Bold Strokes Books Archives - Page 3 of 9

ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

While My Heart Beats by Erin McKenzie | ARC Review

20th September 2020
While My Heart Beats by Erin McKenzie
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, May 12th 2020
- Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 242 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
CW: war, off-page deaths of family

This is a beautiful historical romance across classes set in WWI Great Britain and France.

Ellie Winthrop is high-born, a feminist, and holds big dreams during a time women cannot even vote. Her mother is eager to marry her off at twenty-two, but Ellie enlists in Volunteer Aid Detachment. At the hospital, she meets Johanna Lennox, a working-class, twenty-four-year-old nurse with a no-nonsense attitude. As the pair gradually become friends, they can no longer resist their yearnings for each other’s bodies. But with Ellie’s mother pestering Ellie with marriage, Johanna wonders if she, being poorer and a woman, could ever be good enough for her.
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

The Holiday Detour by Jane Kolven | ARC Review

16th September 2020
The Holiday Detour by Jane Kolven
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, September 15th 2020
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 240 pages
- My Rating: ★★★ (3/5)
Content warnings: misgendering from main character and minor character, car accident, recalling parental loss

As someone who is both genderqueer and sapphic, The Holiday Detour is very difficult for me to review. I wanted to love it so badly but I didn’t. I appreciate Kolven writing a sapphic story featuring an f/gq relationship however, so I rounded up my rating. There are too many issues that kept me from fully enjoying the story, but it was nonetheless chaotically entertaining.
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Moon Fever by Ileandra Young | ARC Review

20th August 2020
Moon Fever (The S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files #2) by Ileandra Young
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, August 11th 2020
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 303 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
CW: speciesism from main character, ableist language from main character, blood, transphobia, sexism, loss of body parts, torture

I have very conflicted feelings about this sequel. Danika’s egotistic actions irk me constantly, but I am still very invested in her story. In Both Ways, her stubbornness and rashness often lead her into horrible situations. And now? Things are worse. With her team investigating in recent werewolf attacks, she is drastically overpowered by the edanes and yet somehow thinks it is a good idea for her to get involved in their conflicts.
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Book Reviews, Fiction

Both Ways by Ileandra Young

15th August 2020
Both Ways (The S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files #1) by Ileandra Young
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, 2018
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 301 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
CW: speciesism from Danika, homophobia, violence, pregnancy, blood, one-time unintentional misgendering from Rayne, one-time nonconsensual m/f kissing

This book was nothing like I imagined and completely outdid my expectations.
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ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Sylver and Gold by Michelle Larkin | ARC Review

9th August 2020
Sylver and Gold by Michelle Larkin
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, August 11th 2020
- Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 242 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
CW: off-screen child abuse, sexual assault, and physical torture.

I finished this book in two sittings and would have in one if not for a scheduled dinner. Since I tend to get sucked into a book and forget about reality, I am happy to say that me being hyper-alert of my surroundings in-between sittings is an indication that the suspense had really got to me. Sylver and Gold is that enthralling.
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