OMG!!!! What a read! Adelina is back with a vengeance in The Rose Society by Marie Lu. It is everything I thought it would be and nothing at all like I expected. It's intense so be prepared!!!

Adelina is grieving and feeling betrayed at the start of this book. She's lonely and lost, her sister is her only anchor to reality. She's mastered her power to the point that even those that know it is an illusion fear her. She's one scary chick!

The Young Elites really set up Adelina as the villain of the story and it's refreshing to see an author write the main character as such. I hurt for Adelina and yet as the reader we get a glimpse of her thoughts, her motives, her actions, everything that leads her to become the villain. It's heartbreaking and addictive all at the same time. I couldn't set her story down.



In this book, Adelina uses her fame as the White Wolf to build a new society of elites. Their goal, with Enzo gone, is to take the throne. However Adelina doesn't trust them after what the Daggers did to her. This leads to a world of hurt for all involved. It's truly a suspenseful read, with a majority of the book being told from her point of view. I even caught myself second guessing a lot.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I loved reading Adeline's spiral and I hurt for her. It's interesting to read the villain's perspective, especially when she doesn't realize she is. If you enjoyed the first book of this series or you like a good fantasy read, than don't pass this book up!

I received an eARC of this book via Lady Amber's Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Thanksgiving in Sweetwater County by Ciara Knight is the latest in her series from a small town in East Tennessee. After a decade away, Jenna Mitchell Grayson returns to her hometown newly divorced with a special needs child. All she wants is to give her daughter a normal life while she picks up what’s left of her own. Deputy Drew Walker, the town’s most eligible bachelor, never forgot the girl that broke his heart. Now that she’s back he wants answers and another chance.

I’m completely in love with the Sweetwater County series! Each novella has a very sweet and tender romance at its core. AND bonus!! It’s a clean romance. Those are kind of hard to find these days.

I really LOVE Jenna and Drew’s story. It’s such a sweep-you-off-your-feet romance that is all about second chances. Jenna is pretty broken at the start of the story. Her ex-husband is a real piece of work. Her daughter is autistic and rather than wanting to work with her, the ex wanted to ship her off to an institution, saying it would be better for her. This made the mama bear in me growl but Jenna took care of it and I supported her actions! Jenna’s tough, but heartbroken when she returns to Sweetwater County and she is wholly not ready to see Drew. Really I can’t blame her either!!!

Drew is the bachelor of the county. He dates, but never seriously. He never got over Jenna and honestly I don’t think he ever tried to. He loved her, planned to marry her, and she left with no word. Or so he thought. Now she’s back and he NEEDS answers if he is ever going to move on. I like Drew! He will make your heart melt after reading his POV for like 2 seconds. He’s perfect!

This short novella really revolves around Jenna and Drew, the life they could have had, and what tore them apart. Overall it is well written, heart-warming, and perfect if you’re looking for quick, sweet read. Of the entire series (I’m slowly working my way through them, after discovering them a couple weeks back), Jenna and Drew’s story is my favorite. If you enjoy contemporary, clean romance or you’re looking for a quick read, than this is the book for you!

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 Beast Within by Rachel M. Raithby was the first book in the Woodland Creek series I picked up. Becca Kian is on the run after killing a man and escaping her drug lord boyfriend. Aster Tavros is a shifter in hiding and struggles daily to keep his beast in check. When the two collide on the road, Becca awakens something in Aster he himself runs from.

So I'm not sure how I felt about this particular book. Becca is a strong character and can definitely hold her own. She's seen monsters in her past and recognizes them in others, so Aster doesn't scare her in the slightest. In fact she feels safe with him, after only knowing him a few days. But she has this constant fear of being found by her ex. She wants to run, but then she's happy for the first time in a really long time. I kinda struggled with her. I wanted her to trust Aster and come clean, tell the truth and see what happened. I rooted for her and even weeped for her at times.

Aster is...just wow! He's a minotaur, which this is the first book I've ever read with a minotaur shifter. He's honestly one scary dude. Yet his human side is the complete opposite. He's kind, caring, and protective, even if he has a bit of a temper. Like Becca, he's also running. He's running from relationships after he's seen them fail time and again when the partner realizes what he truly is. BUT when Becca crashes into his life, he ignores all those run-for-the-hills feelings he usually has in an effort to get to know her. Can you tell I like him?! He wants to show her his true self, his beast, but he is afraid which is a bit endearing if you ask me.

