Origin of the Sphinx by Raye Wagner is a prequel novella to the series, The Sphinx. It tells the story of Phoibe, daughter of Hera, and how her daughter (Hope’s grandmother) became cursed as the Sphinx. To fans of the series it is an absolute must read! While it doesn’t have any bearing on the plot of the series (so you could read it before starting the series or after the first book), it does give some important background, namely the events that led up to the curse.

Phoibe is a young girl when her father has to make the decision between raising her and having a family with his wife. Ultimately he makes the decision to send Phoibe to live with Priska, a wise woman in the village, another demigod. She is only 6 when this happens and it affects her more that I think she realized. Phoibe is naive with a heart of gold. She’s kind, sweet, and all to trusting.

During the festival of Hestia, the summer Phoibe becomes of age, she meets and falls in love with another mortal. However she also catches the eye of the arrogant god Apollo. Apollo claims he wants only friendship and as Phoibe is lonely living with her “aunt” she finds comfort in the god’s attention. As she ages, she realizes her mistake and must chose between her mortal and the sun god.

This is the crux of the story, Phoibe’s choice. Does she choose a moment of happiness and love in her immortal life with a mortal? OR does she choose to be a consort of Apollo? I really enjoyed this short novella. It gives such insight into Hope’s curse and really is a heart-breaking tale. Phoibe’s choice is pure and of the heart, but Apollo tugged at my heart as well. He wooed me as he wooed Phoibe. Overall this is insight for the series and things to come. I can’t wait!

I received an eARC of this book via 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.

In All My Years by Ciara Knight is the second book in the Riverbend series and this time follows Anna’s mom Kathleen and Liam’s uncle Column. These characters were introduced in the first book of the series so I was really excited to finally read their story and version of events that were mentioned in [b:In All My Wishes|28509981|In All My Wishes (Riverbend Book 1)|Ciara Knight|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1452497961s/28509981.jpg|48666395]. If you have not read the first book, do not read this review as there are minor, unavoidable spoilers. Ten years ago Kathleen Baker fled Riverbend with her daughter in the middle of the night to escape her husband. Now she’s back in the only place that ever felt like home. Column Harrow has lived those 10 years with guilt that he didn’t protect the woman he loved, but now he might get a second chance.

I really liked Kathleen. She’s a survivor. Her husband is a part of the drug mafia, used to beat on her, and instilled at an early part of their marriage that she had no power. The first chance she got she escaped him, but then he found her. One night ten years ago, Kathleen fled but thought him dead. She spent years dealing with depression and overwhelming anxiety. Her body shut down and she couldn’t be there for her daughter. Now with Anna pregnant, she wants to make up for her past and gain her daughter’s forgiveness. BUT she’s also ready to move on if Column will have her.

My heart bled for Column Harrow. In the first book, he’s portrayed as this mean, bitter old man. But in reality he’s a man who has lived with guilt for ten years. He was awful to Liam his nephew, kicking him out of their home at a young age to force him to move on with his life after Anna and Kathleen left. Now with Kathleen back, he finds himself at a loss. He doesn’t know how to feel about her. Does she love him still? She’s the only woman he ever loved and he took her leaving hard. He will suck up his pride if it means she’ll love him.

The plot of this book focuses on one important fact: Kathleen’s husband who she thought dead is in fact alive. After living the last ten years thinking that Column killed him, she now finds herself at a crossroads. She can either let the man continue to rule her life or she can ask for help. I found this part of the story interesting. Miscommunication kept Column and Kathleen apart for years and now with the choice she faces, will she turn to him? I was impressed with the way the author portrayed the danger she and her family were in AND the constant terror they faced from her husband.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the last in the series which will feature the FBI agent and journalist introduced in this story. I love Ciara Knight‘s story-telling. It is so easy to fall in love with the characters, the town, and the sweet romance. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend this one! While it is the 2nd in a series and it’s recommended you read them in order, it can be read as a standalone.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin is the first book in a post-apocalyptic series about something that could potentially (and I hope NEVER does) happen. You know the super volcano in Yellow Stone national park in the US? The author has centered his story around the “what if” it erupted. I can honestly say it was a shock reading the story as the main character faced one problem after another, as he listened to the eruption, survived the ashfall, and then began to wonder about all those too close to the eruption who were killed almost instantly. I get chills even thinking about it!!!

