Blog Tour: Revolve by Bal Khabra

 

“A must-read for sports-romance lovers.”—Elle Kennedy, New York Times bestselling author

The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and hockey player from the USA Today bestselling author of Collide.

Sierra Romanova was an Olympian figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight, with all eyes on her…including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong.

After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s just a bonus.

As the figure skating world awaits Sierra's comeback, she finds herself in need for a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan's a wildcard, Sierra's a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice.

Title: Revolve 

Author: Bal Khabra

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Expected Publication Date: October 14, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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 was really excited for this book. Having been a figure skater when I was younger, I wanted to see how I would connect with Sierra in this book. Though I did not do pair skating, I do understand the strenuous lives of skaters and what they must go through in order to be on top. Plus, I wanted to see how Sierra chose to deal with her PTSD from her accident.

I liked Sierra a lot. She was so much stronger than she gave herself credit for. She had this horrible accident and tried her best to come back from it to try and be on top again. Of course the complication of not having a partner has put her in a terrible position. Enter Dylan Dalton. Yes, he made a mistake and got kicked off the hockey team. But no one knows his internal struggle about his family. When he's given the chance to pair skate with Sierra as a chance to stay on the ice. He takes it. His past with pair skating with his sister made him the perfect candidate.

I enjoyed Dylan and Sierra's relationship. He was so supportive of her. Never letting her think less of herself. Always holding her up when needed. At the same time the banter between them was really fun. And she supported him in return. I do wish there was just a bit more development of their relationship. It seemed a bit quick for me. I would have liked to see a bit more pining. I loved that they could joke around. And, of course, the side characters from the previous books were there to push the story along so well!

I would have liked to see more about Dylan and his sister's performances from the past, just to give a bit more background than being told he used to skate.

There is a lot of mental health rep in this book. I do wish there was more therapy incorporation. Yes, it is possible to be supported by friends and family when going through a struggle, but I know from experience how important it is for therapy to be involved. And the book was a bit longer for my liking than need be for a romance.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I like Khabra's writing. I hope she writes about some of the other characters in the books. I was thinking Kian?

Author:

Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media.

She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.

ARC Review: Human Rites (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #3) by Juno Dawson

 

With Her Majesty’s Royal Coven in shambles and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the sisterhood of friends and witches must find a new way of putting together the pieces if (wo)mankind is to stand a chance, in this final chapter to Juno’s  “irresistible” series (Lana Harper)

Niamh, Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Theo. Five very different witches with one thing in common: they were unwittingly chosen by the dangerously charming Lucifer, the demon king of desire, to fulfil a dark prophecy: Satanis will rise and the daughters of Gaia will fall.

The coven is reunited—but broken. Niamh is back from the dead…but she hasn’t come back alone. Elle mourns a son she never had. Ciara languishes in a prison for witches, and Leonie reels from a very unexpected surprise.

Meanwhile, Lucifer offers fledgling witch Theo a deal: if she helps him, her coven—her family—will be spared. But the magic he asks for will take her out of London—out of time, entirely.

The final confrontation between good and evil in the spectacular conclusion to the saga of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven.

Title: Human Rites (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #3)

Author: Juno Dawson

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: July 1, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking/Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This final book of the series has completely cemented my love for Juno Dawson and her writing. She had some big shoes to fill with me loving her first two books of this series and she did not disappoint. Not only does she write about a diverse community of witches but she infuses so much love and understanding. You definitely have to read at least the first two books in this series prior to this one or you will be totally lost. The novella was a bonus but not necessary to understand the story. It did give some great background, though.

It's hard to review a third book in a series without giving anything away. That being said, Dawson continues to amaze me with her well developed characters and incredible plot line. I loved all the different points of view we got in this book. It made the story so much more immersive.

The pacing in the book was quite fast. There was a ton of action and also some great scenes showing the characters' growth. A lot happens in this book. Sometimes it was tough to keep up. But I loved every second of it. And the emotional journey of the characters was quite something. I laughed, I cried, I did both at the same time. I really didn't want it to end. Dawson's writing is so descriptive. She really shows you what is going on and you feel like you are in the thick of it with the characters.

