Brave Enough

                Hello happy readers!  So a little bit of an apology.  So I have been struggling with some time management and ability to focus the last couple of weeks.  Which makes it really hard to keep on track/schedule.  Part of that is my party planning, see I was wanting to do a birthday party for myself this year but it's hard with so many of my friends having kids birthdays the same week, and it sucked and I do get a bit depressed on my birthday every year.  But this year I decided screw it I'd rather have a Halloween party anyways so yeah I decided I am going to have one of these instead and wow the amount of time spent on Pintrest looking at stuff is insane and makes you lose track of time.  But now that I have a better grip on the party and what needs to happen I am getting back to myself and I hope to get things on here back to normal too!  Anywho sorry but thanks for sticking with me! 

                Now today I am so excited to share my thoughts on not only a new release last month but a debut author as well.  Brave Enough by Kati Gardner.  The cover was so beautiful it made me click and then the summary just touched my heart and that was it for me I knew I had to get my hands on it.  I was lucky enough to snag myself an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review so here goes. 

Rating:  4 Stars

                Cason Martin is a prima ballerina at the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory.  The best.  She has spent her life at dancing t was never a choice with her mother being the artistic director making all of her decisions.  Cason is dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes….even pushing past pain and injury.  Though it is much worse than she imagined.  On the flip side Davis Channing is struggling in his own way, having beat cancer and living with his drug addiction that nearly killed him.  Staying clean isn't always easy when your past is always there in front of you.  Cason and Davis hardly know of the other but their worlds collide that all changes.

                I really enjoyed this book.  It wasn't super plot / action driven but more a journey story and I can enjoy those.  I could tell as I read, even before reading the authors note, that this is a very personal story for the author wanting to see people like herself represented in books.  They way she writes it shows this depth of understanding and authenticity which is pretty great.  There were some things happening which I thought were awesome as the story moved along quickly for me but it felt more like a misplaced.  Not bad just felt a bit odd story wise after, like a too soon climax.  This also happened a few times when a chapter would end and we'd time jump.  Sometimes we didn't immediately know and it was from things mentioned or things happening around them that made you think you missed something then "it's been "x" amount of weeks since my audition" so you realize they jumped.  This was okay and again the story went by quickly just at times it was a smidge jarring.  It also took away some of the moments between Cason and Davis and while I totally loved them together it was a bit sudden.

                Cason and Davis are both struggling with major things.  Things I don't see as much in my YA reading and I was happen to have it front and center.  I loved the idea that just because of cancer or drug addiction the struggle of being more than that label.  How you might have described yourself one way, now the first thing someone sees is something else, something you can't control.  Understanding from both of their heads what it is like in their struggles from small things that are their new every day to the larger more complex issues really came through.  However, while I enjoyed them as characters I thought they could have been a bit more developed.  Like they did that to themselves as well, confining themselves to one thing.  With Cason it makes sense before she was a dancer, that was her sole focus in life, making things that much more real for her.  But with Davis we don't learn much about him aside from cancer and drugs.  I would have liked to know more about him as a whole before the drugs.  I got enough of him and his character to adore him and want things to be better for him but still a bit more would have rounded him out more. 

                I found the story pretty uplifting overall and again I really flew through it.  I enjoyed it and was smiling for a vast majority of the time reading it and yes I admit to tearing up as well at times.  Things can get dark but that is the nature of life.  I really enjoyed this story and while there were a couple small things I think could have made it even better nothing I "disliked" as it were turned me away from the story just made me want more and that is a huge yay because who doesn't want more of what they like!  I would recommend this for sure!  This journey was one I am glad I was along for the ride. 

                Until next time…

~Stacking the Shelves #45~

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls.  

E-Books for Review:

Sky in the Deep  by Adrienne Young

Audiobooks:

Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3) by Alwyn Hamilton

                These are all my new goodies!  One is a debut and the other is a series ender so whoohoo I'm excited.  I need to get to some serious reading/listening I’m falling behind of where I want to be.  Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

The Belles (The Belles #1)

                Hello happy readers!  So I didn’t have any new books to share this weekend but I did get some reading done so yay!  One of the books I was able to finish is a new release I got thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, The Belles (The Belles #1) by Dhonielle Clayton.  I didn’t know a ton about the book when I requested it just that I had seen it around on many anticipated reads sections and when I saw it the summary was rather intriguing so I wanted to give it a go. 

