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I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
It’s been a few months since I read Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray, but I’ve thought about it often. A combination of sci-fi, dystopia, and even a little romance make it a top read for me this year. The book opens during a space battle and the action never slows. It hooked me from the first page and I didn’t want it to end. Plus it’s duel POV in limited 3rd person…..AMAZING!!!!
The premise of the book is pretty cool. Earth was apparently dying so they settled several planets by going through a worm hole to do so. Only one of those planets is identical (or as close as it can be) to Earth….Genesis. Genesis is everything Earth should have been. They believe in relying on nature as much as possible so as not to pollute and corrupt their world. And after so many years (I’m not really clear on how long they have been settled) they are fighting for their independence from Earth. This civil war has been raging for fifty years and GUYS!!!! It reminds me of a cross between Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars. Y’all it’s epic!
Noemi is young, but fierce. I love her and her dedication to her world. She believes in what she is fighting for and even volunteers to be a part of a suicide mission to disable the wormhole/blackhole thingy (sorry, I can’t remember what she actually calls it in the book). But the mission goes awry and she winds up finding Abel and taking a trip through the galaxies.
Abel is an oddity. He’s a mech, but not just any mech. He’s the original mech, the A version, the first. He was supposed to be rumor, but Noemi finds him alone, trapped on a disabled space ship where he has been for fifty years. Can you imagine being by yourself for fifty years, in the same room?! I’d die of boredom! It seems Abel has evolved. Abel is kind, he’s thoughtful, his brain has no filter which makes for several humorous miscommunications between him and Noemi. But most importantly for Noemi, he seems to have a soul. It’s hard to think of him as less than human, even if he is. The author has written his character so well…he even bleeds.
I love the relationship that builds between them. Abel is sweet and a little naive, while Noemi is bitter about the future she has set for herself. She wants to live, she wants to have a life, but she is doomed to die to save her world. It’s kind of heartbreaking her determination and willingness to sacrifice herself.
In addition to their relationship, the world-building is phenomenal. It’s everything I love about sci-fi in a young adult package. There are space battles, mechs that resemble cylons (yes cylons *squee*) and multiple worlds to explore. Each world is detailed and unique so you don’t get confused about where they are. Like Noemi, I want to be selfish and explore them all.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. While the pace in the beginning was kind of slow, it does a 180 about halfway through and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Beautifully written I can’t wait for the second book in the duology. If you enjoy scifi, I highly recommend it!
It’s been a few months since I read Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray, but I’ve thought about it often. A combination of sci-fi, dystopia, and even a little romance make it a top read for me this year. The book opens during a space battle and the action never slows. It hooked me from the first page and I didn’t want it to end. Plus it’s duel POV in limited 3rd person…..AMAZING!!!!
The premise of the book is pretty cool. Earth was apparently dying so they settled several planets by going through a worm hole to do so. Only one of those planets is identical (or as close as it can be) to Earth….Genesis. Genesis is everything Earth should have been. They believe in relying on nature as much as possible so as not to pollute and corrupt their world. And after so many years (I’m not really clear on how long they have been settled) they are fighting for their independence from Earth. This civil war has been raging for fifty years and GUYS!!!! It reminds me of a cross between Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars. Y’all it’s epic!
Noemi is young, but fierce. I love her and her dedication to her world. She believes in what she is fighting for and even volunteers to be a part of a suicide mission to disable the wormhole/blackhole thingy (sorry, I can’t remember what she actually calls it in the book). But the mission goes awry and she winds up finding Abel and taking a trip through the galaxies.
Abel is an oddity. He’s a mech, but not just any mech. He’s the original mech, the A version, the first. He was supposed to be rumor, but Noemi finds him alone, trapped on a disabled space ship where he has been for fifty years. Can you imagine being by yourself for fifty years, in the same room?! I’d die of boredom! It seems Abel has evolved. Abel is kind, he’s thoughtful, his brain has no filter which makes for several humorous miscommunications between him and Noemi. But most importantly for Noemi, he seems to have a soul. It’s hard to think of him as less than human, even if he is. The author has written his character so well…he even bleeds.
I love the relationship that builds between them. Abel is sweet and a little naive, while Noemi is bitter about the future she has set for herself. She wants to live, she wants to have a life, but she is doomed to die to save her world. It’s kind of heartbreaking her determination and willingness to sacrifice herself.
In addition to their relationship, the world-building is phenomenal. It’s everything I love about sci-fi in a young adult package. There are space battles, mechs that resemble cylons (yes cylons *squee*) and multiple worlds to explore. Each world is detailed and unique so you don’t get confused about where they are. Like Noemi, I want to be selfish and explore them all.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. While the pace in the beginning was kind of slow, it does a 180 about halfway through and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Beautifully written I can’t wait for the second book in the duology. If you enjoy scifi, I highly recommend it!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Where do I begin? Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones was my most anticipated debut of 2017 and unfortunately it did not live up to the hype in my head. A story inspired by a childhood favorite of mine — Labyrinth — I was just expecting more: more fantasy, more romance, more intrigue and suspense. Don’t get me wrong though this book could really be labeled as a romance and nothing more.
The Goblin King was once a friend, a playmate of Liesl as a child. But now he is all grown up and come to claim his bride. As love interests goes, I was unimpressed with the Goblin King. He was mysterious and stand-offish, then he would be overbearing and seductive. He was a contradiction that I’m still trying to grasp. But he did not frighten me, even when I thought he should have frightened Liesl. She was his Elisabeth (say that in a German accent and swoon a little please).
