Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.18k reviews by:
momwithareadingproblem
LOVED this book!!! Perfectly Summer by Robin Daniels is the third installment in The Perfect Series, and this time focuses on Levi London and his crush on his best friend Summer. I’m a sucker for best friend romances anyways so it wasn’t a stretch for me to fall in love with Levi and Summer. Fraught with drama, Perfectly Summer is a sweet read that will leave you smiling long after you finish it.
The book begins with Levi excitedly getting off the school bus on the last day of school only to find both his parents at home. His mother is upset, locked in the bathroom. His father is in a state of undress, and an unknown young woman is leaving their house. You can connect the dots from there. His mother tells him and his brothers to pack their bags that they won’t be coming back. Devastated and confused at what has occurred, Levi and his brothers do as asked, and their summer vacation to their grandparents is not what it usually is since their mother plans to stay.
The entire story is told from Levi’s perspective, and I found that refreshing. There isn’t enough YA contemporary from male perspectives in my opinion. Levi is smart, kind and compassionate. As the middle child, he plays peacekeeper between his older and younger brothers. The only person he lets his guard down with is his best friend Summer, who happens to be his grandparents’ neighbor and the reason he looks forward to summer break at their house every year.
Summer is a year younger than Levi, a little immature, and completely clueless to her best friend’s crush. Though I’m not totally convinced that she doesn’t feel the same from the get-go. She’s sarcastic, an instigator, and the perfect compliment to Levi. I really like her, even if she is crushing on Levi’s older brother Lucas.
The plot of this book is two-fold as it focuses mainly on Levi’s crush. He has competition with his brother Lucas who has finally taken a notice in Summer. BUT rather than feel defeated at the prospective of losing her to him, Levi decides to let his intentions be known subtly. I liked this. Summer has to choose between her longtime crush and best friend and it isn’t easy. Not to mention the prank war that she came up with to cheer Levi up 😀 It brings levity to an otherwise sad plot revolving around infidelity.
Overall I really enjoyed Perfectly Summer. I liked Levi and Summer, their sweet friendship, and his infatuation with her. I found myself rooting for him, laughing at the pranks, and even tearing up at the parents’ situation. I highly recommend this book (and the entire series) to anyone that enjoys sweet, YA contemporary romance. While this book can be read as a standalone, characters from the previous books do pop up in this one so I recommend starting with book one [bc:Perfectly Oblivious|35276925|Perfectly Oblivious (Perfect #1)|Robin Daniels|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496281992s/35276925.jpg|56636960]
The book begins with Levi excitedly getting off the school bus on the last day of school only to find both his parents at home. His mother is upset, locked in the bathroom. His father is in a state of undress, and an unknown young woman is leaving their house. You can connect the dots from there. His mother tells him and his brothers to pack their bags that they won’t be coming back. Devastated and confused at what has occurred, Levi and his brothers do as asked, and their summer vacation to their grandparents is not what it usually is since their mother plans to stay.
The entire story is told from Levi’s perspective, and I found that refreshing. There isn’t enough YA contemporary from male perspectives in my opinion. Levi is smart, kind and compassionate. As the middle child, he plays peacekeeper between his older and younger brothers. The only person he lets his guard down with is his best friend Summer, who happens to be his grandparents’ neighbor and the reason he looks forward to summer break at their house every year.
Summer is a year younger than Levi, a little immature, and completely clueless to her best friend’s crush. Though I’m not totally convinced that she doesn’t feel the same from the get-go. She’s sarcastic, an instigator, and the perfect compliment to Levi. I really like her, even if she is crushing on Levi’s older brother Lucas.
The plot of this book is two-fold as it focuses mainly on Levi’s crush. He has competition with his brother Lucas who has finally taken a notice in Summer. BUT rather than feel defeated at the prospective of losing her to him, Levi decides to let his intentions be known subtly. I liked this. Summer has to choose between her longtime crush and best friend and it isn’t easy. Not to mention the prank war that she came up with to cheer Levi up 😀 It brings levity to an otherwise sad plot revolving around infidelity.
