2016/08/31

Reignfall

ReignfallReignfall Summary:
One hundred years removed from the second Black Plague, America’s population concentrates in massive urban hubs, dependent on the corporation known as GenoSix to produce X-2, a serum engineered to suppress the plague by halting the aging process. Alcatraz guard Crixtian Donovan ignores the politics of it all. He’s content with working overtime for his wife’s next injection. But after she's arrested for a crime she didn't commit, Crixtian discovers the truth behind America’s recovery.

The self-proclaimed “Curer of the Masses” President Sullivan holds court from Chicago. Sullivan's regime uses X-2 as a tool to maintain his several-decades-long presidency and crush those who would challenge his rule. Many have tried. All have fallen. Yet murmurs of an uprising fester within the Fringe, one that involves a ghost from Crixtian’s past, a ghost that will cast him into the middle of a rebellion that will change the country forever.

With America on the brink of revolution, two men will navigate the fate of Sullivan’s tattered red, white, and blue. One will decide how to punish. The other must choose between self-preservation and embracing the revolution by forsaking his wife.


Reignfall Review:
I'm going to keep this one really short. The book had a really interesting concept and this is definitely different than what I usually read. I kept thinking it would be similar to World War Z (I'm not very diverse in this area) but it went into a more political route then expected. From there were are thrown into the action and it does not stop until the very end.

I liked the diverse array of characters that all proved unique and captivating. All of them drew you in, even, the side characters you may have thought insignificant and the villain. The hero was a strong character that makes you want to rally behind him and interested to see how he tackles each problem.

Overall, this book is a four star read. I felt that it was a little too long for me so I got a bit bored at some parts. Other than that, the book was really good.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Into Aether (The Trinity Key, #1)

Into Aether (The Trinity Key, #1)Into Aether Summary:
Colorado teen Theodora (Theo) will do anything to find her missing mom, including travel into the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. She takes a ride with airship pirates to a floating island full of strange automatons and even stranger people.

After a century-old feud reignites, she uncovers the alarming truth about her family's past. Finding her mother is more important than ever.

Into Aether Review:
Into Aether is an interesting first book in a new magical series. It wasn’t a spectacular read but that is to be expected in the first book of a series because we need to get introduced to all the characters and world. It was pretty good, with the captivating premise that with the right world building could become a spectacular book in the second book.

The characters were an interesting mix that contrasted each other and were different then I had read before. Characters like Auntie Grace or her boyfriend really were unique and made the book feel different. Theo was a strong character because she took her life into her own to find her mother and complete the journey. The only thing I could say was irritating about her is the fact that she seems so similar to a lot of other YA heroines. Maybe the next book will change that. 

The plot from the very beginning is fast paced with the first line being "Mom, where are you?". From there Theo is constantly facing action, suspense and a really fantastic adventure. There was one problem with the insta-love but that is to be expected from a YA book. Other than that, the world that was created by Fry is amazing. I can't wait to dive back into it in the next book!

Overall, this book is a 3.5 star read. It was a little rough with the love story but the book has promise that I hope happens in the next book. If you like YA books or the setting for the book then this is definitely a book you should try out.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review! 

2016/08/29

Dragonmark (Dark Hunters #27)

Dragonmark (Dark-Hunter, #26; Dragons Rising, #1; Lords of Avalon, #5)Dragonmark Summary:
Centuries ago, Illarion was betrayed– a dragon made human against his will, then forced to serve humanity as a dragonmount in their army, and to fight for them in barbaric wars, even while he hated everything about them. Enslaved and separated from everyone he knew and from his own dragon brothers, he was forced into exile in a fey realm where he lost the only thing he ever really loved.

Now he has a chance to regain what’s been lost— to have the one thing he covets most. But only if he gives up his brothers and forsakes the oaths he holds most dear. Yet what terrifies him most isn’t the cost his happiness might incur, it’s the fact that there is just enough human in his dragon’s heart that he might actually be willing to pay it and betray everything and everyone– to see the entire world burn...

Dragonmark Review:
I went into this book thinking that it would be horrible because everyone said that it was an exact copy of Son of No One and Dragonbane. It actually turned out to be better than I originally thought but it wasn't as spectacular as the previous books in the series. The parts that were unique were very interesting and moved at a very fast paced.

Edilyn proved to be an amazing heroine. The best part of her was that she was treated as a pariah in her community and plans to be the best in her horrible situation. She is incredibly inspiring because she does not turn into a vindictive (excuse my language) bitch. She never acted superior and kept all of her morals to not only help herself but others. When she first meets Illarion, in disguise, she treats him with the same respect as she would anyone else. Even when he turns into a dragon, she treats him as a person instead of a thing. Edilyn remains honorable, caring, decisive and kick-assy from beginning to end. She comes off as a perfect heroine even with all her flaws.

Illarion comes off as a nice hero but I think there was something missing. He seems so similar to previous heroes because of their tortured past and never being touched by a loving hand. This book didn't have too much of that angst which I enjoyed. His past did reveal some nice secrets or hints that I'll talk about below. It was nice to see a human (part kikimary) fall in love with a dragon. While Maxis was okay with being human, Illarion despises it so this book is literally about a human falling in love with a dragon.

Their loyalty to each other, like Styxx and Bethany, was extraordinary and strengthened by the fact that they always talked about their problems. The main problem was their romance was falling in love within three hours which really pushes the idea of insta-love. But their path to trust is the one that will draw you in. And this made the plot interesting and unique. Saying that the ending especially came off as haphazardly put together because of it's incredibly fast pace and nothing being explained properly. It came off as unsatisfactory and failed to bring us back in for the conclusion (I'm talking about the last bit of the book that was original).