The book itself could really be split into two sections: the first a maze Underground while Liesl tries to save her sister, the second Liesl’s marriage to the Goblin King. During the first part, I was most reminded of Labyrinth. Liesl is a girl who is trying to save her sister. She’s terrified of the goblins and changelings that inhabit the Underground, but she puts that terror aside to rescue her family. The second part is a romance plain and simple. The Goblin King tries to trap Liesl into staying, he keeps her when she doesn’t want to stay and she slowly withers. I think my biggest issue with this story is the fact that it is labeled young adult. There is nothing young adult about the second part of this book. It had me, a thirty year old, blushing while reading. That’s just wrong on so many levels.
Overall the story was just okay for me. I was both impressed and disappointed in the Goblin King’s world. I did like the tie in to historical fact about the time period, I liked Liesl, and the writing itself is beautiful, prose-like in its quality. However the romantic scenes were a bit much in my opinion for a young adult book. I know I wouldn’t let my teen read it, not until they were at least 17, maybe not even then. So that friends was a let down. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, historical fiction, and a bit of mystery, you may enjoy this book. It just didn’t work for me.
Where do I begin? Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones was my most anticipated debut of 2017 and unfortunately it did not live up to the hype in my head. A story inspired by a childhood favorite of mine — Labyrinth — I was just expecting more: more fantasy, more romance, more intrigue and suspense. Don’t get me wrong though this book could really be labeled as a romance and nothing more.
Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood…Liesl, or Elisabeth, is a young woman who takes a journey of discovery in this book. Somewhere between her childhood and now, she’s lost herself, her passion for music, and her own joy. Instead she pours it all into her baby brother, a child prodigy. She gives of herself over and over again to her family, even her baby sister has been engaged to the boy she thought she loved and would be hers. The older, ugly sister always passed up for her beautiful sister and talented brother. Do you see the self-pity in those words?! This character is a shadow in the beginning and I loved seeing her progression throughout the story.
The Goblin King was once a friend, a playmate of Liesl as a child. But now he is all grown up and come to claim his bride. As love interests goes, I was unimpressed with the Goblin King. He was mysterious and stand-offish, then he would be overbearing and seductive. He was a contradiction that I’m still trying to grasp. But he did not frighten me, even when I thought he should have frightened Liesl. She was his Elisabeth (say that in a German accent and swoon a little please).
The book itself could really be split into two sections: the first a maze Underground while Liesl tries to save her sister, the second Liesl’s marriage to the Goblin King. During the first part, I was most reminded of Labyrinth. Liesl is a girl who is trying to save her sister. She’s terrified of the goblins and changelings that inhabit the Underground, but she puts that terror aside to rescue her family. The second part is a romance plain and simple. The Goblin King tries to trap Liesl into staying, he keeps her when she doesn’t want to stay and she slowly withers. I think my biggest issue with this story is the fact that it is labeled young adult. There is nothing young adult about the second part of this book. It had me, a thirty year old, blushing while reading. That’s just wrong on so many levels.
Overall the story was just okay for me. I was both impressed and disappointed in the Goblin King’s world. I did like the tie in to historical fact about the time period, I liked Liesl, and the writing itself is beautiful, prose-like in its quality. However the romantic scenes were a bit much in my opinion for a young adult book. I know I wouldn’t let my teen read it, not until they were at least 17, maybe not even then. So that friends was a let down. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, historical fiction, and a bit of mystery, you may enjoy this book. It just didn’t work for me.
Recently I needed a break from my normal reads and decided to return to Christmas, Colorado. Christmas in July by Debbie Mason is the second book in the series and tells the story of Grace and Jack Flaherty. I kind of did this series backwards by starting the series in book 6 and now I’m going backwards. I’ll be honest I’ve been wanting to read their story since I read Jill’s story in [b:Happy Ever After in Christmas|27170147|Happy Ever After in Christmas (Christmas, Colorado #7)|Debbie Mason|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447084276s/27170147.jpg|47207025]. I love this couple and now I have even more reason to love them. Told in dual POV, my heart broke time and again for this couple who were trying to reconnect after a long separation.
Grace is my hero. She’s a baker, raising her son and doing so as independently as she can. When the story opens, Grace is ready to say goodbye to her husband. Jack’s been missing for 17 months and for her own sanity, it is time to say goodbye. She needs to focus on her son and her business if they are going to survive without Jack. But then Jack returns and Grace’s world is turned upside down. The guilt of their last night together and the letter she wrote saying goodbye is eating her alive. Add to that Jack’s memory is gone and he doesn’t remember he has a wife or even a son, she’s at her wits end. My heart broke for her as she struggled to cope with all life was throwing at her.
Jack is a man’s man. He is a war hero, an escaped POW, and now he’s home in Christmas, the last place on earth he wants to be…except maybe the cell he spent most of his time in the last 17 months. When he returns to the States, all he wants is to take the woman who was held captive with him to bed and forget all they’ve endured. He even thinks that he could potentially settle down with her. Then his little sister shows up and fills him in on everything he’s forgotten, like the wife and son. Honorable to his core, Jack returns to Christmas. I like Jack. He’s trying to be a good guy, do the honorable thing, yet at every turn he winds up hurting this woman he doesn’t remember. Yet there’s no denying they have chemistry and his son is a mini-him. I felt for Jack as he struggles to remember what he’s forgotten.
