Sophie Reads YA

2020 New Release challenge

Review: Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey

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Deadly Curious
Series: None
Author: Cindy Anstey
Published June 23rd 2020 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
1834. Sophia Thompson wants nothing more than to be one of the famed Bow Street Runners, London's most elite corps of detectives. Never mind that a woman has never before joined their ranks--and certainly never mind that her reclusive family has forbidden her from pursuing such an unladylike goal.

She gets the chance to prove her capabilities when an urgent letter arrives from her frantic cousin Daphne, begging Sophia to come look into the suspicious death of Daphne's brother.

As Sophia begins to unravel the tangled threads of the case--with the help of a charming young policeman--she soon realizes that the murderer may be even closer to her family than she ever suspected.
Goodreads

Review
Sophia Thompson has always wanted to be a detective, and wants to be the first female agent with the Bow Street Runners. After a scandal in the family which has left her marriage prospects unlikely, this is even more of a goal, and when her cousin, Daphne, asks her to visit, a year after the unsolved murder of Daphne's older brother, Andrew, she jumps at the chance. Now in the village of West Ravenswood, there are strange things occurring and Sophia's uncle has called in the assistance of Bow Street Runner trainee, Mr Jeremy Fraser. Jeremy and Sophia must work together to discover just what is happening, who killed Andrew, and who is killing others getting close to the investigation.

Cindy's books have always been some of my favourite YA books, and this one was no different. Though not my favourite of hers, I loved the mystery and all of the twists and turns we had until we got to the climax. Sophia was a fantastic character, who would be a perfect detective if not for her sex, and she wasn't phased by anything. Whereas Jeremy might've been apprehensive about working with a young lady, he wasn't put off at all, and they way they bounced ideas and motives off each other was perfect. Others in the village, and in the household, might've been against this young couple working on a murder case, but they could face it together. Their blossoming romance flowed naturally, and wasn't forced at all. When it came to the mystery aspect, I guessed a few things, and had my suspicions about one of the characters from a very early point, but couldn't have imagined the full scope of the crimes. I can't wait for Anstey's next book, and look forward to seeing what she does next!

Dates Read:
August 21-23, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Waiting On Wednesday: The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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2017 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: Breaking the Rules of Revenge by Samantha Bohrman

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Breaking the Rules of Revenge
Series: None
Author: Samantha Bohrman
Published September 18th 2017 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush)

Goodreads Synopsis
Mallory Jones is tired of being the girl who stays home and practices French horn while her identical twin, Blake, is crowned homecoming queen. So when she has the opportunity to pretend to be Blake, she takes it. At Camp Pine Ridge, she will spread her wings and emerge a butterfly. Or at least someone who finally gets kissed by a cute guy. That is, until bad boy Ben Iron Cloud shows up, ready to get revenge on Blake—aka Mallory.

If it weren’t for that infuriating girl, Ben wouldn’t even be at camp. Luckily, he now has six weeks to soak up some rays and get even with his nemesis. But the more time he spends with Blake, the more he realizes she’s nothing like the girl he thought she was—she’s kind and innocent and suddenly way too tempting. And soon enough, revenge is the last thing on his mind. Unfortunately, the girl he’s falling for is keeping a major secret…

Disclaimer: This book contains a super-hot bad boy out for revenge, all sorts of camp hijinks, and a girl who realized she’s been a butterfly all along.
Goodreads

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

Breaking the Rules of Revenge follows Mallory as she masquerades as her twin sister, Blake, while at Camp Pine Ridge. Being the quiet sister, she's never really had the opportunity to do anything, but now is perfect, as there will be next to no one there who knows either sister, and she might be able to find a cute guy to have fun with. The only problem, the cute guy - Ben - is hell bent on revenge against Blake, as it's all her fault that he's even at this camp. Mallory is caught unawares, and soon finds herself falling for Ben, who is also conflicted, as the girl in front of him is nothing like the one he wants to get even with, and he might also be developing feelings.

When I saw this book on NetGalley, and started to read it's synopsis, I was definitely interested about the revenge aspect of the story, and the enemies to lovers trope. There were definitely some really good moments in this book, but also times when I felt like a little bit was missing, which is why I only gave it 3 stars. I like Ben and Mallory's relationship, and the angst that was there. The camp aspect was something new too, but all in all, I wanted a bit more.

