Sophie Reads YA: June 2022

June Summary

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Sometime in Summer by Katrina Leno

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Sometime in Summer
Series: None
Author: Katrina Leno
Published June 28th 2022 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Synopsis
From critically acclaimed author Katrina Leno comes a tender love letter to books and summertime, with a touch of magic.

Anna Lucia Bell believes in luck: bad luck. Bad luck made her best friend stop talking to her. Bad luck caused her parents’ divorce. Bad luck is forcing her mother, Miriam, to sell the family’s beloved bookstore. And it is definitely bad luck that Anna seems to be the only person in the world Miriam is unable to recommend a life-changing book.

When Anna finds out that she and her mom are spending two months in a New England seaside town called Rockport, she expects a summer plagued with bad luck too. But Rockport has surprises in store for Anna, including a comet making its first appearance in over twenty years and two new—but familiar—friends.

In what will prove to be the most important summer of her life so far, Anna learns about love, herself, and the magic that an ordinary summer can bring.
Goodreads

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

Finding out that your parents are getting divorced is one thing, but when your mother announces that the family book store is being sold, and you're going away to the East Coast for 2 months during summer, is not the best way to start your birthday. Anna has always believed in luck, and though that 13 was the worst year, but from the get go on her fourteenth birthday, she thinks she's in for worse. But arriving in Rockport hasn't been too bad, nor has making friends with Emmy and Beck either. However, not all is as it appears, and the comet flying overhead may not be the only magical element to her summer.

When I requested this book, I thought it would be a nice summer read, and didn't really expect much more. Well, I was in for a shock. Sometime in Summer was such a quick read, and from the minute we meet Anna, it's clear that she's someone you can't help but like. Okay, she holds grudges a little, but you want to know about her, and learn the truth about what's happening. She can't believe her parents have separated, and are getting divorced, and wishes that they could love each other forever. But wishing on her moonstone ring, under the comet, may have released some magic, and she finds summer is not what she expected at all. I really liked her growth across the book, as she realises that what she might want, is not what everyone else does, and though she sees some situations in one way, it's not always black and white. I guessed the truth behind the 'mystery' quite early on, but it was still enjoyable, and this is a book I can definitely see teens loving this summer! All in all, a really decent YA contemporary read.

Dates Read:
June 3-4, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Katrina Leno:
Katrina Leno was born on the East Coast and currently lives in Los Angeles. She is the author of six critically acclaimed novels: Horrid, You Must Not Miss, Summer of Salt, Everything All at Once, The Lost & Found, and The Half Life of Molly Pierce. Her seventh novel, Sometime in Summer, arrives June 28 2022. She thinks you are just lovely.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Emily Thiede

Waiting on Wednesday: This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1) by Emily Thiede

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty

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Blood and Moonlight
Series: None
Author: Erin Beaty
Published June 28th 2022 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Goodreads Synopsis
In this medieval YA fantasy thriller, an orphan with a secret, magical sight gets caught between a mysterious genius and the serial killer he’s hunting.

Rising above the city of Collis is the holy Sanctum. And watching over its spires is Catrin, an orphan girl with unique skills—for she alone can spot the building’s flaws in construction before they turn deadly.

But when Catrin witnesses a murderer escaping the scene of his crime, she’s pulled into the web of a dangerous man who will definitely strike again. Assigned to capture the culprit is the mysterious, brilliant, and enigmatic Simon, whose insights into the mind of a killer are frighteningly accurate.

As the grisly crimes continue, Catrin finds herself caught between murderer and detective while hiding her own secret—a supernatural sight granted by the moon, destined to make her an outcast, and the only thing that might save her and those she loves from becoming the next victims...
Goodreads

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

For Catrin, she has found herself a position working with the master architect, finding flaws in the construction of the Sanctum that no one else can she. Once an orphan with no family other than the sisters in the convent, she has people who she would do anything for, and when the master architect is drawn under suspicion for a series of murders which she alone can hear and see, Catrin involves herself in the investigation, with the handsome Simon at the helm. But as they work together, they start to question everything they've always known, and soon find themselves in a danger no one could ever have imagined.

When I heard that Erin had a new book coming out, I immediately added it to my TBR. I adore her Traitor's Circle series, and have been desperate for more, so Blood & Moonlight was a definitely must read for me! I was drawn to Catrin as soon as I started this book. She's strong, but also quite vulnerable, and she's always wanted a family - or at least to know more about her parents and why she was abandoned at the Abbey. When she falls from the Sanctum, and hears the first murder, it awakens something inside of her which she embraces, but also fears, as she's worried it will drive others away. I loved the way she explored her new found powers, and how she embraces the differences of others around her with relative ease. Meeting Simon, and Juliane was really great for her, and I loved their banter, as well as the romantic aspect.