Plot wise, there really wasn't one. You have some significant insta-love with Aster and Becca. There's also the threat of Becca's ex coming for them. But really there was no driving plot for this story which is why I don't really know how I feel about it. There is some excellent romance, bordering on the erotic side (fair warning), and there is the constant suspense of will Aster show Becca his beast side, but nothing to drive the story.

Overall I thought The Beast Within was just okay. I really liked the characters and the setting, a secluded cabin in the woods (can it get any more romantic?!), but the plot was lacking. If you enjoy paranormal romance, than you'll probably enjoy this novella. Warning though there are some erotic scenes and a pretty graphic gory scene towards the end so consider yourself warned if you pick up the book!

I absolutely LOVED The Heir by Kiera Cass! I’ll admit I was skeptical about it. I finally broke down this summer and read The Selection series and adored all three books. So I was more than a little curious to dive into this one and find out what Maxon and America were like as parents and how their daughter Eadlyn turned out. What I didn’t expect though was to fall in love with the story. I thought it would just be okay and I would be criticizing the author for continuing the series. That’s what I get for assuming.

Eadlyn is the oldest child of Maxon and America, and because they wanted to be “fair” to their eldest they changed the law, allowing her to become the heir instead of one of her brothers. Eadlyn is only slightly bitter about this fact, but she loves her country and like her father is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happy. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) Eadlyn is nothing like her parents. She is socially and emotionally closed off to all but her family. She is the heir, why should she socialize when there are more important things going on. Do you see where this is going? Eadlyn is selfish, self-centered and a bit of a brat without meaning to be at the beginning of the book. Then her parents do something I did not think they would do…ask Eadlyn to participate in a selection.

Reluctantly Eadlyn agrees to participate for only three months as a distraction from the political turmoil of the country. There is no more branch system in place (yay Maxon!!) BUT there is still a lot of discrimination among the population. AND there is a lot of tension regarding the crown. No one believes Eadlyn can become a good queen which breaks her. All of this as 32 boys show up at the palace to woo her. Eadlyn wants none of them, but as time passes maybe she’ll change her mind…Now the boys. I can see at least four, possibly five, front runners for Eadlyn: Kile, Ean, Hale, Henri, and Erik.

•Kile grew up in the palace and is Marlee’s son. Eadlyn never liked him, never really paid attention to him, until his name is called in the selection. He’s comfortable for her and come on who doesn’t love a childhood crush turned lover story ;)
•Ean is this handsome, older (not sure if he is the oldest boy in the selection, he may be) boy and makes a deal with Eadlyn: her freedom in exchange for comfort. He’ll be a listening ear when she needs it but won’t interfere in her daily duties. I can see Eadlyn accepting this deal, she’s very independent and determined she doesn’t need a man to do her job.
•Hale…I kind of fell in love with Hale after his and Eadlyn’s first meeting. He promises to prove himself worthy of her hand by doing something for her each day. It’s really kind of sweet and endearing, a sweep me off my feet moment.
•Henri is incredibly sweet and foreign. He doesn’t speak the same language as Eadlyn and requires a translator. Yet he is head over heels for her AND even though they can’t verbally communicate, his nonverbal cues win Eadlyn over almost instantly.
•Erik is perhaps my favorite and he isn’t even a part of the selection. He is Henri’s translator and quickly becomes a confidant of Eadlyn. He’s kind to her and sees her for what she is, her struggles and even the things that only her family knows he picks up on. I can see her choosing him though I’m not sure how it would go down.

If you can’t tell, I really loved this book. Eadlyn is everything America was not which I loved. She’s independent, has her mind made up, and she doesn’t back down from a fight. I LOVE her! I’m on pins and needles after the conclusion though. Awful cliffhanger!!! Consider yourselves warned. If you enjoyed The Selection series, than I highly suggest you read this book. And if you’re new to the series, you can start with this one and not feel lost. It reads almost as a standalone with characters from the previous series popping up but not having a real impact on the plot.

Have you read it? Who do you think Eadlyn will chose?

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

A Christmas Spark by Ciara Knight is a sweet contemporary romance about moving on. Sara Foster is newly divorced and decides to hide from her sister’s attempts at a blind date by spending the weekend at her family’s cabin. Dalton suffering his own heartbreak offers to fix his friend’s cabin over the holidays. Unfortunately said cabin is the same cabin Sara is off to and with a winter storm blowing in, they are both trapped together.