Dates Read:

August 19, 2017

Rating
3 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Any Rogue Will Do (Misfits of Mayfair #1) by Bethany Bennett

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Any Rogue Will Do
Series: Misfits of Mayfair #1
Author: Bethany Bennett
Published October 13th 2020 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
He ruined her reputation―now he's the only one who can save it.

For exactly one season, Lady Charlotte Wentworth played the biddable female the ton expected―and all it got her was society's mockery and derision. Now she's determined to be in charge of her own future. So when an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can't claim to be her fiancé if she's engaged to someone else. Even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry.

Ethan, Lord Amesbury, made a lot of mistakes, but the one he regrets the most is ruining Lady Charlotte's reputation. He's older and wiser now, but his attraction to Lottie never wavered. Going along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness. And, if he's lucky, her love.
Goodreads

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

During her first season, many years ago, Lady Charlotte Wentworth was embarrassed and ruined by who she thought was her suitor, Ethan, Lord Amesbury, and left with the Paper Doll Princess moniker. Now, after losing her brother and mother, and her father ignoring her in his grief, she has been running her family's estate, and wants only to be allowed her dowry and to have her own estate. Her father has other ideas, though, and has arranged for her to marry Lord James Montague, the youngest son of one of his friends, and Lottie only has until the end of November to find someone else to marry. After a carriage accident that leaves her with a head wound, and her carriage driver with a broken leg, she is to recuperate at a nearby inn, and the person to come to her aid is none other than Ethan. She's determined to ignore him, but once she gets to London to start her husband hunting, he's everywhere, and wants her forgiveness. When Ethan first met Lottie, he had just inherited his estate, and being transformed for a Scottish shepherd to an English lord is a big shift. He knows he'll need to marry well, to keep the estate afloat, and sets his eyes on Lady Charlotte. When her father refuses him, though, he runs his mouth, which leads to Lottie being ridiculed, and hates him. He's never forgot her, not really, and living near her in town allows him to form a friendship, and later a fake engagement to put off Lord Montague who is hiding something. Will Lottie and Ethan be able to cope with their attraction, and call off the fake engagement by the end, or will their chemistry ruin them for all others.

This book is one I had one my radar for a while, and when I was initially rejected for the review copy, I was gutted. Luckily, I was sent a widget to read, and as soon as it downloaded onto my phone, I couldn't stop myself for starting it. Lottie was such a lovable character, who sort of reminded me a little bit of Elizabeth Bennet, in her ability to take charge, and run the estate when needed. She's never really wanted to marry, not after seeing how her parents basically ignored their children, or when her mother died, but being forced to marry Montague, who was a wrong-un, through and through, makes her take heed, and try and find someone. With her trusty maid, Darling, and godmother, Aunt Agatha, in tow, she starts going to society events again, where Ethan is at every corner. All of the ton is expecting there to be a scandal when Lottie and Ethan meet, but they won't fall for it, until it comes for them to start their fake engagement, and Montague is lambasting them to all who would listen. When Ethan and Lottie are together, the chemistry sizzles, and it's impossible to not ship them. There's definitely ups and downs in this book, where we are at the edge of our seat, hoping the heroes will be together, and being unsure how they can be when events occur. I'm overjoyed with how the book ended, though, and can't wait to read West End Earl, which is Cal's story, because he was a perfect friend to the pair!

Dates Read:
July 10-11, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

October

Stacking the Shelves: October 10th 2020

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel #1) by Sarah MacLean

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The Rogue Not Taken
Series: Scandal & Scoundrel #1
Author: Sarah MacLean
Published December 29th 2015 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
LADY SOPHIE'S SOCIETY SPLASH

The youngest of the infamous Talbot sisters scandalized society at the Liverpool Summer Soiree, striking her sister’s notoriously philandering husband and landing him backside-first in a goldfish pond. And we thought Sophie was the quiet one…

When she finds herself the target of very public aristocratic scorn, Sophie Talbot does what she must to escape the city and its judgment—she flees on the back of a carriage, vowing never to return to London…or to society. But the carriage isn’t saving her from ruin. It’s filled with it.

ROYAL ROGUE'S REIGN OF RAVISHMENT!

The Marquess of Eversley was espied descending a rose trellis—escaping an irate Earl and his once-future countess. No lady is safe from Eversley’s Engagement Ending Escapades!

Kingscote, the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, a quality that results in a reputation far worse than the truth, a furious summons home, and a long, boring trip to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the trip becomes anything but boring.