Rating: 4 Stars

                Camellia is a Belle.  She is one who is not born gray and dammed but full of color and able to control beauty in others.  Beauty is a commodity and Belles are raised and trained to use their gifts to beautify.  Camellia wants more than to be any Belle she wants to be the favorite chosen to serve the Queen of Orleans.  When Camellia and her sisters arrive at the palace to be sorted to the proper slots it becomes clear there is much more to the world than they were raised to believe.  Danger, intrigue, secrets and half-truths are everywhere including their own guardians.  Their gifts may be more powerful than anyone realized and when propositioned with a request by the Queen herself to risk her life she is caught between pleasing the queen and trying the untried or save herself and her sisters. 

                So this book appealed to me in the form of seeing beauty as a commodity in a more literal sense.  I am not the make-up type of girl mostly because I don’t have the patience to figure it out or the energy to do it but I love watching other looks and how they can be transformative.  As many people base things on first impressions and looks (beauty) is how most people (women especially) are judged I was curious about this world. 

                The first start of this I was a bit concerned because I didn’t really like Camellia.  She was vain and a bit selfish and it was harder to really feel for her character at first.  I say this because as the story progressed I did grow to like her.  There were moments where she felt just a bit static at times  where later progress seemed to come out of nowhere so it was a bit out of synch to me.  There was a bit of romance as well that just never felt viable for me so I wasn’t too invested though I feel I should have been.  He even had some of my favorite lines.  Another platonic relationship was nicely developed and had me invested but had a rather unsatisfying ending and the lack of concern to even ask about it bothered me a bit given the connection there before. 

"I don't mind it.  Sometimes it reminds me that I'm awake."

***** 

"Love is when hearts beat together."

                That probably sounds like a lot of negative things but they were just little things and overall they didn't stop me from enjoying the story.  If anything when I grew to care for Camellia it was even more rewarding.  I did enjoy the slow burn and build of the story and how many different strings that started to tug and play their way into the larger picture over time.  It was beautifully written and paced nicely keeping the suspense and danger building.  We got to know many characters.  I really enjoyed some of the ladies of honor, the other Belles, Remi, Bree and some of the royals and guardians and look forward to learning more about many of them and their roles in the future books.  While you didn’t get to know as much about some they had their own uniqueness to them that had nothing to do with their beauty treatments.  There is also much more to this world than beauty and my favorite moment is when Camellia is trying to help some see their own unique beauty that is there already. I have some theories about the next book and what I think this one has lead to.  I felt some deeper meaning to beauty than what is on the surface and it deepened the story that much more.

                I am excited to learn more about the world not in the court or high society but the regular every day markets and such which we only got glimpses of.  I also look forward to getting to know more about the sisters and characters.  While there were a couple moments with Camellia and Amber that felt a smidge off I am hoping at least one can be explained later.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

                Until next time…

Crowned (Beholder #4)

                Hello happy readers!  Life around the holidays has been kind of crazy, go figure.  That said I was able to curl up and cuddle with my cat and finish a new release that has been on my anticipated release list for some time.  It is the final book in the Beholder series by Christina Bauer, Crowned.  I previously reviewed all of the books: Cursed, Concealed, and  Cherished 

Rating:  5 Stars

                So when we left off Elea and Rowan are together with a goal to save the world by preventing Viktor’s invasion.  That means finding the Sword of Theodora, the only weapon that will kill Viktor without killing herself.  Though on the eve of battle Elea begins to realize that her enemies may be far more powerful than him, but the Sire and the Lady as well.  With the battle coming at her on all sides she must fight and with her mate and others she loves she is ready to give it her all.

                This is what it has all been building towards.  We know the gateways need power and everyone seems to think that means Elea.  Petra sure is determined that she will be the one to die for the recharging and is willing to do anything to convince her of this.  So what do you do when you have many questions and a limited amount of time to figure things out?  You use what you got.  In this case you ask the trickster gods for help during a celebration and hope they grant your boon.  Still even if they do, they are tricksters and they don’t do anything for free.

                I was nervous going in worried how things would end for my Elea and Rowan because something always seems to come between them and their happy ending.  I also on principle never trust deals made as there are always loopholes.  So dealing with tricksters I knew something would go wrong and I was right.  I was even so proud of her for her attention to detail but sigh the tricksters are good at tricks.  Their tricks though about broke my heart many times over.  As I read I just couldn’t believe it and kept reading until I got to the next page.