I REALLY enjoyed this one! Sara and Dalton are two characters I instantly fell in love with. Sara is independent, puts her son first, but she is also broken. Raised by an aunt after her parents both died and now facing her failed marriage, she wonders why no one stays with her. It’s really heart-breaking! Dalton is everything a girl could want in a man. He’s sweet, caring, has a soft-spot for animals and kids, but he is nursing his own wounded ego. He’s newly divorced and finds out he can never have children of his own. He feels like half a man, that is until he meets Sara.

A twist of fate sees them both stranded at Sara’s family cabin during a winter storm. As this novella is just barely over 100 pages I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil the story! The plot centers on Sara and Dalton, their brokenness, and how one can fix the other. It’s a super sweet story, perfect for those looking for a quick CLEAN read. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend this one!

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

Snowbound at Christmas by Debbie Mason is a fun, light-hearted mystery about two sisters who couldn’t be more different and a guy trying to figure the two out. Cat O’Connor is an ousted, ex-cop who now works as a bodyguard for her actress sister. When someone starts trying to kill her twin, Cat begins to investigate but is distracted by the newcomer on set. Grayson Alexander works for the FBI and while on vacation takes a job for his cousin’s private investigating company to determine who is trying to kill Chloe O’Connor. First on his suspect list, her sister Cat, but he can’t figure the girl out. Can the two trust each other enough to save Chloe before something happens to her?

I really like Cat and at the same time empathize with her. She’s used to being the tough girl, the responsible one, the one who succeeds, but after her horrible ex pulled a ponzi scheme under her nose, she loses her job, her credibility, and her self-esteem. At the start of the book, we see a woman who is floundering. Cat escaped to Hollywood after her ex went to jail, used all her savings to pay back the victims, and now she’s working for her twin sister Chloe. All I can say about Chloe is that it is a wonder Cat hasn’t killed her herself. I would have after about 10 minutes with her! She’s a brat, nuff said!

Grayson Alexander…*le sigh* He’s a bit hunky. Just coming off a big undercover job in the FBI, Grayson decides to take a few weeks vacation when his kooky grandmother escapes her nursing home and shows up on his doorstep. To top it off his cousin cons him into taking a small gig for him. Now Grayson has to go undercover as an actor on the set of a daytime soap to discover who is trying to harm its leading actress Chloe O’Connor. Grayson is smart, kind, obviously caring in how he dotes on his grandmother, but suspicious of everyone. His last job didn’t go so well and his confidence is down. Now add to that the two beautiful sisters and that one of them is in danger and his life is upside down.

This is a really fun, well-written read! The plot revolves around who is trying to hurt Chloe and Grayson and Cat’s attempts to uncover the truth. Both are suspicious of the other and neither really trusts each other with the full truth. Now the entire cast and crew are heading to Cat’s hometown to shoot the Christmas episodes and the killer is still on the loose. The banter between Cat and Grayson is great! Even when she doesn’t know who he really is. There is a bit of insta-love which I could’ve done without, but overall it’s a great read. If you enjoy the series or you’re a fan of light-hearted, contemporary romance, I highly suggest you check out the book. It doesn’t disappoint!

The Christmas Bucket-List by Ella Fairlie is a sweet story about a South African girl spending her first Christmas in London. Isobel Grey has always dreamed of spending Christmas the way it is portrayed in the movies: snow, chestnuts over a roasting fire, lights, shopping, the works! So she refuses plane tickets home for the holidays to stay in London with her boss and boyfriend and do all the things she’s always wanted to do. There’s only one problem, her boyfriend leaves town for work. Now she’s alone for Christmas.

So for me this book was just okay. Isobel is kind of hard to like. She’s a bit hung up on her crappy boyfriend and too focused on what she thinks Christmas is supposed to be that she nearly misses out on what Christmas actually is. However I have to give her props. Rather than wallowing in self-pity because she is alone for Christmas, she focuses on still doing what is on her list. So bravo for that!

Then there’s Jamie...Jaime is this really sweet co-worker who happens upon Isobel when she is attempting to ice skate. She opens up to him, telling him about the list and her boyfriend. So Jamie offers to do the things on her list with her AND show her what a London Christmas is all about. I kinda love Jamie! He’s sweet, a bit nerdy, and altogether exactly what Isobel needs. Jamie is this book’s saving grace!

Overall this is an okay story. It’s short and sweet and perfect if you are looking for a quick read in between all the busyness of the holidays. However if you are looking for depth, an unpredictable plot, than I would pass on this read. The plot is predictable, bland, and the characters are 2D. It just wasn’t for me.

I received an eARC of this book 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:



I’m not sure what I expected from Tessa Elwood‘s Inherit the Stars, but it DEFINITELY exceeded any and all expectations! It is THAT good! The book combines all the elements I love in a good story: science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, and a little romance, plus a great heroine!!

