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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Everything Girl is a contemporary romance by debut author Emily Mayer. I was first drawn to Everything Girl because the main character mentioned law school and being a lawyer, so I thought I would be able to relate to her as a main character. Plus, I am always down for a good contemporary romance. And Everything Girl turned out to be a fun slow burn romance read that I really enjoyed.
In Everything Girl, we meet our main character Evelyn. Evelyn has her life all figured out- go to a great law school, become a lawyer, get a great job, and live happily ever after. Perfect, right? Well, it turns out to be not so perfect. When Evelyn decides she is miserable at her job she decides to take a different path in life, and she finds herself in Pinehaven Ranch in Montana, faced with stinky rodeo champions and no coffee shops. Oh, the horror! Fans of cowboy romances, will really enjoy Emily Mayer's story. It will become a great addition to your collection. It made me want to pick up a few more ranch/cowboy stories myself. Emily is an adorable character, and when she meets Jack it is a big case of opposites attracting, even if it doesn't happen like that right away.
I loved Jack. Loved, loved loved him! I loved how he kept Evelyn on her toes. And I loved how he turned her into Evie, which was my favorite version of herself. He brought her personality out. Emily Mayer did a great job balancing out the sweet, funny and sexy elements of the story. All in all this was a great romantic contemporary novel. I had a lot of fun with Everything Girl, and I can't wait to read Emily's next book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
In Everything Girl, we meet our main character Evelyn. Evelyn has her life all figured out- go to a great law school, become a lawyer, get a great job, and live happily ever after. Perfect, right? Well, it turns out to be not so perfect. When Evelyn decides she is miserable at her job she decides to take a different path in life, and she finds herself in Pinehaven Ranch in Montana, faced with stinky rodeo champions and no coffee shops. Oh, the horror! Fans of cowboy romances, will really enjoy Emily Mayer's story. It will become a great addition to your collection. It made me want to pick up a few more ranch/cowboy stories myself. Emily is an adorable character, and when she meets Jack it is a big case of opposites attracting, even if it doesn't happen like that right away.
I loved Jack. Loved, loved loved him! I loved how he kept Evelyn on her toes. And I loved how he turned her into Evie, which was my favorite version of herself. He brought her personality out. Emily Mayer did a great job balancing out the sweet, funny and sexy elements of the story. All in all this was a great romantic contemporary novel. I had a lot of fun with Everything Girl, and I can't wait to read Emily's next book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Conceal, Don't Feel is the seventh book in the A Twisted Tale series and it is written by author Jen Calonita. I love the idea behind the A twisted tale series. Each of the books takes a different, and often times darker, spin on a classic Disney story. They are written by different authors and they can be read as standalone novels, but they are all so much fun that I would recommend reading them all. Conceal, Don't Feel is a twist based on Disney's Frozen. With the new Frozen movie teasers coming out, I was extra excited to read this novel. Conceal, Don't Feel takes the original Frozen story line and adds a pretty big twist into the mix- What if Anna and Elsa didn't know each other? Umm, yes please! This is a book that I was excited to read, and it ended up being a story that I really enjoyed.
In Jen Calonita's version of Frozen, a magical accident erases Anna and Elsa's memories of each other. Elsa grows up believing she is an only child, and Anna grows up with an adopted family. This one simple twists changes Elsa's story so much. I was initially a little concerned that it would change one of my favorite aspects of the original Frozen movie for me, which was the bond that Anna and Elsa shared. But I have to say, I really love Jen's story. Anna and Elsa were just as fantastic, and their relationship warmed my heart. The best thing about Conceal, Don't Feel is that we get to see all the same characters that we know and love, and there are scenes from the movie Frozen that pop up. That was really fun for me as a reader to see some of the original elements of the story used in different ways or at a different place in the story. But there are plenty of differences between the movie frozen and Conceal, Don't Feel to let this book feel like a Twisted Tale. Maybe not as many differences as some of the other books in the A Twisted Tale series, but enough.
I loved that we got to know the King and Queen of Arendelle more. I felt like they were just an afterthought in the movie, but in Jen Calonita's version they were much more developed as characters. I felt like the characters were more developed around the board, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Anna and Elsa's personalities really shone through, as did the rest of the cast. Jen is a fantastic writer and storyteller. The plot of Conceal, Don't Feel was fun and engaging from start to finish.
