#jilted bride romance

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Abandon Ship by Karigan Hale

Love at Sea #6

 Love Boat used to be one of my favorite programs when growing up…the idea of a shipboard romance, maybe working on a cruise ship, and all that could happen was rather dreamy. That said, a cruise is still something I would like to go on but by the time I do, I might be playing octogenarian Trudy rather than the younger passengers on the ship!

 The story starts with Abby having a bad feeling the night before her wedding is to take place and that feeling becomes a jilting with her fiancé leaving her with bills to pay and a lot to deal with. A few months later she and her best friend are heading out on a Caribbean cruise…the cruise Abby and her fiancé were supposed to go on for their honeymoon. The plan is to have fun, meet men, eat, drink, and be merry. Little did Abby know that she would run into her bother’s friend, someone she had a crush on in high school.

 Gray’s job is on the line, and he has to come up with a great story and photos to clinch his job and secure his future. Little does he know how important running into Abby will be to his future. He will have some big decisions to make as he weighs just what is of true importance to his future.

 Abby and Gray seem to be perfect for one another, but will the cruise provide enough time for them to fall in love and commit to one another?

 This story provides potential romance for Abby and her friend, deals with trust and how easily it can be broken, and also has Gray grappling with professional ethics and what he feels is okay as he considers his future.

 This was a nice escape and fun way to spend the day.

 Thank you to the author and IndiePenPR for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 4 Stars

     BLURB

 A jilted bride with trust issues. A disgraced photographer with something to prove. A Love at Sea cruise determined to distract them both. Abby: Instead of walking down the aisle, my fiancé walked out the door. So I’m taking our honeymoon cruise without him. I’ll enjoy seven perfect days of endless margaritas, pristine beaches, and island excursions even more with my best friend instead. What I need is a complete break from ANYTHING akin to romance. Complete break. That includes the tempting Grayson Hamilton, I remind myself. No matter how much of a crush I had on him back in high school. No matter how lickable his abs turned out to be. I AM ON A BREAK! Grayson: Scoring my dream job with the industry’s leading travel magazine was a lucky break. Unfortunately, I’m just about out of luck. This all-expenses-paid cruise my employer sent me on is my last chance to save my reputation. I have to stay focused despite all the beautiful, single women on this Love at Sea cruise. Yep. Focused. Focused on my job. NOT on my best friend’s little sister, all grown up and smoking hot, looking like she needs someone to help her get over her freshly broken heart. On second thought, maybe a little distraction couldn’t hurt. Maybe an offer of a no-strings-attached rebound will help get her out of my system. Then I can concentrate on saving my career before we both abandon ship. Abandon Ship is a jilted bride romance, part of the Love at Sea multi-author series. Get ready to set sail through the Caribbean on Festival Cruises’ most alluring voyage with eight of your favorite authors - happily ever after guaranteed! Experience everything the Love at Sea series has to offer. From speed dating to masquerades, guests are sure to enjoy the hot days and steamy nights. Explore hidden waterfalls, swim with dolphins, and watch as eight couples find their forever on the open ocean.

[kalosis91]

No Romeo by Donna Alam

Arc Review

I loved this book. It's the first book i've read by this author and I don't regret it.

Evie is a fierce, kind heated animal vet who has a rough start to the book with cheating fiancé and a very dramatic wedding day. She, literally, falls into the lap of Oliver and sparks fly.

Add in the antics of Mr Bojangles and the book version of Longleat safari park and you get brilliant turns of phrase like 'Breasties before testes'

[ovalleba]

Kissing My Brother's Bride #CoverReveal

Title: Kissing My Brother’s Bride A Kissing Games Series Standalone Author: Molly McLain Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Wrong Brother/Jilted Bride/Enemies to Lovers Cover Design: Sarah Paige, Opium House The Book Cover Boutique Release Date: June 1, 2023 BLURB My brother’s fiancée should have been mine. Now, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. Linc was…

[writers-potion]

can you make a list of specific relationships tropes(platonic or romantic) pls🫶

List of Relationship Tropes <3

Hope this helps! :) If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram!

Romantic Relationship Tropes:

Friends-to-lovers

Enemies-to-lovers

Forbidden love (it can be an external or internal taboo)

Stuck together - 'trapped in an elevator'

Secret identity (billionaire/royal/celebrity in hiding)

Best friend's brother/sister/ex

Seconc chance romance

Soulmates (soulmate AU prompts)

Fake relationship

Wedding fever - runaway brides/best men/wedding planners/ jilted

Amnesia/mistaken identity

Holiday romances/flings

Opposites attract (similar to enemies to lovers)

Academic rivals (high school/ college)

Unrequited love

Sunny vs. Grumpy

Pen pals to lovers

Matchmaking gone wrong

Sworn off a relationship (then falling in love, of course)

Single parent with new love

Arranged marriage (Arranged Marriage Prompts)

Return to hometown & fall in love with your childhood friend

Bully turned out to be the nice guy

One person being afraid to commit + the other chasing them

Falling in love with someone from the past/future

Tiny guy, huge girl

Other Character Dynamic Tropes:

Badass and child duo (usually, the child will be extraordinarily mature/capable)

Battle couple (like Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes)

Blood brothers

Brother-sister team - bickering but working perfectly together

Intergenerational friends - being best buddies with your grandparents, which your parent doesn't understand

Translator buddy

Talker plus Doer duo

Student and Master team

'Sensitive guy + the most macho guy ever' duo

Rivals-to-friends

The Shy Guy/Girl + the outging wingman

The popular girl/guy + the copycat

Ride-or-Die found family

A childhood enemy becomes a central part of a friend group

Parents who see their kids become best friends too

Orphans from the same orphange

Long lost siblings finding themselves in each other

A straight girl + lesbian as bffs / a straight guy + gay guy as bffs, becoming each other's wingmen/women

a secret handshake or unique SOS sign that only they know

Girl code/bro code/friendship code

Having set routines, like meeting under ---- tree at --- hour

Family Tropes

Adoption angst

adult adoptee - an adult character is adopted into a different family despite being legally of age

Awkward parent-child bonding efforts

Babies ever after - the child is forever a baby to the parents

Black sheep/ugly duckling

Cannibal clan

Feminine mother, tomboyish daughter

Obnoxious in-laws

Twin Tropes

Angst surviving twin - on twin dies so that other becomes nervous

Single-minded twins - can have a creepy twist...

Evil twin

Playing their own twin

Twin telepathy - twins can pick up on each other's thoughts/emotions

[a-kind-of-merry-war]

The first word of my big gay historical romance novel is SHAFTS and it just gets bigger and gayer from there.

Read the first word (and then the consecutive 5210 words*) for FREE at the link below, featuring other wonderful word examples such as PERFUNCTORY, WEDDING, THE, and ASH.