I didn't actually mind the recap of the previous book too much because it has been one year since Dragonbane came out and two years since Son of No One came out. It provided some important facts that we discovered in the series and made it so I didn't need to re-read the previous books. Saying that, I still don't fully understand why it is there. I get that it showed once again, all the tidbits we learned but some of it wasn't even in Illarion's perspective. If it were in Illarion's perspective, we would have gotten more than a "Illarion thought" or "Illarion winced" and left out a lot of the scenes that were included. It should have proved more depth into his thoughts. We could have even skipped all of that entirely and gone into what Edilyn has been doing this whole time. That would have proved much more interesting because even when she comes back we don't know what happened.

Even when we had stories that went back in time, like Styxx and Bad Moon Rising, they were done in the POV of the character and in such a way that brought a new light to previous events. It wasn't done in here and that did not engage me as much as it should have. I and many other fans would gladly wait longer for her books just so that we can get a spectacular book that really hasn't come since Styxx. It wouldn't matter how long a book takes to come out, just look at ASOIAF which can take up to five years for the next book to come out, as long the book is amazing! I honestly believe that Kenyon is a fantastic author, but her books are just not the same and something, maybe more time on the writing or writing more of the main couples' history/story, should be taken to bring it back.

Overall, this book was a three star read. The first in the Dark-Hunter series and within any of her main series actually. I'm done trying to nitpick for the good stuff and hopefully the next books turn out to be much stronger. Below I'm going to talk about any hidden tidbits from this book so beware of spoilers below. 
  1.  Xyn seems very likely as Urian's heroine because she's a dragon that is missing, which might explain the Dragon Rising. It also means that last of the siblings (Illarion, Falcyn and Maxis) has found a mate. Finally, it should explain Falcyn's comment saying he's not the only one to change into human form (not including Illarion or Maxis).
  2. Suriyel seems to be Maxis' father. We only know of four Arels at this time and by looking at their descriptions and their appearances lead me to believe that they could be related. The only thing left to find it is the mother who still seems to be hiding. 
  3. Savitar's action led to the death of the first Malachai, who is Braith's son which would explain why she hates him so much. 
  4. Thorn and Karma definitely have something going on because of the looks they keep passing to each other. 
  5. Urian might have the ability to shape shift into a dragon like Stryker does, which may explain why his book doesn't start with dragon like the Dragonbane, Dragonmark and Dragonsworn. 
  6. Aeron's two friends seem to be Kaziel and Vawn which means that Kaziel's story is probably going to come up in the LoA series. 
  7. All the baddies are getting together: Apollo, Morgen, Kessar and maybe Noir later in the series. This will strengthen the lines between good and evil which means a conclusion is on the horizon. 
  8. I read somewhere that Nick is the last ark so that means his is the last book in the series and with everyone coming together that may be happening quicker than we thought. 
  9. Savitar can make mates, something only the Greeks were supposed to do. And he can see any possible outcome of the future and that's why he stays by himself on the island which will prove interesting when trying to find his heroine.

For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

I previously read For Better and Worse and I though it was amazing! If you want to read this book for yourself and discover a new captivating series then look below for all the information and some giveaways!

For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2)
About FOR BETTER OR WORSE:
In For Better or Worse, the sexy second novel in USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series, an up-and-comer Wedding Belle butts heads with the literal guy next door. Will their brewing tension boil over into something more?

He’s driving her insane . . .

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from elite Wedding Belles assistant to full-fledged planner, she’s determined to put her best foot forward. Unfortunately, her first celebrity client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in three months. Heather’s days become a flurry of cake tastings, dress fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night. Heather vows to put this entitled man-child in his place, whether he likes it or not.

But a little crazy might be just what she needs.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was a young rising star on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there’s more to life than the corner office. He kicked the cancer and dedicated his life to following his passions; now, if he could just convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. Once Heather begins to show him her softer side, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

For Better or Worse will have readers engaged from the start, and wedded to the idea of a summer and fall season filled with Wedding Belles! 

For Better or Worse
The Wedding Belles, Volume 2
Lauren Layne
Pocket Books
August 30, 2016
ISBN 9781501135156
$5.99

Early Reviews for FOR BETTER OR WORSE

“This engaging tale has a light, fun style…enough teases are given about the other “Wedding Belles” to create genuine interest in where their stories lead.”
—Publishers Weekly (To Have and to Hold)

“There are family and friends, coworkers, people that aren’t as they seem, wedding information galore, dinners, drinks, chocolate, fear, anger, hurt, sadness, secrets, lies, deceit, tears, laughter, happiness, romance, loving and love…I look forward to reading the next two books in the series, For Better or Worse and To Love and to Cherish…I look forward to seeing what the Wedding Belles will be up to next!”
—Romance Junkies (To Have and to Hold)

“Layne packs as much into this sexually charged and emotionally intense novella (an introduction to her upcoming Wedding Belles series) as most authors do in a full novel…The heat between [Leah & Jason] is enough to melt steel, and the emotional connection and psychological struggles will keep readers engaged.”
—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW (From This Day Forward) 

“[From This Day Forward] is trope-nip to me. Weddings/wedding planners, check. Second chances, check. Sassy heroine, check…As this book is the prequel to the forthcoming Wedding Belles, I cannot wait to get all of their stories!...From This Day Forward is 100% recommended for anyone who likes stories about weddings, stories about people who are a really good at their jobs, relationships that are a tad explosive both in and out of bed, and introductions to new tribes of characters to get to know over the next few books.”
—Fresh Fiction “Fresh Pick” (From This Day Forward)

“From This Day Forward  is a delightful book. Now I can't wait for the other ones in this series…Lauren Layne hit it right on the nose on what goes on behind the scenes…Can Jason and Leah see wedding bells in their future? We can only hope and wait for the next book in the “Wedding Belles” series. From This Day Forward was a great kick-off to the series.”
—Fresh Fiction (From This Day Forward)


About LAUREN LAYNE:
Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sex, Love, and Stiletto contemporary romances and the all-new Pocket Books series The Wedding Belles. She lives in New York with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. Visit laurenlayne.com, meet the author on Facebook at LaurenLayneAuthor, or follow her on Twitter @_LaurenLayne.