The plot of the story really revolves around Grace and Jack. She wants to settle in Christmas, it’s her home and where she’s been raising little Jack while Jack was missing. Jack wants out of Christmas, he wants to reenlist, and he never wanted a wife at least that he can remember. It’s heartbreaking reading as these two hurt one another over and over again and themselves. I loved the way the author brings them together, how she weaves their story into the town of Christmas.
Overall I really enjoyed Jack and Grace’s story. It was a little repetitive as they continued to fight over Christmas, how to raise little Jack and whether or not to keep the bakery. I rooted for them though. And I’ll admit I skipped sleep to finish the book in one night. The book can be read as a standalone as a new set of characters appears in each book. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it.
Grace is my hero. She’s a baker, raising her son and doing so as independently as she can. When the story opens, Grace is ready to say goodbye to her husband. Jack’s been missing for 17 months and for her own sanity, it is time to say goodbye. She needs to focus on her son and her business if they are going to survive without Jack. But then Jack returns and Grace’s world is turned upside down. The guilt of their last night together and the letter she wrote saying goodbye is eating her alive. Add to that Jack’s memory is gone and he doesn’t remember he has a wife or even a son, she’s at her wits end. My heart broke for her as she struggled to cope with all life was throwing at her.
Jack is a man’s man. He is a war hero, an escaped POW, and now he’s home in Christmas, the last place on earth he wants to be…except maybe the cell he spent most of his time in the last 17 months. When he returns to the States, all he wants is to take the woman who was held captive with him to bed and forget all they’ve endured. He even thinks that he could potentially settle down with her. Then his little sister shows up and fills him in on everything he’s forgotten, like the wife and son. Honorable to his core, Jack returns to Christmas. I like Jack. He’s trying to be a good guy, do the honorable thing, yet at every turn he winds up hurting this woman he doesn’t remember. Yet there’s no denying they have chemistry and his son is a mini-him. I felt for Jack as he struggles to remember what he’s forgotten.
The plot of the story really revolves around Grace and Jack. She wants to settle in Christmas, it’s her home and where she’s been raising little Jack while Jack was missing. Jack wants out of Christmas, he wants to reenlist, and he never wanted a wife at least that he can remember. It’s heartbreaking reading as these two hurt one another over and over again and themselves. I loved the way the author brings them together, how she weaves their story into the town of Christmas.
Overall I really enjoyed Jack and Grace’s story. It was a little repetitive as they continued to fight over Christmas, how to raise little Jack and whether or not to keep the bakery. I rooted for them though. And I’ll admit I skipped sleep to finish the book in one night. The book can be read as a standalone as a new set of characters appears in each book. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Actual Rating: 3.5★
So I wasn’t overly impressed with The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King like I thought I’d be. I thought I’d be fangirling over this book, writing a really enthusiastic review. But instead I feel meh about it. The Hundredth Queen had a lot of potential. It’s a high fantasy with elements of romance and rebellion. Sounds promising right? But in reality it was like all the other YA fantasy books out there where an unskilled, untrained young girl becomes the unwilling face of the rebellion…oh and she falls in love with the first boy she sees (literally!).
The orphaned Kalinda was raised by a Sisterhood (similar to a convent/nunnery) and at 18 she has never known the world outside it. She is timid, naive, and a social outcast even among the Sisterhood. Her illness growing up has left her slightly sickly and even now with the fevers under control she is surprised with the Rajah chooses her to be his last rani. I liked and disliked her. I liked that she was steadfast in her beliefs and always stood up for equality. Kali genuinely has a good heart. But I disliked her pining for the captain.
Deven is a great character, don’t get me wrong. But he is a flat character. And while Kali’s instant love for him can be explained away by the fact she’s never set eyes on a man let alone speak to one, Deven does not have that excuse. Their love just made no sense to me.
The story really revolves around the myth of the 100th rani and the god Enlil. While the author opens the story with a note that the mythology of the book is fiction, there are many similarities with the ancient Mesopotamian gods and goddesses. In fact, I was hoping for a fantasy mixed with mythology but was sorely disappointed. Though the mythology the author creates and the world-building is very similar to that of Mesopotamia.
Because of the myth, there is a rank tournament held prior to each rani’s wedding to the Rajah. The rank tournament allows any of the current ranis and courtesans to challenge the incoming rani for her place at the Rajah’s side. It is a fight to the death. Kali is no fighter so I was curious to see how this particular element would play out. Again there was a lot of build up and while I did enjoy how Kali handled it, the actual tournament was disappointing.
Then there was the rebellion and the supernatural/paranormal element of the bhuta. This was the book’s saving grace. While the rest of the book felt like a repeat of other YA fantasies, the bhuta were original. I won’t go into to much detail as I do not want to spoil the story. I’ll just say the bhuta present an interesting challenge as they hold the elements like fire, wind, earth, water (think Avatar) in their hands and are being hunted by the Rajah.
