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The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard is a story about Ruby Jewell, the local florist, and how she begins to live again twenty years after the death of her baby sister. Ruby is alone, save her dog Clementine, and she's okay with that, or at least she thinks she is. The arrival of Will, a ten year old orphan living with his grandparents after the death of his mother, and her first date since college with Captain Dan Miller help her realize otherwise.
This story is so beautifully written! The author weaves Ruby's tell so intricately with the work she does as a florist that it flows seamlessly. I never knew flowers could be so beautiful or mean so many different things to different people, but that is what makes Ruby's character so special. With her arrangements that she works so hard on, she creates not only a visual masterpiece, but also a heartfelt one as well. Using different elements and colors to promote love, health, and forgiveness, Ruby is special to those who know her, yet she doesn't know it at the beginning of the story. To Ruby she is alone.
Nora and Jimmy, her employees and closest friends, know her best and slowly work on breaking the wall around her heart. Then enter Will, a young orphan with a passion for flowers, and Ruby opens herself fully to him, understanding his grief unlike anyone else. Their bond is so sweet, I just fell in love with little Will, and Ruby says it best:
For anyone that has lost a loved one, especially one that died before their time, it is easy to relate with Ruby. The author portrays very real feelings and even after twenty years the heartbreak and loneliness of losing that loved one. This story deals with love and death in a way that I've never read before. I loved every word! Though this book is geared towards an older audience, it's message and meaning can go for all ages. With hints of Christianity throughout the story, I would recommend this to anyone looking for an inspirational, up-lifting read.
I received a copy of this ebook for free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story is so beautifully written! The author weaves Ruby's tell so intricately with the work she does as a florist that it flows seamlessly. I never knew flowers could be so beautiful or mean so many different things to different people, but that is what makes Ruby's character so special. With her arrangements that she works so hard on, she creates not only a visual masterpiece, but also a heartfelt one as well. Using different elements and colors to promote love, health, and forgiveness, Ruby is special to those who know her, yet she doesn't know it at the beginning of the story. To Ruby she is alone.
Nora and Jimmy, her employees and closest friends, know her best and slowly work on breaking the wall around her heart. Then enter Will, a young orphan with a passion for flowers, and Ruby opens herself fully to him, understanding his grief unlike anyone else. Their bond is so sweet, I just fell in love with little Will, and Ruby says it best:
[Children] seem to unfold the easiest. They're the ones who love with abandon, the ones who keep putting their hearts out there to be broken. They're the ones who teach the rest of us what it is to love.And Ruby learns this from Will. Then there's Captain Miller, a former astronaut who is dying and takes it upon himself to slowly bring Ruby back to life. His wisdom and guidance, but most importantly his friendship is just what Ruby needs.
For anyone that has lost a loved one, especially one that died before their time, it is easy to relate with Ruby. The author portrays very real feelings and even after twenty years the heartbreak and loneliness of losing that loved one. This story deals with love and death in a way that I've never read before. I loved every word! Though this book is geared towards an older audience, it's message and meaning can go for all ages. With hints of Christianity throughout the story, I would recommend this to anyone looking for an inspirational, up-lifting read.
I received a copy of this ebook for free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Angelblood by [a:Hanna Peach|6586877|Hanna Peach|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353805982p2/6586877.jpg] is book 4 of the Dark Angel series and picks up right where Angelsong left off. Alyx, having made a deal with the devil, has seven days to kill Samyara or she has to give Israel up. This is the main plot point of the book, however in order to find Samyara, Alyx, Israel, and Jordan have to work together in Adere's addled post-Darkened mind to find him. Can they do it without killing each other is the main question? And then if they do get Samyara's location, can they raise an army to defeat him in time?
Okay so it goes without saying that I absolutely love these characters! Alyx is feisty, a warrior in every since of the word, and she is determined to die before she will let Israel go to Hell. But in this installment she is also confused and hurt. She loves two men and her heart is torn. She hurts for Israel, knowing that once he finds out it will break him, and she's angry with Jordan for not telling her when he find out that her memory was gone but she also hurts for him as well. She hurts for herself too, knowing that no matter her choice someone she loves will be hurting.