And while I hoped things would end on a good note, I actually was never sure if this would happen or not. I didn't know which characters we would lose. So many of them wanted to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. And the confrontation between good and evil in this book really gave it that extra punch.

The one thing that confused me a bit were the time jumps. I don't want to get into it, but there is some time travel introduced and, while I usually love time travel, it seemed odd for this series to introduce it in the last book. I feel like I would have understood it better had it been introduced earlier.

I loved the relationships, the pop culture references, and the growth that happened throughout this series. If you love a found family, queer representation, and magic, pick this series up.

Author:

Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times best-selling novelist, screenwriter, podcaster, and a former columnist for Attitude Magazine. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for MEAT MARKET. Her first adult fantasy trilogy HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COVEN launched in 2022, becoming an instant best-seller.

She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. Her TV credits include DOCTOR WHO (2025) and THE BIRTH OF VENUS (2021). An occasional actress and model, Juno had a cameo in the BBC’s I MAY DESTROY YOU (2020), a recurring role in HOLBY CITY (BBC 2021) and was the face of Jecca Cosmetics Play Pots campaign.

With Dylan B Jones, Juno hosts the smash podcast SO I GOT TO THINKING, the UK’s biggest SEX AND THE CITY fan podcast with over two million streams to date.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten, before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed and the Guardian. She has appeared on Pointless Celebrities, BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight.

Juno lives in Brighton. She is a part of the queer cabaret collective known as CLUB SILENCIO. In 2014, Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.

ARC Review: Old Flames And New Fortunes (Moonville #1) by Sarah Hogle

Fibs and squabbles and spells . . . oh my!

A small, magical town tucked away in rural Ohio, Moonville is the perfect place for floral witch Romina Tempest to use the language of flowers to help the hopeful manifest love in their lives. After giving up on her own big romance eleven years ago, at least she can bask in others' happily ever afters.

When the shop’s potential financier shares news of his wedding, Romina jumps at the opportunity to discuss the business . . . even if it means she has to fake-date her chaotic colleague Trevor to get an invitation. But all hell breaks loose when she discovers Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is none other than Alex King: her high school sweetheart. Her greatest love. The boy who broke her heart.

What starts as an innocent misunderstanding becomes a weeklong fake-dating scheme, as Romina quickly finds out she can’t deny her connection with Alex. Caught between her livelihood and her heart, Romina must decide if taking a second chance on first love is worth the risk.

Title: Old Flames And New Fortunes (Moonville #1)

Author: Sarah Hogle

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Review:

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

Provide me with a witch book to make me happy? Check! Make that book a second chance romance with tons of swoon? Check! When I was offered the second in this interconnected series, I was worried I would miss out on something by not reading the first book first. I have yet to read the second book so I can't say if it will make a difference but I can see where knowing the characters for book 2 might become important.

This book started out quite slow for me and was honestly a bit confusing at first with all the characters and the animosity between the FMC and MMC. The transitions from chapter to chapter didn't flow initially and I wasn't sure I would end up liking it. But about halfway through the book all the things clicked and I ended up falling in love not only with the characters but also the town of Moonville. There's something about a small town story that makes my heart super happy. Maybe it's because I grew up in the busy city and love the idea of slowing things down and everyone knowing everyone and looking out for them. This story gave those vibes for sure.

And the second chance romance with him falling and never letting go. Total swoon. 

The FMC, Romina, so unsure of herself in any type of relationship having been burned before. Her heart not totally healing until she allowed herself to morn the loss enough to see it made her a stronger person. I do wish there was more witchiness in the story. It's billed as similar to Sarah Hawley's Glimmer Falls but there is not much paranormal in this story at all. It's more about intentions and the connections people have with nature. About how those connections lead us to certain places or people.

The MMC, Alex, was great. I loved how he had no qualms about making his intentions know to Romina, even if she didn't catch on at first. 

I will say the FMC and MMC didn't come off as being in their 30s. I really got more of a 20s vibe. And their enemies to lovers vibe was a bit choppy. It went from enemies to lovers without much in between and I needed more from that part of their relationship.

