Hi hello and welcome to my April wrap-up! I had a great reading month with some amazing poetry, some author redemption, and finding a new favorite author that I plan to get lost in. I will be including mini-reviews for all 11 books I read this month in case you're interested in my thoughts on each book.  I'll also be linking to any review posts if you'd like to check out my more in-depth thoughts on a book. All books will have links to their Goodreads pages in case you want to add any of these books to your want-to-read lists. With that being said, let's get started!

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Title: Spades
Author: Charlie Nottingham
Pages:
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 03 May 2022

From Author's Website: Brooke is a retired supernatural hunter - now a peace-loving librarian, ignoring her paranormal roots. Declan is the owner of Spades - a biker bar known for its otherworldly clientele. When Brooke gets roped into one last case, she ends up at Spades. But the job goes out the window after a couple drinks with Declan. One day later, Brooke can feel Declan's pain, and he can hear her thoughts... without trying. Somehow, Brooke and Declan are now bound on a sensual, almost spiritual level. But it was only supposed to be a one-night stand. Are they bound together forever?

Mini-Review: I really enjoyed this, oh my gosh. The writing and the world felt effortless to fall into, I found myself very intrigued by the two main characters Brooke and Declan, and I finished this book wanting to know more! You know how some stories that are set in previously established worlds can sometimes feel like…confusing? With Spades, while I do think there is a larger world that the author has created and that exists in other books outside of this one, I never felt lost or like I was “missing” anything. If anything, it made me want to read more and discover the larger picture of the world! Absolutely enjoyed my time with this story and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

 

From Goodreads: "Angels sharpening their blades. A mortal world plagued by demons. And one young woman torn between them. As an orphan in Midri, Sanaa wants only one thing: Freedom outside the walls of Vice District. When she’s caught by the dreaded poachers and sold at auction, she’ll do anything to escape her fate. Anything. Rynk has battled his way to the top of the angel hierarchy, but he longs for his fated mate. Instead, the Council sends him to Midri to recover a lost token of the Celestials—the sacred relic he lost as a child. Rynk must seize this one chance for redemption if he ever hopes of finding her—his Beloved. In the demon-infested world of Midri, Rynk stumbles across a young woman on death’s door. With a single touch, three things become crystal clear to the blind warrior: 1. She is his Beloved. 2. She’s human. 3. She rejects their fated bond.With demons closing in, Sanaa and Rynk are running out of time. If they don’t overcome the bruises of their pasts, thousands will die. Because it’s not just their hearts at risk— Sanaa’s entire world will be destroyed if the two can’t find a way to accomplish the impossible. Before the angels burn Midri to ash.

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Thank you so much to Raye Wagner for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I feel like I've waited an eternity to read another one of Raye Wagner's books again! This was a wonderful return to the incredible worlds that she creates and I didn't realize just how much I had missed reading her work until I started reading this book. I knew as soon as I picked it up that I would fall for everything that this book had to offer and I was absolutely correct.

Sanaa, an orphan living in V District in Midri, wants only one thing: freedom. Rynk, a blind angel that fought his way to the top of the angel hierarchy, wants nothing more than to find his fated mate. During a mission from the Angelic council to retrieve a Celestial artifact, Rynk stumbles upon a dying Sanaa and with just one touch, he discovers that she is the one he has been looking for. But Sanaa has no desire to be anyone's Beloved, especially not after being sold to an abusive merchant. Sanaa has lost the ability to trust anyone, men most of all, and all she wants is revenge against those who have wronged her. Can this unlikely pair learn to trust and work together before Sanaa’s world is destroyed?

I had so much fun with this story! At 478 pages it certainly wasn’t anything to sneeze at. This was a book that I took my time with in a sense, despite devouring it every time I picked it up. I wanted to really lose myself in the world and the story and it was so easy to do that with such an engaging plot! I wanted to know everything about the demons and angels and Lilith and betrayal and love and all of the things that were packed into the story. I was worried I would be overwhelmed at times, but it was laid out in a way that gave you information about the world and what was happening slowly so that you could take the time to really digest what was happening. Angel stories can usually be hit or miss for me but this one was a grand slam home run touchdown insert more sportsball phrases here! I loved the lore and how the different angels came to be and I really felt like I was learning as Sanaa was learning. I could honestly read an entire series about this world; I feel like there was so much packed into here that I want more of! Raye Wagner is a master at weaving together a memorable story and this is absolutely unforgettable in every way.

One thing that you can always be sure of if you're reading a book by Raye Wagner is that her characters will absolutely steal your heart. Sanaa and Rynk are no different! This book is definitely a more character-focused one and I think it really made the reading experience so much better. You really get to spend a lot of time with Sanaa and Rynk and see their relationship develop over time. Insta-love is not something that really interests me anymore as I’ve gotten older so I really appreciated not only getting to know these characters over time but also seeing them get to know each other as the story progressed. 

