Sophie Reads YA: November 2022

monthly summary

November Summary

11:00

Waiting On Wednesday: The Reluctant Countess (Would-Be Wallflowers #2) by Eloisa James

10:00

ARC Review: Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barrett

10:00

Love Spells and Other Disasters
Series: None
Author: Angie Barrett
Published February 1st 2021 by Entangled: Teen

Goodreads Synopsis
I didn’t know when I wrote the first love spell that it would actually make things happen. Like, actually make people fall in love with each other…

How could I have known something like that? I mean, magic isn’t real, right?

But here’s the thing—the spell does work and so does the next one and the next one...and suddenly I’m getting a whole lot of attention from everyone at my high school. Me, Blend-into-the-Walls, Please-Let-Me-Introvert-in-Peace Rowan Marshall. And not only that, but I’ve also caught the attention of Luca Russo, a godlike, football-playing hottie who claims he likes me just the way I am. Ummm...

But as I’m about to learn, playing around with things you don’t understand means when things go wrong—like really, very awfully wrong—you don’t know how to fix them.
Goodreads

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

Rowan Marshall has no time for magic or ghosts. Afterall, her mam is known as a ghost hunter, who can't ignore the 'pleas' of departed souls, and always involves Rowan in her work. When Rowan is paired with her 'enemy' Abby for a school project, and Abby decides they are going to write 'love spells' and sell them to other students, she's sceptical to say the least. Especially when it seems that the spells are working, and may also be the reason why hottie Luca Russo is now talking to her. But as the spells start to turn darker, and more possessive and controlling than loving, can Rowan fix all of the disasters she's caused?

Right, this book was a mess, and not a good one. I went into it with high hopes, but it was far too ridiculous and cliched. Honestly, I would've DNFed it if I wasn't so adamant to clear my NG backlog. The characters didn't stand out, and I've forgotten what most of them were like within a week of reading it. Really, maybe younger teens would like it, if they're not expecting much from it, but it wasn't for me.

Dates Read:
January 22-25, 2022

Rating
2 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Meant for the Marquess (Second Sons of London #7) by Alexa Aston

16:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Valued by the Viscount (Second Sons of London #6) by Alexa Aston

15:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London #5) by Alexa Aston

14:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London #4) by Alexa Aston

13:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Empowered by the Earl (Second Sons of London #3) by Alexa Aston

12:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London #2) by Alexa Aston

11:00

Debating with the Duke
Series: Second Sons of London #2
Author: Alexa Aston
Published April 6th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
First sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down.

Welcome to Second Sons of London, a new Regency Historical Romance series by USA Today Bestselling author Alexa Aston, where seven men who are second sons lay claim to fabulous wealth and lofty titles and fulfill their destinies when they find their soulmates.

A serious duke who has been shattered by war. An opinionated beauty with no interest in marriage. A kiss that should be wrong but is more than right...

Major Everett Wayland is stunned when his brother is murdered, making Ev the Duke of Camden. The shy duke meets a matchmaking beauty of the ton who, while unsuited to be his duchess, promises to help Ev find an appropriate woman to become his wife.

Lady Adalyn Porter is not easily intimidated and is a leader in Polite Society, occasionally matching couples together. Her cousin, Tessa, has made a love match and has a new baby, causing Adalyn to rethink her stance on marriage.

When she agrees to find a stodgy duke a bride who is dignified and unapproachable, Adalyn has no idea what she’s in for—especially after the dull duke kisses her—and she finds he’s not quite what he seems.

Will Ev convince Addie that she is everything he wants—and didn’t know he needed?

Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Debating with the Duke, the second book in Second Sons of London.
Goodreads

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

Lady Adalyn Porter has been a leader in society ever since her come out, and though she's had many proposals in the past, she's always turned them down, and rather found matches of others instead of herself. But following her cousin, Tessa's, wedding and baby, Adalyn is looking for her own family. When Tessa and her husband Spence bring the newly minted Duke of Camden around, ready to introduce him to the ton, Adalyn is shocked by how dull he is, until he kisses her. Major Everett Wayward never wanted to be duke, and was happy in his military role, but fate has brought him home, and he's determined to marry quickly, and to the perfect duchess, but while Miss Louisa Goulding may be that person, Everett can't stop thinking about Lady Louisa.

This book was everything I wanted for Adalyn, after meeting her in book 1. Adalyn was a very confident woman, beloved by the ton, but inside she had a vulnerable side, and her hopes and dreams were ones she could never wish for. Her and Everett were completely different personalities, but together, they opened the other up to seeing more of life, and shared more with each other than they ever had before. There were a lot of moments when the couple could've solved their issues by simply talking about them, but everything was right in the end, and I couldn't be happier with the ending. I hope book 3 is Louisa's story, she deserves to find love like her cousins have!

Dates Read:
April 5-9, 2022

Rating
3 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Educated by the Earl (Second Sons of London #1) by Alexa Aston

10:00

Educated by the Earl
Series: Second Sons of London #1
Author: Alexa Aston
Published February 25th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
First sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down.

Welcome to Second Sons of London, a new Regency Historical Romance series by USA Today Bestselling author Alexa Aston, where seven men who are second sons lay claim to fabulous wealth and lofty titles and fulfill their destinies when they find their soulmates.

A dutiful army officer who shuns intimacy. A selfless beauty ready to start living for herself. A chance meeting in the street that leads to love...

When Major Spencer Haddock’s father dies, he returns to England as the Earl of Middlefield. He seeks a typical ton marriage, where his wife will provide him with an heir and possibly other children and then they go their separate ways. He intends to find his countess quickly and not waste time at boring social affairs.

Lady Tessa Foster delays her come-out for several years in order to care for her ill parents. Now out of mourning, Tessa is eager to be introduced in Polite Society so she can find a husband and start a family of her own.

When Spence attempts to save Tessa from a thief brandishing a knife, she turns and attacks Spence. He quickly learns that instead of the pliant woman he thought he wanted as his countess, he desires Tessa—a woman of beauty and valor who stands up for herself and those she cherishes.

Can Spence change Tessa’s poor opinion of him and win the heart of the woman he has come to love?
Goodreads

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

Returning to England following the death's of his father and brother, and learning he is the new Earl of Middlefield, was a shock to Major Spencer Haddock. As a second son, he never expected to inherit, and was sent away to war as a dutiful son. Now Spence knows he needs to restore the estate to its former glory, and find the perfect countess, and beget an heir and a spare, before it's too late. He thinks it'll be easy to attend a few society events, find a wife, and then go their separate ways without too much intimacy or feelings, but when he meets Lady Tessa Foster, and realises that she might be the one for him.

This was a really quick book, and perfect for those who've enjoyed Alexa's other books. Tessa was the daughter of an Earl, and had delayed her come out while caring for her ill parents. Now orphaned, she's staying with family in London, and plans to take part in the Season to find a husband, and start a family, sooner rather than later. She doesn't wish to be a burden on her uncle's family, and has no aims of love, just wanting to be content. When Tessa and Spence meet, it's not the best of first encounters - rather, Spence plans on protecting her from a thief, and she turns around and attacks him, and takes the thief (a girl) home to be her new ladies maid. I loved how the chemistry and relationship between Spence and Tessa progressed naturally, though it was quite a slow burn romance. Tessa took her time in accepting that Spence could be interested in her, but once she did, it was clear they were meant for each other. Tessa's cousins Adalyn and Louisa are definitely bound for their own stories, and I look forward to reading their romances.

Dates Read:
February 21, 2022

Rating
3 Stars