The last 25% of the book brought this up to four stars for me. It was very well done and honestly seemed like a different author was writing it. I wish the first part of the book was tighter. And I needed more: more witchy vibes, more about the other characters, more of the small town. I'm looking forward to reading the second book and seeing where the author takes the vibe.

Author:

Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.

 

ARC Review: Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2) by Kate Pearsall

 

A beautifully dark YA set in Appalachia tinged with magic, mystery, murder, and romance. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls! As Caball Hollow slowly recovers after a tumultuous summer, the James family must also come to terms with their own newly revealed secrets.        18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies and no one is who they seem to be. So when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the Forest that surrounds Caball Hollow.       Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?

Title: Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2)

Author: Kate Pearsall

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Expected Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for supplying me with an egalley and finished copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

When this popped up for request I was super excited. The publisher had sent me the first book to read and review and I really enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. So when I saw this I jumped on the chance to get a copy. And then a finished copy showed up in the mail for me and I knew it was meant to be.

If you haven't read the first book in this series, stop here as there may be spoilers in this review with regards to that book. And this book picks up right after the first one ends, so you'd be lost if you didn't read that one first! The world that is established in that book as well as the developed characters can only be understood if you have read these books in order.

After the tumultuous summer the James girls had, things are finally settling down. But the Moth Winged Man, always a myth in Caball Hollow but now made real, is still haunting the area. The myth is definitely a reality. While the first book focuses on Linden and Cole, this book focuses on Rowan and Hadrian.

Rowan James continues to scent lies on people tongues as they tell them. And things are not what they seem when she takes a job to help the forest rangers be on the look out for poachers. She isn't expecting to ever see Hadrian Fitch again but he ends up in her path anyway, flitting between her world and the Otherworld. Together they try to solve the mystery of the slowly dying Bone Tree while navigating their attraction to each other.

It's nice that Pearsall does not simply focus on a romance between Rowan and Hadrian. She builds the world out more than what we saw in the first book and gives the characters the space they ned to grow and develope. At the same time, I do wish there was just a bit more of them in that capacity in this book. You can feel their pull to each other but the scenes aren't really there to back it up.

Pearsall does a great job continuing to build the fantasy world that is within the boundaries of Caball Hollow. I feel like the pacing of this one is a bit slower than the first. There were areas where things dragged for me a bit. But the tension, banter, and mystery made up for it and kept me wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens. One of the things that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was the fact that at some points the story line almost felt disjointed and confusing. I had to turn back pages a few times in order to truly understand what was going on or what had just happened.

Pearsall does a great job with describing the area, though. I've not spent time in this part of the country and I really felt as though I was right there. It was easy to picture the area in my mind.

The ending leaves you seeing there could definitely be a third book if the author chooses, though it does wrap up fairly well. I'm hoping we get to see the stories from the other sisters!

This series would be perfect for people looking for a bit of a spooky read during Halloween season!

Author:

Kate Pearsall developed a love for storytelling at a young age, often spinning tales of magical worlds and exciting adventures with her sisters. When she’s not writing, she can be found willfully indulging her curiosity by disappearing into museums, exploring new places, and becoming deeply submerged into obscure topics that inevitably make their way into future work.

ARC Review: Heir (Heir Duology #1) by Sabaa Tahir

 

Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance.

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

Title: Heir (Heir Dulology #1)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Review:

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest feedback. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Just as some background, I have not read Tahir before. I know this series is somehow connected to An Ember In the Ashes and I'm not sure if I should have read that series first, but I was able to understand this book so I am not sure it's necessary. But I did see it recommended.

I'll start by saying wow, Tahir can write. I don't read a ton of YA these days so if I do I want something that will draw me in and Tahir did that immediately. I was super curious and invested in the story trying to figure out who each of the three POVs were. Yes, THREE POVs, though later in the book Tahir does incorporate two more! I was worried it would be confusing but it was not.  And I can only assume introducing the other two POVs will be integral in the next book of this series.

