Sophie Reads YA

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Misleading a Duke (The Wallflowers of West Lane #2) by A.S. Fenichel

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Misleading a Duke
Series: The Wallflowers of West Lane #2
Author: A.S. Fenichel
Published September 29th 2020 by Lyrical Press

Goodreads Synopsis
Finishing school failed to turn them into proper society ladies. Now these four friends vow to remain single until they find suitors worthy of their love and devotion...

Betrothed to a man she has barely met, Lady Faith Landon calls upon her three best friends—the self-proclaimed Wallflowers of West Lane—to help uncover the secrets of her mysterious fiancé. Her suspicions are aroused when she learns that he has recently returned from France. Is he a traitor to his country? The truth is quite the opposite. Nicholas Ellsworth, Duke of Breckenridge, is a secret agent for the English Crown who has just completed a risky mission to infiltrate Napoleon’s spy network.

After his adventures, Nicholas craves the peace and quiet of the country and settling into domestic bliss with his bride. Until he discovers Faith’s deceptive investigation. How can he wed a woman who doesn’t trust him? But a powerful spark has ignited between Nicholas and Faith that could bring about a change of heart. Faith seizes her second chance to prove to Nicholas that they are a true love match but his past catches up with them when three French spies come to exact revenge. Surviving rather than wooing has become the order of the day.
Goodreads

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

After her friend had suffered through a horrific marriage, Lady Faith Landon had no intention of marrying the man her mother had engaged for her without knowing a little about him. With the other Wallflowers of West Lane, they spied on Nicholas, the Duke of Breckenridge, who took great offence to it all. Now, Faith needs to make up for it all, and organises for both herself and Nicholas to be holed up alone at a country estate, to learn more about each other, and decide whether marrying is right for them. Nicholas knows a lot about keeping secrets, being an spy an all for his king, but someone spying on him doesn't sit right. He wants to imagine that that life is behind him, but when some old 'friends' discover he was spying on them, against Napoleon, and want their revenge. Will Nicholas and Faith manage to make it through the appearance of three French spies, and overcome their own differences in the meanwhile.

Now, one thing I will say about this book, is that it jumps right into the action. The official synopsis made it seem as if this book would show Faith and the Wallflowers spying on Nicholas, but that all happened in the first book, The Earl Not Taken, which I haven't read, so I felt like I was missing something for a good few chapters. I enjoyed Faith and Nicholas as a couple, but do think that if the spying aspect hadn't been in, nor the involvement of the three french spies come for their revenge, the book would've been lacking much of a plot. Faith was perfect for this book, and her strength of character than came through again and again, in a multitude of situations, made me really care for her. Nicholas was a bit of a mystery, and still is when it comes to his childhood, but I liked seeing his own vulnerabilities through his injuries, and his past spying life. I am intrigued enough by the rest of the wallflowers to want to read the next book, so I guess we'll see what I think of that when the time comes.

Dates Read:
August 3-5, 2020

Rating
3 Stars

December

Stacking the Shelves: December 5th 2020

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Temptations of a Wallflower (The Wicked Quills of London #3) by Eva Leigh

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Temptations of a Wallflower
Series: The Wicked Quills of London #3
Author: Eva Leigh
Published April 26th 2016 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
Eva Leigh’s deliciously sexy Wicked Quills of London series continues as a Lady’s secret career writing erotic fiction is jeopardized by real-life romance . . .

In society circles she’s known as the Watching Wallflower—shy, quiet, and certainly never scandalous. Yet beneath Lady Sarah Frampton’s demure façade hides the mind of The Lady of Dubious Quality, author of the most titillating erotic fiction the ton has ever seen. Sarah knows discovery would lead to her ruin, but marriage—to a vicar, no less—could help protect her from slander. An especially tempting option when the clergyman in question is the handsome, intriguing Jeremy Cleland.

Tasked with unmasking London’s most scandalous author by his powerful family, Jeremy has no idea that his beautiful, innocent bride is the very woman he seeks to destroy. His mission must remain a secret, even from the new wife who stirs his deepest longings. Yet when the truth comes to light, Sarah and Jeremy’s newfound love will be tested. Will Sarah’s secret identity tear them apart or will the temptations of his wallflower wife prove too wicked to resist?
Goodreads

Review
Temptations of a Wallflower follows two characters we have briefly met before, Lady Sarah Frampton and Jeremy Cleland. Jeremy is the cousin of Lord Marwood, and a vicar, and when he last met with his cousin, he was given a book by the renowned erotic author, The Lady of Dubious Quality. He shouldn't have been as engrossed in the books as he was, especially considering his father received his earldom because of his morality, and with his place in the church. His father, Lord Hutton, recalls Jeremy to London, and gives him an ultimatum - he must find The Lady of Dubious Quality, and expose her, or he will lose his allowance and have to survive on his small living. No one has ever been able to discover her identity, but Jeremy must do so, or be cut off. Lady Sarah Frampton is the Watching Wallflower, the daughter of a duke who has never found anyone she wants to spend her life with. Her parents have always despaired over her love of writing, and stopped her from becoming a 'bluestocking' by forcing her into society, even when she doesn't want to. Little do they know, but she has been writing prolifically, for years, and actually is The Lady of Dubious Quality. If anyone discovered she is The Lady, she would be ruined, but she needs her writing to live, to give her purpose. When she meets Jeremy at a garden party, even with their wholly different social status, they are drawn to one another, and soon feelings develop. And when Sarah realises someone is searching for the Lady, she asks Jeremy to marry her, in a way to give her some protection, but still keeps her secrets. Will Jeremy's search reveal his wife is in fact the Lady he's looking for, and how will the revelation affect their marriage?