I think fans of Frozen will really enjoy this Frozen re-telling, and fans of the A Twisted Tale series will like this addition. I love seeing older Disney classics mix in with newer Disney classics. Conceal, Don't Feel is a great re-telling of Frozen, I might even prefer this version to the movie! And the timing of the book is great, because it got me even more excited for the movie and for the next two books in the A Twisted Tale series, coming out in Spring 2020. We have Straight on Till Morning, which is based on Peter Pan and So This Is Love, which is based on Cinderella. Bring on ALL OF THE TWISTED TALE. I love this series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
In Jen Calonita's version of Frozen, a magical accident erases Anna and Elsa's memories of each other. Elsa grows up believing she is an only child, and Anna grows up with an adopted family. This one simple twists changes Elsa's story so much. I was initially a little concerned that it would change one of my favorite aspects of the original Frozen movie for me, which was the bond that Anna and Elsa shared. But I have to say, I really love Jen's story. Anna and Elsa were just as fantastic, and their relationship warmed my heart. The best thing about Conceal, Don't Feel is that we get to see all the same characters that we know and love, and there are scenes from the movie Frozen that pop up. That was really fun for me as a reader to see some of the original elements of the story used in different ways or at a different place in the story. But there are plenty of differences between the movie frozen and Conceal, Don't Feel to let this book feel like a Twisted Tale. Maybe not as many differences as some of the other books in the A Twisted Tale series, but enough.
I loved that we got to know the King and Queen of Arendelle more. I felt like they were just an afterthought in the movie, but in Jen Calonita's version they were much more developed as characters. I felt like the characters were more developed around the board, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Anna and Elsa's personalities really shone through, as did the rest of the cast. Jen is a fantastic writer and storyteller. The plot of Conceal, Don't Feel was fun and engaging from start to finish.
I think fans of Frozen will really enjoy this Frozen re-telling, and fans of the A Twisted Tale series will like this addition. I love seeing older Disney classics mix in with newer Disney classics. Conceal, Don't Feel is a great re-telling of Frozen, I might even prefer this version to the movie! And the timing of the book is great, because it got me even more excited for the movie and for the next two books in the A Twisted Tale series, coming out in Spring 2020. We have Straight on Till Morning, which is based on Peter Pan and So This Is Love, which is based on Cinderella. Bring on ALL OF THE TWISTED TALE. I love this series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
The Vine Witch is a paranormal fantasy by author Luanne G. Smith. It is the first book in the Vine Witch series, and I had a blast reading it. The Vine Witch takes on witches and magic and creates a world that is honestly unlike anything else in this genre that I have ever encountered. And that is no easy feat. The Vine Witch is a magical read, and I can't wait for the second book in this series, called The Glamourist, which is set to release in June 2020.
In the Vine Witch, we meet our main character Elena. But when we first meet her, she is a toad I know, strange right? I was feeling a bit confused at the start of the story, but pretty quickly we watch her turn back into a woman, and we learn that she has been under a powerful curse for quite some time. And the world that Elena is introduced back into, is not the same world that she left behind. Elena and her fellow sorcière were tasked with the job of caring for the vineyards. Their magic made sure that the wine produced was the best in the region. When Elena awakens she returns to her beloved vineyard to find something dark afoot. The entire vineyard reeks of something evil and Elena wants to find out what is going on. I won't say much more about the story, but the plot felt so magical and mysterious to me. I loved the world that Luanne G. Smith created, and I loved learning about it through Elena's "new" eyes.
The Wine Witch combines nature magic and witches, in a very specific way. To have such a specific ability was really unique and interesting for me to read about. There is romance in The Vine Witch as well, and though I would have preferred it to be a bit more of a slow burn romance, I still enjoyed it. Romance pretty much always makes a story better in my book. If you are looking for a witchy read that feels fresh and different in a sea of witch books, I think the Vine Witch is going to be a book, and series that you will really love. It felt very special to me. I really enjoyed this novel, and can't wait for the next one.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Vine Witch is a paranormal fantasy by author Luanne G. Smith. It is the first book in the Vine Witch series, and I had a blast reading it. The Vine Witch takes on witches and magic and creates a world that is honestly unlike anything else in this genre that I have ever encountered. And that is no easy feat. The Vine Witch is a magical read, and I can't wait for the second book in this series, called The Glamourist, which is set to release in June 2020.
