I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic or risk endangering the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.
“You think I’m a monster, but…my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”
Unfortunately, Lillian, malevolent ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she’s ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian’s running out of time. If she can’t persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make them come back.
Picking up right where Trial by Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced thrill ride from author Josephine Angelini!
Well. This book surprised me. After the disaster that was Trial by Fire, I went into this with carefully controlled hope. I had my fingers crossed it would be better, but I wasn’t keeping my expectations high. Though there were some moments that were just as bad as they were in Trial by Fire, this book was otherwise MUCH improved. The plot was more intriguing, the pacing was better, the characters were more dynamic and likable and the offensive things from Trial by Fire were mentioned less in Firewalker (though, when mentioned, they were still offensive).
Let’s start with the characters. Though they still had their faults, they definitely improved from Trial by Fire. I still like Lillian more than Lily. Lillian’s story is much more intriguing. She’s the character you love to hate, who you know should be the villain but you just can’t see her like that. I loved that we saw more of her world and her backstory. I’m still a big Juliet fan, no matter what world she’s from.
I still don’t like Rowan. He improved for awhile and then his behavior at the end of the book made me hate him again and this time, I don’t think I can forgive him. Lily’s Tristan really grew in this book and I really started to like him. I think Lily forgave him way too easily, but I also liked them being friends again, so I was willing to overlook that. I HATE how his story ended, though. I really liked Una and Breakfast and their dynamic with Lily and Tristan, though the whole story surrounding them felt way to convenient – but again, I liked it, so I’m willing to overlook it.
I liked Rowan’s Tristan and Caleb, but we didn’t see a lot of them this time around and I wish we had. Also, the two Tristan thing was confusing! I still can’t stand Carrick – he did some exceptionally evil things in this book and I know he was working on Lillian’s behalf, but I feel like he also did certain things without her permission, so he’s a rogue warrior and beyond redemption.
The pacing in this book was WAY better than the pacing in Trial by Fire. Except things started to slow down after page 200 and I struggled to finish reading. I don’t know if that was the book or just me, as I’ve read several meh books in a row and was so disappointed with Trial by Fire and just wanted to be done with Firewalker. I think it was a little of both, honestly.
I also want to mention that, whenever someone shares a memory with Lily, Josephine Angelini writes the memory in first person (as opposed to third person). And I must say, her writing is much stronger in first person and I really enjoyed those parts! I think she should write in first person more often!
The racist remarks used to describe the Outlanders were fewer in this book, but still offensive when mentioned (specifically, when they were referred to as savages). Again (as I mentioned in my Trial by Fire review), I don’t feel I have the authority to say more on this, as a white woman, but I just found it very offensive, so I can’t imagine how those who identify as Native American and POC feel.
The over-sexualized willstone stuff was still there, but not mentioned as much. However, Lily’s time in the oubliette with Carrick and Carrick touching her willstones was compared to rape (with Lily saying what happened was her fault and Rowan calling her a survivor). This was offensive and frustrating.
So, overall, this book was MUCH better than Trial by Fire, but it still had plenty of faults. At this point, I’m still going to read the third book, Witche’s Pyre, because I want to see how the series ends. But I’m not going to get my hopes up for an epic ending to this meh trilogy. The end of Firewalker was kind of weird and they killed off some of the only characters I truly liked. So while I’m definitely reading book three, I’m not jumping for it or dying to read it. And I don’t know if I’d recommend Firewalker or not. Maybe if you enjoyed Trial by Fire or if you adore Josephine Angelini? But if you weren’t a fan of Trial by Fire, then I’d say think carefully before diving into Firewalker. It was better, but not by much.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The exhilaratingly seductive new series from the author of the bestselling Starcrossed series
Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.
Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.
But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?
PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. Because I need to rant and I can’t rant without spoilers. You’ve been warned.
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I think I read this out of some twisted sense of loyalty to Josephine Angelini because I loved her debut trilogy, Starcrossed, and because I LOVE the Salem Witch Trials. But this was PAINFUL to get through. Angelini was so focused on world-building that the plot was lost along the way. The characters were impossible to connect with. And the parts of the story pertaining to the willstones (I’ll explain later on in the review) were so over-sexualized, it was actually uncomfortable (and I’m no prude, but I’m telling you, it was uncomfortable). And the racism (Native American’s being called savages, etc) was disgusting.
I don’t even know where to start, to be honest, so I guess with the few things I did like? I actually liked the world-building in the beginning. I didn’t realize this was a multiple universes/parallel universes kind of thing – what even do you call that? What’s the difference? – and I’m not sure how I feel about it; however, the world Lily was pulled into was intriguing. At first.
I really liked Lillian in the beginning. We had barely even MET her and I knew liked her more than Lily, at least. She’s the villain who has your sympathy. I found myself drawn to her and her story and wanting to know more. I also liked her world better than Lily’s (as I mentioned above). And I liked Juliet – one of the few characters I really, truly liked. There were some moments that made me chuckle and smirk (dialogue between characters, in particular), but they were few and far between. The one thing I loved beyond a doubt was Angelini’s writing – her writing is what dragged me into Starcrossed and what had me dying to dig into Trial By Fire. I will say that the ending held promise for book two.