WAR? OR MORE?

He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, and suddenly opposites are altogether too attractive…
Goodreads

Review
I've just started to fall in love with Sarah MacLean's books, and decided to treat myself to the Scandal & Scoundrel series for my second foray into her writing. The Talbot sisters have been the talk of the Ton since their entrance into society. Known as the Dangerous Daughter's of the newly created Earl of Wight, the good and the great in society see them as social climbers, full of scandal and pariahs in town. Most of the sisters adore being in the limelight and having the gossips talk about them, but Sophie, the youngest, hates it all, and despises the attention. However, after spotting her philandering brother-in-law having a dalliance, just not with her sister, at the Liverpool Summer Soiree, she pushes him into the koi pond, in front of those assembled, and is publicly shunned. She knows she needs to leave, and not just the party, but London too, and asks King, the Marquess of Eversley, to help her. He refuses, but by taking the livery of one of his footman, Matthew, she hides in his carriage as it travels north towards Cumbria, and her home in Mossbend. When King discovers her, he thinks she's just like her sisters, and is trying to trap a Marquess, and heir to a Dukedom in marriage, and wants rid of Sophie as soon as possible, but he can't leave a Lady alone on the Great North Road, especially after she is injured by highway men. Will he make it to Cumbria in time to see his dying, estranged father, or will caring for Sophie become more important?

Sophie was just the perfect heroine for this book. I loved her from the get go, and the way she acted with everyone around her, especially those who treated her as if she was beneath them because her father had earned his Earldom, rather than just being born in the right family. She's always been the quiet one, sometimes called the boring sister, but she's never wanted the lifestyle she now has, and loved more than anything her childhood in Mossbend. Getting out of society and back to Cumbria is all she wants, and King is just a means to an end. King, for the rogue that he is, is definitely a lovable one, and a gentleman to boot. Even though he wanted nothing to do with Sophie, he can't leave her, and the more time he spends with her when she is recovering, and getting jealous of the handsome doctor treating her, the less he wants to stay away. Their banter and chemistry was phenomenal, and this is one of my favourite adult romances I've ever read. I definitely have fallen in love with Sarah's writing, and will be collecting all of her book as soon as I can. A fantastic start to the series, and I can't wait to start A Scot in the Dark!

Dates Read:
July 8-9, 2020

Rating
5 Stars

4 Stars

Review: These Vengeful Souls (These Vicious Masks #3) by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

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These Vengeful Souls
Series: These Vicious Masks #3
Author: Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
Published February 20th 2018 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
England, 1883. On the run with the grieving Sebastian Braddock, Evelyn wants two things: to be reunited with her friends, and to get revenge on the evil Captain Goode. Not only has he misused his and Sebastian's powers to rack up a terrible death toll, but he's also completely destroyed any hope of Evelyn or her friends regaining the life they once knew.

Evelyn is determined to make Captain Goode pay for what he's done, but is her revenge worth risking the lives of Sebastian and her friends? Or is it better to flee the city and focus on staying alive? And with the Captain spreading lies about Sebastian in an attempt to flush them out of hiding and turn the populace against them, does she even have a choice at all?
Goodreads

Review
The previous books in this series had always sated my love of history and fantasy, and when the final book, These Vengeful Souls, was announced, I knew I needed to order it, and (im)patiently waited next to the post box for my copy to arrive - just in time for my birthday. This time around, we are with Evelyn and co. just days after the events of These Ruthless Deeds, and they are struggling with their grief and anguish. After being used so horrifically by Captain Goode, Sebastian doesn't know what to do with himself, or with his powers, and as much as Evelyn is finding herself falling for him, she also can't reconcile herself with her need for revenge and retribution, no matter the cost.

I really liked this book, but found bits lacking or going in a direction I didn't care for. I love the characters, all of them, but some made decisions in this book that were a bit too out there, even for me. Evelyn is hell bent on revenge, and has become consumed by this need that she makes some very silly decisions, which I wouldn't have expected from her previously. Also, parts of the book dragged, while other bits were wrapped up a bit too quickly/easily, as if the pacing was off for it. I don't know if that was just me reading it with such high expectations, or what, but I found the ending a bit lacklustre, if I'm really honest. All in all, enjoyable, but a bit disappointing.

Dates Read:

March 7-9, 2018

Rating
4 Stars