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momwithareadingproblem
I received an eARC of this book from Lady Amber's Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Please note: if you are new to the series, this review has minor, unavoidable spoilers to previous books in the series. I highly suggest reading those prior to this review….unless you like spoilers…than by all means keep reading
Initial Reaction
I went into Dawn of Ash by Rebecca Ethington with a lot of trepidation. [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147] about killed me, especially that massive, game-changing ending. As much as I love the series I was NOT looking forward to this book. I was afraid what I would find in its pages. But really, I shouldn’t have been. Rebecca Ethington has never let me down before and she didn’t this time!
Dawn of Ash starts a few months after the end of the last book. Ilyan, Joclyn, Ryland, and Wyn along with the survivors from Edmund’s attack are still under Edmund’s dome in Prague. They’ve not found a way out or why they’re trapped. The Vilý’s are still hunting them when they leave the cathedral they are holed up in. Thom is still dying from mysterious causes, Dramin is slowly dying as well. Joclyn is hiding the truth from Ilyan, desperate to change his end, and she is seeing broken sights. Wyn is hearing her daughter more and more and her actions are becoming volatile. BUT the real story is Sain —evil little man! He’s playing both sides, but what’s his game?
Truth and Lies
I have always loved Joclyn! She is courageous. Thrown into this world where magic is real, she’s taken it all in stride., including her heritage as a Drak. She can see the future with haunting clarity. It’s enough to make anyone go insane and that is exactly what she thinks is happening. She changed the future in [b:Soul of Flame|18186721|Soul of Flame (Imdalind, #4)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383837282s/18186721.jpg|25570531] and now according to her father her sight is “broken.” She believes him to an extent, her sights keep changing, but from what she’s learned that isn’t possible. So she begins to question her sanity, her power, and if she really is the Silny they all claim she is.
Ilyan *sigh* really Ilyan has been my ship since the first time he spoke in [b:Kiss of Fire|17280547|Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, #1)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390969516s/17280547.jpg|21919561]. He’s the King, made Joclyn his Queen, and he is good, genuinely and honestly good. He cares more about others than himself and in this book it really comes out. His worry for Joclyn, those under his care, even those who his father has manipulated, he still cares for. I want an Ilyan….just saying....
Perhaps my favorite character (in a really demented way) is Sain. At least he’s my favorite to hate. After 5 books, Sain finally gives some clues, some answers to what is happening in the magical world. He is the first Drak, climbing from the mud of the wells of Imdalind. He is the first and plans to be the last. He twists everything and from what we saw of him in [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147], he has his own motives. He’s the evil to Ilyan’s goodness. And he will stop at nothing and bulldoze over anyone that gets in his way. He’s one scary dude!
The Plot Thickens
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Sain truly changed everything at the end of [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147]. In this book, the reader finally gets a glimpse at what is happening, the truth behind all the lies. Sain has his own agenda and is playing both sides: Edmund and Ilyan, Ovalia and Joclyn, even Ryland and Wyn. He uses them all, playing them like pieces in a twisted chess game. Truly the twists, surprises, EVERYTHING in the series to date is sheer genius on Rebecca Ethington part!
While I was seriously impressed with the way all the loose ends and questions I’ve had are starting to come together, I was a little disappointed in the execution. The plot moved really slow. Despite this though, I couldn’t set the book down. How’s that for an oxymoron? I felt like while there was a lot of info dump and tying the ends together, there was also a lot of redundancy. The last half of the book flips between many different characters: Ryland, Wyn, Ovalia, Ilyan, Sain, Dramin, and Joclyn. While I like the head hopping and it flowed well without me getting confused who I was reading, it was basically the same scene from different perspectives over and over again! My personal opinion is this could have been done a little better or with fewer characters.
The Ending That Wasn’t an Ending
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m SO excited there is one more! That ending though….I have no words for it! After such a build up, I wasn’t let down that’s for sure. If anything I was left wanting more! If you are a fan of the series or you’re a fan of fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy ASAP!
Please note: if you are new to the series, this review has minor, unavoidable spoilers to previous books in the series. I highly suggest reading those prior to this review….unless you like spoilers…than by all means keep reading
Initial Reaction
I went into Dawn of Ash by Rebecca Ethington with a lot of trepidation. [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147] about killed me, especially that massive, game-changing ending. As much as I love the series I was NOT looking forward to this book. I was afraid what I would find in its pages. But really, I shouldn’t have been. Rebecca Ethington has never let me down before and she didn’t this time!
Dawn of Ash starts a few months after the end of the last book. Ilyan, Joclyn, Ryland, and Wyn along with the survivors from Edmund’s attack are still under Edmund’s dome in Prague. They’ve not found a way out or why they’re trapped. The Vilý’s are still hunting them when they leave the cathedral they are holed up in. Thom is still dying from mysterious causes, Dramin is slowly dying as well. Joclyn is hiding the truth from Ilyan, desperate to change his end, and she is seeing broken sights. Wyn is hearing her daughter more and more and her actions are becoming volatile. BUT the real story is Sain —evil little man! He’s playing both sides, but what’s his game?
Truth and Lies
I have always loved Joclyn! She is courageous. Thrown into this world where magic is real, she’s taken it all in stride., including her heritage as a Drak. She can see the future with haunting clarity. It’s enough to make anyone go insane and that is exactly what she thinks is happening. She changed the future in [b:Soul of Flame|18186721|Soul of Flame (Imdalind, #4)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383837282s/18186721.jpg|25570531] and now according to her father her sight is “broken.” She believes him to an extent, her sights keep changing, but from what she’s learned that isn’t possible. So she begins to question her sanity, her power, and if she really is the Silny they all claim she is.
Ilyan *sigh* really Ilyan has been my ship since the first time he spoke in [b:Kiss of Fire|17280547|Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, #1)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390969516s/17280547.jpg|21919561]. He’s the King, made Joclyn his Queen, and he is good, genuinely and honestly good. He cares more about others than himself and in this book it really comes out. His worry for Joclyn, those under his care, even those who his father has manipulated, he still cares for. I want an Ilyan….just saying....
Perhaps my favorite character (in a really demented way) is Sain. At least he’s my favorite to hate. After 5 books, Sain finally gives some clues, some answers to what is happening in the magical world. He is the first Drak, climbing from the mud of the wells of Imdalind. He is the first and plans to be the last. He twists everything and from what we saw of him in [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147], he has his own motives. He’s the evil to Ilyan’s goodness. And he will stop at nothing and bulldoze over anyone that gets in his way. He’s one scary dude!
The Plot Thickens
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Sain truly changed everything at the end of [b:Burnt Devotion|24660092|Burnt Devotion (Imdalind, #5)|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426185177s/24660092.jpg|44274147]. In this book, the reader finally gets a glimpse at what is happening, the truth behind all the lies. Sain has his own agenda and is playing both sides: Edmund and Ilyan, Ovalia and Joclyn, even Ryland and Wyn. He uses them all, playing them like pieces in a twisted chess game. Truly the twists, surprises, EVERYTHING in the series to date is sheer genius on Rebecca Ethington part!