                Things happen real fast and you never lose the momentum.  It is a constant rollercoaster of action and suspense as you unravel the secrets and mysteries surrounding this comment and the gates.  Nothing is easy and hard decisions are plentiful.  Everyone has really come a long way in the series and I am sad to see it end.  We got to meet new characters, learn about a whole new people and of course work to save the world.  Crowned worked to resolve many open storylines as well as giving up more to feast on.  I was very happy with the end of this book and this series, if only that I was sad to see the end.  I also wish there was a bit more to the end as I am sure some of the after effects would have been interesting to watch.  That said I have recently seen there is going to be an epilogue novella so yay!  That said even with the upcoming epilogue these four books are very satisfying and I would highly recommend them for a marathon they are set up perfectly for that! 

                Until next time…

Sun Warrior (Tales of a New World #2)

                 Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  I am way behind on some of my regular shows but I did get something new that I hope will work as intended and allow me to see more movies and let me start including new movie reviews in here as well.  More on that once I've tried it out.  Mostly this weekend I spent more time listening to my current audiobook to finish it, because it was hard to stop, than I did sleeping .  Today I'm going to discuss my thoughts and feels on the new release Sun Warrior (Tales of a New World #2) by P.C. Cast which is the amazing sequel to Moon Chosen which I reviewed here.  I did receive an advanced digital ARC from NetGalley (thank you) but as I listened to book one and enjoyed the experience I waited to listen until I could get the audiobook on release day.  So this book picks up exactly where the first one left off so spoilers for book one ahead. 

Rating:  5 Stars

                Things pick up right where we left off.  Mari and Nik and their canines are fleeing in a boat from the angry Thaddeus and his followers who murdered Nik's father and blame Mari for that and the raging fire that fell down upon the tribe and is currently burning its way through the forest.  They freed the slaved Earth Walker women and now much fight to save more people.  The time for hiding is over, Mari is a moon woman, half companion, and fully herself.  She will do whatever she can to help her clan but she will not hide who and what she is anymore and wants to make something new and better.  Nik is right there with her in creating something new and while it won't be easy and they have many difficulties to face along the way as long as they believe in one another there is always hope. 

                First and foremost I loved the characters.  Each one was different and unique and I really enjoyed the different voices they had to offer the story.  We saw things from many different sides, creating a larger whole.  The Earth Walkers, the Tribe of the Trees, and the Skin Stealers.  Each group only has a small bit of knowledge of the other never fully understanding or knowing them.  They each have made assumptions on them with that limited knowledge and never bothered to learn more.  It's hard to change ingrained ways.  Its even harder to admit your ways were wrong.  I love how related everything is.  How coming together, like Mari and Nik, and sharing different experiences and information how similar they are.

                We get to spend time with way more companions as well which I adored because come on dogs and an amazing lynx what could go wrong there?  I admit freely to growling while listening at times when something happened and it was felt by one of the animals, maybe it's the audiobook or maybe I'm strange but yep I growled.  I'm going to go with being really into the story.  Bast may be my favorite new addition.  Getting to know the lynx was fun as her personality is very different than the pups we are used to but so is her dynamic with her companion.  I can't say enough how much I enjoyed getting to see the different types of people in this world as it continues to grow.  I'm especially excited to meet the next group that should be in the next book! 

                The story and plot both keep things moving along as there is always something happening.  I was invested in the characters both good and bad and seeing what would happen and how things would meet up or relate as it continued on.  I my feelings for some shifted through the book on both sides, characters I didn't care for I started to enjoy and root for while some I did like started to lose their affection.  I love how everything is fluid as with nature and personalities when confronted with new experiences.  It's not a constant action packed extravaganza but that isn't the type of story it needed to be.  There is a lot happening behind the scenes, plotting, planning, and emotional conflict, discoveries, and more to keep the story moving along as it grows.  Plus as with everything I have read by Cast I love her humor.  She finds a way to infuse some hilarious moments throughout.  I would randomly find myself bursting out with a fit of laughter at some parts and then having to go back because I couldn't hear the next part I was too loud.   

                "Hey, I'm muddling an enormous amount of poppy tea to drug a bunch of people.  Partially to alleviate their pain and partially to shut them up."