To say that Eva's books have quickly become some favourites of mine would be an understatement. In each book she writes, there are fantastic characters and relationships, amazing plot lines, and engaging language. Sarah and Jeremy in this book were, on paper, so very different, but together they were wonderful, and true, and could be real with each other. Even though Jeremy was the son of an Earl, he was the third son, and had been forced into the church, even though it wasn't for him. He enjoyed his work, but it didn't fulfil him like he would've wanted, but with Sarah he felt more like the real Jeremy. Also, he developed a backbone after meeting Sarah, starting to go against his father and stand up for himself, rather than relenting to his wishes. Sarah did the same, too. Her mother, in particular, was adamant about the way her daughter should behave, and forced her to attend events with people who should be her 'friends', but wanted to see her fall. The scene at the gallery was one of my favourites, where both Sarah and Jeremy, together, defied the expectations of those around them, and it was the first real moment we could see their affection blossom. Of course, there were moments of angst and despair, but I enjoyed the way Eva wrote it so that when it was overcome, they were stronger together, and could fit anything head on. All three of The Wicked Quills of London books were beautiful, and I can't wait to start Eva's next series!

Dates Read:

July 28-30, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

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Second Chance Summer
Series: None
Author: Morgan Matson
Published May 7th 2015 by Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Synopsis
From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.
Goodreads

Review
Second Chance Summer is just that, a second chance. After Taylor's father gets a terminal diagnosis, the entire Edwards' family decide to get to get for one last summer, at their old lake house. The whole family have always been a little self occupied and not the closest, but knowing that they need to band together before the worst happens, they start to learn more about one another, and become a true family. Taylor seems to struggle the most, and doesn't want to let her guard down, especially around her former friends, Lucy and Henry, who have moved on since she was last there. However, as the summer, and Taylor's dad's illness progresses, we see Taylor becoming more open.

Now, I was nervous going into this book. I've always liked Morgan's books, but I was reading this just a year after my gran died from cancer, and the thought of it dragging up all those feelings really worried me. Instead, I found it quite cathartic, because it was just enough removed from my situation, but still close enough to help me think about some of the feelings of grief and sadness I still had. Taylor was a character who was difficult to engage with first, but as we got to know her more, and see that she had built up these walls that were slowly crumbling under the pressure, we appreciated her more. Her family all were wonderful, especially towards the end of the book, when they became a proper family unit again, rather than a whole lot of separate people with the same surname. The sub plot of Taylor reconnecting with once best friend, Lucy, and ex-boyfriend, Henry, was a nice reprieve from the hard hitting cancer story line, and another way in which we see Taylor's growth as she stops running and hiding from problems, but instead faces it, head on.

Dates Read:
September 15-18, 2018

Rating
4 Stars

Her Wicked Marquess

Waiting On Wednesday: Her Wicked Marquess (Sinful Wallflowers #2) by Stacy Reid

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books on my radar

December books on my radar

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Honor Among Thieves (The Honors #1) by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

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Honor Among Thieves
Series: The Honors #1
Author: Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Published January 15th 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring YA series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, a thrilling yet romantic futuristic adventure perfect for fans of Claudia Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.
Goodreads

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

Honor Among Thieves follows Zara, whose been living on the edge of society when she failed to assimilate to life's rules well, and is now at risk after stealing from the daughter of a very important person, Deluca, who basically runs her city. When she is revealed to be one of this year's 100 honoured - chosen to take part in a year's mission travelling aboard one of the Leviathan, an alien ship, it's sort of a relief. Along with a fellow honoured, Beatriz, they board Nadim, and while travelling the solar system, they learn that not all they have been told is true, and that there are secrets the Leviathan have been keeping from them.

I wasn't sure whether this would be a book for me, because Sci-Fi is a hit or miss for me. I mean, I like watching the occasional Sci-Fi film, but very rarely do I read books of the genre. I did enjoy this book, but it took some getting through because I wasn't all that invested, and some parts of it weirded me out too. The idea that the honoured are living inside an alien, walking around in empty chambers, was disgusting, and especially when Zara had to cut into Nadim and crawl through his veins and arteries when he was injured. I also didn't like the way that Zara and Nadim bonded as it was neigh on romantic, and that just turned me off the book. I didn't want to DNF it, because I wanted to see if we learnt more about Typhon, the Elder Leviathan, and why he was the way he was, but I won't be reading the other books in this series.

Dates Read:

April 8-16, 2020

Rating
3 Stars