While I was seriously impressed with the way all the loose ends and questions I’ve had are starting to come together, I was a little disappointed in the execution. The plot moved really slow. Despite this though, I couldn’t set the book down. How’s that for an oxymoron? I felt like while there was a lot of info dump and tying the ends together, there was also a lot of redundancy. The last half of the book flips between many different characters: Ryland, Wyn, Ovalia, Ilyan, Sain, Dramin, and Joclyn. While I like the head hopping and it flowed well without me getting confused who I was reading, it was basically the same scene from different perspectives over and over again! My personal opinion is this could have been done a little better or with fewer characters.
The Ending That Wasn’t an Ending
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m SO excited there is one more! That ending though….I have no words for it! After such a build up, I wasn’t let down that’s for sure. If anything I was left wanting more! If you are a fan of the series or you’re a fan of fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy ASAP!
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.
Sound by is Serena’s story in series. Serena is the middle triplet, the smart, shy sister. She also has the ability to hear the future. As her and her sisters try to unravel the mystery surrounding their father’s disappearance, Serena begins to feel that it is a hopeless case. Trying to move on and get back to their lives proves to be difficult for all of them. When Serena is assigned a biology project with Lara and her brother Damon, studying winds up the least of their problems.
I really enjoyed Serena! She is a quirky character. She always has her head stuck in a book, she enjoys science and figuring things out, and she has a big heart. Her downside is her self-confidence which is fledgling at best. She’s kind if a bit backwards and she seems to really care about those around her.
Damon and Lara are great characters in addition to the sisters. If I thought that Serena was quirky, Lara is over the top, but it makes sense when you realize she has Asperger’s syndrome, a high-function form of Autism. The author did a wonderful job of conveying Lara’s disability without it disabling her. I liked the awareness that it brings to not just the main character but to the reader as well. Lara is quirky, she likes her lists, and she can/does have a breakdown every now and then. Damon makes a wonderful brother for Lara. He’s kind, caring, a bit of a goofball, but he loves his sister and will do anything for her. It’s no wonder Serena falls for him. I did too!
The plot revolves around ghosts haunting Damon and Lara’s house. When Serena firsts hears them, she wonders how in the world she will explain this to them, but she doesn’t have to. Instead they explain it to her. I LOVED this! It made for an interesting read as they explored what was in Damon’s house and how to rid themselves of it. Serena is probably my favorite sister so far in the series and she brings her scientific knowledge alone with her psychic powers to aid Damon and Lara.
Overall this is a really fun read. Serena is a wonderful, easy character to like and Damon and Lara make great side characters to the sisters. The plot of this one kept me on my toes too. With the first book, I easily guessed what was going on but not so with Sound. I was surprised over and over again all the way to the ending which by the way is a worse cliffhanger than the first!!! If you enjoy young adult fiction, urban fantasy, and a good paranormal mystery, than this is the book for you.
Sound by is Serena’s story in series. Serena is the middle triplet, the smart, shy sister. She also has the ability to hear the future. As her and her sisters try to unravel the mystery surrounding their father’s disappearance, Serena begins to feel that it is a hopeless case. Trying to move on and get back to their lives proves to be difficult for all of them. When Serena is assigned a biology project with Lara and her brother Damon, studying winds up the least of their problems.
I really enjoyed Serena! She is a quirky character. She always has her head stuck in a book, she enjoys science and figuring things out, and she has a big heart. Her downside is her self-confidence which is fledgling at best. She’s kind if a bit backwards and she seems to really care about those around her.
Damon and Lara are great characters in addition to the sisters. If I thought that Serena was quirky, Lara is over the top, but it makes sense when you realize she has Asperger’s syndrome, a high-function form of Autism. The author did a wonderful job of conveying Lara’s disability without it disabling her. I liked the awareness that it brings to not just the main character but to the reader as well. Lara is quirky, she likes her lists, and she can/does have a breakdown every now and then. Damon makes a wonderful brother for Lara. He’s kind, caring, a bit of a goofball, but he loves his sister and will do anything for her. It’s no wonder Serena falls for him. I did too!
The plot revolves around ghosts haunting Damon and Lara’s house. When Serena firsts hears them, she wonders how in the world she will explain this to them, but she doesn’t have to. Instead they explain it to her. I LOVED this! It made for an interesting read as they explored what was in Damon’s house and how to rid themselves of it. Serena is probably my favorite sister so far in the series and she brings her scientific knowledge alone with her psychic powers to aid Damon and Lara.
Overall this is a really fun read. Serena is a wonderful, easy character to like and Damon and Lara make great side characters to the sisters. The plot of this one kept me on my toes too. With the first book, I easily guessed what was going on but not so with Sound. I was surprised over and over again all the way to the ending which by the way is a worse cliffhanger than the first!!! If you enjoy young adult fiction, urban fantasy, and a good paranormal mystery, than this is the book for you.
ARV-3 by Cameo Renae is the book I’ve been waiting for!!! You guys know me. You know I love dystopians but friends this book is SO MUCH MORE!!! ARV-3 starts with an apocalyptic event, decimating the planet, and supposedly killing just about everyone that didn’t go in a bunker. Flash forward 13 years and the people who went underground are ready to come out, but there’s a surprise waiting for them, something they aren’t prepared for….arvies, zombie-like humanoids who survived the nuclear fallout. The story follows Abigail Park and those from her hive as they travel the barren wastelands to a “safe zone” and what their lives are now like. It’s amazing!!!
Abigail, Abi for short, was 4 when she went underground with her family and 5 other families. At 17 she dreams of feeling the sun on her skin and the smell of a fresh breeze. But she isn’t delusional. She knows that life isn’t a dream and what they are facing above ground will test everything she is. I like Abi! She’s loyal, strong-willed, determined, and independent. At 17 she is ready for whatever life throws her way.
Finn *sigh* and his mother Anya were last minute additions to Abi’s hive before they went underground and Abi can’t imagine life without him. He’s her best friend, confidante, and someone she knows will always have her back. I personally love him! He’s gorgeous…at least in my mind he is. He’s kind, faithful to Abi and the hive, and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And oh my does he add some swoon-worthy moments to Abi’s life.
The plot of this book really sets up the series BUT that doesn’t make it any less of a great read! Abi and her family have been underground for 13 years. The fifteen people have had little contact with the outside world and other hives. For 13 years, these people have becoming a family and work like a well-oiled machine. The entire story is told from Abi’s POV and you see the cohesive unit the hive has become and the love they have for one another. My heart broke for them when they went topside. Abi’s fear for each of them bled off the pages! As the hive travels to one of the government bunkers, they see things that no one should ever see. The world as they knew it is gone and there is no recovering from that. Yet they have faith that they can. Character-driven and fast-paced suspense drives the plot and I had a really hard time sitting the book down for any length of time.
