So basically I have been in a review writing slump... and by slump I just mean that I have been so busy that I haven't had the time to sit down and write up full reviews for some books that I've completed. BUT I want to tell you about them... I want to share my initial thoughts so I'm going to share a couple quickie reviews! Most of these are books that I've purchased and there was no hurry to read and review and then of course I put them to the side because I didn't feel this looming obligation and well... this is what happens.
Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?
My Thoughts
I loved this story so much - you may have seen that I read this on our NYC trip for BEA - So you know how when you're traveling and you just want to get to where you're going as soon as possible so you can stop traveling? Well, while reading this book I was hoping that the flight and travel would last longer because I didn't want to put the book down. I had like 4 chapters left by the time I got to where I was going and so I parked my but on the hotel bed and finished this book as soon as I got there.
I've only recently started making an effort to read more historical books and this one is everything I love about them. Aileana is kick-ass... she's smart, she's tough and marriage and suitors are the last thing on her mind. By day she has to fit into society's image of who she should be... a debutante and the daughter of a marquess, but when night arrives, she's out for revenge against the baobhan sith that murdered her mother.
May has filled this book with action from beginning to end and with that cliffhanger ending she's guaranteed that I'll be picking up book 2 as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Fans of fantasy/steampunk/sci-fi/historical (how do you even categorize this book!!) definitely need to pick this one up if you haven't already!
He can protect her from everyone except himself.
Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.
Chandler Gamble has one rule: don't protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he's caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she's at his complete mercy.
She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose...
My Thoughts
I adore J. Lynn, (Jennifer Armentrout) and there really hasn't been a single thing that she's written that I didn't find myself enjoying. I especially love her adult/new adult titles because she just gets it! Tempting the Bodyguard is the third in her Gamble Brothers Series and I was so excited to read it I dropped everything the day it was released and bought it immediately!
Alana & Chandler are like oil and water. It doesn't help that Alana did some pretty reprehensible things when she was representing Chad and trying to clean up his image. But when a stalker starts scaring her and threatening her, Alana can think of only one man who she wants protecting her. But Chandler has one rule... and it's that he doesn't protect anyone he wants to screw, and Alana is on his radar for sure.
It was really wonderful to finally get Alana's story - I do remember disliking her immensely in Chad & Bridget's book, but her story makes all her actions in that book make sense.
Another thing... this book is seriously hot. If you're looking for a dirty talker then this book needs to be on your radar. Each of the Gamble Brothers is so different and unique and I loved reading about each of them.
I will now be sitting over here hoping that Jen can scrounge up some other brothers to write about because I need more contemporary romance from her for sure!
Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris.
It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured thirty-six hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA—together.
But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen—the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: to join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything—her name, her family, and even Abe—forever.
Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?
My Thoughts
This book rests on my 'favorites of the year so far' list in case you missed our top ten tuesday! I'd been dying to get my hands on this, and then I won a copy from the author. When it arrived, I immediately put everything else to the side. This book has a little bit of everything for everyone! Twists and turns that will keep you guessing, mystery and intrigue to keep you turning pages and wonderful characters you'll find yourself cheering for! Plus a bit of romance. To say I'm excited for book 2 would be an understatement. I'm hoping we get to learn a bit more about the other members of the guard going forward, as we only learn a bit about them here, but honestly that would be my only complaint... I wanted more!
I have a recent fascination with time travel books - I've read some really amazing ones, and I really loved the idea that McCardle writes here. The bits and pieces of history that she weaves into the story really worked for me and I found it incredibly interesting. It's always intriguing to me to think about how we could change whole parts of our history and think about how that might affect the world we live in today. And that, at the bare bones, is what this first book delves in to. Amanda (Iris) is chosen to be part of the very secret Annum Guard. The Guard goes back in time to tweak history as necessary but there are rules and it's very hard for Iris to adhere to some of these rules.
Ultimately there are some things that Iris has to learn along the way about herself and her past and her family and that is expertly woven into the story.
If you're a fan of historical stories and time travel and just wonderful books in general, you need to get this one immediately! I loved it!
For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.
But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.
It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.
Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.
And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.
My Thoughts
Hey look! Another time travel story! I have to say that I loved this one too - Alex can't explain some of the things that happen to her. She finds herself having 'visions' that feel so real, it's as though she was there when it happened, and that seems to be getting her in trouble.
What Alex finally finds out is that she's what is called a 'Descender'. She can travel back in time by accessing any one of her fifty-six past lives.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? I mean... I don't know if I believe in past-lives or anything, but it's definitely intriguing and Buehrlen definitely provides us with a story that kept me turning pages. I was so interested in the past lives that she had lived I wanted her to keep going back... alas, we only get to experience a few of them in this installment - though I'm definitely looking forward to book 2 to see where we go from there.