*WARNING: the above 5211 words will encourage you to leave your bride-to-be at the altar and run away with a hot guy you met in the woods. Any jilted brides, romantic roadtrips or devastating confessions of love are not the fault of the author. Yearn at your own risk. May contain crossbows.

[bridgerton-bard]

Request Ideas & Prompts

I have a few different works that I am percolating on, and I'll post those when they're ready. In the meantime, if you have requests or prompts you'd like to send my way, my ask box is open.

Characters

Anthony Bridgerton (x Kate or x Fem!Reader)

Benedict Bridgerton (x Fem!Reader)

Colin Bridgerton (x Penelope or x Fem!Reader)

Phillip Crane (x Eloise)

Thomas Dorset (x Fem!Reader)

Prince Friedrich (x Edwina or x Fem!Reader)

Tropes, Prompts, Etc.

Friends

Friends to Lovers

Best Friend's Sibling

Best Friend's Ex/Someone They Liked

Fake Relationship

Marriage Pact

Pen Pals

Mutual Friend acted as a Matchmaker

Enemies

Enemies to Lovers

Love/hate

Nobody Thinks It Will Work

Rivals

Revenge

Not Good Enough for Him/Her (POV of Anyone)

Pen Pals

Sworn Off Relationships

Marriage

Arranged Marriage

Altar Diplomacy (Arranged for Political Reasons)

Honorable Marriage

Jilted Bride

Runaway Bride

Double-In-Law Marriage (Marrying your Brother-in-law's Brother)

Prompt Modifiers (if desired)

Blind to Love: Everyone Else Can See It

Oblivious to Love: The Couple Is the Last To Realize

Oblivious to Love: Their Families Don't See It

Destined to be together/one true love/soulmate/fate

Love at first sight

Second Chance Romance/First Love

Playboy/Rake In Love

Sleeps with everyone but love interest

Stranded Together for Some Reason

Loveable Rogue

Wallflower

In Love with Antihero

Secret Baby

Sudden/Unexpected Baby

Secret Admirer

Disguise ( . . . Masquerade perhaps?)

Mistaken Identity

Is it all as it seems?

Unrequited Love

Afraid to Commit

Can't Express How They Feel

Dark Secret

Emotional Scars

Broken in Some Way

Rejected as Unworthy by Parents, Friends, or Former Lovers

Redemption

Break Up to Save Him/Her

Damsel/Dude in Distress

Kidnapped

Protector

Injury

Road Trip

Opposites Attract: Sunny vs. Grumpy

Opposites Attract: Spontaneous vs. Serious

Opposites Attract: Messy vs. Neat

Opposites Attract: Wants True Love vs. Wants a Fling

Opposites Attract: Country Life vs. City Life

Opposites Attract: Other

[fanaticalfantasist]

The Duchess - Proglogue

A/N: So a while ago I wrote a story called 'The Duchess' but took it down becuase I wasn't happy with it. So I'm trying again! I hope you like it, please let me know. Any feed back is very welcome.

If the society in London was built upon one foundation it would be gossip. It thrived on any drop of a silacious tale that it could seek out and before long it would flood throughout the ton. This was espcially true when it come to the aristocracy, their friendships, romances, meetings, really any and every part of their lives could fuel the ton for a moth, anything to enrich their otherwise mundane lives.

The obession which had topped all else, well before the arrival of Lady Whistledown, was the lives of the Wyndham family, the single most powerful and oldest family in England, the holders of the Dukedoms of Norfolk. A title the family had held since the reign of William I, and such was their influence they had ben involved in almost all important events of the countries history, and in fact had more right to the throne of England than the curret royal family did. This fact alone made them even more intriguing to the public at large. This was particulary true of the latest generation of the family.

Edward Francis Henry William Wyndham, the 14th Duke of Norfolk, had inherited his title at the age of 12 and had been from that moment on the perfect model of a Duke. He'd was nothing less than kindness to his tenants, caring for their needs and ensuring they had what they needed to live, from building walls on farms to funding the education of local children. It all amounted to the impression that he was the model gentlemen. But when it came to his marriage, this was where the scandel lay.

Edward had been engaged to a detestable woman named Lady Dorothea Griffiths, she was the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Wales. Anyone who had met her came to the same conclusion that she was one of the most selfish women they'd ever met, only caring about her appearance and the prospect of being extremely wealthy. When the engagement became know it raised a lot of eyebrows, no one could understand why the Duke had chosen this particular young lady as his bride. In fact, the marriage had been proposed while the Duke had been under the guardianship of his late grandmother, a cautious woman who cared little for her grandson but cared deeply about the continued legacy of her family name. Within a year of his grandmother's death the Duke called off the wedding, leading to Lady Griffith's father to publically state he'd ben jilted by the Duke. However as there was no legal agreement made the Duke came away from it free from a potetially horrific marirage. This alone was scandalous enough, but it wasn't until three years later that the true scandal broke when the Duke married Miss Louisa Beaumont.

Miss Beaumont was the daughter of a local farmer, and had grown up with very little. However she was beautiful, kind, funny and very intelligent, though many disagreed with the marriage due to their class differences the whole of the ton agreed she was the perfect Duchess. The happiness that the couple felt outweighed the scandal or any looks given to them by on lookers. In fact they gave up their home in London permanently in favour of their home in the countryside, a few miles from where Miss Beaumont had grown up.

The couple turned their Jacobean home into their own paradise, only allowing those in who they trusted the most. Their happiness was only added too by the birth of their daughter, and only child, two years into their marriage. Lady Juliet Charlotte Henrietta Sophia Wynham, was deemed by all who met the child to be the perfect mix of her parents. Even though in the years that followed the couple were not blessed with anymore children, they where still pleased with their daughter. The little girl was set to be the holder of the most powerful title in England, the first woman who would every hodl the title. Unfortanetly this title would be hers sooner than anyone would have liked.

The tradgedies of the Wyndham family was yet another topic that was beloved amongst the gossip lovers of the ton, because for a family that was so full of love and power they had suffered much. The series of unfortunate events began when Juliet was three years old.

It was a beautiful summer that year, with large blue skies and beautiful green gardens to play in. The Wyndham's had invited some of their closest friends to come and spend the summer with them, and as they sat by the spralling lake enjoying the beautiful day it would've been inconceviable to them that any tragedy was looming over them waiting to pounce.

One of those in attendence was the Bridgerton family, the Viscount Edmund Bridgerton and the Duke had been school friends and remained close well into their respective adulthoods and marriages. The bond between them only intesified as they became fathers, wising their children would remain close friends, which had become true. So that day there was nothing unsusual about the Anthony, Benedict and Juliet playing together. As they went on the children got closer to the lake, watching from a dock as the fish and ducks ate the food they threw. Honestly no one was sure of what exactly happened that day that led the young Juliet to fall into the deep depths of the lake, but she did.

