The Missing Diamond (The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries #1) by Lynn Morrison, Anne Radcliffe

 

The Missing Diamond by Lynn Morrison, Anne Radcliffe

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Marketing Chair Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Roland Percy’s father dies in a drunken accident, he’s forced to leave the military and return home. Under his grandfather’s threats, he must marry and produce an heir as soon as possible. Roland is set on courting the diamond of the season, Charity Cresswell, but things go awry when she goes missing. Everyone thinks she’s run away to elope with a secret lover, but Grace Tilbury knows her best friend must have been abducted. Now it’s up to Grace and Roland to find Charity before her virtue is destroyed in the eyes of society. As Grace and Roland grow closer, their romantic candle has been lit, leaving a whole new set of problems on their hands.

When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. A regency era romance turned cozy mystery? Sign me up! If you’re looking for a book that’s heavy in the romance department, this may not be the book for you because it’s a very slow burn. However, it really works for the story. I think that when the romance gets kicked into full gear in book two, all the work put into the romance’s beginning is going to pay off in a huge way. What a scandal that will be, though! Phew. I’m already ready for book two.

That said, this was a super fun read. I really enjoyed all of the characters. Even the evil characters were interesting and well-written! We are introduced to many characters, but it’s done slowly and never feels overwhelming. One of the things I really like is that no matter how briefly we see a character, they are really well planned out and it feels almost like we’re meeting and talking to them ourselves. It was also fun to see Roland learn that not only are women just as capable as men, but also see how much society holds women back as he gets to know Grace.

The mystery itself was fun to follow. Who abducted Charity, or did she really sneak away with a secret lover to elope? We see all the angles and see a lot of fun interactions as Grace and Roland investigate things. There are Bridgerton vibes mainly because Queen Charlotte gets involved thanks to Charity being her carefully selected diamond of the season, which does add to the story. I did figure out who did what because it made the most sense given the circumstances, but it was still really fun to see how it played out.

All in all, this was such a great read. My only real issue with the story is how it ends. It was so abrupt that I actually thought the advanced copy I received had accidentally cut off the ending! I actually said, that’s it?! It does leave off on a small cliffhanger of sorts, so I’m sitting on the edge of my seat while waiting for the next installment. It’ll be interesting to see how the next book plays out and what mystery will be thrown into the mix since this is listed as a regency mystery series. I just hope that the ending of the next book will be less abrupt.

Lavender Clouds: Comics about Neurodivergence and Mental Health by Bex Ollerton

 

Lavender Clouds by Bex Ollerton

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this up because it’s a look into one person’s neurodivergent experience with life, mental health, and burnout. As a neurodivergent person, I thought it was an excellent book to pick up. It was great to see Bex Ollerton (aka @Schnumn on Instagram) share their experiences with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I could feel their emotions coming through the pages, which is quite bleak at times. I think that this is an important read because it’s very enlightening and relatable for many, but I think that you’ll be okay if you don’t go in expecting a light and fluffy read.

The artwork is beautiful. I also really like that they used art as their way to share their experiences. Reading about Bex’s feelings and experiences spiked my anxiety at times, but I think it’s an excellent read. I don’t know if I would say this was uplifting like it was mentioned in the summary, but it certainly is relatable. If you’re looking for a light pick-me-up read, this is not the book for you. It’s not all bleak, but Bex shares a lot about their struggles with their mental health, which isn’t always always something bright and happy.

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

 

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from Feiwel & Friends through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Iseul’s older sister goes missing, she’s determined to save her. The sisters have their differences, but when push comes to shove, they always have each other’s back. It’s why Iseul is ready to risk her life when she learns that Suyeon has been taken by King Yeonsan. Things aren’t looking good, but when she finds an unlikely ally in Prince Daehyun, all bets are off.