Overall I was underwhelmed by The Hundredth Queen. The instalove and cliché heroine made it difficult to read. The characters ran together and even now just a few days after finishing the book I can’t remember Kali’s best friend’s name or the bhuta who helps her. Despite that, I did enjoy the supernatural element of the bhuta and I’m curious after the ending to see what will become of the empire so I will attempt to read [b:The Fire Queen|34314702|The Fire Queen (The Hundredth Queen, #2)|Emily R. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493340031s/34314702.jpg|55372029] when it releases. If you enjoy the standard YA fantasy tropes, you will probably enjoy this book. If you’re looking for more, I’d pass.
Actual Rating: 3.5★
So I wasn’t overly impressed with The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King like I thought I’d be. I thought I’d be fangirling over this book, writing a really enthusiastic review. But instead I feel meh about it. The Hundredth Queen had a lot of potential. It’s a high fantasy with elements of romance and rebellion. Sounds promising right? But in reality it was like all the other YA fantasy books out there where an unskilled, untrained young girl becomes the unwilling face of the rebellion…oh and she falls in love with the first boy she sees (literally!).
The orphaned Kalinda was raised by a Sisterhood (similar to a convent/nunnery) and at 18 she has never known the world outside it. She is timid, naive, and a social outcast even among the Sisterhood. Her illness growing up has left her slightly sickly and even now with the fevers under control she is surprised with the Rajah chooses her to be his last rani. I liked and disliked her. I liked that she was steadfast in her beliefs and always stood up for equality. Kali genuinely has a good heart. But I disliked her pining for the captain.
Deven is a great character, don’t get me wrong. But he is a flat character. And while Kali’s instant love for him can be explained away by the fact she’s never set eyes on a man let alone speak to one, Deven does not have that excuse. Their love just made no sense to me.
The story really revolves around the myth of the 100th rani and the god Enlil. While the author opens the story with a note that the mythology of the book is fiction, there are many similarities with the ancient Mesopotamian gods and goddesses. In fact, I was hoping for a fantasy mixed with mythology but was sorely disappointed. Though the mythology the author creates and the world-building is very similar to that of Mesopotamia.
Because of the myth, there is a rank tournament held prior to each rani’s wedding to the Rajah. The rank tournament allows any of the current ranis and courtesans to challenge the incoming rani for her place at the Rajah’s side. It is a fight to the death. Kali is no fighter so I was curious to see how this particular element would play out. Again there was a lot of build up and while I did enjoy how Kali handled it, the actual tournament was disappointing.
Then there was the rebellion and the supernatural/paranormal element of the bhuta. This was the book’s saving grace. While the rest of the book felt like a repeat of other YA fantasies, the bhuta were original. I won’t go into to much detail as I do not want to spoil the story. I’ll just say the bhuta present an interesting challenge as they hold the elements like fire, wind, earth, water (think Avatar) in their hands and are being hunted by the Rajah.
Overall I was underwhelmed by The Hundredth Queen. The instalove and cliché heroine made it difficult to read. The characters ran together and even now just a few days after finishing the book I can’t remember Kali’s best friend’s name or the bhuta who helps her. Despite that, I did enjoy the supernatural element of the bhuta and I’m curious after the ending to see what will become of the empire so I will attempt to read [b:The Fire Queen|34314702|The Fire Queen (The Hundredth Queen, #2)|Emily R. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493340031s/34314702.jpg|55372029] when it releases. If you enjoy the standard YA fantasy tropes, you will probably enjoy this book. If you’re looking for more, I’d pass.
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Happily Ever After by Kelly Oram is a perfect follow-up to her [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560], picking up about a week later. I’ve read [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560] more times than I can count and have multiple copies (my original Kindle copy, a paperback copy, even an Audible copy which I highly recommend). Seriously as I write this, I want to go back and read it. Brian and Ella are two of my all-time favorite characters and their relationship is another favorite of mine. Happily Ever After is the sequel I didn’t know I wanted or needed. [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560] pretty much ends on a high note and suggests that the couple gets their HEA, but as the title of the sequel suggests this book is their HEA and how they achieve it. Honestly I loved it, but then again I’ve yet to read anything by Kelly Oram I didn’t enjoy.
Ella is a hard pill to swallow in this book. She was in a really dark place at the end of [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560]. She had just exited an intensive, inpatient therapy program to overcome her depression, and I thought the author does a great job of bringing those insecurities and doubts about Ella to light in the sequel. It was present in the first book but is fleshed out better here. It’s been a year since her mother died and she is struggling, she’s never had a chance to fully grieve. Ella is still recovering herself and now she has a support system and people on her side. It’s amazing to read her growth.
Brian is Brian *swoon* He is self-centered, a little too Hollywood at times, but ALWAYS and I do mean always there for Ella when she needs him. He puts her needs first, showing her and telling her constantly how much he loves her. It’s sweet, a little over the top, but done in such a way as to be believable. I love how he loves her!
The plot is simple really. It’s about these two people who we fell in love with building a relationship. A real, long-lasting, all-consuming, loving relationship. Something Ella desperately needs as her life at home with her dad and step-family falls apart. While this book focuses on Ella and Brian (and I did love that), I missed the familial relationships and themes explored during the first book. It’s present here, but not to the extent it was in [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560]. I missed that.
Overall, I loved this book! It made me laugh, cry and swoon. I cheered Ella and Brian on and yelled at them through my kindle when they were being stupid. I do think it needs to be noted that while the first book is a mature YA, this book is new adult with some mild language and a few steamy scenes, so I don’t recommend this to anyone under 18. If you enjoyed [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560] or you’re looking for a light romantic read, I highly recommend you get your copy ASAP!