Her father being a strong athletic man, rushed forwared and dived in, searching for his precsious daughter. After pulling her free from the dark depths of water and into the arms of his friend the duke was suddenly pulled under again. His foot being caught and before Edmund could reach him the Duke had drowned.

Quickly gossip made its way from Norfolk to London, people speculating the Duke had been murdered or killed himself. No one was sure what had happened, except the people in attendance who did not talk of it. But the most interesting element of the whole affair to the ton was the late Duke's will. He'd spent months ensuring it was loop hole free, and it caused a lot of raised eyebrows when its contents was made known. Upon the Duke's death his daughter would become the Duchess of Norfolk and inherity her full fortune without any delay, but she'd also have dull control over her destiny and that of her lands. She'd have two guardians to guide her through this process Viscount Edmund Bridgerton and Lady Danbury. She was also, and the will was very clear on this, to be educated to the same level of as man in her position and most importantly, or at least to the ton, she'd be fully in control of her future marriage. The will stated that she and only she coudl choose who she married, ensuring that she'd marry for love just like her parets had. It also added that her future husband wouldn't not have a right to her title, fortune or lands. It rocked society, with people trying to claim the Duke was mad or had been manipulated into making such a unique will. But having been represented by Sir Richard Grenville, the most respected lawyer in England it was clear that this was not the case.

Once the funeral was over and the house fell into perpetual morning, under the direction of the Dowager Duchess, it seemed that the Wyndham family would be at peace for a while. However this was to be proved wrong.

When the Duchess was seven years old she awoke and made her way to her mother's room, as she did every day. They'd sit together and read before they rose to have breakfast. Her mother would tell stories of the late Duke and the little girl loved it. But that morning she was prevented from entering her mothrs room by the family butler Mr Browning. See that morning when the Dowager Duchess's ladies maid had enterted to wake her she'd found her mistressres dead. At some point in the night, grief still consuming her, the Dowager had taken her life.

The young Duchess was seen for the last time by the public as she stood by her parents grave. Dressed in black from head to toe, her face covered by a veil as she wept. At her shoulders stood Viscount Bridgerton and Lady Danbury, both devistated for the young girl and concered for her future. The Duchess made a choice that day, after hearing gossip during the funeral, that she would have nothing to do with London society until she was ready to conquer it.

As such she retired to her home, Felbrigg Hall, only excepting guests who had been close to her parents. She was the most powerful woman in England, and she knew from a young age she needed to learn all she could. Hours were spent in the library with the finest tutors in Europe, she could do anything a male heir would be able. Lady Danbury ensured her charage was kept as accomplished as possible, with dancing, ettiquette and music lessons being drilled into the young Duchess. And it was through Lady Danbury that the young Duchess made her one and only true friend Simon Basset.

And thus life was good, but in her mind she knew she’d have to enter society one day. And on that day she's conquer it.

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

EVERY WEEK I WILL POST VARIOUS REVIEWS I’VE WRITTEN SO FAR IN 2024. YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE REVIEWS HERE.

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172. Funny Story by Emily Henry--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I'm a big fan of Emily Henry, something about her books always hooks me in and, save for one book, I've grown to really enjoy and look forward to her stories (without reading the synopsis because I like going in blind).

The premise of this isn't overtly original BUT it was entertaining. I also loved the mirroring of the beginning and the end with the "let me tell you the funny story of how we met" line (I'm paraphrasing). I thought that was a fun touch that added levity to the ending AND really brought me into the story at the beginning.

I was a big fan of the tension between the two jilted lovers and how they grew their friendship before anything else even happened. They're both flawed characters who have had to overcome heartbreak and just happened to be each others' best support for their ordeals. I thought that they worked so well together, especially because their both (understandably) jaded by love. The subplot of their fake dating was a fun twist that added heat to the story and even though I don't know if I'd call this Henry's steamiest romance, I'd say that FUNNY STORY has the best sexual tension I've seen in Henry's books.

I liked the exploration of all of the relationships in the MC's life and how they helped her become who she is, or who she will be by the end of the book. I liked that she was flawed and made mistakes because it was realistic. I especially loved that she had this moment of realization that she needed to find out who she was and where she wanted to be when finally out of a relationship that didn't actually work for her. Also, LOVED that she was a librarian.

The love interest. Oh man, he is ADORABLE and honestly, I don't know how anyone could pick the stuffy fart of the MC's ex-fiancee over him. I wish we had a POV of his experiences with the MC because he himself has such a complicated past with relationships and family. I wish we could see into his mind during the whole breakup that happens at the beginning of the book. That's maybe one of the only things I wish we had more of in Henry's books--dual POVs.

This was cute, fun, at times heartbreaking, and a great read for the summer. Henry doesn't miss and I'm excited for her next book already. I don't know how she does it, but she's definitely an auto-read author for me.

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173. The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finally picked up THE DRAGON'S BRIDE and I will admit that I was wary. I'd tried a Katee Robert book a few years ago and found it to be a boring experience.

This one, however, was a lot of fun and I loved how the relationship between the two characters developed. Since it's more of a novella, it was definitely on the faster-paced and shorter side. But to be honest, I would have probably been bored if this was any longer.

The spicy scenes were SPICY. I feel like this one had me bugging my eyes out the most of the books I've read in the last few years. But now I want to read the rest of the books in the series.

Is this a serious book? Not really, save for the fact that the MC deals with some heavy topics like abuse and PTSD. But the romance is lighthearted and as slowburn as it can get in such a short book. I loved the level of consent the dragon had for his bride and the turmoil they both felt as they started falling for each other.

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174. Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really, really enjoyed this snippet of a story. I think it's perfectly fitting that the author is also the author of the WAYWARD CHILDREN series because the mood was the same. This was whimsical, lyrical, and engrossing. I wanted the kids to truly find answers and a way home.

I think the quirky characters really make this story--not just the MCs, but all of the ALICE IN WONDERLAND-esque characters they come across. This is a middle grade book, but I can definitely see this just being an adult fantasy novel for the adult who always wished they'd gone on a fantastical journey as a kid.

I also thought that the way the two MCs contrast each other was really fun. One child clearly needs to learn how to loosen up from the "adult" expectations his parents have placed on him, while the other needs a bit more attention and care to ease the energy that partial parental negligence has gifted her. They worked really, really well together and I loved seeing their journey to friendship.

I highly recommend this story, especially for those who are looking for something fun and quick to read in the garden.

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175. Peacocks of Instagram by Deepa Rajagopalan--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my review in any way.

I'm not a big short story person, but when I heard the synopsis for this, I immediately knew I had to read it. I tried out a new way of approaching this short story collection--one short story per night because one of the things that turns me off short story collections is how overwhelmed they sometimes make me feel. This method worked perfectly and it even helped build up the anticipation for reading the next story.

Deepa Rajagopalan's collection is incredibly rounded. Not only did we get thought-provoking stories, but also surprising conclusions for several of the characters as they inadvertently affected other characters in other stories.

