The Poetics of Passion by Delphine Ross Review

I received an. E-Arc from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

Author: Delphine Ross
Date:July 25, 2023
Pages: 349
Publisher: NA
Website

SUMMARY:
In 1870 London, a scandalous love poetess and a passionate children’s book illustrator are set at odds in this sparkling enemies-to-lovers debut historical romance.

A secret identity means secret desires—and not-so-secret scandals . . .

Musa Bartham has a secret. To support her destitute family after her father’s disappearance, she’s been publishing steamy poetry under the pen name of Felicity Vita. As Felicity Vita, Musa’s scandalous books have won legions of devoted fans—including an anonymous gentleman pen pal whose letters spark unruly desires she would never ever succumb to in her orderly daily life. But when Musa’s cherished younger sister, Angela, is offered sponsorship by their aristocratic great-aunt for an advantageous marriage, Musa realizes her dangerous double life as Felicity must come to an end. Instead, she’ll write books for children.

Sebastian Atkinson is a passionate artist reduced to working nights as a printer. Though Seb is infuriated by the prim yet alluring young woman who corners him into illustrating her insipid children’s book, he can’t turn Musa away: he suspects she may be Felicity Vita, the seductive poetess with whom he’s been exchanging love letters for the past year. Egged on by his best friend, an ambitious journalist desperate for a break, Seb seeks to unmask Musa’s secret identity. But the closer Seb comes to the truth, the more Musa entices him—and the more Musa finds Seb curiously attractive and even more curiously familiar. Could he have anything to do with her anonymous gentleman pen pal?

Unable to resist each other, the two shift from enemies to lovers just as their love letters are stolen, setting Angela’s future at risk. As Seb and Musa frantically come together to contain the damage before it’s too late, it’s uncertain whose hearts and lives will be broken amid the most sensational scandal of all.

REVIEW:
Writing and Art go hand in hand…I blame my inner geek librarian/creative side!

Oh my gosh. The summary up above tells you what the book is about, I”m going to retell what it is. Let me tell you that I loved this story because it was charming, cute, made me laugh and yelled no “it cannot be!” and even made me gasp a few times. I read this story in about a day. I had to know what was going to happen with Musa and Seb. I love their names.

I enjoyed the realness in this story along with the romance and drama. It was really fun to read cause it had me smiling too! As I mentioned up above that I yelled at the story a few times because it made me gasp and had me yelling at “no this can’t happen!” Isn’t that a great feeling? I get that like with rom com movies too. When the characters do make poor decisions due to real life issues or their feelings or the demands of society and they are conflict with it. This shows us the characters are human. We make bad decisions and then learn how to cope or change it. That’s what I got from this. I also could feel for Seb and Musa to make ends meet for their families. That was something they had in common along with the world being creative!

Since it’s a historical romance drama/rom com, the time period was where you had to worry about your reputation. I thought the author did a great job covering this. It wasn’t exact historical romance to the T but it had some great aspects to it like the carriage, balls, coming out, tea/cake and having a chaperone.

The steamy bits were nice. I thought that Seb was thoughtful! I liked that. Kindness and romance go hand in hand, right? I will say that Musa does have her moments of boldness. I”m not giving away all the details. Go get the book if you want to know more.

I loved the exchanged of letters in this story too. I just realized this is the second book I’ve read lately that had exchanging of letters. Old ways of “You got Mail” type of feel is awesome.

The ball part I will say was different because I think it also had a modern twist to it with books being there at the dance party. Hey it was different and it was fun! I wished the ball had more dancing and more playful banter between the two characters. I will say there was two parts during this time that was fun to read.

I look forward to reading more from this author. You should give this book a shot when it comes out. It might feel a little rushed but to me it felt just right.

Reading away update

My reading has been slacking due to life….and children.

I am still currently reading Filthy Rich Vampire…I’m hoping to finish that book soon.

Next up will be Forget Me Not by Julie Soto then also Stealing Destiny by Alyson Noel..both these are e-arc that I got from the publishers and Netgalley! I’m excited to see what these books will bring.

Sadly I do need to tackle my to read pile that is sitting my room giving me the evil eye. So after these three books I hope I can take on the pile!

Currently reading

An update on what I am reading…..