Overall I really enjoyed Perfectly Summer. I liked Levi and Summer, their sweet friendship, and his infatuation with her. I found myself rooting for him, laughing at the pranks, and even tearing up at the parents’ situation. I highly recommend this book (and the entire series) to anyone that enjoys sweet, YA contemporary romance. While this book can be read as a standalone, characters from the previous books do pop up in this one so I recommend starting with book one [bc:Perfectly Oblivious|35276925|Perfectly Oblivious (Perfect #1)|Robin Daniels|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496281992s/35276925.jpg|56636960]
I was REALLY looking forward to starting One Blood Ruby by Melissa Marr after I had read the first book in the series. I enjoyed [b:Seven Black Diamonds|25816519|Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds, #1)|Melissa Marr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443547252s/25816519.jpg|45106017] that much! I liked the multiple POVs, the Fae living in the human world, the modern setting, really all of it. So why was One Blood Ruby not as good as I was hoping?!
The book picks up pretty much right where it left off. Lilywhite, now Lilydark, is about to be named the heir to the Hidden Throne. However she has some stipulations, namely that she would like to live in both worlds, stop the war, offer protections to humans, etc. She is surprised when her grandparents (the current queen and king) agree. However the Fae and some humans are opposed to this and will stop at nothing to prevent Lilywhite from taking the throne.
So the blurb makes One Blood Ruby sound like a really exciting read….and it is, BUT it is also rushed. There was action and adventure, intrigue and mystery at every turn of the page. However when I reached the last few chapters, I felt unsatisfied. I found myself questioning what I had just read. There was a lot of lead up to the coronation and announce of Lilywhite as heir, and then only a few chapters after it to wrap things up. BUT the climax of the story happened and then it just ended. Very unsatisfying!!
Lilydark is still coming into her powers. She seems to have full control of them now and is struggling to accept her new role as heir and princess of the Hidden Throne. My only complaint about Lily was her relationship with Creed. There’s some serious instalove there, and it felt forced to me.
Eilidh was the shining star of this book. In the first book of the series, she is timid and almost afraid to live outside of her little bubble. But her new engagement to Torquil, her new relationship with her brother Rhys, and her involvement in protecting Lily give her a newfound confidence. Not to mention the fact that in her first chapter she is torturing someone, becoming her mother’s daughter. She’s a bit terrifying.
Overall I didn’t love One Blood Ruby, but I didn’t hate it either. It was just okay for me. I did listen to the audio and I loved the multiple POV. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life with different inflections and tones. I binged the book in just a few days thanks to her. If you enjoyed the first book of the series, I think you will enjoy this one. My personal opinion is that the story should have continued for at least one more book so as not to feel so rushed. But that’s just my two cents 😉
The book picks up pretty much right where it left off. Lilywhite, now Lilydark, is about to be named the heir to the Hidden Throne. However she has some stipulations, namely that she would like to live in both worlds, stop the war, offer protections to humans, etc. She is surprised when her grandparents (the current queen and king) agree. However the Fae and some humans are opposed to this and will stop at nothing to prevent Lilywhite from taking the throne.
So the blurb makes One Blood Ruby sound like a really exciting read….and it is, BUT it is also rushed. There was action and adventure, intrigue and mystery at every turn of the page. However when I reached the last few chapters, I felt unsatisfied. I found myself questioning what I had just read. There was a lot of lead up to the coronation and announce of Lilywhite as heir, and then only a few chapters after it to wrap things up. BUT the climax of the story happened and then it just ended. Very unsatisfying!!
Lilydark is still coming into her powers. She seems to have full control of them now and is struggling to accept her new role as heir and princess of the Hidden Throne. My only complaint about Lily was her relationship with Creed. There’s some serious instalove there, and it felt forced to me.