Ella is a hard pill to swallow in this book. She was in a really dark place at the end of [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560]. She had just exited an intensive, inpatient therapy program to overcome her depression, and I thought the author does a great job of bringing those insecurities and doubts about Ella to light in the sequel. It was present in the first book but is fleshed out better here. It’s been a year since her mother died and she is struggling, she’s never had a chance to fully grieve. Ella is still recovering herself and now she has a support system and people on her side. It’s amazing to read her growth.
Brian is Brian *swoon* He is self-centered, a little too Hollywood at times, but ALWAYS and I do mean always there for Ella when she needs him. He puts her needs first, showing her and telling her constantly how much he loves her. It’s sweet, a little over the top, but done in such a way as to be believable. I love how he loves her!
The plot is simple really. It’s about these two people who we fell in love with building a relationship. A real, long-lasting, all-consuming, loving relationship. Something Ella desperately needs as her life at home with her dad and step-family falls apart. While this book focuses on Ella and Brian (and I did love that), I missed the familial relationships and themes explored during the first book. It’s present here, but not to the extent it was in [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560]. I missed that.
Overall, I loved this book! It made me laugh, cry and swoon. I cheered Ella and Brian on and yelled at them through my kindle when they were being stupid. I do think it needs to be noted that while the first book is a mature YA, this book is new adult with some mild language and a few steamy scenes, so I don’t recommend this to anyone under 18. If you enjoyed [b:Cinder & Ella|35001687|Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493341478s/35001687.jpg|42254560] or you’re looking for a light romantic read, I highly recommend you get your copy ASAP!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
*Really, who does this?! It’s asking to be caught!
**For the 90’s babies like me, allow me to translate: The note you’ve written to your friend about your crush is intercepted by the teacher and read allowed in class. Now the whole class knows, and by the end of the day, the entire school and your crush will know.
Rachel, to her credit, does not hide. Well, maybe she does a little, but eventually she holds her head up high and owns up to the tweet and resultant backlash. And poor Kyle has no choice but to be out in the open. He is suddenly famous and really doesn’t know how to handle it. While Rachel and Kyle were okay characters, I really didn’t connect to either. I did feel sorry for Rachel because (as I’ve already stated) what happens is any girl’s worst nightmare, not to mention the online bullying that follows.
The plot is fairly simple. It’s basically showing the backlash of the tweet that occurs in the first chapter. I liked the subtle ways the author pointed out online bullying, how people say things that they wouldn’t normally say in public when a computer screen is shielding them. Also the way one innocent tweet can become a viral sensation. There was nothing notable about the tweet that started it all, but nevertheless it was shared millions of times and changed Rachel and Kyle’s life for a few weeks at least.
Overall the story was just ok for me. While I didn’t connect with the characters or really understand what was going on (possibly because I am a 90’s baby and had to do a lot of googling to understand some of the social media terms), I did enjoy the dual POV and writing style of the author. The plot flowed well and the conversational writing style kept me reading til I finished the book in one sitting. If you enjoy contemporary YA, I think you will really enjoy this book.
@Mo_than_you_know I’m digging what they’re serving up at Burger Barn today. #idlikefrieswithTHAT#famous by Jilly Gagnon is every teen girl’s worst nightmare come to life. Girl takes picture of her crush and tweets it to her best friend.* Tweet goes viral. Now not only does boy know, entire school and world knows.** Oh and she made the boy instafamous. Honestly as a former teen girl, I can think of nothing more mortifying than this. Seriously, I would crawl in a hole and never emerge.
*Really, who does this?! It’s asking to be caught!
**For the 90’s babies like me, allow me to translate: The note you’ve written to your friend about your crush is intercepted by the teacher and read allowed in class. Now the whole class knows, and by the end of the day, the entire school and your crush will know.
Rachel, to her credit, does not hide. Well, maybe she does a little, but eventually she holds her head up high and owns up to the tweet and resultant backlash. And poor Kyle has no choice but to be out in the open. He is suddenly famous and really doesn’t know how to handle it. While Rachel and Kyle were okay characters, I really didn’t connect to either. I did feel sorry for Rachel because (as I’ve already stated) what happens is any girl’s worst nightmare, not to mention the online bullying that follows.
The plot is fairly simple. It’s basically showing the backlash of the tweet that occurs in the first chapter. I liked the subtle ways the author pointed out online bullying, how people say things that they wouldn’t normally say in public when a computer screen is shielding them. Also the way one innocent tweet can become a viral sensation. There was nothing notable about the tweet that started it all, but nevertheless it was shared millions of times and changed Rachel and Kyle’s life for a few weeks at least.
Overall the story was just ok for me. While I didn’t connect with the characters or really understand what was going on (possibly because I am a 90’s baby and had to do a lot of googling to understand some of the social media terms), I did enjoy the dual POV and writing style of the author. The plot flowed well and the conversational writing style kept me reading til I finished the book in one sitting. If you enjoy contemporary YA, I think you will really enjoy this book.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
It Happened on Love Street by Lia Riley is the first in her new contemporary romance series Everland, Georgia. I personally was excited to pick up the book. I love small town contemporaries! When done right, they make for a fun read with quirky, secondary characters and rich town history (even if fictional). Lia Riley doesn’t disappoint in this aspect. The small town feel of Everland, Georgia is what makes the book such a fun read. And then of course Rhett!