Overall I loved this book! It gave me horrific nightmares but I loved it! Oxymoron I know but it’s true! I think the reason I loved this book so much though is the world-building. Cameo Renae has created an amazing post-apocalyptic world which forces the characters to adapt and survive. If you enjoy dystopians as much as I do, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book (preferably in the morning) and set aside several hours to binge read! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!
Review in a Gif:
Abigail, Abi for short, was 4 when she went underground with her family and 5 other families. At 17 she dreams of feeling the sun on her skin and the smell of a fresh breeze. But she isn’t delusional. She knows that life isn’t a dream and what they are facing above ground will test everything she is. I like Abi! She’s loyal, strong-willed, determined, and independent. At 17 she is ready for whatever life throws her way.
Finn *sigh* and his mother Anya were last minute additions to Abi’s hive before they went underground and Abi can’t imagine life without him. He’s her best friend, confidante, and someone she knows will always have her back. I personally love him! He’s gorgeous…at least in my mind he is. He’s kind, faithful to Abi and the hive, and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And oh my does he add some swoon-worthy moments to Abi’s life.
The plot of this book really sets up the series BUT that doesn’t make it any less of a great read! Abi and her family have been underground for 13 years. The fifteen people have had little contact with the outside world and other hives. For 13 years, these people have becoming a family and work like a well-oiled machine. The entire story is told from Abi’s POV and you see the cohesive unit the hive has become and the love they have for one another. My heart broke for them when they went topside. Abi’s fear for each of them bled off the pages! As the hive travels to one of the government bunkers, they see things that no one should ever see. The world as they knew it is gone and there is no recovering from that. Yet they have faith that they can. Character-driven and fast-paced suspense drives the plot and I had a really hard time sitting the book down for any length of time.
Overall I loved this book! It gave me horrific nightmares but I loved it! Oxymoron I know but it’s true! I think the reason I loved this book so much though is the world-building. Cameo Renae has created an amazing post-apocalyptic world which forces the characters to adapt and survive. If you enjoy dystopians as much as I do, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book (preferably in the morning) and set aside several hours to binge read! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!
Review in a Gif:
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.
Initial Reaction
This was a seriously awesome read!!!! Strain of Resistance by Michelle Bryan is the first in her new adult, sci-fi dystopian series and it is a MUST READ for fans of those genres. The author does a fantastic job of combining the elements and making a unique, snarky adventure that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I skipped meals and sleep because I just couldn’t sit it down!!! The book begins and ends on the same note of dread and suspense, leaving me begging for more! The story begins with a 12 year old Bixby, witnessing the beginning of the end. I love this line:
Bixby….Just Bixby
Bixby is one screwed-up chick. The first half of her life sucked. She had an abusive father and knew what monsters were before these worms took over. Now at 18, she’s with a group of survivors at the Grand Hotel, going out on hunts, looking for supplies, other survivors, and killing the infected. She’s got a hard shell, few emotions, and the mouth of a sailor. She makes no apologies for herself, she’s just surviving. But it’s quick to see that she’s grieving. The boy she loved didn’t come back and now she refuses to feel those emotions again. Why would she? Everyone leaves eventually.
In addition to Bixby, there’s the guys she runs with. Luke is their “unofficial” leader. He’s kind, just a year older than Bixby, and her lover. According to her, he’s a “gentle giant” and after reading the book, the description is perfect. He makes me swoon! Dom is the dick of the group (to put it nicely). He doesn’t like Bixby or her antics and doesn’t care who knows it. Gordon is the youngest and my favorite. He’s brave and brings a levity to the group, reminding them what it was like to be that age.
Surviving the Fight
In addition to Bixby being a kick-ass character, the story itself is amazing. Told entirely from Bixby’s POV, the story focuses on what it takes to survive. I love the world-building. It’s ominous and horrific! These alien beings that have taken over host bodies and are feeding on the survivors are something straight out of your worst nightmare. Then there’s the other survivors that they are fighting, the cannibals. *shudders* When a group goes missing, Bixby’s crew is sent to find them and what they find changes everything they thought they knew about this new world they live in.
But it isn’t all fighting and surviving. There’s a little time for some steamy romance as well. Luke loves Bixby, no question about it. Bixby runs at the mention of love though. Her heart just isn’t ready for it after her guy disappeared without so much as a trace. I like their relationship. The author does a great job of conveying not only the feelings Bixby has but Luke’s as well. Needless to say I rooted for him from his first entrance into the book.
Conclusion
Overall (if you haven’t guessed from my gushing), I loved this book! Bixby has just the right amount of snark to balance her kindness. And Luke *swoon* But really it’s the horrific world created by Michelle Bryan that sells this book. The worm things, the fight for survival, and the little band of survivors really got me. If you’re looking for a fast-paced read, look no further! I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys new adult dystopians.
PSST….the author has a prequel novella out as well which is AMAZING and gives you a little insight into Bixby’s Sam. It can be read before or after the book without spoiling anything.
Initial Reaction
This was a seriously awesome read!!!! Strain of Resistance by Michelle Bryan is the first in her new adult, sci-fi dystopian series and it is a MUST READ for fans of those genres. The author does a fantastic job of combining the elements and making a unique, snarky adventure that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I skipped meals and sleep because I just couldn’t sit it down!!! The book begins and ends on the same note of dread and suspense, leaving me begging for more! The story begins with a 12 year old Bixby, witnessing the beginning of the end. I love this line:
It didn’t end with a bang at all. It ended with a whimper.Haunting, right?! It sets the tone for the entire book as a 12 year old Bixby witnesses the beginning of the end. A mysterious fog with crystals appears. The crystals are breathed in and infects a majority of the population with a parasite. This zombie-like being takes over the body and erupts through the mouth. Honestly, it’s horrific and I’m doing a poor job of describing it! These parasites feed on the ones not infected and the story of survival and fighting begins.
Bixby….Just Bixby
Bixby is one screwed-up chick. The first half of her life sucked. She had an abusive father and knew what monsters were before these worms took over. Now at 18, she’s with a group of survivors at the Grand Hotel, going out on hunts, looking for supplies, other survivors, and killing the infected. She’s got a hard shell, few emotions, and the mouth of a sailor. She makes no apologies for herself, she’s just surviving. But it’s quick to see that she’s grieving. The boy she loved didn’t come back and now she refuses to feel those emotions again. Why would she? Everyone leaves eventually.
In addition to Bixby, there’s the guys she runs with. Luke is their “unofficial” leader. He’s kind, just a year older than Bixby, and her lover. According to her, he’s a “gentle giant” and after reading the book, the description is perfect. He makes me swoon! Dom is the dick of the group (to put it nicely). He doesn’t like Bixby or her antics and doesn’t care who knows it. Gordon is the youngest and my favorite. He’s brave and brings a levity to the group, reminding them what it was like to be that age.