Lauren Layne interviews with THE LIBRARIAN:



BOUQUET GIVEAWAY:
The below blogs are hosting a Wedding Belles Bouquet Giveaway to celebrate the publication of the second in the series, For Better or Worse. The Wedding Belles Bouquet will include To Have and to Hold (7/26), For Better or Worse (8/30), and To Love and to Cherish (10/18). You can visit all sites on the Bouquet Giveaway Tour to enter to win–but keep in mind you can only win once! U.S. only. Each winner will receive one copy of each book during the week of its publication date.

Sunday, August 28th: Romancing Rakes

Monday, August 29th: The Reading Cafe & Dirty and Thirty

Tuesday, August 30th: Mrs. Leif’s Two Fangs About It

Wednesday, August 31st: Book Reader Chronicles

Thursday, September 1st: Stuck in Books

Friday, September 2nd: The Book Binge

Saturday, September 3rd: Mrs. Leif’s Two Fangs About It & Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

2016/08/27

The Life of Anna: The Complete Story

The Life of Anna: The Complete StoryThe Life of Anna: The Complete Story Summary:
When tragedy shatters Anna’s life at a young age, she finds hope in two men who take her under their wings. Life is perfect until her sixteenth birthday when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved Jack and Devin have turned into monsters that haunt only the darkest of nightmares; nightmares that soon become her reality.

The Life of Anna follows the naive and innocent Anna as she enters a dark world of greed, politics, and an evil puppet master who pulls the strings to her world. And beyond.

Readers be warned, for this journey is not for the faint of heart. You are about to venture into a world of dark plots, sinister villains, and deeply erotic taboo encounters. Are you brave enough to enter the Life of Anna?

The Life of Anna: The Complete Story Review:

This is not going to be a review like I usually do, instead this will be a rant. It is not going to be about one book but the series in general because I do not want to spend more time in this series. I spent three days that I wish I hadn't used for this and I wished I had listened to my earlier thoughts after reading other reviews.

I picked out this book because it didn't get horrible reviews from friends. It seemed a bit interesting and different as I usually stay away from dark or horror novels. It was horrific in the beginning but that is not why I hated this book. It is because the overall feeling I was left was meh. Why? Because of the plot, character development, everything else! It went from an interesting premise into a mess.

From here on I'll just say any problems in list form. Like I said above this is going to be a rant, it is not going to come off very pretty. I will be crude if I need to be so you have been warned. I will use trigger words because that is what makes up with story and may spoilers so you have been warned again.

Also, you might be questioning why I read the five books when I hated it. Well it had an interesting premise and the first book is pretty bad. I was hoping by the next book it would get better and then I found myself halfway through so I just completed the series. And no, it did not get much better after that. But I did like the ending because it was happy and Anna did deserve it even if I could never get into her head.

First, the sexual abuse and violence. In the beginning and for most of the first book it was necessary to show how Anna starts off and to root for her. It was horrific and left nothing to the imagination. It made me cringe and I watch horror movies like a chocolate addict would eat chocolate. But the abuse kept happening and happening. It was going until the last book, and by that point everything had almost been done. It was boring, still horrific but unnecessary to the plot. It did not prove any point or help the heroine complete her journey, it was just there as a shock factor.

Second, the warning that came with this book up. It came off as condescending saying that grown ups would be okay with this book. As if only babies wouldn't be able to read this without throwing up or having nightmares. Any person would be disgusted by the acts done in this series, and it wasn't as bad as I expected. I mean it was horrific, but was it throw up worthy? No. Nightmare Material? No. It was bad but once I put the book down, it was out of my mind. It seemed as if the author put it there to drive away any one or two star rating, which clearly didn't work. If you want to read a dark book that still gets you captivated read The Last Hour of Gann or Jigsaw Man. The warning also said that everything was done above the legal but that is incorrect. Anna loses her virginity at the age of 16 and has been having orgasms from Devin since she was three weeks old. That is disgusting.

Third, was the side characters. All of them, except Alex who acted like a moody teenager, acted like a horny teenager. Every single one of them wanted to have sex with her over and over again. And did they care that she was abused and forced to become a sex slave? Not particularly. Sure Wilhelm held off for a bit, Kurt had "nice" sex with her and Aaron held out for a couple hours, but come on! Alex was the only good character because he waited until she actually loved him and then had sex with her. Why was she written in such a way that EVERYONE, even the women, fell in love with her! And just because they were nice does not mean that they were right in having sex with her. I get that she is used to sex and needs it to deal but that is not an excuse for all those men to have sex with her.

Fourth, the BDSM labels. Now I may not know a lot about BDSM but I know that it is based on consent (willingly) between all the parties. That does not happen in this book. When she is a captive in the Manor, where most of this stuff happens, she is brainwashed or coerced into doing this acts. That does not count as BDSM in my books because this is definitely not consensual. Especially, the stuff that is done in the last two books.