In the Vine Witch, we meet our main character Elena. But when we first meet her, she is a toad I know, strange right? I was feeling a bit confused at the start of the story, but pretty quickly we watch her turn back into a woman, and we learn that she has been under a powerful curse for quite some time. And the world that Elena is introduced back into, is not the same world that she left behind. Elena and her fellow sorcière were tasked with the job of caring for the vineyards. Their magic made sure that the wine produced was the best in the region. When Elena awakens she returns to her beloved vineyard to find something dark afoot. The entire vineyard reeks of something evil and Elena wants to find out what is going on. I won't say much more about the story, but the plot felt so magical and mysterious to me. I loved the world that Luanne G. Smith created, and I loved learning about it through Elena's "new" eyes.
The Wine Witch combines nature magic and witches, in a very specific way. To have such a specific ability was really unique and interesting for me to read about. There is romance in The Vine Witch as well, and though I would have preferred it to be a bit more of a slow burn romance, I still enjoyed it. Romance pretty much always makes a story better in my book. If you are looking for a witchy read that feels fresh and different in a sea of witch books, I think the Vine Witch is going to be a book, and series that you will really love. It felt very special to me. I really enjoyed this novel, and can't wait for the next one.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**The Fire Keeper is the second book in the Storm Runner series by J.C. Cervantes. The Storm Runner series is middle grade mythology fantasy series, and it is part of the Rick Riordan presents line. I have not read the first book in the Storm Runner series, and while there were a few parts where I was a little lost, It wasn't too bad. I enjoyed this book, and am definitely excited to go back and read the first one now that I know it is part of a series. Before I get on to the book review, I just wanted to mention how much I love the Rick Riordan presents line from Disney Book Group. First, I am a huge Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson fan. The line uses Rick's Editor and they are all hand selected by Rick himself. According to their Website, each of the books from the line feature "some type of middle grade adventure, with lots of humor and action, and probably draw on myth or folklore in some way." Basically, if you like Rick Riordan's stories, you will probably like the stories from his publishing line.
In The Fire Keeper, we meet our hero Zane, who is living a fabulous life on a private island. He thinks his adventuring days are over, but boy is he wrong. I really wish that I had read the first book in the Storm Runner series first because I would have loved to have experienced Zane's adventure with some of the godborns, or demigods, before he launches into his mission to save them, which is the premise of The Fire Keeper. Zone wrote a book about his experiences with the Mayan Godborns and he believes that book is somehow linked to a series of godborn kidnappings that have been occurring. So Zane sets out on a mission to recuse the kidnapped godborns and find out what is going on.
The Fire Keeper is full of action, adventure and plenty of mythology. Everything I love in a fantasy adventure. I am not super familiar with Mayan mythology, so I loved learning about it in this book. I can't wait for more. I need to immediately go and read book one so I can be ready for the third book when it releases next year! If you love the Percy Jackson series and are looking for something similar, check out the Rick Riordan presents line. I think the Storm Runner series will be an excellent fit for you.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
In The Fire Keeper, we meet our hero Zane, who is living a fabulous life on a private island. He thinks his adventuring days are over, but boy is he wrong. I really wish that I had read the first book in the Storm Runner series first because I would have loved to have experienced Zane's adventure with some of the godborns, or demigods, before he launches into his mission to save them, which is the premise of The Fire Keeper. Zone wrote a book about his experiences with the Mayan Godborns and he believes that book is somehow linked to a series of godborn kidnappings that have been occurring. So Zane sets out on a mission to recuse the kidnapped godborns and find out what is going on.
The Fire Keeper is full of action, adventure and plenty of mythology. Everything I love in a fantasy adventure. I am not super familiar with Mayan mythology, so I loved learning about it in this book. I can't wait for more. I need to immediately go and read book one so I can be ready for the third book when it releases next year! If you love the Percy Jackson series and are looking for something similar, check out the Rick Riordan presents line. I think the Storm Runner series will be an excellent fit for you.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
10 Blind Dates is a young adult contemporary romance by Ashley Elston. I have read a few other books by Ashley Elston, and I am pleasantly surprised by the variety of her writing, she is a very talented author and I have enjoyed her stories, which are in different genres of Young Adult, ranging from contemporary to mystery and suspense. 10 Blind Dates was an adorable read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are a fan of cute, fluffy YA romances with a great journey of self-discovery, then you may really love 10 Blind Dates.
In 10 Blind Dates, we meet out main heroine, Sophie. This book takes place of Sophie's Christmas break, where she initially thinks her only problem is going to be spending the time away from her boyfriend Griffin. But when she overhears Griffin mention to his friend that he wants a break, she goes into full on heart break mode...the way only high school love can send someone spiraling fast. When Sophie gets to her grandma's house, her grandma hatches a plan to get Sophie's mind off of Griffin and onto having fun.