Alex is a your average 15, almost 16, year old boy at the start of the story. His mom is nagging him, again, to go with the family to visit his uncle for the weekend. He gets out of it claiming homework, in reality he just wants to stay home and play video games with his buddies. And then the eruption occurs. Suddenly that sullen teen has aged ten years. His only thought is how selfish he was and how he needs to find his family. This drives the story forward as Alex ventures out to get to his family, to hug his mom and never let go.

I was impressed with the author’s research for this book. He made the eruption and subsequent events so believable, eerily so! I was completely drawn into the story, Alex’s plight, and the race for survival. BUT the violence — as other reviewers have pointed out — was brutal! By the end of the book, I was numb to it. I just couldn’t handle anymore. I would like to think the best of my fellow human beings, but I think the scary part of this book is that it portrays such an accurate representation of what could happen. People turn on each other again and again. Neighbors, convicts, even the government can’t be relied on. It’s a terrifying thought!

Overall I really enjoyed this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat, not able to turn the pages fast enough. The narrative style writing made it a quick and easy read, allowing me to be immersed completely in Alex’s story. And Darla....Darla is my hero. Just read the book and you will see why. But perhaps for me what made this such a great book is that it isn’t your typical dystopian. This story is about survival and what lengths you may or may not be willing to go to. Fans of dystopian should read this book ASAP, but fair warning it isn’t for the faint of heart.

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

Initial Reaction



One word to describe Ruined by Amy Tintera…..AMAZING!!!! I was immediately taken with Em’s revenge and the dystopian-esque feel of the plot. I cheered her on, I shed a few tears and yes I even fell in love. This story has stuck with me, even spawning a few horrifying dreams. In short, it’s a MUST READ for 2016.

A Fine Line Between Love and Hate
Emelina Flores is in hiding, the heir to the throne of Ruina. She’s cunning, fierce, and just a tad scary. Her younger sister and Queen of Ruina was kidnapped by the King of Lera after he killed their mother and set up the killing of their father. Em wants her sister back and the Leran royal family dead. She will stop at nothing to do this, including murdering the Leran prince’s bride and posing as her.



Prince Casimir is living a life he doesn’t necessarily agree with. He’s being forced to marry Princess Mary of Valos after her parents are killed to unite their kingdoms. He’s seventeen and being forced into a political marriage!!! He knew this was something that could eventually happen, but he didn’t expect it so soon nor did he expect to fall for the girl. And then there’s his father’s policy on the Ruined. He questions the morality of killing them just because they have powers.

Em and Cas ♥︎ I don’t think Em expected Cas. She expected a spoiled prince that was just as ruthless as the king. BUT Cas is almost the opposite. He’s kind and inherently good. He believes in a better world for the Ruined and would like to give it to them. Em becomes more and more confused as the book goes on.

Revenge and Revolution
Em and her plans are the center of the plot. Her goal is to free Ruina and her sister from the tyranny of Lera. She starts the book ruthless, ready to kill at a moment’s notice. But of course it’s never that easy. She pretends to be someone she’s not, to gain the Royal Family’s trust. She has no qualms about tricking them, until she gets to know them. This is where the crux of the plot lies. Is what Em doing right or is she just like the tyrant king she is trying to free her people of?

The world-building is fantastic, but the true driver of the plot is the character development. The characters make this story. Their struggles and grief, their triumphs and relationships. All of it! And it’s more than just Cas and Em who alternate POV within the book. The secondary characters are just as poignant: Aren and Galo and Jovita and Iria. Each character brings a different aspect to the story and main characters. They are each unique and important to the overall story. I couldn’t get enough of them!

Overall Conclusion
While the beginning of the story reminded me a little too much of the first [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335819760s/7896527.jpg|11138426] novel, Ruined really came into its own by the midway point. I was immediately drawn into Em’s revenge, her heart-break and her sense of duty. If you only read one book this year, let Ruined be that book!!!