Eilidh was the shining star of this book. In the first book of the series, she is timid and almost afraid to live outside of her little bubble. But her new engagement to Torquil, her new relationship with her brother Rhys, and her involvement in protecting Lily give her a newfound confidence. Not to mention the fact that in her first chapter she is torturing someone, becoming her mother’s daughter. She’s a bit terrifying.
Overall I didn’t love One Blood Ruby, but I didn’t hate it either. It was just okay for me. I did listen to the audio and I loved the multiple POV. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life with different inflections and tones. I binged the book in just a few days thanks to her. If you enjoyed the first book of the series, I think you will enjoy this one. My personal opinion is that the story should have continued for at least one more book so as not to feel so rushed. But that’s just my two cents 😉
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I really enjoyed Driftwood Cove by Debbie Mason! The last book in the Harmony Harbor kind of fell flat for me so I was hesitant picking this one up. But there was no reason to be. I loved every minute of this book and devoured it in almost one sitting (I fell asleep with two chapters left….granted it was 3am). For those of you new to the series, each book follows a different couple and is told in dual POV. It can be read as a standalone, but just know that other characters from previous books do show up in each one.
Driftwood Cove follows the story of Shay Angel and Michael Gallagher who have their own novella earlier in the series called Christmas with an Angel. I was so excited to return to their story. Shay is an ex-con who went to jail after stealing her boyfriend’s car. She served her time and now she’s out. Michael was her boyfriend and if truth be told he’s never gotten over Shay.
I like Shay. Her character is very believable as someone who has had a hard life. She struggles to trust, but she is fiercely loyal to those she does. She keeps everything close to the chest, never revealing much about herself to anyone. It endeared her to me as I read. When she’s narrating you realize just how much she hides her true feelings and thoughts from the world. It’s heart-breaking.
Michael is the golden boy who was groomed to be governor like his dad before him, but it isn’t the life he wants. Instead he leaves his job as a DA for the FBI. He is outgoing, loyal to a fault, and very kind. I love his relationship with his dog Atticus. And he endears himself to me in his pursuit of Shay. It’s swoon worthy material for sure 😉
Now for the plot which is where I was a little underwhelmed. Shay’s uncle is a reformed convict (thought I’m not sure if he’s ever actually been convicted) and the owner of a local pirate-themed bar. He goes missing in connection to a murder case Michael is working. Now this wouldn’t cause confusion except it pits Shay and Michael on opposite sides of the law. Shay feels she has to work to find her uncle without Michael’s help because as an ex-con she knows how these people think. Michael just wants to show Shay she can trust him. I hated this back and forth between the two.
Overall I enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it. It isn’t the typical, small town romance I’ve come to expect from Debbie Mason. However it still had it’s good spots, like the two main characters and Atticus 😀 I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy contemporary romance set in small towns.
I really enjoyed Driftwood Cove by Debbie Mason! The last book in the Harmony Harbor kind of fell flat for me so I was hesitant picking this one up. But there was no reason to be. I loved every minute of this book and devoured it in almost one sitting (I fell asleep with two chapters left….granted it was 3am). For those of you new to the series, each book follows a different couple and is told in dual POV. It can be read as a standalone, but just know that other characters from previous books do show up in each one.
Driftwood Cove follows the story of Shay Angel and Michael Gallagher who have their own novella earlier in the series called Christmas with an Angel. I was so excited to return to their story. Shay is an ex-con who went to jail after stealing her boyfriend’s car. She served her time and now she’s out. Michael was her boyfriend and if truth be told he’s never gotten over Shay.
I like Shay. Her character is very believable as someone who has had a hard life. She struggles to trust, but she is fiercely loyal to those she does. She keeps everything close to the chest, never revealing much about herself to anyone. It endeared her to me as I read. When she’s narrating you realize just how much she hides her true feelings and thoughts from the world. It’s heart-breaking.