                I really enjoyed this book.  I even enjoyed it more than the first one as I was familiar with the world and I fell right back in.  My only problem with having finished it within a week is that I don't know when the next book will come out and I am beyond excited to learn more.  As with the first book we left off right at the end of a pretty HUGE thing that had us eager to find out what would happen next.  We again leave with so much anticipation for more it's almost painful to have to sit and wait for the next installment, but wait I shall because I am hooked!  As a  side note as much as I loved the audiobook I also enjoyed following along with the end of chapter sketches in the physical/digital book too!

                Until next time…

Thrax (Angelbound Origins #4)

                Hello happy readers!  So I am thrilled to be back in the swing of things.  Today I'm super excited to be sharing my thoughts and feelings on the newest book in a series I just adore, Thrax (Angelbound Origins  #4) by Christina Bauer.  I have reviewed the previous books in the series Angelbound, Scala, and Acca.  There are more books in the series as a whole as the series took a time jump but now we are getting all the fun adventures we hear mention of in the Angelbound Offspring series.  Thrax releases tomorrow 9/26/17 but I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC (thank you NetGalley & Monster House Books) since my pre-order won't be here til tomorrow!  Even though there are future books I will only be discussing spoilery type materially as it pertains to the first three books in the series numerically as this takes place just after Acca.

Rating:  5 Lighting Bolts

                We left off with our dynamic duo getting hitched!  Well a bit more than that really since Myla's little igni have decided to make sure she has a scala heir sooner rather than later.  Newly married, newly pregnant, and new to the whole ruler thing Myla is taking on a whole new set of responsibilities which isn't easy given she's been having some weird dreams and scala related issues.  As their honeymoon comes to a close, time to get back to responsibilities of life, Lincoln disappears and Myla wakes up with someone who looks like her husband but she can tell is not.  Problem is not everyone else can pick up on 'Evil Lincoln' as she is.  Oh and he may have already planted that the pregnancy has made her crazy.  Yep that doesn't go over well with Myla.  Myla is always ready for a fight, and fighting to find her real Angelbound love is priority number one.  Only with her pregnancy she has to fight smart, less punching more thinking.  Enlisting the help of people she knows she can trust she must get to the bottom of what is happening before its too late.

                I have enjoyed all of the books in this series.  This series and author are auto-buy for me and as soon as pre-order links are available I always get my copy secured.  The world as a whole is vast and ever changing full of so many amazing stories and inspiration to draw from.  Each book is slam packed full of action, even if Myla is not jumping in fists first, Thrax doesn't lose any of the fast paced action.  The pacing keeps up as there is a mystery to solve.  Why would someone replace Lincoln?  But more important where is he?  I have really enjoyed watching Myla grow and change as the series grows and she adapts to each change in her life but still maintains who she is at her core.  She may be the Great Scala, a wife, queen, and mother to be but she is also part lust and wrath demon with a wicked sense of humor and a kick butt attitude. 

                I adore my Myla and Lincoln.  I can't say how much I adore this couple and how well they mesh for me.  I don't just adore him as a book boyfriend but I love them together.  The way they balance one another out just makes them for me and I could never grow tired of them.  With that in mind, with Lincoln being missing (the real deal one anyways) Myla works with her best friend Cissy.  I have enjoyed this friendship since book one and appreciate that is has come back into focus.  I love seeing more of Cissy and Myla adventures since they too balance one another out in a different kind of way.  We also got another character to 'meet' as it were that just had me saying 'awe' or laughing constantly. 

                This book flew by in pretty much one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.  That is one of my favorite parts of these books they have so much happening but it happens in a way that you just sail on through from sweet moments, heart racing, shock and awe, and surprises all the time.  There is always something new to learn and see. Thrax is a rollercoaster ready to take you on a fast thrilling ride you will enjoy and want to go on again!  Every book is.  I'm so excited for book five The Dark Lands but more than that a prequel Duty Bound  from Lincolns POV which comes out first.  So many stories I can't get enough! Plus come on these covers!  

                If it's not clear by my enthusiasm I highly recommend this series to EVERYONE!  Seriously read it so we can discuss because I have far too few people to gush about this with!  

~Waiting on Wednesday~ All the Crooked Saints

                “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:

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

Out:  10/10

From Goodreads:

                From bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, a gripping tale of darkness, miracles, and family!

