You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

booksalacarte's reviews
659 reviews

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The next best fling 3.75⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary romance
Plus size Latina FMC
Blond MMC
Texas setting
Best friend’s brother
Rebound relationship
Fake dating
Toxic friendship

This was a solid debut contemporary romance! I’m excited to see where the author’s writing goes from here!! 

The characters were fun. I enjoyed the retired-footballer and plus size librarian vibe. Some of the side character’s presence could have been stronger. One small character, the kid from the library, seemed like came out of nowhere with very little context then disappeared again. I would have loved that character to have been a little more established.  

I didn’t enjoy the toxic friendship. It made me question the FMC’s judgement throughout. But she also didn’t trust her own judgement… so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

The themes were really great and well explored. I enjoyed the relationships diving deeper than fluff and digging into, and addressing, insecurities in themselves and each other. 

The timeline sped by with big breaks in the plot. I’m not a big fan of “10 days later”.

But overall I liked it and I’m excited to read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The undermining of Twyla and Frank 3.5⭐️2.75🌶️

Fantasy Romance
High Fantasy
mythical Beasts
50’s Main Characters
Friends to lovers
🏳️‍🌈 side characters
Sherif vibes


After having been introduced to Twyla and Frank in the first book of this interconnected series, it was so great to learn about their friendship. I like how the background was given on both of their prior marriages. The way the history between the two main characters was presented was so nice! It was a perfect mix of comfort and explaining where the reader isn’t left feeling like they missed out not being introduced to them until this time in their lives.

The pacing was really good. The dragons were a great addition to the story. The cowboy vibes were steady. 

I do have to say that if you don’t read Undertaking of Heart and Mercy you will be a little lost. All of the strong info world-building was in the first book. Not much was brought to the world itself except the dragons… which is fun, but doesn’t tell us much about the world itself.

Side note: I finally realized what this series feels like. It feels like Rango… the Johnny Depp animated movie about the lost chameleon. That’s what the world feels like, just with humans added in.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.5

The guilded crown

2.5⭐️2.5🌶️

Fantasy
Politics
Sapphic
Matriarchal society



With the blurb and cover art I thought this was going to be a YA sapphic romantasy. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t. It was an adult book with a very bland romance…  

The FMC and the connection with death was really intriguing. I enjoyed her ability to talk to creatures and things around her. I wanted to see so much more of that… instead we are swung into court life, politics and a hint of a sapphic crush that doesn’t pan out.

I definitely needed more magic/world building and the pacing was very slow. 

Maybe this book just wasn’t for me.


Thank you NetGalley and Avon And Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

3.25⭐️ 4.5🌶️

Second book
Dark romance
Contemporary romance
Dark rom-com
3 POV
Marriage of convenience

This book was not as gripping as the first. The steaks weren’t super high and it felt like a place holder for the final book. I feel like the character arcs were decent, the story was fine….

The bad guy wasn’t super exciting. There was very little build up, with the 3 chapters in his PoV. I almost wish there had been more… it would have upped the stakes.

But it almost felt like the final chapters were out of order. I didn’t enjoy the whiplash of jumping around in the timeline. 

It was a meh for me.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Stage Kiss by Amelia Jones

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4⭐️3🌶️


Tom com
Dual pov
Theatre
Underdog
Grumpy/sunshine
Miscommunication
He falls first
🏳️‍🌈Side Characters


I already love all the theatre lingo and it truly does feel like a backstage all exclusive. It was messy. It was dramatic. It was theatre. 

I actually loved the Pride and Prejudice parallels. As a P&P fan for life, this adaptation got the green light because it mixed by two loves. Jane Austen novels and Musical Theatre. 


I loved the characters. There were amazing side characters as well. Everyone’s story was decently accented and it all flowed so well.