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.

Solstice by Jane Redd (which is really [a:Heather B. Moore|1344869|Heather B. Moore|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268230264p2/1344869.jpg] writing under a pseudonym) hooked me into the story immediately. Jezebel James is sixteen and a student in the A Level of society, meaning she is fast-tracked to study at the university level and eventually work as a scientist for the government. But there is something unique about Jezebel. She’s immune to the Harmony implant that every citizen is required to have placed at birth. This implant suppresses extreme emotions, allowing society to run smoothly with no criminal activity or “useless” fighting. Without it, Jez runs the risk of being found out and the penalty is death.

The dystopian world portrayed in Solstice is both haunting and something I could see happening, scary enough! Forty years prior to the start of the book, the rains started. It has rained everyday, all day since. This has basically resulted in a water world setting, with few places that there is viable land. 2 million live in the city Jez is in and it is the largest and only known civilized settlement. The Legislature (government) controls everything with an iron fist. No exceptions to the rules, no exceptions to the Harmony implant which not only controls emotions but tracks the citizens movements. Honestly it’s a totalitarian rule with little room for humans to be humans.

Jez has grown up in this society, immune to the implant and Carrier to a key that could save the human race, if she knows where to look. Her caretaker (parent) has coached her on hiding her emotions. This slowly eats at Jez. She wants to feel and is scared to feel all at the same time. I cannot imagine living in a society that dictates I cannot love, I can’t laugh, I can’t cry. This is Jezebel’s life and what she must hide at all times.

When her caretaker dies and leaves her a journal as an inheritance (the written word is also illegal), Jez is sent to prison for hiding the book. While there she uncovers more and more about who she is, what the Legislature is all about and the depths the government has gone to in order to “survive.” It’s all in the name of survival and I love that Jez, as the facts become known, really questions what she’s thought to be true her entire life.

Overall, this is a fantastic read! I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the plot flow wasn’t even. There were times it was fast, times it dragged, and other times I thought I missed something in the turning of the chapters. Big holes in some cases but nothing so drastic as to make me sit the story down. If you enjoy dystopians, I highly recommend this one be your next read!

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.

Love is Come by Heather B. Moore is the fourth installment in the standalone series Power of the Matchmaker. In this book, we see Miss Pearl in 1908 New York and her gentle pushing of Nelle and Mathew. I love each book in this series! The authors bring a unique perspective to Miss Pearl and her matchmaking abilities.

Nelle is a heartbreaking character. During the very first chapter, she loses everything she’s ever known. Her beau is not who she thought he was, her parents are killed in an accident, her uncle inherits the only home she’s ever had, and she can’t access her inheritance until she turns 21 at the end of the Summer. Like I said she loses everything in one night. My heart bled for her. I couldn’t imagine the grief and worry as she sets out for her aunt’s home. And then the reception her aunt gives her….ugh!!! I didn’t know how to take it. Nelle is much kinder than me. She sees the kindness in those around her and has a heart to help others even when they don’t necessarily want it.

Mathew Janson is Nelle’s cousin’s fiancé. Like Nelle, he’s kind. He lost his father a few years back and now runs his business and takes care of his mother. He doesn’t love his fiancé though, it was arranged between their mothers. Because he is honor bound to her, he is faithful. Yet Nelle wakes up the part of him that was always asleep with her cousin. He never knew what it would be like to have someone that listens to him and actually cares about his work and his mother. Yet he feels a duty to her cousin and because of this he keeps Nelle at distance, breaking both their hearts in the process.

I liked both of these characters but found their reasoning for staying apart tiring. BUT then again the time period they lived in, it was dictated that they act as such. I’ve always had a soft spot for this time period in American history. I love stories set during it and the author does a wonderful job of conveying the social rules that govern their actions. If you enjoy the series already, than you should definitely continue reading with this book. It was a sweet, clean romance that will pull at your heartstrings. If you’ve not read the series, it’s okay. The books can be read as standalone and in any order without losing their magic. I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves historical romance.