Fifth, the word choice. After five books written with a limited vocabulary I am sick of the words like "cock" and "pussy" They were repeated at every sex scene, and every ten pages there was another one, and made them all seem the same. This also made the writing come off as childish.

Sixth, the lack of sufficient plot. The last two books were probably the best because we dived right in the Elder/Immortals world that proved to be incredibly interesting. But it was blanketed by the violence and emotional stuff. The first three books had almost nothing and could have been condensed into one book. I kept hoping that something would happen, get in some character development but it was like there was a switch that would turn on for character changes. Nothing to make anything actually believable (that sentence was nice).

Seventh, and I swear this is the last one, was Anna herself. What kind of 11 year old who is raised in an amazing home and has a really good education believes it's alright for a 16 year old to have a sex with a 30 year old. I know she had lost her parents and knew how to deal this with sex but still, common sense? And she can't understand German? It seems like a pretty distinctive language considering she had an education. And during the current time of this series she acted like a three year old. It made sense in the beginning because she would do whatever she could to please her master and avoid pain. I got that, but she never loses that mentality for the rest of the book. When she starts to grow some defiance in her, she throws a tantrum like a child, at everyone who comes in her way. That makes her lack a certain depth needed for a main character, development that should have happened throughout the series and failed to make me root for her. She was a mismatch of traits that could have worked but needed some definite work. There were more problems but seeing how this paragraph is already pretty long and you probably get the point, that's all I'm saying.

There were two good things about this series. The mythology was an amazing idea that should have been expanded more on. The other was the ending because Anna really did deserve a happy and peaceful ending.

Overall, this book is a two star read. The two reasons I liked this book gave this book a 0.5 star, while the rest of the story was a 1.5 star. The individual ratings are:

Enslaved: 1 star
Entwined: 1 star
Embraced: 1.5 star
Ensnared: 1 star
Emerged: 2.5 star (the ending)

2016/08/26

Bloodmoon (Bloodmark Saga #3)

Bloodmoon (Bloodmark Saga, #3)Bloodmoon Summary:
Just months shy of her claiming at Carrowmore and fulfilling a centuries-old prophecy, werewolf Ashling Boru has stepped into her role as the Crimson Queen. She finally has the support of her pack and her love for Grey is stronger than ever.

But it's not easy being queen. Ashling's guardian, Baran, has been captured by the Dvergars, a family of evil wolves who will stop at nothing to possess Ashling's power and destroy everything--and everyone--she loves. Ashling must unite the clans and build an army to stand against the Dvergars before it's too late. Unfortunately, the Dvergars also have armies of the darkest creatures the world has ever known.

Shadows loom, growing ever larger as generations of pack secrets begin to unfold. Ashling's people, the humans they protect, and Old Mother Earth herself all hang in the balance of Ashling's choices. Will Ashling have to forsake her true love to save the world? And will she have the strength to do it?

Bloodmoon Review: 
This book is the conclusion to this YA fantasy saga. While the last book in a series is usually the fastest paced, this one seemed to take a step back slowing down to a near crawl at points. While the plot was sometimes tedious, the character development of Ashling was amazing. It is by far one of the best in this series and in YA books.

Ashling proved to be a strong heroine and someone who was worthy of being a Queen. She has really stepped into her role and has not turned into a whiny, over dramatic or manipulative girl. I commend Whittet for writing about a heroine that is believable and not irritating. Obviously Ashling has flaws, but she acts like a normal person (as much as possible in her situation). The only problem I had with her is her love with Grey. It just seemed to forced because they always said why they should be together and took way too much time in this story.

The plot was too slow for a conclusion and needed to have some depth. It had the basic structure that did provide an enjoyable journey, but it felt like there was something missing. It came off too simple or too easy. A part of this comes from the way YA books are written. YA books come off really childish mostly due to the writing. This is just the way I read it because I've gotten used to the way Adult books are written.

Overall, this book is a 3 star read. It was not a fantastic conclusion but it was still nice. It was great to revisit the old characters and to meet some new ones. Also, this book leaves you with a satisfied feeling when everyone gets their happy ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

2016/08/25

Firebolt (Dragonian #1)

Firebolt (The Dragonian, #1)Firebolt Summary: 
Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year old Elena Watkins was no different.

Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.

Now Elena’s in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a Prince wants Elena’s heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh. And the only way Elena’s going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own.

Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales. Now it’s time for Elena to believe – in herself.

Firebolt Review: 
This book turned out to be an alright read. It wasn't fantastic as far as other fantasy books go but it did get you interested and curious enough to read the next book. The premise was really interesting but the story itself proved to a bit hard to read. The writing came off as childish and weak with the lack of a large vocabulary. The plot and characters were not developed. The setting was very confusing making it hard to get into the story.

As we started off with the story we are thrown in an action scene. What should have been an intense scene, with the dragons and fighting, came off as cliche. Scenes like the car not starting when they needed to get away, the girl with the daddy issues, the sacrifice her dad makes, and the action. The only thing I could understand is Elena feeling sad about moving because it would take a toll on any girl when she can't develop any connections and got attacked by dragons. The beginning did need some work but the rest of the story was enjoyable.

The side characters were quirky and interesting. It would be great to see more of them and about them. There wasn't much depth to any of the other characters which made them more likeable but hopefully in the next book we get a little more insight into them. The reason they felt so basic is because Dragonian (the school) is exactly like a movie high school. You have the mean girls, jocks, the ice guy that every girl falls for, the nice guy, the best friends and then the shy new girl.