Sanaa is incredibly wary of everything at first, especially with the whole Beloved business that she wants nothing to do with. It takes her a long time to truly trust that Rynk doesn’t have ulterior motives because she’s been hurt before, and you can see that in the way that she carries herself and how she acts. You can tell that she wants to trust him and embrace her new life, but she’s so unsure of everything. Watching her come into her own and learn about her powers and where she comes from was such a wonderful journey to go on. I felt like I was growing with her as she started to open herself up more and it was such a great experience to see her transformation from the start of the book to the end! 

I think that Raye Wagner handled the topic of Sanaa’s trauma very well in Angels of Ashes and Ivory. She showed that it’s not as simple as waking up one day and everything is suddenly better, but rather it’s a long and difficult journey learning to heal and moving forward with your life. I also genuinely appreciated that there was no “love fixes everything” trope because even though this is a fantasy story, that’s not how it happens. I actually found it quite funny that Rynk really thought that Sanaa finding out she was his Beloved would fix everything and that she would instantly fall in love with him only for him to get rejected throughout most of the book. I love when tropes get turned on their heads like that!

The relationship between Sanaa and Rynk was incredibly refreshing to read. I haven’t read a slow-burn romance in a long time, let alone one where a character had to overcome immense trauma. It was sad seeing all of the ways that Sanaa would basically punish herself because she felt like she didn’t deserve love or basic human (or I guess angel?) kindness due to what she had gone through. Rynk also had an incredible transformation, starting off as a frustrated and seemingly entitled character to actually taking the time to care for Sanaa in the ways that she needed and finally becoming a wonderful partner to the strong woman that Sanaa eventually becomes. The two of them are such amazing characters and I knew that I would adore them as soon as I started reading. I was definitely not disappointed!

This is Raye Wagner at her finest, hands down. It’s no secret that I’ve loved her books for many years so of course I’m always going to sing her praises, but this really is some of my favorite writing that ive ever read from her. The world building was something else entirely and I really loved the lore of the world and learning all about the different types of angels. You can really tell that this book is written from the heart and I felt it as I was reading. There was just something different about this one that sat with me as I read and long after I finished the final page. 

"What was a body anyway? Nothing more than a shell for the soul. A body meant nothing as long as her soul was her own. Her soul. Her heart. Her mind. If no one controlled those, then what did it matter who bought her body? It didn’t matter a bit.”

“Things admitted in the dark of night were not always easy to say in the light of day.”

“Before this goes any further, Blue, you need time for your heart and mind and body to be in agreement. What I want will wait for what you need.”

I can always count on Raye Wagner to have quotes sprinkled throughout her books that hit me straight in the heart and this book was no different. I’m convinced that she’s a magical being that somehow always manages to write stories that speak to different parts of my life. I always seem to read her books at a time when I need the messages that they give the most and this time is no different  I’ve been struggling to return to my “normal”  life and find myself after beating cancer and seeing Sanaa being able to slowly but surely rebuild herself after her trauma has given me hope that, despite how different our traumas are, I can also rebuild myself and start again. It brings me joy to find positive messages like this in the books that I read, so thank you Raye for giving me this gift, however indirectly it may be.

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Angels of Ashes and Ivory is an incredible story about learning to love, healing from trauma, and becoming the person you were meant to be. After several years of being absent from writing, Raye Wagner has come back stronger than ever and shown that she is still the queen of fantasy. With an exciting and engaging plot that will keep you turning the pages, characters that will break your heart and mend it back together, and writing that will speak to your soul, Angels of Ashes and Ivory is a powerful story that is sure to stick with you long after you finish reading!

  

From Goodreads: "What if you were in love with heaven and hell? 
Cassia Delamore is a foster kid. Shuffled from home to home all her life after losing her mother, she’s never known her father, nor what it feels like to be loved. She hopes to start a new life in the idyllic town of Heaven. She has a plan; graduate high school, pack her bags, and leave her tragic past behind her. Yet fate is about to turn Cassia’s life upside down. On her first day of high school, she meets two very different men… bad boy Thames, who possesses a fiery temper, and cool Cairo, captain of the football team and all-around hero. But there’s more to these men than meets the eye. As Cassia grows closer to the boys, she discovers a world of angels and demons fighting for the souls of mankind. Cassia finds herself immersed in a holy war that isn’t hers, torn between Cairo and Thames in a love triangle straight out of a storybook. Will Cassia taste forbidden fruit? Or will her epic romance end in a dark destiny? 

Thank you to Megan Linski and Gryfyn Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

Yup, that's right, another Megan Linski book. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. At this point, I'm pretty convinced that she's a writing wizard sent to Earth to bring us amazing book after amazing book. Seriously, she has some crazy talent. So strap in and prepare for my review gush about her newest book, Torrent.

