stitchsaddiction's reviews
1177 reviews

Worth Every Penny is a billionaire romance that adds a little mystery and trouble to the mix and I was there for it.

Rae Ryder's debut has you caught from the first page and you're left at the final sentence wishing book two was resting at your side. The characters are well thought out, they bring depth to the storyline and I loved that it was set in the UK. Having areas that we know in books just helps bring them to life, and in this particular genre of romance, there is a distinct shortage of English characters - if they can be the villain, why can't they also be the hero?

Well, Nico is a bit of both but don't we all enjoy the little bit of protecting someone with all you have? 

The chemistry between the two main characters, Nico and Kate is sublime and the tension palpable. They have a background that's explained so well that it doesn't overwhelm and it's also one that's believable. I loved them, especially Kate who is fierce and loyal to a fault - she's far from a pushover and again? That's always good to see in romance novels, I'm not one for the weak little woman shtick.

Not only do we have Nico and Kate, but there are excellent background characters to have their storyline that doesn't take anything away from the duo but has the reader captivated. I wanted to know more because Ryder has ensured the reader feels as though they're in this story with the characters and I loved it.

If you're a fan of romance, with a male lead whose world is turned on its head and a beautiful female who is strong and vivacious? Worth Every Penny is for you.

When an author is described as being the New York Times Bestselling Author of sad books like Dustin Thao does? You know you're going to need a month's supply of the softest tissues, your favourite blanket and a stuffed toy to squeeze so hard it might come to life only to tell you to think of the stuffing!

It won't be enough... nothing will truly prepare nor protect you from the beautiful sorrowful journey you will go on as you read When Haro was Here.

Eric Ly is a gentle soul, and I could fully understand his desire to protect his heart from the reality of grief. There is the before, and the after of losing his best friend Daniel. In Eric's mind, he is safe and the stories he creates protect him as the world and its realities fly past because his imagination is something he can control.

When Eric meets with Haru whilst in Japan before Daniel's passing, he has moments of utter joy that linger with him. I loved the glimpses into the festival the two inadvertently are thrust into and you can feel the many emotions Eric experiences during that time together and you as the reader cannot help but smile at Eric's happiness and wonder just why Dustin Thao has to hurt you.

I hadn't read You've Reached Sam, so I was unaware of how phenomenal Thao is at eliciting so many strong emotions from a reader. 

Eric and Haru are so well-written and the world they live in was eloquently done so you do indeed feel like you're in Japan experiencing the wonder of the festival or the vastness of Chicago which I knew little about. But it's the journey of grief that had me snuffling at first, casually wiping my eyes and then bereft with choked up tears that made my eyes burn. It's Eric's pain that is tangible and one which is relatable to anyone who has lost someone suddenly and doesn't know quite how to move forward each day. He may go through the motions, but he also makes decisions that are ill-thought-out and are hard to witness from the page. Alongside my tears, I was livid at Eric but from first-hand grief, I remember that you sometimes wanted to remember you're alive, no matter what.

This is a story that will make you cry - a lot. It will make you wish to enter the pages of the book and hold Eric tightly and smile with contented joy at his time with Haru because he's happy then and the weight of grief lifted momentarily.

Prepare for a journey, and share in your favourite tissue company. Because Dustin Thao truly deserves that title. I'm off to curl up with my teddy again because Eric and his life will linger for a while.

𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦. 

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦.

Oh my God, Carissa Broadbent, you've put my heart through too much with book two of The War of Lost Hearts and it's going to take a bit to recover.

The world-building is, as always on another level and the reader is pulled right back into the trauma that the Order's war will bring to pretty much everyone in its wake regardless of race, and position. Broadbent ensures that the reader will experience so much turmoil as our main trio attempts to not only stay alive but cling to the moments of joy and normality as everything around them goes to Hell.

Because of cause, wars have to happen, no matter what and those who are already suffering because of it; can fall further into the depths of despair. You're guaranteed to be internally screaming at moments when the characters fail to see what we can and no, I do not like to see them suffer. 

This is a truly brilliant epic fantasy with so much going on, so Ara, Max and Tisaanah are never quite certain what will come next and you're left balancing on a kn*fe edge wondering just when everything will become Hell in a handbasket.

Betrayal is at every corner whispering to the three of them, and alongside war? Tragedy is just within reach for them all with its twists and turns that are perfectly written. I liked that in this book, the world we knew expands and we learn of new cultures and species with the arrival of Fae, and humans intent on destruction. Whilst Children of Fallen Gods is far more complex and there's so much going on, nothing takes away from Tisaanah, Max and Ara as each one has their voice heard. 

I loved the romance elements that again, feel natural and not over the top in how heated it becomes.