Israel......oh my goodness!!! What can I say about you?! Israel became a man in this book. In the previous installments, I really didn't care for him. Yes, he was the dark, brooding man-child with a mean streak that every girl wants....you know, the typical bad boy that you want to fix. But like I said, that is no more. Israel realizes that Jordan is right to a point. Things between Alyx and Israel were rocky from the start. One of them always not trusting the other. So Israel, taking the advice of the elder, lets her go. Obviously he loves her, but he tells her he will wait for her and not pressure her into a decision. When she is ready to love him back, he will be there. My heart is officially his! And Jordan, well he stole my heart in Angelsong and he still owns it. Alxy definitely has a hard decision!!!! One that I will not be spoiling for you...
So this book does not have as much action as the previous books. This book is about plotting and setting up for the final showdown in book 5 (which I can't wait for!!!). Yes there is a battle with Samyara at the end of course, but like I said this book is about the build-up to that battle. Alyx working through her trust issues, Israel showing what he can do, and Jordan struggling with his identity. There's a side story with Ana and Yael that was started in book two that comes to a head in this book and I can't wait to see where Ms. Peach will take it!
Overall this is my favorite book so far in the series (I think I've said that with each book, but it's true). Some action, mystery, a little romance and a lot of suspense intertwined with angel mythology makes for a great urban fantasy! FYI there is strong language and some graphic violence so I would recommend this for the mature YA (16+) to the New Adult readers. If you like this series, I promise this book won't disappoint. If you've not read this series yet, I highly recommend you do!
I received an ARC of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my interview with Alyx, Jordan, and Israel as they prepared for their battle with Samyara by clicking here.
Okay so it goes without saying that I absolutely love these characters! Alyx is feisty, a warrior in every since of the word, and she is determined to die before she will let Israel go to Hell. But in this installment she is also confused and hurt. She loves two men and her heart is torn. She hurts for Israel, knowing that once he finds out it will break him, and she's angry with Jordan for not telling her when he find out that her memory was gone but she also hurts for him as well. She hurts for herself too, knowing that no matter her choice someone she loves will be hurting.
Israel......oh my goodness!!! What can I say about you?! Israel became a man in this book. In the previous installments, I really didn't care for him. Yes, he was the dark, brooding man-child with a mean streak that every girl wants....you know, the typical bad boy that you want to fix. But like I said, that is no more. Israel realizes that Jordan is right to a point. Things between Alyx and Israel were rocky from the start. One of them always not trusting the other. So Israel, taking the advice of the elder, lets her go. Obviously he loves her, but he tells her he will wait for her and not pressure her into a decision. When she is ready to love him back, he will be there. My heart is officially his! And Jordan, well he stole my heart in Angelsong and he still owns it. Alxy definitely has a hard decision!!!! One that I will not be spoiling for you...
So this book does not have as much action as the previous books. This book is about plotting and setting up for the final showdown in book 5 (which I can't wait for!!!). Yes there is a battle with Samyara at the end of course, but like I said this book is about the build-up to that battle. Alyx working through her trust issues, Israel showing what he can do, and Jordan struggling with his identity. There's a side story with Ana and Yael that was started in book two that comes to a head in this book and I can't wait to see where Ms. Peach will take it!
Overall this is my favorite book so far in the series (I think I've said that with each book, but it's true). Some action, mystery, a little romance and a lot of suspense intertwined with angel mythology makes for a great urban fantasy! FYI there is strong language and some graphic violence so I would recommend this for the mature YA (16+) to the New Adult readers. If you like this series, I promise this book won't disappoint. If you've not read this series yet, I highly recommend you do!
I received an ARC of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my interview with Alyx, Jordan, and Israel as they prepared for their battle with Samyara by clicking here.
Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.
When I read the synopsis of John Green's A Fault in Our Stars, I told myself I shouldn't read it. You see, I'm a pediatric oncology nurse. And I chose that profession because I lost a friend to cancer when we were just fourteen. Why on God's green Earth would I want to read a book about two cancer ridden teens? I mean really, why? I work with these teens. I've held their hands and cried with them and their families, why would I read this book? The answer is simple....one of my patients, a tumor-ridden teen told me I should.
I was blown away by the simplistic, beautiful bluntness of Green's writing. I loved his characters dark Gallows humor and I loved how well he captured their hopes and fears. I feel this a must read for anyone and everyone.
Team Us: Marriage Together by [a:Ashleigh Slater|7280104|Ashleigh Slater|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1400156590p2/7280104.jpg] is a fun, how-to guide for the newly married and not so new but old married couples. Ashleigh takes her own experiences and those from friends to give guidance about issues like building up your spouse and relying on each other in hard times. Her husband Ted throws in his two cents from time to time as well, giving insight to how a situation affected him or Ashleigh's advice works in their marriage from his standpoint. Each chapter ends with discussion questions for you and your spouse which help put the advice given in the chapter into practice.
