Sophie Reads YA

2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Wild Savage Stars (Sweet Black Waves #2) by Kristina Pérez

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Wild Savage Stars
Series: Sweet Black Waves #2
Author: Kristina Pérez
Published August 27th 2019 by Imprint

Goodreads Synopsis
Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Iseult, Wild Savage Stars is the spellbinding sequel to Sweet Black Waves.

Branwen has a secret powerful enough to destroy two kingdoms.

Her ancient magic led to a terrible betrayal by both her best friend, the princess Essy, and her first love, Tristan. Now this same magic is changing Branwen. Adrift in a rival court, Branwen must hide the truth from the enemy king by protecting the lovers who broke her heart―and finds herself considering a darker path.

Not everyone wants the alliance with Branwen’s kingdom to succeed―peace is balanced on a knife’s edge, and her only chance may be to embrace the darkness within…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Following on from the dramatic climax of Sweet Black Waves, Branwen and co have now landed in Kernyv, and Eseult is preparing to marry King Marc. Because of Eseult and Tristan's betrayal on board the ship, Branwen has to work extra hard to ensure that no one discovers what happened, and protect the tentative peace between their two nations. Meeting the Kernyv royal family, from King Marc, to the Dowager Queen Verica, to Princes' Ruan and Andred, Branwen finds both friends and enemies. With her magic developing and changing the longer she is in the kingdom, she is really struggling to come to terms with her own heartbreak, and hatred. With all the strings that Branwen is trying to control, will she manage to do so without hurting herself, or worse, her kingdoms?

When I read Sweet Black Waves back in October, I enjoyed the book, but found myself hating some of the characters, and not loving it. Now, we have numerous new characters, and I, for the most part, loved this book. Okay, Eseult was still a spoilt brat, if not more so, and I don't think she'll ever redeem herself in my eyes. Everything that Branwen was doing was for her, and she threw in back in her face, again and again. All moony-eyed over Tristan, making it plainly obvious to all that the True Queen did not love the True King, but rather the prince she had manoeuvred into being her own Champion, and not particularly caring what the fall out would be. Tristan just went along with it all, and even though he had the decency to acknowledge how he had hurt Branwen, he continued to be with Eseult as much as he could, helping to cement Branwen's pain, and making it more dangerous for them all. Branwen has improved so much and continued to develop throughout this book that I can't even imagine how wonderful she will be at the end of the next book! He strengths and vulnerabilities were on show again and again, and I loved seeing her find her feet in Kernyv, and truly come into her own!

King Marc, considering he was the person in charge of the kingdom that had terrorised Iveriu for so long, was a lovely character, and I really felt for him throughout the entire book. He truly believed in the peace, and wanted to be a good husband to Eseult, who treated him like rubbish. He was sweet with Branwen, and their camaraderie was perfect. The new princes, Ruan and Andred, were lovely too. Ruan was a bit pompous when we first meet him, but he cared about his kingdom, and his and Branwen's chemistry was fantastic. Tristan had completely betrayed Branwen, and was never good enough for her but Ruan could just be the person Branwen deserves. His younger brother, Andred, was Marc's cupbearer, who had an interest in healing, and worked as Branwen's apprentice. He was sweet, and showed how much he loved his family and just wanted to do what was right whenever he could to help those he cared about. I'm definitely looking forward to the final book in the series, Bright Raven Skies, and am so glad I continued with the series.

Dates Read:
July 18-21, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Who's That Earl (Love and Let Spy #1) by Susanna Craig

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Who's That Earl
Series: Love and Let Spy #1
Author: Susanna Craig
Published August 18th 2020 by Lyrical Press

Goodreads Synopsis
From rising star Susanna Craig comes an exciting new series filled with high-stakes intrigue and thrilling historical romance...

Will scandalous secrets stand in the way of a second chance at love?

Miss Jane Quayle excels at invention. How else could the sheltered daughter of an English gentleman create lurid gothic novels so infamous someone wants their author silenced forever? Fortunately, Jane has taken steps to protect herself, first by assuming a pen name, and second, by taking up residence at remote Dunnock Castle, surrounded by rugged scenery that might have been ripped from the pages of one of her books. Her true identity remains a secret, until one dark and stormy night...