                Saints.  Miracles.  Family.  Romance.  Death.  Redemption.

                The book takes place in the 1960s in Bicho Raro, Colorado and follows the lives of three members of the Soria family—each of whom is searching for their own miracle.  There’s Deatriz, who appears to lack feelings but wants to study her mind; Daniel, the “Saint” of Bicho Raro, a miracle working for everyone but himself; and Joaquin (a.k.a. Diablo Diablo), who runs a pirate radio station at night.

                “The Soria family are saints as well, and the miracle they perform for pilgrims to Bicho Raro is as strange as most miracles are:  They can make the darkness inside you visible.  Once the pilgrims see their inner darkness face to dace, it’s up to them to perform another miracle on themselves:  banishing the darkness for good.  It can be a tricky business to vanquish your inner demons, even once you know what they are, but the Sorias are forbidden to help with this part.  They’ve all been told that if a Soria interferes with the second miracle, it will bring out their own darkness, and a saint’s darkness, so the story goes, is a most potent and dangerous thing.”-Maggie Stiefvater, EW interview

Why I’m Waiting:

                Maggie Stiefvater of course.  She’s an auto-buy author for me!  I have enjoyed all of her other works so I’m ready to get my hands on something new.  This sounds very interesting for sure.  

                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.

Paintbrush

                Hello happy readers!  So on a Tuesday normally I participate in the weekly Top Ten Tuesday posts, however, they are taking a break for a few weeks so but I will resume when they do.  Today though it worked out beautifully because with my internet at the house acting up last week I had to push my Friday review to Monday and so on.  So that means instead of posting my review Friday I can post it today, on release day!  The book in question is Paintbrush by debut author Hannah Bucchin.  I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating:  4 Stars

                We follow Josie and Mitchell seniors a few weeks from graduating.  They have spent their whole lives together and used to be the best of friends which is easy to see being the only kids at the time at Indian Paintbrush Community Village-AKA Paintbrush.  Josie loves Paintbrush and is content to spend her time there while Mitchell is ready to get as far away as possible.  The live separate lives in school but as Mitchell’s mother makes a huge announcement it rocks everything he knows while Josie’s younger sister is acting out in dangerous ways.  Both of them need support and find it in one another, having shared so much.  They see one another in a new light and something more than old friendship starts up, just as they are about to go down separate paths for the future. 

                I read through this in one day.  It was such a quick and sweet read.  I was so caught up in the story and the idea of this community.  I like how they both saw different sides of Paintbrush.  I’m not even an outdoorsy type of person, okay honestly I avoid it like the plague, but this made me wish I was.  It made me want to go out and just enjoy nature.  I loved the whole concept of the place as a whole and how it played its own character in the story.  The concept and idea of the place was explained simply as it was and that was that. A place that takes in all sorts and creates a diverse and colorful community that works together.  I could see the positives that Josie loved and the negatives that Mitchell was ready to escape. 

                Paintbrush is all about the characters and relationships.  Between Josie and Mitchell.  Between families. Between friends.  Between the community.  I like that while Mitchell and Josie had been best friends for most of their life and were still friendly as they grew apart they found their own grove and new friends.  Mostly because I loved Leah and Cord.  Leah though, she had some of the best moments for sure.  She is a great friend and so many of the things I love about her are things I see in my own friend!  Cord and Mitchell, they are so different but they just have this type of acceptance that is so nice.

                This story takes place in such a short time frame when compared to many other books but it manages to pack so much feeling into that time.  It tackles so many issues that I think anyone can relate to and this makes the story that much more real.  I am so pleased by this debut book!

                Until next time…

The Love Interest

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all have a good weekend planned.  I hope to finish Everything, Everything today and hopefully see the movie this week so I can share all my thought about it with you.  So far I'm loving the book.  But today I'm going to discuss my thoughts and feels on a new release, The LoveInterest by Cale Dietrich, a new kind of story that I had been anticipating.  The Love Interest came out this week May 16th.  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. 

Rating: 4 Stars

                There is a secret organization that creates spies, Love Interests, that get close to people who are important or have power so they can get all their secrets.  They typically come in two forms:  Nice, boy next door type, or Bad, dark and brooding, giving the target options to ensure they pick one.  Nice Caden and Bad Dylan are picked for Juliet and after some modifications are ready to try and win her heart and their lives.  Because this is the first time they get to go out into the world but though they are well trained and motivated, the one not chosen dies, being in the world they find unexpected complications, feelings that could jeopardize their lives. 