……well……

I am reading five books at once…

That’s normal right?

Right?

Anyone else do this?

So are you wondering what I am reading?

Three books are related to vampires

One is a contemporary what if chance to get back together which has a 1990s feel to it

The other one is more like where is my prince charming which takes place in England.

Let’s see which one I finish first before I tackle more books… I have tons of books in my to read pile on my e-reader and physical books….and checking out new books from the library is dangerous for me.

More to come soon….

Books I have already read

Here are some books that I have read and enjoyed them all. I just haven’t been reviewing as much as I used to due to dealing with a thing called life.

One is contemporary friendship and romance and dealing with real life, another is historical fiction romance with banter between the two main characters and the last one is starting over again in a small town with a hot rock n roll singer.

What can I say about all these books?

I loved each story. The adventure, the romance, the real grit of life that these characters have live in.

Hope you go pick one out and read!

Author: Alexa Martin
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: November 8, 2022
Instagram

Love isn’t always by the book in this charming romantic comedy about a bookseller discovering how to be the main character in her story.

As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best—meddle.

Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From going river rafting to trying local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fiction.
 
When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.

Author: Julia London
Pages: March 3, 2022
Publisher: HQN
Instagram

When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria.

Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality…and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views.

As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?

Author: Kylie Scott
Pages: 246
Publisher: herself
Date: April 7, 2022
Instagram
Twitter

What chance does a small-town girl have with a world-famous rock star?

Two years after his wife’s death, rock star Garrett Hayes hasn’t moved on. But he has moved out of L.A. Where better to escape his past than a small town in the northern California mountains? If only he could get the townsfolk of Wildwood to leave him the hell alone.

Ani Bennet returned to her hometown for some much-needed serenity. The last thing she needs is a grumpy, too hot for his own good, rich and famous rock star living next door—and rent-free in her brain.

She set her fangirl tendencies aside and deleted his photo from her cell when they became neighbors. But when Garrett asks for help, she can’t say no. The problem is, spending time together is making those fangirl feelings resurface—and bringing them to a whole new level.

What chance does a small-town girl have with world-famous rock star? It’s time for Ani to set her fears aside and find out.

Update of 2023

Well…it has been a while since I have been on here. The main reason is called life. The ups and downs of life. Just when you think it’s all quiet, something else hits you out of the blue!

I am going to try to post again on here about what books I see, what’s going on in the news and what books I have read. I hope you stick around to see what I post

All the best

Bluereadergal

I spy Fiction

Which book are you going to pick up today to read?

Don’t they all look so good?

I may want to read all of them……
although I have quite a few other books that are telling me to read them now.

The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys.

Jo Wright always swore she’d never step foot on Little Bridge Island—not as long as her nemesis, bestselling author Will Price, is living there.

Then Jo’s given an offer she can’t refuse: an all-expense paid trip to speak and sign at the island’s first ever book festival.

Even though arrogant Will is the last person Jo wants to see, she could really use the festival’s more-than-generous speaking fee. She’s suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block on the next installment of her bestselling children’s series, and her father needs financial help as well.

Then Jo hears that Will is off-island on the set of the film of his next book. Hallelujah!

But when she arrives on Little Bridge, Jo is in for a shock: Will is not only at the book festival, but seems genuinely sorry for his past actions—and more than willing not only to make amends, but prove to Jo that he’s a changed man.

Things seem to be looking up—until disaster strikes, causing Jo to wonder: Do any of us ever really know anyone?

Back in high school, Lily Wang wanted to be popular, but she considered herself lucky to be part of a tight group of oddballs and honors students called the Nerd Herd. Now, at twenty-eight, she feels like she’s finally on the cusp of succeeding as a beauty influencer―if she can hit five million subscribers, brands will take notice and she could get her own makeup line.

Fellow Nerd Herd alum Tobin Bui has had a lot of success as a YouTube gamer. But the road to online stardom has been rocky. First, he disappointed his parents by dropping out of college, and now, after years of pranks, skits, and playthroughs, he’s struggling to come up with new content to satisfy his ever-growing fan base. His agents say he needs cross-audience appeal, a new twist.