Surviving the Fight
In addition to Bixby being a kick-ass character, the story itself is amazing. Told entirely from Bixby’s POV, the story focuses on what it takes to survive. I love the world-building. It’s ominous and horrific! These alien beings that have taken over host bodies and are feeding on the survivors are something straight out of your worst nightmare. Then there’s the other survivors that they are fighting, the cannibals. *shudders* When a group goes missing, Bixby’s crew is sent to find them and what they find changes everything they thought they knew about this new world they live in.
But it isn’t all fighting and surviving. There’s a little time for some steamy romance as well. Luke loves Bixby, no question about it. Bixby runs at the mention of love though. Her heart just isn’t ready for it after her guy disappeared without so much as a trace. I like their relationship. The author does a great job of conveying not only the feelings Bixby has but Luke’s as well. Needless to say I rooted for him from his first entrance into the book.
Conclusion
Overall (if you haven’t guessed from my gushing), I loved this book! Bixby has just the right amount of snark to balance her kindness. And Luke *swoon* But really it’s the horrific world created by Michelle Bryan that sells this book. The worm things, the fight for survival, and the little band of survivors really got me. If you’re looking for a fast-paced read, look no further! I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys new adult dystopians.
PSST….the author has a prequel novella out as well which is AMAZING and gives you a little insight into Bixby’s Sam. It can be read before or after the book without spoiling anything.
Spring in Snow Valley
Taylor Hart, Cindy Roland Anderson, Lucy McConnell, Kimberley Montpetit, Jeanette Lewis, Cami Checketts
I received an eARC of this book from I Am a Reader for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I am such a fan of these anthologies set in Snow Valley, Colorado! They have introduced me to a couple of new favorite authors (Taylor Hart, Cindy Roland Anderson) and they are such fun reads. Each novella in the anthology brings back previous characters and introduces new ones while delivering a clean, swoon-worthy read. My favorite in this anthology happens to be The Bet by Taylor Hart and is the 4th novella. Below is my review of it but just so you know I loved them all!
The Bet by Taylor Hart
In The Bet by Taylor Hart, Destiny Morningstar comes to town for her cousin’s wedding and winds up staying to take care of her flower shop while she is on her honeymoon. The last thing Destiny wants is to be in Snow Valley. Her best friend and cousin Fate died there and she can’t escape fast enough. When the computer at the shop goes down, she calls the number her cousin left for her. Adam Moon is not very happy when Destiny calls him, pulling him from his GRE studies. He’s even less happy when he shows up at the flower shop to find that she is the lazy girl from his computer lab at the college that had asked for extra credit, which of course he denied.
I really felt for Destiny. Even after so long she is still grieving for her cousin. They had many plans together that now she is trying to accomplish on her own. She’s kind, a little shy, and can’t decide which Moon brother she likes best, if either of them. Chase was her cousin’s crush and is her age. Adam is the jerk TA that won’t help her get the A she needs to attend a school in Paris next year. But despite those things, she finds herself drawn to both brothers and has to decide between the two.
I really liked both brothers. Adam is older, painfully shy with girls, and kind of a geek, which only adds to his charm. Chase is outgoing, the center of attention, and spends all his time outdoors. When Destiny shows up and both brothers find themselves interested, Chase proposes a bet. The first to kiss her gets dibs. It’s silly and really doesn’t take Destiny into account. From the moment he proposed it, I knew it would backfire on both brothers.
Overall, Chase and Adam give plenty of swoon-worthy moments for Destiny. I really enjoyed the differences in the brothers and what they brought out in Destiny. Chase helped bring the grieving Destiny to terms with Fate’s death. Adam reawakened Destiny to the possibilities that life had in store for her. Can you tell I really enjoyed it? If you enjoy good, clean romance I highly recommend you grab a copy!
I am such a fan of these anthologies set in Snow Valley, Colorado! They have introduced me to a couple of new favorite authors (Taylor Hart, Cindy Roland Anderson) and they are such fun reads. Each novella in the anthology brings back previous characters and introduces new ones while delivering a clean, swoon-worthy read. My favorite in this anthology happens to be The Bet by Taylor Hart and is the 4th novella. Below is my review of it but just so you know I loved them all!
The Bet by Taylor Hart
In The Bet by Taylor Hart, Destiny Morningstar comes to town for her cousin’s wedding and winds up staying to take care of her flower shop while she is on her honeymoon. The last thing Destiny wants is to be in Snow Valley. Her best friend and cousin Fate died there and she can’t escape fast enough. When the computer at the shop goes down, she calls the number her cousin left for her. Adam Moon is not very happy when Destiny calls him, pulling him from his GRE studies. He’s even less happy when he shows up at the flower shop to find that she is the lazy girl from his computer lab at the college that had asked for extra credit, which of course he denied.
I really felt for Destiny. Even after so long she is still grieving for her cousin. They had many plans together that now she is trying to accomplish on her own. She’s kind, a little shy, and can’t decide which Moon brother she likes best, if either of them. Chase was her cousin’s crush and is her age. Adam is the jerk TA that won’t help her get the A she needs to attend a school in Paris next year. But despite those things, she finds herself drawn to both brothers and has to decide between the two.
I really liked both brothers. Adam is older, painfully shy with girls, and kind of a geek, which only adds to his charm. Chase is outgoing, the center of attention, and spends all his time outdoors. When Destiny shows up and both brothers find themselves interested, Chase proposes a bet. The first to kiss her gets dibs. It’s silly and really doesn’t take Destiny into account. From the moment he proposed it, I knew it would backfire on both brothers.
Overall, Chase and Adam give plenty of swoon-worthy moments for Destiny. I really enjoyed the differences in the brothers and what they brought out in Destiny. Chase helped bring the grieving Destiny to terms with Fate’s death. Adam reawakened Destiny to the possibilities that life had in store for her. Can you tell I really enjoyed it? If you enjoy good, clean romance I highly recommend you grab a copy!
I received an eARC of this book via I Am a Reader in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Have you ever read a book that just left you with this big goofy grin? Yeah, that’s this book! If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram is such a fun, light-hearted read about how two people find each other in the unlikeliest of ways. Nate Anderson is a music major, a triplet, and tired of living under his brothers’ shadows when Miss Pearl intervenes sending him to Jordan who happens to be a film major and looking for a roomie. However when Nathan shows up, he realizes Jordan is a she and his girlfriend would never approve of the living arrangement. BUT after his brothers wreck his computer he takes the apartment and realizes that sometimes fate works in mysterious ways.
I adore Nate! He is such a great character and one of the best POV I’ve read in a long time. The book reads like Nate is talking to you, the reader, and it instantly drew me in. He’s quirky, got a little snark to him, but he’s kind, loving, and loyal. Despite his brothers totally trashing his computer, he still loves them and he still forgives them. There’s a bond among them that Kelly Oram does a wonderful job conveying.
