ARC Review: The Time of Your Life by Sandra Kitt

February 17, 2024February 16, 2024 Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

Special thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Time of Your Life (The Millionaires Club #2)
Publisher: Sourcebook Casablanca
Publication Date: 11 April 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Second chances always lead to a new beginning! When Everett Nicholls died, he left his millions to the two people he cared about most―the young law student he was mentoring, and his beloved stepson. Eden Marsh and Beck Dennison are instantly suspicious of each other. Suddenly, with all this money at their fingertips, family problems they’ve each been ignoring can no longer be swept under the rug. Beck and his mother have had a strained relationship since tragedy befell the family when he was a young teen, and Eden knows it’s long past time to forge a new relationship with her demanding younger sister. As they begin to confide in each other―and to have fun together―their friendship is an anchor in a stormy new life…

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of loved one, death of child (recounted), grief, misogyny

TL;DR: My feelings on this vacillated greatly throughout my reading journey. There were moments when I enjoyed our characters and their burgeoning romance but the slow pace, lack of plot, and the total “what the heck is going on” moment of their final conflict almost made the not-so-enjoyable moments outweigh the good. As it is, I’d say this is a solid 3-star read—not bad but not great though I enjoyed it enough to want to possibly read other books by this author in the future.

Book Review: Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

February 15, 2024 Dini @ dinipandareads18 Comments

Open Water
Publisher: Penguin
Pub Date: 3 February 2022
Genre: Literary Fiction

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists — he a photographer, she a dancer — trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. But two people who seem destined to be together can still be torn apart by fear and violence.

At once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity, Open Water asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body, to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength, to find safety in love, only to lose it. With gorgeous, soulful intensity, Caleb Azumah Nelson has written the most essential British debut of recent years.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Racism, gang violence, gun violence, death by drive by shooting

Book Review: Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins

January 18, 2024January 16, 2024 Dini @ dinipandareads11 Comments

Night Hawk
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 25 October 2011
Genre: Historical Romance

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Outlaw. Preacher. Night Hawk. He’s had many names, but he can’t escape the past.

Since Ian Vance’s beloved wife was murdered years ago, the hardened bounty hunter know she’ll never feel love or tenderness again, so he’s made it his mission to ensure others get their justice. But when he’s charged with delivering a sharp-eyed beauty to the law, Ian can’t help but feel he may still have something left to lose.

Orphaned at twelve, Maggie Freeman has always found her way out of trouble. But now there’s a vigilante mob at her back who would like nothing more than to see her hang for a crime she didn’t commit. Maggie may have to accept help for the first time in her life… even if it’s from the one man standing between her and freedom.

As the past closes in, the sassy prisoner and toughened lawman may just find a passion between them that could bring blinding happiness… if they’ll let it.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Physical abuse, violence against women, slavery, forced prostitution, gun violence, racism, mentions of mob violence and lynching, mentions of forced assimilation and residential schools, police corruption, xenophobia

TL;DR: I can proudly call myself a historical romance girlie now because I’ve finally read a Bev Jenkins historical romance! 😂 I’m ashamed it took me so long to pick one up, even if I’ve read one of her contemporary romantic suspense novellas before. And what everyone says is true—this was fantastic! Not only was this delightfully sensual and heartwarming but I learned so much about parts of American history that were completely new to me (and perhaps will be to other readers as well). I’m so glad I’ve already got more Bev Jenkins on my Kindle because I’ll be reading more this year!

Mini Book Review: There There by Tommy Orange

January 15, 2024 Dini @ dinipandareads12 Comments

There There
Publisher: Vintage
Pub Date: 9 May 2019
Genre: Literary Fiction

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Jacquie Red Feather is newly sober and hoping to reconnect with her estranged family. That’s why she is there. Dene is there because he has been collecting stories to honour his uncle’s death, while Edwin is looking for his true father and Opal came to watch her boy Orvil dance.

All of them are connected by bonds they may not yet understand. All of them are here for the celebration that is the Big Oakland Powwow. But Tony Loneman is also there. And Tony has come to the Powow with darker intentions.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Racism, rape, domestic violence, addiction (alcohol & drugs), alcoholism, drug use, gun violence, mass shooting, death, blood

This isn’t an easy book to review and there’s nothing I can say that others haven’t already said and done so much better than I ever could, too. This is a highly-lauded piece of literary fiction and part of me understands why but maybe this book was just too smart for me because I often struggled to really “get” it. I empathised with many of the characters and I wound up spilling tears over them by the end but, at times, it was hard to feel fully immersed in the story and to grasp what the author was trying to share.