Now the things I didn’t like. Except for the few moments when I liked Lillian and Juliet, I really didn’t like these characters. They were flat and one dimensional and didn’t grow a lot over the course of the book. The men in this book, in particular, were basically all jerks and worse names that I’ll refrain from using. In particular, I couldn’t stand Lily’s Tristan and I couldn’t stand Rowan, Gideon or Carrick. Caleb wasn’t as bad as the others, but we got to know him the least.
I couldn’t stand the stuff with the willstones. The willstones were like a combination of the source of a person’s power and an amplifier of their power. And everything to do with the willstone was sexualized in the weirdest, most awkward and uncomfortable way. When a witch claims a willstones, the process is compared to/described as being birthed. And touching someone’s willstone can either be painful to them or positively orgasmic – seriously, that word wasn’t used but it was implied. And all the stuff with the mechanics being claimed by witches made them seem like objects, not people. Being claimed by a witch was akin to having sex.
Like, these are actual quotes:
“After dinner, Lily claimed Tristan.” = And… No one thought that sounded problematic?
“Fondle a witches willstones…” = … Umm… I…
“So it’s like sex?” = Like, Lily ACTUALLY straight-up asks this
“Well, I’ve never done this with a girl.” = I’m not kidding, this is said in relation to a claiming.
Also, Lily had to get naked in front of Rowan and Tristan for a certain spell. Umm.. Why? Why did she have to be naked??
A potential or implied date rape also happened. WHY?!?!? THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK I’VE READ IN A ROW WITH THAT! WHY WHY WHY?!?!? SOMEONE TELL ME WHY!!! AUTHORS, STOP DOING THIS!!!!
There were also a lot of racist remarks when it came to the Outlanders, who were described often as being Native Americans, savages, mixed races, darker colors, etc. And, of course, they were the non-citizens who were forced to live unprotected outside the cities, but who could still be jailed, tried and executed for breaking the laws. Because of course. I don’t feel I have the authority to say more on this, as a white woman, but I just found it very offensive, so I can’t imagine how those who identify as Native American and POC feel.
I don’t know if the pacing itself was off or if it was just all the problems I had with this book, but the pacing was sooo slow. Again, I loved the world-building (in the beginning and for the most part, that is), but I think the plot got lost in all the world-building and that made me question what the point of this book even was. So that made it even harder to push through it.
Despite all that, the ending held some promise and I will still be reading book two – if only because I foolishly bought it, assuming I’d LOVE book one. Because I loved Angelini’s first trilogy and I love the Salem Witch Trials, I assumed this book was an instant 5-star read. Boy, was I wrong.. *head desk.*
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.
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Find out more about The Crown's Game and the Pre-order here!
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye (May 17, 2016, Balzer + Bray) I absolutely LOVED this book, so, I’m BEYOND excited to be a part of this blog tour! I hope you enjoy my review!
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The Crown’s Game was one of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it definitely did NOT disappoint! If anything, it exceeded my expectations – by a LOT. The characters were amazing, the writing was epic and the plot was filled with magic and mayhem.
Vika was powerful and confident in her abilities. She reminded me a LOT of Alina from the Grisha trilogy. But her confidence made her a bit careless – made her feel she was a shoe-in as The Imperial Enchanter. She never even considered that there might be another enchanter out there who could best her. I loved her command of the elements, though. That was pretty awesome!
Being an orphan who had to fight for everything made Nikolai strong and determined. He has every reason to fight and win – and every reason to fear losing. The way his story ended though… HOLY CRAP!!! I did NOT expect what happened to happen! And I can’t wait to see how it’s resolved in the second book!
I really liked Pasha. He reminded me of Charles in Reign. He’ll do his duty, but he’d rather not. He’s a bit aloof. There were some moments near the middle/end where he was really awful and it really upset me, but looking back, I understand why he behaved that way and what caused him to behave that way, so I feel like I kind of forgive him now. Sort of. He still needs to earn back his brownie points!
I loved the way Vika and Nikolai one-upped each other with their powers. It’s like magical banter and more hilarious than verbal banter could have been. I definitely shipped them a LOT, but not in the beginning. Only because I actually really loved the idea of Vika and Pasha together and I shipped them until the half-way point in the book, roughly.
Plus, at times, I seriously shipped Nikolai and Renata. Their relationship gave me major Kaz/Inej feels. So when I was shipping them, it was easy to forget about my Nikolai/Vika feels. But really, I think I’d be happy with any combination of Vika/Nikaolai, Vika/Pasha, Nikolai/Renata. I just had SO MANY FEELS that, honestly, any of those ships would satisfy me. Normally I’d pick an OTP for a book, but that’s impossible to do with The Crown’s Game because all the characters are so epic, I just love all the potential pairings!
Yuliana was wise and stubborn. She’s outspoken, but she knows just the right thing to say to make every outspoken thing she says count. Also, the fact that Yuliana can handle the viciousness of the Game with a “fierce and wistful,” smile makes me just a touch afraid of her! She can also be incredibly convincing, borderline manipulative. I think she means well, but she’s steadfast in her loyalty to her country and she’ll do whatever she has to to ensure its safety, even if it means her brother’s well-being is secondary.
