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Mister Movie Star
Mister Movie Star is a charming, flirty romp of a romance novel set against the glitzy backdrop of Beverly Hills and the more grounded vibe of the Pacific Northwest. At its heart, it’s about Rose Poppins—a talented but emotionally bruised chef—and George Reed Masters, the Hollywood heartthrob with a hidden depth and, as it turns out, a surprisingly grounded soul. When Rose lands a job as George’s personal chef, neither expects the whirlwind of attraction, awkwardness, and healing that’s about to unfold. It’s the kind of story that combines humor, heart, and heat in just the right doses.
I fell for the writing right away. It has this effortless, snappy rhythm—funny without trying too hard, emotional without feeling saccharine. From the first few pages, when Rose awkwardly fumbles her way into George’s estate (and into his arms, quite literally), I was hooked. That whole “mistaken identity” set-up where she thinks George is just the pool guy is classic. But it’s not just a gimmick—the banter that follows feels natural and genuinely fun, like you’re eavesdropping on two people falling into something big and messy and real. That moment when Rose realizes the “pool guy” is actually her movie star boss was deliciously cringey and delightful.
The deeper stuff hit me harder than I expected. Rose’s backstory with the sleazy chef and the fallout from that mess felt all too real. There’s this sharp moment when Rose reflects on how being a woman in a high-end kitchen already stacks the odds against her—and then a sleazy encounter pulls the rug out from under her. Her resilience, though, really got to me. She’s smart, funny, a little self-deprecating, and trying so hard not to get hurt again. You can’t help but root for her. And George, under the glitz, is just a guy trying to figure out what matters. His moments of vulnerability—like his existential dread over aging out of Hollywood, or wondering if he can carry off a British accent without sounding like a cartoon—give him this surprising, relatable depth.
The chemistry is off the charts. There’s this perfect blend of slow-burn tension and goofy sweetness. I loved their early kitchen scenes—Rose trying not to blush while George munches carrots like Bugs Bunny, or her awkward sandwich moment where she can’t stop staring at his indigo eyes. It’s romantic comedy gold. And somehow, amid all the flirting and fumbling, there’s this growing sense of trust, like they’re both learning how to be safe with someone again. That’s where the story really shines—not in the glamor, but in the quiet moments where they see each other for real.
If you love character-driven romances with heart, humor, and heat, this one’s a gem. Fans of Emily Henry or Katherine Center will probably feel right at home. It’s got enough Hollywood sparkle to keep things fun, but it’s the emotional beats that really stick with you. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a love story with depth—plus some good food, awkward falls, and the kind of witty repartee that’ll leave you grinning.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0F3RSKKNV
The Lost Dragonrider of Lamar
The Lost Dragonrider of Lamar kicks off with a fiery bang—literally. The prologue plunges us into a mystical war zone where divine storms split the sky and dragonriders duel for god-touched power. The story follows two central characters: Tel Roan, a battle-hardened dragonrider with a golden dragon named Ingamar, and Lark, a mysterious young woman with no memory of her past, only a glowing pendant and an unshakable pull toward a storm. A Hyalite—an orb infused with godly power—is about to change both their destinies. With war looming between the Kingdoms of Lamar and Nordraven, and ancient magic bleeding into their world, the book layers classic fantasy tropes with a fresh, fast-paced twist.
This book had me in its grip from the opening page. The prologue was cinematic. That scene where he fights a massive blue-skinned orc for the Hyalite was epic. The tension is so thick you could cut it with Stormbreaker. Walker has a knack for writing action that feels intense but never overcomplicated—no confusing jargon, just pure adrenaline and magic.
What surprised me the most, though, was how much I loved Lark’s chapters. At first, she feels like the typical “mysterious girl with a magical trinket” trope—but she grows on you. Her connection to the storm and the dragon lore is told with this eerie, poetic pacing that contrasts perfectly with the more militaristic energy of Tel’s story. I loved the moment when she’s drawn toward the Everburning Forest and starts getting those weird flashes of memory, like the image of a man holding a box that pulses in time with her pendant. There’s a soft, haunting tone to her arc that feels like a dream slowly turning into a nightmare.