Pepper Knight is chasing her dream, pursuing a legal career and the only job available to her is in a small town down south…a big adjustment for the New York City girl. Pepper is an interesting character. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about her at first. There are many preconceived notions about living in the south and Pepper believes them all. As a southern girl myself, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. This girl should be smarter than that. But I digress. Pepper is fun character to watch grow. She’s always given herself to her family and their needs, putting her own aside for them. It’s interesting to see her out of her element and away from her family.
Rhett Valentine is the small town vet, beloved hometown boy, and consummate bachelor. I personally enjoyed his chapters/POV more than I did Pepper’s. He is a man who was left at the alter, dumped by his longtime, high school sweet heart. His dad has disowned him for not following in his footsteps and now the town is basically divided into two. I enjoyed seeing him break down his own walls to let Pepper in.
The gist of the story is simple. Pepper moves to Everland because of a job offer, yet when she arrives, the job is no longer hers. Pepper spent her entire savings moving here and now she’s left without a job and no money to support herself. Somehow a chance meeting with Rhett gives her a job as a dog walker (which she’s terrified of dogs) and then she finds the handsome vet is her neighbor. Their romance is sweet and chemistry steamy. I liked reading about the two of them together. There were a few times where the characters had some inner dialogue about past events, and I’m not really sure that it was relevant to the story. Personally I could have just done with more Rhett and Pepper.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It Happened on Love Street‘s has some sweet, romantic moments, but it’s true charm lies in the small town Riley’s built. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend you check out this book. FYI there are some adult scenes and strong language so I recommend 18+.
It Happened on Love Street by Lia Riley is the first in her new contemporary romance series Everland, Georgia. I personally was excited to pick up the book. I love small town contemporaries! When done right, they make for a fun read with quirky, secondary characters and rich town history (even if fictional). Lia Riley doesn’t disappoint in this aspect. The small town feel of Everland, Georgia is what makes the book such a fun read. And then of course Rhett!
Pepper Knight is chasing her dream, pursuing a legal career and the only job available to her is in a small town down south…a big adjustment for the New York City girl. Pepper is an interesting character. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about her at first. There are many preconceived notions about living in the south and Pepper believes them all. As a southern girl myself, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. This girl should be smarter than that. But I digress. Pepper is fun character to watch grow. She’s always given herself to her family and their needs, putting her own aside for them. It’s interesting to see her out of her element and away from her family.
Rhett Valentine is the small town vet, beloved hometown boy, and consummate bachelor. I personally enjoyed his chapters/POV more than I did Pepper’s. He is a man who was left at the alter, dumped by his longtime, high school sweet heart. His dad has disowned him for not following in his footsteps and now the town is basically divided into two. I enjoyed seeing him break down his own walls to let Pepper in.
The gist of the story is simple. Pepper moves to Everland because of a job offer, yet when she arrives, the job is no longer hers. Pepper spent her entire savings moving here and now she’s left without a job and no money to support herself. Somehow a chance meeting with Rhett gives her a job as a dog walker (which she’s terrified of dogs) and then she finds the handsome vet is her neighbor. Their romance is sweet and chemistry steamy. I liked reading about the two of them together. There were a few times where the characters had some inner dialogue about past events, and I’m not really sure that it was relevant to the story. Personally I could have just done with more Rhett and Pepper.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It Happened on Love Street‘s has some sweet, romantic moments, but it’s true charm lies in the small town Riley’s built. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend you check out this book. FYI there are some adult scenes and strong language so I recommend 18+.
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Initial Thoughts
Perfectly You by Robin Daniels is as perfect as the name suggests. I loved the characters, the sweet romance, the clean-ish YA vibe. I loved it all! Ivy is a character I can get behind. I understood her completely because….well she’s me. Andy is as sweet as he is swoon-worthy. And their friends?! I loved them!!! I loved how well the secondary characters were fleshed out. It was a quick read and one I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary romance.
A Fictional Version of Me
Ivy is me. Seriously she is! Anyone who knew me in high school that reads this book will see what I mean. She’s an overachiever, a bit of a social butterfly (that’s not me, but the rest is), has no filter and is always honest. This last aspect is both admirable and annoying. While Ivy has a big heart, she tends to speak before she thinks about how it may sound to the other person. It gets her in a lot of trouble.
Andy is an incredibly sweet boy. Ivy sees him as a loner, but doesn’t understand why he is a loner. Really it is by choice. Andy is picky about his friends and while he isn’t rude to anyone, he also doesn’t do the fake/small talk that occurs in the high school scene. However he does like Ivy. It’s obvious from their first encounter, even if she doesn’t quite pick up on it.
Can’t Buy Me Love
Has anyone else seen the old Patrick Dempsey movie from the late eighties? Well, similar premise and vibe. Ivy is the vice president of the student council. The senior class is hosting a date auction to raise money for their senior party. It’s Ivy’s responsibility to find people for the auction. She basically begs Andy to do it for her. When he expresses concern about brining in money for them and being on the runway, Ivy starts a makeover process. Honestly I wasn’t sure how I felt about this aspect of the novel. While Ivy’s heart is in the right place, she says all the wrong things. Andy is a sweet guy dealing with some insecurities and Ivy doesn’t realize just how hurtful she can sound. It’s painful to read at times as I wanted to reach through the pages and smack her.