In two weeks, I’ll be posting for my stop on the Tsar’s Guard Parade blog tour. My post includes five random thoughts that I had while reading The Crown’s Game. I don’t want to go into too much detail on those points now because I don’t want to get repetitive. But I’ll briefly mention them here: If you were a fan of the Grisha trilogy, I HIGHLY recommend The Crown’s Game! Also, if you loved A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray! Are you a fan of Anastasia? Because I had SO MANY ANASTASIA FEELS!!! So if you love Anastasia, that’s another incentive to read The Crown’s Game right there! Finally, if you’re a fan of Fairy Tales (specifically Russian ones), there are several Fairy Tale references in The Crown’s Game! So that makes it a MUST READ for Fairy Tale fans!
This book is a FAST read, mostly because once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down! I read the first 315 pages in 13 hours, with breaks only for food and to take care of my dog! Every time I thought “one more chapter,” I ended up desperate to see what happened next. The pacing was always on point, never slowing.
Near the end, my state of mind/statuses/comments dissolved into a lot of “OMG” and “WTF” and “!!!!!!!!!!!” My poor heart just couldn’t handle all the revelations, twists and unexpected craziness! And then the ending (like, the absolute ending) was… Holy amazeballs!!! So intense and epic and WHY DID I READ THIS BOOK SO EARLY?!?! NOW THE WAIT UNTIL BOOK TWO IS EVEN LONGER!!!! GAH!!! I NEEDS IT!!!
*Clears throat*
Anyway, if you couldn’t tell from my review (Um. Seriously?), I LOVED this book. I don’t even think “loved” is a strong enough word. It’s absolutely one of my top favorite reads for 2016 (and it’s only March!!) and I HIGHLY recommend it! Seriously! Add it to your TBR! If you have an ARC, READ IT NOW! It’s amazing and I’ll definitely be pushing it on as many people as I possibly can! Evelyn Skye is an amazing writer and story teller and I absolutely can’t wait for book two (and what a long wait that will be.. SOBS!)!!! I also can’t wait to see what else she writes outside of the Crown’s Game world. She’s definitely a debut author to keep your eye on!
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And now for the giveaway! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!
Evelyn Skye was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. When she isn’t writing, Evelyn can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. THE CROWN’S GAME is her first novel.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jen Noonan’s father thinks a move to Harmony House is the key to salvation, but to everyone who has lived there before, it is a portal to pure horror.
After Jen’s alcoholic mother’s death, her father cracked. He dragged Jen to this dilapidated old manor on the shore of New Jersey to “start their new lives”—but Harmony House is more than just a creepy old estate. It’s got a chilling past—and the more Jen discovers its secrets, the more the house awakens. Strange visions follow Jen wherever she goes, and her father’s already-fragile sanity disintegrates before her eyes. As the forces in the house join together to terrorize Jen, she must find a way to escape the past she didn’t know was haunting her—and the mysterious and terrible power she didn’t realize she had.
A classic horror story finds a terrifying home in Harmony House, drawing on favorite tropes and edgy, modern characters to create a chilling tale of blame, guilt, and ghostly revenge.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. Because I need to rant and I can’t rant without spoilers. You’ve been warned.
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Okay.. Harmony House was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Based on the cover, title and synopsis, I was gearing up for something creepy and spooky that would make me want to sleep with the lights on. And… I didn’t get that. At all. This book was basically one giant metaphor for addiction. Which, with Nic Sheff’s past, I guess that isn’t so surprising; however, it was disappointing. It wasn’t scary and despite the fast pace and moments of intrigue, it was an overall boring read with a disappointing ending that left me feeling unsatisfied.
The characters in this book were all.. off and.. I don’t know..? I felt really detached from them and their stories. At first, I thought it was just the typical Horror Character Disconnection – where you refuse to let yourself like the characters because you don’t know who will survive and who won’t, so you refuse to get attached. But after finishing the book, I think it’s more that I just didn’t like them. Jen was odd and aloof when it came to the things happening to her. Like, “Oh, hey, I’m sick and hallucinating and having visions, cool!” Also, apparently she was pregnant and never questioned it, even though an ex-boyfriend is NEVER mentioned. Ever. Colin seemed like an intriguing character but he literally just showed up and disappeared and then… Nothing? Like, legit, nothing. We never found out who or what he was (except for that one flashback, but we received no confirmation after that) and then he just never showed up again.
I liked Christy but her character didn’t do much. I’m pretty sure the only reason she was in the book was so it would be less weird when Rose spoke to Jen. Also, because Christy’s accident allowed for Jen to leave the house and for Rose to get her alone to talk. That was it. Alex was an asshole and we never found out if he was JUST an asshole or if he was drunk or possessed or whatever. And that attempted rape scene? Why do male writers always do that crap? Please, can someone tell me why? And finally, of course, I hated Jen’s father and his asshole-ish behavior.