And then there’s Jordan who just puts a huge smile on my face. She’s just as quirky as Nate, believes that there is a movie that mirrors every life moment, and despite outward appearances a little broken. She’s a child of a nasty divorce, her last roommate slept with her boyfriend, and this has left her with a very negative outlook on men. Nate becomes a bit of a savior for her as she does for him. She saves him from rooming with his brothers and he saves her from depression. Have you ever heard the phrase “they just fit” when referencing a couple? Well that’s these two. They just fit!
Obviously this book is a contemporary romance and the storyline follows that. It’s like reading your favorite rom com! Nate and Jordan play off each other so well. At the beginning of the story, Nate is having one of those days where anything that could go wrong does and then Miss Pearl intervenes. (Have I mentioned just how much I LOVE Miss Pearl?!) Jordan is the first person Nate has met that doesn’t think he’s crazy for majoring in music. Rather than insulting him by saying what everyone says (“you can’t make a career with that degree”), she supports him. Rather than hating his brothers and being insensitive to his feelings, she understands and supports him. This is the complete opposite of what Nate is used to from his long-term girlfriend Sophie. Jordan and Nate bring out the best in each other and it is how they overcome the obstacles in their path that make this an epic romance that EVERYONE should read!
Overall, if you haven’t already guessed, I LOVED this book! I loved Nate, I loved Jordan, I loved their quirky banter and all the movie references. Mrs. Oram I bow to you, the movie master! She seamlessly incorporates all my favorites and some classic movie references into the book as Nate tells his story. If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book!
Have you ever read a book that just left you with this big goofy grin? Yeah, that’s this book! If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram is such a fun, light-hearted read about how two people find each other in the unlikeliest of ways. Nate Anderson is a music major, a triplet, and tired of living under his brothers’ shadows when Miss Pearl intervenes sending him to Jordan who happens to be a film major and looking for a roomie. However when Nathan shows up, he realizes Jordan is a she and his girlfriend would never approve of the living arrangement. BUT after his brothers wreck his computer he takes the apartment and realizes that sometimes fate works in mysterious ways.
I adore Nate! He is such a great character and one of the best POV I’ve read in a long time. The book reads like Nate is talking to you, the reader, and it instantly drew me in. He’s quirky, got a little snark to him, but he’s kind, loving, and loyal. Despite his brothers totally trashing his computer, he still loves them and he still forgives them. There’s a bond among them that Kelly Oram does a wonderful job conveying.
And then there’s Jordan who just puts a huge smile on my face. She’s just as quirky as Nate, believes that there is a movie that mirrors every life moment, and despite outward appearances a little broken. She’s a child of a nasty divorce, her last roommate slept with her boyfriend, and this has left her with a very negative outlook on men. Nate becomes a bit of a savior for her as she does for him. She saves him from rooming with his brothers and he saves her from depression. Have you ever heard the phrase “they just fit” when referencing a couple? Well that’s these two. They just fit!
Obviously this book is a contemporary romance and the storyline follows that. It’s like reading your favorite rom com! Nate and Jordan play off each other so well. At the beginning of the story, Nate is having one of those days where anything that could go wrong does and then Miss Pearl intervenes. (Have I mentioned just how much I LOVE Miss Pearl?!) Jordan is the first person Nate has met that doesn’t think he’s crazy for majoring in music. Rather than insulting him by saying what everyone says (“you can’t make a career with that degree”), she supports him. Rather than hating his brothers and being insensitive to his feelings, she understands and supports him. This is the complete opposite of what Nate is used to from his long-term girlfriend Sophie. Jordan and Nate bring out the best in each other and it is how they overcome the obstacles in their path that make this an epic romance that EVERYONE should read!
Overall, if you haven’t already guessed, I LOVED this book! I loved Nate, I loved Jordan, I loved their quirky banter and all the movie references. Mrs. Oram I bow to you, the movie master! She seamlessly incorporates all my favorites and some classic movie references into the book as Nate tells his story. If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book!
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer is a wonderful addition to The Lunar Chronicles. There are 9 novellas in this book, each telling a unique story about the characters you love! There’s one story for each of them, along with the an epilogue to [b:Winter|13206900|Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447171461s/13206900.jpg|18390887] that I didn’t know I needed til I read it. If you’re a fan of the series, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book and read it ASAP.
The Keeper: This story may have been my favorite of the entire book. In this prequel to the entire series, Michelle Benoit finds her one-time lover at her door with a proposition to hide the severely injured, presumed dead Princess Selene while she recovers. It was interesting to me to see how this story played out, the quirks that Scarlet saw in her grandmother are explained, and we see how a young Scarlet came to live with her. It was an interesting story, spanning several years, but it gives such insight into the grandmother we see only briefly in the series.
Glitches: This one starts about a week after the end of The Keeper. We see a young Cinder coming to live with her stepfamily and still adjusting to being a cyborg. It also shows the first interactions between Cinder and Peony and Iko, which gives a ton of insight in their relationship in [b:Cinder|11235712|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881s/11235712.jpg|15545385]. While this one was okay, I wasn’t that impressed. It was all information we’d heard before in the previous books.
The Queen’s Army: Wolf’s story! Honestly this one was brutal to read. A 12-year-old Z is ripped from his family, undergoes massive surgery to give him animalistic traits, and then he’s thrown into a pack, expected to fight for the queen. It was interesting to read from Wolf’s POV what happened to him and the other’s like him, conscripted to Queen Levana’s army. Wolf is one of my favorite characters and this novella explains why. Despite everything done to him, he clings to the pieces that are still him, that make him human, NOT wolf.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: I really, really didn’t care for this one. I love Thorne in the series, but this book just reminded me of what a scoundrel he was prior to Cinder finding him in the palace. It explains a lot of the questions I had about him, but at the same time it really made me dislike him…
The Little Android: This one really has nothing at all to do with the series, but is a retelling of the classic The Little Mermaid set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles. Mech 6.0 realizes that something is wrong with her when she begins to fall in love with one of the human mechanics that over see her. It was an oddly sweet, yet disturbing tale about a droid who wants to be more than she is. I really enjoyed it more than I should have and rooted for the mech droid!
After Sunshine Passes By: This is Cress’s story. Cress was never one of my favorite characters but this book made my heart-break for her. She was only 9 when Sybil locked her in the satellite, all alone, to spy on Earthen leaders. I really wanted to cry for her. It explained her naivety when she first meets Throne and the rest of the characters. It made me want to reread her story with this new information.
The Mechanic: This novella is a scene from [b:Cinder|11235712|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881s/11235712.jpg|15545385] but with a different perspective, Kai’s. Kai is in desperate need of a mechanic who can fix Nainsi and he’s heard praises about Linh Cinder in the marketplace. So in disguise, Prince Kai sets off and boy is he surprised to find a girl younger than him is the famous mechanic. I loved this scene in the book but now I really love it! Kai’s reaction wasn’t clear in the book but reading it from his perspective was insightful and so telling about how their relationship progressed.
