The Bridge Kingdom–Does anyone truly win in a struggle between being a hero or villain? I went into this knowing absolutely nothing, but the third book was sitting on my friend’s coffee table—and, with the crow energy that I possess, attracted to shiny objects—I said, “What’s this gleaming work of art?” and that’s when I was introduced to Danielle L. Jensen. Did I read the synopsis before diving into The Bridge Kingdom? No. Did I know what I was getting myself into? Obviously not. I would love to skip to the end and talk about how much I loved it, but that doesn’t seem fair for how much I enjoyed this book, so I’ll talk about the characters. I love a strong lead, especially one that’s fierce, loyal and unyielding, but Lara is not entirely like that; however, to be fair, it’s understandable, and that’s why I will list those three things to define her character. Honestly, she was terrific—so much depth, and her inner struggle with the hand she'd been dealt was incredible and stressful. This was quite the stress-inducing story, I didn’t think it would be, based on nothing since I didn’t read anything about it, but I assumed, and I assumed wrong. Since I have a girl crush on Lara, I won’t talk about King Aren, NOT. He was a great character, as well. I connected with him instantly, so it was interesting to feel some type of way for two characters with entirely different goals that did not align, but that made for a great read. The ending. THE ENDING. It was already a riveting story with a lot going on, but not too much, but enough to keep me entertained and then the ending. I rush of all emotions-happy, surprised, shocked, fear, tension, so much tension, excitement, ADRENALINE. It was everything. I couldn’t look away from the pages; I had to keep reading. The ending was so good. I might read the last couple of chapters again, for good measure. Going to pace myself, but that second book will be read soon. Very soon.

A Pirate's Life for Tea is an oar-inspiring adventure of justice and rebellion! While searching for stolen dragon eggs, the newly engaged couple Kianthe and Reyna find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a new adventure. This story hooked me on living a pirate's life, especially one with morals. I loved You Can’t Spell Treason without Tea. It has all the elements I need in a cozy story, so I was excited to continue with Kianthe and Reyna’s adventures. However, it took me some time to pick up A Pirate’s Life of Tea, mainly because I loved the vibe and atmosphere of Book 1, and I had assumed this one was going in a completely different direction, and I wasn’t sure. I was hesitant. But I love Kianthe, Reyna, and all the characters in Book 1, so I figured I needed to give this pirate adventure a chance. I am glad I did. Once again, I fell in love with Kianthe and Reyna. They have a great dynamic, and it’s addicting. I wasn’t as attached to Bobbie and Serina, but they had some enjoyable quirks and intriguing backstories, so even though I didn’t necessarily LOVE them, they were not weak characters. I think Kianthe and Reyna are such strong characters that I can’t help but compare them, so that’s on me. This was a fun adventure. I enjoy this series so much. I read a lot of thrillers, and I break them up with a cozy fantasy after reading too many horrific tales, and this series is perfect for that. A Pirate’s Life of Tea felt a little more lighthearted compared to Book 1; I didn’t feel the intensity of the adventure, but it was still fun. We are introduced to new characters, and as I have mentioned, they have adorable quirks, which make it enjoyable to follow along with their story. I wasn’t rooting for them the whole time, but I did find them interesting and likable, and their relationship grew on me, and I was hoping for the best for them! Finding the dragon eggs was still a priority, and I was happy to see that adventure progress. This was another great adventure, and I am looking forward to reading the next!

Our Last Resort is a suspenseful whodunit that will keep you guessing. Frida and Gabriel are seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. Once so close, they grew apart after the sudden loss of a loved one. Now, at the resort, what was meant to be a time to reconnect takes a dark turn when the body of a young woman is discovered. Suddenly, their relaxing getaway becomes a nightmare as shadows from the past begin to surface. When the local police arrive and suspicion falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to revisit memories from their upbringing in a cult, but she is determined to prove his innocence. After reading The Quiet Tenant, I was immediately attracted to this author’s writing style and couldn’t wait for her next release. Alas, we were gifted with Our Last Resort. Personally, I don’t believe this story was as strong as The Quiet Tenant, but there were parts of the story that kept me hooked. It follows two timelines, past and present. I was more intrigued by the past as it was focused on Frida and Gabriel’s childhood and cult experience, which made me eager to dive in; the present fell a bit flat for me. The story's murder mystery elements were all there, but I didn’t particularly enjoy the main characters; their personalities were quite dry. However, the reason for their stale personalities was apparent: they lived a horrible childhood in a cult, and it was fight or flight for the remainder of their young years, so it’s understandable. Despite being understandable, it made it challenging to connect with the characters in their adult life. It was easy to communicate with them in their past life. I enjoyed their story; the growth of their relationship was strong, making it believable and easy to follow. To bring it back to the overall story again, I did enjoy the murder mystery aspects of the story. It was intriguing and predictable, but I was eager to see how everything played out. I got whiplash from trying to figure out whether or not I believed Gabriel’s story, so his part of the story hooked me. The ending was predictable, and I wasn’t thrilled, but there were a lot of moments in the story that had me second-guessing myself, which made the story a little more fun. It wasn’t my favourite, but I would recommend giving this book a chance. Thank you, Netgalley and Clémence Michallon, for the advanced copy!