Now, speaking of Jen’s dad, that brings me to one of my biggest issues with this book (besides the fact that we were misled into believing this was a horror story and it wasn’t): Religion. Religion in books annoys the crap out of me for two reasons – First, I’m not a very religious person, so I don’t enjoy books that are overly religious. Second, most of the time, books with religion go the Carrie’s mom route and religion is just used as a scapegoat to make someone seem crazy, overzealous and righteous. Also, abusive. And Harmony House did just that (the latter, that is). Now, I might not be religious, but I don’t care if other people are – to each their own! And it isn’t fair to those who embrace their religion, who believe in God, to be portrayed as crazies all the time. And speaking of Carrie, this book definitely had a little bit of a Carrie vibe, what with the religious stuff/crazy religious parent and the way Jen’s anger manifests into telekinesis (which was completely random and never explained, either, by the way).
Now, I will say that this was a fast book and it had me intrigued and guessing until the end. I read half the book in two hours and then finished it off throughout the course of the day. It definitely had “Just One More Chapter” syndrome and I didn’t want to put it down. At least for that first half. With the second half, things began to feel… Well, I started to get that sinking feeling that this “horror story” wasn’t actually a horror story. And it wasn’t.
The ending was dreadful. Sometimes, horror novels with open endings are epic and keep you guessing, even after you’ve finished reading and you just can’t stop thinking about what you read. But Harmony House had me feeling like I missed something, like I wasted my time. SO many things were left unanswered and so many things lacked explanation.
I’m so tired of this trend of alleged horror novels that are not really horror or supernatural, just delusions or potential mental health issues or people playing tricks on other people or just a confusing ending where they don’t tell you if it’s real or supernatural. It’s so frustrating! I just want a straight-up supernatural horror read with an actual haunting and ghosts and WHY CAN’T I HAVE THAT?!? IS IT ASKING TOO MUCH FOR A LEGIT HORROR NOVEL?
*Takes a breath.”
Okay, rant over. So yeah, I don’t recommend this book if you’re looking for a creeptastic horror read. Because this is not a creeptastic horror read and you’ll be sorely disappointed. I know I am.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Arabella Stone, Nashville’s darling, is eager to shuck her prim-and-proper rep, and a few wild months spent checking items off her “ summer bucket list” is the way to do it. First up: kiss the man she’s crushed on since she wore a training bra, the bad boy of country himself, Blue bassist Charlie Tucker.
For Charlie, a beautiful woman flirting with him isn’t out of the norm—but a beautiful woman bolting after the hottest kiss of his life sure is. And when he finds out his kiss-and-run Cinderella is none other than Arabella Stone, daughter of his label’s CEO, he knows he’s in trouble. Because not only is she a Stone, she’s also his employee for the next few months at the recording studio he just bought.
Over the course of one thrilling summer, Arabella and Charlie chip away at her bucket list and fight the simmering attraction between them...knowing that once it's all over, so is their time together.
We are so excited to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for Rachel Harris’s YOU’RE STILL THE ONE, the first novel in Rachel’s Country Blues Series! YOU’RE STILL THE ONE – a novel published by Entangled Bliss – is out now. Grab your copy today!
We have a lot of fun things for you today! First, here’s my review! Enjoy!
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I absolutely LOVED this book! I mean, I love all of Rachel Harris’ books, but I REALLY loved this one! Ella and Charlie were amazing and definitely my OTP, out of all of Rachel’s couples. I loved them, the secondary characters and the plot! And, as always, Rachel’s writing was epic and full of swoons and feels!
Ella was both adorably awkward and fierce. That sounds like SUCH a contradiction of descriptions, but she really exhibited both personalities. At times, she was really shy and withdrawn. But she had moments where she came out of her shell and really shined. I loved her backstory and the way she fought for her reputation, to make a name for herself outside of her father’s influence. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for.
Charlie was epic – the ultimate bad boy musician with a reputation to boot. But, of course, he had a softer side that he kept well-guarded. Basically: tough exterior, gooey interior. He cared deeply for his family and his band. His passion for both really fueled him.
I totally, 100% shipped Charlie and Ella. I used to think Tyler and Sherry were my ultimate ship within these books, but Charlie and Ella totally trump them! The banter and sexual tension between them was intense and epic! There was one particular chapter that was pure perfection, for so many reasons! I can’t say why because of spoilers but.. *Fans self!!!*
I love the way Rachel weaves together all her books and characters. It never feels forced or unnecessary. I love the way their lives and stories come together and the way they’re all family – whether directly related or because of budding relationships or friendships. I still LOVE Tyler and Sherry, so it was awesome seeing so much of them, as well as Colby and Cane. I also officially need a Deacon/Hannah novel. Make that happen, Rachel!
This whole book can be summed up in two phrases: ‘grinning like an idiot’ and ‘swooning like a fool.’ Basically, those are the two things I did throughout the entire book. When I wasn’t grinning like an idiot at something Charlie and/or Ella said or did, I was swooning and fanning myself! There were moments that were hilariously awkward and epic. There were moments that were HOT HOT HOT. And there were a LOT of moments that were filled with feels. MY POOR FEELS!!! SO MANY FEELS!!! Rachel Harris’s books always have me smirking, grinning and cackling. But this book took that up a notch!
