April Book Recap and Review {05.02.25}

 

Hello and happy Friday friends! I hope your month is off to a great start and you are looking forward to a fun weekend ahead. We've got a few plans this weekend which are going to be so fun. Plus, I get to sleep in both days which is great - I feel like I could use a good sleep. 

Today I'm doing a recap of all the books I completed in the month of April. All of the books were book club reads and I am happy to say that my lowest review this month was a 4.5 stars - so I would have to say it was a good reading month. 

If you want to get any of these books for yourself, click on the picture or the name of the book below and it will take you to Amazon where you can buy the book for yourself. Heads up: I am an Amazon Associate so if you purchase with my link I could make a small commission.

So without further adieu...here's my April 2025 book review.

Book #1:

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters

Synopsis: 
In the aftermath of a harrowing journey, Silla Nordvig’s dreams of a simple life have been shattered. Beaten, betrayed, and reeling from the revelation of her true name, she flees Kopa with Reynir Galtung, ruthless leader of the Bloodaxe Crew. But when they're forced into hiding together, Silla soon discovers that Rey has been keeping secrets of his own.
Stuck in a shield-home with the murderous man she thought she knew, Silla forms a new plan: master the magic flowing through her veins to save her sister. But before she can do that, Silla must face her most formidable opponent yet—her own inner demons.
Saga Volsik has nothing to lose. They’ve murdered her family. Stolen her throne. And now they expect her to marry their son, but not if she can dismantle Queen Signe’s plans first. The only problem? The handsome Zagadkian dignitary who knows far too many of her secrets.
Silla and Saga will need to find the strength to step into their destiny and stop chaos from sweeping across the land. Meanwhile, dark threads continue to weave themselves through Íseldur as magic long thought dead begins to wake.

My Thoughts:
If you told me that this series was Demi Winters' first series I would 100% think you were not telling the truth. These books are so well written, the character development is fantastic and the story itself is so very intriguing. This book got five stars from me - all the way.

Book #2: 

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Synopsis: 
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue meets This is How You Lose The Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries.
They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.
Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being linked to her soul. The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life before they find her first, figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse, and try not to fall in love . . . again.

My Thoughts:
Like the previous book, I really loved this one so very much. The only negative thing I would say is they categorized it as a fantasy read, but I'm not 100% certain I would put it under that category. It's based in the real world and has romance and other elements but it almost needs a genre of it's own. Another five star rating from me.

Book #3: 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Synopsis: 

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

My Thoughts:

This book was actually a book club pick from a book club back in March. I unfortunately had to put down the book for a little bit because of some of the scenes referenced in the book. That being said, the story was phenomenal! I really loved the story telling, the main character and the insight the book gives to what life was like during the time in which the book is set. Another five star rating for me. 

Book #4

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Synopsis: 

From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time comes an addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie?

It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note.

Then it starts. Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn't a hostage. Her husband - doting father, eternal optimist - is the gunman.

What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says... 

Famous Last Words is the story of a crime, a marriage, and more secrets than Camilla ever could have imagined. This novel cements Gillian McAllister’s reputation as “the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.” (Emily Henry)

My Thoughts: 

If you like a mystery where you are trying to figure out who did it or what happened, then I would 100% recommend this read. It's quick paced, told from multiple POVs and does a good job of intertwining all the characters. Plus, the story wraps up with a nice bow at the end. This one had a 1/2 star removed just because I felt like it was a bit unrealistic in a few scenes. But overall, I very much enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone that likes mystery or thriller books. 

Well that's all for today's book review! I hope you found a new book to add to your reading list for the future.

If you want to stay current on all of the books I’m reading in 2024, THIS PAGE HERE is where I keep the books, authors and reviews each month.

Okay what should I read next? I'm always on the hunt for book recommendations and am fairly open to all stories.

Have a wonderful day,
Jackie

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