Michael is the golden boy who was groomed to be governor like his dad before him, but it isn’t the life he wants. Instead he leaves his job as a DA for the FBI. He is outgoing, loyal to a fault, and very kind. I love his relationship with his dog Atticus. And he endears himself to me in his pursuit of Shay. It’s swoon worthy material for sure 😉
Now for the plot which is where I was a little underwhelmed. Shay’s uncle is a reformed convict (thought I’m not sure if he’s ever actually been convicted) and the owner of a local pirate-themed bar. He goes missing in connection to a murder case Michael is working. Now this wouldn’t cause confusion except it pits Shay and Michael on opposite sides of the law. Shay feels she has to work to find her uncle without Michael’s help because as an ex-con she knows how these people think. Michael just wants to show Shay she can trust him. I hated this back and forth between the two.
Overall I enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it. It isn’t the typical, small town romance I’ve come to expect from Debbie Mason. However it still had it’s good spots, like the two main characters and Atticus 😀 I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy contemporary romance set in small towns.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Brilliant!! Utterly brilliant! Seriously I have no other words to describe this book. Poison’s Cage by Breeana Shields is the fantastic conclusion to Marinda’s story that began in [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821]. Full of intrigue, politics, and crisis of conscience, readers will not want to set this book down until the final page. I just thought I loved the first book, it doesn’t even compare to my feelings after finishing its sequel.
Picking up a few months after the end of [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821], Marinda is back with Gita and heading to the Naga’s hideout. She is determined to bring the Naga down and bravely volunteers to be a spy for the raja in exchange for her brother Mani’s safety. I’ll admit I was a little lost at the beginning of the story as it’s been a year since I read the first book, but I quickly caught up to what was happening and realized that Marinda was getting herself in over her head. One of the things I love about Marinda’s character is her honesty and loyalty to her friends. This girl would die if it meant saving one of them and that is a real possibility going into the Naga’s inner circle.
But it isn’t just Marinda returning to the Naga. Ilya also goes on assignment from Deven to protect Marinda. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Ilya in [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821]. I liked her, and I felt sorry for her. Here is a girl whose whole life has been taken in service to the Naga and in creating the visha kanya, the poison maiden Marinda. Yet as much as she resents Marinda, she loves her. They have a bond that goes deeper than just friends. These girls survived atrocities at Gopal’s hands and they did so together. I loved seeing their relationship from both girls. In fact, I fell in love with Ilya reading her POV chapters. She is such a conflicted character and I loved her redemption in this novel.
While [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821] was a fantasy, it focused more on Marinda and her discovering the Nagaraja. This book focuses more on the mythology and building of those myths. I absolutely fell in love with the plot. I loved learning more about the Naga, Garuda, and the others. I found it interesting how the author built her own myths on these characters who appear in Hindu texts. I loved how it was interwoven with this plot to bring down the Nagaraja and the truth behind what he actually is. Seriously couldn’t have predicted it and it gave me chills while reading. As I’ve already said….Brilliant!
Overall I believe that I loved Poison’s Cage more than I loved the first one and I really didn’t think that was possible! I loved getting two POVs, Marinda and Ilya’s. I loved their friendship, I loved Deven (because seriously that has to be said), and I loved the mythology. This book broke me in the end though. I cried like a baby and then cried some more. It’s a beautifully written story about two strong girls willing to give their lives to save the other. If you enjoyed the first, if you enjoy fantasy, grab a copy and read it as soon as you can. It will not disappoint!
Brilliant!! Utterly brilliant! Seriously I have no other words to describe this book. Poison’s Cage by Breeana Shields is the fantastic conclusion to Marinda’s story that began in [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821]. Full of intrigue, politics, and crisis of conscience, readers will not want to set this book down until the final page. I just thought I loved the first book, it doesn’t even compare to my feelings after finishing its sequel.
Picking up a few months after the end of [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821], Marinda is back with Gita and heading to the Naga’s hideout. She is determined to bring the Naga down and bravely volunteers to be a spy for the raja in exchange for her brother Mani’s safety. I’ll admit I was a little lost at the beginning of the story as it’s been a year since I read the first book, but I quickly caught up to what was happening and realized that Marinda was getting herself in over her head. One of the things I love about Marinda’s character is her honesty and loyalty to her friends. This girl would die if it meant saving one of them and that is a real possibility going into the Naga’s inner circle.