And made even better was Rajagopalan's writing and how immersive it was. It also flowed so beautifully, making the heavier topics feel so easily digestible. The pacing was quick and most of the stories felt like punches as a result.

While some stories were definitely stronger than others, they all came together wonderfully. I loved their commentary on the Indian diaspora and how immigration was handled. I loved the deeper examinations of culture, racism, bigotry, classism, family, capitalism, and karmic justice--there was a lot of revenge in this and it was awesome.

Anyway, if you're looking for a new short story collection to hook you, then I think you're going to love this one! Highly, highly recommend!

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176. Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed OTHERWORLDLY, especially because my last attempt to read Lukens was a bit of a hot mess. Thankfully, this one makes me want to check out the last few books they've written.

This was a fun adventure with a lot of heart. The curiosity of the paranormal MC and the sweet way he falls for the second MC was adorable. I also thought his storyline was fun (even if it wasn't wholly unique).

I loved the side characters and how the second MC learned to find what made them happy. I found their storyline to be both sad and hopeful. They had incredible support from their cousin and cousin's girlfriend, even when their family tried to break that confidence with their requests.

Like another reviewer mentioned, this was definitely more of a cozy contemporary fantasy novel. Sure, there was the paranormal underworld and the creatures hunting the MCs down, but it didn't stray too much from the small town setting.

Overall, I'm glad I read this and I definitely want to get to the backlist titles. I love when an author surprises you!

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177. The Underground by K.A. Applegate--⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE UNDERGROUND was an interesting addition to this series because we get a new potential weapon added to the story, even though the kids are so morally conscious that the option might now make an appearance in future books.

One of the biggest things that I noticed, however, is how much the language was really a reflection of the time. It made me slightly uncomfortable, but I know I also am reading this in 2024.

The story itself was good and adventurous. It's always a bit more exciting when we get the story from this character's perspective!

Onto the next book!

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178. Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding by Lyla Lee & Dung Ho (Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another adorable MINDY KIM story has passed and I loved seeing how much Mindy has grown as a little character. She's so sweet and supportive of her dad's happiness. As a person who was partially raised by a single parent, I was so happy when my mom found someone new. And I see this reflected in this story, since Mindy just wants her dad to be happy.

I think stories like this one are so important for young readers, especially because it may be relatable to them. This is why I love that young readers read--it helps them build that empathy.

Mindy teaches kids that if you work hard, you can reach your goals (and even if you don't, or if "reaching your goals" looks a little different, then that's okay!) She's got a great head on her shoulders!

I do wish more little ones read these books, because I find that they teach so much--such as culture, how different some families may look, life lessons, and how to have good communication with those you care for.

Will be picking up the next one in the series next month!

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179. Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker--⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

ALEX WISE has a character or two that I'd like to slap some sense into (*cough*the dad*cough*), but this didn't take away from how ridiculously fun this book was--even if it DID deal with the end of the world.

I'll admit that ALEX WISE started a bit on the slower side. I wasn't sure quite where it was going, especially with some of the things the MC and his sister get up to before the main storyline begins. I did appreciate, however, how we were given a backstory for the MC and why his relationship with his father plays so heavily into the way he is and how he carries himself in the story. I felt so awful for the MC. It honestly broke my heart.

The heart of the story was FUN. I loved seeing these characters work together to overcome a seemingly impossible to defeat villain. It played really well into the concept of empathy and how sometimes the most obvious solutions aren't always the right ones.

While the story felt a bit on the longer side for me, it was still an enjoyable adventure that I'll definitely be recommending to the younger readers who stop by the bookstore! I'm looking forward to the sequel!

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Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts?

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Happy reading!

[booksteaandtoomuchtv]

Witchy Woman (1/10)

art by @cocohook38

0.5 | A03 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Summary: When Emma came into her position as Storybrooke Coven Leader, she ended things with the powerful Vampire Overlord, Killian Jones. She’s spent over a decade working alongside him and ignoring the growing tension between them.

During his best mate’s wedding, Killian decides he is done waiting. He is ready to have his mate back in his arms (and bed) again. Emma is not an easy woman to woo, but Killian has never backed down from a challenge.

When Emma’s jilted ex-boyfriend returns to town and Emma goes missing, Killian will stop at nothing to get her back and ensure that nothing can ever separate them again.

Rating: E

CW: Mention of domestic abuse, blood and blood drinking (vampires), threatening situations, minor violence, death, mention of parental death

Entry for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2023 (@cssns)

Tagging: @kmomof4 , @undercaffinatednightmare , @jrob64, @zaharadessert, @elfiola, @anmylica, @tiganasummertree, @stahlop, @xarandomdreamx, @teamhook

Author Note: Thank you, again, to @ultraluckycatnd for her time, patience, and feedback.

"Let us welcome, for the very first time as husband and wife, David and Mary Margaret Nolan."

The crowd erupted with applause, hoots, and whistles as the newlyweds appeared in the middle of the grand garden, where the large stone patio had been transformed into a romantic dance floor for their reception. David's smile radiated boundless joy as he gazed at his new bride as if she were all of his dreams come true. Mary Margaret was stunning as she smiled back at him, a princess pulled from the pages of a storybook. A soft, ethereal shimmer of light bathed the couple as their combined magic swirled and danced around them. The gentle glow was the outcome of the completed marriage bond between true soul mates. It was a sighting so rare that the guests quieted and stared in awe at the beautiful sight before them.

Emma felt the moisture gather in her eyes as she watched her younger sister and her new husband begin to dance together, the soft glow accompanying each of their movements. Until now, she had thought the True Love Aura was a myth. Seeing it in person, embracing her sister and David filled her with so much happiness for her sister. The smallest, deepest part of her heart ached with a stormy emotion that was lonely and tasted bitter.

“The bride and groom would like to invite the wedding party to join them on the dance floor.”

Mary Margaret had conveniently left this dance out of their wedding planning discussions. As the Maid of Honour, Emma would be paired with David’s Best Man, Killian Jones. If the familiar, powerful magical signature was not confirmation enough that he was behind her, the smell of sea and leather that filled her senses was. She took a steadying breath before she turned to face him.

He wore a dark blue suit with pinstripes of an even deeper blue, a white fitted shirt with the top few buttons undone, and a look in his pale blue eyes that made her heart stutter when she met his gaze. He offered her his arm to her with a small smile tugging at his lips. Rolling her eyes at him, she took it and led him to the dance floor.

“You look nervous,” he murmured.

“I don’t dance.”

“Don’t worry, Love. I do,” he murmured. He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her in a slow, sweet dance. His graceful movements seemed to melt into each other in time with the music, a feat Emma seemed to be accomplishing as well by following his lead. She wanted to be annoyed at his pompous words, but he really was a good dancer.