My Conclusion
Overall, I loved Perfectly You! It’s an honest picture about two people who are attracted to one another and how they move past the friend zone. I loved it. It was an addicting read (I read it in one sitting) and perfectly swoon-worthy. If you enjoy YA contemporary, I highly recommend it.
Initial Thoughts
Perfectly You by Robin Daniels is as perfect as the name suggests. I loved the characters, the sweet romance, the clean-ish YA vibe. I loved it all! Ivy is a character I can get behind. I understood her completely because….well she’s me. Andy is as sweet as he is swoon-worthy. And their friends?! I loved them!!! I loved how well the secondary characters were fleshed out. It was a quick read and one I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary romance.
A Fictional Version of Me
Ivy is me. Seriously she is! Anyone who knew me in high school that reads this book will see what I mean. She’s an overachiever, a bit of a social butterfly (that’s not me, but the rest is), has no filter and is always honest. This last aspect is both admirable and annoying. While Ivy has a big heart, she tends to speak before she thinks about how it may sound to the other person. It gets her in a lot of trouble.
Andy is an incredibly sweet boy. Ivy sees him as a loner, but doesn’t understand why he is a loner. Really it is by choice. Andy is picky about his friends and while he isn’t rude to anyone, he also doesn’t do the fake/small talk that occurs in the high school scene. However he does like Ivy. It’s obvious from their first encounter, even if she doesn’t quite pick up on it.
Can’t Buy Me Love
Has anyone else seen the old Patrick Dempsey movie from the late eighties? Well, similar premise and vibe. Ivy is the vice president of the student council. The senior class is hosting a date auction to raise money for their senior party. It’s Ivy’s responsibility to find people for the auction. She basically begs Andy to do it for her. When he expresses concern about brining in money for them and being on the runway, Ivy starts a makeover process. Honestly I wasn’t sure how I felt about this aspect of the novel. While Ivy’s heart is in the right place, she says all the wrong things. Andy is a sweet guy dealing with some insecurities and Ivy doesn’t realize just how hurtful she can sound. It’s painful to read at times as I wanted to reach through the pages and smack her.
My Conclusion
Overall, I loved Perfectly You! It’s an honest picture about two people who are attracted to one another and how they move past the friend zone. I loved it. It was an addicting read (I read it in one sitting) and perfectly swoon-worthy. If you enjoy YA contemporary, I highly recommend it.
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Oh Easton *sigh* Fallen Heir by Erin Watt is the fourth book in The Royals and tells Easton’s story. This story is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, can’t-sit-it-down kind of read. I didn’t realize before I started the story that Easton would/could break my heart, but oh boy! He does.
Easton is my favorite Royal boy. He stole my heart with his naivety and boyish antics. He’s a contradiction on so many levels. To Ella and the readers of the original trilogy, Easton has a big heart that’s been crushed beyond repair. I’m here to tell you that this is true, but he also has a dangerous dependency, one that was hinted at but never really explored in the first part of the series. Easton had a pill problem, now his poison of choice is alcohol and sex. Lots of sex. *shiver* Honestly how the boy doesn’t have some sort of STD is beyond me. All of this is known from the first three books. I felt the authors do an amazing job of exploring this dark side of Easton. He’s broken, SO broken. I just wanted to reach through the pages and hold him, tell him he is loved, and there are people that care about him even if he doesn’t care about himself.
Then enters Hartley. Hartley is the exact opposite of Easton. This is a girl who reminds him of Ella. She’s fiercely independent, not interested in what Easton is offering, but like Easton she is drowning. She has secrets, big secrets that she refuses to share with anyone. She drives Easton crazy, but she is also his savior. She sees him, all the broken, ugly pieces. This strikes a chord with Easton who craves that attention. He is the typical middle child, always feeling left out, but Hartley doesn’t make him feel that way. And now he has a new poison, one that has the potential of wrecking this girl.
Like the Reed and Ella’s story, Easton’s is messy. It’s full of drama, but not the same type of drama. I could actually relate to this boy, even if I felt what he was going through, he was too young to be dealing with it. I pictured him more in college, even if he was a senior in high school.
Overall, I devoured this book. I loved Easton and I still do. However, I think I should warn readers. If you loved the Easton from Ella’s story, this isn’t the same boy. He is different, a little colder, some of his actions in the first books are explained from his POV in this one and it isn’t exactly endearing. Easton is hard to love, but of all the Royals I think he needs it most. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it. FYI while this book is billed for the mature YA, under 18 should read with caution. The book deals with underage drinking, drugs, sex, gambling, and abuse. Read with discretion. Oh and that ending?!?! It's brutal.
Oh Easton *sigh* Fallen Heir by Erin Watt is the fourth book in The Royals and tells Easton’s story. This story is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, can’t-sit-it-down kind of read. I didn’t realize before I started the story that Easton would/could break my heart, but oh boy! He does.
Easton is my favorite Royal boy. He stole my heart with his naivety and boyish antics. He’s a contradiction on so many levels. To Ella and the readers of the original trilogy, Easton has a big heart that’s been crushed beyond repair. I’m here to tell you that this is true, but he also has a dangerous dependency, one that was hinted at but never really explored in the first part of the series. Easton had a pill problem, now his poison of choice is alcohol and sex. Lots of sex. *shiver* Honestly how the boy doesn’t have some sort of STD is beyond me. All of this is known from the first three books. I felt the authors do an amazing job of exploring this dark side of Easton. He’s broken, SO broken. I just wanted to reach through the pages and hold him, tell him he is loved, and there are people that care about him even if he doesn’t care about himself.