But it isn’t just Marinda returning to the Naga. Ilya also goes on assignment from Deven to protect Marinda. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Ilya in [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821]. I liked her, and I felt sorry for her. Here is a girl whose whole life has been taken in service to the Naga and in creating the visha kanya, the poison maiden Marinda. Yet as much as she resents Marinda, she loves her. They have a bond that goes deeper than just friends. These girls survived atrocities at Gopal’s hands and they did so together. I loved seeing their relationship from both girls. In fact, I fell in love with Ilya reading her POV chapters. She is such a conflicted character and I loved her redemption in this novel.
While [b:Poison's Kiss|25081261|Poison's Kiss (Poison's Kiss, #1)|Breeana Shields|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465601913s/25081261.jpg|44767821] was a fantasy, it focused more on Marinda and her discovering the Nagaraja. This book focuses more on the mythology and building of those myths. I absolutely fell in love with the plot. I loved learning more about the Naga, Garuda, and the others. I found it interesting how the author built her own myths on these characters who appear in Hindu texts. I loved how it was interwoven with this plot to bring down the Nagaraja and the truth behind what he actually is. Seriously couldn’t have predicted it and it gave me chills while reading. As I’ve already said….Brilliant!
Overall I believe that I loved Poison’s Cage more than I loved the first one and I really didn’t think that was possible! I loved getting two POVs, Marinda and Ilya’s. I loved their friendship, I loved Deven (because seriously that has to be said), and I loved the mythology. This book broke me in the end though. I cried like a baby and then cried some more. It’s a beautifully written story about two strong girls willing to give their lives to save the other. If you enjoyed the first, if you enjoy fantasy, grab a copy and read it as soon as you can. It will not disappoint!
I honestly don’t know where to start! The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander is a breath-taking, heart-stopping read at times while at others it’s quite dull. I received this book in 2016 when it was first released to review and attempted to pick it up more than once, failing each time. I finally decided to give the audio a try, and I’m glad I did. Colleen Prendergast brought Elsie to life for me, and I listened to the book in one sitting as a result.
The book follows Elsie, 5 years after the death of her twin brother Eddie. Elsie isn’t really living. She feels like a shadow moving through life. She’s a good kid, doesn’t get in trouble much, but is overshadowed by the piece of her family that is missing.
It’s not until Elsie finds herself a new hobby that she starts to come to life. Her new hobby: Free Diving…..y’all this is terrifying and thrilling. The author really brings this to life as you read. For Elsie, under the water she starts to remember the events surrounding Eddie’s death in a new light. She becomes obsessed with uncovering more details and diving deeper each time.
The plot is quick moving and twofold. Both plot lines follow Elsie. One focuses on the present, her learning to dive and having a little romance with her instructor. The other focuses on her family life current and past. The author addresses some tough subjects: grief, eating disorders, infidelity, and accidents. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
Overall I did like the audio version of The Art of Not Breathing more than the print. It was easy to get lost in the unraveling mystery surrounding Eddie’s death. Elsie’s life was heartbreaking, and I found myself wanting to hug the poor girl most of the book. I’d recommend this read to anyone that enjoys YA contemporary with mystery.
The book follows Elsie, 5 years after the death of her twin brother Eddie. Elsie isn’t really living. She feels like a shadow moving through life. She’s a good kid, doesn’t get in trouble much, but is overshadowed by the piece of her family that is missing.
It’s not until Elsie finds herself a new hobby that she starts to come to life. Her new hobby: Free Diving…..y’all this is terrifying and thrilling. The author really brings this to life as you read. For Elsie, under the water she starts to remember the events surrounding Eddie’s death in a new light. She becomes obsessed with uncovering more details and diving deeper each time.
