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RISINGSHADOW BOOKSHELF

Chelsea K

Librarian

Legendary· Level 83

I enjoy reading Fairy Tale Retellings, Jane Austen Retellings, Alien Romances, Paranormal / Supernatural Romance as well as a few other genres occasionally. 

THE READER’S VOICE

Book Reviews

Chelsea K’s own thoughts on books they have read. These are reader-written book reviews, separate from Risingshadow’s editorial reviews.

559 book reviews
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Bond

BOOK REVIEW

Bond

Tasha Black

10/10Written Oct 13, 2024

Bond is the first book in the Stargazer Alien Mail Order Brides series as well as being part of the larger scale Intergalactic Dating Agency Series. I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all the different characters in this story and am looking forward to getting to know them better in the next book in the series.

Axall

BOOK REVIEW

Axall

Sue Mercury

10/10Written Oct 13, 2024

This was another wonderful book in the Vaxxlian Mail Order Brides series full of wonderful characters and an entertaining storyline. I loved getting to know both Axall & Rachel as well as Rachel's employer Karla who gets her own story in Alien Warrior's Second Chance. The epilogue at the end of the book set one year later is also really cute. I look forward to reading and reading many more books featuring Vaxxlian Warriors.

Tempted by the Orc

BOOK REVIEW

Tempted by the Orc

Annee Jones

9/10Written Oct 13, 2024Edited Oct 13, 2024

This was a very enjoyable book full of Christmas spirit and I enjoyed getting to know both Rue & Noel. They both had strong personalities and it was fun to watch as they grew closer and their relationship began to develop. I haven't read many books with reindeer shifters and it was a nice touch for a Christmas book. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Rozar

BOOK REVIEW

Rozar

Sue Mercury

10/10Written Oct 12, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

I really enjoyed this story and the characters Nadia and Rozar. Nadia's cat Leonardo was a fun little side character as well. I have read this book a couple of times now and enjoy this series as a whole. I look forward to reading many more books with wonderful Vaxxlian Warriors.

Gift for My Ghost

BOOK REVIEW

Gift for My Ghost

Honey Phillips

9/10Written Oct 11, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

This was the first book from the Fairhaven Falls Series that I have read and it was a lot of fun. I loved the characters and background details about fall to make this a wonderful read to help get into the spirit of the season. All the characters were fun to get to know and I enjoyed seeing how the relationship between Jessica and Leo progressed throughout the story. I look forward to reading more books from this series in the future, especially the next book Wedding for My Werewolf: A Cozy Monster Romance about the werewolf sheriff Eric that was a side character in this story.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

BOOK REVIEW

Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

Laura Greenwood

10/10Written Oct 10, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

I have really enjoyed reading this series so far and thought this book was a great addition to the series. I thought both Erica & Rupert were fun and interesting characters to get to know and found some of their anticks amusing. I was glad that they were able to work through their past misunderstandings and enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they got to know each other after so long being against each other. The ending was good and I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as the few side stories I haven't read yet.

Books in Series
Shifting Forms For Clumsy Felines = Krissi & Jeremy
Bonfire Night For Flammable Dragons = Jazz & Idris
Drinking Blood For Squeamish Vampires = Bernie & Shane
Enchanting Songs For Silent Sirens = Melody & Josh
Secret Santa For Grumpy Elves = Holly & Chris
Flipping Tails For Seasick Mermaids = Fiona & Wade
Blind Dates for Lonely Gorgons = Thalia & Evander
Potion Making For Disastrous Witches = Michaela & Owen
Pumpkin Carving For Superstitious Witches: An Obscure Academy Holiday Story = Juniper & Emmett
Trading Names For Polite Sprites = Essie & Byron
Minor Inconveniences For Annoyed Pixies = Grace & Henry
Cooking Classes For Vegetarian Ghouls = Zoya & Cyprus
Team Building For Friendly Hellhounds = Evie & Ceb
Finding Answers For Confused Succubi = Mandy & Darius
Mischievous Familiars For Cordial Fairies = Posey & Cedric
Recalling Memories For Forgetful Phoenixes = Sera & Hugo
Party Hats For Sweet Minotaurs: An Obscure Academy Story = Sage & Castor
Stoney Gazes For Helpful Gorgons = Rhea & Jack
Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels = Erica & Rupert
Fire Dancing For Icey Dragons = Zara & ?