Something Old, Something New: Wolf and Scarlet are getting married and everyone is coming! This novella is the entire reason I read the book. It’s set around 2 years after [b:Winter|13206900|Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447171461s/13206900.jpg|18390887] ends and really is amazing! I couldn’t stop smiling while I read it. All the characters are back together and this time there’s no fighting for their lives, they are just enjoying being together. It’s perfect and such a sweet, romantic end to a wonderful series!
The Keeper: This story may have been my favorite of the entire book. In this prequel to the entire series, Michelle Benoit finds her one-time lover at her door with a proposition to hide the severely injured, presumed dead Princess Selene while she recovers. It was interesting to me to see how this story played out, the quirks that Scarlet saw in her grandmother are explained, and we see how a young Scarlet came to live with her. It was an interesting story, spanning several years, but it gives such insight into the grandmother we see only briefly in the series.
Glitches: This one starts about a week after the end of The Keeper. We see a young Cinder coming to live with her stepfamily and still adjusting to being a cyborg. It also shows the first interactions between Cinder and Peony and Iko, which gives a ton of insight in their relationship in [b:Cinder|11235712|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881s/11235712.jpg|15545385]. While this one was okay, I wasn’t that impressed. It was all information we’d heard before in the previous books.
The Queen’s Army: Wolf’s story! Honestly this one was brutal to read. A 12-year-old Z is ripped from his family, undergoes massive surgery to give him animalistic traits, and then he’s thrown into a pack, expected to fight for the queen. It was interesting to read from Wolf’s POV what happened to him and the other’s like him, conscripted to Queen Levana’s army. Wolf is one of my favorite characters and this novella explains why. Despite everything done to him, he clings to the pieces that are still him, that make him human, NOT wolf.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: I really, really didn’t care for this one. I love Thorne in the series, but this book just reminded me of what a scoundrel he was prior to Cinder finding him in the palace. It explains a lot of the questions I had about him, but at the same time it really made me dislike him…
The Little Android: This one really has nothing at all to do with the series, but is a retelling of the classic The Little Mermaid set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles. Mech 6.0 realizes that something is wrong with her when she begins to fall in love with one of the human mechanics that over see her. It was an oddly sweet, yet disturbing tale about a droid who wants to be more than she is. I really enjoyed it more than I should have and rooted for the mech droid!
After Sunshine Passes By: This is Cress’s story. Cress was never one of my favorite characters but this book made my heart-break for her. She was only 9 when Sybil locked her in the satellite, all alone, to spy on Earthen leaders. I really wanted to cry for her. It explained her naivety when she first meets Throne and the rest of the characters. It made me want to reread her story with this new information.
The Mechanic: This novella is a scene from [b:Cinder|11235712|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881s/11235712.jpg|15545385] but with a different perspective, Kai’s. Kai is in desperate need of a mechanic who can fix Nainsi and he’s heard praises about Linh Cinder in the marketplace. So in disguise, Prince Kai sets off and boy is he surprised to find a girl younger than him is the famous mechanic. I loved this scene in the book but now I really love it! Kai’s reaction wasn’t clear in the book but reading it from his perspective was insightful and so telling about how their relationship progressed.
Something Old, Something New: Wolf and Scarlet are getting married and everyone is coming! This novella is the entire reason I read the book. It’s set around 2 years after [b:Winter|13206900|Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)|Marissa Meyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447171461s/13206900.jpg|18390887] ends and really is amazing! I couldn’t stop smiling while I read it. All the characters are back together and this time there’s no fighting for their lives, they are just enjoying being together. It’s perfect and such a sweet, romantic end to a wonderful series!
***Please Note that if you haven’t read this series, there are spoilers to prior books in this review!!!***
I really wanted to love this book like I have the rest of the series, but honestly Water & Storm Country by David Estes didn’t measure up to my expectations. This book is the third book in The Country Saga before [b:The Earth Dwellers|17678661|The Earth Dwellers (The Dwellers, #4)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375257041s/17678661.jpg|24695273], the final book in both The Country Saga and The Dwellers Saga. Told in alternating POV, the book ties together those living above and culminates in war.
What I Liked
David Estes can weave a tale like no other! Each book in The Country Saga is technically a standalone with new characters and unique cultures. However Estes brings these characters together by combining the plots and the evil they are facing. In the first book [b:Fire Country|16160701|Fire Country (The Country Saga, #1)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358390068s/16160701.jpg|22002174], Sienna uncovers that her father, the tribe’s leader, is selling the children (those presumed dead/missing) to Ice country, somewhere she didn’t even know existed, in exchange for a cure to the plague. In the second book [b:Ice Country|17250818|Ice Country (The Country Saga, #2)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362532201s/17250818.jpg|23823138], Dazz teams with Skye and Sienna to uncover what his king is doing with the Heater children and where the cure comes from, ending in an epic battle with Riders from somewhere none of them are aware of which leads into this book.
Water and Storm country is the first book in this series to have a country at constant war. You have the Riders of Storm country and their tribe, living off the land, raising and breaking horses, who are constantly vigilant for attack. Then you have the seaman of Water country, who live on a fleet of boats in the ocean. Here’s the reason I enjoyed the book. I liked the author’s vast world that he’s created for both series. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read! And then just how he ties each story together culminating in a massive two-series finale in [b:The Earth Dwellers|17678661|The Earth Dwellers (The Dwellers, #4)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375257041s/17678661.jpg|24695273]. It’s impressive!
The plot of this particular book centers around the Heater slaves on the Water country ships. Huck, the main character living in Water country, begins to question who they are, where they came from, and why they are treated as bilge rats. In Storm country, the Riders know what is happening and plan to stop it by going to Ice country. That tidbit is the climax and end of [b:Ice Country|17250818|Ice Country (The Country Saga, #2)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362532201s/17250818.jpg|23823138] so it was nice seeing how it tied together and seeing the Riders’ perspective.
What I Didn’t Like
I did not like Sadie or Huck, the two main characters and whose POV the book is told from. Huck is a young boy, 14 years old, the Admiral’s son, and a crybaby. He whines through the entire book! Now I’m not saying this is a bad thing because he has a reason to whine and cry and be upset, but after several of his chapters I was over it. I wanted to get in his face and yell “Dry it up!” but I’m not that mean... Sadie is the exact opposite. She’s 16, a Rider, and bitter. She’s angry at everyone and everything that crosses her path. She lashes out, she’s hateful, and can be mean. Now again, not saying she doesn’t have a reason to feel that way, but it got old by the end of the book.
Luckily David Estes never disappoints in the character department. There is plenty of room for character growth with both Huck and Sadie and it happens. You just have to stick it out through the first three-quarters of the book to get to point where the characters are enjoyable. For me this made reading a chore. It wasn’t until some of the previous characters from the series showed up that I started really getting interested in the story.
