Man for the Morning by EC Sheedy

February 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Man for the Morning by EC Sheedy
Salt Spring Island Friends Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

If you can’t fall in love in Paris . . .

Single mother, Lynn McDonald, is on the trip of a lifetime. She’s in Paris! And she’s keen to see and feel everything wondrous in the incomparable City of Light. The only thing not on her exciting itinerary is romance.

Nor is it on the list of acclaimed film director Paul Severns . . .

With too many women and one too many marriages in his past, Paul is alone and plans to stay that way. No more love games. No more risky relationships. When a friend asks him to greet a woman at the airport, he obliges. No big deal. He’ll pick her up, settle her in her hotel, and be gone. Instead, he’s instantly captivated by Lynn’s vivid personality, direct green-eyed gaze, and her generous and unselfish spirit.

What Paul lacks in emotional courage, Lynn, as a widow and mother to a challenged son, has in abundance. She believes deeply in the power of love and with reason. Only love sustained her through loss and years of solitude.

Paul offers to show her Paris, but after a few days in her company, he asks her to spend a weekend with him in the French countryside. No games. No risk. He tells himself—and Lynn—his offer is for nothing more than some pleasant days and uncomplicated sex. No strings attached.

He doesn’t expect Lynn to go along with it. But she does. And she packs some strings…

This story has a very different flavor than the previous book, California Man. In Man for the Morning, I found a romance that was very up front, challenging and open. I liked that the internal conflict plagued the hero, and the heroine was the one that wasn’t afraid to try, to dream, to hope for the best, even if there was the possibility of pain from it ending. The journey was one she wanted to take. Lynn’s confidence, optimism, pragmatic acceptance, hope, joy and life smarts impressed me. The most important facet of Lynn’s character was motherhood, her love and fierceness in defense of her son, James. She never gave up, she gave it her all and because of her love and dedication, James, even with the brain damage from a car accident when he was a kid made life problematic, she fought for him tooth and nail and the fruits of that is a young man capable of doing everything the doctors said he’d never do. That kind of person, who gives and truly cares is what the hero, Paul, needs and at the same time is afraid of. Yet, he can’t stay away. Lynn stayed true to herself, and I think that’s what got under the hero’s defenses. It was a great story.

Also, this is a spicy story. But the author chose to let a reader know her characters first. For example, why Paul is damaged, what made them so good together, how they clicked and what they each made the other feel; those are the kinds of things that allows a reader to connect to the main characters. By the time the bedroom door opens up, a reader knows that Lynn and Paul are perfect for the other. I cared that Paul should find happiness. I liked that small window of interaction between Lynn’s son James, and Paul. It was a nice touch and pivotal. I liked that Lynn didn’t act like a typical drama queen. She didn’t need theatrics to get her point across, nor does she play games. Paul has no doubts about Lynn’s attraction for him. I liked that the author has Lynn melt for him, even when he messes up, she doesn’t deny herself his touch, when other stories I’ve read would have the heroine explode in emotion and drama, making the hero pay for his inability to commit. Lynn was a unique heroine, and I really appreciated her personality.

This romance is very people-centered. I think Man for the Morning is a wonderful read. Even the potential plot conflict/villain isn’t so terrible. I actually liked the person and in time, I believe Lynn could eventually call that person friend, not frenemy but an actual friend. But that’s my opinion. Getting to know Lynn in the book makes me believe it could happen just because of the type of person she is. I wish there was an epilogue for this story; I believe it would have made this good book even better.

If you are looking for a nice, well-rounded, enjoyable romance story with a optimistic and satisfying happy ending, I think Man for the Morning might just do the trick. I know I liked it. I hope other readers will too.

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Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth

February 2, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth
Love Lottery, Book two
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

It’s a chance to start over for both of them…

Everleigh Girard always dates the wrong men at the worst times. The last debacle cost her a job and an apartment. But thanks to a crazy lottery win, she and her friends have a fresh start restoring a historic inn. Determined to make it a success, Everleigh swears off the dangers of dating entirely. Except…the town’s police chief is distractingly hot. So how much trouble could friends with benefits really cause?