Tahir builds a fabulous world. A world full of magic and political intrigue as well and romance. I loved the culture the author created. It was very rich and even included language which supported it. Tahir holds nothing back and often keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. She drives the story with a fantastic mix of plot and character development. I often thought of Bardugo's Six of Crows series when I was reading this one (and Bardugo is a favorite author of mine!). There is a great deal of layering in this world with things building on top of each other until finally they come together and it all makes complete sense.

All three main characters, Sirsha, Aiz, and Quil were uniquely done and very well developed. I understood each of their motivations and who they were in relation to the politics surrounding them. Each of their stories was important to what was happening around them and to them. I related to all three, as well. The prince who doesn't want to assume his position. The girl who stole his heart but had an agenda all his own. And the other girl who just wants to save her found family. The rotation of their POVs keeps the story moving and kept me wanting to turn the pages to know more. Each character faces their own demons and challenges and grows from this. 

he one thing I will complain about was the length or the chapters. I prefer shorter chapters for the most part so I don't feel bogged down.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with that bit of a cliffhanger ending.

Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

ARC Review: Bittersweet in the Hollow (Bittersweet in the Hollow #1) by Kate Pearsall

In this beautifully dark and enthralling YA, four sisters with unusual talents investigate a mysterious disappearance in their secluded Appalachian town. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls!

In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions--and a haze of nightmares that suggest there's more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year's events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn't make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what's hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth--about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family--she must question if some secrets are best left buried.

Title: Bittersweet in the Hollow (Bittersweet in the Hollow #1)

Author: Kate Pearsall

Publisher: G.P. Putnam Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House

Expected Publication Date: October 10, 2023

Review:

I want to thank G.P. Putnam Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

It's exciting to read a new witchy book for the fall season. Linden James and her family have lived in Caball Hollow for generations. They are not always well loved by those in town, but are often sought out for their ability to heal. But Linden has things she can't remember after disappearing and being found a year ago during a town festival. And her memories are a key to unlocking a 20 year old mystery and the mystery of her friend's unexpected death.

I really enjoy reading new authors who have a solid grasp of the craft of writing. Pearsall is one such author. I was immediately immersed in her world as she unfolded the scenery, the characters, the town secrets, and so much more. It was truly atmospheric and spooky! Her writing was so easy to read and flowed very well. She easily drew me in with her descriptors and imagery. And the pacing she set was truly perfect. The book alternates between the present and past, easily linking the two as we learn the story of the characters. I had a hard time coming to the end a chapter and not wanting to turn the page to the next.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it wasn't one filled with mystery and suspense. Combine with this the witchy powers of the James women and it makes for a very interesting tale, indeed. Each woman possessing a different power creating a world of magical realism. Linden's power in particular made much of the story come alive: she can taste emotions. Imagine being able to sense how others are feeling this way, and to know who they truly are just by taste alone! I enjoyed the character building for each of the sisters: Linden, Junipar, Sorell, and Rowan. Plus we get a look at the mother, grandmother, father, and love interest, Cole.

Pearsall did a nice job with the development of each and created very distinct characters.

I'm not really familiar with West Virginia so learning about the national forest and the local myth/legend of The Moth Winged man was fun. Also a little creepy. But to find out this folklore is steeped in something that may just be true is another realm entirely. I don't want to get into the specifics because I don't want to spoil things in the book but suffice it to say there's more to this legend than the stories have shown.

I enjoyed the romance in the book. It is in no way a central part of the book but it does lend an important aspect. It's sweet and timid and a bit shy. But it's palpable and does give a nice undercurrent to the book's plot. I would have liked to see a bit more about Linden and Cole, maybe some flashbacks to solidify the romantic relationship between the two. I think that would have given a better understanding of how their years long rift was important to their story.

Pearsall does a wonderful job with the mystery. She slowly builds the plot and reveals things you just do not see coming. Did i have my thoughts, I sure did. Were they right, yes and no. I'm glad I didn't figure out the whodoneit because it made the book's enjoy that much more enjoyable.

And if I can point out how gorgeous the cover is. I do hope they might come out with a special edition. It would look beautiful with an colored writing on the hard back part and stenciled edges!

The book does wrap up at the end, so I'm interested to see what Pearsall actually has planned for the second book in this fast paced YA fantasy that leads you on a trail of twists and turns sure to keep you on the edge or your seat.

