Category: Netgalley - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Simply Wonderful

6/2/2023

Can I Steal You for a Second? (Marry Me Juliet #2)
by Jodi McAlister

I received this ARC from Simon & Schuster Australia (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Mandie is a longtime watcher of reality show Marry Me, Juliet, but she would never have applied to be on it - before she got dumped by her toxic girlfriend, that is. She's not even sure she has the courage to go through with it. But then she meets Dylan, another romantic hopeful - who should be her competition, not her new obsession! After all, they're on the show for a chance at love - with a man.

How can you not love that premise? Two contestants on a Bachelor-style show falling in love (which has actually happened IRL!)? Sign me the heck up! To say I enjoyed this would be a vast understatement. There was plenty of delicious drama to be had, so much heart-twisting angst, and a strangers-to-friends-to-lovers tale that had me up past my bedtime.

But the best part? Representation. Oh my gosh. YES.

I don't usually see myself in romcoms. I will devour ALL the sapphic romances, but I'm always keenly aware that bisexual women like myself are generally not going to be the heroines. Unicorns are more visible than us lol. So imagine my delight to discover that both heroines were bi!

And pandemic fiction is my biggest weakness atm, so I ate up that aspect of the story. xD

A Short & Sweet Sequel

21/1/2023

Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5)
by Margaret Rogerson

I received this ARC from Simon & Schuster Australia (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

After the excitement of Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth and Nathaniel are enjoying domesticity and their burgeoning courtship. But Thorn Manor is suddenly in chaos - of the magical kind - and if they don't discover what's wrong, they'll be locked inside for good.

I have very lukewarm feelings about the book which precedes this, because it was an underwhelming and samey YA fantasy tale in a market saturated with them. Oddly enough, I really quite liked this novella sequel. I'd say it's actually better, because the plot is simpler and we get to enjoy our time with the characters. And of course there's Silas, who always steals the show.

Tea Cosy

30/7/2022

A Coup of Tea (The Tea Princess Chronicles #1)
by Casey Blair

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The day has arrived for Miyara, the fourth princess of Istalam, to choose how she may serve her people. But she has no idea what her path should be. So she renounces her title, flees to a city on the edge of the Cataclysm, and begins to find her place as a Tea Aspirant. But even though she is no longer a princess, Miyara might still yet discover how she can serve her people.

Turns out I have kryptonite and it's fantasy novels featuring tea. I wouldn't say this is the most amazing book I've ever beheld, but it was cosy and adorable and exactly what I needed during a period when I wasn't able to read for more than a few minutes at a time. A Coup of Tea is a like a trusted, always-welcome friend. And it's perfect for a reader obsessed with books and tea. Looking forward to my paperback copy arriving next week. ;)

While You Were Reading

9/7/2022

While You Were in the Country by Eva Scott

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Frankie Fox has a magical night with Ant and leaves him her number, but he never calls. Never mind - there's soon another man in her life when Jed Murphy, her longstanding AFL crush and infamous bad boy, crashes his car in front of her. Frankie is quickly roped in to pose as Jed's fake girlfriend in an attempt to repair his reputation. There's an even bigger complication, however - Ant is Jed's brother!

I was a little wary after the last romcom-inspired book Eva Scott wrote, since it stayed too close to its source material, but she nailed this one. I absolutely loved reading While You Were in the Country. It contains the best aspects of its progenitor (While You Were Sleeping), but it's still quite capable of standing on its own - some parts of it might have even been better! And there's so much delicious drama that you're going to need a spoon to eat it all up.

A Scottish Firecracker in London

31/3/2022

Lady Scot (Always a Scot #2)
by Jade Lee

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mairi MacAdaidh had her future all mapped out, but now the man she intended to marry is wed to someone else - and she is cast adrift, without a household to run. Connall Aberbeag would have her, if she let him. But Mairi would rather run to London and have a Season to find someone who doesn't ignite such fear and passion inside her. Connall, however, isn't going to let her out of his sight.