Also, Life & Lyrics Foundation SO needs to be a real thing. I absolutely loved the concept and what it could mean for those with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.
And then that ending! OMG OMG OMG!!!! Usually, Rachel’s books are stand-alones within the overall series. But if I don’t get more Charlie and Ella, I think I’ll break down into hysterics and tantrums like a toddler! Okay, maybe that’s a bit extreme.. But.. I NEED MORE ELLA AND CHARLIE!!!!
Overall, if you couldn’t tell from my review (Uh.. Did you even read it?!?!), I LOVED this book! I ADORED IT TO PIECES! Charlie and Ella were epic and amazing and are my OTP. Rachel’s writing was on point in this book! The plot was amazing, the ending was amazing and the feels and swoons were non-stop amazeballs! You NEED to read this book and every single one that Rachel has ever written. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
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And now here’s the excerpt! Enjoy!
Yup, this was a recipe for unmitigated disaster. With the hot sting of jealousy currently roiling in his gut, demanding he lay claim to what was his, the smart thing for Charlie to do would be to turn tail and run before they breached the point of no return.
Don’t push too far, Tucker. Remember, she’s not for you.
Even his conscience knew better than to suggest bailing. Completely walking away wasn’t an option anymore. The attraction was too strong. The oppressive Louisiana heat boiled his blood just enough to make dangerous ideas seem possible.
“It’s a beautiful night.” Arabella was a low whispered voice behind him, and when Charlie turned it was in time to watch her cover-up fall to the ground.
Sweet Jesus. The dress she’d worn all day had been typical Arabella, classy and feminine. She’d looked beautiful as always, so much so that it hadn’t been a shocker to find another guy hanging on her with drool on his chin. But the swimsuit hidden beneath the simple dress almost dropped Charlie to his knees.
The two-piece was emerald green, a spectacular color set against her olive skin that made those doe eyes pop. It was vintage in style, like everything she owned, and the bottom consisted of more fabric than half the women’s shorts today, but it cupped her hips and thighs in a way that his hands itched to replicate. And the swimsuit’s top… Charlie swallowed thickly. Arabella’s small, high breasts were lifted in a mouthwatering display of cleavage that was a feast for the eyes.
She looked seductive and innocent and, good God, she was trying to kill him.
Charlie was moving before he even realized it, walking in a lust-filled daze toward her. But then, his feelings were more complicated than simple lust…and that was the problem.
“You take my breath away.” The line was cliché, like a lyric from some lame power ballad, but for the first time in his life, Charlie understood the meaning. Arabella’s eyes latched onto his, and her chest rose and fell as her pink lips parted in an exhale and, for a moment, he legitimately forgot his own name.
Arabella made his chest ache with want. She made him forget everything in the world other than how it felt to hold her in his arms. How their bodies aligned, her height allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder if she wanted to. Or stare into his eyes if and when he kissed her.
Right now, he wasn’t thinking about the many reasons why he shouldn’t want that, why he didn’t deserve her or why it would be so wrong to reach out and slide his hand along the gentle curve of her waist. No, Charlie forgot all those things, so when his palm grazed across her petal-soft skin, and Arabella’s gasp hit his ears, he also forgot why it was wrong, so very wrong, to act on his needs.
Lowering his head, he breathed in her floral fragrance and closed his eyes.
“Baby girl, you destroy me,” he whispered against her lips. “You have to tell me if you don’t want this, because I’m holding on by a thread.”
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.
An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This riveting fantasy marks Melissa Marr’s return to the world of faery courts that made her Wicked Lovely series an international phenomenon.
Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal—she’s half human, half fae, and since the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humans and faeries. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of the fae courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir due to the actions of reckless humans.
Lily’s father has always shielded her, but when she’s sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, she’s delivered straight into the arms of a fae sleeper cell—the Black Diamonds. The Diamonds are planted in the human world as the sons and daughters of the most influential families and tasked with destroying it from within. Against her will, Lilywhite’s been chosen to join them...and even the romantic attention of the fae rock singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the familiar world she knows.
Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there. The combination of ethereal fae powers, tumultuous romance, and a bloodthirsty faery queen will have longtime fans and new readers at the edge of their seats.
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr! I’m a HUGE fan of Melissa Marr, so I’m incredibly excited to be on this blog tour! I hope you enjoy my review! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!!
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As a huge Melissa Marr fan, I was so excited to see her return to the world of Faery! As is typical of Marr, the plot was intriguing, the characters were epic and the writing was perfection!
This book had a huge ensemble of characters. I won’t go into details for each one, but I’ll highlight some of the important stuff. Lily is fierce and badass and I adored her. I LOVED the direction her story went in and I LOVED how her story ended in this book. I’m really excited to see what happens next for her! Creed was an intriguing character and I liked the chemistry between him and Lily; however, I’m not sure I’m convinced of their ship yet. Though I definitely ship them more than I ship Lily and Zephyr. I think Zephyr is a natural leader and I liked him, I just got the friend vibe from him. Speaking of friends, I really liked the friendship between Lily and Kamy!
