ARC Review: Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

June 7, 2023June 6, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Capture the Sun
Jessie Mihalik
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: June 20, 2023
Series or Standalone: Starlight’s Shadow #3
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: anxiety; death; war; violence

“Don’t think of me as in danger, think of me as dangerous.”

I’ve been dying for Lexi and Nilo’s story since it was teased in Hunt the Stars, but I’ve also been dreading it as it means the Starlight’s Shadow series is over. Why do good things have to end? But at least this send-off was more than worth it as Jessie Mihalik delivered another stunning sci-fi space romance that perfectly blends the action, intrigue, and romance in one story.

Review: A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Notorious Countess Confesses
Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
Series or Standalone: Pennyroyal Green #7
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Domestic abuse; physical abuse; death; sexism; alcholism; reference to rape; sexual harassment; death of a child

Much like Evie, this book worms its way into your hearts, even if you don’t want it to. Right after reading this, I was unsure how I would rate it, but the more I’ve sat on it and thought about it, the more I appreciate this book.

Review: A Rogue in Texas by Lorraine Heath

May 9, 2023May 8, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Rogue in Texas
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: April 6, 1999
Series or Standalone: Rogues in Texas #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: rape; verbal abuse; gun violence; mention of animal abuse, physicial abuse, war

Oh boy. Where do I even begin with this book? This was an odd read for me as I adore Lorraine Heath and her Westerns, but some things in this book just didn’t work for me. But, I also found myself fully invested in this book and wondering, “How the heck is this going to end?” as Heath took the plot in some interesting places. And let me say – you’re not going to see the ending coming. It was so bonkers and dramatic, and I loved it.

Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

May 4, 2023May 3, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Talia Hibbert
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Series or Standalone: The Brown Sisters #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Abusive relationship; emotional abuse; chronic pain/illness; physical abuse

“Once upon a time, Chloe Brown died.”

Get A Life, Chloe Brown has been on my to-be-read list for way longer than I would like to admit, but I finally got a chance to read this as a beach read last summer! While I liked many things about this book, the ending ruined the story a tad as it relies heavily on the miscommunication trope, which I’m so over in my romances.

Review: In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint by Alexandra Vasti

April 11, 2023April 12, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
Alexandra Vasti
Publisher: Self published
Publication Date: January 23, 2023
Series or Standalone: Halifax Hellions #2
Links: Goodreads – StoryGraph – Alexandra Vasti’s Website
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: BDSM elements (spanking/restraints); references to sexual assault; infidelity; death of a spouse

If there were a perfect novella, In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint would be it (and I am tough on novellas, so that is high praise!). I loved this one so much as everything from the romance to the characters captured my heart. I could seriously read a whole book about Christian and Matilda. I loved them so much!

Review: The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

April 5, 2023April 4, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton book cover

The League of Gentlewomen Witches
India Holton
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: March 15, 2022
Series or Standalone:Dangerous Damsels #2
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Child abuse; emotional abuse; violence; fire

I absolutely adored the unique writing style of India Holton in The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and could not wait to start book two in the Dangerous Damsels series! This book was bonkers, chaotic, over-the-top, and so, so, so much fun. I didn’t think it was possible, but I loved it even more than book one, as the romance really shines in this!

Review: Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath

March 30, 2023March 29, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Texas Legacy
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 15, 2019
Series or Standalone: Texas Trilogy #3.5
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Rape; sexual assault; gun violence; abuse

It feels fitting that I’m revisiting the Texas Trilogy after many months because that is EXACTLY what Lorraine Heath did as she published this novella nearly 20 years after the publication of Texas Splendor.

Texas Legacy is the perfect novella to wrap up the series as we see the second generation of the Leigh family – particularly Dallas’ kids. This is basically one long Lorraine Heath epilogue, and I LOVE her epilogues as they always make me emotional. And boy, did this novella make me feel ALL the things. It’s truly amazing that Heath managed to cram in so much heartache and emotion in so few pages.

Blog Tour – Review & Excerpt: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

March 14, 2023March 14, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Tempest at Sea
Sherry Thomas
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: March 14, 2023
Series or Standalone: Lady Sherlock #7
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: murder; blood; suicidal ideation

I’ve been a huge Lady Sherlock fan for years now as it falls perfectly into my favorite (made-up) genre – lady detectives in Victorian England. Truly, we are so blessed that Berkley gave us a new Veronica Speedwell and a new Lady Holmes story within a week of each other.

A Tempest at Sea marks the seventh entry in Sherry Thomas’ incredibly smart spin on Sherlock Holmes. This book, more so than the previous few books in the series, feels like a lighter adventure – if you could say murder is light. In many ways, this feels like a classic detective story in the vein of Christie’s Death on the Nile. The stakes are lower as the threat from Moriarty has lessened after the events of Miss Moriarty, I Presume?, so it’s a nice change of pace to have a self-contained murder mystery aboard the RMS Provence. Now, that’s not to say the threat from Moriarty is gone entirely – he’s still lingering out there, but it’s nice that he’s not at the center of the mystery this time.

Review: The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole

March 10, 2023March 9, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Book of Azrael
Amber Nicole
Publisher: Rose and Star Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Series or Standalone: Gods & Monsters #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Violence; torture; murder; death; depression/PTSD; suicide; war

I came to this book for the hero but stayed for the villain. Or villainess, I should say.

Don’t be scared of the length of The Book of Azrael – once you start reading it, you’ll fly through it and not want to put it down! But be warned – there is a killer cliffhanger at the end!

ARC Review: The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Duke Gets Even
Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 24, 2023
Series or Standalone:The Fifth Avenue Rebels #4
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: domestic violence; domestic abuse; chronic illness

I so desperately wanted to love this one as I adore Joanna Shupe and have been dying for Nellie and Lockwood’s story since I read The Heiress Hunt. Unfortunately, this fell short of my expectations. I felt something was missing from Nellie and Lockwood’s relationship that stopped me from falling head over heels in love.