Theatre book nerds, this is a fun one!
A Sword of Gilded Embers by B.C. FaJohn

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A Sword of Gilded Embers 3.75⭐️3🌶️


Second book
NA Fantasy Romance
Dual POV 
Orphan FMC
Secret magic
Morally Grey MMC
Found family
Witches/fae 
Fated mates
Secrets
Politics
Revolution
War
Betrayal
Trauma Healing

There is not much of a recap in the beginning of the story. The author seemed to assume that we are binge reading. Within the first chapter there is definitely opportunities to slip in small reminding facts from the last book, but the author didn’t capitalize on that… which left me, who didn’t reread before this book came out, struggling to remember what happened in the last book and where we left off. And even with that, there was some repetitiveness.

Some of the battle sequences were less than clear. 

This was a plot focused book that focused on the world building and friendships. However, one of my biggest complaints about book one was that the magic system seemed like it was cool, but also very vague… that trend continues. But I did love the friendships that grew in this book. The side characters were really solid and I enjoyed them.

Thank goodness the ending was a cliffhanger. The ending of the first book being HEA was very uninteresting.


Thank you to the author, who gave me an Advanced eReader Copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Serpents of Sky and Flame by Rebecca F. Kenney

Go to review page

mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Rom-Commers 4⭐️ 2.5🌶️

Contemporary Romance
Hollywood/celebrity romance
Workplace romance
Unwilling allies to lovers
Grumpy sunshine
Grief
Strong family
🏳️‍🌈Side Character
Injury disability rep

This was a very cute rom-com about a pair of screenplay writers writing a rom-com. It was cliche in the best ways, but also packed a punch when it came to a dressing trauma and serious topics. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were complicated and dynamic. I found my self wishing that there was a little bit more vulnerability from the MMC for the big gesture, but he was also a silent but strong type... so, I don’t know. I’m conflicted. I was absolutely charmed by the epilogue. 

The plot was a fun spin on a Hollywood insider’s romance. I appreciated that the boom wasn’t over-run by pop culture and real celebrity references. The pacing was perfect. 

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️3🌶️

Third Book
New Adult
High Fantady
Fantasy Romance
Adult Fantasy
Multi POV
Flashbacks
BIPOC
Fae courts
Magic
Politics


I was so lucky to be on the NetGalley eARC team for both previous books, and I can honestly say I loved this series from the first words… how could I not adore the most epic opening line of a series I have ever read?! 

I love a glossary that gives mini character specific recaps! This was so helpful for remembering where we were with each character in the story, because there are so many sub-plots!

A fist bump? Questionable modern choice. 

Anyway! Let’s get to the review!

I was quickly drawn back into the world, magic and characters of this series. 

The world-building continued steadily with the flashbacks, giving us more glimpses into the foundation of the magic system. Every time a little more back story was given, solidifying the many questions that I had about the magic. I still am not quite sure the nature of the high fae magic. Obviously the author is taking her time in revealing it, because I can see exactly how she will get there. 

The side character arcs were immensely satisfying in this book. I love seeing that there is so much more to Gabriel, specifically.

The character growth from Lor has been great. And I’m interested to see how this gets resolved.

This is definitely a bingable series. With the structure and how things play out, I actually think reading them as they release is doing the story, especially the romance, a disservice. 

But that cliffhanger ending! Talk about upping the stakes! But I loved it!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

The Fireborne Blade 2.75⭐️ .5🌶️

High Fantasy Novella
Flashbacks/dual timeline
historical dictation
Dragon slayer FMC
Magic



There was a lot of repetitiveness in the writing, I understand it was a tool and on purpose, but I didn’t like it. I did enjoy the historical/first hand encounters of other dragon slayers. I think it really helped with the world building. There was so much potential, I just wish it had been a full length book.

The character work was fairly shallow, the plot was really good and I think deserved a longer book, to be honest. I wanted a better feel of who I was reading about. I know VeRY little about the FMC, still. And it made me care less about what happened to her.

The twist at the end was really good, but felt cheapened by the lack of character foundation.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC of this novella. All opinions are my own.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings