Tittle           : A Missing Connection 

Author        : Dani McLean

Pub Date    : March 07, 2023

Pages          : 128

My Rating   : ★★★★

The Summary

They are each other's inner speech. They've never actually met. Two strangers who don't feel seen in each other are the subject of this love story set in a city where anything is conceivable.

Beau His entire existence has been predetermined for Aaron Forrester. He has wealth, status, and power as the single heir to the Forrester empire. But he'd give it all up for someone who desired the man underneath.

April Swan is tired of hearing instructions to calm down. She is perfectly satisfied to remain hidden in her office while using her powerful macros to decipher data. At least she won't let a chart down.

They promise to say whatever they've always desired as long as they never find out who the other is after realizing they can communicate telepathically.

The number of late-night discussions increases rapidly until neither can avoid bringing up the one topic they avoid. But how could the fantasies of the individual they were speaking to ever match up with reality?

My Review

I was really drawn into this book! Honestly, I have no clue that this is the third book in the series, but that didn't change how I understood the plot. It could be read and stood alone.

They didn't find it strange that they can immediately communicate with one another through their minds because apparently magical things happened in the city where the MCs live. Since they can't perceive minds and must speak to communicate with one another, their mind-talking is quite unusual. Yes, you need to approach it with an open mind.

I really like the premise and theme of this book. Although it was short, you could still tell there was a connection between the two. I'll still give it a pass because it was entertaining and had a clever idea, even though the characters may not always be fully realized and the plot may not always be life-altering.

There was still a lot of chemistry between the two personalities. The fact that they fell in love despite never having met is also endearing. It doesn't feel overdone because I'm not a huge fan of the instalove cliché, but it definitely has an instalove vibe.

There is also flavor, which was brilliantly done. I have to confess that the pungent portions surprised me. They definitely caught me off guard, but I was happy to have them because they wonderfully enhanced the plot. It's perfectly alright because I can read it absolutely well.

Overall, I would definitely recommend picking up this delightful novella if you're looking for a sweet relationship with a sprinkling of spice and a thought meet charming. Definitely going to look into the previous series!

I would like to thank Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. My views are entirely my own.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : The Fraud Squad 

Author        : Kyla Zhao

Pub Date    : January 17, 2023

Pages          : 368

My Rating   : ★★★

The Summary

Even Samantha Song has wanted to write for a high-society magazine for as long as she can recall, and she'd do anything to make it happen. Her low social standing and ongoing struggle to support her mother make her goal seem like a far-off fantasy.

Samantha is currently employed by a dull Marketing company. The nearest she will come to her ideal life is through her wealthy friend and coworker Anya Chen. Until Samantha meets Timothy Kingston, the disillusioned son of a wealthy family in Singapore and her only opportunity to break into the high society to which she so desperately wants to belong.

To Samantha's surprise, Anya and Timothy both consent to assist her in establishing herself as a prominent figure in Singapore's socialite scene. However, she can only go so far in her borrowed expensive clothing and plus-ones to all the glitzy events. Samantha has the remainder to do, and she's determined to wow the magazine's editor in chief in Singapore. Samantha is forced to come to terms with her pretense with who she really is before she loses everything because the more she delves into this fraud, the more she fears being exposed especially with an enigmatic gossip columnist on the hunt for dirt.

My Review

Even though there were a few points that I kind of disagreed with, I was actually really enjoying it. It was also interesting enough. You should be aware that books that reveal the inner workings of high societies and the upper classes rarely feature characters that are incredibly likeable. You'll have the chance to feel less let down and be able to keep reading and taking pleasure in the book as a result.

Regarding the book itself, I admire the concept of a woman breaking into high society and demolishing its prejudice and elitism. The author did a fantastic job analyzing elitism, classism, and the competitive world of high society through the eyes of a sassy heroine. It was fun to read about the opulent lifestyle and the mentions of expensive brands and design firms.

Samantha is a nice character, though I didn't exactly fall head over heels in love with them. I admired how things were going and how she and Timothy were able to improve her job chances by getting her into the society pages. I also liked watching Raina, her close friend, struggle with her envy while attempting to be the mature one.

My primary complaint was the way time was handled. The plot of the novel occasionally felt choppy and disjointed. It merely had a very ominous vibe. The writing was excellent, but it still came off as far too manufactured and contrived. The talk felt forced and extremely awkward. There was definitely no giving in to the two characters' relationship. Even though certain scenes from specific points of view of the story undoubtedly had a cinematic feel, the setting of the book led me to doubt this.

