A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all are having a good Friday and have some fun plans for the weekend ahead.  It's a bit later in the day but wow is it hot as Hades out and humid here and yard work….death.  Still my grass was almost to my knees so it was kind of necessary.  That said today I am here to discuss a relative new release that I finished last week but have been a bit slow to get my thoughts to paper.  The title is the first book in a new series, A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1) by Majanka Verstraete.  I was provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Monster House Books. 

Rating:  4 Stars

                Marisol Holmes, descendant of Sherlock Holmes, and half jaguar shifter and next in line to the shifter throne, is trying to repair the damage done from a mistake she made.  After she trusted the wrong guy in the worst way Marisol is able to convince the Conclave, the underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases, to give her a chance to redeem herself.  She is put on a new case, one she has even more reason to solve as the evidence is pointing towards a fellow jaguar shifter and that could spell bad news for her mother and her place on the throne.  She is on the case, undercover at the school working in secret with her new supervisor, *cough* babysitter *cough* but things get very personal as the case unfolds.  Can she unravel the mystery and solve the case before too much damage or life is lost?

                So I was stoked about this book for obvious reasons.  Shifters, Sherlock, and I have read all but one series by this published house and loved them so far so why not.  It was a new to me author and I was ready to dive in.  Like the other books I have enjoyed from this publisher it has beyond everything else awesome worlds and super fast paced books you can fly by.  This was no exception.  A Study in Shifters is a fast paced read that really keeps the story moving along as it builds the world around you.  Marisol is trying to recover from a big mistake involving a boy and more than just a broken heart.  I liked diving right into things.  Marisol was really hard on herself for her mistakes, which I find relatable.  I'm not a shifter and thankfully none of my mistakes were ever this life and death but I know each time I make one, more so when I was still in school, I could fill a library with my worried 'should of' or 'could of' moments.  Still even as she struggles with pushing things down she is very clever and amazing at facts and puzzles, something we associate with a Holmes.  Stealing a line from a fav show that recently got the boot, she has a high IQ but low EQ, basically book smart not interacting with people smart. 

                There is a strong hierarchy in the shifter world.  Each clan has a leader and then a leader of the clans which is a power struggle.  I loved the dynamic about the different clans and look forward to getting to know more of the different clans and their ins and outs as the series continues.  Mannix, the one who betrayed Marisol, is a great Moriarty like villain.  All of this was a fun and interesting story full of mystery and puzzles which I adored. 

                Still there were a few things that for me lessened my adoration of the book slightly.  Again I was reading an ARC  so some of this may have been corrected or edited prior to publication.  The biggest was some repetition.  I understand the need for some for sure in building but some aspects , but the constant references to the "big betrayal," were a bit excessive especially in the first part of the story.  IT was mentioned so often I felt they whole event could have been explained twice instead of the references.  There was also a lot of talk about the different modes and the mind palace which I enjoyed but sometimes her mode or palace was mentioned a few times in the same paragraph.  It pulled me slightly from the action of the story here and there which is a shame because it's really good.  I think I just didn't connect as much to that lead in being as mysterious and vague, maybe because that wasn't the mystery I wanted to focus on.

                So overall I enjoyed  this start to a new series and will be looking for book two for sure.  The story, the characters, mystery, and this fun little world melding Sherlock and shifters is bound to be lots more fun.  And most importantly it was entertaining and that is what counts for me.  I was captured and really enjoyed my reading time so I still rate it high and look forward to reading more.  Because to be sure there are some things I figured out and others I did not see coming in the least and that is always great.   I'm excited to see what is next for Marisol, Indra, Mannix, Roan, Wyatt and the shifter clans!

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ These Vicious Masks

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Out:  2/9

From Goodreads:

Jane Austen meets X-Men in this gripping and adventure-filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London. 

England, 1882.  Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations.  So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent.  But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose.  The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers.  Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

               

Why I’m Waiting:

                I was sold on X-Men adventure-filled paranormal romance in Victorian London.  Now I’m not normally one for time/historical books in general (probably why I’ve never read Jane Austen) but I do love the paranormal aspect.  Also it makes me think of the Infernal Devices series so win/win there.  It sounds like a mystery, discovering powers and secrets and all but also finding her sister.  I look forward to it.  I also  received an ARC of this and plan to get to it this week all things permitting!  Plus the cover is awesome!  I love masquerade masks!

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out!