The true identity of the murderer kept me guessing until the end. I had suspicions of about 5 different characters at one point - including the actual murderer - but the way in which the plot line progressed was definitely one to keep you hooked until the very end. The world building seemed familiar to me, and when I realised it was loosely based on medieval Europe, with real life places and saints interwoven with the fictional, I was in awe of Erin's research. I've been waiting over 3 years for this book, and Erin has not disappointed. If you loved her debut series, this is definitely one for you, and I for one, can't wait for her next story!

Dates Read:
June 25-27, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Erin Beaty:
Erin Beaty was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, which means she can’t drive a tractor but won’t eat veggies that come from a can.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) and German, then served in the fleet as a weapons officer on a combat destroyer and later as an instructor the Center for Naval Leadership.
After a few years as a stay-at-home mother and navy wife with a casual family blog, Erin upped her game and started writing her first novel in the spring of 2014. She is now the author of the Traitor’s Circle Trilogy published by Imprint, Macmillan and in several foreign languages.
She and her husband have five children, two cats, and a vegetable garden and live wherever the navy tells them to go.
Erin has taught classes at The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk and has also served on the advisory board of Hampton Roads Writers.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Where There's a Whisk by Sarah J. Schmitt

10:00

Where There's a Whisk
Series: None
Author: Sarah J. Schmitt
Published October 5th 2021 by Running Press Kids

Goodreads Synopsis
Life is what you bake it.

Peyton Sinclaire wants nothing more than to escape her life as a diner waitress in her small, North Florida town and attend culinary school. Top Teen Chef, Food TV's new show that pairs reality TV drama with a fast-paced culinary competition, is her ticket out of her boring future. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make her dreams come true and Peyton is determined to prove to herself, and the world, that where you're born does not determine where you can go. However, once on the show, Peyton quickly discovers that there is more to the competition than just a well-seasoned dish.

As things start to heat up on and off the set, Peyton will have to prove to the judges that she deserves to win while trying to untangle what is real and what is scripted drama, and decide what she is willing to risk to win before her dreams end up on the chopping block.
Goodreads

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

Teen baker, Peyton Sinclaire, wants out from her run down life in Florida. Her father arrest for fraud, her mother unable to work, she's living with her aunt on a trailer park, pulling double shifts at the local diner while also going to school. When the opportunity to take part in a new TV show, Top Teen Chef, comes around, she jumps at the chance, and luckily, is picked to be one of the eight competitors. But when she arrives in New York, it's clear that the producer wants to use her past for ratings, and want her to start a romance with a fellow competitor too - if she doesn't, she's off the show. As it seems that one of the judges, and another competitor, is out to get her, Peyton must do whatever it takes, even colluding with a rival, to stay in the show, and hopefully win the scholarship she so desperately needs.

This was a book I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I couldn't put it down once I'd started it. I'll admit, I love watching shows like The Great British Bake Off, and reading books that follow that kinds of plot line has always been one I've enjoyed. I really liked Peyton, and her goals. Life had dealt her a bad hand, and she was doing just about everything to change her future, and being on this show - and potentially winning - would be the making of her. She really didn't like the idea of pretending to be something different for the ratings, but when it was clear she had to, and so did the person she joined forces with, she went along with it, while also picking up hints and tips that made her a better cook. Some of the recipes that people were making I would hate, but some sounded lush, and I was dead hungry at some parts of the book. There was a bit of a love triangle, which I wasn't overly keen on, but I liked the camaraderie between the contestants, and the ending of the book, plus epilogue, was perfect for Peyton's story.

Dates Read:
August 25, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

10:00

june

Stacking the Shelves: June 25th 2022

10:00

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: How to Fool a Duke (The Husband Dilemma #1) by Mary Lancaster & Violetta Rand

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How to Fool a Duke
Series: The Husband Dilemma #1
Author: Mary Lancaster & Violetta Rand
Published December 3rd 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Young women in need of second chances find sympathy and assistance with the enigmatic Lady Whitmore in her seaside castle and village. The ultimate goal: to find husbands for these rejected ladies of the ton. Yet, not every young woman is motivated by the same emotions, for some of these ladies possess rakish hearts that can only be tamed by true love.

Her voice is pure, her motives wicked.

Lady Sarah Merrington will never forget being spurned by the duke she was supposed to marry. After all, that is the very reason she finds herself as a personal guest to the enigmatic Lady Whitmore in her village on the coast, a place of sanctuary where a lady might learn new accomplishments and, perhaps, the necessary skills to charm the elites of society. And Sarah is determined to reinvent herself so she can seek satisfaction, if not a bit of feminine revenge against the Duke of Vexen.