Some of the world-building was heavy at times—there’s a lot of information given through conversations about realms, magical politics, and the difference between Hyalites and Yogo Sapphires. I appreciate the depth, but it occasionally slowed the story. I wanted to get back to the drama—the betrayals, the aerial dragon fights, the strange glowing creatures in the woods. Still, even the slower bits added layers to the world that made the payoff richer.
The Lost Dragonrider of Lamar delivered on everything I want in a fantasy read—gutsy characters, high-stakes magic, and dragons that feel like more than just pets with wings. It’s bold, a little bloody, and absolutely bursting with heart. I’d recommend this book to fans of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn or those who devoured Eragon and wished it had a bit more edge. This isn’t just a setup for a series—it’s a solid first strike. If you’ve got even the slightest itch for fire-breathing beasts and mystic prophecies, give this one a shot.
Pages: 486 | ASIN : B0F468WDC4
Delilah Versus The Ghastly Grim
Delilah Versus the Ghastly Grim follows a twelve-year-old girl who, after a life-threatening seizure, finds herself in a strange new world. There, she must uncover her hidden powers and confront a formidable enemy, all while searching for a way home. But her journey is more than just a quest for survival, it’s a path toward self-discovery, courage, and destiny.
Delilah is no ordinary pre-teen. Though her abilities begin to stir quietly, they grow stronger just in time for a battle unlike any she could have imagined. Her adversary, The Ghastly Grim, is a dark, power-hungry force that rebels against the mysterious Kangaroo Council and ventures deep into the forbidding realm of Cora Larn. Within Othersphere, the Grim unleashes a shadowy entity known only as the Sorcerer Dread. Mist takes form. Shadows move. And the fate of more than one world hangs in the balance.
T.L. McCoy’s Delilah vs. the Ghastly Grim is a spirited entry into the young adult fantasy genre, calling to mind the strange charm of Neil Gaiman and the eerie wonder of Ray Bradbury. But make no mistake, McCoy’s voice is her own, and it’s distinct.
At first glance, Delilah might seem like any other pre-teen. That illusion fades fast. Her transformation begins with a subtle unease, triggered by the arrival of a peculiar figure: Mr. Peabody. One moment, she’s in class; the next, she’s swept away to the Garden of the In-Between. From that point forward, reality bends.
The world McCoy crafts is a kaleidoscope of strangeness that is lush, offbeat, and endlessly surprising. Every new character and creature is a delight to encounter, yet beneath the whimsy lies purpose. Delilah navigates this unfamiliar terrain with a blend of grit and grace. Like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, she embraces the bizarre with refreshing speed, an asset in a land where logic sleeps and imagination reigns.
Danger, though present, is carefully modulated. McCoy tempers the menace, ensuring the tone remains accessible for younger readers. The emphasis lies more on adventure, wonder, and the quirky pleasures of exploration than on terror. This choice roots the novel firmly within its intended audience: young adults hungry for magic and mischief, not nightmares.
Still, the stakes feel real. That’s largely thanks to Delilah herself, a winsome heroine full of curiosity, courage, and heart. Surrounding her is a colorful cast of supporting characters who bring not only flair but emotional weight. Together, they help elevate the story from a lighthearted romp to something richer.
Delilah vs. the Ghastly Grim is fast-paced, brimming with imagination, and anchored by a protagonist you can’t help but root for. It’s a charming blend of humor, peril, and wonder, an enchanting tale that promises to delight its target audience and beyond.
Paragons of the New Moon (Book 2 of The Last Battlefield for Light and Darkness)
Paragons of the New Moon is a sweeping cosmic fantasy filled with layered lore, celestial politics, and introspective heroes fighting not only monsters but the haunting echoes of their own pasts. This second book in The Last Battlefield for Light and Darkness saga follows Rayeen Beeta—a man brought back from the dead by otherworldly magic—as he’s sent on a mission by the enigmatic Overseer Shamooga to track down a mysterious boy named Kosinki, whose powers may very well rewrite the universe. What unfolds is a bold journey that dances between metaphysical philosophy, epic-scale action, and raw emotion, stretching from the dusty violet dunes of Amethyst Sands to the heart of cosmic archives and long-buried grief.