I received an eARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Girl from Summer Hill by Jude Deveraux is an endearing retelling of Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, set in the hill country of Virginia. Casey Reddick is trying to find herself in the seclusion of Summer Hill when the owner of the estate Hollywood movie star Tate Landers crashes into her life. Sparks ignite between them, but not the good kind as Casey’s prejudice wounds Tate’s pride. Overcoming their bad start makes for a swoon-worthy, often funny read.

Casey is a great character. She’s independent, relies on no one and takes pride in the work that she does. She’s a cook, a star in the culinary world and takes her job very seriously. Her short-comings though come in the form of naivety. Rather than trusting the very honest movie star, she trusts someone she thinks is normal, a nobody like her. Her prejudice against Tate and his ability as an actor leads her to distrust him and not be fully honest with him. As the reader, it’s heart-breaking to read!

Tate is my new book boyfriend. He’s mine girls, you can’t claim him! Tate is the exact opposite of what you’d think since he is an A-List star. He’s self-conscious, keeps to himself, doesn’t like publicity, and is a family man. His little sister and niece are his world and let me just tell you how endearing that is!

When he catches Casey watching him shower (this happens in the first few pages of the book so it’s not a spoiler), he loses it. Tate came to Summer Hill to get away from paparazzi and here they are on his property. Technically he doesn’t know that she is renting the little house from him when she catches him in her shower. Casey is in shock. How dare the man she doesn’t know yell at her when he is in her house. She threatens to call the cops! Both are in the right and I felt for both of them. This scene is perhaps the funniest in the book and the catalyst for the story.

Miscommunication and misunderstanding make for a funny read. Jude Deveraux is the master of dramatic irony. Telling the story from all points of view so that at any given time you as the reader know what the characters are thinking, what they are feeling and the motives behind their actions. It really is a superb read! I so enjoyed the aspects of Austen’s classic flowing throughout this tale. All the characters we love and hate are represented and the title of each chapter is a subtle, fun homage to Austen.

Overall (if you couldn’t tell already) I really loved this book! I devoured it in one day. Yes I skipped sleep and neglected my adult duties of laundry in order to do so and YES it was worth it. If you are a fan of Austen, love contemporary romance, or you’re looking for a sweet read, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book!

Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs is the first in a new series about superheroes and villains. I honestly enjoyed this book way more than I expected to. From the first lines to the last I was fully engaged with the characters, their plight, and the world in which they lived. Kenna Swift is an ordinary living in the world of heroes. She works in her mother’s lab and everything is right in her world. Heroes are good, villains are bad and there is no gray area. That is until she catches three villains breaking into her mother’s lab and everything she thought she knew about the world is shattered.

Kenna is one of those main characters that will stick with me for a long time. While she sees herself as powerless, I see her as fearless. She willingly puts herself in danger time and again to help her friends. She isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions and face the truth head on. Now that isn’t to say she doesn’t struggle with the truths she learns because she does, a great deal. This is what makes her character great! The authors pour into her growth and as a reader it is wonderful to see.

Even though Kenna is the main character, the story wouldn’t have been so addictive without the side characters. There is an entire cast of characters that fight alongside and against Kenna that make this story so gripping. I loved Rebel, her best friend and super heroine. Like her name suggests, she is a rebel and it through her that Kenna’s eyes begin to open to the gray areas that surround her life. And I can’t write a review without mentioning Draven, the villain who turns Kenna’s world inside out. *swoon*

My only complaint (and it’s minor, not even worth dropping my love a star) was the world-building. The authors immerse the reader into Kenna’s world with little to no information about it. There’s this great opener that’s like a memo/office email about the world she lives in and then boom! We’re right in the action and suppose to understand the world of heroes and villains. Honestly it didn’t bother me, though I really wanted to know more! I loved the dynamic, the informal laws, and the action-packed adventure that Kenna and her friends find themselves in.

Overall I adored this book! I’ve always been a fan of superheroes and villain stories. Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs take it to a new level! They combine the things I love about the comics and movies and created a wonderful book for teens everywhere! There’s snark and humor, diversity, and even a little romance. I can’t recommend this book enough!