The plot is quick moving and twofold. Both plot lines follow Elsie. One focuses on the present, her learning to dive and having a little romance with her instructor. The other focuses on her family life current and past. The author addresses some tough subjects: grief, eating disorders, infidelity, and accidents. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
Overall I did like the audio version of The Art of Not Breathing more than the print. It was easy to get lost in the unraveling mystery surrounding Eddie’s death. Elsie’s life was heartbreaking, and I found myself wanting to hug the poor girl most of the book. I’d recommend this read to anyone that enjoys YA contemporary with mystery.
Marissa Meyer‘s Heartless wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was just as good as I’d hoped. I loved The Lunar Chronicles, so when I first heard that Meyer was writing a book about the Queen of Hearts I was excited. Excited and intrigued. Intrigued because I’ve read other books about the Queen of Hearts and didn’t like them, yet Meyer’s cyborg Cinderella convinced me she could write anything. Heartless tells the story of a young woman with her own dreams who is forced into a role she doesn’t want.
Catherine is a baker, the best in the kingdom of Hearts if you ask her, but also the daughter of the Marquess of Rock Turtle Cove. As his daughter, being a baker is out of reach. Instead she is forced into a role she doesn’t want, being courted by the king. I felt sorry for Cath. She is a dreamer, headstrong, and knows exactly what she wants in life. Yet she can’t have any of it. She can’t even choose who to love.
Enter the mysterious new court joker, Jest. I know I was supposed to love him like Cath does, but I couldn’t. He was manipulative, and I never felt I could truly trust him as Cath does. Instead I doubted everything he said and did in the book, thinking it was to push Cath along towards the king.
The plot of the story is pretty simple. Cath doesn’t want to be queen, she wants to live her life as she sees fit. Yet fate intervenes (or Jest….I strongly suspect him). While the plot – and Jest – are underwhelming, I love how Marissa Meyer interweaved Carroll’s classic with her own version of Wonderland. I was delighted to see the whimsy and creatures of Wonderland in a Victorian setting. It made for an interesting read.
Overall I really enjoyed Heartless. Cath and her situation are heartbreaking, and I found myself feeling for the off-with-their-heads queen. I could suddenly put myself in her shoes and empathize with her. If you enjoy the original and love Meyer’s writing, I highly recommend you grab a copy to read.
Catherine is a baker, the best in the kingdom of Hearts if you ask her, but also the daughter of the Marquess of Rock Turtle Cove. As his daughter, being a baker is out of reach. Instead she is forced into a role she doesn’t want, being courted by the king. I felt sorry for Cath. She is a dreamer, headstrong, and knows exactly what she wants in life. Yet she can’t have any of it. She can’t even choose who to love.
Enter the mysterious new court joker, Jest. I know I was supposed to love him like Cath does, but I couldn’t. He was manipulative, and I never felt I could truly trust him as Cath does. Instead I doubted everything he said and did in the book, thinking it was to push Cath along towards the king.
The plot of the story is pretty simple. Cath doesn’t want to be queen, she wants to live her life as she sees fit. Yet fate intervenes (or Jest….I strongly suspect him). While the plot – and Jest – are underwhelming, I love how Marissa Meyer interweaved Carroll’s classic with her own version of Wonderland. I was delighted to see the whimsy and creatures of Wonderland in a Victorian setting. It made for an interesting read.
Overall I really enjoyed Heartless. Cath and her situation are heartbreaking, and I found myself feeling for the off-with-their-heads queen. I could suddenly put myself in her shoes and empathize with her. If you enjoy the original and love Meyer’s writing, I highly recommend you grab a copy to read.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Then There Was You is the first book by Miranda Liasson that I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. From the first words to the last, Miranda Liasson captivated me. I fell in love with Angel Falls, Sara, and Colton. My heart melted at every turn of their story. I can’t resist these second-chance romances 😉
At the opening of the book, Sara has just returned to her home town. It’s been a year since her fiancé cheated on her two days before their wedding, and to say she is bitter doesn’t even begin to cover the gamut of emotions she’s warring with. BUT her grandmother, Nonna, has been diagnosed with dementia, and someone has to take care of her. Sara opts to be that person which is why she returns to her home town. I like Sara a lot. She’s a bit high-strung, but she’s caring and loyal to her family.