Police chief Matt Halliday always puts protecting his town first. He’s blindsided when his house mysteriously burns down, and grateful his friends rent him a room at their inn while they finish renovations. It’s a great deal. Mostly. It’s hard to resist the very beautiful Everleigh. Love is permanently off the table for him—but lust is definitely on.

After their first red-hot kiss, keeping it casual is impossible. Can Everleigh teach Matt to trust again—especially when he’s keeping a secret that may put him and his new friends at risk?

Definitely Not Dating is book two in the Love Lottery series by Christi Barth. I read book one and each can be read as a standalone. However, I’m going to do you a favor and map out the characters. There are four friends who win a lottery. There is Alex who has a sister named Amelia. Amelia and Everleigh are best friends. Alex and Teague are best friends. Therefore, Teague and Alex are like brothers to Everleigh. Book one, The Accidental Fiancé, was the love story between Alex and a local town’s folk, Sydney. The second book, Definitely Not Dating is a love story between Everleigh and another local citizen, Matt. I actually want to write this review fast so that I can start the third book in the series. Ha, ha. The next one, Wrong for Him, is going to be a love story between Amelia and Teague and I’m seriously excited to start reading it. I have one main concern; I’m not seeing book four listed or announced yet! I am really looking forward to a love story between Nora, the inn’s cook, and James, the high school shop teacher. I’ve fallen in love with all these characters.

If the synopsis sounds interesting, then definitely pick it up and start reading. The secret that Matt is keeping is a good one. I was riveted to my seat worrying about what was going to happen next.

The romance between Everleigh and Matt is definitely sensual. They each have personal issues to resolve before they can learn to trust again. I enjoyed being part of their blossoming relationship.

I enjoyed everything about this book from style of writing, cast of characters to original plot development.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that I am in a hurry to start book three. So, I’m going to conclude with this: Definitely Not Dating is definitely a must read!

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At the Crossroads by B. J. Daniels

January 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment


At the Crossroads by B. J. Daniels
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

They’re running for their lives, desperate for a second chance…

Once, Alexis Brand and Culhane Travis were partners, both on and off the job. Now the former deputy turned bounty hunter is on her former lover’s trail after he’s charged with killing the ex-wife Alexis didn’t know he had. Burying the feelings that still tie her to him, Alexis tracks down Culhane easily enough. But deadly trouble has followed him to this small Montana town, forcing them to flee from the law together and Alexis to guard secrets she hoped she’d never have to reveal.

Culhane’s desperate attempt to find out who’s framing him is the reason he’s returned to Buckhorn, Montana. Instead, he’s unwittingly dragged the woman he loves into danger. Alexis offers Culhane forty-eight hours to clear his name before turning him in—plenty of time to realize he never wants to be without her again. But will it be long enough to get the answers they need…before their enemies close in?

When Culhane Travis went to bed, he was a happy man, cuddled with the love of his life. When he awoke, he was accused of murder and suddenly on the run. He has a plan – of sorts – to find the one person who might be able to help him and finds himself in a whole different situation, one that might change his life forever.

Culhane Travis is the kind of cowboy I adore. He’s handsome, he’s smart, but he also has a quick wit and isn’t afraid to use it. I can’t lie, I’m sucker for a smart aleck and he fits the bill. He also has a protective streak a mile wide which extends to anyone in his vicinity, even if he doesn’t know them.

Alexis Brand is a fiery woman, sharp, brave, and fearless. Even when it puts her life and her future on the line. She’s the perfect partner for Culhane. As much as she loves him, she doesn’t put up with any of his baloney either. It’s nice to find a heroine who is both strong enough to put her man in his place and be sweet and tender when she wants to be, too.

I’ve recently become a big fan of this author. At the Crossroads is the third in B. J. Daniels’ Buckhorn, Montana series. As much as I liked this book, it was definitely the weakest of the three so far. It had a much slower start and the ending felt more rushed. However, I did love the relationship between Culhane and Alexis. You could tell that they were friends long before they were ever anything more. The progression to lovers felt very natural and like it was meant to be. Also, the addition of Earl Ray into the story is never a bad thing. He was almost my favorite character in the first book. The author has a way of creating dynamic and fun couples who aren’t afraid to look danger in the face and overcome it. I look forward to the next in this series.