Elena was a main character that needed to be more fleshed out as she lacked any significant development throughout the story. She started off emotionally distraught which was understandable with her backstory. I didn't get irritated by her crying at this point. Then at the halfway point I was getting annoyed by all the crying because she did it at the drop of a hat. She acted like she had no way to deal with or release her emotions, which she did with her friends and boyfriend. While her friendship and love were not developed well, it just popped out there that they were in a relationship, Woods showed that they would be there for her.

Another thing about her character that was poorly done is her attitude towards a confrontation. Now, I'm not saying that she should go jump into a fight and completely get her not wanting to draw attention to herself. But there is a difference between creating a fighting and protecting yourself! She nearly gets killed and instead of looking at other solutions, like getting a guard to watch over during this part, goes back into the same situation and hopes for something better. What makes this is worse right when we are approaching the climax, we are expected to believe that she can lead a mission. She comes up with this great idea that, for some reason no one has thought about this, decides to go there without knowing where it is,without a plan and doesn't want any help even though she knows nothing about what she is doing. Of course it works out, but the climax would have been more believable if her character changed gradually towards that.

The setting was the biggest problem because you couldn't understand where and how everything takes place. Here are some questions that I kept thinking about throughout the book.

1. How is there a place big enough for dragons to fly around in the human realm without them being discovered or being near a city.
2. How does Paegeria have it's own paparazzi or kingdom?
3. Has has no one in Paegeria seen a plane or vice versa?
4. Do all their dragons have lush lips? Shouldn't they be more like lizards?
5. This isn't a question related to the setting, but why all the giggling? You can laugh, chuckle, smile but it was always giggling.

There were a couple good things about this book. First is the Japanese lore mixed in with the Dragon Lore. It proved to be an interesting combination and I hope we get a lot more of that in the next book. Another was the trials at the climax of the book. It was really action packed, and a much better action scene that the opening one.

Overall, this book is a 2.5 star reading. It definitely needed some work on the development but it was still an enjoyable story that makes me want to read the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

2016/08/24

Mad Hatter Hat

I'm entering into a contest for Heartless by Marissa Meyer (thanks for the oppurtunity) For the contest we had to make a hat, and we had to make it really crazy! So here is my design, and it is an actual hat.






P.S. I'll post the steps to make your own Mad Hatter hat because Halloween is coming in two months, so stay tuned for that! And yes, you can make this from scratch for under $20.

2016/08/21

Formatting Issues

Just putting out a warning for the next few days. As I am fixing the mistakes in each post, it won't let me just update the post I have to repost it because of the problem with the pictures.

2016/08/11

For Better or Worse (Wedding Belles #2)



For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2)For Better or Worse Summary: 
Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner?

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

For Better or Worse Review:
For Better or Worse is another stellar book in the Wedding Belles series! From the very beginning, the book is hysterical and that transitions smoothly into a breathtaking romance. This is one of the best romance novels I’ve read by this author. It couldn’t have been better, and looked especially good compared to the previous book (which was already pretty good). The couples are amazing, the plot was captivating and the writing flowed seamlessly. The best part is that each character is different even across her series', meaning Josh and Heather were as unique as any other character. For Better or Worse proved to be absolutely perfect and real.

"Can you please, please just shut up until after I leave at seven tomorrow?"
"To go...to the baker?" he asked hopefully.


Heather proved to be a great heroine to rally behind. When she faced adversary she didn’t back down but put her big girl shoes on and stepped to the challenge. She never went to far as she knew when to ask for help. She has an awesome sense of humor and a great personality. There were two things that I loved about Heather. First, when she had to break away from Josh (not a spoiler, it’s romance obviously it will happen) she didn’t turn on him. She would be there for him, and knew she could not stop loving him. I appreciated her honesty about the situation. Second, her journey to finding herself. While she needed a push in the right direction, she was still honest with herself. She found what was not working and changed it so that it could help her.

"She patted his arm. 'Let's just say I think we figured out how to make amends for all those sleepless nights you’ve cause me.' Heather looked around at the other Belles' encouraged expressions and smile almost maniacally. 'You, Josh Tanner, are going to help me plan this wedding.'
Josh starred at her before glancing around the table to see if anyone else was concerned that she was losing her mind. To his horror, the women were all nodding in awed agreement. Seth Tyler gave him a sympathetic look and handed him a nearly fully champagne bottle."


Josh was a sweetheart. An alpha that was never too domineering and was very vulnerable. I enjoyed the fact that he wasn’t perfect and needed to learn from others to fully heal. His secret was a huge one that I didn’t see coming, but did kind of expect. Lauren Layne did a stellar job talking about his sickness without going overboard and becoming a tear-jerker. His reaction to love was not only real but beautifully written. Even if I didn’t agree with his actions, I understood why and that really changed how the book turned out. Finally, this journey to accepting love was stunning. His change from a lost victim (sorry if that’s a trigger) to a strong man. And his surprise at the end had me laughing out loud!

Because Josh Tanner was...in front of her. In an airport. In a tux...."I love you," he said. "I had this whole speech planned out, and Alexis and Brooke and my sister proofread it with a red pen and everything, but as I'm kneeling here awkwardly I realize it's all unnecessary. I love you. I love you more than is sane for any man to love any woman. All the way to the ends of the earth. Damn is that cheesy?" He shook his head slight. "Maybe I should brought the speech after all"

This whole chapter had my heart soaring and my face cramping from all the smiles it brought. I had to edit some stuff out because of spoilers and the quotes do not do the book justice!
One thing though, is the grammar. I’m not sure but there was one are where the words were not flowing as well. The example is in the quote below Heather’s paragraph. I think it should be smiled not smile. But I also understand this is an ARC so this can always show up.

