Tag: 2023 Reads

Book Review: The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

The Marriage Game (Marriage Game #1)
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 9 June 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy.

After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…

As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he’s forced to share his space with the owner’s beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.

As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Alcoholism, death of a sibling, domestic violence (recounted), cheating (recounted)

TL;DR: With the average to low ratings for this book, I was honestly unsure how I’d feel about it but I have to say I enjoyed it more than expected! Layla and her family, all the dates she goes on, even the sexy moments with Sam—I thought they were great and made for a pretty fun read. What made me not rate this higher was the way Sam’s actions (and those of his “friends”) were brushed over and even kind of “redeemed” in the end when honestly, there should have been a hell of a lot more grovelling involved. All his apologies, of which there were a few, felt undeserved and I think this man got off way too easily for the things he did and said. Ultimately, I’m glad they got their HEA but I wish Layla made him work for it a bit more! 😜

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The End of Year Book Tag – 2023 Edition

Dini @ dinipandareads16 Comments

It’s that time of the year when we start wrapping things up again and to kick things off this year I’ll be doing the End of Year Book Tag! I’ve been seeing more people do it lately which reminded me of its existence and since I’ve loved doing it in previous years, I thought why not? It’s been a minute since I did a tag, too. If you’re curious to see how my previous years went check out my 2019, 2020, and 2022 editions.

This tag was originally created by booktuber Ariel Bissett.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

There are a couple of books I started this year and still want to finish. At the top of that list are Rival Radio by Kathryn Nolan and Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I’m not much of a seasonal reader so I don’t have a “go-to” book that I read to transition into the end of the year. I read a couple of fun ones this year though including:

Spell Bound, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Wrapped with A Beau, The Mistletoe Bet

Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?

I actually have paid so little attention to releases this year because I just didn’t have the headspace. 😭 But these are a few of the December 2023 releases that came out last week that I’m looking forward to reading!

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura, Technically Yours by Denise Williams, The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

What are three books you want to read before the year ends?

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?

It’s been a tough reading year for me with a handful of books that have stood out but only one or two that really made it onto my new all-time faves list. I think A River Enchanted and Before I Let Go have the potential to be new favourites… Whether they become the favourite of the year? Well, we’ll see! 😂

Have you already started to make reading plans for 2024?

I was lucky to get my hands on a couple of ARCs for 2024 releases by BIPOC authors and I’m so looking forward to reading all of them! I’m also obsessed with all of these covers. Like, can we just sit here and appreciate them? 😍

I’m not tagging anyone this time but if you feel like doing it, feel free to link back so I can check out your answers! How was your reading in 2023? Discover any new all-time faves? Have you read any of these or are they also on your TBR?

Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2023

Dini @ dinipandareads10 Comments

I don’t even know where November went because it passed in a literal blink. How are we already in the last month of 2023 and can someone tell me how I can make time slow down a little? It’s been a stressful month with my anxiety skyrocketing thanks to work activities and I know the feelings won’t let up until at least mid-December when projects end and accounts close. 😮‍💨 Wish it was here already! The highlights for November include:

  • My older (and only) brother got married! 🎊
  • We gained a new sister in the family! 🌸
  • I caved and finally bought Fae Farm and it was the best decision cos I’m obsessed with this cosy game! 🎮
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Book Review: The Roses of May by Dot Hutchison

Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

Roses of May (The Collector #2)
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: 23 May 2017
Genre: Horror Thriller Mystery

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Four months after the explosion at the Garden, a place where young women known as the Butterflies were kept captive, FBI agents Brandon Eddison, Victor Hanoverian, and Mercedes Ramirez are still entrenched in the aftermath, helping survivors in the process of adjusting to life on the outside. With winter coming to an end, the Butterflies have longer, warmer days of healing ahead. But for the agents, the impending thaw means one gruesome thing: a chilling guarantee that somewhere in the country, another young woman will turn up dead in a church with her throat slit and her body surrounded by flowers.

Priya Sravasti’s sister fell victim to the killer years ago. Now she and her mother move every few months, hoping for a new beginning. But when she ends up in the madman’s crosshairs, the hunt takes on new urgency. Only with Priya’s help can the killer be found—but will her desperate hope for closure compel her to put her very life on the line?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Paedophilia, incest, rape & sexual assault, eating disorder, PTSD, suicide, blood & gore depiction, murder, stalking

TL;DR: The second book in The Collector series was engaging and horrifying and I was hooked from the first page. It’s not very fast-paced but I loved the characters and their relationships, and I appreciated how the author explored all their trauma, grief, loss and means of coping. I loved the Sravasti women and rooted for these badasses the whole way through. Recommended for those who enjoy thrillers featuring serial killers and likeable but flawed characters.

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Book Review: Dance of a Burning Sea by E. J. Mellow

Dini @ dinipandareads7 Comments

Dance of a Burning Sea (Mousai #2)
Publisher: Montlake
Pub Date: 19 October 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

From award-winning author E. J. Mellow comes the thrilling second installment in the Mousai series, featuring a powerful sorceress who finds her loyalties tested by a ruthless pirate lord.

Within the world of Aadilor, there is a hidden place called the Thief Kingdom, where both magic and pleasure abound. There, the Mousai, a trio of deadly sorceresses bound by oath and blood, use their powers to protect the kingdom’s treasures.

Niya Bassette brings the potent gift of dance to the Mousai, but behind her tempting twirls, she carries a heavy secret—that the infamous pirate lord, Alōs Ezra, has been threatening to exploit for years. Now banished from the Thief Kingdom for smuggling, Alōs resurfaces in Niya’s life with a plot to hold her hostage, leveraging what he knows to extort a pardon from the Thief King.

But Niya makes her own deal with Alōs to guard her secret and guarantee her freedom—yet in doing so binds herself aboard his pirate ship, where she must navigate deadly waters, a bloodthirsty crew, and her own traitorous heart. Soon, a simmering attraction between her and Alōs threatens their delicate truce and makes for a tumultuous ride on the open seas. Far from her kingdom, Niya is entangled in a dangerous dance indeed.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where dark deeds can mask noble hearts and the most alluring of sways often ends with a burn. Care for a spin?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Gambling/betting, violence, assault, violent death

TL;DR: The second book in the Mousai series is full of adventure, magic and romance. This action-packed story takes you on a journey across vast oceans to so many new places in Aadilor that were yet to be explored in the first book. Niya and Alōr’s story had so much mischief, wild passion, and heart in it and I loved how both characters evolved throughout the journey. The pirate crew bring a nice found-family element as well but don’t be fooled because Mellow doesn’t pull punches when it comes to the darker side of this world and its characters. Overall, I loved it!

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Book Review: Song of the Forever Rains by E. J. Mellow

Dini @ dinipandareads4 Comments

Song of the Forever Rains (Mousai #1)
Publisher: Montlake
Pub Date: 1 July 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

From the award-winning author of the Dreamland series comes a new dark romantic fantasy about a young woman finding hope in her powers of destruction.

The Thief Kingdom is a place hidden within the world of Aadlior. Many whisper of its existence, but few have found this place, where magic and pleasure abound. There, the mysterious Thief King reigns supreme with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses.

Larkyra Bassette may be the youngest of the Mousai, but when she sings her voice has the power to slay monsters. When it’s discovered the Duke of Lachlan is siphoning a poisonous drug from the Thief Kingdom and using it to abuse his tenants, Larkyra is offered her first solo mission to stop the duke. Eager to prove herself, Larkyra accepts by posing as the duke’s potential bride. But her plans grow complicated when she finds herself drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, Lachlan’s rightful heir. Soon she suspects Darius has his own motivations for ridding Lachlan of the corrupt duke. Larkyra and Darius must learn to trust each other if there is to be any hope of saving the people of Lachlan—and themselves.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where lords and ladies can be murderers and thieves, and the most alluring notes are often the deadliest. Dare to listen?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Physical abuse, drug use, violence, violent death

TL;DR: Song of the Forever Rains is a great start to the Mousai trilogy! While this felt like a slower-paced fantasy (to me), the vivid world-building, lush atmosphere and imagery, interesting magic, wicked banter and wonderful family relationships made me not want to stop reading. Larkyra and Darius experienced steady growth throughout the story and were characters who were easy to empathise with. They had a darkly sweet romance and I loved the strength they gave each other. This is a surprisingly underrated gem and I’m excited to continue this series!

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Mini Book Review: Stolen in Her Wedding Gown by Amanda Cinelli

Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

Stolen in Her Wedding Gown (The Greeks’ Race to the Altar #1)
Publisher: Mills & Boon Modern
Pub Date: 27 May 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

When the something borrowed…
Is the bride!

About to walk down the aisle of her Manhattan wedding, determined Priya realizes it’s impossible. After the news Greek playboy Eros has just shared about her convenient groom, she can’t go through with it. To save her father’s business, she flees in her white dress…and weds Eros instead!

To beat his brother to the family inheritance, Eros must stay married for one year. Stealing Priya as his wife was the first step. Then he discovers her deepest secrets—and a burning mutual desire. What started as convenient suddenly got very complicated…

I came across this book/author in a thread on the bird app and was immediately enticed by the paragraph she shared from this book, which led me to pick it up on a whim. I found this to be very well-written and I enjoyed it more than I anticipated, even with its slightly bonkers plot, and I’m glad that I read it!

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