I love her grandma's plan, and I love that she gets the whole family involved. She tasks each family member with finding a blind date for Sophie. One for each night of Christmas break. Adorable, right? I am happy to report that the story of 10 Blind Dates lives up to it's premise. Sophie's dates were fun, sometimes awkward, sometimes not so perfect, but watching Sophie learn about herself was a very rewarding part of her journey. Another huge plus, was Sophie's huge, wacky but awesomely supportive family. I loved seeing them encourage and support Sophie through all of her dates. It was really heartwarming.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of young adult romantic comedies, then 10 Blind Dates is a book you should not miss. Sophie's Christmas break was so much fun. I loved watching her go on all of her dates, and I really loved seeing her interact with her family. 10 Blind Dates is an adorable read, full of self discovery and plenty of laughs. I highly recommend it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
10 Blind Dates is a young adult contemporary romance by Ashley Elston. I have read a few other books by Ashley Elston, and I am pleasantly surprised by the variety of her writing, she is a very talented author and I have enjoyed her stories, which are in different genres of Young Adult, ranging from contemporary to mystery and suspense. 10 Blind Dates was an adorable read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are a fan of cute, fluffy YA romances with a great journey of self-discovery, then you may really love 10 Blind Dates.
In 10 Blind Dates, we meet out main heroine, Sophie. This book takes place of Sophie's Christmas break, where she initially thinks her only problem is going to be spending the time away from her boyfriend Griffin. But when she overhears Griffin mention to his friend that he wants a break, she goes into full on heart break mode...the way only high school love can send someone spiraling fast. When Sophie gets to her grandma's house, her grandma hatches a plan to get Sophie's mind off of Griffin and onto having fun.
I love her grandma's plan, and I love that she gets the whole family involved. She tasks each family member with finding a blind date for Sophie. One for each night of Christmas break. Adorable, right? I am happy to report that the story of 10 Blind Dates lives up to it's premise. Sophie's dates were fun, sometimes awkward, sometimes not so perfect, but watching Sophie learn about herself was a very rewarding part of her journey. Another huge plus, was Sophie's huge, wacky but awesomely supportive family. I loved seeing them encourage and support Sophie through all of her dates. It was really heartwarming.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of young adult romantic comedies, then 10 Blind Dates is a book you should not miss. Sophie's Christmas break was so much fun. I loved watching her go on all of her dates, and I really loved seeing her interact with her family. 10 Blind Dates is an adorable read, full of self discovery and plenty of laughs. I highly recommend it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Sisters of Shadow and Light is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series of the same name by author Sara B. Larson. I loved Defy by Sara B. Larson, so I was really excited to read another series by her. Sisters of Shadow and Light will appeal to fantasy lovers young and old. It is reminiscent of classic fairy tales, and the story still manages to feel fresh and unique. I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the next book in the Sisters of Shadow and Light series.
In Sisters of Shadow and Light we meet our main character Zuhra and her sister Inara. This book felt magical right from the very first chapter, which depicted Inara's birth. I felt Zuhra's love for her sister from the very beginning, and I loved that. Sisters of Shadow and Light is a story of adventure, magic, friendship and the bonds of sisterhood. Sara B. Larson does a fantastic job of making the story feel sweepingly epic and magical. I love Sara's story telling abilities. She always makes books that draw me in and capture 100% of my attention. Sisters of Shadow and Light was no different. I was transported to a world where two sisters were hidden away from the world. They were kept separate by a hedge surrounding their house. I loved that even though Zuhra was accepted, she always kept her place next to her sister Inara, who was no where near as accepted as her "normal" sister Zuhra. They soon set off on a journey that reveals plenty of twists, turns and surprises that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. When I got to the end of this book, I was so sad that I didn't have the next book. I would have jumped right into the sequel immediately after I finished this one.
The romance in Sisters of Shadow and Light was completely unexpected and delightfully swoony. I expected the journey and story to be focused solely on the two sisters, and while their bond was a huge part of the story, the author did manage to weave in a great romance, which is always a welcome treat for me. If you are a fan of Epic fantasies, then Sisters of Shadow and Light is a must read for you. I loved the writing, I loved the world and I really loved the two sisters. This book was great, and I cannot wait for the next installment in this series!