Although I am familiar with Singapore, I am unable to remark on whether the country was accurately portrayed in the book. While I almost missed the fact that it was set in Singapore until the word "kopitiam" was mentioned in the book, I can state with certainty that it was written with a Western reader in mind. Although the surnames are Asian, they are not the usual Singaporean surnames. However, I can only speak from my own experience, so this isn't exactly a guarantee.

Despite the shortcomings I encountered, generally it was enjoyable and entertaining. If you liked Crazy Rich Asians and The Devil Wears Prada, you should attempt reading this!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : Seven Percent of Ro Devereux 

Author        : Ellen O'clover 

Pub Date    : January 17, 2023

Pages          : 320

My Rating   : ★★★★

The Summary

Your destiny can be foreseen by Ro Devereux. Or, at the very least, her senior project's software can.

Working with her retired friend who was a behavioral scientist, Ro developed the 93% accurate MASH app, which is based on the popular game Mansion Apartment Shack House. Even soulmates will be found for users by the program. Even though MASH was only meant to be a class project, it rapidly gains traction and attracts the interest of tech investors.

Ro wants to work in Silicon Valley and will stop at nothing to show her new sponsoring business and the rest of the world that the app is functional. So it comes as a major jolt when the app tells her that Miller, her childhood best friend with whom she had a friendship-ending argument three years prior, is actually her soulmate.

Ro and Miller are now put into a fake dating situation and must deal with their past hurts if they are to have any chance of reaching their goals. And as the app develops a life of its own, Ro notices that it's having an impact on people in ways she never anticipated. If she can't recover control, it may also destroy her and everything she stands for.

My Review

A pretty amazing YA book with a cute enemies to lovers storyline. This book has a lot to commend it, from the relationships between friends and family to the romance, the candid self-examination, and character growth.

An app that "predicts the future" was developed by Ro Devereux, a high school pupil, and was motivated by the MASH video game. The use is entirely scientific. The app was initially her senior project for school, but after it quickly attracted the interest of a major tech company, things started to spiral out of control.

The story wasn't too convoluted, and while I expected the majority of the turns and twists, there were still a few that managed to catch me off guard. The author addressed a lot of interesting topics, including women in science and the positive and negative effects of popular culture and social media on people's lives, particularly those of younger audiences.

Ro is exactly the kind of powerful, intelligent, and painfully relatable female protagonist that we enjoy watching. Although Ro occasionally made snap decisions that I knew would be disastrous, I did enjoy seeing how she changed throughout the story. Even though she was making these difficult decisions, it was easy to back her. She openly acknowledged her errors and made an effort to atone, even when it seemed impossible. It was incredibly gratifying to witness this.

Oh, and let's talk about the cliche "friends to enemies to lovers" as well. Miller is the young man who feels too much, and Ro is the young child who is unsure of her feelings. And Miller is one of those characters that, in my view, stirs up a lot of strong feelings in the reader. Everything about their interactions was perfect. Apart from that, it wasn't the usual YA romance that was settled in a few chapters. On the other hand, Miller and Ro don't begin to connect until about halfway through the book.

The writing is so exquisitely clear and delectable, the romance builds and burns at the perfect speed, the tension and the angst, it was all so great that I'm actually surprised that it's a debut. O'Clover meticulously described each situation without becoming tedious to create a slow-burn romance that is both meaningful and sweet.

The remaining characters were excellently written and very intriguing. Even though many of them weren't given as much attention as Ro's character, I still felt that they were all fantastic supporting characters who greatly enhanced the story! They all have enough appeal to pique your interest in finding out more about them, and each of them provides something new.

Overall, I thought everything in this book was so well thought out and so well written. This book is certainly worth reading if you're a younger reader or someone who enjoys lighthearted stories!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : A Venom Dark And Sweet (The Book of Tea #2)

Author        : Judy I. Lin 

Pub Date    : August 23, 2022

Pages          : 352

My Rating   : ★★

The Summary

The realm of Dàxi has experienced a great evil. The Banished Prince has returned to take control, and the widespread poisonings that have kept the populace mired in mistrust and dread have aided in his ascent to the dragon throne.