I was very impressed with Ashleigh's advice and her ability to relay it in such a way that it kept my attention. She's funny and it's obvious that "living lighthearted" is important to her. She blends some of her life lessons with things she learned from The Princess Bride, Lost, and I Love Lucy. The effect made the point or advice she was making come across a little easier for me as I could relate to those pop culture references just as easy as her real life experiences. I felt that for a newly married couple that may not have experienced some of what is discussed (like children, first big argument, etc) the pop culture references make it relatable to them as well.
I loved the "Ted Says" blurbs hat popped up at random throughout the book. Ashleigh's husband Ted gives a man's perspective to some of the advice Ashleigh gives and also gives insight to how a situation or shared experience affected him. It also serves to appeal to the husband who may read this book.
The discussion questions are hard. At least for my husband and I to answer they were. The questions make you consider day to day life, but also the harder situations like grief and how to rely on one another at that time. Like the books title, it truly makes you a team. The questions were relevant even to us at eight years of marriage, but I feel that they would stimulate a good working relationship with a newly married or soon to be married couple.
Overall, this marriage advice book is more than just that. It's a story about how two people raised differently come together as one, making a team and succeeding at it. It made me laugh out loud, cry at times, and had a profound influence on how I treat certain situations in my own marriage. I highly recommend it to anyone newly married or fifty years in, the questions raised are worth buying the book. What could it hurt, especially if it brings new life to your marriage.
I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was very impressed with Ashleigh's advice and her ability to relay it in such a way that it kept my attention. She's funny and it's obvious that "living lighthearted" is important to her. She blends some of her life lessons with things she learned from The Princess Bride, Lost, and I Love Lucy. The effect made the point or advice she was making come across a little easier for me as I could relate to those pop culture references just as easy as her real life experiences. I felt that for a newly married couple that may not have experienced some of what is discussed (like children, first big argument, etc) the pop culture references make it relatable to them as well.
I loved the "Ted Says" blurbs hat popped up at random throughout the book. Ashleigh's husband Ted gives a man's perspective to some of the advice Ashleigh gives and also gives insight to how a situation or shared experience affected him. It also serves to appeal to the husband who may read this book.
The discussion questions are hard. At least for my husband and I to answer they were. The questions make you consider day to day life, but also the harder situations like grief and how to rely on one another at that time. Like the books title, it truly makes you a team. The questions were relevant even to us at eight years of marriage, but I feel that they would stimulate a good working relationship with a newly married or soon to be married couple.
Overall, this marriage advice book is more than just that. It's a story about how two people raised differently come together as one, making a team and succeeding at it. It made me laugh out loud, cry at times, and had a profound influence on how I treat certain situations in my own marriage. I highly recommend it to anyone newly married or fifty years in, the questions raised are worth buying the book. What could it hurt, especially if it brings new life to your marriage.
I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Second on the Right by [a:Elizabeth Los|6624486|Elizabeth Los|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1363894030p2/6624486.jpg] is a reimagining of the Peter Pan story and is told from multiple perspectives, but essentially the story is about the infamous Captain Hook and how he becomes the Hook of legend. The story begins with a story about Captain Niles Davis and his cabin boy Robert Benedict. They've witnessed a battle between the air god Pan and the sea goddess Daria. Daria won, trapping Pan's soul in the hilt of a knife. It's Captain Davis's responsibility to destroy the knife by fire so Pan will never escape, but the cabin boy steals it and Pan is released by a beggar boy Peter before the knife can be destroyed. Flash forward four hundred years to the present, Eileen Davis a descendant of the Captain is enjoying her first cruise when she meets the handsome entrepreneur James Benedict (have you guessed it?) a descendant of the cabin boy. And from there the story takes off!