Side Stories
Summer Break For Awkward Bears = Ila & Jacob

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Werewolf in the North Woods

BOOK REVIEW

Werewolf in the North Woods

Vicki Lewis Thompson

10/10Written Oct 9, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

This is the first book from this series that I have read (although not my first book by this author) and it was a lot of fun. I loved Abby and Roarke and getting to read their story. The Bigfoot couple was a cute addition to the story as well. I look forward to reading more books from this series as well as other books by this author.

A Renewed Hope

BOOK REVIEW

A Renewed Hope

Selina De Luca, Robyn Sarty, Scarlett Luna Strange

8/10Written Oct 8, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

This is my first book by Robyn Sarty and while I did enjoy this Retelling of the Princess and the Pea and liked all the characters the going back and forth from past to now every other chapter threw me a little. That being said it was still an enjoyable story and I plan to look into more by this author and definitely plan to read more from this multi author series. The poems at the beginning of the book were also fun little additions that captured the feel of the Princess and the Pea well.

Scarlett and the Dark Woods

BOOK REVIEW

Scarlett and the Dark Woods

Mary Mecham

10/10Written Oct 7, 2024Edited Mar 19, 2025

This was my first book by Mary Mecham and I thought it was a very well written Retelling of Red Riding Hood with a few autumn elements thrown in that wove into the story really well. All the characters were so well written and the background draws you into the story really well. I loved Greyson and Scarlett and thought that the side character Tristan's bumbling use of words he didn't know but thought he did was an amusing bit of humor thrown in from time to time. There is a little bit more darkness near the end of the story but it wouldn't be a Red Riding Hood Retelling without some dark twist in it and everything turns out fine. The epilogue set 12 years later was also really fun. I look forward to reading more from this author as well as more books from this multi author series.

Charlotte and the Cozy Cottage

BOOK REVIEW

Charlotte and the Cozy Cottage

Abigail Manning

10/10Written Oct 6, 2024Edited Mar 20, 2025

This was a wonderful Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin with lots of wonderful characters and it also does a great job of bringing the fall season into the story. I have loved every fairy tale retelling by Abigail Manning that I have read so far and this one met my high expectations as well. Charlotte's cat Gourd was a fun sidekick and I really enjoyed the way things developed between Charlotte & Crow. The epilogue was a fun way of tying things up. I look forward to reading more from this multi author series as well as many more of Abigail Manning's retellings.

Whiskers and Wishes

BOOK REVIEW

Whiskers and Wishes

Laura Greenwood

10/10Written Oct 5, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

This was a really fun Retelling of Puss in Boots and I loved all the characters and seeing how everything came together in the end. Kitty and Puss had a fun relationship to read about and he was such an interesting cat and sidekick that I enjoyed whenever he decided to grace us readers with his presence. Constantin was a really good character as well and I enjoyed reading about him and seeing how him and Kitty grew closer during the story. I look forward to reading more Grimm Academy stories in the future.

Series Character and Story Connections
Audrey's story can be found in The Winter Ball (Book 18)

Giana's story can be found in Dance Of Daggers: A Fairy Tale Retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Book 19)
Kasi is a side character in the same book.

Marie's story can be found in Slippers and Sugarplums: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Nutcracker And The Mouse King (Book 20)

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Fairest Rose

BOOK REVIEW

Fairest Rose

Kenzie Skye

8/10Written Oct 4, 2024Edited Oct 12, 2024

I enjoyed this romantasy Retelling of Snow White and getting to know both Evan and Snow during the story. I thought the twist of Snow having magic was interesting and I look forward to seeing what other fairy tale retellings this series has in the future.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.