romance – Page 6 – Sydney Winward

Tangled in Tinsel by N. Jade Gray

My Thoughts on Tangled in Tinsel

What an adorable story! I love second chance romances, and this one captivated me from the very first page. Maddy and Ryder had great chemistry with every interaction. Who wouldn’t be tempted by an attractive man wearing an apron that says “Bring the Heat. Kiss the Cook.”?

This book has it all—romance, heartache, laughter, and more. Tangled in Tinsel is the perfect holiday story, so if you’re looking for a cute read with quirky Christmas decorations and heart-warming romance, this is the book for you.

My rating: 5 stars

Favorite Quote

“Do you take good care of your Legos? You don’t leave them out for your mom to step on, do you?”

He glanced down at his shoe and dragged the toe across the floor a few times. “One time I left my Batman Lego on the floor. I can’t repeat the word Dad said.”

December 9, 2020December 8, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Slipper in the Snow by Alice Ivinya

My Review

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Little Mermaid fairy tale retelling. This story was short, but packed with so many good things–mystery, adventure, and a promise of romance. The ending was intriguing, making me excited to learn more about Ianthe and what will come next after this short story.

This is my first introduction to Alice Ivinya, but I’m definitely planning on reading more of Alice’s works in the near future. I’m looking forward to what’s next!

My rating: 5 stars

December 7, 2020 by Sydney Winward

The Wild Rose Press Launches a New Series! A Wylder Christmas Is One of the First

I’m super excited about the Wylder West Series that The Wild Rose Press just launched! Not only do they have stunning covers, but they have incredible characters and a fun setting. Sarita Leone’s newest release, A Wylder Christmas, is one of the first four to start out the series. Learn more about the book below!

December 2, 2020December 1, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Beauty and the Baron by Joanna Barker

My Review

Kindness matters most when it is hardest to give.

Fairy tale retellings are one of my favorite types of books to read, and Beauty and the Baron did not disappoint. The book was short and sweet, full of a wide range of vivid descriptions and beautiful emotions. The characters were fun to read about, with great chemistry and adorable scenes that often had me smiling.

If you’re looking for a sweet regency retelling of Beauty and the Beast, you should definitely give this book a try.

My rating: 5 stars

November 29, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Mistress Grim by Jane Redd

My Review

Mistress Grim has great world building with an interesting storyline. The duties of the Grim Reaper are suddenly thrust upon his daughter when the Underworld sinks into chaos. Only she can save the mortal world and restore the Underworld to its former glory.

Despite my initial draw to the cover and the blurb, the contents of the book were a bit flat to me, and I wasn’t able to invest myself in the characters. I was baffled by Leo’s determination to keep throwing himself into danger and putting his own life at risk for…nothing. There is no real motivation here, and him doing it for love is not believable either. Cora is also a flat character to me, just going along with what needs to be done and having no real believable motivation of her own.

The tense switching from chapter to chapter also threw me, changing with each pov. Cora’s pov was first person present tense, and Leo’s was third person past tense. It was my first time reading a book written like this, and I thought it was unnecessary.

Overall, the book had a good storyline and I enjoyed the ending. People who are looking for an interesting story about the afterlife in a fictional realm might enjoy this book.

My rating: 3 stars

November 28, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Cover Reveal for Bloodscourge

I’m excited to show all of you my cover for Bloodscourge! This is my personal favorite book in The Bloodborn Series, and I’m looking forward to finding out what other people think of it when it releases. Below is an excerpt from the book.

Bloodscourge Excerpt

She groaned and released a shaky breath, assessing her damage. Her ribs flared like a billowing torch, but now she felt the aches and pains of newer bruises on her arms and legs. To her relief, she didn’t notice any cuts or scrapes. Her secret was still safe.

“The Game is too dangerous to exist,” she grunted and tried to sit up, but Dracula pushed her right back down, pinning her while an overly intense expression took residence on his face. For a moment, her heart stopped. He was inches away—closer than he had ever been before.

“Now look what you did,” he said quietly. “You just broke the rules.”

November 25, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Cover Reveal Teaser for Bloodscourge

Bloodscourge: Book 3 in the Bloodborn Series

I’m so excited to have woken up to an awesome surprise in my inbox. I received the cover for Bloodscourge from my publisher, and I’m in love. On top of that, edits are 95% done, so it should be getting a release date any day now!

If you aren’t signed up for my newsletter already, make sure to do it to get a sneak peek at the cover before anyone else. I’ll be sending the newsletter out on November 20th, and there will be a giveaway involved!

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Damned When I Didn’t by Cherie Colyer

My Review

This was an easy book to get sucked into. The descriptions pulled me in. The story idea was one I hadn’t read before. I loved the world the author created and the detailed characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between Avery and Cole, and I was surprised when Wyatt quickly became one of my favorite characters. I would looovvee to see a book from his point of view.

If you’re looking for a unique read with interesting dynamics between angels and demons, this is a good read for you.

My rating: 4.5 stars

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Top 5 Paranormal/Fantasy Books I’ve Read This Year (So Far)

Happy Halloween! What better way to celebrate the holiday than by reflecting back on my favorite paranormal/fantasy books I’ve read in 2020? Can you believe it?? I’ve read 75 books so far this year. I’ve blown my reading goal out of the water. I’ve read some incredible books, some okay books, and a few books that made me cringe. Although the year isn’t quite over yet, and there’s still time for books to squeeze their way onto my list of favorites, here are my favorites in this genre so far.

#1- Kingdom of Thorns by Katherine Macdonald

Witty banter, an adorable hero you can’t help but root for, and a unique fairy tale retelling like you’ve never read before. I loved this book so so so so much, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

October 31, 2020October 31, 2020 by Sydney Winward

Short Story: Shadows and Roses

I wanted to kick October off by setting the right mood. Here’s a story I wrote just for fun called Shadows and Roses. Vampires, romance, and breaking a two hundred year old curse! (P.s. I can safely say I’m more of a novel gal. My fingers itched to add at least 50,000 more words to this.)

This is a paranormal retelling of Sleeping Beauty, except the roles are reversed. Enjoy!

Shadows and Roses

A bloodcurdling scream echoed in the skies, scattering a flock of crows toward the dark clouds overhead. Eliana’s heart squeezed as she dropped the bucket in her arms, the water splashing across the bottom of her blue skirt.

“Help!” Hazel screamed again as she staggered down the dirt road, her face pale and her eyes bloodshot.

Eliana joined the other townsfolk at the edge of the road as the twelve-year-old girl stumbled into her mother’s arms. Her arms shook uncontrollably, her breaths coming in labored gasps.

“Someone, fetch a wet cloth!” the mother cried, and Eliana rushed into action. She dipped a cloth into what remained of the water at the bottom of her bucket, and returned to the girl’s side.

“What happened?” she asked as she dabbed at the perspiration on the girl’s forehead. “Did you discover anything more about the curse?”

Her gaze drifted toward the dark clouds swirling overhead, a greenish tint in their gray depths. They gathered above the large gray castle several miles away, suffocating the skies so no sunlight reached their crops. Thorny green vines climbed the castle walls, a warning to stay away. At night, lamenting howls echoed from the direction of the castle, making sleep difficult to come by.

October 2, 2020October 5, 2020 by Sydney Winward