P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend.  Mine was a bit chaotic but good.  I finally got to watch Netflix The Punisher, which I really enjoyed and see Bad Mom's Christmas.  That said I didn't get a ton of reading done, though I did get an hour or two into my current car audiobook driving to and from my parents place so that's a win.  That said last week I reviewed To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han here and as soon as I reviewed it I started on book two P.S. I Still Love You right away and finished it that same day and as I am eager to get to book three I have to review this one first so here we go.  Spoilers for book one…duh.

Rating:  5 Stars

                When we left off Lara Jean had realized she still loved Peter and wanted to fix things.  She had written five love letters and had received word from all but one.  As she starts something real with Peter it becomes a bit more complicated as her other love and letter come into her life as Peter makes some decisions that don't sit well with Lara Jean.  We see everything for the first time through the very distinct and quirky Lara Jean.

                Now this story has me hooked.  I want to know what will happen next for Lara Jean so badly.  She is such a sweet and innocent girl who has all these dreams and ideas but is also happy in her comfort zone and afraid to really step outside of it.  This story really makes her step forward in a lot of ways.  She is forced to be bolder than she has and take charge of her life.  She is experiences many different emotions all at once and for the first time which for anyone would be confusing.  The way it is written is just so sweet and enduring that you get caught up in the whole of it and feel it all like it was happening to you.  Also can I just say how much I adore that she’s a baker because I do love that aspect of her character.  She has mentioned so many ideas that have now been added to my list to try.

                There were times when I was back and forth on what I wanted to happen.  I admit to wavering at points given the information available at the given time.  I wanted Lara Jean to find happiness and was caught up in every moment of this heartfelt story.  I enjoyed this story so much that as I lay listening to this story around 80% through I had to go and buy the third book right then.  Yep no waiting for an extra credit to be available or anything I just knew that when I finished this one I was going to want to continue ASAP.  And while things did resolve in the story enough that I had to start the next one right away I still am looking forward to starting it this week.  There is just so much going on with Lara Jean between her love life, family, and friends I am excited to see where things go for her. 

                I can’t really discuss too much about the story because you should enjoy it as it progresses but the characters were there.  I got to see more with the sisters, the always late coffee spilling neighbor, the boys, and my favorite to learn more about were the residents at the retirement community. They had such diverse backgrounds and fun stories to explore plus being at their age they are set in their ways and able to say/do whatever they want because why not.  I loved the play off of them.  I can’t wait to see how Lara Jean’s journey ends in the next book. 

                Until next time…

~Review & Giveaway~ A Crown of Wishes

                Hello happy readers!  Another day late post, sorry but I didn’t have the pictures I needed on my flash drive and wanted to wait until I got home and had them.  Since I am after all hosting a much deserved giveaway for a signed copy of the book I’m reviewing!  All the details will be at the bottom.  The book in question is A Crown of Wishes (The Star Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi.  Now this isn’t a traditional sequel more of a companion book featuring another character, the little sister of our MC in the previous book.  Now there are some spoilers to the first book in here so I would still suggest reading in order but that may be my OCD talking.  I reviewed the first book here.  I received a digital ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating:  4 Rubies

                First can we just take a moment to really appreciate the beautiful cover?  It is beautiful.  And so is the writing in the world full of magic.  We follow Gauri princess of Bharata and Vikram prince of Ujijain a neighboring land.  Both want to lead their people but have their own road blocks.  Gauri starts out a prisoner of Ujijain and Vikram is to kill her but he has been invited to join the Tournament of Wishes and needs a partner.  Gauri doesn’t trust magic but she has no choice as things unfold.  The competition will last a month in the mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.  The tournament is anything but easy and will push them toward all sorts of dangers and trials testing both body and mind.

                I loved the whole idea of the story.  The tournament itself was amazing full of twists and turns always keeping you and the characters on their toes.  The author has a beautiful way of describing the world that just draws you in and makes you feel like this magical place could be real.  I think this would have been an even better in an audiobook because I had no idea how to pronounce many things but could imagine them none the less but having someone read it to me would have been even better.  Roshani read a small snippet at the launce and it was so beautiful. I have a video but it won't upload here I'll try adding it to social media though :( 

                Gauri and Vikram were so much fun.  They were so different in many ways like how Gauri is a weapon she is battle tested and ready for a fight and Vikram is less prepared for a physical altercation but is sharp as a whip and cunning as they come.  They both aspire to rule their respective lands, to be better for their people and stopping at nothing to make it happen.  They have the same drive and determination even if they go about things differently.  This made them a great pair for the tournament balancing out one another.  It's this same balance and chemistry that made the romantic tensions between them sizzle from the start.  I loved how they grew to know one another and was on edge wanting something to happen between them!  Then when you add in Aasha, a vishakanya, and her sisters really gave another level to the story.  I found myself rooting for her as well. 