Overall, a definite 5 star read! The side characters were amazing as in any Lauren Layne book and helped to develop the main couple. Like I said above, there were no flaws in this book. It was so enjoyable that I read it in a couple hours. Without going overboard, Layne managed to make us root for Heather and Josh and feel with every word. It captivates you from the very beginning and this is one book that I will highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2016/08/10

Dirty Little Lies (Men of Summer #3)

Dirty Little LiesDirty Little Lies Summary:
THE HEART HAS ITS SECRETS.

Zack Richards knows he’s asking for trouble. Trying to protect a member of the notorious Maddox family could get a man killed—even a battle-scarred, muscle-ripped alpha like Zack. But the woman who has captured his wildest fantasies is nothing like the rest of her power-hungry clan. She’s innocent, beautiful, and has quickly become the one shining light in his dark, desperate world. The only woman worth fighting for…and dying for…

BUT PASSION NEVER LIES.

Her name is Grace Maddox—and everybody knows that she is a marked woman. Targeted for her family’s sins and hunted like a wild animal, Grace has no choice but to accept Zack’s protection. In his arms, she finally feels safe. In his eyes, she sees an insatiable desire that mirrors her own. But the truth is dangerous—and could end up tearing them apart. Will surrendering to Zack end up being the biggest mistake of Grace’s life?

Dirty Little Lies Review:
This book was a fast paced and interesting read. It had all the makings of a great series with a first book that grabbed your interest and curiosity. The whole book was enjoyable but looking back at it, you start nitpick some of the problems with it. Saying that the character didn’t have as many problems that are typical in Adult Romance, the plot was interesting and the book was very fast-paced.

It was nice to see that Grace does not want others to save her. She understands what her life means and knows her limits but won’t let other control what she can do. Even if she can’t fight, she won’t be the damsel and let others, even if they are physically stronger than her, tell her what she has to do to be safe. The only fault with her is that she doesn’t fully realize the danger she is in. She constantly fails to protect herself and her others but she doesn’t want to put anyone else in danger. It leads her to be in denial when trouble arises. Other than that she proved to be a strong heroine that didn’t break under the pressure, just a tad too much on the naïve side.

"She stared back at him resolutely. 'It was good, Zack,' she surprised him a second later. 'It was real damned good, and I'm sure it can get better.' And not once did she bat an eyelash. 'And I'm sure I'd promise you anything you want once you started touching me, just to have it again. but don't doubt, I'll lie straight to your face and once I'm out of this bed, I'm going to do exactly what I want to do, and exactly what my job entails I do. consider that before you try to use sex to control me. The control lasts only while we're in the bed.'"

Zach was another intriguing character. He started and ended the book really well, but it seemed he lost his footing in between. He turned from this calm, rational alpha male into a domineering, sex-addicted one. Every time there was a conversation needed, he used sex to get her mind of topic. It left her in the dark and unable to make decisions that could help save her life. Closer to the end, when all the secrets were coming out, he was still protective but let Grace call more of the shots. He turned much more loving and less authoritative.

"'Are they ever going to leave?' she whispered, suddenly terrified they wouldn't.
'I love you, Grace.' There was an air of desperation in his voice amid the comedy. 'I love you so much.'
'You can't kill family, Zack.' It wasn't the first time she'd told him that in the past three days.
'I love you, Grace...'
'I love you, Zack,' she promised. 'But trust me, there're laws against it.'
'Justifiable homicide,' he muttered at the sound of Clyde bellowing up the stairs again about steaks and seasons. 'Really justifiable.'
'Don't kill him, Zack,' she giggled, then winced at the tug of pain in her ribs.
'Why shouldn't I?' he growled.
She smiled, "Be nice and when I'm all better, I'll show you why you shouldn’t.'...
'Many times?'
'Many...'"


The action was incredibly fast paced, as I have said before. From the moment the book starts off amazing. We are thrown into this world with the initial attack against Grace. From there we meet suspicious family members, surprising acts of violence against Grace, moments of love and a bunch of action. It was really great to meet the main guys. Sawyer, Deacon, Cord, Jazz, Kenni, Slade and a bunch of others. They really brought up the humor and enjoyment of this book. I will be glad to read more of their stories as they are a very interesting bunch. Sawyer and Deacon especially because those two are definitely are my favorite.

"'And I know the signs of a man that's just as hot for some woman. That boy's been known to leave a gathering within an hour to of your arrival simply because of one us had to punch him in the gut for the way he looked at you.'
She was shocked. She'd had no idea her cousins ever did such a thing. 'Why would you do something so idiotic?' she asked in disgust.
Sawyer rolled his dark green eyes in amusement. 'Sweet cousin, every man you've went out with has gotten a punch in the gut and a warning not to play with you. Hell it's the only way to keep men like that in control. If they really liked you, they would have come back.'
Where the hell had they gotten that idea? She could only star at them in disbelief, amazed that they had come up with something so infantile."

The only thing that I would really change about this is the introduction that the side characters got. For most of the book I was lost about who was related to who and who was on the right side. Also, it didn’t help that I hadn’t read the books before this Loving Lies and Wicked Lies because I thought this was the first book in this series as it was originally said to be.

Overall, this is a really good book and a four star read. I enjoyed the story and the mystery that came along. I definitely was not expecting who was the co-conspirators and murderers were. As I continued to read this story I found little problems here and there, but the story continued to flow seamlessly and was still very enjoyable.