I was fascinated with the intricacy of this story. Multiple characters with multiple POVs kept me wide awake and trying to figure out just where this story was going. Eileen Davis is introduced as having won her ticket for a cruise. She's insecure, hesitant, and unsure of herself to the point that when she meets James Benedict, another on the cruise, she won't even meet his eyes, thinking he couldn't possibly be interested in her. Then after a strange dream that involved her learning to be a pirate aboard the Mistral Theif (this dream took about the first 40% of the book) under the direction of the now Captain Robert Benedict she gains the confidence she lacked and meets James's advances head on with her own. James Benedict is the CEO and founder of Just a Second shipping company and is on the cruise to speak as a part of a business conference. When he meets Eileen, he thinks it's love at first sight. But James also suffers from insecurities especially where relationships are concerned. However he loves Eileen and does not plan to let her go. Other POVs came from Captain Benedict, Daria, and Pan, however I cannot reveal much without spoiling the story for you!
The plot of this story was intricate and revolved around returning Pan to the hilt of the knife/soul-globe and destroying it which in the process would destroy him. I'll be honest the story jumps from present to 1640s to present and back to the 1640s a lot! Honestly it did this so much that I was lost and unsure how the story would come together. There were so many plot points: the main one which I already mentioned, Captain Benedict falling in love with Eileen during what she believed was a dream, James's company being targeted by what he believed to be terrorists, and then the ever-present and meddling Daria. At 60% into the book, I was still clueless as to how these plot points would come together, especially considering the synopsis hinted at this being the story of Captain Hook and he was absent still. However at about 70-75% Captain Hook shows up (no spoilers!!!) and the plot points not only merge but crash together and the rest of the story flowed smoothly.
Lots of action, lots of pirates, lots of suspense, and a little romance make this book a real page turner. In fact once the ending came, I felt it was well worth the read as at around 50% I wanted to give up because I just wasn't invested in the characters, but the author did a fantastic job of bringing the story together and drawing me in. It was an interesting take on the Peter Pan story and also took a lot of guts on the author's part to pull off this reimagining. Personally I'm looking forward to what this author has in store next. If you enjoy fantasy, pirates, action and suspense then I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was fascinated with the intricacy of this story. Multiple characters with multiple POVs kept me wide awake and trying to figure out just where this story was going. Eileen Davis is introduced as having won her ticket for a cruise. She's insecure, hesitant, and unsure of herself to the point that when she meets James Benedict, another on the cruise, she won't even meet his eyes, thinking he couldn't possibly be interested in her. Then after a strange dream that involved her learning to be a pirate aboard the Mistral Theif (this dream took about the first 40% of the book) under the direction of the now Captain Robert Benedict she gains the confidence she lacked and meets James's advances head on with her own. James Benedict is the CEO and founder of Just a Second shipping company and is on the cruise to speak as a part of a business conference. When he meets Eileen, he thinks it's love at first sight. But James also suffers from insecurities especially where relationships are concerned. However he loves Eileen and does not plan to let her go. Other POVs came from Captain Benedict, Daria, and Pan, however I cannot reveal much without spoiling the story for you!
The plot of this story was intricate and revolved around returning Pan to the hilt of the knife/soul-globe and destroying it which in the process would destroy him. I'll be honest the story jumps from present to 1640s to present and back to the 1640s a lot! Honestly it did this so much that I was lost and unsure how the story would come together. There were so many plot points: the main one which I already mentioned, Captain Benedict falling in love with Eileen during what she believed was a dream, James's company being targeted by what he believed to be terrorists, and then the ever-present and meddling Daria. At 60% into the book, I was still clueless as to how these plot points would come together, especially considering the synopsis hinted at this being the story of Captain Hook and he was absent still. However at about 70-75% Captain Hook shows up (no spoilers!!!) and the plot points not only merge but crash together and the rest of the story flowed smoothly.
Lots of action, lots of pirates, lots of suspense, and a little romance make this book a real page turner. In fact once the ending came, I felt it was well worth the read as at around 50% I wanted to give up because I just wasn't invested in the characters, but the author did a fantastic job of bringing the story together and drawing me in. It was an interesting take on the Peter Pan story and also took a lot of guts on the author's part to pull off this reimagining. Personally I'm looking forward to what this author has in store next. If you enjoy fantasy, pirates, action and suspense then I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
daynight by [a:Megan Thomason|6578897|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353133187p2/6578897.jpg] is book one of the daynight series and lays the foundation for an excellent series! The story revolves around Kira Donovan and Blake Sundry, the latest SCI (Second Chance Institute) Recruits. Kira joins to escape the past that haunts her and Blake joined to bring the SCI down, but he will need Kira's help to do so. The problem lies in if he can trust her and if she should trust him.