We follow Iseul and Prince Daehyun through their rotating perspectives. For some reason, Iseul’s chapters are written in the first person while Prince Daehyun’s chapters are written in the third person. It’s such a strange decision to make, but I guess it does stick out as different. Unfortunately, it’s a decision that kept taking me straight out of the story for about half the book. Otherwise, it’s pretty well written and I think I would’ve been sucked into the story a lot sooner if they were both written either from the first or third perspective rather than one of each.

That said, it was a pretty good read. We follow 17-year-old Iseul shortly after her sister is taken by King Yeonsan. We also follow Prince Daehyun as he gets closer to dethroning his brother. It’s part political coup and part sisterly bond. Iseul is a bit hard to follow at first because she’s a spoiled brat who is quick to act before thinking about the consequences. However, the longer we follow her, the more she grows as a person and eventually changes for the better in how she thinks and acts. Meanwhile, Prince Daehyun is busy planning to dethrone his brother, but he has to be very careful about it.

It is a bit odd that Isuel is brought in on the political coup, especially because she’s a potential huge liability to the cause. Everyone hardly knows her and she didn’t do anything to indicate that she’d be trustworthy. It does work out, but it was really strange that she was brought in at the point she was. It would’ve made sense later on when she shows that she’s trustworthy, but that’s not the case at the time it actually happens.

I really enjoyed following Isuel and the prince through their rotating chapters, though. They’re interesting characters who eventually fall in love with one another. Other than the two protagonists, the story has some excellent characters that I really enjoyed getting to know. I liked seeing how some of the characters bonded with one another, like how Wonsik formed a fatherly bond with Isuel. Some of the other characters didn’t make a whole lot of sense with the plot they were given, like the murder mystery that eats up some time in the book. I’m still confused about how the killer did both things and I’m not sure that the murder mystery actually adds anything to the story.

All in all, this was a pretty good read. I’m still baffled by the decision to have rotating narrators told from the first and third person perspective, but it still turned out well in the end. The setting and various characters are based on real people and events, and the author includes a very clear list of trigger warnings so that readers can decide on whether or not this will be a pass for them. If you’re looking for a slower paced story with mostly good writing, this may be a good book for you.

The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook by ConcernedApe, Ryan Novak

The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook by ConcernedApe, Ryan Novak

My Rating: ★★★★★

If you’re a big fan of Stardew Valley, then this might be a fun book for you! I’m a huge fan of the game and got so excited when I saw there was an official cookbook. Inside, you will find 50 recipes based on the different foods you can make in the game. It starts out with a touching letter from Grandpa before diving into the recipes, which are separated by the four seasons. Many of the recipes are accompanied by pictures of the actual meals while all of the recipes include drawings of the meals. I love that there’s quotes from the different characters in the game at the end of the recipes. It adds an extra touch of life to the book.

While the recipes are simple, it’s a cute and fun book to have, especially if you love playing the Stardew Valley game. It was interesting to see that they even included a recipe for void mayonnaise. I’m a little sad that there wasn’t a picture of some of the void mayonnaise just for science, but I’d love to see if anyone actually makes that one since garlic and charcoal powder mayonnaise is not something I would ever eat. However, it will be fun to make some of the other recipes that I don’t normally eat, like eggplant parmesan. I love eggplants, so I’m excited to make it.

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

My Rating: ★★★★★

When a cousin betrays the rest of the family and starts killing everyone, Hawke and Grayson are forced to run away and take on new identities so they won’t be found. Reeling from their losses, they find their way to the Communion of Blue where they become Hannah and Grayce. The longer they stay with the sisterhood, the more the siblings learn, but now they aren’t seeing eye to eye. Hawke wants to return to their old life, but Grayce is finally getting to be her true self and loves everything she’s been learning with the sisterhood.

I absolutely loved this story. We follow Hawke and Grayce as they go through the terrible loss of everyone they care about and are forced into hiding. While the opening makes it seem like the story will be about a political coup, that is actually the background of the story. At its core, it’s a story about several different transitions. Much of the focus is on Grayce being able to be herself and slowly come out and blossom. We see how afraid she is to tell her brother that this is who she is, but we also get to see her being accepted, including by the magic of the blue thread.