I think I need to lie down in a darkened room because my heart's still shaken!

The Swan Harp is a fantasy series set in a Medieval world where Kiar, along with her three sisters are the children of King Tir and Queen Tianis. The Queen is a member of the Swan folk, which I thought was an intriguing idea because we often encounter characters in fantasy novels who change into mammals rather than birds. 

Told from Kiar's perspective we see her go through the mundane moments of her life whilst feeling she doesn't fully belong as she is the only one of the trio of girls who couldn't change from human to swan - something that weighs on her. Then, drama and trouble come to the borders of her kingdom and Kiar's sense of being is tested.

The world-building sends the reader to a realm of castles, witches, and vast lands filled with mysteries and creatures both good and evil. I did feel it was a little basic given the book is a YA book and normally there's a very vivid and immersive world created for fantasy novels. Although it was evident of the style of the world The Swan Harp is set in, it did feel a little flat which was disappointing.

The same is said for the characters, they could have been so much more. I like characters to feel like they're jumping from the page into my imagination and this time they didn't. The premise of the sisters was good with each one being individual but they become lacklustre as the book goes on and I lost a lot of interest in them as well as the supporting cast.

In truth, I had high hopes - the cover is stunning but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I also saw that this was part of the trilogy which surprised me as normally there's a cliffhanger etcetera but this wrapped up with no clue as to where it would continue.

Al and Kitty Tait are a father and daughter duo who run the Orange Bakery together and Breadsong is a, wonderful emotional book that tells their story with a focus on Kitty's anxiety and how the process of making bread - and other delicious baked goods, helped the then 14-year-old Kitty reconnect with those around her and discover her passion.

Bread.

Breadsong takes the reader along with Kitty from her initial curiosity over watching Al making a loaf at home to the two working together making delicious baked goods for friends and family to the opening of their bakery and it's an emotional journey for anyone who knows how lost you can feel when the internal voices outweigh those around you.

I truly believe that a methodical way of creating something in be so beneficial to quieten anxiety and often the depression that coexists with it. Kitty's journey will both inspire and cause tears to fall. She is someone to admire as are her parents for their perseverance and strength...

Kitty and Al's perspectives of the journey both of the mental one to recovery and the ups and downs are honest and often highlight the realities they face. Nothing is sugar-coated and it's an excellent story.

They're also kind enough to provide the reader with many recipes to try and I need to casually slide this towards my home baker; my husband, to see if there's any he wants to make.

Kitty and Al deserve all the success in the world and are an inspiration to anyone who is struggling to find that one thing that can help them feel less isolated.

A Game of Strength and Storm is a gender-bent retelling of the Labours of Hercules and that had me wanting to read this book. I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology at the best of times, but a well-written retelling will always have me wanting to get lost in the story and Rachel Menard's story was no exception.

Our protagonist Gen, is a MindWorker and through using her blood, hair or saliva can control (willing) animals to do their will. The animals can refuse something that they strongly disapprove of which I thought was well done, and is a reminder that free will is always so important in life. She's been a victim of circumstance and lost everything and is determined to save her father from false imprisonment. (No spoilers I promise, this is all mentioned in the synopsis!)

She's well-written and although the way her perspective of all that unfolds highlights she's the good guy in this battle? She's not perfect and is aware of that herself - she's prone to mistakes and has made decisions she's later regretted but that is a human trait; no one is infallible.

I liked that not only do we get Gen's perspective but also those of the two StormMakers, twins Castor and Pollux. Their ability sounds both dangerous and also incredible - they can capture and control nature especially lightning and wind which truly does sound like you'd be a God with that power. This comes with a weight of responsibility that Lady Castor disregards and makes her the perfect antagonist but also a victim of her arrogance and desires. 

I quite liked her Devil May Care attitude to a degree but she's also horrible for something she does. (I wasn't a happy reader at all and was cursing her to be hit by her lighting storm!) Pollux on the other hand is more level-headed and Menard has written him in such a beautiful way that I could see in my mind him weaving miniature storms, winds etc to tell stories and it was just *chef's kiss*.

The true evil is the Empresses, and I did hope to read more of their barbaric ways but a true villain is always written well and those of Grecian Mythology are on another level of insanity. The games the Empresses play with their citizens lives are another level and to know they simply don't care of things go wrong was delicious. (Yes, I am giggling maniacally because I can't help but find them both awful and incredible.. I'm a bad person.)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

The concept of the lottery is an excellent albeit terrible idea - and I can only imagine how desperate you'd be to enter as all seem to know that their hope comes with the knowledge they would have their hands metaphorically tied behind their back. The Empresses are manipulative and always 10 steps ahead. Menard's dedication to give each of those facing the rulers to be unique with very different and hard to accomplish wishes mirror the difficult or should I say Herculean tasks from the original tale. 