I really liked Eilidh, Rhys and Torquil and their storyline. Honestly, I think I liked their storyline more than the storyline between Lily and the rest of the Diamonds. Though both sets of characters/stories were intriguing, I love being in Marr’s Faery World more than her Human World and – more often than not – Eilidh, Rhys and Torquil were in the Faery World. I also just found their plot to be more intriguing in general.
I loved the way the two storylines came together, though. Sometimes, too many characters can make things confusing – you can’t keep track of who’s who and such. This happened a little bit in the beginning but, as the story went on, the characters distinguished themselves and I was able to tell them apart just fine.
My only issue with this book was that it started out a bit confusing. We were dropped into the world with little to no explanation and you had to just read to discover answers to your questions. Basically, the reader got answers as the characters got their answers. Some people enjoy that, some don’t. It only bothered me a little bit because I love Melissa Marr so much and the story itself was incredible, so I let the confusion slide – and eventually, I got the answers I needed and everything made sense. So it just depensd on how you feel about something like that.
Overall, this book was amazing. Confusing parts aside, this had everything that a signature Marr book always has – an intriguing plot, amazing characters and beautiful writing. If you loved Marr’s Wicked Lovely trilogy, I highly recommend Seven Black Diamonds – being back in Marr’s world of Faery will have you feeling nostalgic and desperate for book two!
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And now for the giveaway! 6 winners will receive a finished copy of SEVEN BLACK DIAMONDS, US Only. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!
Melissa Marr is the author of the bestselling Wicked Lovely series as well as the adult fantasy novels Graveminder and The Arrivals. When not writing, editing, or traveling, Melissa is buried under a plethora of books, dogs, and children in Virginia or online
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Oh, reader, what big teeth you have! The better to devour RED: THE TRUE STORY OF RED RIDING HOOD!
Can’t get enough of the new fairy-tale-retelling trend? Don’t miss Liesl Shurtliff’s new dark, humorous stand-alone middle grade novel RED: THE TRUE STORY OF RED RIDING HOOD (on sale April 12, 2016)!
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Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic.
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.
With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .
Liesl Shurtliff weaves a spellbinding tale, shining the spotlight on a beloved character from her award-winning debut, Rump.
And don't miss Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, "a delightful story of family, perseverance and courage" (Booklist).
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Red: The True Story of Red Riding by Liesl Shurtliff (April 12, 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers) I’m very excited to be a part of this blog tour! I absolutely loved this book and I hope you enjoy my review!
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I don’t read a lot of Middle Grade. But the few I’ve read so far have been epic! And Red was no exception! I loved the mingling of fairy tales, as well as the world and the rules. I love twisted fairy tales and this book was the perfect combination of twisty and fun!
It takes a little while to warm up to Red. In the beginning, she’s a bit snippy, bossy and rude. But she was also fierce, brave and determined. I don’t know if it’s just because their stories stem from the same fairy tale or what, but Red reminded me a LOT of Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles! She definitely had a LOT of character growth from beginning to end!
Goldie was really chipper and kind, but also incredibly innocent (borderline naive) and just a touch annoying – especially in the beginning. She definitely means well, she just doesn’t seem to know how to express certain things. By the end of the book, though, I adored her and the friendship between her and Red!
I loved the wolf. From the very beginning, we were led to believe he was the bad guy. But I refused to believe it. You can judge for yourself when you read the book, but I loved his character and the way his story ended.
There were a LOT of secondary characters that I adored, but it’s hard to discuss them all without spoilers. So I’m just going to encourage you – again – to read this epic book!
There were also a LOT of life lessons in this book. Maybe I just noticed it more because I’m older, but it felt like each one was not-so-subtly shoved at the reader; however, this was a good thing because the life lessons taught were VERY important! The biggest life lesson this book teaches – in my opinion – is about fearing death and that you actually shouldn’t. Death is a part of life. It’s good to feel sadness in times of loss because it means we have loved and lost, but we’re truly alive. That death isn’t the end because we live on in the memories of others. Another important life lesson is that you should trust yourself and be confident in your abilities. The other life lessons I noticed are a bit more spoilerish, so I won’t share them – You’ll just have to read the book to discover them!
My biggest issue with this book? I wanted maps! The land was described in such detail and Red and Goldie traveled to such amazing places, I just wanted maps of EVERY place they went! Desperately! (Dear Knopf Books for Young Readers: Please give me maps! In the book or as swag for the book.. I’m not picky! Just please give me maps!!!)
There were some epic twists and turns in this book. Some I expected, some I didn’t. But all of them kept me intrigued and dying to find out how things would end. I read it in a matter of hours because it was a quick, fun book and I just didn’t want to put it down!
Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I adored this book! If you love fairy tale retellings, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of middle grade! And if you don’t read much middle grade, I still highly recommend it – it just might change your mind!
“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy-tale.” – Hans Christian Anderson
I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah the fifth of eight children. My seven siblings tortured me but I really like them now. I loved dancing, singing, playing the piano and reading books by Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Roald Dahl. I also read Grimms’ Fairy Tales so often I wore through the binding. Today I live with my husband and three children in Chicago, which is a wonderful city except that it is decidedly flat and very cold in the winter. When I write, I often wander back to my childhood and gather the magic that still remains. I hope to share that magic with children everywhere.