This was an excellent read. While the opening of the story is pretty bleak, it turns out to be a beautiful story about siblings and trans identities. The artwork was absolutely stunning and had such a beautiful color palette that helped tell the story. I can’t wait to see more of Smith’s work in the future.

50 Women in Technology by Cheryl Robson (editor), Inês Nobre de Almeida (interviewer), Georgina Ferry (intro), Bridget Greenwood (foreword)

50 Women in Technology by Cheryl Robson (editor), Inês Nobre de Almeida (interviewer), Georgina Ferry (intro), Bridget Greenwood (foreword)

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Aurora Metro Supernova Books in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a book covering women in technology, then this is the book for you! The book starts with general information on the difficulties women in technology have faced around the world. From this point on, you will see that the book is split up in three sections starting with Women in Technology: Post-War to Today. It’s a brief but important section, which gets you excited to read the rest of the book. Next up is Pioneers and Legends, which covers 25 notable women in technology from around the world. Finally, we get to what turned out to be my favorite part of the book, which is a section of interviews with women in technology today.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. I recognized several of the women covered, but there were many I had never heard of. This is one of those books that makes me wish that there was a college course devoted to learning about women in technology and the sciences the same way there are courses devoted to women in politics. It’s entirely possible that this class is offered out there somewhere and it just wasn’t offered where I went to college. Either way, I loved reading this and learning about so many different women and their impact on technology and the world as we know it today.

The Other Ones by Fran Hart

 

The Other Ones by Fran Hart

My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from Chicken House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sal is used to people acting like he’s weird, but he’d rather they keep their distance. It’s why he’s so confused when the new guy in town shows up at his front door. No one comes to the front door. Ever. It turns out that Pax is interested in helping with the ghosts instead of being weirded out by Sal’s family for living in a haunted house. Unfortunately for Pax, the only thing haunting Sal’s home is the ghost of what his family used to be. Sal isn’t sharing that with anyone though, so he’s willing to let Pax try to help with the haunting. He never expected to fall in love along the way.

When I picked up this book, I thought I was about to read a cute paranormal romance. Unfortunately, there isn’t an ounce of paranormality found in this story. However, it is a really cute romance with complex characters, a family that’s falling apart in secret, and a group of relatable characters. I love that Sal and his friends have a sense of found family, showing readers that they can always find the support they need in the family they create for themselves. I really wish it wasn’t marketed as a Halloween read because I would give this the highest rating if it was marketed for what it actually is: a story about grief and healing with a cute romance plot.

We follow Sal as he and his older sister, Asha, try to hold their lives together with a needle and thread. Their family started falling apart the day their dad died because not only did they lose their dad, but also most of their mom. Their mother was physically there, but she was so caught up in the past that she became a ghost of herself. Asha had to become a parent through her entire teen years, and the very thin thread that’s holding everything together is giving out.

I love how well developed and complex the characters are. There’s so many layers that slowly reveal themselves that it made one hell of a read. Sal isn’t exactly the friendly type, but he’s managed to make a best friend despite not even wanting friends. We get to watch him slowly accept that he loves his friends and that they provide as much support as he secretly likes to provide them. It was great to see him slowly open up. I really loved Pax, Elsie, and Dirk as well. Asha was great too, and I loved seeing a different type of realistic sibling dynamic. This was truly an excellent cast of characters all around.

Ultimately, this is a story about grief and healing. Pax and his family grieve the loss of his father as well as how much else they lost in the process. Elsie grieves the loss of the people she thought were her friends, and Pax and his mom deal with the hole that his father inflicted between his homophobia and abandonment. We get to watch these characters in different stages of dealing with these losses, but they also find each other while Sal and Pax find love as they each start to find the light at the end of the tunnel. While it deals with heavy subjects, it also manages to be a feel-good story. It was such a good read, so I hope to check out more of Hart’s work in the future. I also hope that there isn’t any future paranormal marketing unless they’re actually paranormal reads.