Author: 

Kate Pearsall developed a love for storytelling at a young age, often spinning tales of magical worlds and exciting adventures with her sisters. When she’s not writing, she can be found willfully indulging her curiosity by disappearing into museums, exploring new places, and becoming deeply submerged into obscure topics that inevitably make their way into future work.

 

 

ARC Review: Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installment of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.

If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.

At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls--Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle--took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she's a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena perceives as the deepest betrayal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora. And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities has been captured by authorities and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right.

Juno Dawson explores gender and the corrupting nature of power in a delightful and provocative story of magic and matriarchy, friendship and feminism. Dealing with all the aspects of contemporary womanhood, as well as being phenomenally powerful witches, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may have grown apart but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven.

Title: Her Majesty's Royal Coven
Author: Juno Dawnson
Publisher: Penguin Books

Expected Publication Date: May 31, 2002

Review: 

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Books and NetGalley for approving me to read this ebook and offer my honest opinion.

This is my second Juno Dawson book. I read my first one last year and adored it. I love her writing because it flows well but more than that I adore the wit she weaves into her stories. Plus, who doesn't love a good modern witch story with characters who are good and bad, fun banter between friends, and a tense story line that has you hanging on to your seat until it's done?

I will say at the beginning I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story. I'm not sure if it is because I'm not British or I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. I also felt a bit like this was not the first book about this coven. The beginning made it feel like there was a back story I had missed. I want to chock this up to poor world building in a book that is a modern fantasy. It made it hard to understand where the characters were coming from.

Once I got about 30% into the book, the story took better shape, despite the absence of world building.

The four points of view really helped to solidify the different type of witches these ladies truly are. It helped you to solidify a dislike for one of the characters in particular, which I know was how the author wanted to present her in the story. You were meant to totally dislike her up until the very end. The other three witches are absolutely wonderful to get to know.

This book definitely brings forth many societal issues. The author presents them directly, in a no bones type of way. Completely straight to the point without holding back. It made the impact of these issues more relatable and understandable. She did a good job pointing out the discrimination that occurs as a result of the different lifestyles people lead. I do wish she would have chosen one issue to focus on as having so many made the book feel forced in nature.

Overall, it's obvious the author had one idea in mind for this book: tear down "norms" because they no longer exist as many have always thought they were. But I think she could have done a better job incorporating some world building to help set the tone a bit better.

About the author:

Queen of Teen 2014 Juno Dawson is the multi award-winning author of six novels for young adults. In 2016, she authored the best-selling World Book Day title: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.

Her next novel is the beautiful and emotive MARGOT & ME (Jan 2017) which will be followed by her adult debut, the memoir THE GENDER GAMES (Jul 17).

Juno also wrote the bestselling non-fiction guide to life for young LGBT people, THIS BOOK IS GAY. In 2016 a follow-up, MIND YOUR HEAD, featured everything a young person needs to know about mental health.

Juno is a regular contributor to Attitude Magazine, Glamour Magazine and The Guardian and has contributed to news items on BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight concerning sexuality, identity, literature and education.

Juno’s titles have received rave reviews and have been translated into more than ten languages around the world.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. In 2015, Juno announced her intention to undergo gender transition and live as a woman.

Juno writes full time and lives in Brighton. In her spare time, she STILL loves Doctor Who and is a keen follower of horror films and connoisseur of pop music. In 2014 Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.

ARC Review: Focus On Me (In Focus #2) by Megan Erickson @MeganErickson_

Colin Hartman can now add college to his list of failures. On the coast-to-coast trek home from California, Colin stops at a gas station in the Nevada desert, and can’t help noticing the guy in tight jeans looking like he just stepped off a catwalk. When he realizes Catwalk is stranded, Colin offers a ride.