Leonard Blackmore, the Duke of Vexen, is invited to host a charitable event in a place he's never heard of before and by a lady he's never met. Pleased by the opportunity, he accepts the invitation only to find his gracious hostess, Lady Whitmore, is not only a fellow patron to the arts but provides second chances to young ladies who simply need a helping hand. Unexpectedly, the duke meets a beautiful woman who sings like an angel. He swears he's seen her before but can't quite remember where or when. It doesn't matter, for she's captured his deep interest, and he always gets what he wants.

Sarah can't believe her duke has arrived, giving her the chance to fulfill her dream for revenge. But the more she's around him, the more she admires and likes him. And it's only a matter of time before he realizes who she is.

Will Sarah take advantage of the perfect opportunity to fool her duke, or will she forgive and forget in order to give love a second chance?
Goodreads

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

Getting revenge has never felt so sweet. For Lady Sarah Merrington, she was basically engaged to marry the handsome Duke of Vexen when she was younger, but after he met her, he went to her father and refused. Now, she has grown up, and become accomplished while living with the mysterious Lady Whitmore at her home that provides second chances for young ladies. Now that she is ready, Sarah comes across the Duke again, but he thinks she is only Miss Sarah, at least, at first. Once he realises the truth, that the young lady he once sat in a tree with has become this beautiful and accomplished woman, he wants nothing more than to make her his duchess. But Sarah wants him to feel rejected just like she had, and will do anything to make him fall in love, and then suffer heartbreak. However, the sparks fly, and soon it looks like Sarah may have to forgive and forget, to have her happy ending.

I found this book such a fun and quick read. I was going through my kindle to-read shelf, and spotted it, and thought it was a perfect book for a rainy Sunday morning, and it definitely was. Okay, Sarah was a little young and naive at times, but her 'heartbreak' and dejection over the perceived rejection by Vexen, had affected her a lot, and she needed to find somewhere to recover. With Lady Whitmore, she flourished, and became extremely accomplished, and was ready for her revenge - or so she thought. However, meeting Vexen again, who had grown even more handsome in the meantime, it made Sarah reconsider her plan, especially as she got to know him. The sub plot surrounding the truth about Lady Whitmore and her background, I enjoyed, but it was an easy 'mystery' to guess at. The romance was good, I didn't like Sarah's parents, but all in all, a decent book.

Dates Read:
July 11, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

Blood and Moonlight

Waiting on Wednesday: Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty

10:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1) by Emily Thiede

10:00

This Vicious Grace
Series: The Last Finestra #1
Author: Emily Thiede
Published June 28th 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton/Wednesday Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Her gift can save . . . or it can kill.
'Riveting, passionate, and full of high stakes danger' Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa's gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner's magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island's only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante's dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?
Goodreads

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

Alessa has been the Finestra for Saverio for nearly 5 years now, and normally, she would've found her Fonte and be well trained for the Divorando by now. But her gift - which will be useful for the battle - is deadly to the three Fonti she has already chosen, and the island are slowly turning against her. Fearing assassination from those who should protect her, Alessa seeks out her own bodyguard, and street fighter and outcast Dante is perfect for the role. Alessa needs to train on how to control her gift, and when she learns more about Dante, it's clear he may be the only one who can bear her touch, and her love?

I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this book. I remember I first learnt about it on Twitter, so immediately requested it on NetGalley (and was approved by both publishers, and the audiobook too). I am glad I hadn't looked at the synopsis again when I started the audiobook, because I was immediately drawn into the tale. Alessa discovered the was the new Finestra just after she turned 13, when her touch started to draw power from others. In the five years between the finestra being found, and the divorando, normally the divine pairing would be discovered, and well trained for the battle against Crollo's scarbeo. But though Alessa has selected three different Fonte, and married each one, they've all succumbed to her power, and she's left with only month's to get a hold on her gift. It's clear that a radical cult is set against her, and that her guards are willing to turn a blind eye against assassin's, so Alessa needs to find her own protection, and Dante is the best bet. I just adored the banter and chemistry between Dante and Alessa, and the fact that he was the only person who could bide her touch, and allowed her to control her powers, just a bonus. So much happened in the book, from Alessa being quite and vulnerable and weak character at the beginning, alone for so long, to her discovering friendship, love, and strength, ready for the battle against Crollo's forces. The twists and turns, especially in the final chapters, were so gripping, and I couldn't turn it off until the book was completed. I'm in awe of this debut, and can't wait for the sequel!

Dates Read:
April 20-21, 2020

Rating
4 Stars