excited to jump into something they wrote together. I also love the story of Mary Queen of Scots (I mean, REIGN), so I figured this would be something I would enjoy.

First off I'd like to point out that I have not read any of the Lady Jane books. In my opinion while  most of the story in this book does stand alone, I saw many spots where having read the Lady Jane books would have given me more background and made it easier to understand some things that were happening in the book.

I loved the idea of many points of view. It was fun to the read the story from the three different characters (Mary, Francis, and Ari). Each character was unique in how they viewed the world around them. 

I will say this book comes off to me as much more upper middle grade than YA. The characters, while teenagers, are very simple in their views of the world around them. They do not appear mature as 17 year old teens might. Maybe I've read too much YA where the teens are more mature than they really should be. But having a 17 year old myself, I think I can with confidence say these characters acted more like my 14 year old.

I did find the pace a bit slow at times. The last 25% was fun and certainly picked up but that is kind of long to wait for things to really happen.

The romance in the book was cute. I liked that we got more than just Mary and Francis with the addition of Ari's perspective. And that the book addressed a relationship what wasn't just male/female in nature. 

Overall it was a fun read, though I didn't find myself running to pick it up and read it and it took a bit longer for me to finish than I anticipated. 

I definitely recommend this for middle school to young HS students as a fun read that will take you back to Renaissance France.

Authors:

I write books. I snuggle cats. I drink coffee.

Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy, the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology, and the FALLEN ISLES Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of the New York Times bestsellers MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE (HarperTeen). She lives in rural Virginia. Visit her at www.jodimeadows.com

I write Young Adult novels. I eat cinnamon bears. I love me some Diet Coke.

My debut book EVERNEATH (the first in a trilogy) comes out Winter 2012 with Balzer and Bray (Harper Collins).
I'm represented by Michael Bourret at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, I grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, “So, which mythological character do you most resemble?” Despite these social shortcomings, I found a great husband who’s always my first reader. We live in Utah with our two young boys, who still have no idea why I'm at the computer all the time.

I received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the UNEARTHLY trilogy, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, MY LADY JANE, MY PLAIN JANE, and MY CALAMITY JANE (with fellow authors Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows), THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE, THE HOW AND THE WHY and the upcoming novels WITH YOU ALL THE WAY and MY CONTRARY MARY (also with Ashton and Meadows). Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, two cats, one crazy dog, two kids, and mountain of books.