Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 21

Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Ever After Street #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 02nd Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/christmasaftersocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212346662-christmas-ever-after

Genre: Small Town Christmas Romance

4 Stars

One Liner: A sweet Christmassy read

Book Blurb:

A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams cometrue. Welcome to Ever After Street...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but FrancaAndrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, sheneeds a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open... Butthere’s one man standing in her way - expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.

Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation forbringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit, much toFranca’s annoyance! But this Christmas their shops are pitted against eachother and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn't know howher handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff's magical snowglobes, especially at the most magical time of the year!

Franca is determined to prove Raff’s business isbuilt on lies. But when disaster strikes, and she’s left unable to makeanything, she needs help. It’s just very frustrating that the only personoffering is her gorgeous, annoying, nemesis himself!

As these two enemies get to know each other, Francadiscovers another side to Raff – kind, caring, and funny. But unless she canprove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together,she’s going to lose everything…

But maybe it's not too late for them to put asidetheir differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Franc’s first-person POV.

The fourth book in the series can be read as astandalone. It has an enemies-to-lovers trope where two business owners andartisans fight to retain their spot on Ever After Street.

As always, the characters are layered and flawed,making it easy to empathize with them or want to cheer for them. They are intheir late 30s, with enough issues in the past.

I love how the author creates such perfect bookboyfriends. Raff is warm, kind-hearted, compassionate, talented, and cheerful.His relationship with his family is beautiful but not perfect. He has anunwanted burden on his shoulders and doesn’t know how to deal with it.

Franc is a disillusioned and cynical character whoslowly reconnects with her soft side. Her argument does feel immature but notunrealistic (it makes sense given her childhood). She is a good person andwilling to admit her mistakes. Her arc is encouraging and reassuring.

The ‘enmity’ doesn’t last long. Things start to thawrather early in the book but I like it since we see the natural progress oftheir relationship (something the author excels in writing). I absolutely lovehow their interactions change both of them for the better but gradually.

Do I have to repeat how the author writes the besthugs? Makes me go awww every single time!

There is a sort of third-act breakup but more of aresigned move than due to miscommunication or a fight). Think of it as a shortlull where they take a deep breath and resume the story. The ending is, ofcourse, hopeful and heartwarming.

We also get the background details about theprocessing of making a wooden nutcracker. The details are woven into the plotand presented in different scenes to enhance the narrative. The ideas forfuture projects (nutcrackers and snowglobes) are so cool!

Ever After Street is a magical place, but with some‘strict’ owners who tend to cause some or other issues for the shop owners.Well, we need conflict and some of their concerns are legit, so no complaints.

The side characters this time are mainly Raff’s familyand a couple of shop owners. Sofia (7yo) is such a doll! Adorable.

To summarize, Christmas Ever After is a heartwarmingand festive addition to the series. The pacing is slow (there’s some repetitionin the first half). Settle down with the book and a cup of hot chocolate toenjoy the story of finding love and rediscovering the magic of Christmas.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Jaimie Admans

Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of severalromantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane andThe Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her new series for Boldwood, The Ever AfterStreet Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.

Follow the Author –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/be_the_spark

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimieadmans1/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JaimieAdmansNews

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jaimie-admans

***

This has been a stop on the #ChristmasEverAfter blogtour conducted by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources)Thanks for stopping by!

Good Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett - Book Review

Series: Bluestocking Booksellers #1

Publication Date: 20th August 2024 

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: An easy read  

Caroline Danvers writes erotic novels under a pen name. She knows she can’t afford to let this secret come out. Dorian Whitaker, Duke of Holland, needs to remarry for an heir after the death of his wife five years ago. 

Their paths cross more than once but neither can want to get close to the other for obvious reasons. Caroline can’t risk the future of the bookshop or her career. Dorian cannot marry a commoner. But when did love bother with such trivialities? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Caroline and Dorian. 

My Thoughts: 

Firstly, this is a contemporary Regency Romance; meaning it has only a few aspects of the period and the content has a modern flair. If you want something that strictly fits the early 19th century, this book is not for you. If you want a spicy romance with some old-style class conflict and balls, grab this one. 

Caro and Dorian are well-etched. The FMC has a spine and can take a stand. I love how she handled an important scene towards the end. Assured and confident but also heartbroken. 

Dorian starts as a regular Duke (handsome, bored expression, hidden side, blah blah). However, he grows as the story progresses. I loved reading about his vulnerable side and his determination to learn from his mistakes and become a better person. 

Given the FMC’s secret identity, the book is easily 3+ on the spice scale. It’s fun though. There are bits of humor sprinkled here, there, and everywhere. 

Since this is the first book in the series, we are introduced to two other booksellers early on. Connie and Hattie are the FMC’s cousins, different in temperaments but equally loving and loyal. The trio of cousins makes a formidable team. 

There’s a bit of mystery and a couple of nasty characters. While I like the take on physical appearances, I which subplot was a bit stronger. It doesn’t really satisfy the reader (though you should read this as a romance). 

Though there is a third-act breakup, it is handled in style. I loved one of the FMC’s dialogues. No miscommunication, though. In fact, they ask each to speak about what’s on their mind (let me in the pause) which I appreciate. A mature act. 

I like the epilogue but would have enjoyed an extended version of it. A couple of things are told and I want to know about the how and when. 

There are enough clues to guess who would pair up in the next book, and I know I will read it. That girl made me laugh and worry a few times, so I’m in! 