                The story was really beautifully written and such a joy to read.  I highly recommend both books and while I say read them in order you can read either as a stand-alone is a huge plus.  Someone will be getting a signed copy of A Crown of Wishes alone with some tattoos that the author was handing out at her signing.  So the giveaway will stay open for two weeks winner on the 24th.  This is open to the US only, sorry but international shipping is a beast!  I have some more giveaways coming up since I've had some pretty awesome signings happening so cheers and stay tuned.

        

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The Wrath and the Dawn

                So if you saw my Waiting on Wednesday post yesterday then you know what to expect today.  That's right, my thoughts and feels on The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh.  First just a note you can still check out my open giveaway here for a signed copy of The Rose Society by Marie Lu.  Now onto the review.

Rating: 5 Tales

                This is a re-telling inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.  I admit to never knowing the full original story but I am fascinated by it.  Basically the land is ruled by a boy-king who takes a new bride each day as she never survives the dawn.  After her best friend is killed Shahrzad volunteers to be his wife vowing revenge.  She is determined to stay alive and put an end to this pain and madness.  Shahrzad manages to stay alive each dawn weaving stories that enchant the king as she had planned.  However, that's the only thing that went according to plan.  Khalid is nothing like she expected and instead she finds herself having feelings both for him and of her own betrayal to her friend.  She is determined to uncover the secret that has claimed so many lives no matter the cost. 

                So I have to say I listened to the audiobook.  I won a CD copy in a giveaway and it seemed perfect to listen to when I went up to visit a friend at the start of the year.  I figured 7-8 hours in the car overall would put a huge dent in the story and it did.  I was so captivated by the story, though I will admit like with fantasy this is full of names I have no idea how to spell/pronounce normally but as I listened I can say them but when I looked up some of the names to write this I was like…."yep never would have got that" so that's fun. I highly recommend the audiobook though. 

                This story was intriguing to me from the start.  I loved the internal conflict within the characters of Shahrzad and Khalid.  This isn't a simple love story.  There is so much happening from the secrets kept guarded, the stories, the characters and everything as a whole.  I really enjoyed the tales and how they played a part in the story, I'd heard some of them before of course but seeing them and how parts could relate to this story just enhanced it.  Shahrzad has a hatred for this man who took her best friend and yet as she is near him he looks tormented.  He isn't the monster she envisioned, heartless and uncaring.  Her opinions of him waver through the story which I enjoyed she appreciated his attractiveness near the start but there was no insta-love.  Definitly not that.  Still as she learns more about him she begins to know there has to be more, a deeper meaning.  On her mission to find that she develops feelings for the man she should hate which causes some serious conflict within her.  Then with Khalid you know this is hard for him, he isn't sure of himself with her which despite everything else he rules is kind of cute.  I also love that he appreciates her honesty and her attitude that most would condemn her for. 

                Okay where getting the book for spelling came into play, I really enjoyed some of the other characters as well for both good and bad reasons.  Jalal and Despina both had me laughing my behind off at some of their lines, normally in reference to Shahrzad.  Despina isn't taking anything from her and is kind of like a snarky best girl friend.  I even had to love the Rajput and his stoic silence.  The Sultan of Parthia and his daughter Yasmine were both interesting and added depth to the story and wow did I love some of the verbal smack-downs that happen though out the book.  Seriously, Shahrzad is like a smack down champ!  We didn't just focus on Shahrzad and Khalid but we also got bit from her father Jahandar and her childhood and first love Tariq and his best friend Rahim, who is like a brother to Shahrzad.  I'm not sold on the motivations of all the characters yet, some are still questionable to me but each element built a larger story. 

                That's all I can really say on this accept enjoy the world and the journey.  How do I want it to be May so I can have the sequel in my hands.  Seriously I didn't think I would be this in need of it but here I am.  I'm also in the middle of an internal debate about the sequel and if I want to pre-order the hardcopy or since I loved the audiobook so much do I want to listen to The Rose and the Dagger as well.  Conflicted.  Apparently I have a few months ahead of me to make the decision.  I'd love to hear your thoughts down below on the book, characters, and well thoughts on my internal struggle as well.

                Until next time…