Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy
Length: 384 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Child Abuse (Not Sexual) and Neglect

I have to admit I was absolutely drawn to this book thanks to the gorgeous cover! And, I was happy to discover that this book is not only a great balm for those waiting for more Bridgerton, but also a wonderful choice for those whose favorite Jane Austen is Persuasion, like me.

Aphrodite Du Bell has been in love with Evander Eagleman, Duke of Everley, all her life. She was once even engaged to him when she was eighteen, only to be left waiting, ashamed and alone. Ever since, she has kept to the family estate, too heartbroken to return to London at the chance that she might see him. But, at the insistence of her hard-headed Mama, she is back to stun all of the Ton--and catch a husband in the process. Whether she wants to or not.

Little does she know, Evander had a very good reason for why he didn't show. It all has to do with his family, who are mixed up in quite the scandal, should it be discovered. He is only back in London for the season, to chaperone his younger sister, Verity, as she comes out into society. Only, Aphrodite is there, too, and his love for her still burns just as bright as it did four years ago. Can things ever be repaired? Can Evander let Aphrodite in, even if it means exposing his family, and his painful past? And can Aphrodite handle the demands of being a Duchess, a wife, and a stepmother, all while keeping true to herself?

Aphrodite and the Duke is a story of a second chance at true love, and has a somewhat unusual setup for a romance as the heroine and hero end up married about at 40% or 50% into the book. I loved how they would fight and disagree but would quickly talk it out, discover just what laid behind the sharp words and overreactions, to the tender and bruised parts beneath. Aphrodite was a charming heroine, wise and innocent all at once, with a deep love for her family (who all feature and are fun characters in their own rights) and books. Evander was fine as a hero, though I sometimes found him a bit snooty, especially when it came to his stepmother and the villain. Though I had a few little qualms with him, I thought they made a wonderful couple, and evened each other out spectacularly.

A fun romance with lots of heart, I can't help but look forward to more historical work by J.J. McAvoy, hopefully featuring some of Aphrodite's family, or Evander's!

Book Review: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Ableism and Ableist Language, Murder, Gore, Blood and Statutory Rape (Relationship between fifteen year old and older men)

I've been back in a Nordic Noir mood, and wanted something to read to go along with that vibe. A while back, I spotted The Tenant by Katrine Engberg at my local bookstore and thought that the cover, along with the description, sounded intriguing! My mother also happened to read this book, and when I asked her what she thought of it, she couldn't remember anything about it, which I think says more about this book than I ever could. But I'll try.

Told in between three POVs, that of Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner (yes, they rhyme), and an older aspiring author, Esther, who just so happens to own the building where the first murder occurs, The Tenant starts off promising enough. A young girl has been killed in her apartment, the killer stabbing her and then carving a strange pattern onto her face, reminiscent of the traditional Danish Easter paper cuttings called gækkebrev. 

Unfortunately, I think the characters are the biggest downfall here, and while the mystery itself is interesting enough with a pretty satisfying conclusion, I couldn't help but just really dislike most of the principal players. Jeppe is the least offensive, along with Esther, but Anette was the worst of them--brash, rude, and the Queen of making off-color comments. No one was out of bounds for her, not Jeppe and his "girly" hair that she can't take seriously (it's only bleached blond), not the backwards and provincial Faroese, not even one of the main suspects, a boy with Autism called Kristoffer.

It was the handling of Kristoffer that was truly the kiss of death, here. He is called "creepy", a "weirdo", a "nutjob" and more, and the fact that he was in a relationship with the victim and that he "wouldn't give her space" and so on and so forth, and I simply couldn't abide it. There are so many instances of things like this in the book, not just in regards to Kristoffer, that made it obvious it wasn't just unlikeable characters like Anette, but perhaps a bit of the author's own biases coming through. On another note, one of the antagonists mentions that he has had sex with "maids and whores [...] black, yellow and red", not to mention several teen girls. Yikes!

Not the mystery, nor the writing, which was not my style at all, could make amends for these faults. It is really disappointing, because I so looked forward to maybe getting into a fun and exciting mystery series!

Book Review: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Jove Books for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Divorce, Parental Abuse (Psychological), Mention of Suicide, and Parental Death

Ahhh! I absolutely adored this book and I can't tell you how glad I am that I requested it. Usually, contemporary romances are a true hit or miss with me (most of the humor comes across more cringey than cute), but I can say undoubtedly that this is one of the best I've ever read (and it actually made me laugh out loud!)

Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with true crime (it's even the focus of her dissertation), has an ungodly amount of 90's movies graphic t-shirts, and a chip on her shoulder. After the death of her father, who she hadn't seen in years after a messy divorce ended up with her staying with her mom, she is back in her hometown in Florida, ready to sell his house and get out as soon as possible. Her brother Conner is there to help, but they never got to spend much time together, seeing as his parent of choice was their dad. But Conner has an infectious sort of personality, a big kid with a love for Crash Bandicoot and Mountain Dew. And now, he needs help with one of the most important moments of his life--proposing to his longtime girlfriend, Shani. Phoebe isn't sure true love exists, but she's not going to let him down.

To keep her busy (and to procrastinate about finishing her dissertation), Phoebe is keeping an eye on her new neighbor, Sam, who has a soundproof garage and nocturnal activities--could he be a serial killer? Or is he something even more dangerous, a man who might have captured Phoebe's heart?

Phoebe was so relatable to me. As a woman who came from a home similar to hers, I struggle with the exact same issues as she does: opening myself up, being vulnerable, and admitting that sometimes I do need an extra bit of help. I loved seeing someone like us find love with such a wonderful guy, who was funny and cute and wonderful for her, and it really warmed my heart. I also really liked the secondary characters, like Conner and Shani, and Phoebe's childhood bestfriend, Alison.

This book is perfect for the broken girls who still want a bit of romance, those who love true crime, and might I mention there is a cat? Perfect!

Small Angels by Lauren Owen

Small Angels by Lauren Owen
Length: 400 Pages
Genres: Gothic, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death, Blood, Gore, Animal Attacks and Mention of Animal Death, and Instances of Child Abuse (Physical and Psychological)

"In a distant time (the story ran) people cleared trees from the edge of Mockbeggar to make space for themselves, a place to build and farm, They moved in and stayed awhile, and then they were gone--wandering or dead, no one could say for sure now. But they left their relics behind: smashed pots, lost coins, assorted bones. And decade by decade, root by root, the trees moved back and swallowed it all."

Many years ago, I picked up Lauren Owen's debut called The Quick. It remains, to this day, one of my favorite pieces of vampire media, and a story that stuck with me for long afterwards. Many times, I've wondered why she hadn't put anything else out--and secretly hoped that one day she would return with something else beautiful and gothic. When I happened across this book, I was elated! Finally, I thought, Lauren Owen has come back! I was desperate to request it on NetGalley but worried I wouldn't have the time. And then, I was contacted by Random House to see if I was interested. How could I say no? 

Chloe has been in love with her fiancé, Sam's, village since she first step foot there. It is like falling back through time, to a place that is lovelier, calmer, full of colorful locals and beautiful nature. Of course, it's no surprise that she would wish to have her wedding there. When the original location falls through, Chloe takes it upon herself to instead host it at an old church at the edge of the woods called St. Michael's and All His Angels, or Small Angels, colloquially. It is a dream come true, and if it needs a bit of work, a bit of polish and shine, well, it's all worth it in the end. Only Chloe doesn't know the story of Small Angels, or the village, or those entrancing, dangerous woods, called Mockbeggar--a place where the locals warn her never to go.

Kate, Sam's sister, knows what the forest is capable of. She hasn't returned in ten years, not since a disaster struck and left everything in pieces. Kate, young and brave, was in love with Lucia Gonne, of the infamous Gonne family, who hosted late night walks through the woods, singing a peculiar song, who keep torches blazing through the land, and ring the bells of Small Angels on full moons. Once, a long time ago, people went to the Mockbeggar Woods to tell stories to the trees, and sometimes, those stories would be remembered. There is one story--of a boy betrayed, of three white dogs and a house made of roses--that the woods refuse to forget. Mockbeggar has lain dormant since Kate left, but now it is coming alive again--and the ghosts are angry.

There are some books you come across that make you remember why they exist in this first place, that this is what storytelling is about. Lauren Owen has woven a tale of such beauty and poetry, sadness and love and forgiveness, that I felt enraptured from beginning to end by her mastery. Small Angels put me in mind of my favorite sorts of books, full of magic and danger, and reminded me of the first time I read Angela Carter and was in shock with awe. This is a story about stories, about true love, first love, and the special sort of love that exists only between siblings. I can't remember the last time I read such a fantastic and original ghost story, and this should be categorized with such staples like The Turn of the Screw or The Woman in Black. It was a heady mix of horror and fairytale and love story, I wish I could experience it all over again already! 

If you read nothing else this year I beg you to read Small Angels, and be whisked away to a sleepy English village full of apparitions, strange superstitions, and memories that can come back to draw blood.