Nocturnal Book Reviews

Suddenly Psychic by Elizabeth Hunter (Glimmer Lake #1)

review copy courtesy of the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
Every woman goes through changes in their forties.
Just not… these changes.

Robin Brannon was a normal wife, mom, and antique shop owner until a brush with death turned her day-to-day life upside down. Now she and her two best friends are seeing things that belong in a fantasy novel. Ghosts. Visions. Omens of doom. Nothing that belongs in the peaceful mountain town they call home.

Added to that, Robin’s marriage is on the rocks, her grandmother’s health is failing, her mother is driving away the customers at her shop, her teenage daughter refuses to get her drivers’ license, and her left knee aches every darn morning.

Robin doesn’t have the time, energy, or knees to unearth the secrets buried at the bottom of Glimmer Lake, but fate doesn’t seem to care. Some secrets are just dying to be exposed.

Suddenly Psychic is a stand-alone paranormal women’s fiction, and the first book in the Glimmer Lake series by USA Today Bestseller, Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.

Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK

8.5/10

 If you can describe this book with one word, you'd use the word "enchanting".There is something about it, cosy, mysterious, secret, atmospheric and hidden that just kept pulling my strings.

It actually reminded me of one of the first paranormal books I've ever read - Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts from Three Sisters Island series. It's got that secluded, shut from the world, disconnected from the outsiders feel to it.

Hello, my lovely readers!
I am sorry it's been so long since I've last written on this blog. Farming took over every aspect of our life and consumed us both. I hardly have time to read and even less time to review. I am very sorry for the silence again.

What I wanted to share with you is my last 5 finds in Drama world before I kickstart my reviewing again, because they have been absolutely delightful.

Are you ready? Here you go!

Number One is COFFEE PRINCE.

I know, I know! I am late with my appreciation, as it came out in 2007 but guys, this is seriously good.

It has one of my favourite tropes in romance - cross-dressing. The girl looks like a boy, boy falls for the girl, questions his sexuality, fights the attraction, gives in and decides to love the person no matter the gender, and it ends with happy for now like most Korean dramas. Classic romantic angst and a lot of tension. I could eat it with a spoon.

Number Two is RADIO ROMANCE.

Filmed in 2018 this is another classic trope.

The hero is ice cold and emotionally stunted, but a warm, passionate heroine thaws him out. He is a famous actor who is scouted by her to become a DJ on the radio. What she doesn't realise is that she is his childhood sweetheart and he still has feelings for her which come out in a very childish way by the way (see, emotionally stunted).

This is a really warmhearted and sweet TV series, and it'll definitely be a good mood enhancer if you are feeling a bit down.






Number Three is CHEESE IN THE TRAP.

Oh My God, this was total catnip.

The hero is an absolute antihero. A great manipulator with a good, popular boy attitude and a creepy smile. The heroine has always seen through him and kept way away until she got accused of doing something he did and snapped back at him.

Then he gets obsessed with her and tries not only to woo her but help her when she continuously gets into trouble. Only his manner of solving problems comes out wrong again and again and hurts her even more.

It's twisted and they are both very odd ducks, but their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the ambiguous ending. Honestly, if you decide to watch one thing out of this list, watch this one, and then tell me what you think.

Number Four is MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND, MR.OH.

Sweet and touching and hits close to home.

Basically, it's about a man living in remote countryside in seclusion and his complete opposite, a dynamic career woman from Seol.

Through the weirdest twist of fate, they are put together and walk into a fake marriage to save the woman from a killer who targeted her as a single woman.

Yeah, I know how it sounds, but believe me, it works. It takes a lot to make their relationship work, and they both change through it in the loveliest way. I adored this tv series, it was such a feel-good storyline.

Number Five is NAGI'S LONG VACATION.

Japanese TV has been the hardest to process so far, but this little gem convinced me to give it ago.

It's so odd, self-searching and awkwardly lovely, it reminded me of Penny Reid books.

All these pent up feelings! My god, how these people haven't burst yet?! It's clever and the acting is fabulous, plus everyone learns something about themselves at the end and conquers their fears.

Definitely, not for everyone, but recommended nevertheless.

And that's it for now.

Any good tv series you've been watching recently?

Night's Reckoning by Elizabeth Hunter (Elemental Legacy #3)

ecopy thanks to the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
Darkness comes for everyone, and some fates are inescapable.

For over a thousand years, the legendary sword Laylat al Hisab—the Night’s Reckoning—has been lost in the waters of the East China Sea. Forged as a peace offering between two ancient vampires, the sword has eluded treasure hunters, human and immortal alike.

But in time, even the deep gives up its secrets.

When Tenzin’s sire hears about the eighth century shipwreck found off the coast of southern China, Zhang realizes he’ll need the help of an upstart pirate from Shanghai to retrieve it. And since that pirate has no desire to be in the middle of an ancient war, Cheng calls the only allies who might be able to help him avoid it.

Unfortunately, Tenzin is on one side of the globe and Ben is on the other.

Tenzin knows she’ll need Ben’s keen mind and political skills to complete the job. She also knows gaining Ben’s cooperation won’t be an easy task. She’ll have to drag him back into the darkness he’s been avoiding.

Whether Ben knows it or not, his fate is balanced on the edge of a thousand-year-old blade, and one stumble could break everything Tenzin has worked toward.

Night’s Reckoning is the third novel in the Elemental Legacy series, a paranormal mystery by Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Mysteries.

Amazon US/UK 

Release date: Nov 26th 2019.

9/10

 What a bittersweet, beautiful book! I was all misty-eyed. 