                So this book was really interesting.  It takes some of the things in other books or even shows that make us swoon over the romance/characters and turns them around.  Lots of cultural references and the like as well as fun times about set pieces and scripted lines and the like.  It had a really great story happening through it.  I liked the idea of seeing a romance, one I admit I would have been rooting for had the story been from say Juliet's POV, and seeing the base logistics of it as a job rather than a romance.  Seriously this is interesting and something I've never read before so high cheers for that.  We follow Caden who has been raised in this life, training for this chance to make his chosen fall for him and live his life as a spy.  He doesn't really consider himself Nice, he just knew that was what he'd be picked as and learned to play into it and struggles with how he has “not nice” thoughts and reactions at times.  He also realizes he is gay.  Not super ideal when you’re trying to win the girl.

                The whole concept of a basically raising spies is always appealing but to raise them to be turned into the perfect match for someone is just insane. Pitting a Nice and a Bad against one another gives new depth to a “love triangle” for sure.  I really liked the double life he was living and how it had different concepts of things and the book really intrigued me and flew by as I read it.  It was so different but at the same time familiar and I loved how it balanced those lines and made me think about so many other books all at once.

                Overall I really liked this book and would highly recommend it and the only drawback for me was the ending.  It wasn’t a bad ending by any means I enjoyed how things happened and the like it was more that the first part of the book was a quick read but it wasn’t rushed and the end felt a bit rushed.  Like once you hit around 80% it just hits warp speed.  Again it’s not bad just I kind of wish things had been taken a bit slower and given the same care and depth as the rest of the book.  Like there is a lot of action happening and part of me appreciates the book keeping up the adrenaline and it matching the mood of the scene I also want more.  It’s the end and I don’t want it to feel rushed, especially with some of the revelations that happen.  I’m just needy like that.

                I enjoyed the book and I’m glad I read it.  It is a stand-alone which is also nice.  I would recommend it to anyone as there is something that pretty much anyone can get behind and enjoy. 

                Until next time…

Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King #1)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.  I did some baking and house stuff, nothing glamorous but I am starting to get my books together for ApollyCon!  I've just checked a few of the titles really but I'm near giving up my dining room table to start stacking and such.  So excited.  Back to the post at hand, Friday I finished an ARC from NetGalley of Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King #1) by debut author Tricia Levenseller.  This book comes out February 28th and I highly recommend picking it up.

Rating:  5 Stars

                I was first drawn to this cover with the beautiful font and the red headed armed female at the bottom who looked ready to do some pirating.  Then once I learned more about the premises I was hooked and even more thrilled when my request to review it was answered!  Basically we follow 17 year-old pirate captain Alosa, daughter to the Pirate King, as she is captured by enemy pirates.  Though this was all part of the plan, see she isn't some captured victim but really using her "capture" to search the enemies ship undercover.  However, as with any well thought out plan there are bound to be some snags along the way like underestimating the first mate, Riden, who keeps her on her toes. 

                Doesn't that just scream interesting.  Let me say it is!  I was enthralled from the start and loved Alosa.  While I didn't always like how she did some things or her reasoning for others I understood her and her motives.  She is cruel when she has to be, this is a man's world after all, but she isn't cruel for the sake of enjoyment as others may be.  She has her own code.  I do enjoy people with codes (Dexter had a code, yes he was a serial killer but he had a code) and morals.  Plus what girl wouldn’t cheer for the daughter trying to make her way in this world of men and best them.  Alosa is able to get down and dirty when necessary though she is much more civilized and cultured.  She has to walk a fine balance and keep her real and full self and abilities from the crew while she plays the victim.  Though given her abilities and, yes pride, playing weak is a bit harder than she thought. 

                We get to know the crew that's taken her.  Like one would expect it's a miss-mash of personalities.  Some with honor and others more brutal.  Balancing between them while giving just enough away is a fine game and watching Alosa go toe to toe with Riden was amazing.  Riden from the start seems like an interesting character with a very complex personality.  He has so many conflicting opinions and actions it's impossible to nail him down.  The back and forth between them building as they try to figure one another out was enthralling.  Enemies who get closer are something I enjoy for sure but the best ones have to be able to go back and forth verbally at one another with witty zingers and Alosa and Riden have that in spades.  Sometimes more than verbal volleys because well they know how to keep it interesting. 