When Nerd Herd frenemy Lily approaches Tobin about teaming up to do a video to bolster her brand and reinvigorate his, he agrees. But when their first collab video goes viral, their relationship heats up too. With the whole internet watching, will these two former misfits finally realize they’re perfect together?

A firebird is reborn on the borders of Russia, a gate to a world of monsters and magic is breaking, and only a reluctant, untrained shaman stands in the way of a flood of supernatural darkness…

Anya is still reeling from the death of her grandfather when a strange encounter with the Finnish God of the Dead changes her life forever: Her family has been guarding the gates to the Russian otherworld on their farm for centuries, and she’s the new gatekeeper. Worse, if she doesn’t awaken her magical abilities and assume her new role, the gate will break, unleashing a flood of monsters and dark gods into their world.

As Anya struggles to make sense of her changing world, she can’t deny the strange encounters. She’ll need to accept her fate and work with the legendary firebird if she hopes to survive—and protect humanity.

At nineteen, Auris Afton Grieg has led an . . . unusual life. Since the age of fifteen, she has been trapped in a sinister prison. Why? She does not know. She has no memories of her past beyond the vaguest of impressions. All she knows is that she is about to age out of the children’s prison, and rumors say that the adult version is far, far worse. So she and some friends stage a desperate escape into the surrounding wastelands. And it is here that Auris’s journey of discovery begins, for she is rescued by an unusual stranger who claims to be Fae—a member of a magical race that Auris had thought to be no more than legend. Odder still, he seems to think that she is one as well, although the two look nothing alike. But strangest of all, when he brings her to his wondrous homeland, she begins to suspect that he is right. Yet how could a woman who looks entirely human be a magical being herself?

Death needs a vacation. Badly. But there’s a catch: There are people who cheat the system, always falling through the cracks and not dying like they’re supposed to. Who’s going to take care of them while Death’s sipping on sangria?

The answer is simple: Death needs an intern, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that one prospect, Buck Palasinksia—a bankrupt hitman with a roleplaying addiction—might have what it takes. While scoping out his next target, Buck gets drilled in the forehead by a bullet and falls right into Death’s lap.

If they shove him back into his body, he’ll have a few weeks to prove that he has what it takes to be Death’s right-hand.

All he has to do is take out Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger, and quit smoking.

Update Status

I am around, just been in another slump and dealing with life.

I am not sure if I am going to do a book review of Captured by Erica Stevens. I had mixed feelings about it. I prefer being positive for all but I just don’t know. I have only read the first one and is debating on whether or not to read book two.

I’m currently reading Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff and let me tell you this story is sooo good! I’m taking my time reading this because I want to absorb the story and make sure I understand what is going on it. I’m telling you it brings you into a whole new world and the main character Gabriel de Leon is really unique!!

I am going to start A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass.

Be patient with my reviews.

I will continue to post more cool books when I see them!

Thank you for reading this!

Juggling books!

I have been juggling books here and there!
Here is what’s going on.

I am still reading “Second First Impressions”.

I am currently reading e- Arc “The Promise of Summer”

I bought “Dreaming of the Wolf”

I want to get “Must Love Cowboys” because Estelle from “Forever” mentioned it to be because it has a librarian in it!! My inner geek is like yessssss! So I may order this.

Then I saw this book “Pause” on my instagram! I can’t remember who posted it….the cover drew me in. I read what the story was about and it’s going in my to read pile!

By the Book Review

• Publisher : HMH Books for Young Readers
• Date: May 12, 2020
• Hardcover : 384 pages
• Author: Amanda Sellet
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  Summary

Mary Porter-Malcolm has prepared for high school in the one way she knows how: an extensive review of classic literature to help navigate the friendships, romantic liaisons, and overall drama she has come to expect from such an “esteemed” institution. When some new friends seem in danger of falling for the same tricks employed since the days of Austen and Tolstoy, Mary swoops in to create the Scoundrel Survival Guide, using archetypes of literature’s debonair bad boys to signal red flags. But despite her best efforts, she soon finds herself unable to listen to her own good advice and falling for a supposed cad—the same one she warned her friends away from. Without a convenient rain-swept moor to flee to, Mary is forced to admit that real life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction and that if she wants a happy ending, she’s going to have to write it herself. 