Riley only intended to take a short ride in Colin’s Jeep to the Grand Canyon. But one detour leads to another until they finally find themselves tumbling into bed together. However there are shadows in Riley’s eyes that hide a troubled past. And when those shadows threaten to bury the man whom Colin has fallen in love with, he vows to get Riley the help he needs. For once in his life, quitting isn’t an option…

Title: Focus On Me (In Focus #2)
Author: Megan Erickson
Publisher: Intermix
Publication Date: July 21, 2015

Brooke's Review:

I want to thank Intermix for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

I am a true fan of Erickson. I loved her Bowler series. And I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Trust the Focus. So given the opportunity to read about another of her smexy couples, I jumped on it. And I was not disappointed.

This book was sweet and at the same time addresses issues that are so much more prominent in society than most think.

I really love Colin. He's sweet and he's focused. He knows what he can and can't do, and college is one of those can't dos. He sees himself as a quitter, but deep down he wants to find that one thing that he sticks with.  When he crosses paths with Riley at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere, he finds his chance. Riley is everything Colin thinks he can't have. Why would a guy who looks like he's stepped off the catwalk want a Southern boy who can't even finish college? And Riley is running away. He's running away to find something that will make him feel again. Everything he tries seems to fail him, except for Colin.

This story touches on mental illness and eating disorders, things that are not necessarily easy to deal with. And yet Colin wants to stick with Riley and help him through whatever hard times he is to endure, because that's what you do for those you love.

I will say the romance was a bit quick for me in this book. I felt like the characters really needed to get to know each other better. In the short time they spent together. I did like how their secrets were revealed to each other, although Colin was much more open about who he was than Riley. There was quite a bit of angst in the book, with both guys doubting that the other could love them back the same way.

The theme through this book: Unconditional Love. And you feel it. You see it with Colin and his sibling. You see it with Riley's parents. And you see it with how Colin devotes himself totally to Riley.

If you were a fan of Megan's first book in this series, or are a fan of her writing in general, you will not be disappointed with this love story.

Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction. 

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.

For more, visit meganerickson.org

ARC Review: Trust the Focus (In Focus #1) by Megan Erickson @MeganErickson_

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

Title: Trust the Focus (In Focus #1)
Author: Megan Erickson
Publisher: Intermix
Publication Date: February 17, 2015

Brooke's Review:

I want to thank Intermix for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

So, I'm a huge fan of Ericsson's Bowler University series. It's cute and quirky and just plain old fun. When I heard she was publishing another book, I immediately added it to my list. And then when I found out it was a male romance, I got really excited. I haven't ever read a male/male before and I knew Megan would do it right. It didn't disappoint.

I think my favorite thing about a romance, my favorite way to read one, is friends to lovers. And this book does just that. Meet Justin. He's in the closet. And he's in love with his best friend. And he has NO idea how to go about coming our or telling Landry. His life is on a course, which does not include him being gay or him not doing exactly what his mother wants him to do.

I love that Justin has other plans. That he takes the opportunity of one last summer to explore not only his feelings, but what makes him, well, him. We get him from two perspectives, which is also nice. First there's the boy/man who is missing his father. The one who wants to honor him by traveling around the country and visiting the places they were to visit together. Throughout the book I feel Justin's pain at the loss of his father. But I also feel how he comes to some closure, some form of peace by doing these things.

Then there's the Justin that needs to man up and face the fact that he's in love, with his best friend, who has no idea that Justin is gay. And to top it off, he's been holding it in so long, he's scared to tell Landry. But when it finally comes out, sparks fly and the chemistry between the does not disappoint.

I like how Erickson really makes this book about exploration. There are parts that are sad, parts that make you made, but above all parts that show you how finding who you are brings you peace. Her writing is easy and paced well, though I do wish she would have had a bit more build up between the two men. I feel like they kind of crashed together too early and I needed more of the pining. And I never say that!

I will say that Justin stewed a bit too much for my liking. I felt like he was on a bit of a pity me trip. But, at the same time, I totally understood how his dilemma. How his mind was torn in two between being the person he has been put on a path to be and being true to himself.

In the end, he's certainly true to himself. And he's able to even work things out with his mom, which definitely gives the warm and fuzzy feels I am looking for.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first venture into a book about two gay young men who find each other and at the same time find themselves. I'm looking forward to see what Erickson does with her second book in this series.

Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction. 

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.

For more, visit meganerickson.org