This review is really hard for me to write. There are so many twists and turns and surprises that come throughout the book I'm afraid to reveal too much and spoil the book for you! Let me break it down this way:
The Characters
There are really three main characters and the POVs alternate between the three giving you a much clearer picture of this new world and what the characters' think and believe. Kira Donovan is a type A personality and highly loyal to her friends and family. After an explosion kills her friends and most of her high school class she joins the SCI hoping that being away from her home will distract her from the memories that haunt her. Blake Sundry went to high school with Kira, and he has the bad boy kind of loser reputation. But he is anything except a loser. Blake knows what the SCI really does and he is there to bring them down, but with Kira as a partner he will need her help. Ethan Darcton is the son of the senior Ten (head of SCI) and briefly meets Kira before the explosion that killed her friends. Kira believes him dead, but Ethan has strict instructions to stay away from her. However he believes he loves her and wants her to be his.
Thera
Okay here's where things get confusing, or at least for me it was slightly confusing. Thera is the sister-planet to Earth. Basically it's like a reverse copy of Earth. Where there's land on Earth, there's water on Thera and vise versa. Thera is much hotter than Earth, to the point that Therans sleep during the day and work at night when temperatures are still 100-120 degrees. The SCI rules Thera and they are kind of like dictators with strict political rules. If the rules are broken, you are Exiled or killed. To be Exiled means you live off the land outside of the cities of Thera, which is basically a death sentence.
Plot
This story revolves around Kira finding out about the SCI, they're convoluted government, rules, and Thera. The more that is revealed the more Kira realizes how bad this government is and their reach on Earth. Kira must decide what to do. Does she side with Blake and his revolution or Ethan and keep the peace on Thera?
That's really a dumb-downed version of the plot. Like I said there are so many surprises throughout the book I can't reveal much without spoiling it and I don't want to do that! There's a ton of action, surprises that I couldn't guess, and a little romance. Kira is actually quite confused by her feelings throughout the book, which means that yes there is the dreaded love triangle. And it really is dreaded in this book! You have Blake, who is her confidant and friend, her partner on this new planet. And then you have perfect Ethan, who is unavailable and seems to be lying to her. This triangle should not exist!!! It detracted from the main plot and made the characters kinda whiny. Hence the reason for three stars and not four or five.
Overall there is a ton of action in this book, lots of surprises and like I said some romance which with that aside lays the groundwork for an amazing series. As soon as I finished book one, which let me tell you culminates in one finally big surprise and then abruptly ends!!!!, I rushed and bought book two and the bridge novella. Having already read them, I can tell you it is a very good series and I'm dying for book three! If you enjoy young adult dystopians with a little romance and a whole lot of action, I highly recommend this book!
I received a copy of this ebook as a part of the boxed set What Tomorrow May Bring from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review is really hard for me to write. There are so many twists and turns and surprises that come throughout the book I'm afraid to reveal too much and spoil the book for you! Let me break it down this way:
The Characters
There are really three main characters and the POVs alternate between the three giving you a much clearer picture of this new world and what the characters' think and believe. Kira Donovan is a type A personality and highly loyal to her friends and family. After an explosion kills her friends and most of her high school class she joins the SCI hoping that being away from her home will distract her from the memories that haunt her. Blake Sundry went to high school with Kira, and he has the bad boy kind of loser reputation. But he is anything except a loser. Blake knows what the SCI really does and he is there to bring them down, but with Kira as a partner he will need her help. Ethan Darcton is the son of the senior Ten (head of SCI) and briefly meets Kira before the explosion that killed her friends. Kira believes him dead, but Ethan has strict instructions to stay away from her. However he believes he loves her and wants her to be his.
Thera
Okay here's where things get confusing, or at least for me it was slightly confusing. Thera is the sister-planet to Earth. Basically it's like a reverse copy of Earth. Where there's land on Earth, there's water on Thera and vise versa. Thera is much hotter than Earth, to the point that Therans sleep during the day and work at night when temperatures are still 100-120 degrees. The SCI rules Thera and they are kind of like dictators with strict political rules. If the rules are broken, you are Exiled or killed. To be Exiled means you live off the land outside of the cities of Thera, which is basically a death sentence.
Plot
This story revolves around Kira finding out about the SCI, they're convoluted government, rules, and Thera. The more that is revealed the more Kira realizes how bad this government is and their reach on Earth. Kira must decide what to do. Does she side with Blake and his revolution or Ethan and keep the peace on Thera?
