the_castle_library's reviews
85 reviews

My December Darling by Lauren Asher

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5.0

My ratings for romance and spice are 💖💖💖/🌶️🌶️.

I loved it for the banter, the duet read, the overall storyline of self-acceptance and self-love to be able to accept love, and they fall together. 🥰

"There is always room for love in our lives so long as we are open to accepting the kind we think we deserve." 

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The Elven Days of Christmas by A.K. Caggiano

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5.0

My ratings for overall romance and spice are 💖💖💖/🌶️🌶️.

Piper lunged for the @$$hole's collar (because regardless of species, anyone could be an @$$hole, and that's exactly what he was).

I loved the banter, the fourth-wall crashing, he falls first 🥰, and it's supposed to be sunshine/grumpy, but sunshine is also a little grumpy (but with good reason).
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

In honor of Addiction Awareness Month, I chose to listen to this heart-wrenching memoir straight from Matthew's mouth. I was a 90's baby, so I didn't watch "Friends" while it was airing on cable. I was just wrapping up Season 10 when Perry was taken from this world. I knew him from "17 Again" with Zac Efron. I instantly fell in love with Chandler, his speech pattern, and his heart and throughout the show grew concerned about his weight fluctuation. It wasn't until my husband told me that he struggled with addiction that I looked into him a little closer. According to his story, he was doomed from the start to struggle the way he had. He was a Colic baby and so the doctor prescribed him phenobarbital (barbiturate for sleep) at a few weeks old. Between drugs, alcohol, smoking, and never feeling enough for his parents at the young age of 5, he never had a chance at a normal, loving life. He was clean and sober when he died, but it was once again at the hands of his doctor. 

I recommend this to everyone, whether you're a fan of his work or not. 

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The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

5.0

Kirsty Greenwood's writing style was such a delightful experience as well as her world development 😄 This was so much fun to read despite the morbid subject of death and life after death. She also touches on various types of loss and grief and bullying. I don't know what else to say without giving away the really good parts.

One of the lessons in this book is that sometimes you have to let go and forgive people and situations for your own good and happiness.

Here's a cute quote from the book:
"Honey," he says, "you really do sparkle and shine." 🫠

My ratings for romance and spice are 💖💖💖/🌶️

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Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

This book started out strong and creepy and was headed for 5 stars, but then towards the end and wrap up it got weird and lost its shine. The whole storyline was golden until the author brought fantasy into it and veered away from the paranormal.

Who doesn't like an empty Manor with rules you have to follow to stay safe and payment upfront? Seems easy enough, right? Especially when you really need a job AND a place to live.

1. No strangers are allowed onto the property. 
2. Do not enter the tower. 
3. Do not leave the groundskeeper's cottage between midnight and dawn. 
4. Draw your curtains. 
5. Keep the door locked. 
6. If you hear knocking, do not answer it.

My rating for spook is 👻👻👻.

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One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

This book was AMAZING and I can't believe it took me so long to read it, especially since I was really eager to do so when I stumbled upon its existence last year! This reel doesn't even do it justice because I don't want to spoil ANYTHING! Part of the reason I'd waited is because it was always checked out and on 10+ holds at the library. This is a series hype I can fully understand! I am kicking myself right now because I can't check out the second book until I read 2 series i promised would be next after my library books were caught up 😅🤦🏻‍♀️ My ratings for spooky/dark and spice are 👻👻👻👻/🌶️

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The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

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4.0

This is a cutesy spicy romance with a touch of heartbroken, vengeful hexing 😏 Perfect for the Halloween season as it is set right before and on Halloween. Beware of broken-down cars, crumbling statues, hot feelings, enchanted skulls, black cats, poisoned drinks, ghosts, and family secrets! I had so much fun listening to this and have added it to my "Want to own" list. I'll probably get around to listening to "The Kiss Curse" which is book 2, which revolves around Vivien's cousin, Gwyn. My ratings for spice, romance, and mystery are 🌶️🌶️🌶️/💖💖/🔎🔎

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The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

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dark tense medium-paced

3.0


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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0


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Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

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medium-paced

5.0

This book definitely gives you all the feels. There is a lot of talk of grief surrounding lost loved ones that could be triggering. I enjoyed reading it. It had loss and what that does to the rest of the family, grief and guilt, romance and past loves, not feeling good enough as you are, and also finding your way back to family. My rating for romance is 💖💖💖.

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