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A Difficult Truce by Joan Wolf

January 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment


A Difficult Truce by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Taken captive by her ancestral enemies, the hated British, beautiful Irish aristocrat Christina MacCarthy had only one route of escape: marriage to one of England’s most powerful, dangerously handsome lords, the Duke of Dacre. In his embrace, Christina would have to fight a threat more perilous than a stone cell and chains . . . the prison walls of love.

Wowza! Joan Wolf never ceases to amaze me. When I think of her, there is one characteristic that comes to my mind “talent”. She is nowhere near a cookie cutter author. I’ve lost count how many Joan Wolf books I’ve read but each one feels different to me. I can’t explain it. I love each one in their unique way. A Difficult Truce blew me away. I should have known when I read the Author’s Note in the beginning of the book. In fact, I have a suggestion for future readers; If the synopsis sparks your interest, then read the Author’s note before you begin. If you are still intrigued, then go for it. This is a true historical romance! Personally, I don’t come anywhere close to being a history buff. Why I like historical romance books is incomprehensible to me. Regardless, I love them and before this book I couldn’t tell you anything about Irish history and their battle for the Catholic Emancipation. I now know more about the struggle then I’d ever want to know thanks to Joan Wolf who magically spun a romance in that history lesson. Now that I think about it, if history class was taught like this in school, then I’d might have liked the class. That thought just made me giggle.

Joan Wolf states in her note that her purpose was “solely to create what I hope is a good story”. I for one can testify that A Difficult Truce was an excellent story. I was torn apart for the hero, Dacre, and the heroine, Christina. I should have known after reading the synopsis that I was going to be emotionally distressed. The synopsis says in capital letters, “How could she vow to love the man she was sworn to hate?”.

The answer to that question is easy, because the Duke of Dacre was dream worthy. Dacre was open minded and possessed a heart of gold. It didn’t matter how “fiercely independent born-and-bred rebel” Christina was because Dacre was irresistible. I fell in love with both of them. Their romance was very slow, but they had major outside obstacles in their way. I became a “prisoner of their love”. I’m not going to lie; I was anxious for them. I wasn’t sure if they were going to reach their happily ever after.

To say I was entertained is putting it mildly. There was a large cast of characters, but the focal point was Dacre and Christina which kept the pace of the story consistently moving forward.

I was speechless when I finished this book because I felt bad for the Irish. Joan Wolf wrote in her Author’s note that she “took the liberty of compressing a whole century of Irish history into a few years’ time.” I couldn’t help but feel horrible for the way the Irish were treated back then.

I definitely feel this was one of Joan Wolf’s better books and worthy of putting on my “keeper’s shelf”. I’d encourage anyone who enjoys a true historical romance to start reading this book as soon as possible. It was an educational and entertaining read for me.

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*Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne

January 26, 2022 By 1 Comment


Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Curing or treatment sessions utilized for weakness may incorporate levitra 20 mg next medicines, couple of surgeries and psychotherapy. In addition, it helps maintain normal erections buy levitra from canada for the future. In response to the falling testosterone levels in levitra samples davidfraymusic.com the body, including an enhanced rate of protein synthesis (leading to muscle accumulation). They would surely provide you free cialis samples with the best medicine for treating erectile dysfunction. Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

Made in Manhattan pairs a Park Avenue princess with a southern hayseed in this opposites attract story. Cain and Violet couldn’t be more different from each other. Violet is a blue blood who wears pearls and is always polite. Cain, a product of a one-night stand, was brought up by his single mother and grew up in the south. Cain is rough around the edges and isn’t afraid to speak his mind and has no interest in living in Manhattan.

Cain and Violet’s story is fun and enchanting. Even though they are total opposites they are perfect for each other, and I enjoyed all of their bantering. They go back and forth between being annoyed with each other and fighting their growing attraction. Along the way, they realize they may have more in common than they realized.

I always enjoy everything Lauren Layne writes and this one is no exception. The characters are delightful and entertaining, and I was hoping they would work out their differences and end up together. Cain and Violets story left me with a good feeling.