Mairi and Connall were fun characters to meet, as were their companions - although, I could have done with less of the side plot and more scenes focusing on the actual couple. They didn't really seem to get much time together! That aside, this was a very pleasant read that won't eat up too much of your time. And who doesn't like to see a firecracker meet her match?

More Miss Than Kiss

27/3/2022

With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lorelai has locked up her heart, but not for the usual reasons - whenever she kisses someone, she can see how they will die. Understandably, she has spent years avoiding men. But then Grayson, a regular at the cinema where she works, catches her eye. It's strangely difficult to avoid him - but how can she start anything with him if she'll see some horrible fate when she kisses him?

I really liked the concept and I do enjoy magical realism, but this book fell flat for me. Mostly, I think, because Lorelai was so annoying and didn't really gain the maturity she lacked from the start. I was also hoping to see more of her and Grayson together...alas. I liked the scenes with Lorelai and her family - the only time I was truly charmed by With This Kiss. But I also had to suffer through a scene with some guy assaulting Lorelai and people subsequently feeling sorry for him.

Short, Sweet and Scrumptious

13/3/2022

An Affair by the Sea (The Siren's Retreat #2)
by Erica Ridley

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Allegra has spent years looking after her cousins, but once she turns thirty she will inherit enough to become independent. She has no interest in marriage, even if she did invent a rakish suitor. Obviously, she had no idea that she'd nearly run over his real-life twin! John's attempt to change his career met disaster in London, but at the Siren's Retreat he can be anyone - including Allegra's imaginary suitor.

A delightful and scrumptious (pun definitely intended!) novella that was exactly the palate cleanser I needed. The story also fit the length perfectly, which doesn't always happen with shorter tales. Allegra and John had instant chemistry and I was desperate for them to get together. I also think the Siren's Retreat setting is an excellent staging ground, so I'll definitely be reading the other novellas in the series.

What's Past is Prologue

9/1/2022

A Governess of Unusual Experience (The Governess Bureau #5)
by Emily EK Murdoch

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel has lost 10 years of her memories after an illness. Luckily, she has been allowed back into the Governess Bureau and is given what should be an easy assignment. Timothy visits his sister in her time of grief, only to find that the woman he loved and lost is alive - and she's now his niece's governess! But she has no memory of him. And that might be for the best, because he betrayed her...

What a fascinating concept. I really enjoyed this, even if it did take a bit too long to get where it needed to go. And I'll admit that I was expecting a bit more danger, considering what Rachel and Timothy used to get up to, but I wasn't too disappointed in the end. The romance was certainly satisfying. The best part of this book, however? The supporting characters! They were fantastic.

Your 2021 Advent Calendar

14/11/2021

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss by Sophie Barnes

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-four romantic short stories are to be found in this Christmas-themed collection, designed to be read from the 1st to the 24th of December.

This is undoubtedly the best advent calendar I've ever had the pleasure to open. Okay, so it's an ARC which means I had to read and review it beforehand, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to restrict myself to one story a day - they are heart-warming, sweet, and so easy to consume. The advent calendar idea is pretty awesome. It also works really well. And I'm not just saying this as a Sophie Barnes fan! Any reader who dabbles in historical romance will enjoy this..

More Miss Than Hit

29/10/2021

The Witch Collector (Witch Walker #1)
by Charissa Weaks

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Raina Bloodgood has lost her sister to the Witch Collector, but now she has a plan to finally end him with the God Knife her father once carried. But Collecting Day does not goes as planned - for anyone. Forced to travel with the Witch Collector after her village is attacked, Raina knows she must wait to get her revenge, but the longer she waits the longer she has to develop feelings for him.

This was a pleasant enough read, especially once things finally got interesting (after the 50% mark - I don't DNF if I can help it!). The weak worldbuilding resulted in confusion and a lack of investment on my part - and just when I was beginning to enjoy myself, I hit that rather lacklustre ending. I think the trilogy format really hurt this first book in terms of pacing. Which is too bad, since it had a lot of potential.