Plot:
Cassia is a foster kid, bouncing from home to home after losing her mother as a kid. Now, in the town of Heaven, Michigan with her new foster mother, she hopes to start a new life. Her plan is to graduate high school, pack her bags, and leave her past behind her. But fate has other plans. On her first day of school, she meets two very different people- hot-headed Thames and calm and cool Cairo. There's more to these boys than meets the eye and their differences are more than they appear on the surface. Cassia is soon thrust into a world full of angels and demons and a holy war that has nothing to do with her. Torn between Cairo and Thames in a love triangle that could become fatal, will Cassia reach out to what's forbidden or will her romance end in tragedy?

Fair warning, my reviews on Megan Linski books tend to be more me blabbering on about how much I loved the book and her writing. This will probably be no different. I've been on a roll reading her Shifter Prophecy series, all caught up in a romance involving a vampire and a wolf and their incredibly convoluted love story. When I saw an ARC copy of Torrent sitting in my inbox, I quite literally pounced. All I saw about the book was, "What if you were in love with heaven and hell?" and I was sold. It doesn't take much when it comes to a Megan Linski book, to be quite honest. She consistently puts out books that just speak to me on different levels and I've never been disappointed by her work. Torrent is no exception. The plot follows Cassia as she tries to navigate not only a new home and foster mother, but a new school, and her growing feelings for two boys that aren't exactly human, but there is so much more to this book than you think there is, and I loved every bit of it. From the battle between angels and demons, to Cassia's crazy "love triangle," and most importantly, Cassia herself, Torrent hooked me and didn't let go until the last page.

This book starts off feeling a bit like Twilight (which hit me right in the nostalgia feels and had me impatiently turning pages on my Kindle to read more, no shame) with the new girl in school meeting the mysterious bad boy. Except there's two boys, and only one of them is "bad." There's secrets, and romance, and more secrets and it all comes together to create an addictive story that will have you aggressively turning the pages for more. Seriously, it's addictive. Everything unfolds so well and does a great job at keeping the reader interested while not giving away all of the important details all at once. One of the best points of the story? The romance isn't insta-love! It builds up slowly (with both boys) and you feel rather satisfied when they finally step up and reveal their feelings. I'm generally not a fan of love triangles, and was hesitant at the thought of reading about another one, but I think I can safely say that this isn't a love triangle. It's complicated, but definitely makes more sense once you read it. Also, I loved how clever Megan Linski was making the setting in Heaven, Michigan. All of the clever points to her for that. Torrent is just an incredibly easy and satisfying read that is sure to please fans of the paranormal romance genre. Step aside, Fallen, because Torrent is here to slay!

Characters:
Cassia was such a great character to follow. There was a deeper level to her than I initially thought and when I learned about her past and why she was so eager to leave it behind, I honestly wanted to crawl between the pages and hug her. She had a rough life with all of her foster homes, and her most recent one (before coming to Heaven, Michigan) was the worst. Watching her try to adapt to a home/foster parent that actually loved and cared for her was so sad because she truly didn't understand what was happening. She didn't get that her foster mom actually loved her and wanted to take care of her and have her stay and it absolutely broke my heart to see that. But in spite of her terrible past, she was so strong. Cassia didn't take crap from anyone, angels and demons included. She stood up for herself and called people out on their nonsense and I couldn't get enough of her sassy attitude. There was also something about her that I kind of called from the beginning, but it was still cool finding it out at the end! Cassia was just fabulous and so real and I truly think anyone who reads Torrent will end up with a soft spot for her.

Very quickly, I want to touch on the boys of the book. Cairo and Thames were about as opposite as you can get, but I loved both of them. It's pretty obvious who is who, but you almost want things to be flipped around as far as who is who. I know, confusing again, but it'll make sense if you read the book! I found myself immediately drawn to Thames, but I wasn't surprised about that as the bad boys are generally the ones I gravitate towards. I think what I liked most about them was that their personalities matched who they were perfectly. Also, they were both so protective of Cassia and cared for her so much and while it was great to see them "fighting" over her (and I know Cassia was all about it as well) it was also great to see them work together to keep her safe. I really hope there is a sequel to this book because I could seriously use another book all about these characters!

Oh, and I'm forever team Thassia.

Writing:
I say it in every review I do of a Megan Linski book but I loved the writing. There's just something about her writing that's so easy to sit down and read. It's descriptive and really gives you the ability to picture the world that she's created, but you never feel like you're being bombarded with information. It flows so well and there's always something about it that will give you the feels. With Torrent, there's an underlying story about a girl that's trying to move on from your past and discovering the person that you are. The romance feels authentic and not like insta-love and the interactions between all of the characters feel genuine and not like things are forced together. Megan Linski has a great way of creating a world and making it feel real, no matter what it's about. Torrent is a beautiful story about personal growth, acceptance, love, and fighting demons to keep the world safe. Hey, it is paranormal romance after all!

Torrent is a fantastic new paranormal romance that is sure to instantly capture everyone's attention. Readers will love the romance between Cassia, Cairo, and Thames and the writing will effortlessly draw you in to their world. With memorable characters, beautiful writing, and an ending that will leave you begging for a sequel, Torrent is a book that can't be missed!