                 The overall plot of trying to find this hidden item and bring her captors to him was fascinating but also not even the half of it.  There is so much more happening that is just evolves so nicely into something much larger and expansive.  This book ties up in a way that you feel like you've reached a certain point but also where there is a ton more to learn in this world.  There were a few things that I saw coming and others that completely blew me away but when thinking back I could totally see the breadcrumbs.  It was beautifully written and an amazing debut for the author as well as for a series.  I can't wait to get a physical copy when it comes out next week!  I highly recommend this one.  It has something for everyone to enjoy and so many reveals and things that will just knock your socks off! 

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ The Marked Girl

                “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:

The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele

Out: 6/21

From Goodreads:

                Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (Los Angeles)…

                When Cedric, crowned prince of Caelum, and his fellow royal friends (including his betrothed, Kat) find themselves stranded in modern-day L.A. via a magical portal and an evil traitor named Malquin, all they want is to do is get home to Caelum—soon.  Then they meet Liv, a filmmaker foster girl who just want to get out of the system and on with her life.  As she and Cedric bond, they’ll discover that she’s more connected to his world than they ever could’ve imagined…and that finding home is no easy task…

                Worlds collide in The Marked Girl, an exciting fantasy tale turned upside down.

Why I’m Waiting:

                The cover caught my eye at first and then as I read about it I was intrigued.  It sounded like something right my up alley.  First book in a new series so it sounds like it could have promise.  World displacement stories always seem to be fun as I enjoy watching the characters try to figure out the new world and I’d like to think I’d be the person who if I found said person I’d be open minded and help them, especially if they were super hot just saying. 

                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!

Cursed (Beholder #1)

                Hello happy readers!  So today I have exciting news a new book for Christina Bauer starting a new series put out by InkMonster.  I’m so excited to share the news with you on this one as you may know with how much I mention it, I LOVE her other books in the Angelbound series.  That being said the new book is called Cursed and is book one in the new Beholder series that deals in magic.  I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and Ink Monster.

               

Rating: 5 Stars

                There hasn’t been a book by Ink Monster that I haven’t completely loved and Cursed is no exception.  We follow Elea, a girl with necromancer magic, who doesn’t see the need to use it for much but helping in chores around the farm.  No formal training or anything.  Then one day her best friend returns to town with the news that the new Tsar has placed a curse and she will burn and burn as a ghost tortured for all eternity in five years to the day.  Elea knows the chances of her changing the curse are slim but she is determined.  Embracing her powers she goes to be trained, made into a Grand Mistress able to kill the Tsar and void his curse.  Five years of training and planning and then everything goes wonky when she runs into a handsome mage in Caster magic, Rowan.  He has new information that makes her rethink her entire strategy and consider a partnership with this man who brings her a lot of confusing feelings.

                Our MC Elea is a bit older, 18 when the curse is placed and then 5 years of training, so this story does contain a bit of adult material in way or violence and some language.  Nothing extreme just a friendly notice that the characters are a bit older.  Elea is a strong character who has had to fight for everything she holds dear and then when she is cursed she continues to fight, determined to fight the odds against her.  She is fiery and I liked her instantly.  She has magic but she isn’t controlled by it or reliant on it, just using it to help her with her normal life chores still doing work herself.  Sometimes we find people with magic become lazy, let’s be honest I would, but not Elea.  As she is trained they are taught to not show emotion, complete control of your emotions is a key to controlling the magic, but she’s a bit quick tempered and more in the speak/act then think part of the population; so 90% of us.  Then she is pushed back out into a world in which she has to interact with vast amounts of people that is so different from her life thus far it’s a challenge.  Rowan, our handsome Caster is guarded sure when he needs to be but he is also open and warm in ways that Elea isn’t used to.  Their dynamic is rather fun.  His type of magic is both similar and different and seeing them together was interesting for sure.  Plus, he’s a sexy and powerful mage who wants to help so even someone trying to keep emotions cut off is going to notice.