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line: Veronica Mars in book form need I say more

                I was planning to post this quick review yesterday and not on the 4^th of July but I wasn’t in that big of a mood for cheerful things after waking up to news that a good friend of my family and my mom’s best friend had passed away then having to go to the dentist on top of that.  My heart goes out to her family but until there is something more I can do than send good wishes I will do what I know brings me joy, reading and sharing books with you. 

                I was debating on doing a review of this book when I first read, or really listened, but decided to go ahead and do it.  This is my first audiobook experience and that is The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas.  Basically for those of you who don’t know it’s a book series that is taking up where the much beloved Veronica Mars show ended several years ago but then fans brought it back for a movie just last year after a ten year break.  Yes it was a movie on kickstarter with the core cast and some all coming in and it was just beautiful.  I reviewed it here.  The book series takes place just following the events in the movie.  It could be read without having seen them it gives you what you need but I don’t know if it would be as good without it as that is what connected me to it.

                We basically follow Veronica on her journey in Neptune as Keith is still recovering and she is adjusting to her life change.  Neptune has taken a hard hit over the years and has some serious corruption going on.  Veronica is struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat by catching the available cases until she is able to score a big one.  Now with it being spring break season and the town being flooded with college students looking for a good time for a week of crazy fun.  When one girl disappears from a party Veronica is called in to investigate.  Only this is no simple missing persons case.  The house the victim was last seen in has some secrets held inside and soon Veronica is in way too deep.  Things hit closer to home as new developments make it personal for Veronica.

                I listened to this on audiobook rather reading it because I found out that Kristen Bell, who was Veronica Mars herself, was the one narrating it.  How could I pass that up?  Finding that out worked perfect with my UtopYA trip and an 8 hr drive both ways.  I love tunes but only so much before I want something different.  So I listed to half there and half back alternating with music.  For fans of the show and movie, the show had it’s voice-overs at times from Veronica and hearing her read the book put me right back in front of the TV.  I could visualize everything and she had Veronica’s voice down, because she lived it so long and KNOWS the character as well as the others.

                 I was captivated and so sad when I had to stop it at times.  I find driving to music is easier areas where my GPS is going to be talking to me, I can lower music and hear over but for the audiobook I didn’t want to miss anything.  Overall I can’t go into detail because it’s a PI story and that would ruin it.  But I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED it!  It was list watching the show again and it stayed true to the show and everything us Marshmallows love about it.  I do wish there was a bit more Logan in it but I hear there is more of him in the next book, Mr. Kiss and Tell.  I also hear the next book is even better than the first and this is hard to believe.

                However, this is where I am stuck in a bit of a conundrum.  I loved the first one so much and a huge part of that was listing to it and actually hearing Veronica.  The second book is out which I was thrilled about but it is not narrated by Kristen Bell but another female.  I’m sure she is a great narrator and I’ve heard she does other audio books and I have nothing against her but…I want Veronica.  I was spoiled with her and I can’t imagine anyone else doing it.  With this I’m unsure I’ll be able to listen to the audiobook and not spend the whole time wishing it was Kristen Bell doing it.  So my other option is to do as you do with any book and read.  I think I was spoiled with the first audiobook though as I’m so conflicted about it.  I guess I’ll just have to figure it out the old fashioned way, marathon the 3 seasons on DVD and the movie to procrastinate and then figure out what to do.  That’s all for now Marshmallows.  Have a safe and happy 4^th of July.

Rating: 5 Marshmallows 

And because it's awesome:

Crown of Smoke. A strong debut novel that leaves you wanting more

Prettiness available at Amazon

                Today I am happy to discuss with you the release of a new book I had the pleasure of reading by a debut author; and that is Crownof Smoke by Snowa Fox. This is the first book in The Angel Marked Series.  I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC to provide my ever honest review and let me say how much I enjoyed it.  Crown of Smoke came out June 2^nd so you can check it out now.

                Let’s start with the cover.  It’s simple and pops.  Sometimes sticking to simple colors that contrast just makes a statement and the hunk on the cover didn’t hurt either.  The story is about angels, demons, redemption, dreams, political intrigue, romance, and so much more.  It’s a multi-prospective POV focusing on our main characters, Dream Guardian Vaughn who is also the crown prince of the realm Lucidity who has a lot on his strong shoulders, and 22 year old archaeology student Lila who is unknown to her Angel Marked.  There are a couple other POV’s as well but they don’t pop up as frequently, including the mysterious Mistress and some of her minions/helpers.  When Lila discovers an artifact on a summer dig site her life takes a bit of a downward spiral as things of nightmare start to hunt her down and attack her in the flesh.  Vaughn protects her, a decision that has serious consequences for both Lila and her guardian.