That's really a dumb-downed version of the plot. Like I said there are so many surprises throughout the book I can't reveal much without spoiling it and I don't want to do that! There's a ton of action, surprises that I couldn't guess, and a little romance. Kira is actually quite confused by her feelings throughout the book, which means that yes there is the dreaded love triangle. And it really is dreaded in this book! You have Blake, who is her confidant and friend, her partner on this new planet. And then you have perfect Ethan, who is unavailable and seems to be lying to her. This triangle should not exist!!! It detracted from the main plot and made the characters kinda whiny. Hence the reason for three stars and not four or five.
Overall there is a ton of action in this book, lots of surprises and like I said some romance which with that aside lays the groundwork for an amazing series. As soon as I finished book one, which let me tell you culminates in one finally big surprise and then abruptly ends!!!!, I rushed and bought book two and the bridge novella. Having already read them, I can tell you it is a very good series and I'm dying for book three! If you enjoy young adult dystopians with a little romance and a whole lot of action, I highly recommend this book!
I received a copy of this ebook as a part of the boxed set What Tomorrow May Bring from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Clean Slate Complex by [a:Megan Thomason|6578897|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353133187p2/6578897.jpg] is a short-story that bridges the time between books one and two of the daynight series and tells the story of Alexa Knight. Alexa is a homeless teen in living in her run-down van with her mom and three older brothers. When her mom gets sick, Alexa's only hope for her to get better is the Second Chance Institute's Clean Slate Complex. The CSC provides food, jobs, clothing, and education to get the homeless back on their feet. Too good to be true? Absolutely!
I loved this story so much!! It gives insight into how the SCI is functioning on Earth and what they may be up to. Alexa is a fun character. She's feisty and outgoing and doesn't hesitate to speak her mind when needed. She builds a relationship with Adam, another CSC recruit who she met her first day there. Adam is described as perfect and he seems to have a blind eye when it comes to the CSC and SCI because of all they have supposedly done for him. Alexa doesn't buy into it. She second guesses what the SCI's real motives are to providing "everything." Joshua-Josh-JB (I just love the way introduces himself!) meets Alexa for the first time disguised as a homeless person, turns out he's actually the son of the people who run the CSC on Earth. Through catchy and often annoying tunes he tries to warn Alexa what the CSC is really there for.
The action of this story is nonstop and kept me turning the pages. At the end I wanted more!! So lucky for me book two was already out because I don't think I could have waited! The plot twists in this novella clear up some questions that I had in book one and really set the stage for the plot of book two. If you enjoy dystopians with a lot of action and suspense or you like a book that keeps you guessing, I highly suggest you check this one out! You will not be disappointed!
I loved this story so much!! It gives insight into how the SCI is functioning on Earth and what they may be up to. Alexa is a fun character. She's feisty and outgoing and doesn't hesitate to speak her mind when needed. She builds a relationship with Adam, another CSC recruit who she met her first day there. Adam is described as perfect and he seems to have a blind eye when it comes to the CSC and SCI because of all they have supposedly done for him. Alexa doesn't buy into it. She second guesses what the SCI's real motives are to providing "everything." Joshua-Josh-JB (I just love the way introduces himself!) meets Alexa for the first time disguised as a homeless person, turns out he's actually the son of the people who run the CSC on Earth. Through catchy and often annoying tunes he tries to warn Alexa what the CSC is really there for.
The action of this story is nonstop and kept me turning the pages. At the end I wanted more!! So lucky for me book two was already out because I don't think I could have waited! The plot twists in this novella clear up some questions that I had in book one and really set the stage for the plot of book two. If you enjoy dystopians with a lot of action and suspense or you like a book that keeps you guessing, I highly suggest you check this one out! You will not be disappointed!
arbitrate by [a:Megan Thomason|6578897|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353133187p2/6578897.jpg] is book two of the daynight series and one year has passed since the massive cliffhanger ending of book one. The SCI has overstepped their bounds and the Arbiters step-in to remind them of their original charter. The Exilers, under Blake, are preparing to bring down the SCI and established a new government. Kira's babies are in danger because of their heritage, and not just the ones that were implanted by force but the ones her friends carried as well.
I absolutely loved this installment!!!! There is tremendous character growth for the three main characters and lots of plot lines that literally come crashing together. Kira is broken at the beginning of this book. She's a new mother who gave birth under traumatic conditions (to say the least), her Cleave has been absent a whole year, and she's terrified about what will happen to what little family she has left.
After witnessing a man gut Kira to deliver his baby and kidnap him, Blake is on the hunt. He feels guilt for choosing exile over Kira, for not saving her (as he believes she's dead), and is determined to rescue his son even if he doesn't plan to be a father.
Ethan after hearing about Kira's death from Blake, spirals quickly out of control. Over the year apart he's been training with his real father as an Arbiter, but he's missed Kira. He's beyond angry with her when after three months he learns she's alive (no spoilers this all occurs in chapter one) and he's hurt. He goes from being Prince Charming in book one to this hideously unrecognizable jealous Cleave.
The action in this book is nonstop, along with the suspense. Told from the perspectives of Kira, Blake, and Ethan you get a full picture of what is going on, along with what's happened to each character over the last year through flashbacks. I have to admit that I read this book in one sitting, staying up til 4 in the morning to finish it. I just could not sit it down! And then the explosive ending where the different plots come together left me reeling. And I'll admit to a little crying as well.
If you enjoy dystopians with a lot of action and surprise twists, I highly recommend you check out this series. It is well worth the read (and the loss of sleep)!
I absolutely loved this installment!!!! There is tremendous character growth for the three main characters and lots of plot lines that literally come crashing together. Kira is broken at the beginning of this book. She's a new mother who gave birth under traumatic conditions (to say the least), her Cleave has been absent a whole year, and she's terrified about what will happen to what little family she has left.
After witnessing a man gut Kira to deliver his baby and kidnap him, Blake is on the hunt. He feels guilt for choosing exile over Kira, for not saving her (as he believes she's dead), and is determined to rescue his son even if he doesn't plan to be a father.
Ethan after hearing about Kira's death from Blake, spirals quickly out of control. Over the year apart he's been training with his real father as an Arbiter, but he's missed Kira. He's beyond angry with her when after three months he learns she's alive (no spoilers this all occurs in chapter one) and he's hurt. He goes from being Prince Charming in book one to this hideously unrecognizable jealous Cleave.
The action in this book is nonstop, along with the suspense. Told from the perspectives of Kira, Blake, and Ethan you get a full picture of what is going on, along with what's happened to each character over the last year through flashbacks. I have to admit that I read this book in one sitting, staying up til 4 in the morning to finish it. I just could not sit it down! And then the explosive ending where the different plots come together left me reeling. And I'll admit to a little crying as well.
If you enjoy dystopians with a lot of action and surprise twists, I highly recommend you check out this series. It is well worth the read (and the loss of sleep)!
The Forgotten Ones by [a:Laura Howard|6653788|Laura Howard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1356495647p2/6653788.jpg] is book one of the Danaan Trilogy and follows the story of Allison O'Malley. Allison is a hard-working grad-student who lives with her grandparents and paranoid schizophrenic mother. When her estranged father shows up at her door one day, claiming he can cure her mother, Allison must make a decision. Can she trust him?
Allison is one of my favorite characters to date (and I've read lots of books). She's not whiny or needy. In fact she's as independent as she can be and is working hard to be able to take care of herself and her mom one day. When her father shows up, clueless that he even has a daughter, and claiming he can cure her mother, Allison spirals a bit. She doesn't trust him and has some serious anger issues to deal with, but as other unexplainable things begin to happen (things involving magic) she has no choice.
And then there's Ethan, my new book boyfriend :) Ethan is a friend of the family, someone Allison's known her whole life and she's in love with him. He obviously feels the same, but Allison pushes him away. Ethan is handsome, mischievous and determined to win her over though. And this makes me love him even more!
The author does a great job of weaving in Irish folklore with her own vision of the Tuatha de Danaan. It's seamlessly done and I had a hard time distinguishing between the two. I loved the imagery of the fairy world and the characters from it! My favorite character though was Aodhan, he was once a human enthralled by a fairy who lived too long in the fairy land becoming more fairy than human. He's gruff and like a fairy vigilante! Love him!
Overall I devoured this book and it's sequel in less than 24 hours. The characters are wonderfully written and the imagery and magic of the fairy world is enchanting! If you enjoy fantasy, suspense, a little romance, than I highly recommend you check out this book! You won't be disappointed.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Allison is one of my favorite characters to date (and I've read lots of books). She's not whiny or needy. In fact she's as independent as she can be and is working hard to be able to take care of herself and her mom one day. When her father shows up, clueless that he even has a daughter, and claiming he can cure her mother, Allison spirals a bit. She doesn't trust him and has some serious anger issues to deal with, but as other unexplainable things begin to happen (things involving magic) she has no choice.