If you would like to learn a little more about me (and even see some childhood pictures!), just click HERE.
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Liesl Shurtliff’s first book, Rump, won over kids and critics alike, earning an IRA Award, a Texas Bluebonnet nomination, a Whitney nomination, and a starred review from Kirkus, proclaiming it “as good as gold.”
In RED, Liesl Shurtliff is at her best. New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Chris Grabenstein raves that “Liesl Shurtliff has truly out-magicked herself. Red is the most wonder-filled fairy tale of them all.” RED will capture the hearts of readers who like it Grimm, as well as followers of ABC’s TV show Once Upon a Time.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.
But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.
With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was super intrigued. But as I began reading, I just felt.. meh. It was good enough that I finished it, but I definitely considered putting it down a few times. The writing was pretty good, but the pacing was way off. And I’m really torn with regards to the characters. Honestly, I was completely 50/50 regarding every aspect of this book. I finished it Wednesday night and I’m still not even sure how I feel about it.
I felt seriously disconnected from the characters. I didn’t like nor dislike them. Honestly, I felt pretty indifferent towards them. I didn’t really care what happened to them, only in the sense that I wanted to see how the story ended as a whole. I loved how Luna’s lack of sight wasn’t the focus – the author didn’t make a big deal about it, yet it was still integral to Luna’s story and character development. She was incredibly brave, strong and resilient. She also had mad fighting skills! She was also a compassionate character, running to the aid of complete strangers. Despite all that, I still really didn’t connect with her or care about her.
As far as Fowler goes, I… Wow. I really have nothing to say about him. Nothing good or bad. I’m completely indifferent to him. Nothing about him stands out. He was a very isolated, selfish character for most of the book. And then, out of nowhere, he had “feelings” and it was like.. What? Since when? Also, I did NOT have ANY ship feels for Luna and Fowler at all. I barely even blinked when they kissed – not even when they full-on made out. I just didn’t believe it or feel it. The only thing I will say is, the revelation with Fowler was interesting, but not surprising.
I did really like Sivo and Perla, but we didn’t get to see nearly enough of them. I wanted more of them and their backstories. Hopefully we’ll see more of them in book two!
Like I said earlier, the pacing was really weird. Sometimes I flew through several chapters in one sitting, sometimes I had to push myself to read just one chapter. There were also a LOT of “dangerous situations” and “obstacles” throughout the book. Like, it would have been odd if they hadn’t run into ANY trouble at all, but I almost felt like they ran into TOO much trouble.
And then.. That ending.. Umm… I really don’t know how I feel. Like, I really don’t. It was very, very, VERY strange and random. But.. it was also intriguing. I know that’s… a complete contradiction.. But… GAH! I really don’t know..!!! I think I was intrigued enough to read book two… But not dying for it, I guess. I DID have major Rapunzel/Tangled feels. So that’s a plus!
So… I don’t think I can confidently say I recommend this book, only because I still don’t know how I feel about it. If you like Sophie Jordan, you’ll probably enjoy Reign of Shadows. If you’ve never read a Sophie Jordan book before, I suggest starting with one of her other books first.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze's wedded bliss before it begins.
You can take the boy out of the darkness.
But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.
All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).
But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.
From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.
Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?
What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Remembrance by Meg Cabot Those of you who follow me on Twitter know what a HUGE fan of Meg Cabot I am! And if you don’t, just read this Once Upon a Time feature to find out! So, it’s no surprise that I FREAKED OUT when I first heard that we’d be getting a seventh Mediator book! And it’s even less of a surprise that I FLIPPED OUT when I found out I was on the blog tour!!! Obviously, I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! I hope you enjoy my review! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!!
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I’ve been reading the Mediator series since I was roughly 13/14-years-old. When I first started reading the series, there were only four books out. I read them over and over and over again. Then we got a fifth book, then a sixth, and I read all six over and over and over again. I loved the way the series ended – it was an incredibly satisfying ending, for all the characters involved and all the plots, spanning across all six books. But I was still sad to see it end. So, of course, I flipped out when we found out we were getting Remembrance! And it was everything I hoped for!
Being back in this world was amazing. It was like I’d never left (though that could be because I re-read the entire series to prepare for Remembrance, including the new novella, Proposal!). Meg Cabot created a truly amazing world with these books – the characters, the plot, the writing. I have very few complaints where these books are concerned!
Suze is amazing. Re-reading the series reminded me of just how amazing she is. And I also realized something: Suze was, unknowingly at the time, the basis for which I set my standards for YA heroines. Thanks to her and Buffy Summers, I expect all YA heroines to be strong, fierce, kick-ass, stubborn and witty. Though Suze and Buffy embody these characteristics, they still have their faults and weaknesses and they still learn and grow from their mistakes. They’re amazing role models for young girls. And, for those reasons, I can confidently say that Suze is my absolute favorite YA (book) heroine of all time. My OTBH (One True Book Heroine! I made that up, but.. It works!).