                This story has a lot happening in it and it jumps right into the meat of the story.  We get to learn about this new world, Lucidity, where our Dream Guardian lives.  Crown of Smoke manages to teach you about the new realm and its people, society, structure, etc. in a way that builds slowly as you get deeper involved.  It manages to explain what the reader needs to know at the time and explains more when it is needed so as to space it out and not info dump it on you.  I like this technique the best.  Plus, as Lila is completely ignorant of Lucidity she has to be taught about it as well and we can learn about it with her.  She asked some of the questions I asked reading along with her but she spaced them out only able to process so much at a time, which I believe in 110%.  Slow and steady wins the race.  I liked the idea that Lucidity is similar to Earth as we know it but it doesn’t have technology, minus a few sparing items that are run on clean energy.  I wanted to visit.  Minus the attacking evil cat things…those I can do without thank you.  My cat spazing out on me on occasion is enough.

                Vaughn, aside from being Dream Guardian to Lila and Crown Prince of Lucidity, is also a handsome, strong male lead who has a soft side to him.  He’s a real dream boat, pun intended!  He isn’t just a pretty face though because Vaughn has some serious things weighing on his mind with many depending on him and not wanting to let anyone down.  Talk about stressful.  But we grow to know him and the conflicts he faces and the reader is able to see why he so great, sexiness aside.  Same goes for Lila, she has been through some traumatizing stuff and it doesn’t let up.  The combination of strength and weakness is balanced out well in her character.  She breaks down, sure who wouldn’t given the circumstances?  But she keeps picking herself up and wanting to learn more to grow stronger both in knowledge and body so she won’t be a burden or damsel.  I respect that.  She questions her sanity more than once and given someone telling you a whole other world of angels and demons exists I say that is spot on.  That is just the main characters and we have a plethora of side characters who only add to the amazingness of the story.  Some of them plain made me chuckle while others made me want to stab them in the eyeball and were the reason I had to set my phone (what I read it on) down so I didn’t throw it.  Only intriguing characters and story get you that worked up.

                Both our leads have such complexity alone when you add them together they just sizzle.  There is a complexity to them as they get to know one another in a stressed time dealing with a million other things, including staying alive.  While things move fast it never to me felt insta-lovey, there was always something more.  The bond and instant connection and feeling of safety allowed more to blossom naturally.  There was still a bit of leeriness of the unknown there and questioning of the feelings so quickly which to me helps ground it. 

               

                Crown of Smoke isn’t all about the fantasy romance either.  It has lots working for it including action, political intrigue, and a suspenseful mystery following the whole thing.  It also blends in a love of history and culture through Lila and learning about her Nona’s people.  I won’t ruin the surprise for you but it’s full of demon fighting, dagger wielding goodness.  Overall, I felt this was a strong start to a series and most important it left me wanting more.  I look forward to picking up the next book when it’s available and reading on, especially with where things are left. 

Rating: 5 Dream catchers

                Crown of Smoke came out this past Tuesday on June 2^nd and is available on Amazon.  I loved it so much I was quick to snatch up a copy for my kindle and plan to get a physical copy this month as well.  Stay tuned for more reviews and fun.  I’m excited for UtopYA, it’s fast approaching and I look forward to sharing the fun with everyone!

                

The Darkest Part of the Forest, Indeed

                I have a review for you today, but first a special announcement.  I want to thank everyone who took part in my last giveaway for the release of the last book in the Penryn & the End of Days series by Susan Ee.  I'm really enjoying the giveaway fun and plan to do more in the future!  That being said a special congrats to the winner, pulled randomly via rafflecopter!  Emily R who enjoyed Pooky Bear!  Congrats!  You will have your lovelies soon.  Thanks again everyone for participating.  Now onto the book review.

                 I have several Holly Black books.  I have heard amazing things about them and the plots all seemed interesting to me, hence me buying them.  Still I hadn’t picked one up to read for various reasons and time constraints.  Then a friend and I decided to start doing a read-along every other Sunday (while I’m at work) and discuss as we read after doing it by coincidence one Sunday.  We compiled a list of some books we both own but have yet to read and we picked The Darkest Part of the Forest, my first Holly Black book to read and I want to share my thoughts on it with you my happy readers.