The opening chapters hooked me right away with their weird, wonderful energy. You get this totally surreal setting—Shamooga in a tower beyond physics, manipulating reality like origami. And then Rayeen’s dropped into a vision quest-style battle with his inner demons and literal monsters. His body is dead, his soul’s in his pocket, and he’s trying to hold onto his humanity through sheer force of will. North knows how to blend high-concept magic with gut-punch emotion, and that combo really shines here.
In the middle of the book, the pace kicks up a notch with Rayeen tracking Kosinki, clashing with pirates, and getting absolutely wrecked by the Black Lake and its Corrupted beasts. The fight scenes are wild—like, anime-level intense—but what I appreciated more was Rayeen’s frustration. He’s powerful, nearly godlike, but he’s constantly told “not yet,” “you’re not ready,” and you can feel his resentment simmer. It’s not just about power—it’s about emotional readiness, and man, that hits harder than any boss battle.
We finally learn about Shamooga’s own past—how he survived an apocalypse, got offered godhood, and became an Overseer almost against his will. These late chapters are steeped in lore, with cool reveals about the higher powers pulling the strings, and even a secret archive Shamooga keeps to remember people the universe has erased. The vibe gets almost melancholic toward the end. By the time Rayeen returns, frustrated and desperate to go home, there’s this shared, quiet pain between the two of them.
If you’re into Final Fantasy, Fullmetal Alchemist, or anything that blends big cosmic ideas with messy, soulful characters—you’ll dig this book. It’s poetic, intense, a little chaotic, and full of heart. There’s some deep stuff in here, and it helps to read slowly to catch all the meaning. But it’s worth it. North doesn’t spoon-feed. He lets you feel lost, like the characters. And that makes the victories—no matter how small—feel earned.
Pages: 299 | ASIN : B0F2SD32FK
The Scald Crow
The Scald Crow doesn’t waste time with hand-holding. Author Hanna Park kicks you straight into the Irish bogs, car troubles, and uncanny vibes before you can even unpack your suitcase. It’s a ride—mud-splattered, magical, and way more emotional than you’d expect.
The story follows Calla Sweet, a Canadian news anchor who crashes—literally and figuratively—into the Irish countryside. She’s reeling from a career implosion, haunted by a mysterious ability to foresee death, and tangled up in an inheritance from a man she’s never met. What follows is a trippy, slow-burn unraveling of secrets, fae folklore, and personal reckoning, all soaked in atmosphere thicker than a pint of Guinness.
Calla’s voice is hilarious, sharp, and often heartbreaking. One minute she’s cracking jokes about bog stench and bees, the next she’s reliving trauma or spiraling into a vision. The tone swings wildly—and that’s the beauty of it. Hanna Park writes like she’s sitting across from you at a pub, telling ghost stories between pints. Sometimes poetic, sometimes blunt, always immersive.
Then there’s Colm O’Donnell. Former military, current tree farmer (ish), and the brooding mystery man you didn’t ask for but definitely needed. He’s got secrets. Big ones. The tension between him and Calla hums through the pages—not in a cheesy rom-com way, but in a “this could get really messy” kind of way. And it does.
What makes this book stand out isn’t just the Irish folklore—it’s the way Park blends it into the everyday. Faerie beliefs, ancestral ties, and supernatural tinges creep in slowly, almost casually. You’re never sure if you’re in a fantasy or just reading the most magical slice-of-life novel ever written. Either way, it works.
The pacing’s a little uneven at times. Some scenes go on longer than they probably should, especially in the quieter middle sections. But the dialogue sparkles, the emotional weight lands, and the sense of place is absolutely nailed. By the time the last page rolls around, you’re left wanting more—in a good way. It’s the first in the Beyond the Faerie Rath series, and you’ll be itching to follow Calla deeper into the rabbit hole.
The Scald Crow is a moody, magical, and wonderfully weird debut that sneaks up on you. It’s not about saving the world—it’s about finding your place in it, even if that place happens to be at the edge of two worlds.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0DS3TKLDM
Cinnamon Soul
Cinnamon Soul is a vibrant fantasy mystery that follows the quirky and sharp duo of Hokuren, a former City Watch captain turned private investigator, and her barefoot, bolt-catching assistant, Cinna. Set in the magical, lively city of Velles, the story kicks off with the thrilling capture of the infamous Master Thief, Maxwell Barnaby, and quickly pivots into a high-stakes search for a missing princess. What follows is an investigation tangled with royal secrets, ominous knights, and lots of banter. It’s part buddy-cop, part classic whodunit, and it’s got a cinnamon-sweet heart running through all the grit.