Then enters Hartley. Hartley is the exact opposite of Easton. This is a girl who reminds him of Ella. She’s fiercely independent, not interested in what Easton is offering, but like Easton she is drowning. She has secrets, big secrets that she refuses to share with anyone. She drives Easton crazy, but she is also his savior. She sees him, all the broken, ugly pieces. This strikes a chord with Easton who craves that attention. He is the typical middle child, always feeling left out, but Hartley doesn’t make him feel that way. And now he has a new poison, one that has the potential of wrecking this girl.
Like the Reed and Ella’s story, Easton’s is messy. It’s full of drama, but not the same type of drama. I could actually relate to this boy, even if I felt what he was going through, he was too young to be dealing with it. I pictured him more in college, even if he was a senior in high school.
Overall, I devoured this book. I loved Easton and I still do. However, I think I should warn readers. If you loved the Easton from Ella’s story, this isn’t the same boy. He is different, a little colder, some of his actions in the first books are explained from his POV in this one and it isn’t exactly endearing. Easton is hard to love, but of all the Royals I think he needs it most. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it. FYI while this book is billed for the mature YA, under 18 should read with caution. The book deals with underage drinking, drugs, sex, gambling, and abuse. Read with discretion. Oh and that ending?!?! It's brutal.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Eye of the North by Sinéad O'Hart is an exciting adventure about a girl as she looks for her parents. I’ve never been much of a middle-grade reader. Even when I was a middle-grader, I didn’t read these books. I don’t know why, but they never interested. However, The Eye of the North caught my attention immediately.
Emmeline is an interesting character. She’s a young girl who isn’t close to her parents, but loves them nonetheless. Their work keeps her in constant fear for her life. She’s been raised not to trust others and so she doesn’t, not even them. When they are kidnapped and presumed killed, she is sent away to France, but on the boat trip someone is trying to take her as well. I liked Emmeline. She’s resourceful, and for a girl who trusts no one she attracts many friends.
Thing (yes, that’s his name) is my favorite character and quickly grows on Emmeline as well. He is around her age, possibly older. He isn’t sure as he is an orphan/runaway, living off the streets and currently stowing away on the same boat as Emmeline. Thing sees her as a distraction and a way to pass the time on the boat, but when her life is in danger he quickly becomes her rescuer and partner in crime. He’s brave, rash, and a quick thinker, but also fiercely loyal which made me love him.
The plot of the story revolves around Emmeline’s parents’ secret work. What is it they really do and why have they been kidnapped? The more Em discovers, the more she realizes how little she really knew her parents. I enjoyed the twists and turns as Em discovers more and more. Then about a third of the way into the story her and Thing are separated and the story is told from both their perspectives, basically like two stories running parallel to each other. It made for an exciting read and some dramatic irony as the reader finds out things before the characters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! While I liked Emmeline, I loved Thing. They make a great a team! But perhaps the reason I enjoyed this so much was the writing style. The author’s writing reminds me a lot of C.S Lewis’s writing in The Chronicles of Narnia. It was like the narrator who is outside of the story is talking to you about what the characters are experiencing, a little formal but intriguing. If you enjoy middle grade fantasy with a dash of steampunk, I highly recommend it.
The Eye of the North by Sinéad O'Hart is an exciting adventure about a girl as she looks for her parents. I’ve never been much of a middle-grade reader. Even when I was a middle-grader, I didn’t read these books. I don’t know why, but they never interested. However, The Eye of the North caught my attention immediately.
Emmeline is an interesting character. She’s a young girl who isn’t close to her parents, but loves them nonetheless. Their work keeps her in constant fear for her life. She’s been raised not to trust others and so she doesn’t, not even them. When they are kidnapped and presumed killed, she is sent away to France, but on the boat trip someone is trying to take her as well. I liked Emmeline. She’s resourceful, and for a girl who trusts no one she attracts many friends.
Thing (yes, that’s his name) is my favorite character and quickly grows on Emmeline as well. He is around her age, possibly older. He isn’t sure as he is an orphan/runaway, living off the streets and currently stowing away on the same boat as Emmeline. Thing sees her as a distraction and a way to pass the time on the boat, but when her life is in danger he quickly becomes her rescuer and partner in crime. He’s brave, rash, and a quick thinker, but also fiercely loyal which made me love him.
The plot of the story revolves around Emmeline’s parents’ secret work. What is it they really do and why have they been kidnapped? The more Em discovers, the more she realizes how little she really knew her parents. I enjoyed the twists and turns as Em discovers more and more. Then about a third of the way into the story her and Thing are separated and the story is told from both their perspectives, basically like two stories running parallel to each other. It made for an exciting read and some dramatic irony as the reader finds out things before the characters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! While I liked Emmeline, I loved Thing. They make a great a team! But perhaps the reason I enjoyed this so much was the writing style. The author’s writing reminds me a lot of C.S Lewis’s writing in The Chronicles of Narnia. It was like the narrator who is outside of the story is talking to you about what the characters are experiencing, a little formal but intriguing. If you enjoy middle grade fantasy with a dash of steampunk, I highly recommend it.