Don’t get me wrong. I love a good book review that piques my interest in something new. I’ve written quite a few myself (and I hope you read them – ALL OF THEM). A good book review can be as hard to write as any other type of critique.
But that’s not what #TNReads is about. These are the quick and dirty recs you get from your best friends when they want – nay, need – you to read the latest. These are the real quick, “What you need to read right now is a highlander romance. I gotchu, girl,” recommendations. These are the real dirty, “It was so bad, it was great,” recs that you get from your online friend who is really into shifter erotica.
No judgement. Enjoy!
And if you want more book reviews and recommendations from the That’s Normal crew, check out all our #TNReads posts, our Books page and Boozy Book Club.
Frostblood
Written by: Elly Blake
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Release Date: 1/10/17
Recommended for: Anyone who wishes people had died in Frozen
Rating: 5 Young Adults Saving the World
Genre: YA Fantasy
Here’s the thing, lots of people are much better are reviewing YA Fantasy than I am. I enjoy reading it, but I’m not particularly well-versed in its vernacular. All I know is that when I find a book that I devour in one sitting, it’s a winner. So, Frostblood is a winner.
17 year-old Ruby is an untrained Fireblood in a land ruled by Frostbloods. When she finds herself alone, imprisoned and on the run, Arcus is the mysterious hooded Frostblood who saves her. He’s cold while she’s passionate. He’s regimented while she’s wild. They need each other if they’re going to take down the evil Frost king.
This novel reminded me at times of the Grisha Trilogy with a nod to Elsa from Frozen. I mean that as a compliment. This was a fun, entertaining read, that is sure to be a hit with young people as well as adults so now you have something to talk about with your niece at Easter. You’re welcome. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
Wild Wicked Scot
Written by: Julia London
Reviewed by: Danelle*
Release Date: 12/27/2016
Recommended for: Regency Romance Lovers
Rating: 3.5 Kilted Lairds
Genre: Historical Romance
This is a new series by one of my favorite regency authors, Julia London. I have always loved her books because they have great chemistry between the characters. This series is called “The Highland Grooms,” and the wild, wicked Scot in question is Arran Mackenzie. He is married to Margot Armstrong, a beautiful English flower, through no choice of her own (because what is a Regency romance without an arranged marriage?).
There’s a bit of a backstory that gets told throughout, but to put it in a nutshell, she was a horrible wife and he wasn’t a good husband when they were wed. Margot left shortly after their marriage to go home to England and her father, but he sends her back three years later to spy on Arran because he says Arran may be a Jacobite supporter. It wasn’t as steamy as I had hoped it would be, but the plot was solid enough, except for the believability of Arran and Margot’s relationship picking up like it was old times in the bedroom department after three years apart. It gets only 3.5 stars because the chemistry wasn’t what I expected, but I do think that she will come through with the following books in the series – its developing nicely. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
A Portrait of Emily Price
Written by: Katherine Reay
Reviewed by: Carrie-Jo*
Release Date: 11/01/2016
Recommended for: Foodies or anyone who loves foreign men
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Emily Price is a restoration specialist and gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with a visiting chef. Two weeks later, she’s married and moving to Italy, where she finds herself in over her head when she has to move into his historic family home–with his parents.
This fix-it girl quickly discovers that relationships don’t mend as easily as inanimate objects. Reay’s first novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, is still my favorite of her books, but this one made me want to hop on the next plane to Italy. There were amazing descriptions of bread and pasta and wine–and the hot Italian guys in the book weren’t bad to read about, either! Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
Love and Gravity
Written by: Samantha Sotto
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Release Date: 2/17/2017
Recommended for: Romantic Time Travelers
Rating: 4 Falling Apples
Genre: Fiction
Love and Gravity is a strange, sweet novel about star-crossed lovers separated by circumstance and time. Andrea is a cello prodigy who accidentally composes a song that opens a crack between her room in present day San Francisco and Isaac Newton’s childhood bedroom in the 1600s. Did I just say Isaac Newton? Why yes, I did. It’s weird but just go with it.
Author Samantha Sotto tells a page-turning coming of age story as Andrea wrestles with her connection to the stranger in a crack in her wall and the people she loves here in the present day. This time traveling love story was reminiscent of all the other time traveling love stories you’ve enjoyed over the years. But believe me, that’s a good thing. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
There you have it! Real quick reviews for books we loved … real quick because we lazy. Hope you find something new to read. But in the meantime, tell us what you are reading in the comments or on twitter using #TNReads.