Quinn Lawrence knows how to make dialogue pop, and the chemistry between Cinna and Hokuren is honestly the soul of the book. That first scene where Cinna casually catches a crossbow bolt mid-air? I was hooked right then. She’s scrappy, hilarious, and kind of terrifying in the best way. Meanwhile, Hokuren’s got this tired but determined energy that makes her both lovable and sharp. It’s impressive how Hokuren maintains her composure and sharpness, even while managing her assistant during tense moments, such as when she calmly redirects Cinna amid the emotional breakdown of a key witness and still extracts vital information. Their dynamic adds energy and warmth to the narrative, elevating even the story’s quieter moments.
But it’s not all jokes and clever quips. There’s some genuinely unsettling mystery stuff here, especially around Julien Davenport, the Captain of the Guard. The man might be a myth; he never takes off his armor, there’s no underwear in his wardrobe, and his voice is always “next to you”? Creepy. The whole palace has this weird vibe, like something’s off and no one’s saying it out loud. Hokuren and Cinna navigating all that with such different energy , the calm investigator and the chaotic brawler, makes the palace scenes tense in a great way.
The pacing dips here and there, especially in the middle when they’re gathering intel and poking through rooms, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much because the characters carry the story. Anne, the lady-in-waiting, ends up being more complex than expected, and her breakdown when she spills secrets about Nyana and the prince? Heavy stuff. You start to feel like something darker’s going on under the surface, and even when the book plays it light, the edges are sharp.
Cinnamon Soul is for anyone who loves smart, character-driven fantasy with a strong mystery at its core. If you liked The Dresden Files, Veronica Mars, or even The Witcher but wish it came with more charm and less grimdark, this one’s for you. I’m absolutely picking up the next book in the series. I want more of Cinna’s antics, more of Hokuren’s stubborn brilliance, and definitely more of whatever weird secrets are lurking in Velles.
Pages: 310 | ASIN : B0DVRT19T9
Ghosts: The People That Melt in The Rain #2
Poor Laura, she has no choice but to accept her new life in the mysterious town of Deluge, where she now lives with her mother. In Ghosts: The People That Melt in the Rain #2, author Carolyn Watson-Dubisch throws Laura into a world where the strange becomes the everyday. From the moment she arrives, uncanny things begin to unfold. A neighborhood cat vanishes, yet its muddy paw prints persist. A woman trapped within a painting at the local library suddenly pleads for Laura’s help. The girl, overwhelmed by emotion, begins to cry, and with those tears, everything changes. What follows is a sharp twist in Laura’s story, one that pulls the reader into a world both eerie and imaginative.
Ghosts channels the nostalgic spirit of Goosebumps, where strange events unfold in a small town, but with a twist: everyone in this town already knows it’s strange. Rather than relying on mystery alone, the book leans into its own eccentricity, crafting a world where the bizarre is baked into everyday life. The inclusion of a “Previously in” chapter smartly reorients readers before plunging into the next segment, maintaining narrative momentum while making space for new developments.
The Traveling Show stands out as delightfully uncanny. Its peculiar charm held my curiosity, especially as the plot zeroed in on Laura and her fate. Her storyline, filled with quiet tension and unfolding mystery, made it impossible to look away. The illustrations are striking and evocative and add dramatic flair to every beat of the story, making emotional moments land with even more impact.
Chapter 4, The Storm, wraps the reader in an eerie atmosphere. Its sense of dread is palpable, yet subtle. From the first panel to the last, I was fully engaged. It’s easy to imagine kids gathered in dimly lit rooms, whispering this story aloud for maximum chills. Watson-Dubisch crafts a tale steeped in mood and originality. Her characters are vivid, multifaceted, and compelling. The pacing moves swiftly, keeping tension high.
Ghosts: The People That Melt in the Rain #2 is a captivating graphic novel that offers a mysterious, emotional, and highly original experience. With its memorable characters, compelling plot, and stunning illustrations, it promises to enchant readers well beyond its target age group.
Pages: 44 | ASIN: B0D8JPYPM2
LITERARY TITAN 