Colton is the thorn in Sara’s side and has been since they were fourteen. She blames him for her failed wedding. He was the best man and supposed to keep her ex from walking out. Really it isn’t fair of her to hold it against him, I mean her ex is a terrible guy. Colton is the police chief of Angel Falls. After a rough upbringing (understatement!), Colton has really turned his life around. He helps those in the community and is a real leader. Sara brings out the worst in him. Why? Because he feels as if she’s always been out of his league.
The premise of this story is Sara and Colton finding a way to live in the same town and not kill each other. However the enemy to friends to lovers angle is steamy. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and I found myself rooting them along way before the plot suggested it. The dialogue is witty, and the townspeople well thought out.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I could’ve finished it in one sitting, however I thought it best to sit it down and sleep when I hit 2am. I can’t wait to read more from Angel Falls. If you enjoy contemporary, small-town, second chance romances, I highly recommend you grab a copy asap.
Then There Was You is the first book by Miranda Liasson that I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. From the first words to the last, Miranda Liasson captivated me. I fell in love with Angel Falls, Sara, and Colton. My heart melted at every turn of their story. I can’t resist these second-chance romances 😉
At the opening of the book, Sara has just returned to her home town. It’s been a year since her fiancé cheated on her two days before their wedding, and to say she is bitter doesn’t even begin to cover the gamut of emotions she’s warring with. BUT her grandmother, Nonna, has been diagnosed with dementia, and someone has to take care of her. Sara opts to be that person which is why she returns to her home town. I like Sara a lot. She’s a bit high-strung, but she’s caring and loyal to her family.
Colton is the thorn in Sara’s side and has been since they were fourteen. She blames him for her failed wedding. He was the best man and supposed to keep her ex from walking out. Really it isn’t fair of her to hold it against him, I mean her ex is a terrible guy. Colton is the police chief of Angel Falls. After a rough upbringing (understatement!), Colton has really turned his life around. He helps those in the community and is a real leader. Sara brings out the worst in him. Why? Because he feels as if she’s always been out of his league.
The premise of this story is Sara and Colton finding a way to live in the same town and not kill each other. However the enemy to friends to lovers angle is steamy. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and I found myself rooting them along way before the plot suggested it. The dialogue is witty, and the townspeople well thought out.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I could’ve finished it in one sitting, however I thought it best to sit it down and sleep when I hit 2am. I can’t wait to read more from Angel Falls. If you enjoy contemporary, small-town, second chance romances, I highly recommend you grab a copy asap.
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.
Warning!!! There will be fangirling in this review.
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa is the book I’ve been waiting for, needing without knowing it since [b:The Damned|25114664|The Damned (The Unearthly, #5)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439216617s/25114664.jpg|44809112]. I fell hard for this urban fantasy world created by Thalassa that encompasses every paranormal creature, has its own paranormal government, even a school (like Hogwarts, only cooler). NOTHING I’ve read has compared to that series so when I started Laura Thalassa‘s newest book and realized it was set in the same world, well…
So Rhapsodic follows Callie, short for Callypso, Lillis. Callie is just 16 when she meets the Bargainer for the first time, after killing her stepfather (not a spoiler this happens on page 1). She doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to, but she has heard of this mysterious Fae who will clean up her mess in exchange for a favor. The problem though: Callie finds him irresistible and calls him back over and over again. 322 times to be exact. That’s 322 beads, one for each favor she owes him.
The Bargainer….