My Conclusion
Overall, the good outweighed the bad and I did like the story, just not as much as I expected. It really felt like a bridge book, tying most of the loose ends together before moving on to the big finale. While I didn’t care for Huck or Sadie, I liked the secondary characters like Jade, Cain, Remy, and Gard enough to keep interest in their story. If you are a fan of The Country Saga, than I highly suggest you read the book. If you enjoy dystopians with a vast world, than grab this series!
I really wanted to love this book like I have the rest of the series, but honestly Water & Storm Country by David Estes didn’t measure up to my expectations. This book is the third book in The Country Saga before [b:The Earth Dwellers|17678661|The Earth Dwellers (The Dwellers, #4)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375257041s/17678661.jpg|24695273], the final book in both The Country Saga and The Dwellers Saga. Told in alternating POV, the book ties together those living above and culminates in war.
What I Liked
David Estes can weave a tale like no other! Each book in The Country Saga is technically a standalone with new characters and unique cultures. However Estes brings these characters together by combining the plots and the evil they are facing. In the first book [b:Fire Country|16160701|Fire Country (The Country Saga, #1)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358390068s/16160701.jpg|22002174], Sienna uncovers that her father, the tribe’s leader, is selling the children (those presumed dead/missing) to Ice country, somewhere she didn’t even know existed, in exchange for a cure to the plague. In the second book [b:Ice Country|17250818|Ice Country (The Country Saga, #2)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362532201s/17250818.jpg|23823138], Dazz teams with Skye and Sienna to uncover what his king is doing with the Heater children and where the cure comes from, ending in an epic battle with Riders from somewhere none of them are aware of which leads into this book.
Water and Storm country is the first book in this series to have a country at constant war. You have the Riders of Storm country and their tribe, living off the land, raising and breaking horses, who are constantly vigilant for attack. Then you have the seaman of Water country, who live on a fleet of boats in the ocean. Here’s the reason I enjoyed the book. I liked the author’s vast world that he’s created for both series. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read! And then just how he ties each story together culminating in a massive two-series finale in [b:The Earth Dwellers|17678661|The Earth Dwellers (The Dwellers, #4)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375257041s/17678661.jpg|24695273]. It’s impressive!
The plot of this particular book centers around the Heater slaves on the Water country ships. Huck, the main character living in Water country, begins to question who they are, where they came from, and why they are treated as bilge rats. In Storm country, the Riders know what is happening and plan to stop it by going to Ice country. That tidbit is the climax and end of [b:Ice Country|17250818|Ice Country (The Country Saga, #2)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362532201s/17250818.jpg|23823138] so it was nice seeing how it tied together and seeing the Riders’ perspective.
What I Didn’t Like
I did not like Sadie or Huck, the two main characters and whose POV the book is told from. Huck is a young boy, 14 years old, the Admiral’s son, and a crybaby. He whines through the entire book! Now I’m not saying this is a bad thing because he has a reason to whine and cry and be upset, but after several of his chapters I was over it. I wanted to get in his face and yell “Dry it up!” but I’m not that mean... Sadie is the exact opposite. She’s 16, a Rider, and bitter. She’s angry at everyone and everything that crosses her path. She lashes out, she’s hateful, and can be mean. Now again, not saying she doesn’t have a reason to feel that way, but it got old by the end of the book.
Luckily David Estes never disappoints in the character department. There is plenty of room for character growth with both Huck and Sadie and it happens. You just have to stick it out through the first three-quarters of the book to get to point where the characters are enjoyable. For me this made reading a chore. It wasn’t until some of the previous characters from the series showed up that I started really getting interested in the story.
My Conclusion
Overall, the good outweighed the bad and I did like the story, just not as much as I expected. It really felt like a bridge book, tying most of the loose ends together before moving on to the big finale. While I didn’t care for Huck or Sadie, I liked the secondary characters like Jade, Cain, Remy, and Gard enough to keep interest in their story. If you are a fan of The Country Saga, than I highly suggest you read the book. If you enjoy dystopians with a vast world, than grab this series!
I received an eARC of this book from I Am a Reader/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt is one of those books that the characters drew me into their story. It’s been almost a week since I read it and I’m still thinking about them! The story follows Claire Ramsey, a post-grad psych student who has gotten herself tangled into one big conspiracy. Jack Cavanaugh’s job is to take down the con-artist Claire finds herself working with. Yet Jack is captivated by the tiny woman and finds that he wants to protect her as much as he wants to bust the case.
I really liked Claire. She’s a unique and unusual character in the new adult genre. She had the typical looks, petite, beautiful, etc. Yet she also has severe OCD and she’s off her meds. It was interesting seeing the world through her eyes, how she processed the people around her and the situation she finds herself in.
Jack is a swoon-worthy lead and I loved the few chapters that are from his POV. He is cunning, kind, and has this good boy mentality mixed with a bit of bad. Jack is the Pimpernel, the elusive myth that people in the echelon of society dread. He’s who the 1% call when their money/possessions go missing. Think of him as a jack-of-all-trades. And he does his job very well!
The plot focuses on Claire and what brings Jack to Las Vegas: a scam that is taking investors for a project that doesn’t exist. Claire is blackmailed to use her expertise in facial mapping to take part in the scam after her professor (and crush) is arrested for it. Jack is already investigating the case and hopes to get Claire to crack and spill the beans. I loved the mystery and suspense of the novel. When I thought I had it figured out, the author blew my mind by proving I knew nothing!
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters (not just Claire and Jack, but Margo and Ren as well) and the plot was great. I enjoyed the twists and turns and HOPE there will be more from these characters in the future. If you enjoy clean romance, new adult, and crime/mystery, than I believe this book needs to be your next read!
Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt is one of those books that the characters drew me into their story. It’s been almost a week since I read it and I’m still thinking about them! The story follows Claire Ramsey, a post-grad psych student who has gotten herself tangled into one big conspiracy. Jack Cavanaugh’s job is to take down the con-artist Claire finds herself working with. Yet Jack is captivated by the tiny woman and finds that he wants to protect her as much as he wants to bust the case.
I really liked Claire. She’s a unique and unusual character in the new adult genre. She had the typical looks, petite, beautiful, etc. Yet she also has severe OCD and she’s off her meds. It was interesting seeing the world through her eyes, how she processed the people around her and the situation she finds herself in.
Jack is a swoon-worthy lead and I loved the few chapters that are from his POV. He is cunning, kind, and has this good boy mentality mixed with a bit of bad. Jack is the Pimpernel, the elusive myth that people in the echelon of society dread. He’s who the 1% call when their money/possessions go missing. Think of him as a jack-of-all-trades. And he does his job very well!