              There is a lot going on from planning and improvising to accomplish their goal.  Nothing is ever as easy as it seems.  There is always bumps along the way.  I really enjoyed getting to know some of the secondary characters as well like Nan, Ada, Sophie, Laurel, Orion, Jakob, even Marlene and Viktor were very interesting.  Plus we learn about the different types of magic and what they mean to Changed ones, cloisters, familiars and more.  Bauer was able to create a unique little world that was easy enough to pick up and understand and want to know more about.  There is action and suspense moving things along with just a touch of romance sprinkled in as we uncover the mysteries that are laid out before us. 

                I highly recommend this book for anyone enjoying a bit of magical adventure.  I mean there are some brutal moments that hit you square in the feels but that makes it better.  You connect with them and fall easily into the story.  I flew through it and am already look forward to the sequel and seeing if some of my pending theories are true.  Cursed is out now and I hope you will check it out because I need to discuss in spoiler-y detail with someone ASAP!  Only half kidding ;) Tell me your thoughts and feels in the comments below. 

                 Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Queen of Hearts

                “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:

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes

Out: 5/3

From Goodreads:

                As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts.  The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts—and the love of her life.

                When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble.  As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland.  It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a cleaver and faceless foe.

                Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

                Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I have really enjoyed all the different fairy tale twists I’ve read so far so and I really love the Alice and Wonderland take on things the world is just so vibrant there is so much that can be done with it.  I’ve always hated the Queen of Hearts I mean she is vicious!  So a different take on her or at least before she was the Queen of Hearts and giving her depth sounds like fun.

               

                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!

Asleep: Chapter Reading and Review!

               To celebrate the release of the spine-chilling YA psychological thriller ASLEEP by Krystal Wade, we have a full blog tour and exciting giveaways ahead! ASLEEP is the debut novel from Blaze Publishing, and answers the question of what happens when Sleeping Beauty meets Freddy Krueger. If you want to see more of ASLEEP, you can still find the Ten Weeks of Teasers and other great content on the Blaze Publishing blog. Order your copy now!

Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Signed Copy of Asleep   Goodreads

                "To cure fear, you must use fear."

                Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He's understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they'll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be.

REVIEW:

Rating:  5 Stars

                This book was one I have been anticipating for a while.  I received a digital ARC for review but I also had this book on pre-order for a while so since it came out Tuesday the 16^th I’ve had my own copy and I feel I need it in physical form to hold in my hands and add to my shelf!  Described as Sleeping Beauty meets Freddy Kruger, I was so in.  Also things involving mental asylums or institutions just fascinate me because of the history and just how easy it seems it could be for someone there to be put there and labeled crazy when they are sane.  You hear old stories about it being a place to just get rid of people and it seems perfect because who believes a ‘crazy person’ saying they aren’t crazy.  Super creepy and horrifying.  Asleep definitely delivered on the creepy and terrifying aspect of the story.  It balanced the line of doubt throughout the book so beautifully and had me on the edge of my seat.  I read the book in one sitting.  I couldn’t put it down because I had to know what would happen next. 

                Asleep manages to pack an amazing and thrilling story with real issues of family dynamics, mental illness and physical/psychological abuse.  Rose is really put through the ringer and you instantly feel connected to her.  I know I was caught back and forth questioning things I was reading.  One minute I was sure of my answer the next I was somewhat unsure.  It flows so wonderfully sometimes I didn’t even realize I was questioning what was real or not.  Watching as Rose and Phillip struggle through the ordeal and try to differentiate truth from illness was so darn good.  I could go on for days about it but I don’t want to give much away because that would spoil all the fun.    So go pick up your copy and give it a read and then we can discuss all the goodness in detail!

Follow the Blog Tour!

Tuesday 2/16	Wednesday 2/17	Thursday 2/18
Vicki Leigh: First Chapter Reading	Jordan Elizabeth: First Chapter Reading	Eve Langell: First Chapter Reading
Case Maynard: Promo Post	What A Nerd Girl Says: Interview	A Thousand Books: Teaser One
Friday 2/19	Saturday 2/20	Sunday 2/21
OriginiquEquanimity: Promo Post	Janelle Howard: Teaser Two	Archaeolibrarian: Teaser Three
Ryan Hill: Interview		Nerd Girl Official: Promo Post
		Tesairie's Book Reads: Promo Post

Giveaway!

               We're giving away some awesome prizes to celebrate the release of ASLEEP, including this stylish cuff! Enter with the Rafflecopter below and tell your friends!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

               Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers-who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas-sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read. How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?

                Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to.  They keep her sane.

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