                I was intrigued by the book based on the cover and the plot line.  Most intriguing thing about it was that it was a stand-alone fantasy story and wasn't 500+ pages long.  This I hear is harder to master.  Color me excited.  The basic plot, if you are unaware, centers around a small town where humans and fae exist side by side.  The fae attract tourists which is good for the towns business but they can also be dangerous.  The center of attraction is a glass coffin in the woods.  In it rests a boy with horns and pointed ears.  We follow Hazel, who once thought she and her brother Ben were supposed to be a knight and a bard to battle all evil.  A child's fairytale it seems.  They also, along with many, fancy themselves in love with the boy in the coffin.  The fantasy of it all, having slept for generations never waking.  Until one day he does.    The world is turned upside down for our town as Hazel tries to put the pieces together that only she can know. 

                I liked the way the fantasy of the fae world was blended into the current/modern world like I know it.  The magic balanced the line between the mystical and understandable.  Enough was explained to follow along and make inferences but it still held onto enough to make it…well magical.  There is so much happening in this book so the reader is never bored.  Not for a minute.  Where did the sleeping horned boy go?  How did he get out?  What does it all mean?

                Those are just some of the many questions you get to discover in this mystery.  Plus we have our would be hero ready for a battle, she was after all supposed to be a knight.  Holly Black also found a way to weave in just the right amount of romance too.  I didn’t even know I was growing attached to certain characters as a couple until I couldn't imagine it otherwise. 

                One thing I found very intriguing is the small town prejudices.  Maybe it's just because I lived in a small town for a vast majority of my life but it felt so real.  Especially in the south where you are judged on who your family is and where you go to church.  Watching how someone is treated as an outcast for no reason other than something they are 100% unable to change is insane.  Seeing the way this character deals with the adversity and not let others opinion of him turn him into a monster.  That resonated for me.  The characters are all so complex each having their own growths and quests to go on be it internally or externally.  Hazel was very loving and compassionate, she wanted to be a good sister, be a knight and fight off fae, and figure out a way to make it happen.  Ben, the way he progresses in the story, reading his story and what has happened made me tear up.  Same goes for Jack.

                The Darkest Part of the Forest has so many twists and turns I don't want to risk spoiling it by saying to much so I'll just say that I gave it 5 stars.  It was an interesting and unique story that weaved everything within it so seamlessly and beautifully I felt I could go there and visit and see the glass coffin and the fae.  Highly recommend and now I can't wait to continue with other works by this author that I own. 

Rating: 5 Stars

                That's it for today.  I'm hoping to get back on some type of schedule again, I just went to night shift so I'm keeping vampire hours again which should be good for both reading and writing time.  You know the drill from here.  Please leave a comment below letting me know what you thought about the book?  The review?  Things you'd like to see in the future?  Thanks for tuning in and I will have another review up for you soon. 

                Later

Not your typical Prince Charming...my thoughts on the upcoming book by Krystal Wade

                

Website Goodreads

               If you follow my blog regularly you know I’m a big fan of Krystal Wade and I even had the pleasure of interviewing her for her last book.  I have been a fan since I first got approved to read the first book in her first trilogy Wilde’s Fire.  She had such an interesting story to tell and characters I fell in love with and she even messaged me.  Come on who doesn’t get a little excited and fangirl happy when an author who wrote something you liked speaks to you?  No one with any sense.  She is a very down to earth person and pretty funny as well.  I follow her on Facebook and she has been posting teasers for her upcoming book Charming for some time now and I was lucky enough to snag myself an ARC to review.  Score!  *Did my little happy dance around the apartment*

                They say what doesn’t’ kill you makes you stronger, and that’s great…as long as you don’t die.

                What a tagline.  It says it all right there I think. 

Goodreads Amazon

                Charming is about our 16 year old Haley who once had it all, the prestigious school, great family, tons of friends, a boyfriend, and a bright future until it all fell apart.  Now with an alcoholic father, a bitter little sister, and only a headstone left of her mother she has nothing left.  On the flip side is Chris Charming, with his CEO father, money, school, anything he wants, including a reputation as a trouble maker.  He may not be everything people say he is, Haley knows she isn’t what everyone thinks she is.  He has his own struggles in life and the one thing he wants is: Haley.  Little do either of them know just how determined someone is to bring them together even if it means murder. 
                So yes this is a break from the supernatural type books in the previous series but more suspense/thriller.  What do you do when the guy who has everything you used to have seems to want you as well?  Can he be trusted?  Can you let him in or is it safer to stick to what you know and never let anyone it?  I wanted to devour this book in one sitting and every time I got interrupted I would hurry to get back to it.  I needed to see what was going to happen next, never really trusting anything in the book waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Let’s face it, Haley has it rough and she doesn’t expect good things, hoping for them hurts too much.  I understand that and my heart broke for her.  I think the beauty in this book is that you root for her and want to step into the book and help her through. 
                And you also want to know what the H is going on.  Because let me tell you there is so much happening and you are thinking of a million ways the story could go and who this mysterious person is who plays a sick kind of fairy godmother to her.  I was on the edge of my seat, and with the new chairs at work that is dangerous ground, reading and couldn’t wait to get home to finish it up.  If I didn’t live so close I might have went into an open room and just read but a 6 minute break to get home was all I could take.  I won’t say too much more I don’t want to ruin the surprise for all of you.  I enjoyed delving into the characters, particularly seeing everything and everyone from Haley’s perspective while she tries to find the best solution to an impossible mess.       
                Now knowing there are a variety of tastes and preferences out there, I do want to mention that if it isn’t clear there are some pretty dark times/themes in the book in parts.  This includes child abuse, but let me assure you it’s not gratuitous or in there for shock value.  The violence serves a purpose and moves the story along, so please don’t turn away just from the implied violence there is so very much more to the story and worth the read.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!
                  It comes out October 6^th and I have my official copy pre-ordered with Amazon.  Share your thoughts below!

Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

                I'm back again with my thoughts on another book.  Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin was not originally on my TBR list, not because it didn’t sound interesting or anything but I had never heard of it.  There are so many great books out there that are not huge releases and as such may get overlooked.  I'm glad I was contacted about this book and able to check it out because I really enjoyed it.

                The story is a thriller/mystery/suspense type that follows around high school junior Cassie Foster.  She has been in New Haven, Maine for the last seven months and is still the new girl and is happy in her life with her best friends Gwen and Ian.  She is taking everything well and trying to be normal, well as normal as one can be in high school.  Then comes the new guy, Jackson, who takes over the new kid role.  He is sexy, arrogant, sarcastic, and cocky which is not her type at all.  When they get thrown together and their bond intensifies it is hard to ignore even with the craziness that is happening in town.  The unexplainable events, a string of disappearances, and cult related murder, lead to many questions and coincidence of timing with Jacksons arrival in town and mysterious past.

                This book was very interesting and I like the cloak and dagger of it all.  One thing I find amazing is that it was listed as having a paranormal/supernatural/fantasy aspect to it but I forgot all about that as I read.  It wasn't until the last part of the book when I was on the edge of my seat trying to fight the rational part of my brain that said I needed to sleep before work the next day that it came about.  That can work for those who are just starting to get into a supernatural type of story.  I've had people ask me about books that I think they would enjoy but without too much 'way out there fantasy'.  Finding those based more in reality with a slight twist is always a good place to begin and dip your feet in.  And this one fits the bill because I believe it can be easily enjoyed by anyone. 

                Cassie is a girl who is trying to get over a tragedy.  She has found comfort in two friends and she just wants to finish high school and have as normal an experience as possible.  Her attraction to the new guy is a whole other story, she doesn't want to like him.  She battles with herself constantly.  She doesn't want to like him and she wants to strangle him sometimes but then as things happen her views shift but she still doesn't know what to rust.  And as she starts to open up and trust, he becomes her best friends prime suspect given his questionable past.

                The best friends Gwen and Ian are also very relatable.  They are people I remember going to high school with.  I think everyone knew that one people who knew everything.  The person that could tell you what was happening with everyone in school and even the news around town because they had the hook up.  If you wanted info you went to them to get it.  And the eccentric person who dressed to their own beat and seemed a bit out there and even took pride in being the different one.  I admit I was not that person.  I'm all about comfort and common sense.  I'm clumsy and trip on flat surfaces unhindered and I'm 5'7.  I don’t need to wear 4-6 inch heels every day.  That is a safety hazard.  Do I own them and like to dress up on occasion where I might care more about the outfit than my 100% comfort?  Yes.  I was friends with people at school who dressed like that though and I admired their courage to wear it when I knew others would joke about it. 

 

                The mystery of Jackson and what is happening around school all flows together seamlessly.  It' impossible not to question it and get caught up in the mystery even when it scares you.    Can you figure out what is going on before the characters do?  Is it going to work out the way you think?  I admit I didn’t get this one figured out, which is pretty big for me.  I normally have it all clued in before the first half.  So enjoy the mystery and see if you're smarter than the characters.

                I don’t want to give too much of the story away so I think I will close it up saying simply that I give this book 5 Stars.  Once I started I didn’t want to stop.  And it stops at a very unfriendly place let me warn you.  I almost dropped my poor kindle trying to make more appear but it said book complete at the bottom and that was it for now.  I am eager to read book 2 and see where the story goes and will make an update when I learn anything about the next book.