Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchantment book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Divine Rivals, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite stories for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

“Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a satisfying conclusion to this duology. Separated by Dacre, Iris and Roman work to get back to one another and stop the war from coming to their home. In a race against time, can Roman and Iris halt Dacre’s takeover of Oath before it’s too late? Readers will devour the last pages to see how the story ends.

 

Visit Rebecca Ross’ website.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchanment book 1)

 

“After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.” - taken from Goodreads.

Iris and Roman are both competing for a columnist position for the Gazette. Iris's life turns upside down when her mother dies and she hasn't heard from her brother in months since he joined the war effort. The only bright spot in her life is the letters she types on her grandmother's typewriter, slips under her wardrobe, and receives a response from an anonymous person. That person turns out to be Roman, who knows he is corresponding with Iris. 

My favorite book of the year so far!

Book two, Ruthless Rivals, is expected December 26, 2023

Visit Rebecca Ross’ website.

How to Speak Boy by Tiana Smith

“Quinn and Grayson have been fierce speech and debate rivals for years. They can't stand one another, either in competition or in real life.

But when their AP Government teacher returns their school assignments to the wrong cubbies, they begin exchanging anonymous notes without knowing who the other is.

Despite their differences, the two come together through their letters and find themselves unknowingly falling for the competition. Before the state tournament, the two of them need to figure out what they want out of life, or risk their own future happiness. After all, what’s the point of speech and debate if you can't say what's in your heart?” - taken from Goodreads.com

Quinn Edwards has always seen Grayson Hawkes as her main speech and debate rival. When they are named co-captains of the team, Quinn is determined to come out on top in the end. After an AP government assignment is mixed up upon return, Quinn starts a secret penpal relationship with a male classmate. As the season goes on, Quinn begins to fall not only for Grayson, whom she doesn't completely trust, but her unknown pen pal. This was another one of those cute rom-coms where the girl is completely caught off guard in the end. 

Visit Tiana Smith’s website.