Thank you to Lora Leigh for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2016/08/06

Jeff Madison and the Curse of Drakwood Forest (Jeff Madison Series #2)

Jeff Madison and the Curse of Drakwood Forest
Jeff Madison and the Curse of Drakwood Forest Summary:
“Punch fear in the face. Be a true friend. Do what matters.”
 

Jeff Madison--dream catcher, loyal friend and fearless teenager--must save his best friend Rhed from a devastating spell which was cast on him during their last visit to Drakmere.

But from this dark kingdom, two evil witches send forth unspeakable horrors. Can Jeff overcome Wiedzma’s terrifying screatures and Zorka’s flesh-eating shadowraiths?
As Wiedzma’s screatures endanger Jeff’s family and Zorka’s Zombies call for blood, the curse on Rhed becomes life threatening … time is running out.
By fine-tuning the dream-catcher abilities that can save his friends who journey to Drakwood Forest in search for Rhed’s cure, Jeff unknowingly sinks ever deeper into darkness.
In this new action-packed fantasy adventure, we meet up again with the brave Sandustian warriors Rig and Madgwick, new warriors Khrow and Horrigan, the cranky and hilarious witch Angie, and the very hungry dragon Watroc.
Ultimately it is Angie who must negotiate for Rhed’s life. Will she succeed or will Rhed be lost to the Prince of Drakwood Forest forever?

Jeff Madison and the Curse of Drakwood Forest Review:
How on Earth is it that the best books have so few review? I don’t mean that this is the best book in the world but it is amazing! It is special and sad to see that it only has three reviews. I would highly recommend this series (this is the second book), especially this book. The first book was not as captivating, comparatively, because we are getting into this new world. Fischer has clearly found her writing style that builds and strengthens this fantasy world.

From the moment this book starts, we are off to a fast start. Full of action and adventure right in the first chapter, and boy is it good! Contrary to the first book, this isn’t such a light hearted read. With Rhed becoming a tree no matter what Jeff chooses, plus all the perilous encounters the unlikely group encounters it seems like a hopeless journey. That is the best part of this book because we start off with no hope but Jeff manages to brings us up. With the gang’s quirky humor, the mood was uplifted and with it the hope that the would come out alive.

The one scene that is really memorable to is in the final chapter. It is fitting that the final chapter is the most memorable and the first chapter started the whole adventure off, itself being remarkable. It is a really funny scene that will put a smile on your face. You realize at this point that this book is for kids because of the childish way it ends, but it works in this novel. It’s has a satisfying element that is sometimes lacking from adult or young adult books.

Warning: Spoiler below in the quote.

"'Rhed!' Jeff laughed as he grabbed his friend and phoebe collided with both of the and they hooted and yelled while they jumped around in a circle. They had to hold Rhed up has his balance was not very good yet. The warriors had wide eyes as if they three of them had just lost all their senses.
'You're alive,' Rhed called to Jeff.
'You're not a tree,' Jeff hollered at Rhed.
"I still have all my blood,' Phoebe yelled to both of them.
'Man, you missed so much!' said Jeff. 'You should have seen Madgwick and Rig fight. They were phenomenal.'
Phoebe said, 'You should have seen Angie, Harley and Watroc. Watroc ate the Shadowraiths. It was gross!'
'I want to hear all about it but,'' his voice dropped low and he asked, 'Who's the cute girl with Rig?'"


Overall, it was a fantastic, four star read. It wasn’t perfect but it is a spectacular fantasy read. If you want to try out the fantasy, try out this series. It has a childish simplicity that is great for all ages! Also, don't worry if you don't remember much from the first book because Fischer does a wonderful job recapping what previous happened as she moves the plot along. Again, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try out something new!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2016/08/05

Again the Magic (Wallflowers #0.5)

Again the Magic (Wallflowers, #0.5)Again the Magic Summary:
She gave him her innocence…

Lady Aline Marsden was brought up for one reason: to make an advantageous marriage to a member of her own class. Instead, she willingly gave her innocence to John McKenna, a servant on her father's estate. Their passionate transgression was unforgivable—John was sent away, and Aline was left to live in the countryside…an exile from London society.

…and he took her love.

Now McKenna has made his fortune, and he has returned—more boldly handsome and more mesmerizing than before. His ruthless plan is to take revenge on the woman who shattered his dreams of love. But the magic between them burns as bright as ever. And now he must decide whether to let vengeance take its toll…or risk everything for his first, and only, love.

Again the Magic Review:
Again the Magic the prequel to the Wallflowers series because it is the story of Marcus’ sisters. The book has the love story of both his sisters, Olivia and Aline. Aline’s love story is with McKenna, which is the main love story and the in the summary. Livia’s story is with Gideon Shaw who is the best friend of McKenna. Both were really sweet stories and had just enough development to show the love. Could it have been longer? Of course! A story this good could have been extended a little to show us a few more sweet moments.

From Dreaming of You, you can see that Kleypas found her place in HR. There is not a moment in this book where you are bored or feel separated from the story. Kleypas is one of the few authors that makes you feel in all of her stories, and this one was written spectacularly. It didn’t have the fluff that comes with romance, instead used the romance clichés to write a heart melting romance.

While we had two separate stories, you can see the connection (not only the obvious one) between them and also see the contrast (obviously). One is more of a lighter love (no less serious) while the other is dark and revenge filled. Without Aline’s story we wouldn’t see Livia’s. And without Livia’s ending, Aline wouldn’t have done what she did. The interwoven stories really heightened the enjoyment for each of them.