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The Tower Steps by Aelth Faye

January 26, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Tower Steps by Aelth Faye
(Fairytale Hour #2)
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Marjoram has lived in her tower since her parents gave her to the witch to protect her family from her magical accidents. She sometimes wishes she could leave the tower, but she hates her magic and refuses to learn to control it, a prerequisite for getting out. The gardener boy exchanges letters with her, and she is content to stay a prisoner. But one day her foster mother brings a doctor who specializes in helping people like Marjoram. But the friendly doctor has dark secrets…

Who would have ever guessed that stealing a few herbs from a neighbor’s garden could be so life changing?

Marjoram was the quintessential fifteen-year-old girl in the best possible way. She was old enough to have nuanced conversations with her foster mother, but she wasn’t quite old enough to make the same decisions that an adult would make given the same experiences. Sometimes her impulsiveness made me shake my head, but I was impressed by how well the author captured what it’s like for a teenager to repeatedly butt heads with the people around her because she’s not quite developmentally ready yet to make other choices instead.

I would have preferred to see more character development in this novella. The first book in this series had a generous amount of it, so I was a little surprised by the reduced amount of attention it was given here. Marjoram was definitely amusing, but she didn’t grow and change from her experiences as much as I thought she could have. Her childhood was such a unique one that it sure seemed like it could have been the catalyst for something amazing in this area of the storyline. If that had been the case, I would have gone with a much higher rating as I liked everything else about it.

The world building was handled nicely. Marjoram grew up in such an isolated home that she and the audience had only the most rudimentary knowledge of the outside world. It was a great deal of fun for me as a reader to piece all of those scraps of information together and try to figure out how they should be interpreted. Some of them could easily be taken in multiple contradictory ways, so it required critical thinking to narrow down the possibilities. That’s exactly what I like to see when an author is describing the world their characters live in.

This is the second installment in a series, but it can be read as a standalone work.

The Tower Steps was a memorable retelling of Rapunzel, the classic German fairy tale, that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre.

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The Portrait by Joan Wolf

January 24, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Portrait by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Isabel Besson’s father owns a French Equestrian Circus in which she grew up, touring throughout France and performing with her brilliant horse, Alonzo. In the audience at a performance in London is Leo Sommers, Earl of Camden, who is stunned when he sees in Isabel the replica of his famous great-grandmother, whose portrait hangs in his drawing room.

This is no coincidence, as it soon comes to light that Isabel had been kidnapped as an infant and adopted by “Papa” and his wife when an English woman attempted to sell them the baby.

Isabel isn’t interested in meeting her natural family, but when she learns that her birth father, the Earl of Mansfield, has left her a great deal of money, Isabel sees a means for her Papa to retire from circus life, and she heads for a summer at Camden Hall to prove her right to the inheritance.

Camden Hall is one of England’s Great Houses, and everything about it feels alien to Isabel. She misses her Papa, the circus, France…everything from the life she knows. She does not like her new relatives: Lady Augusta, Leo’s elderly aunt who is always correcting her; Leo’s cousin Roger, who calls her “circus girl” and undresses her with his eyes; her own brother Henry, Earl of Mansfield, who doesn’t want to surrender their father’s money to her.

There is one person at Camden Hall who Isabel comes to love…the Earl of Camden—and Leo feels the same about her.

Which will win out…love, or money?

I think it’s impossible to dislike a Joan Wolf romance book. I must be enchanted by her style of writing. I was excited to start The Portrait because the synopsis sounded original to me. I’ve never read a plot where the heroine was kidnapped as an infant. Isabel, the heroine, grew up in an unconventional lifestyle compared to the life that she was born into. It was fascinating how the story evolved from beginning to end with the cast of characters and plot twists.

The hero, Leo, is every bit the Webster Dictionary definition of a hero, hands down. He was easy to fall in love with. He made the discovery and transition for Isabel’s new way of life bearable. I can’t imagine what it would be like to discover that I was the daughter of an earl after living nineteen years of my life. There is no comparison between growing up part of a French Equestrian Circus vs. growing up at Camden Hall, one of England’s Great Houses.

While I was pleased there was an epilogue included in this story, I was slightly disappointed with the plot thread regarding the death of a certain person. That thread felt weak, rushed or just tossed in there. Traditionally, Joan Wolf would weave a thread like that throughout her story making me riveted to my seat, not able to turn the pages fast enough. I didn’t let this disappointment hinder my enjoyment of the story. It just didn’t meet my level of exception that I’ve grown accustomed to from a Joan Wolf book. The Portrait was still a great read.