Lulled by the romance in the air, the sighting of the aura earlier, or maybe the way their bodies seemed to be moving together so well, Emma relaxed into his hold. She let the music take her away to a time when he held her like this all the time. Their relationship had been short, but the way he held her was not something she could ever forget. She had never felt so safe or warm; and, she was unable to find that peace and security again. In a moment of weakness, before she could stop herself, she leaned her head on his chest, breathing him in and soaking in a quiet moment of pretend. A moment where they were together and he held her like this all the time.

Emma stiffened as the last chords faded into something more upbeat and the remaining guests started filling the dance floor. She couldn't quite pull herself away from him just yet.

"Time’s up, Swan,” Killian spoke, voice laced with predatory intent; the centuries-old vampire tired of waiting and ready to capture his prey. Emma’s skin prickled either in response to his words or perhaps to the warmth of his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he spoke, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she doubted that she was going to be able to resist him much longer - she wasn't sure she wanted to resist him any longer.

Mary Margaret's fairy tale was making her soft. She had a good reason to stay away from this vampire; she was sure she did. She would remember it once she got out of his warm embrace and the twinkling fairy lights. Wouldn't she?

His piercing blue eyes searched her own for any sign that she would not allow him to pursue her, a sensual smirk tugged at his lips when he found none. The hunger and determination in that gaze melted her resolve and filled her with an equal sense of longing.

A low chuckle rumbled from Killian, “We’re both more than ready, love.” Her stomach clenched as his words stirred delicious memories. And, her body recalled the way he touched her, the way only he was capable of making her feel, of the filthy words he would murmur in her ear while he did those things to her.

As if he could read her thoughts, he smiled wickedly, tongue darting out to wet his lips. Her eyes tracked the action and his own danced with delight, clearly aware of the impact his words and his nearness were having on her. She stiffened and pulled away from him - she needed to gain back control of herself. This was getting ridiculous.

And then, he just…walked away, leaving her alone in the midst of the other wedding guests. Her skin felt too hot and she felt too exposed, even knowing that no one else had witnessed their exchange. At least she hadn’t thought anyone had, but as she glanced around looking for the newlyweds, her eyes landed on Ruby’s.

What was that about? Ruby’s voice roared in her mind.

Emma shook her head and mouthed the word “later.” She wasn’t telepathic and she wasn’t going to speak to any of her sisters until she knew what she wanted. She didn’t need their insights regarding Killian just yet. She sighed and rolled her eyes. No, she knew exactly how encouraging they would be and she didn’t want that right now.

Right now, she wanted one of those deceptively fruity cocktail drinks which left her skin tingling after just a few sips. She wanted to escape into the shared joy of her family and their friends celebrating her sister’s wedding. Future Emma could sort out Killian’s declaration; Future Emma would be very good at that.

§§§§ §§§§ §§§§ §§§§

Smooth guitar chords and warm, yellow light poured out from the den’s open windows filling the porch behind it with a hopeful and relaxed energy that had been absent from this garden for far too long. Killian smiled as he recounted the fire he’d seen in Emma’s gaze before he left David’s wedding. It was confirmation of a hope he hadn’t dared breathe life into before tonight; she was almost as hungry for him as he was for her.

She’d buried her desire for him all these years under a thick foundation of cold professionalism, but he knew her and what he saw tonight was the same desperate desire that flooded his veins. Perhaps she no longer loved him the way he had always been lost for her; but, she had looked at him with a want with which he was intimately acquainted and that look gave him hope.

Since the day that she'd called it off between them, he had yearned for her as though she were a missing piece of his own soul. Perhaps, because she was a piece of him and he was of her.

He had held on to the belief that they would repair what had broken between them even as the weeks turned into months without any progress. He hoped she just needed time for him to prove to her that he was trustworthy and reliable, to show her how essential she was to his being, and to earn back her heart. Until that bloody walk home on that bloody evening when she had decided to move on from what they shared, to replace it with something new - someone new.

The evening had been warm and clear, the breeze ruffling his hair had carried on it the promise of colder days. Killian had once loved the way the world seemed to quiet and slow as the warmth of the summer sun faded into memory. This year, however, the lengthening nights were everlasting, voids between the hours that he could fill with distraction and work. Hell, the reason he walked home rather than tracing or driving was to shorten the time he would have to endure that entirely too-empty house.

The sounds of voices and the sweet smell of a wood-fired oven drifted toward him from Remy’s. A familiar voice rose above the rest. Before his mind could catch up, his focus had landed on the siren, her green eyes sparkling with joy and her lips pulled into a carefree smile. He was frozen in place, absorbing the beautiful sight. Had he ever seen her smile so freely?

A large hand covered hers on the table and she blushed, smiling wider but looking down at the contact. Killian felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach as he registered the scene before him; Emma was on a date. A good date.

The darkness he’d leashed long ago rose from the depths of his mind, demanding that he rip the hand off the arm of the filthy werewolf touching Emma. Killian fought against the cruel urges as they continued to flood his thoughts. Teeth clenched so tight that he thought he might break a tooth, he forced his body forward.

No longer toward his house, but to the nearest vampire den. He had to quench his sudden thirst and for that, he needed fresh blood.

The vibration of his phone against his leg dispersed the memory, leaving only the bitter taste of Milah's blood from that night thick on his tongue.

He pulled the phone from his pocket and checked the screen in a fluid movement, a small frown of concern on his face as he answered. “It’s a bit late, Smee.” His voice sounded rough, perhaps the memory still had some claws. He took a soothing sip of whiskey.

“Yes, sire,” the serious tone in his Head of Security’s voice had him sitting up, alert and ready for whatever warranted this phone call. “A minor threat has entered the city, sire. Erm, I mean to say, well, he has come back.”

“Continue to monitor his movements for now. No need for alarm. Keep this between us.”

“Got it, Captain,” Smee replied. “Sorry to disturb your evening, sire.”

As they ended the call, Killian’s mood darkened. This was an annoyance he would rather do without.

§§§§ §§§§ §§§§ §§§§

Emma decided to enjoy the warm summer night and walk home from the festivities. The sweet smells of honeysuckle and night-blooming jasmine calmed her better than Mary Margaret’s magic. Crickets and cicadas filled the air with bright songs to accompany her short journey home. She kept replaying Killian’s words to her at the wedding.

Time's up, Swan. We're both more than ready.

Alone, in the stillness of the night, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the prospect of being with him again.

He still had the power to destroy her, but she was more confident in herself, more confident in her powers and ability, and less afraid of losing herself, of him taking what she could not give. He’d spent the last fifteen years respecting her boundaries and had been the definition of a perfect gentleman; he’d proven over and over again that he would be there for her without expecting anything from her in return. She could trust he’d never take more than she would freely give.

Her skin prickled moments before she became aware of another magical signature nearby. Vampire, she thought automatically. As the head of the coven, she was always on alert to anything that may be a threat to her sisters or those they were charged with protecting. This vampire felt familiar, her stomach twisted in warning. “Anyone but him,” she pleaded with the spirits.