Asa is amazing! She’s the youngest daughter of the House of Fane (one of three houses that rule the interplanetary system…think government/monarchy) and the one given the least credibility by her father. She’s fierce, devoted, and loyal even when those she loves isn’t as loyal to her. She constantly gives of herself AND will do anything to save her oldest sister, heir of the House of Fane, after she is severely injured in an uprising on a quarantined planet…more on that in a minute. Asa’s only pitfall is her naivety. She lives in a world with blinders on basically. She thinks everyone is good and there is little evil. This becomes a real problem early on in the book and I feel like the author does an incredible job with character growth because of it.

And Eagle *le sigh* Eagle is the heir of the House of Westlet. He’s a bit of a puzzle in the beginning, broken and very little self-confidence. You see he was injured to the point of near death and now he’s disfigured. He went from being the person everyone adored to having to hide behind makeup and his crown. But Asa breaks down some walls in him and we see a bit of the man he was before. AND I like him!!!

You survived! You get to eat breakfast with your family every day and dinner with them every night. When people look at you, they should see courage – literally – in your skin, and face the idea that you didn’t give up when they probably would have. You’re awake and standing and if they don’t realize how amazing that is, then you can just blame me.
The plot of this story really revolves around Asa and Eagle, their arranged marriage AND the reason for it. In the opening of the book, Asa’s sister Wren, the heir, is injured when the people riot for food. The planet they are on is quarantined because of the “blight,” a plague that is literally killing everything. The planet is slowly being evacuated and the people have to take a month of decontamination, BUT Wren is dying and Asa tries to get her father to understand this and speed up the decontamination process or at the very least send a doctor. But he doesn’t.

Now Wren is comatose, the House of Fane and it’s interplanetary system is in trouble. Fane needs a way to produce alternative fuel sources or the House of Galton will have an easy opening to attack them. Fane decides an arrangement between Westlet and Fane would benefit them both, hence the arranged marriage. But Westlet is also in danger of losing their throne if they do not deliver the alternative fuel from Fane. Then Asa tricks everyone by becoming Eagle’s bride and not the middle sister, the next in line for the throne.

Asa and Eagle’s relationship is tenuous at best but one thing is clear. He will do what he must to protect her and maybe he’ll even love her. I don’t know but I ship them pretty hard! Overall I LOVED this book! I devoured it in one sitting, unable to tear myself away from the tension and drama. If you enjoy science fiction, fantasy, young adult with a touch of romance, I highly recommend you don’t miss this one!

I received an eARC of this book from I Am a Reader as a part of a blog tour. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Seaside Christmas by Stacy Claflin is a sweet, contemporary romance about a very unlikely pairing. When Talia and her father buy the old church out from under the unsuspecting Cruz, Cruz will stop at nothing to get them to leave. But something about the preacher’s daughter has Cruz second guessing his game plan and he finds himself helping the pair get the old, nearly condemned church in working order just in time for Christmas.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Talia is sweet, a bit naive, and fully devoted to her father. But she’s also grieving. Her mother’s gone and this is their first Christmas without her. I could easily relate to Talia (even though my mother is living) as she tries to be the strong one for her father and she throws everything she has into this church.

Cruz has this reputation as being the bad boy. He even tries to make himself sound gangster (really his “yo” and incorrect grammar are hardly what I’d call gangster, more annoying really). His dream is to open a tattoo parlor in his little hometown. He’s an amazing artist and definitely has the skill. But the town is against it and sells the building promised to him to the Talia and her father. He’s angry and rightfully so. I’d be angry too! At first I thought Cruz was selfish, his motives focusing on what he wanted instead of figuring out other avenues to start his business. He even goes as far as asking them to leave!!! BUT the preacher and his daughter quickly win him over and if I’m being honest I think Cruz is a bit of a teddy bear under all that ink.

The plot of the story focuses on the fledgling relationship between Cruz and Talia and also on the church. It really is no surprise that these two begin a relationship. The fun part of the story and what really drives the plot is the antagonism between the two main characters. They both want such different things, and their attraction towards one another drives them crazy. BUT it really is sweet and most definitely swoon-worthy!

Overall, I really liked the book! I personally haven’t read any of the other books in the Seaside Hunters series so I can vouch for it being read as a standalone and still making sense. However after reading it, I plan to go back and read the others. It is THAT good! If you enjoy contemporary romance (bonus it is clean!) or you’re looking for a quick holiday read, than look no further.