I recommend this book to a reader that is looking to escape into a sweet original romance. I enjoyed the relaxing romance between Leo and Isabel. I particularly enjoyed Isabel’s comments regarding “Off with their head”. It made me laugh. The Portrait was a fun read for me.

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The Christmas Pawdcast by Emily March

January 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Christmas Pawdcast by Emily March
Narrated by: Andi Arndt , Jason Clarke
Series: Audible Original Stories
Publisher: Audible Originals, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Mary Landry and her pregnant rescue dog are on their way home for Christmas when the unthinkable happens: Her car breaks down along a deserted stretch of mountain highway in the middle of a blizzard. Facing dire conditions, Mary seeks shelter from a lone cabin in the distance whose warm light beckons her like a Christmas star.

Nick Carstairs has one wish this season – to ride out his least favorite time of the year in peace while working on the latest episode of his hit True Crime podcast. The sexy-voiced podcaster didn’t plan to host a stranger and her pregnant dog, but he’s happy to help a traveler in need…it’s an extra perk that she’s gorgeous. Now if she would just stop trying to change his mind about Christmas.

As they spend time warming up by the fire – and an unexpected attraction roars to life – will Mary help Nick discover the wonder of the season after all?

My goodness, I didn’t know stories came this sweet! Sweet as in adorable, lovable, cute, tender, loving, romantic and PUPPIES!

It was really cool to have two narrators, one for the heroine, Mary, and one for the hero, Nick. It’s the first time I’ve read/listened to a story about a hero who is prematurely gray. Since this is a Christmas holiday story, it was great that a hunky Santa look-a-like owned and rocked his natural look sans belly.

Of course, the story uses the well-known trope of being stranded in a stranger’s home, and as they get to know each other, they fall in love. What I found amazing is the personality and realness the author imbued her story with. When a guy is delicious looking and a hunky treat for the eyes, it’s natural for the heroine to lust after him. These days, stories tend to follow through with the instant attraction and the character driven plot turns into a vehicle for sheet action. I’m thrilled that this is not that kind of book and Mary, though acknowledges Nick’s blatant masculinity and how much she’s drawn to him, the author had Mary and Nick stay on track. This is foremost a romance. A story of two strangers accidentally coming together and, by being forced by a blizzard to stay together, have to communicate, share and compromise. She’s a great cook, an avid Christmas holiday fan, and is committed to finding orphaned/abandoned pets their new furever homes. Nick is a divorced dad who dotes on his son, a son who is unfortunately spending the holiday with his mom. The hero is a bit of a Grinch. Not because he despises Christmas, but because he’s lost focus on the simple joys that bring the true Christmas spirit to life. He’s lost, and I’m tickled that his own Elf on a Shelf worked that holiday magic making sure he could get ‘found’. Nick’s holiday recovery is pragmatic, influential, timely and surprisingly fun.

You know, I don’t believe I am using the right words to adequately convey how charmed and delighted I am with this novella. It took a little over 2 hours to listen through the whole thing and The Christmas Pawdcast has everything, and I do mean everything, a romance reader needs to believe that this growing love between Mary and Nick is real, powerful, healthy and has a bright future. There is character accountability, emotional growth and healing as well as forgiveness. This is an absolute gem of a holiday story, packed with feel-good moments, and wishes for a puppy just as personable as Frank *ahem* I mean, Angel.

The pace is perfect and every moment kept me engaged, interested and charmed. The Christmas Pawdcast is, as far as I know, only available in audio format. If romance fans have access to audiobooks, then this is a story not to miss and I highly encourage giving this book a try. This was a splendid listening experience and worth all five stars of its rating especially since the narrators did an awesome job of bringing the story to life.

I had the best time, had a lot of fun and was thoroughly enchanted. My hope is other romance readers will have just as good a time as me when they read/listen to The Christmas Pawdcast too.

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Portrait of a Love by Joan Wolf

January 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Portrait of a Love by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

“I swore I would never get involved with a man again….”