“Ems.”

Dread filled her at the sound of a name only he called her. He’d appeared by her side, seemingly out of nowhere. A few decades on and his presence felt as oppressive and oily as she’d remembered. She flinched inwardly but was glad that he didn’t appear to have noticed. He threw her a lopsided smile, boyish and disarming; her mind sounded every alarm.

“Heard Mary Margaret finally married that warlock, James?”

“What are you doing here?” Emma demanded, ignoring his question and his - likely intentional - mix-up of her brother-in-law with his vile twin brother.

“Oh, how I’ve missed you,” Neal said. He threw his arms around her shoulders. He tried to pull her into his side, but she pushed him back. “Go away, Neal.”

“Don’t be like that, Emma.” Neal was the very picture of a petulant boy. “I just wanted to say hello to my old friend on her sister’s big day.”

Her body felt charged, her power wrapped closely around her acting as both a comfort and a reminder. She was no longer young and insecure in her powers; she’d come into her powers and her position as the head of the coven in the decades since they’d last met, since he tried to…

“We are not friends,” Emma’s voice was low, dangerous.

Neal looked surprised but must have read the threat in her voice because he traced away as fast as his heightened speed could manage. She imagined she heard his voice on the wind - you’ll regret this - before she shook off the exasperating exchange and continued home, her pace quickened and her shawl pulled tight against the sudden chill in the air.

[blueiight]

I see some people compared revolutionary girl utena and iwtv I don't get it I watch both series and don't get the comparison (I'm very slow)

ik it sounds hypocritical cuz i call myself slow but i promise u ur not! ur curiosity alone suggests u care & u have something up there. the comparison lies in how both adaptations tackle similar themes. the vampire and the prince are both parasites by definition, sold to u as the pinnacle of species but really leeches on life who so desperately want to cling onto a facismile of humanity bc theyve been locked out of it forever someway somehow. the sterile opulence of akio ohtori’s tower reminds me a bit of the dubai penthouse dont u think?

the 1973 first interview tapes with louis are all but said to be very similar in tone to a jilted ex complaining about his lover. “i was his superior in every way”. it wasnt even a tale of triumph over an abuser, it was mania, a bender, a second hand high off sampling the lives of drug addicts in a gay bar. ep3 louis all but saying he encountered an older jonah in europe who saw the devil in his eyes the way his mother did, encountering multiple vampire cults & the open question as of the writing of this post on amc claudia’s life in the 1970s. is it any wonder he saw europe as a failure & wanted to try again in america, in the epicenter of black empowernment going on in the state of california.. u can imagine how this creature pushing 100, when asked to recall his maker, can be so resentful in his recollection of him at the moment?

speaking of blurred boundaries.

what was the full quote : the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb? yea..its all a lie. we got daughters thats makeshift brides thats also makeshift brothers and siblings who despise the broken mirror showing them the child they once was.

modern day louis attempts to sell this tale of triumph in the face of a fucked up gothic romance & the consequences of death made eternal to mortals. louis says this is a warning, but it serves more as his eulogy. louis wants u to believe claudia & him triumphed over lestat: first lover, his progenitor, all in one, but this story collapses when revisiting the monstrosity of recollection. at a time where death consumes the world, where death is brought from the push of a button in boardrooms thousands of miles from the scene, we are bought to the question of memory, intimacy in the eternity of death, and just what it even means to remember something. just as a vampire is born from trauma, a prince is born as the witness to eternal suffering.

utena posits very similar questions w regard to what it even means to recall, what happens to u in the midst of memory formation. we are introduced to utena, a girl who wants to be a prince, who was saved by the prince when she was young& wants to be him, whos said to wear a boy’s uniform and the whole universe shes in sees it as such. the audience sees it for what it is, a poor man’s imitation, unusual attire, something marking her as the odd man out. we are initially introduced to some of what made utena want to be a prince thru saionji. saionji realizes in this moment, that he would have to age out of his companionship with touga to become a “Man”. eternity to saionji, represents the accursed day before he found the girl. but it is through mikage’s utter distortion of mamiya’s entire existence, through anthy, that we find out utena was the suicidal little girl seeking eternity, neither touga nor saionji brought it to her, and the eternity showed to her was the ghost of a prince showing the eternal suffering of his little sister who sacrificed everything for him. a girl who cannot be a princess is doomed to become a witch. all vampires are creatures born of trauma.

what does it mean to be eternal?

is the question both of these shows ask u. what is eternity, if not living the same miserable life over and over again? repeating the cycles of duels to get the hand of the bride, whos revealed to be a witch all along, and the endless pursuit of a prince whos never existed in the first place.

there was never an escape from the constraints of mortality, u could never escape the sorrow that surrounded u in death. u r permanently the traumatized, broken creature u were on the verge of death/suicide/some other intimate tangle with a mortal death. now what do u make of it? unlike utena tho, there is no true way at liberation. u r the beast of the outside world.

[somethingeden]

Book help - Series + Characters and Love Tropes

[Firstly, here is post for the fandoms]

Hello, I am a writer on Wattpad and I am trying to think of a story. I do get writer's block so I have old books but I am to lazy to rewrite them. Okay so I have a few ideas but may you use about a minute to vote or even give me suggestions, it would be appreciated! I could also do a cross over.

Series and the characters that I am considering of doing is (I am also okay with character x character and oc x oc:

Narnia (Edmund Pevensie/Peter Pevensie/Caspian X/Lucy Pevensie/Susan Pevensie/Aslan/Eustace Scrubb)

MCU (Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers/Wanda Maximoff/Peter Parker/Harley Keener/Hope Lang/Scott Lang/Same Wilson/Natasha Romanoff/Pietro Maximoff/Tony Stark/Thor/Loki/Stephen Strange/Wade Wilson/Peter Quill)

Harry Potter (Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy/Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger/Luna Lovegood/Neville Longbottom/Blaise Zabini/Pansy Parkinson/Sirius Black/Remus Lupin/Bellatrix Lestrange/Ginny Weasley/Fred Weasley/George Weasley/Bill Weasley/Charlie Weasley/Cedric Diggory/Tom Riddle/Mattheo Riddle)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Albus Potter/James Potter II/Rose Granger-Weasley/Scorpius Malfoy/Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter/Hermione Granger/Ted Lupin)

Marauders (James Potter/Sirius Black/Remus Lupin/Bellatrix Black/Marlene Mckinnon/Mary Mcdonald/Dorcas Meadows)

Doctor Who (9th Doctor/Jack Harkness/10th Doctor/Donna Noble/11th Doctor/Amy Pond/Clara Oswin Oswald/12th Doctor/13th Doctor/Yasmin Khan/Ryan Sinclair/14th Doctor/Donna Noble/Rose Noble)

Heartstopper (Ben Hope/Harry Greene/Imogen Heaney/David Nelson)