My Review

I checked this book out from the library. It took me a while to read because a thing called life and sleep demands me! The whole story was very interesting. It takes a different spin on high school with Mary’s knowledge of books to create Scoundrel Survival Guide. The plot builds up and then during the Winter Formal things fall apart for Mary where I felt for her. All the characters in the book are real people. They all had unique characteristics and some were friendly. I love the interaction with all the characters too.

Since the story takes place in high school, there will be high school things such as friendship, finding out who you are and dating. There is some drama but it is not overly done. I think it’s relatable. I love how Mary’s family has trivia night!

There was this one quote that I have to share from the book that was so good. “I shook my head. “”The part about chemistry. Spark. Finding someone you actually like, who’s also sensible dating option. A nice, safe romantic object…person.“”

SIGHS

The ending of the book is really nice too. Check it out if you are looking for something different and cute to read that takes place in a high school setting.

I spy Non Fiction books

I spy these non fiction books that look interesting to read.

The Renaissance in Florence conjures images of beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings―the dazzling handiwork of the city’s skilled artists and architects. But equally important for the centuries to follow were geniuses of a different sort: Florence’s manuscript hunters, scribes, scholars, and booksellers, who blew the dust off a thousand years of history and, through the discovery and diffusion of ancient knowledge, imagined a new and enlightened world.

At the heart of this activity, which bestselling author Ross King relates in his exhilarating new book, was a remarkable man: Vespasiano da Bisticci. Born in 1422, he became what a friend called “the king of the world’s booksellers.” At a time when all books were made by hand, over four decades Vespasiano produced and sold many hundreds of volumes from his bookshop, which also became a gathering spot for debate and discussion. Besides repositories of ancient wisdom by the likes of Plato, Aristotle, and Quintilian, his books were works of art in their own right, copied by talented scribes and illuminated by the finest miniaturists. His clients included a roll-call of popes, kings, and princes across Europe who wished to burnish their reputations by founding magnificent libraries.

Vespasiano reached the summit of his powers as Europe’s most prolific merchant of knowledge when a new invention appeared: the printed book. By 1480, the king of the world’s booksellers was swept away by this epic technological disruption, whereby cheaply produced books reached readers who never could have afforded one of Vespasiano’s elegant manuscripts.

A thrilling chronicle of intellectual ferment set against the dramatic political and religious turmoil of the era, Ross King’s brilliant The Bookseller of Florence is also an ode to books and bookmaking that charts the world-changing shift from script to print through the life of an extraordinary man long lost to history―one of the true titans of the Renaissance.

Odds are, where you’re standing was once cooking under a roiling sea of lava, crushed by a towering sheet of ice, rocked by a nearby meteor strike, or perhaps choked by poison gases, drowned beneath ocean, perched atop a mountain range, or roamed by fearsome monsters. Probably most or even all of the above. 

The story of our home planet and the organisms spread across its surface is far more spectacular than any Hollywood blockbuster, filled with enough plot twists to rival a bestselling thriller. But only recently have we begun to piece together the whole mystery into a coherent narrative. Drawing on his decades of field research and up-to-the-minute understanding of the latest science, renowned geologist Andrew H. Knoll delivers a rigorous yet accessible biography of Earth, charting our home planet’s epic 4.6 billion-year story. Placing twenty first-century climate change in deep context, A Brief History of Earth is an indispensable look at where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Outdoor educator and field researcher Sara Dykman made history when she became the first person to bicycle alongside monarch butterflies on their storied annual migration—a round-trip adventure that included three countries and more than 10,000 miles. Equally remarkable, she did it solo, on a bike cobbled together from used parts. Her panniers were recycled buckets.

In Bicycling with Butterflies, Dykman recounts her incredible journey and the dramatic ups and downs of the nearly nine-month odyssey. We’re beside her as she navigates unmapped roads in foreign countries, checks roadside milkweed for monarch eggs, and shares her passion with eager schoolchildren, skeptical bar patrons, and unimpressed border officials. We also meet some of the ardent monarch stewards who supported her efforts, from citizen scientists and researchers to farmers and high-rise city dwellers.

With both humor and humility, Dykman offers a compelling story, confirming the urgency of saving the threatened monarch migration—and the other threatened systems of nature that affect the survival of us all.