After years of spying for the British army, Thomas Sutherland doubts the Highlands will ever feel like home again. Nevertheless, thanks to a quirk of Scottish inheritance law, he's now the Earl of Magnus, complete with a crumbling castle currently inhabited by a notorious novelist. When the writer turns out to be the woman Thomas once wooed, suspicions rise even as mutual sparks reignite. As danger closes in, can Jane and Thomas overcome their pasts to forge a future together?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Seven years ago, Jane Quayle and Thomas Sutherland met and fell in love. Fate intervened and they were both separated but hadn't stopped thinking of each other. Now in very different places, they could never expect to meet again, but in the remote Scottish Highlands, at Dunnock Castle, they do. Jane has reinvented herself as the widowed Mrs Higginbotham, and secretary for the allusive Robin Ratliff, who's Gothic novels have taken the country by storm, but have also brought threats. The main secret Jane is keeping though, is the fact that she is in fact Ratliff, and has been writing under a pseudonym since her parents kicked her out at 17. She's been living in Dunnock Castle for the past few years, but her landlord, the former Earl of Magnus, recently died, and it seems as if his heir might not renew the lease, and kick her out. Thomas has been in the West Indies for years as a member of the British Army, but is recalled home when it's apparent that he has inherited the title of Magnus, through his late mother. He loves the Highlands, but can't reconcile himself now the person he once was. He arrives at his family seat at Dunnock, and is overwhelmed when he sees Jane is there. Thomas fabricates the idea that he is there for her protection, due to the threats being made against Ratcliff, and keeps his title a secret. Both have their own issues and concerns, but once they are back together, their old feelings and chemistry is undeniable, and it's inevitable for them to fight it any longer.

I just loved this book so much! I knew as soon as I saw the synopsis on NG that I would need to read it, and as soon as I was approved I put everything to one side and started it straight away. I fell in love with Jane as soon as I met her, and was intrigued by Thomas' back story, and wanted to know more about his life split between summers in Scotland and his time in England. Their characters were fully three dimensional, and so engaging that I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could. And when they were together, it was even better. Their banter and playful energy was infectious and every man and their dog - including Athena and Aphrodite - were rooting for the couple. The mystery and Gothic aspect of the book from Jane's books and who was out to get her was a nice interlude too, so the book was wholly about the romance - though that wouldn't have been a bad thing really. Jane and Thomas really grew over the course of the story, and the way they slowly let down their walls and sought out the other when times were hard was fantastic. I hope that in the next book in this series we'll see more of them too.

Dates Read:

May 12, 2020

Rating
5 Stars

ARC August

ARC August update: 9th August 2020

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August

Stacking the Shelves: August 8th 2020

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Wicked and the Wallflower (The Bareknuckle Bastards #1) by Sarah MacLean

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Wicked and the Wallflower
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #1
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published June 19th 2018 by Piatkus Books

Goodreads Synopsis
When Wicked Comes Calling...

When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees—on one condition. She's seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won't accept a marriage without it.

The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain...

Bastard son of a duke and king of London's dark streets, Devil has spent a lifetime wielding power and seizing opportunity, and the spinster wallflower is everything he needs to exact a revenge years in the making. All he must do is turn the plain little mouse into an irresistible temptress, set his trap, and destroy his enemy.

For the Promise of Passion...

But there's nothing plain about Felicity Faircloth, who quickly decides she'd rather have Devil than another. Soon, Devil's carefully laid plans are in chaos, and he must choose between everything he's ever wanted...and the only thing he's ever desired.
Goodreads

Review
I've always heard so much love about Sarah's books, and since I've developed a slight obsession with historical romances, I decided to order her Bareknuckle Bastards series, and see what all the fuss was about.

In Wicked and the Wallflower, Felicity Faircloth is most definitely a spinster. After some disastrous events in recent years, leading to her 'friends' giving her the cut direct, she has somewhat embraced her wallflower status. But when the elusive Duke of Marwick, arrives in London, ready to take a bride, Felicity makes the mistake of claiming they are betrothed. Knowing this will embarrass her family further, especially when her father and brother have lost their fortunes, and they're relying on Felicity marrying well, Felicity can't imagine how this would work out well. Luckily, Devil turns up in her bedroom, climbing the trellis to enter, and promises her that he can help her land the duke, Felicity accepts, but is adamant for a marriage that has passion, and makes a deal with Devil for this. Devil has his own reasons for wanting to 'help'. The duke in question is his brother, Ewan, who he despises, and is desperate to destroy after what he did to the four of them when they were young. Devil, along with brother, Beast, and sort-of sister, Grace, rule Covent Gardens as the Bareknuckle Bastards, and they aren't ones to be crossed lightly. Devil is going to use Felicity to entice Ewan, and then steal her out from under him, but is it really stealing when she's a willing participant?