I loved the way Suze’s life kind of came full circle in Remembrance. I love that she went to school to be a guidance counselor (and her reasons why) and I loved that she was hired at her alma mater. There are so many more things I want to list here that I loved, but some of them are spoilers, so I can’t! But I literally loved EVERYTHING about Suze’s post-college life!
Jesse… Oh my hotness! The first few times I read these books, I didn’t know what a “book boyfriend” was. I’d never heard the term – I don’t even think it existed back then! But the more I think about it, the more I realize he really was my first book boyfriend! He’s so swoon-worthy, especially when he calls Suze “Querida.” I’m not saying he’s without his faults. He’s moody and broody and he definitely has a temper he needs to learn to control. There were times I just wanted to smack him, Gibbs style!
But overall, Jesse was just as swoony as he was in the original six novels. I’ve always shipped Suze and Jesse, evening though “shipping” wasn’t a thing that existed years ago, just as “book boyfriend” didn’t exist years ago. But now that I know these terms, I know it’s true. Suze and Jesse are my ultimate OTP of all time!
And then there’s Paul. Sigh. I’ve never been a Paul fan. I always hoped he would redeem himself, grow up and change. He sort of did in the sixth (and original final) book and I was mostly satisfied with how his story ended, though I could never forgive some of the things he did to Suze and Jesse. But his story in Remembrance was not my favorite at all. In fact, I think Remembrance could have been amazing without Paul. Though I admit not having him might have been weird, since he was such a big part of the original series.
My only complaint with Remembrance – the only reason it’s 4-stars instead of 5-stars – is that I wanted MORE. There were certain things that felt very “high school.” What I mean is, this book almost felt like it could have occurred while Suze was still a teen, taking place immediately after the sixth book instead of years later. Suze still lied about Paul. Jesse still had temper tantrums. Paul was still an ass. These characters had SO MUCH overall character development throughout the series, but in these respects, they had none. I wanted Suze to be more honest with Jesse. I wanted Jesse’s temper to be more in check, as well as his jealousy. I wanted to see a more mature Paul, who didn’t try to blackmail Suze or hurt Jesse. Where these things are concerned, I just wanted MORE from the characters.
And I wanted MORE in the sense that I’m not satisfied with just one book. Now that we’ve been brought back into this world and into the lives of these characters, I’m not satisfied with just one book! The end wrapped things up nicely enough that, I’m guessing, we won’t be getting more. BUT I WANT MORE!!!!!
Overall, Remembrance was an epic, epic book. I’m so glad we were able to be back in this world one more time (though I’m still holding out hope that it won’t be the last time!). Meg Cabot is Queen and if you haven’t read The Mediator series yet, we can’t be friends anymore. Kidding, but go read it! NOW!!! Otherwise, we really CAN’T be friends anymore (no, I’m not kidding this time…).
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And now for the giveaway! One winner will get a physical copy of the first Mediator novel, SHADOWLAND!! Must be 13+ To Enter. Ships in US only!
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her adult contemporary fiction she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series, The Princess Diaries. Over 25 million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide. Meg lives in Key West, FL, with her husband.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at the fringes.
When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.
Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.
I’ve been excited for this book since I first heard about it. The title and synopsis were really intriguing and the cover was gorgeous! I loved the world, the characters and Kali Wallace’s writing. Though some parts left me feeling a bit confused and the ending lacked closure, this book was a fast, interesting read.
I really liked Breezy. She always seemed to be right on the edge of everything (feelings, attitudes, etc). She was confident and fierce, but she had moments where she realized she needed answers and sought help. She was fine being on her own, but she also realized how much she missed human companionship. She could hold her own, though, and I loved that. I loved how unapologetic she was. I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t see more about her life before death. In the beginning, the flashbacks/backstory were a bit confusing because they happened with little warning and I couldn’t always tell if Breezy was describing the past or present. But as I read more and got used to the writing style, it became easier to tell these things apart.
Rain was an epic character – one of my favorites! I loved how blunt and in-your-face she was. I would seriously love to see a companion novel with Rain. I loved what little backstory we learned for her and I’d love to delve more into her past and “what” she is. Another character I loved was Zeke. He was hilarious, sarcastic and a great friend (though that may be the wrong word) to Breezy. I wanted to like Violet, but I’m still on the fence with her and which side she was on. I really think it could have gone either way, honestly. And don’t even get me started on Mr. Willow..
Roughly 75% into the book, things got a bit.. odd. The tone of the book changed and the direction it was going seemed to shift drastically. I was a bit disappointed with one of the resolutions that occurred around this part of the book. The ending definitely brought me down, as well. There were a lot of unanswered questions. I just wanted more – more explanations, more closure. I was also a bit confused with some of the things that happened during this part of the book. I feel like I need to re-read the whole book and, after a second time, it will make more sense.
Overall, this was a really fun, creepy, intriguing book. I really liked the plot and the characters, but I really wanted more backstory and explanations that were slightly less confusing! I would recommend this book to those who love creepy/intriguing reads.
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini 
Trial by Fire by 
The Crown's Game by 
Harmony House by 
You're Still the One by 
Seven Black Diamonds by 
Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by 
Reign of Shadows by 
Remembrance by 
Shallow Graves by 