To summarize, Good Duke Gone Wild is an enjoyable read as long as you are not too particular about the historical aspects. I’m used to modern elements in these books so I had a good time with the book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #GoodDukeGoneWild

Day 10: Sedoka – Katauta

Hello!

Asedoka is another ancient Japanese poem of three lines with nineteen syllablesin total (5-7-7). It is mostly written in pairs to form a Katauta with a totalof six lines divided into two sets. It has a total of thirty-eight syllables(19+19). Katauta are also called love poems and deal mostly with emotions. Thepresentation is such that the two sedokas act like a dialogue between eachlover and form a conversation. They can contradict each other or form aquestion and answer together. 

PC: Pixabay

Format:5-7-7 syllables

Rhyme:Not mandatory

MyPoem

Scarletlike my blood

Eachpetal chanting your name

Asmall token of my love

 

Whiteand cold like snow

Purebut may not be for you

Freezingblood, killing the rose

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon. That's the end of the challenge. 

Day 9: Tanka

Hi,

A tanka is a Japanese poetry format that seems likean extension of a Haiku. It consists of five lines and has thirty-one syllablesin total. The first three lines are called kami-no-ku, while the last two linesare shimo-no-ku. In a traditional tanka, the first part presents the initialimage and the second part responds to the image.

PC: Pixabay

Format: 5-7-5-7-7 syllables

Rhyme: Not mandatory

My Poem

Pollenall over

Afuzzy bee sips nectar

Flowerto flower

Blackand yellow against white

Pollinatorsaves the earth

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 8: Couplet

Hi

A couplet is a two-line (stanza of a) poem with anAA rhyme scheme. Both lines end with the same rhyme and have the same meter.However, the meter is not mandatory for modern couplets while the rhythm isimportant. Couplets are used at the end of poems (like Sonnets) or presented ina series to form a standalone poem.

PC: Pixabay
Format: 2-line stanzas

Rhyme: AA rhyme scheme

My Poem

Againand again, the blue waves dash

Hittingthe rocky cliffs with a loud splash

 

Blendingwith the stone in a flash

Thefrothy water fears no backlash

 

Stayaway, don’t do anything rash

Humanscannot survive nature’s clash

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 7: Hay(na)ku

Hello,

A haynaku is a modern poetry form created by EileenR. Tabios. It is a tercet (three-line poem) with a total of six words. It isalso called a simplified version of Haiku and hence written as hay(na)ku. Thefirst line has one word, the second line has two, and the third line has threewords. Though a single haynaku is a poem, a chain is used to present an idea ortell a story in a disjointed narrative style.

PC: Pixabay

Format: 1-2-3 words

Rhyme: Not mandatory

My Poem

White

Onwhite

Withblue gemstones

 

Flurry

Fussy,feisty

Thefeline queen

 

Stalking

Poorprey

Hidein snow

 

This post is apart of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 6: Limerick

Hi,

Alimerick is a humorous poem with five lines and a rhyme scheme of AABBA. Thepoems are usually silly, funny, quirky, bawdy, and rude. In a traditionallimerick, the first, second, and fifth lines are longer and contain seven to tensyllables while the third and fourth are shorter and have five to sevensyllables. In modern versions, the syllable count is more flexible, though theline sizes are maintained.

PC: Pixabay
Format:Five lines (1, 2, and 5 longer than 3 and 4)

Rhyme:AABBA

 MyPoem

Themissus in green and red had it enough of the mister

Grabbinga glass and two bottles she poses like a twister

Margarita,gin, tequila, and bloody mary

Doyourself a favor, and don’t you marry

Oh,forget the wastrel mister; it is time for a party, sister!

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 5: Acrostic

Hello! 

Anacrostic (uh-krahss-tik) poem is where the letters of a word or phraseare used as the first letters for each line in the poem. It is a popular stylenot only in poems but also in puzzles and prose. The poem can be of any lengthand deal with any topic/ theme. Those who want to experiment can writedifferent styles of acrostic poems using the last letters of the words, placingeach letter in the middle of the lines, etc.

PC: Pixabay

Format:One letter/ alphabet at the beginning of the line that together for a word/phrase vertically

Rhyme:Not mandatory

 MyPoem

Tendersapling unfurls from a cracked nut

Risingabove the earth, aiming to touch the sky

Embarkingon a journey spanning years

Enchanting,when grouped to form a forest  

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 4: Lune

Hi, 

A lune is a shorter variant of Haiku created by RobertKelly. It has three lines and thirteen syllables (5-3-5). Another version ofthe lune poem was created by Jack Collom with three lines and eleven syllables(3-5-3). Both forms are similar to Haiku and can be used to create a standalonepoem or a chain for any topic.

PC: Pixabay

Kelly Version

Format: 5-3-5 syllables

Rhyme: Not mandatory

My Poem

Littlelady sits

Anempress

Rulingthe forest

 

Collom Version

Format: 3-5-3 syllables

Rhyme: Not mandatory

My Poem

Daintydoll

Redand black; tiny

Ladybug

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Day 3: Hauki Poem

AHaiku is a Japanese poetry format with three lines and seventeen syllables.Each line has a specific syllable count (5-7-5). It is one of the oldest poetryforms (from the 17th century) and is traditionally written about seasons, time,landscape, etc. However, modern Haiku can be about anything you want. A seriesof Haiku poems can be written to form a Haiku chain that discusses a series ofideas or the same topic. 

PC: Pixabay

Format:5-7-5 syllables

Rhyme:Not mandatory

 

MyPoem

Green,yellow, red, brown

Sacredjourney of a leaf

Fromspring to autumn

 

Thispost is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon.