I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Codex: An Angel's Guide to Seducing a Human by Joe Duck is a funny tale about an angel sent to recover a lost book before a demon can be raised with it. Narius has a job to do, recover the Grimoire. Sounds easy but it's not! When a chance encounter lands him with Emily, a human and a witch, she shows him a side of humans he's never seen before and his job doesn't seem quite as important.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! (Yes people that deserved all caps!) I love the characters, the world building, the borderline satire/fantasy, and I'm dying for more!!! Despite being just over 400 pages, I didn't want the book to end. It's funny, a little romantic, has plenty of fantasy elements, and it's for adult :::whispers::: and I liked it!

A majority of the book is told from Narius's perspective. He is the main character! Narius is an angel of Lord Halfaya, a keeper of knowledge. He doesn't fight, he knows next to nothing about humans, and what he does know he learned in a book. He thinks he is a superior being knowing all and knowing what's best for mankind, but all he knows is wrong! His naivety though is what makes his character endearing and just down right adorable (if a 6 foot, sexy angel can be called adorable).

Emily is the other main character of the book and a portion (though not nearly as large) is told from her perspective. She's a witch, on her way to kill a dragon when she encounters the strangest thing...no spoilers I promise this happens during the first pages of the book...an angel stuck in the mud. :lol: Narius isn't what she expects, and she plans to use him to her advantage. Unfortunately for her, she finds herself growing attached to him, which as a reader you'll understand, and she's almost protective of him. Despite her cold demeanor and demands for money, Emily is kind, caring, and fiercely loyal to those she cares about.

Then there's the Codex, the book that this story is named for. It is sentient being, living for and knowing what is in its pages. It communicates with Narius and anyone who touches her...yes it's a she. Her downside is that she....well how to put this delicately....she's very ummm.....well the title says "seducing a human" and that is what she attempts with Narius. The problem is all the advise she gives is advise that would get a guy slapped. She brings levity to the book as she gets Narius in all kinds of trouble with Emily! I kinda like her ;)

The plot centers around finding the Grimoire, but it also follows the relationship that builds between Emily and Narius. Trouble finds them everywhere they go, and Narius learns that he can depend on no one but her to watch his back while Emily learns that her fairytale love she's always dreamed of may not be possible with Narius. And I have to say there were a few twists in the plot I wasn't expecting!

The Codex is described as lazy fantasy, and it's just that. The world-building is fun, the characters are easily relatable, and the plot drives the story. It's easy to read, easy to fall in love with and I believe will appeal to all audiences, even the non-fantasy lover. Be prepared to laugh, possibly tear up just a little, and fall in love!

I received an eARC of this anthology from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Note: I will update review as I read through the anthology

Review of First Love: Love First by Taylor Hart

First Love: Love First by Taylor Hart is the fourth novella in the Summer in Snow Valley Romance Anthology and focuses on a character that was introduced in the Christmas anthology. Janet Snow has beaten all odds, she's survived terminal cancer, and now she's raising her daughter alone in Snow Valley. Then at her brother's wedding, who should appear but the man she's never stopped loving...Michael Hamilton. Can they find their way back to love?

Old Flames

I adore Janet! You first meet Janet in Taylor Hart's The Christmas Eve Kiss and she is dying of cancer. Then as the book starts you realize she beat the odds and is restarting her life. My heart broke for her during the first few pages as you see the character struggle with the reality of her life. She's divorced, a single mom, everyone walks on egg shells around her. But Janet, she just wants to be normal, to live her life. Is she angry? Not really. Is she scared? Nope. But she's a great runner ;)

Michael Hamilton.....let's all take a moment to swoon. Michael was Janet's high school sweetheart and first love. We all remember those, right? Well, for Janet Michael wasn't just a first love, he was her only love. Though she did marry, I don't think she ever loved the guy like she did Michael. He's handsome, single, never forgot Janet, and he's in town for Kevin's wedding which causes a whole heck of a lot of trouble.

Clean Reading

One of the things I love about not just this novella but the whole anthology is that it is clean romance! You don't get that a lot in the adult world and when you do it's usually really corny. However, this author and the rest do a great job of conveying the romance, infusing it with Christian values and all the while still making it swoon-worthy.

The sweet relationship between Michael and Janet left me rooting for them and my heart aching for them all at the same time. Michael knows what he wants and he's willing to give up anything to get it. Janet knows she loves Michael but in her mind she can't. The story focuses on what a lot of recovered cancer patients feel like: fear of the cancer returning and what it does to those she loves. She wants to save Michael from that, but also she's a bit scared for herself. She's been married and left before. She now has a daughter to think of. The story looks at Janet and if she's willing to risk her heart again.

My Conclusions

Overall this story is super sweet. It will tug at your heart-strings, may make you cry, but ultimately leaves you happy. Honestly it's a Hallmark movie in a book :D That's the best way I can describe it. If you enjoy clean, Christian romance, I highly recommend the anthology. It's worth every penny!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Initial Reaction:



Sight by Juliet Madison is the first book in a new paranormal series about a group of sisters who sense the future. In theory, this sounds great! And I was all like:



But in the actual reading of the story I just wasn't impressed. There was a lot that could have been done that wasn't and a lot that was included that didn't have to be. Let me break this down into two categories: what I liked and didn't like.

What I Liked

I loved that the author uses siblings as the main character for this story. Often family is overlooked in young adult literature. You usually will get your heroine and everything else is just background noise to her. Not the case with this book. The author lays out five sisters and they all play a big role in the book. While this one is told from Savannah's POV, I have a feeling that each book will be told by a different sister, corresponding with their precognitive ability.



I love the sisters. You have the twins, Tamara and Talia, who are 18. Then there's the triplets, Savannah, Sasha, and Serena, who just turned 16. Each girl has a precognitive sense: sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing. AND they can only have a vision when they are together. This ability is completely new to them and they have to figure out a way to navigate it together. The sisters are close, rarely fight (which I found amazing considering they live in close quarters), and are fiercely protective of one another.

I also liked the main plot which revolved around not only the sisters learning to use this ability, but the mystery surrounding their new town. Someone is setting fire to businesses around town. So far no one has been hurt, but the police also have no leads. The girls are seeing the future and think they can help, if they only knew how.

What I Didn't Like



The teenage drama!!!! I get it. The girls are 16 and 18 years old, there's going to be some drama. There's even bound to be some immaturity. Maybe I'm just getting too old for these books, but Savannah, the MC and POV of the book, just annoys me! I tried to like her, I really did, but her obsession with the boy next door and her apparent lack of concern over the visions they receive just grated on my nerves. I mean really, if I had just awoke from a coma after three months, I would be thinking about more than boys ESPECIALLY if I was all of a sudden seeing the future!!!!!



Riley Pearce, the boy next door, Savannah's crush, and who we should all like.....ugh!!!! Not only is he rude, a completely dick to Savannah, he is supposed to be the guy we like. His only redeeming quality that I found was that he was "hot." Sorry ladies, that is not enough to make me like him. Yes he has a tragic backstory, accounting for his behavior, but I don't buy the jerk act. I don't like it, period, end of story! Be a man, treat your lady with respect, and for God's sake just be nice!!!! It's not that hard.

Obviously if I didn't like Riley, I didn't like the romance in this book. It's a lot like first crush, instead of first high school boyfriend. While reading it, I had to remind myself that Savannah's in high school not middle school, because that is how the relationship/romance read. I just wasn't impressed.

Then the plot. Like I said I liked it, but there was a lot of build up, only to get everything nicely gift wrapped into one chapter. I felt like rather than the mystery giving you clues as you read, it was all packed into one chapter, leaving the rest of the book for the girls to explore their newfound abilities and Savannah to explore Riley. I didn't like this!

Overall Conclusion:

Overall the book was just OK. It didn't get me excited, it didn't keep my attention, and I was not blown away by the ending. What I was excited about was this was a relatively clean read, something that is lacking in today's young adult literature. There were no closed door scenes, little to no coarse language, and the characters were all together wholesome. While I believe some things could have been done better and others should have been left out entirely, this book does have the redeeming quality of being an easy, fast read.

While I don't feel that this book was for me, I do think that others will enjoy it. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys contemporary young adult, mysteries, and a little romance. In fact, I think this is a perfect read for 13+ crowd (like I said it's a clean read, with not one but five strong leading ladies).

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The ending of Angelfall by Susan Ee left me dying for more and so I immediately picked up book two of the series World After and it does not disappoint! World After picks up almost exactly where book one left off, giving a glimpse into the small group of human rebels that has built a small home in an abandoned school building. Penryn has her family back, but Raffe is gone. He thinks she is dead, and she is left with only his sword, her memories, a crazy mother, and a broken sister.

You're a hero, Penryn, whether you like it or not.

I don't think I can say that I loved this book as much as the first, but it was definitely an exciting read! Penryn shows a bit of her vulnerability in this installment. She's confused about and horrified by what's happened to her sister, she misses Raffe which makes her feel like a traitor, and she feels helpless to stop what's happening to the human race at the angels' hands. Despite all this, she is a fighter! When someone needs help, she's there fighting. She never stops to think about what this will mean for herself either. It's courageous and a bit endearing.

Don't talk. You'll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.

Raffe is decidedly missing in this book much to my (and Penyn's) disappointment. He thinks she is dead and the few glimpses she gets of him shows he is out for blood. He looks like the devil with his demon wings and his rage matches it. He's grieving his wings and Penryn and it makes for one scary angel.

What's not missing though are his memories. His sword in an effort to protect Penryn begins showing her through dreams Raffe's old missions. The sword shows her fighting techniques and how to use her, but it also shows her memories of Raffe when he saw Penryn for the first time and all their adventures after. Can I just say that more than makes up for his absence in the book!!!

There's not much movement in the plot of this book though, which is why it gets 4 instead of 5 stars. The book revolves around Penryn and her issues with what's happened to her sister. When they leave the rebel compound, her mind constantly strays to Raffe and if she will ever see him again. There are some answers to questions about the locusts though and Penryn discovers a little about the angels' reasoning for being there. But all in all it's not as thrilling as its predecessor.

Overall it is well worth the read. There's plenty of character development, backstory, and angst to move the plot along. And Penryn....I love her!!! She's one of my favorite female heroines and this book really shows why! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an adventure, that enjoys dystopian, a touch of romance (just a touch), and urban fantasy.

End of Days by Susan Ee is the thrilling conclusion to Penryn & the End of Days. The final battle between angels and humans is at hand and Penryn and Raffe must find a way for the humans to survive.

You've fought off a gang of men twice your size, killed an angel warrior, stood up to an archangel, and wielded an angel sword...But you scream like a little girl when you see a maggot?

Penryn is and will always be one of my favorite female heroines! With her new title "the Angel Killer," Penryn devises a flawed plan to stop the apocalypse the archangel Uriel is planning to annihilate the human race. Penryn is as brave and courageous as ever, even going to the depths of hell, to find a way to stop the apocalypse. But that's not why I love her. She's a teenage girl, and little things like maggots and wanting to look pretty still cross her mind. This makes her both relatable and humanizes her. Otherwise I think she would come across as harsh and emotionless which is far from the case.

Raffe is present though the whole book and we get an entirely different side to him. He is no longer concerned with his feelings for Penryn and instead lets them show. The romance that's been missing in the first two books, overshadowed by tension, is present in this one! Nothing more than a few intimate kisses, but still very much present :D More of Raffe's character is presented, more of his past, and as a reader you get a better understand of what drives him. It's perfect!!!

The plot of this story could have filled two books easily! First you have Penryn and Raffe's trip to hell. He has to find a way to defeat Uriel and his way/Penryn's idea involves finding his fellow Watchers. During this excursion, Beliel's backstory is explained, why he's evil and hates Raffe is thoroughly devastating. In fact, by the end of this section I loved Beliel and couldn't believe the character he had become in the first two novels was the same as this Beliel of the past. No shame in admitting this....I cried, like ugly sobbing tears when I read his section. This could have been a book all to itself, or at least a novella.

The second half of the book dealt with stopping the apocalypse and while I was impressed at how much the author fit into a short space, I also felt it was rushed. There were many questions left unanswered and the ending felt a bit anticlimatic. I think it would have served the series better to either split this book into two and given the final battle more pages OR had Beliel's story and the trip to hell as a novella prior to this book. But that's just my opinion.

Overall I enjoyed this series and the ending was what I expected, even if it was slightly rushed. Penryn is amazing! Raffe is gorgeous, and the plot moves at the speed of light! I enjoyed every word and wish that I could have more from their world. If you enjoy urban fantasy, dystopians, and a touch of romance, I highly recommend it!

The Selection by Kiera Cass is the first book in a cross between a young adult dystopian and the TV show The Bachelor. Personally I hate that TV show. It's full of drama over a guy who is basically dating like 20 girls at one time. Why would I want to watch that?! However in book form, it's a prince and a competition between 35 girls from all over the country (one from each district) and yes it's full of drama and angsty-teens but I loved every word!!!

America Singer is seventeen, in love, and happy with her life until the Selection letter comes. Every girl in the kingdom can sign-up and she is forced to....or maybe a better word is coerced to do so by her boyfriend and her family. I like America. She's honest with herself and the prince from the get go. At least she's as honest as she can be. She's spunky, her background colors her choices and she's not afraid to speak her mind.

Prince Maxon is a boy I feel sorry for. He looks at the Selection as his only way of finding true love, a relationship like his parents. It's a bit heart-breaking. He's also so naive when it comes to girls. And his preference for America is obvious from their first encounter. He likes that she speaks her mind and doesn't try to cater to him. She challenges him and he's fascinated.

The beauty of this book is watching the growing relationship between America and Maxon. It's not insta-love which is why I think the book/series is perfect! It's slow, starting as friendship and building to something more. In addition to that there is the dreaded love triangle with Aspen (her boyfriend from home) but it adds tension to the story that needs to be there.

Personally I feel that this book is more of a romance than a dystopian. Yes there are rebels trying to overthrow the kingdom and yes there's a caste-like system in place, but it focuses more on Prince Maxon and the 35 girls set to win his heart than on the things going on outside of the castle. Overall after a lot of hesitation on my part, I LOVED this book! If you enjoy young adult romance with a little dystopia thrown in, this is it!

This book fulfills #1 on the COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt 2015

After reading The Selection, I was so excited to delve into The Elite. Even more exciting was that I didn't have to wait for it AND I won a copy in the winter COYER scavenger hunt! In The Elite, the girls have been narrowed down from 35 to 6, narrowing the competition field. America realizes that she does in fact love Maxon and she may have realized it too late!

America is a bit difficult for me to like in this book (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). She's the epitome of angsty-teen, creating more drama than necessary and her mood swings are so drastic and often that it's hard to keep up! It's no wonder that Maxon begins spending more time with the other girls.

Maxon is more than a little confused in this book. He loves America, he put it all out there on the line for her. Even though neither of them have said it in words yet, it's obvious their feelings for one another. His confusion comes from her mood swings and her inability to trust him. But that swings both ways!

The rebels are a little more present in this book, there's more fighting, and then there's the king. Oh my!!! I didn't see him coming. He's sadistic and twisted and I want to strangle him! But that's besides the point. And Marlee.....oh! my heart breaks for her and America in this book.

Really the book continues to revolve around the Selection and the ever evolving/devolving relationship between Maxon and America. I disliked America in this book. She just couldn't make up her mind between Maxon and Aspen. Aspen is her ex, her past, and he broke her before she was shipped off to the capital. Now that he's back as a guard, it just causes all kinds of confusion for her which in turn leads Maxon to believe he should look else where. The plot is really angst/drama driven and for me that leads to a big dislike. But there is enough backstory about the country, the reason they are in the situation they are currently in that it kept me interested! Honestly though this book is more filler and a bridge to the conclusion than it is anything else.

This book fulfills #64 on the COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt 2015

Now this is the way to end your series!!!! The One by Kiera Cass is the exciting conclusion to the Selection series. America has made it to the top, she knows her feelings for the Prince and now it's just a matter of winning his trust and his love. But does she have the courage it takes to be what he needs....a queen.

After a very disappointing America in The Elite, I was happy to see the girl I fell in love with back in the last installment of the series. America is back to herself. She's confident, she knows what she wants, and she will do whatever it takes to get it. She's a girl in love. No more wishy-washy feelings, no more hiding. She wants to be Maxon's bride and she will do whatever it takes to earn his trust, love and respect back.

Prince Maxon however was more than a little disappointing during this book. He went from being the naive prince to this guy that I hardly recognized. He can be a bit rude to America, he's actually fallen for another girl in the Elite and he almost comes off as a player. This is all what America sees. Maybe I read to much into him, but I expected better from him. I know he's heartbroken, he's scared of committing to America, and this is his one shot at true love, but really?! You have to date the other girls.....frustrating! It's why I don't watch The Bachelor.

The rebels are getting bolder after America's stunt in the last book which infuriates the king. He's a scary dude, calculating and cunning, not to mention he hates America. Between him and the rebel attacks, along with new information about the founder of their country, things escalate in this book. It becomes more about what is happening outside the castle instead of on the relationship. This book is why the series can truly be called a dystopian!

Overall I loved this book and I love the series. I love America and I love Maxon! The only thing I took issue with was it was all very anticlimactic. Everything takes place in one chapter, at the end. It was just a little too neat. But otherwise I loved it! Will I ever reread this series? Absolutely!!! Should you read it? YES!!!

This book fulfills #51 on the COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt 2015