Grease (Danny Zuko/Sandy Olsson/Kenickie Murdock/Leo Balmudo)

Disney (Ariel/Maleficent/Briar Rose/Ursula/Prince Eric)

Greek Mythology (Medusa/Hades/Poseidon/Apollo/Ares/Hermes/Demeter)

The Mortal Instruments [I haven't read all the books] (Jace Wayland-Herondale.../Alec Lightwood/Raphael Santiago/Isabelle Lightwood/Magnus Bane/Jonathan Morgenstern/Maia Roberts/Jordan Kyle)

Percy Jackson [I sadly don't have the books but I am going to base it off the tv series that'll come out next month] (Percy Jackson/Annabeth Chase/Grover Underwood/Luke Castellan/Ares/Poseidon/Hades/Clarisse La Rue/Medusa/Hermes/Hephaestus)

Enola Holmes 1 and 2 (Enola Holmes/Tewksbury/Sherlock Holmes/Mycroft Holmes)

Jurassic Park (Ian Malcolm/Alan Grant)

Jurassic World (Own Grady/Zach Mitchell/Maisie Lockwood/Gray Mitchell/Ian Malcolm/Alan Grant)

Little Women (Theodore Laurence)

Lord of the Rings (Frodo Baggins/Legolas Greenleaf/Aragorn/Eomer/Faramir)

The Hobbit (Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield/Kili Oakenshield/Fili Oakenshield/Thranduil Greenleaf/Bard/Legolas Greenleaf)

Uncharted (Nathan Drake/Victor Sullivan/Chloe Frazer)

Supernatural (Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester/Jack Kline/Claire Novak)

Mamma Mia 1 and 2 (Sam Carmichael/Harry Bright/Bill Anderson/Sky)

Love tropes:

Enemies to Lovers

Friends to Lovers

Forbidden Love

Secret Identity/Billionaire/Royal

Best friend's Brother/Sister

Second Chance

Soulmates

Fake Relationships to Lovers

Wedding – Runaway Bride/Runaway Groom/Jilted/Arranged Marriage

Strangers to Lovers

Amnesia/Mistaken Identity

Holiday Romance/Flings (Can lead to a baby)

Already Together

Hero x Villain

Sworn off Relationships

Opposites Attract

Secret Baby

Two Person Love Triangle (Mistaken Identity)

Reunited

Fairy Tale Retelling

Bet

Blind Date

and more...

[the-book-queen]

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[wisteriasymphony]

Why I think making soft male MCs are important (and how I'm doing my part)

To start: Hello! To those who found me because of my artwork, you should know it's all based off of a passion project of mine over on AO3 (The Warm Embrace of Shadow). The main focus of it is on Adrien and his own... 'corruption arc', as one might put it, but because I'm a big nerd who puts way too much thought into everything, I like to talk about what I'm doing in it and why :)

To summarize for anyone not familiar: My take on Adrien is a deeply hopeless romantic. He's philosophical, a little lost in his own head, and is desperately looking for companionship so much so that he doesn't really understand how much he needs it. With this comes lots of allusions to societal depictions of love, such as through fairy tales...

"...Beforehand, that sort of thing was only seen in stories; The fairytale princess and prince in love, the melodramatic soap operas Ms. Bustier would make offhand references to in class if only for herself. Yet still, all of them were foreign to him—He wasn’t some prince with sword and shield, nor some sweeping soap’s casanova, nor… a regular teenager, either. What was he? What was ‘love’? Was what Alya and Nino had, what jilted yet passionate exes had, what the stuff of fairy tales was written about?" (Chapter 4)

...As well as other romantic literature....

"It was probably camellias, just like Marguerite Gautier in Le Dame aux Camellias. He’d never really expected Claudia to even know of anything Dumas fils had written, even if it was known only tangentially and namelessly. She didn’t seem like the type to enjoy flowery romances like Le Dame aux Camellias… or Graziella… or A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu… or Pride and Prejudice… Adrien made a note to himself to not think about the topic too much around Claudia, in case he found himself rambling about his favorite books to someone who couldn’t care less for them for the thousandth time." (Chapter 12)

...And even to "cultural declarations" of love like marriage.

"Marry?? Claudia?? It wouldn’t serve him any good to daydream about such things and he knew it, but he had entertained the general concept of marriage in the past. Something about the sanctity of it all, how romantic the occasion was both on a literal and more metaphorical level, the idea of that perfect day where everything was exactly in its place, the picturesque moment of unveiling his bride for a kiss, taking her in his arms to dance the night away, enraptured in such a ambrosia, beautiful love— Not like he’d ever voice those feelings, unless he wanted to get shit on to hell and back for being so disgustingly sentimental."(Chapter 12)

Of course, I bring all this up because it's not at all typical, even within Adrien's characterization. Writing about an 18-year-old boy who fantasizes about... getting married? Who does that?

But I think that to "gender" that sort of aspiration is outdated, if it was ever appropriate for any time period in the first place. `There's this preoccupation in modern YA (and probably other genres, but I hear it in YA the most) for the male leads to be borderline abusive. And while "dark romance" has its place... another trend I've seen as of recent comparing contemporary compliments to the poetic writing of Shakespeare or other flowery works seems to be a sort of countermovement to this.

But I don't just want to hear some guy say that "to love her is to die a million deaths, to kiss her is to surrender each and every breath to her will"! That's not the full picture. It upholds the societal notion of men being "suave" but not preoccupied with romance. It reduces pining to little quips and leaves out all of the rest.

tl;dr enough bad boys I need flustered nervous wrecks please and thank you

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #2) Author: Claudia Gray Genre/s: historical, mystery, Jane Austen pastiche Content/Trigger Warning/s: murder Summary (from author's website): The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby’s new wife. Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who’s returned home to Devonshire shrouded in fresh scandal—made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan—who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept—has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby’s new wife—whom he married for her fortune—dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town. With rumors flying and Marianne—known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman’s newly made widower—under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine. Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-late-mrs-willoughby-claudia-gray/18822240 Spoiler-Free Review: And yet another delight of a novel in this series! The mystery is a little less structured now because it's happening within the context of a small town instead of just one manor house, but it just opens up more opportunities for twists, and this book DEFINITELY takes advantage of that. The way rumors were used, in particular, was interesting: they opened up alternate ways of viewing the suspects, but also breathed life into the town, showed its dynamics: who was loyal to whom, and who was connected to whom. It also made the true culprit a bit less obvious, which is always fun. While the mystery at the heart of the plot is pretty fun, I was a lot more focused on the character dynamics this go-round. Marianne and Brandon were a delight to read about, especially after what happened in the previous novel, and it was just as lovely to see Elinor (Ferrars now, given that she's married), and to see the rest of the Dashwood clan. It was nice to read how Elinor and Marianne get on after their respective marriages, as well as to see how well Elinor and Edward have settled into married life. And of course, there's Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. As a second murder brings them together again, it becomes immensely clear to the reader that these two have Feelings for each other - but keep on being unable to express it. This can get a bit frustrating in a good way, especially because Jonathan and Juliet keep on making entirely mistaken assumptions about what the other is thinking or feeling. It's true they can read each other very well, often able to discern each other's intent from just a glance, but they are most definitely NOT mind-readers. Please note that all of this is a GOOD thing: I like me a slow-burn romance, and the kind of misunderstandings these two have about each other are pretty much par for the course of a Regency novel - and, given that Jonathan is neurodivergent, make sense.