All of the characters were spectacular and real. Many romance novels tend to make the endings and characters fluffy, almost like a fairy tale. Here they chose to make decisions that we would make in their situations. The only character that is weak at times is Aline. She was irritating but with McKenna, Olivia and Marcus helping her out, she became a strong heroine. McKenna was her polar opposite. Completely revenge filled, ambitious and angry, it definitely raised some questions on how he would fall in love with Aline. The change from angry man to doting lover is spectacular.

The other two are Olivia, who is recovering from the loss of her husband. We get to see her come out of her shell and fall in love with a man who doesn’t always have the best principles. She is really sweet but not stupid or naïve. Aline can be looked as a bit stupid in the beginning. Livia is her contrast because she is practical in what she wants and will fight for what is right. That includes pushing her sister to choose McKenna and realize her mistakes. Gideon was the opposite everyone. An alcoholic rake who doesn’t place much value on life. He is one of my favorite characters here because he wasn’t irritating or stupid in the beginning. And he changed for the better without anyone else near him.

“She watched him without blinking, rapidly calculating…yes, it had been six months, almost to the day. But Gideon had made it clear that he wouldn’t come for her unless he was certain that he could be the kind of man he felt she deserved. And I’ll come armed with honorable intentions, he had written—more’s the pity for you…A slow smile began on Gideon’s face, and his blue eyes sparkled. With a shake of his head, he put his hand on his chest, as if the sight of her was more than his heart could bear.”

The last character I have to mention is Marcus. While we don’t see him very often in this book, we can already see he is an amazing character. He is a sweet, protective brother and a man of unquestionable honor (considering how he was raised). He knows when to follow the heart and when to follow logic.

"Marcus did not believe in aristocracy of any kind. He would have disclaimed his own title, were it legally possible. It was not that he minded responsibility, nor did he have an aversion to inherited money. It was just that he had never been able to accept the concept of one man’s innate superiority over another. The notion was inherently unfair, not to mention illogical, and Marcus had never been able to tolerate a breach of logic."

The romance and relationships avoided the fluff that is so common in romance, leaving us with a beautiful show of reality. When Aline finally tells McKenna her secret, he does not accept her decision with a few choice words. He yells at her for devaluing him and not trusting their love. It’s amazing to see how he doesn’t let Aline hide her legs and to build up her confidence.

“My God.” The blood rose higher in his face. “What if the situation were reversed and I was the one who had been hurt? Would you have left me?”
“No!”
“Then why did you expect anything less of me?...
“He shook his head, staring at her like a condemned man who beheld the face of his executioner. "Aline," he whispered, "Do you know what hell is?"
"Yes." Her eyes overflowed. "Trying to exist with your heart living somewhere outside your body."
"No. It's knowing that you have so little faith in my love, you would have condemned me to a lifetime of agony." His face contorted suddenly. "To something worse than death.”


Just as McKenna says his feelings to Aline, Olivia tells Gideon that she won’t be in a relationship with him until he gets over his drinking. It is this kind of response that is real. They both love each other, but she won’t sacrifice a part of their relationship to feed one of his problems. She pushes him to make the right decision but recognizes it was what he wants. She cannot choose for him and by letting him decide what is more important to him shows what a real romance should be about.

“I won’t subject myself to the process of losing you little by little, until you’ve either killed yourself or become someone that I don’t recognize”


The love story between Olivia and Gideon started to overshadows really did start to overshadow the Aline and McKenna's. With the way Again the Magic ended, it was impossible for me to not root for their story a little big more.

Overall, this book is a 5 star read! It is great intro into the Wallflowers and to the location that is pivotal for all the books. The series only picked up in enjoyment from here leaving it as one of my favorite books. If you ever want to read Historical Romance, this is where to start off as it will ensnare you from the very beginning.

2016/08/02

Against the Odds (Gamblers of Craven #2.5)

Where's My Hero?  (The Gamblers, #3; Brotherhood - MacAllister's, #4.5; Splendid, #3.5)Against the Odds Summary:
When eminently sensible Lydia Craven decides to marry for security rather than love, she doesn't calculate on the determination of devil-may-care doctor Jake Linley to rewrite the romantic formula, in Lisa Kleypas' charming romp... Against the Odds

Against the Odds Review:
Let me start off by saying that this was waaay to short. The characters were nice but without enough history, character development or time for the story to develop their love. It was really sweet but not enough to actually believe in their love story. I wish that Kleypas had done what Larissa Ione does with her short stories. They are almost the size of a book so that we get to see the proper development and leaves us with a feeling of satisfaction.

The heroine, Lydia, is different from any of Kleypas' other heroines because she doesn't want to marry for love. She believes there is no such thing and is hoping to mark for companionship and sensibility. She is also crazy smart. Following in her mother's footsteps, she wrote many scholarly essays on Statistics and Probability.

The hero, Jake, is also different from previous heroes. He has no care for money nor does he have a lot of it. He believes living with necessities and no more, and needs to make money through his own ways. He is really sweet but once again, we see that he is a womanizer. Something to note about Jake is that his father, Jacob Linley, comes from the Bow Street Runners series. That means that this book is happening alongside the Ravenals series since the BSR and Gamblers are right before the Wallflowers/Hathaways.

My favorite part of this novel is seeing Derek and Sara. Sara is still as devious as before, absolutely set on her kids finding love. It is this determination that pushes forward the plot and creates the best scene in the novella. Derek was still the same man as he was in Dreaming of You. It was wonderful to revisit him as a father and see him struggle with letting Lydia get married. He was hilarious and kind of stole the show!

Overall a 4 star read. Three stars for the book and one star for seeing Derek and Sara again! Hopefully we get to see more their kids because they are an amusing bunch.