I love this book, the world-building is well done and not overly complicated so if doesn't distracf from the  story, and how if affects the three people trying to get what they need. I will need to get the sequel as soon as I can, as we're left on a cliffhanger that has me wondering just how much Gen will have you go to find happiness and save her father... 

Also, Pollux deserved the biggest of hugs because he's lovely. His unwavering ability to believe in not only more, but the good each ability could have especially his own is refreshing.

Just as we take the train to go to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to go to a star. - Vincent to Theo, Sept. 1888 
 
Starry Night: van Gogh at the Asylum is an emotional as well as educational read. 
 
Focusing on Vincent van Gogh's time at the Saint-Paul de Mausole psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This would be where Vincent went in 1889 after the mental crisis that had led to the removal of his ear. Martin Bailey combines extracts from Vincent's letters and writings, as well as other items to explore probably the most infamous time in van Gogh's life. 
 
I liked how the book was laid out, with chapters showcasing letters, paintings and drawings, archived documents from museums, posters and postcards, as well as photographs from the time as well as taken by the author. As with all people who become famous long after their tragic passing? The sight of van Gogh's, thoughts in his own hand further adds to the acknowledgement that an artist whose work has affected millions of people struggled so much with belonging. 
 
Vincent van Gogh created 150 pieces of art in the small room he had at the asylum during his time in Provence when he wasn't walking in the village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the foothills of the Alpilles. Many of these as any lover of art, are some of the most famous of his work including of course Starry Night as well as The Iris and The Almond Tree Branch in Bloom which are all breathtaking. 
 
The artwork that's reproduced in the book is vibrant so that you're able to see each brush stroke and the colours have remained bright to this day. Bailey provides us with information about the paintings which are insightful and add to the wonder and understanding of van Gogh's work. 
 
Bailey's dedication to learning about, and in turn educating the reader, about Vincent van Gogh is evident on every page and his research is thorough and it's apparent just how important the artist is to the author (as he is to many). I found it wonderful albeit heartbreaking to not only read more about some of Van Gogh's artwork but also the various mental and physical health conditions that would not impact Van Gogh's life but indirectly those such as his brother Theo who tried everything he could to help his much-loved brother. 
 
To know each letter began My Dear Theo hurts my heart because the love is apparent even when the madness he endured held onto him. 
 
This book's a dedication to a man who deserved more, and in truth to his brother too who loved faithfully until the end. 
 
To know that we get to witness the world through Vincent's eyes is a wonderful thing and I think that the year he was surrounded by the beauty of Provence kept him with his loved ones both family and friends just a little longer. Van Gogh will never be forgotten, but it is work such as this that enables us to know more of the man than his beautiful paintings and sketches. 
 
If ever I wish to time travel it would be to Provence and to simply talk with Vincent because he like so many poets, had a heart and soul that was too fragile and good for this world. 
 
Van Gogh would leave Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in May 1890 and would leave the world July of that year by his own hand. 
 
Vincent van Gogh was 37 years old. 
 
Theo van Gogh would join his brother after pasing away in January 1891 at just 33 years old leaving behind his wife Johanna and son Vincent who was six days from his first birthday. 

If the debut had me on edge, Disciples of Chaos had me wondering just where my breath had gone and whether I could have it back.

MK Lobb's return to the world of the Seven Faceless Saints has the reader thrust into a tumultuous world with the Rebellion gaining in strength and a power shift showing the realities of all our protagonists had known. The atmospheric world-building continues to be exquisitely done, and you can easily feel as though you're at the side of our heroes as Damian faces the many emotions and doubts that his PTSD causes, and Roz contemplates the reality of an empty victory. The author has put so much effort into making their characters have a realism to them, you're able to connect with their thoughts and feelings regardless of the fantasy setting. 

Even heroes have fears and often have to face more consequences for their actions than the enemy after all and Lobb has cast a light on their mental health thoughtfully and genuinely which is commendable. 

The balance between the dramatic events that continue to unfold from book one and the story of Damian and Rosana is perfectly done. The tension is tangible, and I genuinely did struggle to catch my breath at times because both the lovers and their comrades just don't seem to be given a break. You will experience a plethora of emotions as you read this series and Disciples of Chaos at times had my heartbreaking and needing a moment to step away because I was so drawn into the story because of the writing.

I loved this book, which sounds mad given that it made me cry, angry... and fearful. However, that is why I loved it and was torn between needing to get to the end and see if would everything be resolved and not wanting to come to the last word because then that first read would be over.

A re-read will be had, but I don't think I will experience the exquisite emotions in the same way again and that makes me sad. M.K. Lobb is now an auto-buy author for me thanks to these books.