Princess Zhen has been escorted into banishment by Ning, a youthful but mighty shénnóng-shi who wields magic using the age-old and delicate art of making tea. Ruyi, the duchess' devoted bodyguard, and Shu, Ning's recently recovered sister, join them. The four young women journey together across the kingdom in quest of allies who can aid in driving out the invaders and reclaiming Zhen's legitimate throne.

Ning's nightmares, however, are still plagued by images of conflict and bloodshed caused by the golden serpent. All the magic in the country might not be sufficient to stop an evil that is much older than the minor disputes between men from consuming the world.

My Review

Being completely honest, I believe that the first book in this series could have been written as a standalone and the remainder of the series combined into it. Although everything is resolved by the conclusion of this duology, I didn't find it to be as enjoyable as the first book, which I thought was doing alright and that I still enjoyed.

The journey itself was pleasant, but I thought the pace was too leisurely. The plot's goals were ambiguous even in the first half of the book. The main characters' thoughts would take up one minute, and then there would be a lot of activity and magical occurrences in the following minute. The complaints were always the same, even going so far as to state the main objective from the first book again.

I was also perplexed by the sudden introduction of another POV. The story is recounted from the perspectives of Ning and Kang, and both perspectives sounded the same with the exception of Kang's perspective being told in the third person. In actuality, the sounds of nearly every character were identical. The story was told in a detached, impersonal way, making it difficult to become invested in it. Ning's thoughts and emotions were frequently described rather than actually shown in this story, a fault I was able to overlook in the first book. This made the story feel dragged out and repetitive.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with this book, but when I finished it, I just drew a blank. More than anything else, I still think that this was a cool concept that was badly carried out.

Series Review:

A Magic Steeped in Poison: 3/5 stars

A Venom Dark and Sweet: 2/5 stars

The Book of Tea Duology: 5/10 stars

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : The Dragon's Promise (Six Crimson Cranes #2)

Author        : Elizabeth Lim

Pub Date    : August 30, 2022

Pages          : 400

My Rating   : ★★

The Summary

Princess Shiori promised on her deathbed to give the dragon's pearl back to its rightful owner, but doing so is riskier than she ever thought. She must travel to the kingdom of dragons, deal with political intrigue involving both humans and dragons, thwart thieves who are desperate to obtain the pearl while maintaining the appearance of a perfect princess to deter those who want to have her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her family. The pearl itself is not your typical goods; it pulses with malicious power, leaping to Shiori's aid one moment and betraying her the next, threatening to destroy her family and sever the fated thread that ties her to her true love. To protect the life and the love she has worked so hard to obtain, Shiori will need all of her strength.

My Review

In all honesty, Six Crimson Cranes deserved to stand alone even though I thought the first book was only merely average and left a lot of unanswered questions that I had expected the second book to address. Instead, it just made me feel disappointed.

I really value it when you create new worlds and tell stories that are steeped in mythology and culture. She just has such a sure touch with the magic she conjures, so I'll always be tempted to purchase her works.

There is far too much happening for just one book, and it felt much longer than it needed to. The plot of this novel was boring and haphazard. There were either too many subplots or too many unresolved problems, which gave the impression that I was being hurried from one subplot to another.

Its uneven pacing occasionally made it feel crowded and out of place. It looked as though the author was coming up with plot twists on the fly. Moreover, it appeared as though the author was under duress to finish this sequel since some ideas from the first volume were repeated here.

Even though there isn't a true love triangle in the story, it is hinted, which I found to be almost as annoying as dealing with one. The characters in this book don't seem to be strong enough to carry it off, even without a love triangle. I never warmed up to the characters, and I frequently felt cut off from what was happening on the page.

Instead of being happy that the story is over now that the book is completed, I still have a lot of unanswered questions. And as an outcome of those unexplained causes, nearly every answer to a particular problem seemed random and forced.

Overall, this is a disappointing end to a duology that had a lot of promise but was regrettably divided up, and I still stand by my opinion that if the first book could be the only one more focused, It will be more fantastic!

Series Review:

Six Crimson Canes: 3/5 stars

The Dragon Promise: 2/5 stars

Six Crimson Canes Duology: 5/10 stars

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : Song of Silver Flame Like Night (Song of The Last Kingdom #1)

Author        : Amélie Wen Zhao

Pub Date    : January 03, 2023

Pages          : 512

My Rating   : ★★