Blog Tour Review: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

January 4, 2024January 1, 2024 Dini @ dinipandareads10 Comments

Hello, friends. ✨ Today I’m excited to kick off the blog tour for the concluding book of an exciting Chinese mythology-inspired duology: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.

Thanks to Delacorte Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White (Song of the Last Kingdom #2)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: 2 January 2024
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rep: Chinese

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

The epic sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is a fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

Years ago, the Elantian colonizers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest the location of its legendary four Demon Gods. Lan’s mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods, and Lan is determined to finish her mission. Yet, there are others searching for the gods, too.

Zen knew his soul was forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon God known as the Black Tortoise, but he’s willing to lose himself if it means saving the Kingdom–and the girl–he loves. But to crush the colonizers who have invaded his land he needs more power than even a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. And he knows exactly where he can find it–in the undead army his great grandfather lead decades ago.

The Elantians may have stolen their throne, but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only begun.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Violence, blood, death of loved one, colonial themes. Also, see romance spoiler below for younger readers.

📚 BUY A COPY!

TL;DR: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White was a satisfying conclusion to this duology. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think at the start because it took a direction that I wasn’t expecting. I thought there would be more action but this is a slower-paced fantasy that includes more intricate world-building and in-depth exploration of historical and thematic concepts. That said, the culminating battles and the way the threads tie together in the end are bittersweet but no less rewarding. Lan and Zen were great leading characters who were easy to root for and made me love the story of the Last Kingdom.

Book Review: Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

Pride and Protest
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 15 November 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Retelling

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Liza B–The Only DJ That Gives a Jam—wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at their corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly—but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head.

At first, Dorsey writes Liza Bennett off as an over-caffeinated woke weekend warrior. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, he’s always felt a bit out of place, and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza’s protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionist is the most real woman he’s ever met.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Family death (recounted), racism, microaggressions, classism, incarceration (briefly recounted), explicit sexual content

TL;DR: I’ve been looking forward to reading this ever since I first heard about it and I’m glad that I finally read it. While there were elements I wanted more of I found myself enjoying this a lot! I especially loved the chemistry between Dorsey and Liza and I ate their romance up. The angst, tension, the way the atmosphere in the room changed when they came into contact, their peak horniness—honestly, it was a fun sexual vibe! 🥵 The Bennett family was a mess in their usual way but I appreciated the inclusion of modern issues such as gentrification and the way the story was conveyed through alternating POVs and mixed media. Overall, this was a witty, funny, and entertaining P&P retelling and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

#FirstLinesFriday: 22 December 2023

December 22, 2023December 22, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

Happy Friday book lovers! We’re back with another First Lines Friday, a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? Here are the rules:

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

First lines:

“A read light blipped on the top left of the control board. Liza B. had a caller. “Hello and good evening. You are live with Liza B., the only DJ who gives a jam. Tell me what’s on your mind…””

Book Review: The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

December 16, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

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

Panda Rating:

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📖 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! 😜

#FirstLinesFriday: 15 December 2023

December 15, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads4 Comments

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

First lines:

“Airports are the true chaotic evil.
There are too many things happening around me. Too many people in a hurry, too many people lazing around, too many announcements on the overhead speakers, and way too many tearful goodbyes.”

Mini Book Review: Her Big City Neighbor by Jackie Lau

November 20, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads10 Comments

Her Big City Neighbor (Cider Bar Sisters #1)
Publisher: Jackie Lau Books
Pub Date: 8 September 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

When small-town engineer Amy Sharpe inherits a house in Toronto, she decides it’s the perfect opportunity to start over and go back to school. Away from the family that takes her for granted, away from the ex who expected so much and gave little in return.

The new Amy enjoys wandering around the city and frequenting bubble tea shops, German beer halls, dim sum restaurants, and coffee bars serving Japanese pastries. She has a roommate with the same name as her favorite fictional character, and a group of friends who meet at a cider bar every couple of weeks.

The new Amy is also in lust with her brooding, tattooed next-door neighbor, Victor Choi, who is far from friendly but looks really hot cutting the grass without a shirt. Too bad the grass doesn’t grow faster.

As she starts telling him about her daily adventures—and as a little kissing in the garden becomes a regular activity—Amy begins to feel more than lust. But she fears she’s falling into her old patterns in relationships and refuses to let herself be underappreciated again.

Is Victor really more than a hot fling? And what’s he hiding behind that grumpy exterior?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of sibling (recounted), grief

Her Big City Neighbor has been on my TBR for years now so I’m glad that I finally read it but I’ve also got very mixed feelings about it! There was a lot that didn’t work for me initially and I was close to DNFing it because I couldn’t tell whether I was enjoying it or not. I’m happy to say that I ended up liking this much more towards the end and it was enough for me to want to pick up the second book in this series!