In addition to the time-travel aspect we definitely get some mystery and suspense as well as a bit of a romance that will give you some absolute swoons.
I truly enjoyed this read and if you like unique plots definitely add this to your 'to read' list!
The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?
Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?
Go Skinny Dipping? Um...
My Thoughts
So basically everyone and their mother has read and reviewed this book ... I mean the marketing push on it was incredible... and I succumbed to it.
I have to say that I have enjoyed some of the other Morgan Matson books that I've read... I liked them... and I think that is what I would say about this one as well. I loved the premise of the story. Emily is completely lost when her BFF disappears on her without telling her a single thing about where she was going or what she was doing. Eventually a list shows up telling her the things that she should accomplish. Sloane had done this previously so Emily thinks doing the things on this list will eventually lead her back to her Best Friend.
I think where I struggled to connect a bit was with Emily and her extreme attachment to Sloane. Everything she did or was seemed to hinge on her friendship, and while I love strong female friendships depicted in books, this seemed a bit ... weird. I don't know how else to say it. It was nice to see Emily branch out and meet new people and find out who she was for herself instead of being "that girl Sloane hangs out with". I hated that her friendship with this girl defined her. BUT I do have to say that it was nice to see her grow into herself.
I will say that the romance situation was somewhat predictable - I was expecting what happened to happen, and I was expecting the reactions that happened to happen. So no surprise there.
If you're looking for a fun summer read, I think this is a definite must read - a coming of age story where you get to see the protagonist learn about herself in unique ways. I'm really glad I picked it up!
Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend’s gorgeous best friend, Alec…who just so happens to be her brand new math tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?
Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends—both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It’s safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm’s reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.
Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She’s adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He’d never stab his best friend in the back…
But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can’t be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.
My Thoughts
Make It Count is the first in the Bowler University series and to be honest I hadn't really heard much about it prior to grabbing it off of Edelweiss! I'm always on the look-out for new stuff in the New Adult genre so I knew I had to give it a try! Aaaaaand I have to say that I really enjoyed this first installment and I'm excited to see what Erickson does with book 2.
Overall it's a solid first book and I think my only complaint is that the plot line was a bit predictable... and I thought Kat was super sensitive about Alec's determination to help her. I think she blew a few things out of proportion! Though I have to say that those things didn't ruin the enjoyability of the story for me. Kat and Alec definitely have the chemistry and it was fun watching them try to avoid what was bound to happen between them.
I liked that Erickson explored some issues that no one else really has - Dyslexia is something that I've never seen in an NA book but I feel like Erickson did it in a wonderful way, and despite some mishandling by her parents when she was younger, I really liked that they were supportive and contrite, and I loved that Kat was determined to meet her goals no matter what she had to do to get there.
If you're looking for something new and a bit different in the NA genre, definitely give this one a try! I'm definitely waiting to get my hands on book 2!
Olivia Beckett’s once-charmed life is falling apart. Her family is about to lose everything, and she has almost no chance of continuing her college education. She can't even seek solace from her high school sweetheart. He's changed. She doesn't recognize the boy she used to know— his violent behavior is escalating and it scares the hell out of her. Her whole world is crumbling, and she has no one to turn to……
Sebastian “Bash” McDaniels is an up and comer in the boxing world working nights at the local college bar until he can land the fight of his dreams that will get him the hell out of Boston and away from his family's tragic past. He’s weeks from his goal when Olivia Beckett comes tumbling into his life in a flash of silky dark hair and haunted eyes. When he saves her from a potentially brutal beating, they begin to grow close, but Olivia's ex isn’t ready to let her go so easily.
Bash can't bring himself to walk away, but fixing Olivia just might leave him broken…
My Thoughts
I puffy heart Christine Bell - not even lying, and this serial is just one example why. When I picked up the first installment I wasn't aware that this was a serial and I was so engrossed in the story she was telling that when I ran out of pages I may have flailed a bit.
I adore the characters that Bell creates. They feel real and layered and flawed, just like regular people. The guys are most certainly not perfect and Bash is rough and brash and wants to fight for a living and his past has definitely shaped who he is today and not all in positive ways. And Olivia … There was a lot that I loved about her. I hated the situation she was in, but I understood her desire to want to see the good in her ex, and the determination to not give up that person who she has loved for so long. There were definitely some very wrong reasons she was still holding on, but it made sense. What I liked most about her though, was her determination and strength to want do right by herself.
Holy steamy – Bell does an amazing job with the sexy scenes in her books and this one totally lives up to its predecessors. I am a notorious word freak when it comes to these kinds of scenes and Bell does them perfectly! The chemistry between Bash & Olivia was believable and so well done.
An instant later, the kiss went from sweet to off the rails. A low growl came from deep in his throat and he closed his hands over my hips, thumbs pressing into my flesh in a way that turned my stomach into a pool of taffy. His mouth slanted over mine and teeth and tongues clashed like it was war.
And it was. A war inside me, at least. My brain had popped back into gear and I knew with every fiber of my being that what I was doing was wrong. I needed to stop, but my body was so not on board with that plan. Instead, I pressed closer, mashing my breasts to his chest, moaning into his mouth when the heat of his skin seeped into mine.
More.
He anchored me to him, crowding me backward until I felt the chill of the mirror against my back. Our bodies were flush now, and he speared a hand through my hair.
It was madness. All-consuming madness.
"Olivia?"
He'd pulled back a scant inch to mutter my name before dipping back in to nip my bottom lip hard. I gasped, stunned at the sensation. It stung, but sent a bolt of need slamming through me so hard, my knees trembled.
"Liv?" he tried again, before tracing my bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.
"I-if you want me to answer you, stop doing that for a sec," I murmured desperately.
Definitely put Christine Bell on your ‘to read list’ and make sure you pick this one up now! All three parts in Bash & Liv's story are available and I'm definitely looking forward to Bash's brother Mattie's story coming next!!
Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.
My Thoughts
I was looking for something a bit lighter and a bit fluffier one day and Being Sloane Jacobs came highly recommended. I'll admit this book had been sitting on my bookshelf for quite some time so I thought why not! This was my first Lauren Morrill book and I really enjoyed it. Just the premise lends itself to so many lighthearted moments and seeing these two completely opposite girls become friends and teach each other a few things along the way was just wonderful.
If you can look past the many unrealistic things that happen, I think you'll find a truly fluffy read that almost everyone can enjoy. I couldn't help but think about the movie The Cutting Edge while reading it ... and if you're my age you know what "toe pick" means...
Seriously though, if you're looking for something that isn't trying to dig too deep in the drama well and offers plenty of fun and sweet moments then give this one a try!
Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.
If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.
Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.
She doesn’t plan on making friends.
She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this and to be honest it wasn't even on my radar until I got an email from a friend who is also a publicist and she said "you have to read this book - I think you'll love it." So I did ...
And I did!!
I'll tell you why... I think the aspect I liked best about this is the idea of the justice system being handled like this. It's an intriguing concept. And the characters that we're presented with here run the range from utterly despicable to those who are still claiming their innocence.
This book falls into the new adult genre, but is very different than what you might be used to reading in that category. While there is some romance, it's not the basis of the story. Instead Harian builds on the plot and lets us learn about the characters a bit more.
The story itself has enough action to keep you turning pages wondering what will happen next! I'm definitely going to be picking up the second book in this series which hopefully arrives very soon!
Welcome to Gardnerville.
A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.
Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.
Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.
My Thoughts
I have to tell you guys... I don't even know what to say about this book and every single time I think about what I want to write (which is often) I start singing this damn song. *shakes fist at Kate Karyus Quinn).
But in all seriousness I'm not sure what I can or should tell you about this. You will be confused, you will think it's a strange read and the story itself is so bizarre... But you won't be able to stop, and when everything is pieced together at the end you will be amazed at how much you enjoyed it.
You will find the characters here unique and interesting and so so layered, you will find the plot and pacing of the story so wonderfully done and the twists and turns will have you turning pages as fast as you can.
If you're looking for something original and fascinating... A story filled with creativity and imagination... yet just a tiny bit disturbing - look no further. This one is on bookshelves now so go get it!
The Heists were only the beginning.
Gray Weathersby escaped from the primitive town of Claysoot expecting to find answers, but what he discovered shook him to the core: A ruthless dictator with absolute power. An army of young soldiers blinded by lies. And a growing rebellion determined to fight back.
Now Gray has joined a team of rebels on a harsh, icy journey in search of allies who can help them set things right. But in a world built on lies, Gray must constantly question whether any ally—or enemy—is truly what they seem…
My Thoughts
Frozen was a wonderful follow up to Taken and I don't care, I still heart Gray Weathersby! From the first pages of this second book, you're swallowed up in the action and it doesn't stop until the last page of the book!
In this installment we get a lot more character development... not only from Gray, but many of the other secondary characters. And Bowman will completely catch you off guard with some of the plot twists here. With the addition of the idea of 'forgeries' the whole plot is turned upside down because not only are Gray and his team trying to find allies, but they don't know who they can trust!
As for the romance...I know that the love triangle that was presented in book one left some people...*cough Kass cough* angry especially with the way that Gray handled things. For me, the romance really wasn't ever an issue simply because I never really connected with either girl but also because of that one thing that happens in the first book with Emma. The thing that irritated me in this installment though was Gray's wishy washy feelings about both of the girls.
Overall a well written and engaging second book in this series and I'm definitely looking forward to what Bowman gives us in book 3!