Susan’s Book Blog

  Solomon’s Crown  by Natasha Siegel Scheduled to publish on March 14, 2023 // 5 👑 out of 5 // This is Richard I/Philip II fanfic and I’m so here for it. If you’re unfamiliar with these historical figures, never fear because IT DOES NOT MATTER. Siegel makes it clear in her author’s note that she plays fast and loose with historical accuracy - in that there is very little. 😂  Richard I and Philip II are one of those “were they lovers?” situations. (Historians just love telling us how two kings sleeping in the same bed was a PR move/political statement. Sure, Jan.) And frankly they lived 1000 years ago so it’s damn near impossible to get a definitive answer but who cares? They lived a THOUSAND YEARS AGO. To us, they have always been and will always be characters in a story. This author is just using them to tell her own story.  The family drama between Richard, his father the king, and his brothers was compelling and totally had me invested. I know a (small) bit abou...

Book Mail days are always exciting and this was an especially exciting delivery!  You may have seen my recent post on A Taste of Gold and Iron. It’s an amazing book and absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year. So of course I had to have a physical copy! I googled to see if there were any special editions coming out (as one does) and discovered a couple small UK companies offering one. But of course I’d missed the bus on both as they’d both been small runs and offered via presales several months earlier. So when my Booksta bestie Ditte informed me that Broken Bindings, one of the UK booksellers offering a special edition of ATOGAI, had received their stock and was putting up for sale the limited number of extra copies they had available after fulfilling the preorders, I considered it for a bit as it was slightly out of my budget but then I caved. And I was lucky enough to snag one! And I am so so glad I did. Broken Bindings’ edition is signed by the author (and a very cool ...

  You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky Pub Date 10/4/2022 ⛄️ 3 stars out of 5 ⛄️ This is basically a Schitt’s Creek Christmas AU. The narrator, Matthew, is so clearly written to be a David Rose-style spoiled brat that I could only picture the character as Dan Levy. He was so unlikeable it took me quite a while until I became invested. I actually considered quitting several times before the 25% mark. (Then again, it took me a long time to warm up to Schitt’s Creek as well.)  Matthew learns things about himself during his exile to his grandparents’ home. As he spends more time in the small town and with Hector, he learns that the life he previously knew was not a good one despite all its material rewards. Hector helps bring him down to earth and keep him there. Matthew’s struggles with anxiety also helped humanize him and soften his rough edges. I generally appreciate anxiety/mental health rep but it almost felt like a cheap ploy here to make Matthew likeable. It...

This is one of my favorite favorite books. According to GoodReads, I first read it back in April/May of last year. Which is crazy because it feels like it’s been in my head far longer than that.  I’d never read a shifter book before (I don’t think I’ve read any outside of the Green Creek series since, either) and had no idea if I’d even like it but boy was I unprepared for how much this book would crawl into my soul 😂  I steadily devoured the entire rest of the series, then put off the final one a bit because I didn’t want it to end. I needed more candy canes and pinecones, epic and awesome.  I am so so glad this book and series is finally getting the attention it deserves and a gorgeous hardcover release. When I saw Waterstones was offering this signed sprayed edge edition, I ran to preorder! I’m so excited to see what the rest look like! 

Roommate Arrangement  by Saxon James // 4.5 origami cranes out of 5 // Ahhhhhhh this was so good. Two cinnamon rolls + low angst + lots of yearning, sexy times & romance = right up my alley! (Me throughout most of this book:  🥹🥹🥹 ) Payne is getting divorced and moving back to his hometown. His brother suggests he move in - temporarily of course - with his BFF Beau. Payne and Beau knew each other in high school but haven’t seen much of each other since Payne left and got married. Now he’s back and Beau thinks letting Payne take his spare room will finally cure him of his lifelong crush on Payne. Sure Jan.  😏 The story is good and the characters are wonderful. I loved both Payne and Beau. Payne’s family are pretty adorable as well. Payne’s friend group, aka the Divorced Men’s Club, is super cute. They’re funny and supportive. I enjoyed their group chats and banter.  Watching Payne and Beau’s relationship grow and change over the course of the book was lovely. T...

This beauty is now released into the world! Well, in the US. The UK release is tomorrow Sept 1! Please go pick it up, you won’t regret it!  You can read my original review of it HERE ! 

The Scottish Boy   by Alex de Campi  published by Unbound in May 2020 🏰 5 stars out of 5 🏰  The story starts in 1333 and I wasn’t sure what to expect from a novel that takes place that long ago. But the style is simple and straightforward. (I’ve read medieval-era stories by other authors who tried to mimic antiquated language and it was extremely distracting.) I found the story compelling from the very beginning. The MC Harry is a pretty likable guy from the start. He is 19 and fresh off missing the battle of Halidon Hill due to the death of his mother. He has been itching to go to war to prove himself and avenge his father’s death at the battle of Bannockburn. Harry learns very quickly what war is really like when he’s taken on a raid and watches his fellow knights strike down unarmed citizens, struggling to understand the pointless brutality and cruelty. Being a knight isn’t at all what he thought it would be. Where’s the chivalry? The justice? He dislikes the way the...