Gifted artist Isabel McCarthy vowed to keep every moment spent with Leo Sinclair strictly business. Painting a portrait of this popular young senator could give her reputation a tremendous boost, but did she dare spend long hours alone with such a devastatingly handsome man—especially one who had a reputation for charming and disarming women? In Leo Sinclair’s brilliant blue eyes, Isabel clearly saw what he wanted from her. But while she was supposed to be fighting his passionate overtures, reminding herself how badly she had been burned by love before, her twice-foolish heart told her it was too late…the banked fire within her was ignited….

I undoubtedly would have rated this Best Book if there had been an epilogue. I absolutely loved this romance story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I knew I was nearing the end and I didn’t want it to end. I started to scroll slower hoping I wasn’t as near to the end as I feared. I wanted to keep reading, I wanted to know more, I was so happy and then…I scrolled and saw “About the Author”. I crashed and burned feeling bereft. I will never know what happened to my book boyfriend. I had a major book glow that dimmed when I realized I couldn’t be part of the hero and heroine’s life anymore. All the plot threads were tied up into a pretty bow, but I selfishly wanted more. The synopsis says “the banked fire within her (heroine) was ignited…” I really like that analogy. I think my love for romance books is like a “banked fire”. Either the book ignites me or it doesn’t. Portrait of a Love by Joan Wolf definitely ignited me.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this book was because there weren’t any mind games between the hero, Leo, and the heroine, Isabel. They were forward and honest with each other. Both characters were relatable and well-developed. The sincerity between all the characters was tangible and realistic. I really felt part of the book.

Leo was intelligent, respectful, patient and genuinely kind-hearted to everyone. Leo was also rich and famous. Isabel was just as wholesome and well-rounded as Leo, but she was close to poor and not famous. Together they made a formidable pair. Their romance was sensual and heartwarming. The banter between them made me smile and/or laugh. They were comfortable as individuals and as a couple. I love that kind of balance between a hero and heroine. True best friends.

I can’t find any constructive criticism to mention about Portrait of a Love other than I wanted to see into Leo and Isabel’s future. This book is definitely a keeper to re-read some day. This novel is a must read to be put on someone’s “to be read” list. I hope this book ignites other readers’ “banked fire” and they read the story too.

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Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons

January 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Dicentra

Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources.

Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family’s taxes. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn’t have the earth god’s powers like his opponents. His elemental gift is something else—something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.

When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games, throwing Madoc in Ash’s path. She realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs—but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.

But when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal—it will unravel the world.

After reading the words Avatar-The Last Airbender meets Gladiator in the blurb, there was no way I couldn’t read this book. I went in with very high expectations, and I’m very happy to report that the authors exceeded them.

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons is told from dual points of view, and the two narrators couldn’t have come from more different backgrounds. Ash is the last in a long line of famed gladiators, and no stranger to using her elemental fire. She understands her responsibilities but finds no joy in the arena. Madoc, on the other hand, has no elemental gift but has still managed to make a name for himself in street fights (earning money to feed his family). When circumstances force them together, they end up setting a chain of events into motion that will change their world forever.

I’m a big fan of mythology, and I practically squealed when I learned this book features its own unique pantheon. The interactions between these gods reminded me a lot of how the Greek and Roman gods brought mortals into the middle of their disputes. I’m at the point where it’s very hard for an author to surprise me with a story based on classical mythology (because I’ve read so much), but I enjoyed how the authors of this book were able to keep me on the edge of my seat and throw in a lot of unexpected twists. The dynamics of how each of the elemental gifts work was also a highlight.

While the book is compared to Avatar The Last Airbender and Gladiator, I was also reminded of The Hunger Games. Citizens are forced to fight for the pleasure of those in power, and while winning gladiators are promised a life of comfort, they never really earn true freedom (similar to the Victors of Panem). Fights are slightly fairer in this book though, as gladiators are not children and they do receive training before they are forced to compete in the arena.

Please note, this book does feature the on-page death of a parent. While in some books you could skip over the triggering event, that isn’t really possible as it occurs towards the beginning of the story and is referenced multiple times in subsequent chapters.

I’m eager to learn how this story ends in the sequel, Rise Up From the Embers. Readers can expect action-packed fight scenes, an exciting magic system, and off-the-charts world-building when they pick up this book. I would happily recommend it to fantasy readers at the young adult level and above.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
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