Ben and Tenzin were shining so brightly here! Ben, going through his evolution of love and self. Tenzin, finally accepting the profound changes he carved into her. It was poignant.

Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik (Consortium Rebellion #1)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads
A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.

In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .

Amazon kindle US | UK | Audible US/UK

9/10

Dark Matters by Michelle Diener (Class 5 #4)

ecopy thanks to the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
 DARK MATTERS . . . taking matters into her own hands

A time bomb, waiting to go off . . .

Lucy Harris is on the run, not sure where she can turn to for help, or if help is even available. But even as her abductors chase her down, she realizes they don't just want to recapture her, they want to erase her.

When your very existence puts a planet at the risk of war, there's no choice but to do everything in your power to stay out of your enemies hands.

A predator . . . waiting for the chance to pounce

The powerful AI battleship, Bane, is accompanying the United Council envoy to Tecra to mete out the punishment the Tecrans have earned for breaking UC law. He revels in the power he's about to have over his old masters. But his mission isn't only to rain down retribution on the people who kept him chained for years, he's also looking for a human woman his fellow Class 5 thinking system mentioned in the final seconds of his life. Paxe admitted to taking Lucy Harris from Earth, and Bane has been looking for her ever since.

A warrior conflicted . . .

Commander Dray Helvan thinks the Grih made a mistake in not pushing for war with the Tecran, but he's had to accept the compromise, that he and the other envoys from the United Council will go to Tecra and dismantle its military from the top down. His mission is not one of his choosing, but when he and his team arrive, he's handed a very different job. While he distrusts Bane on principle, when the thinking system tells him there's a woman running for her life on the planet below, he will do whatever he has to to see her safe. And if that means war for Tecra, well, then it means war.

This is book 4 in the award-winning Class 5 series.

Amazon kindle US/UK

8.5/10

 Never mind. He would experience karma. She would make sure of it.
She would be karma's handmaiden.

I loved this book, folks!

I actually enjoyed this whole series immensely, and can't recommend it enough for the fans of all things space opera and technology. It's easy, it's a fast read and as usual with Michelle's books, it portrays a strong, admirable, resourceful and determined heroine kicking butt with gusto. 

The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken (The Scarred Earth Saga #1)

bought on audio

Synopsis from Goodreads
When a prophesy brings war to the Land of the Black Hills, Keeley Smythe must join forces with a clan of mountain warriors who are really centaurs in a thrilling new fantasy romance series from New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken.  
The Old King Is Dead
 
With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophesy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.

Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …

Amazon kindle US/UK | Audible US/UK

* * *

“You have a trebuchet?” Caid asked . . . because he couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Mum made it. She gets bored when she’s pregnant.”  

If The Blacksmith Queen were a movie it would have been directed by Taika Waititi. Because when I think of  Keeley Smythe, all that comes to mind is Thor: Ragnarok. Deadpan humour at its finest.

Gilded by Christina Farley (Gilded #1)

bought on audio

Synopsis from Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

Amazon kindle US/UK | Audible US/UK

8/10

 I had this book on my kindle for ages and finally got to it by buying an audio companion to listen to instead. And, my dear ladies and gents, it was a delight.

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (Hidden Legacy #4)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository

9/10

 You know what happened to me after finishing Sapphire Flames, folks? Like any other self-respecting fan of Ilona Andrews, I went back and re-read the whole series! Tell me, you somehow had the willpower not to do the same? *grinning*

Go Go Squid (2019)

Episodes: 41
Status: Completed

Synopsis from MyDramaList
A cute romance between an adorable singer who develops a crush on a guy that she is too scared to approach, he is a genius in the field of computer engineering and a legend in the world of professional gaming.
It is late evening when Han Shang Yan walks into an internet cafe. While helping her cousin watch the shop, Tong Nian catches a glimpse of Han Shang Yan and immediately falls for him. She is usually brave, outgoing and has tens of thousands of followers from singing covers online, but she fumbles whenever she encounters him.
She is used to interviews, but can't even utter a word when speaking to him. He is cold, hard to reach and not the type of guy to be interested in girls, but Tong Nian's unique personality and her persistent ways to get close to him begin to catch his attention.

9/10

This was an absolute cuteness overload for me, peeps! The closest I can compare it with is Penny Reid's Elements of Chemistry series. It's geeky and adorable and very addictive.

Grit byElizabeth Hunter (7th and Main #3)

ecopy thanks to the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
He’s been patient; she’s been busy.
Patience is running out.

Melissa Oxford is a widow with a ranch, an orange grove, a goat-obsessed ten-year-old, and not enough time. She doesn’t have time to make friends. She doesn’t have time to stop and chat, and she definitely does not have time for a boyfriend.
Which is fine, because Cary Nakamura is far from being a boy. Cary’s the man who helped Melissa plant her trees. The friend who keeps offering advice, even when she’s is too stubborn to take it.
He’s also the man who kissed Melissa in broad daylight on a sidewalk in Metlin, California, smack in the face of God and everyone.
But while Melissa may spend a little too long dreaming about Cary from a distance, she knows the kind of passion he promises is more than she can handle.
She just doesn’t have the time.
But sometimes, no matter how busy you are, life makes you stop. It pulls you up short and makes you see things a little more clearly. Things like…
The people you can count on.
The dreams you keep pushing away.
And the passion that can’t be denied.
GRIT is a stand-alone, friends-to-lovers romance in the Love Stories on 7th and Main series by Elizabeth Hunter, author of INK.

Release date: Sept 3rd, 2019.

Amazon kindle US/UK

 Grit is my favourite book in the series, peeps. Perhaps, because it involves farmers, goats and orange groves. Perhaps, it's the characters I can relate to the most.