The plot focuses on Claire and what brings Jack to Las Vegas: a scam that is taking investors for a project that doesn’t exist. Claire is blackmailed to use her expertise in facial mapping to take part in the scam after her professor (and crush) is arrested for it. Jack is already investigating the case and hopes to get Claire to crack and spill the beans. I loved the mystery and suspense of the novel. When I thought I had it figured out, the author blew my mind by proving I knew nothing!
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters (not just Claire and Jack, but Margo and Ren as well) and the plot was great. I enjoyed the twists and turns and HOPE there will be more from these characters in the future. If you enjoy clean romance, new adult, and crime/mystery, than I believe this book needs to be your next read!
Last summer I fell in love with The Selection Series by Kiera Cass and could not get enough. I devoured the series in one weekend and could not wait to get my hands on more. However I’m usually not a big fan of novellas unless they are done well AND the Happily Ever After novellas are. I liked each of them as it gives insight into America, Prince Maxon, and the other side characters. In this companion, all four novellas are included along with some bonus scenes from all three books and a Where are they now? feature for a couple of the girls that participated in the Selection with America.
The Queen
In The Queen, the author gives us unique insight into Maxon’s parents, namely Amberly and her Selection. Amberly comes from a poor caste and country when she is chosen for the Selection. She’s fantasized about King Clarkson since she was a little girl and finds her dreams coming true as she finally gets a chance to meet and know him.
This novella is probably my favorite of all of them. Queen Amberly was one of my favorite characters and to see her as a young girl of 17, dealing with her headaches, learning the ropes of palace life, and falling madly in love with the King Clarkson was perfect. I liked the dynamic between her and Clarkson, we see why he chose her and why she loves him and is able to forgive him of his many shortcomings.
The Prince
Prince Maxon was never my favorite character. He was immature, naive, and I felt like he couldn’t make a decision when it came to the girls. BUT I really liked his novella. I feel like it gives such insight into the prince and how he comes to be the guy we know in the series. The novella starts about a week before the Selection and goes through his first date with America which I loved finding out his feelings during those scenes.
Maxon is more than a little nervous about the Selection. He’s never looked at girls because he knows that this is a requirement for him. Why fall in love with someone you can’t have? That’s his mentality. Going into the Selection, Maxon is excited and sick at his stomach at the thought of 34 girls coming to the palace for him. He doesn’t have a clue what to expect and his father is no help. When he thinks the Selection is rigged by his father, he’s more than a little heartsick. It isn’t fate bringing him together with his future wife but his father’s controlling hand. Then the girl from a lower caste, a “throw-away” brings a little life to him and throws him for a loop. As I said, I loved these scenes in the book so I enjoyed getting the prince’s perspective.
The Guard
I never really cared for Aspen (Something I’ve realized writing this review, America’s two love interests, I didn’t love either of them). It’s not that I didn’t like Aspen because I did. What I didn’t like about him was his obsession with America. I felt like he threw her away, forced her to enter the Selection and then once she is a front-runner wants her back. This novella explains his actions a bit better than America’s POV does and I wind up liking him better because of it. Even if the ending broke my heart a little.
The novella spans the time after Marlee when America is questioning her true feelings for Maxon. What I felt this novella did was show the difference between first love and true love. There is a big difference and sometimes people are lucky to experience both with the same person. In this series that isn’t the case and the novella shows the love Aspen has for America, the sweetness of first love but not true love. He was blind to her real feelings and kept trying to pursue her and rekindle what they had.
The Favorite
Marlee was my favorite character of the series. She was spunky, bright, true to herself, and America’s best friend/confidante. I was more than a little curious to read her story and see what developed between her and the guard Woodwork that led to their caning. I felt that Kiera Cass did an amazing job of portraying Marlee.
The novella begins the night before the caning and continues to after the end of [b:The One|18635016|The One (The Selection, #3)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395612906s/18635016.jpg|21587145]. Marlee is alone in her cell with nothing but memories. It was so sweet to experience Woodwork and Marlee’s romance through her memories and heart-wrenching to read the caning through her eyes. Overall this novella made the entire book worthwhile.
The Queen
In The Queen, the author gives us unique insight into Maxon’s parents, namely Amberly and her Selection. Amberly comes from a poor caste and country when she is chosen for the Selection. She’s fantasized about King Clarkson since she was a little girl and finds her dreams coming true as she finally gets a chance to meet and know him.
This novella is probably my favorite of all of them. Queen Amberly was one of my favorite characters and to see her as a young girl of 17, dealing with her headaches, learning the ropes of palace life, and falling madly in love with the King Clarkson was perfect. I liked the dynamic between her and Clarkson, we see why he chose her and why she loves him and is able to forgive him of his many shortcomings.
The Prince
Prince Maxon was never my favorite character. He was immature, naive, and I felt like he couldn’t make a decision when it came to the girls. BUT I really liked his novella. I feel like it gives such insight into the prince and how he comes to be the guy we know in the series. The novella starts about a week before the Selection and goes through his first date with America which I loved finding out his feelings during those scenes.
Maxon is more than a little nervous about the Selection. He’s never looked at girls because he knows that this is a requirement for him. Why fall in love with someone you can’t have? That’s his mentality. Going into the Selection, Maxon is excited and sick at his stomach at the thought of 34 girls coming to the palace for him. He doesn’t have a clue what to expect and his father is no help. When he thinks the Selection is rigged by his father, he’s more than a little heartsick. It isn’t fate bringing him together with his future wife but his father’s controlling hand. Then the girl from a lower caste, a “throw-away” brings a little life to him and throws him for a loop. As I said, I loved these scenes in the book so I enjoyed getting the prince’s perspective.
The Guard
I never really cared for Aspen (Something I’ve realized writing this review, America’s two love interests, I didn’t love either of them). It’s not that I didn’t like Aspen because I did. What I didn’t like about him was his obsession with America. I felt like he threw her away, forced her to enter the Selection and then once she is a front-runner wants her back. This novella explains his actions a bit better than America’s POV does and I wind up liking him better because of it. Even if the ending broke my heart a little.
The novella spans the time after Marlee when America is questioning her true feelings for Maxon. What I felt this novella did was show the difference between first love and true love. There is a big difference and sometimes people are lucky to experience both with the same person. In this series that isn’t the case and the novella shows the love Aspen has for America, the sweetness of first love but not true love. He was blind to her real feelings and kept trying to pursue her and rekindle what they had.
The Favorite
Marlee was my favorite character of the series. She was spunky, bright, true to herself, and America’s best friend/confidante. I was more than a little curious to read her story and see what developed between her and the guard Woodwork that led to their caning. I felt that Kiera Cass did an amazing job of portraying Marlee.
The novella begins the night before the caning and continues to after the end of [b:The One|18635016|The One (The Selection, #3)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395612906s/18635016.jpg|21587145]. Marlee is alone in her cell with nothing but memories. It was so sweet to experience Woodwork and Marlee’s romance through her memories and heart-wrenching to read the caning through her eyes. Overall this novella made the entire book worthwhile.