The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Genre: Fiction, Magic Realism

June was abandoned as a baby. Her mother disappeared in the woods outside of their family flower farm. When June's aunt passes, she quickly discovers that her family is full of secrets. To make things more complicated, June is hearing voices, feeling and smelling things that are not there, and then there is the mysterious red door she's seen over the past year. When she finally opens that door, she discovers that her life and her family have had to make difficult choices and hopefully, with the help of her granmother, she can end the family curse and set things right.

This was a wonderful quick read. It is filled with romance, heartache, history, and magic. There is a bit of time travel which can be confusing at times. I suggest suspending belief just a bit and focusing on the characters and stories. I really enjoyed the overall story arch, though it did get a bit twisty at times. The characters are well developed and feel real. I was easily engaged in June's emotions and confusion. The story is well thought out. It has to be given the time travel angle. Overall, it's a really good read and one I would recommend, even to those new to magic realism.

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Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance/Rom-com

Full disclosure, I am a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood and her STEM-centric romance books. I'm also a bit of a gamer, so the book premise really was in my wheel house. Viola is a game designer who is finally getting the opportunity to work on a game based on her favorite book series. The only problem is that the company she works for will have to work along side a rival game producing company. The staff of each company has some deep seeded issues with each other: professionally, personally, and romantically. Jesse works for the rival company, only issue is that he's harbored a long time adoration and crush for Viola. She, on the other hand, thinks he's a jerk who wants nothing to do with her. When the company that has hired the production company sends the employees of both groups to a ski holiday to work out their differences, there's plenty of fire, emotionally and romantically. 

Two Can Play is quite a short book at only 208 pages. Despite the length, Hazelwood has packed a lot into the book making it feel like a much longer novel. The characters are interesting, the story is humorous and engaging, and the romance is fun and feisty. For those who like romantic heat in their novels, there is a bit towards the end; however, not so much that it takes over the entire story. It's a great read. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars for me.

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Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
Genre: Junior Fiction
 

Diamond Willow is one of those books that I read several years ago and was grateful to revisit the story. The book is beautifully written. The chapters alternate between characters using both narrative and verse. If you choose to read this title, take note. For each chapter in verse, you will see bold printed words. Read together, they give you insight and add depth to the story. 

The story focuses primarily on 12 year old Willow. Like many of her age, she is forging her independance and wanting those around to notice she is growing and of her own ways and mind. Of all things, she wants to mush the dogs and take them out alone. This leads to an adventure through the Alaska wilderness that proves dangerous. It takes the help of her friends to guide and help her. 

While the book is written for preteens, I believe that anyone could truly enjoy the story. It's wonderfully written and a very quick one day read at only 128 pages. I think that everyone can relate to those learning moments when finding ones way. And of course, that every choice has its concequences. Overall, it's a great book and one that I will surely read again and again.  
 

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Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Genre: LitRPG/Fantasy

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is a funny, fantastic, and often violent romp into the apocolyptic dungeon exploits of Carl and his ex-girlfrend's cat, Donut. It's a bit fantasy, a bit scifi and a lot of laughs. Fantasy, scifi, gaming fants or anyone who just wants to try something different, check it out!

I absolutely had a wonderful wild ride reading Dungeon Crawler Carl. The end of the world has come thanks to an intergallatic conglomerate who has a history of taking over worlds and devoiding them of their resources. Those who survive the initial phase are given a choice: either enter the dungeon and maybe earn citizenship, or decline. Those who decline will be forced to live on only survival any remaining resources. Carl enters the dungeon and so does Donut, a competition show cat. They soon discover the fight for survival in a horrible real life game where the AI controls the play and the aliens and otherworlder's profit from their wins and losses. The stakes are high in this dungeon and each floor gets progressively more complicated, violent, and traumatic. Carl and Donut use their wits, skills, and sometimes pure luck as they fight so survive.

The book has a lot of endearing moments, laugh out loud moments, 'what the heck' moments, and plenty of snark. I'm a gamer and love RPG games, so I know that had a lot to do with my enjoyment of this title. I read with a mixture of the audio and the actual print book. I preferred the print version mainly because it was easier for me to consume the information about loot. That doesn't mean that the audio didn't have it's strengths.

The audiobook was a lot of fun and the narrator does a great job. The voices used really helps keep the information, characters and transitions straight. In the print book some of this is primarily done through the use of bold print. I consumed the later part of the book through audio which I listened to while travelling. I liked it so much, I actually pulled the car over when it ended and quick ordered and downloaded book 2. I will definitely continue on with the series. 

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Silver Elite by Dani Francis
Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Silver Elite has all the makings of a really good dystopian romance. The pacing was fast, the characters were interesting, and the cliffhanger ending reveal will definitely have me eager to see what book two brings. The world building is average. Readers get a lot of informaiton on the fantasy realm, the overall idea of what is going on, but there are a few holes that I predict will be filled in future installments.

Francis does a really good job of building the characters. I have to admit, I enjoyed the side characters more than the main chracters. I think this is due to the over the top nature in how they are written. Wren is stubborn, angry and in control of herself. Cross on the otherhand is dark, broody and just plain mean. It took about 75% of the book before I began to enjoy the romance element of the story. Up until that point, Francis was beating readers over the head with how tough and dark Crow was. At times his actions towards Wren were abusive. It wasn't until Francis gave readers a glimpse of the complex nature if the chracters and their softer dynamic edges, could I fully appreciate that part of the story. I adored the side characters. I would love to see more of them in subsequent novels.

The book floats between adult and new adult. There is some spicy heated moments, so if you like you romantasy clean, you can certainly anticipate and skip those scenes if needed. 

I think Silver Elite is a solid book one. It's easy to follow, has a good combination of action, romance, and mystery. I am really interested in seeing how the book continues and Francis grows as an author.