And then there's Ethan, my new book boyfriend :) Ethan is a friend of the family, someone Allison's known her whole life and she's in love with him. He obviously feels the same, but Allison pushes him away. Ethan is handsome, mischievous and determined to win her over though. And this makes me love him even more!
The author does a great job of weaving in Irish folklore with her own vision of the Tuatha de Danaan. It's seamlessly done and I had a hard time distinguishing between the two. I loved the imagery of the fairy world and the characters from it! My favorite character though was Aodhan, he was once a human enthralled by a fairy who lived too long in the fairy land becoming more fairy than human. He's gruff and like a fairy vigilante! Love him!
Overall I devoured this book and it's sequel in less than 24 hours. The characters are wonderfully written and the imagery and magic of the fairy world is enchanting! If you enjoy fantasy, suspense, a little romance, than I highly recommend you check out this book! You won't be disappointed.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Memento Mori by [a:Katy O'Dowd|5311518|Katy O'Dowd|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1396016591p2/5311518.jpg] is a unique tale about the Lamb family and the assassin who has been hired to take them down. The Lamb family is known for their public business of tea imports and it's behind the scenes business of thieves, drugs, and prostitution. When the patriarch Thaddeus Lamb is found murdered, his sons begin searching for the culprit and taking revenge when deemed necessary. O'Murtagh is an assassin hired by Carmine Fox, the daughter of the late William Fox, whose family at one time were friends with the Lamb family. O'Murtagh is tasked with destroying the Lamb's business, one person at a time.
The characters of this novel are so well written with very distinct personalities and charm. O'Murtagh is the main character and we get to see her in flashbacks as an orphan roaming the harsh streets of Victorian London and as an adult killing goddess. She feels no remorse over her killing and seems to take pleasure in a job well done. As the tale moves forward and we learn more about her past, I can see why she may delight in it. She's also very good, very quick, and never caught. I guess that's what makes her such a good and highly recommended assassin.
The Lamb family is just as you would expect. Riley the eldest son is diabolical! He is the head after his father's death, and he exacts quick and effective revenge against those he believes had a hand in his father's demise. Kavanagh is the adopted son who was found wondering the streets as a child. He is brilliant, an inventor, and just as dark as his brother. Where Riley doesn't get his hands dirty, Kavanagh is fascinated with the "how" process of the revenge as demonstrated with a little incident involving mummies.
The plot was amazing! Many twists and turns kept me guessing right to the end who was responsible for Thaddeus's death and who was targeting the Lamb/Fox families. And I can tell you now, don't bother guessing because you'll never be right! The action and suspense kept me turning the pages late into the night and I must say I didn't want to sit it down. Also the ending!!! Amazing! Maybe we'll see more of Miss O'Murtagh and Lamb family in the future? If you enjoy crime, suspense, and good bit of action all set during the Victorian Era, I highly recommend you pick up this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The characters of this novel are so well written with very distinct personalities and charm. O'Murtagh is the main character and we get to see her in flashbacks as an orphan roaming the harsh streets of Victorian London and as an adult killing goddess. She feels no remorse over her killing and seems to take pleasure in a job well done. As the tale moves forward and we learn more about her past, I can see why she may delight in it. She's also very good, very quick, and never caught. I guess that's what makes her such a good and highly recommended assassin.
The Lamb family is just as you would expect. Riley the eldest son is diabolical! He is the head after his father's death, and he exacts quick and effective revenge against those he believes had a hand in his father's demise. Kavanagh is the adopted son who was found wondering the streets as a child. He is brilliant, an inventor, and just as dark as his brother. Where Riley doesn't get his hands dirty, Kavanagh is fascinated with the "how" process of the revenge as demonstrated with a little incident involving mummies.
The plot was amazing! Many twists and turns kept me guessing right to the end who was responsible for Thaddeus's death and who was targeting the Lamb/Fox families. And I can tell you now, don't bother guessing because you'll never be right! The action and suspense kept me turning the pages late into the night and I must say I didn't want to sit it down. Also the ending!!! Amazing! Maybe we'll see more of Miss O'Murtagh and Lamb family in the future? If you enjoy crime, suspense, and good bit of action all set during the Victorian Era, I highly recommend you pick up this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.