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

Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs is a fantastic conclusion to the duology The Hero Agenda. Honestly I really hope there’s more but if there isn’t I’m satisfied. At the end of [b:Powerless|23314948|Powerless (The Hero Agenda, #1)|Tera Lynn Childs|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422642026s/23314948.jpg|42869441], Kenna and her friends are separated, Draven is possibly dead, and Kenna’s mom is still missing. I am SO thankful I had an ARC of this one when I finished book one because I don’t think I could have waited to find out what happened!

Kenna has quickly become one of my favorite characters! She’s feisty and at the end of book one, she finds out about her powers. She’s no longer powerless, but powerful and I LOVED reading her transformation!

The first book in the series (while excellent!) really set up the action for this installment. It is jam packed with action! It was like reading one of my favorite Marvel movies. Kenna and her friends, a mixture of villains and heroes, must figure out what the leader of the heroes is up to before it is too late for everyone. There’s more world-building in this installment than in the first book which just increased how much I liked it.

In addition to the world-building and action-packed plot, there’s a lot going on with the characters. Where the first book was plot-driven, this one is more character-driven in my opinion. Kenna is learning her new powers but the other characters are learning to adapt to her and each other. Heroes and Villains have never worked together, they are indoctrinated to hate each other, but they are working together and they are finding that not much is different among them.

If you can’t tell, I loved this book! I would love more of this world and Kenna and her friends. I enjoyed it from the first word to the last and could not get enough. In fact, I read it twice! If you enjoy a good vs evil tale, a little romance, and a lot of adventure, I highly recommend you read the series!

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

Actual Rating: 3.5★



I really, really wanted to love Admiral by Sean Danker. I was psyched to read it! I love a good sci-fi thriller and this promised to be just that. Seriously, did you read that blurb?! I was expecting awesomeness. Instead I got a story that while it was good, even could be considered on-the-edge-of-your-seat good, it was also boring. There was a ton of build-up and mystery and then it just ended in this massive info-dump. So yeah….disappointed!

The main character (MC from here out as he never gives a name for himself) has a ton of secrets and as the story is told from his perspective I thought the reader would be included in his secrets. FYI we’re not, but that’s ok. It adds to the suspense of the book and the characters’ situation. MC wakes up after his sleeper malfunctions. The only thing he knows is something is wrong with the ship. It’s on emergency power and the other three passengers that were in the sleepers are also awake. His sleeper only identifies him as an admiral, an honorary title according to MC so from the get-go there is a lot of distrust among between him and the other characters. MC is courageous, thinks quickly on his feet, and has a lot of issues (you’ll have to read it to figure them out, no spoilers here).

The other characters are trainees in the Imperial Army, straight from academy. Their fresh-eyed look at the universe they live in irritates MC but he also doesn’t have the heart to disillusion them. He’s a natural leader and even though they don’t trust him, they follow his orders. Nils is perhaps my favorite of the the three. He’s an Ensign, aka the manual labor, mechanic, whatever you want to call him. I kept picturing Scotty from Star Trek: “She cannot take anymore Captain.”

So as the blurb suggests, the crew find themselves stuck on an alien planet with no way off, air running out, and dwindling supplies. Add to this the planet is also literally falling apart and you now have the setting of our story. The MC and the other three need to find away to signal the Imperial Army so they can be found OR they need to find another means off the planet and quick. The book read like a good episode of Star Trek crossed with a dose of Star Wars. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact this is what caught my interest. However the world-building outside of the characters’ situation was little to nonexistent. I felt like I knew nothing about the Imperial Army, why they were at war, why there is know a cease-fire, and who the heck MC really is.

Overall the book was just okay. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for some big reveal or something terrible to happen and when it does (not if because we all know from that blurb it’s a when) I was underwhelmed. There was a ton of info dump squeezed into one quick chapter and then it was over. I was left feeling cheated after such a suspenseful read. Who is MC really? What was up with that planet? And what is going to happen with the Empress and Imperial Army? Despite the ending, I do want to read more from this world and plan to do just that! If you’re a fan of space opera, science fiction, and military fiction, you will enjoy this book!