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney

 

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney

My Rating: ★★★★

Jane Eyre is eager to leave Lowood School and start over somewhere else as a governess. She could sense that there was something strange going on at Thornfield Hall, but there’s no way Jane ever could’ve guessed that her new employer is keeping his wife prisoner. If only there was a way that she could free Bertha before Edward Rochester manages to take them both down with him.

I was so excited when I came across this book because not only is it a Jane Eyre retelling, but also an LGBTQ+ version of the story. It’s very different from the start because we follow Jane and Bertha through their rotating perspectives. While Jane is starting over after the love of her life passed away, Bertha has spent the first year of her marriage as a prisoner the second she arrived at Thornfield Hall.

I really enjoyed this story. It never felt right that Jane still ended up with Edward at the end of the original story, so I love that Jane, Bertha, and Adèle slowly team up against Edward. It was so exciting to see these characters get to be fully developed and really shine as the story progresses. The fact that Jane doesn’t know who she can trust outside of Adèle really adds to the story as she works to break Bertha free.

We also only see Edward through rose tinted shades through Bertha’s memories. We get to see how they met, how he duped her and her family, and then how things quickly changed the second their honeymoon was over. Edward is truly a terrible character and I really liked how much the story leaned into letting us see how bad he was in this version of the story. He was not an innocent man in the original, but this retelling takes it to the next level as we hope for Bertha to finally get her freedom.

The only part of the story that didn’t work out for me is the romance. Jane and Bertha have no chemistry and their romantic interest in each other seemed to come out of nowhere. There wasn’t much romance to begin with as the story, at its core, is about beating Edward at his own game and freeing Bertha. However, I wish Jane and Bertha had chemistry if they were supposed to have some romantic energy as the story went on. Otherwise, it’s a great book and I’m looking forward to seeing what McKinney publishes next.

Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

 

Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

My Rating: ★★★

Wini has spent her entire life being punished for the curse her mother cast on the entire town, but she’s managed to stay mostly happy and be herself. Family is everything to Wini, which is why she’s casting a love spell that’ll allow them to have more access to the hardest ingredient to come by: love. Unfortunately for her, the love spell doesn’t exactly go as planned, and now the entire town is in danger. Now she’s keeping her lips sealed so that she doesn’t scare off her new friend, Kal, who just moved to town with her family. Meanwhile, Kal is dealing with her own problems like her severe anxiety, her dad always ditching her, and making sure no one knows that she’s befriended a woman trapped in a book she found.

We follow Wini and Kal through their rotating perspectives as we’re also introduced to the world of enchanters. The story starts out pretty slow, but we were being introduced to the characters, the town, and the paranormal mythology. Wini has been going to an enchanter school and learning under her family’s watch and guidance while Kal is just starting to learn about her abilities. They’re both very lonely characters for very different reasons, and I think a lot of readers are going to identify with them whether or not they have a lot of friends.

Wini and Kal become friends after they’re assigned a class project together. Kal is the new girl in town, and rather than befriending some of Wini’s bullies, they become fast friends while Kal learns how to use her magic. I really like their friendship, but it did seem rather one-sided at times as Wini seemed to be using Kal to put a stop to the love spell with unintended results. However, it’s a good example of how their age group don’t always realize the full extent of their actions even when they mean well.

Overall, it’s a good story, but the ending was anticlimactic and the villain wasn’t well developed. Even as a middle schooler, I would’ve gotten to the last page and said, that’s it? Without spoiling the story, the villains’ reasoning didn’t make sense and was barely explained. As far as I can tell, this seems to be a stand alone book, but it seems more like the first in a series. There’s so much more storytelling that can be done here, and I’m really interested in Kal’s magic and whether or not her grandpa will realize that there’s something weird going on with the Order he was once an agent for. While I wasn’t happy with the ending, I think there’s a ton of potential here, so I’m hoping there will be a second book at some point.