Given how this book ended, of course, I'm fairly sure that there's going to be at least one more in the series, because the protagonists need to get together - and this time, hopefully, in matrimony.

Rating: five glasses of port

[storytime-reviews]

Mr Malcolm’s List Movie Review

When she fails to meet an item on his list of requirements for a bride, Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is jilted by London's most eligible bachelor, Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù). Feeling humiliated and determined to exact revenge, she convinces her friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match. Soon, Mr. Malcolm wonders whether he's found the perfect woman...or the perfect hoax.

Well...at least it wasn’t as boring as the book. This time, the characters weren’t bland, though I cannot say that I particularly enjoyed most of them. And the storyline is only as good as the investment you feel with the characters.

 At first I liked Selina, but then felt she became a little insufferable. Lord Cassidy and Captain Ossory were quite fun and injected some great humour into the film, although I must admit that Julia was by far the standout in Mr Malcolm’s List. Zawe Ashton did an incredible job with a character that could very easily have appeared as a kind of one dimensional cartoonish villain. Instead, whilst Julia makes many questionable decisions, she is also immeasurably amusing and also someone I could sympathise with. For the most part, it is the fun she has that keeps the narrative from dragging too much, and I really enjoyed her scenes with Lord Cassidy and Captain Ossory. I felt that out of all the characters, those three had the most chemistry with each other. I just didn’t feel connected to any of the other relationships, whether platonic or romantic because I don’t think they had any chemistry.

Mr Malcolm was by far the worst character of them all. Every time he was onscreen I felt like I was enduring something painful. Not only did I not feel any chemistry between him and Selena, I found him to be a truly unbearable character. And unlike Julia, I don’t feel like there were any positives to make up for it. He appeared arrogant, rude, selfish, egotistical and condescending. With the way Julia acted I perhaps shouldn’t have felt so sorry for her, and yet I did. At no point did I feel bad for Malcolm. Not to mention that Selina could’ve done way better.

I think I disliked this version of Mr Malcolm more that I did in the book, but for the most part, I preferred the film. Whilst largely lacking in wit and romance, it was much easier to finish the film than the book, though it could have done a bit more on the satire side of things. The dialogue didn’t make me roll my eyes and immediately wish I was reading Austen instead as opposed to the book, and the narrative was somewhat well constructed. However, again, I found myself thinking that this particular idea could have been improved by a better writer.

I wouldn’t say I regret watching Mr Malcolm’s List, but it’s certainly not a film I’d bother revisiting.

My review of the book here           

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

Preorder Add to Goodreads

Publication Date: May 16, 2023

Synopsis:

Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult. After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice. For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review and Favorite Quotes below the cut.

My Review:

Here we have Vanja being Vanja (ie self-destructive and also accidentally starting a cult because of course she does) and then in comes Emeric being Emeric (annoyed and exasperated at Vanja and said accidental cult) and then things really start to happen.

The writing is just as gorgeous and funny and dark as in the first book. I love it so much!

The story is so compelling, as are the characters. As the threads of story slowly wove together, I remained in awe of Margaret Owen's plotting skills and ability to misdirect. The story is SO beautiful and SO sad. I actually had to stop reading, near the end, because my eyes were so full of tears I couldn't see the words and I had to take a moment and wipe them until I could see again. That doesn't happen often.

I love Vanja and Emeric even more now, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one.

The twist of who, exactly, the Scarlet Maiden is was brilliantly foreshadowed in a way that made it seem like it came out of nowhere with a gut punch. The identity of the various people Vanja encounters was hidden in plain sight. Everything was constructed so perfectly.

And poor Vanja and Emeric. That ending broke my heart and I did cry. I can't wait for the next book to find out how they fix things. Because they have to fix things. Right?

Margaret Owen has cemented her place as a forever auto-buy author for me and one whose arcs I will absolutely fight for.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's - Henry Holt & Co. for providing an early copy for review.

Favorite Quotes:

She cried like a routed general. She cried like a jilted bride. She cried like a two-year-old who has been told they cannot eat rocks.

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But you know that feeling? The one where your entire brain melts out through your earholes because your head is on fire, and the rest of your body overcompensates by freezing on the spot, and the only thing left in your skull is a ghost marching in a circle and banging two pots together? That’s about where I’m at.

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Kirkling’s charcoal stick dangles like a dagger over the throat of her page.

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I wonder if Kirkling knows exactly what manner of pedantic, punctilious annotated-within-an-inch-if-its-life beast she’s just unleashed. I know without a doubt that she is about to learn.

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You deserve so much more than the least terrible of your choices.

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“What did you want to speak to the boy about?” Udo asks in the tonal equivalent of a TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT sign

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“Yes, Proctor Kirkling,” Emeric says with a forced sort of tranquility, as if the prospect of a daily quiz isn’t the greatest thing that’s happened to him since the invention of the T-square.

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Four days later, our carriage rolls into Danwik, a town beautiful in a way reserved explicitly for things built on spite.

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Our eyes meet. In that moment, an unspoken ironclad alliance is forged, and I know we are a united front with the sole objective of haranguing Emeric.

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“Hence why I was also the first person to teach this lout how to throw a proper punch.” “Which was great,” Emeric says darkly, “until I got stabbed.” Vikram rolls his eyes. “What eleven-year-old hasn’t been stabbed, honestly.”

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Little thieves tell themselves they take what they need to survive, and sometimes that’s true, and sometimes it’s a lie. Great thieves don’t fool themselves about their motives; they take things because they want them, end of story. The only lie they tell themselves is that there’s no difference between wanting something and deserving it.

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For most of my life, I’ve held to a theory I call the trinity of want. It states that people are desired for three reasons: power, pleasure, or profit. If you provide three of those, others serve you. Provide two, they see you. One, they use you.

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Years of pain had smelted her down to a knife, and only now was she relearning to touch others without drawing blood.

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There’s a thoracic little death-rattle behind me. I’m pretty sure it’s the sound of Emeric’s world crumbling at the fact that he’s pissed off the saint of libraries.

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“I mean, ‘I summon the powers of the gods through the stars’ is pretty impressive on its own.”

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I’m starting to suspect Kirkling is one of those people who strongly commits to being a pain in the ass on a day-to-day basis, only to metamorphose into a decent and competent person in a crisis.