I just couldn't put this down when it finally arrived. Felicity was the type of character who was unassuming, but who would slowly make you fall for her, just like Devil did. Underneath her wallflower exterior is a fervour ready to burst out, and spending her time in Covent Gardens and with Devil is finally given her an outlet to do so. She has her little bit of fun by picking locks, but her family have never appreciated her, not like how Devil and his gang do. Devil, for all his gruff exterior, is a softy at heart, and he was gone far before he was willing to accept it. Really, from the moment he told the whole rookery that Felicity was his and off limits, it was inevitable for him to be head over heels in love. The two of them together really worked, and helped to bring out the best sides of one another. We saw Felicity grow and realise that the people in her life hadn't really cared about her, just what she could do for them, but Devil was nothing like that, and he has pushing her away for her sake, and not his own. Felicity also made Devil realise that he was better than he thought, and not to think he was wholly irredeemable because of his past. I adore these two, and can't wait to dive into Beast's book, where we'll hopefully see them again!
Dates Read:
May 27, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2020 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Talk Nerdy to Me (Bookish Boyfriends #3) by Tiffany Schmidt

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Talk Nerdy to Me
Series: Bookish Boyfriends #3
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Published May 19th 2020 by Amulet Paperbacks

Goodreads Synopsis
Eliza takes center stage in this swoon-worthy third installment of the Bookish Boyfriends series

Eliza Gordon-Fergus is an expert rule-follower. She has to be; her scientist parents dictate her day-to-day decisions, and forbid her from dating. Which is why she finds Curtis Cavendish maddening. He’s never punished for his class clown antics—and worse, his mischief actually masks brilliance. Like, give-Eliza-a-run-for-valedictorian brilliance.

When Eliza reads Frankenstein for English class, she’s left feeling more like an experiment than a daughter. Curtis agrees to trade her Anne of Green Gables under one condition: She has to beat him at the science fair. Eliza knows they’re supposed to be competing, but the more time they spend together, the more she realizes she’s in over her head. Because one thing’s certain about Curtis: He makes Eliza want to break all the rules.
Goodreads

Review
I have adored the previous two books in this series, and was always intrigued by Eliza, Merri's best friend, so waited somewhat impatiently until I could read her tale. Talk Nerdy to Me see's Eliza struggle with the absence of her Nobel Prize winning parents, who seem to treat her as if she is an experiment herself, what with the rigorous control over what she eats, how she spends her time, and especially about the fact she can not date. Left alone in her home with a revolving group of doctoral students as guardians, she thrives when she spends time with the Campbell's, but with Merri and Rory both being happy, and in love, it's too much. Add to that some 'bad' marks - at least for her - and the need to read Frankenstein for her English class, she's barely keeping her head above water. All that remains is her hatred for class clown Curtis Cavendish, but spending time with him for Academic Bowl, and in order to swap books to Anne of Green Gables, she starts to think that maybe how she has allowed her parents to treat her all these years was wrong, and that she needs to let herself feel, and with Curtis she can do that.

First things first, I absolutely HATED Eliza's parents. They were the worst kind of parents I had ever seen, and Eliza was struggling with so much because of them. She never felt like anything she did was good enough, and had so many hang ups about her appearance, her intelligence, her whole self being, and I just wanted to read into the book and give her a hug. Because she is blonde, beautiful, and with a good figure, Eliza is always judged before someone gets to know her, and they never expect her to be clever - *cough*Bartlett*cough* - or call her Barbie and treat her like a doll who deserves to be stared at or have photos taken off.

One person who treated her differently when they first met was Curtis, who gives everyone a nickname, and immediately got Eliza's back up, and since then she hasn't been able to stand him. Unfortunately, they are in the same friendship group, some of the same classes, and sit together at lunch, so she has had to put up with him since school began. Their chemistry together was undeniable though, but because of Eliza's parents decree that she can't date, she couldn't even consider anything of the type - that is, until she decides to live for herself and not-date Curtis. If you know anything about Anne of Green Gables, either from the books, or shows, these two will remind you so much of Anne and Gilbert! I could not put this one down, and read it in one sitting - it has been so long that a book has kept me up at night because I needed to finish it, but this was it. I adore it, and can't wait for Get a Clue, especially if it is about Win and Huck! Schmidt has knocked it out of the park, once again.

Dates Read:
June 25, 2020

Rating
4 Stars