Desmond Flynn *swoon* What can I say about him?! He’s ruthless, known only by his nickname to everyone but Callie. After leaving Callie 7 years ago with no explanation, he turns up, ready to collect. His actions and words are misleading. He will keep you guessing, that’s for sure! But I still love him…
The plot of the story revolves around the relationship between Des and Callie, why he left, and why he’s come back. Someone is abducting the women in his kingdom and returning them in glass coffins with a baby in their arms. Seriously this is creepy! Laura Thalassa does an amazing job of conveying the confusion, anger and mystery surrounding the Fae women and Callie’s willingness to help. As I already mentioned this is set in the same world as [b:The Unearthly|18153436|The Unearthly (The Unearthly, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372778799s/18153436.jpg|25507980] series, but Thalassa expands on it by taking us to the Otherworld, the realm of Fae and monsters. It’s epic! and the writing is superb! The imagery of this realm and the creatures Callie encounters will leave you with nightmares and of course have you begging for more.
Overall, I loved this book! I love Callie and Des. I love the world. I even love the villain. If you are a fan of [b:The Unearthly|18153436|The Unearthly (The Unearthly, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372778799s/18153436.jpg|25507980] series or enjoy reading urban fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy, set aside a day and binge read. You don’t want to miss this epic tale! Now if only book two were available….
Warning!!! There will be fangirling in this review.
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa is the book I’ve been waiting for, needing without knowing it since [b:The Damned|25114664|The Damned (The Unearthly, #5)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439216617s/25114664.jpg|44809112]. I fell hard for this urban fantasy world created by Thalassa that encompasses every paranormal creature, has its own paranormal government, even a school (like Hogwarts, only cooler). NOTHING I’ve read has compared to that series so when I started Laura Thalassa‘s newest book and realized it was set in the same world, well…
So Rhapsodic follows Callie, short for Callypso, Lillis. Callie is just 16 when she meets the Bargainer for the first time, after killing her stepfather (not a spoiler this happens on page 1). She doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to, but she has heard of this mysterious Fae who will clean up her mess in exchange for a favor. The problem though: Callie finds him irresistible and calls him back over and over again. 322 times to be exact. That’s 322 beads, one for each favor she owes him.
Having the Bargainer’s full attention is like catching a tiger’s eye. All you wanted to do was pet the creature, but as soon as it turns its gaze on you, you realize it’s simply going to tear you apart.I like Callie. She’s a no-nonsense, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. She rolls with the hand life has dealt her, and she’s stronger for it. In the book we get a glimpse of her past and present. Each chapter begins with a flashback, showing her dealings with the Bargainer and how she wound up with 322 beads. I love this! As the reader we see her at her vulnerable and broken stage while also seeing the woman she has become, flipping from 16 to 23. She’s distrustful and keeps a wall around her heart.
The Bargainer….
Desmond Flynn *swoon* What can I say about him?! He’s ruthless, known only by his nickname to everyone but Callie. After leaving Callie 7 years ago with no explanation, he turns up, ready to collect. His actions and words are misleading. He will keep you guessing, that’s for sure! But I still love him…
The plot of the story revolves around the relationship between Des and Callie, why he left, and why he’s come back. Someone is abducting the women in his kingdom and returning them in glass coffins with a baby in their arms. Seriously this is creepy! Laura Thalassa does an amazing job of conveying the confusion, anger and mystery surrounding the Fae women and Callie’s willingness to help. As I already mentioned this is set in the same world as [b:The Unearthly|18153436|The Unearthly (The Unearthly, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372778799s/18153436.jpg|25507980] series, but Thalassa expands on it by taking us to the Otherworld, the realm of Fae and monsters. It’s epic! and the writing is superb! The imagery of this realm and the creatures Callie encounters will leave you with nightmares and of course have you begging for more.
Overall, I loved this book! I love Callie and Des. I love the world. I even love the villain. If you are a fan of [b:The Unearthly|18153436|The Unearthly (The Unearthly, #1)|Laura Thalassa|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372778799s/18153436.jpg|25507980] series or enjoy reading urban fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy, set aside a day and binge read. You don’t want to miss this epic tale! Now if only book two were available….
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
A sweet, slow-burn love story with a small town setting equals my perfect read…..The Way You Love Me by Miranda Liasson is the second book in Angel Falls and follows Sara’s younger sister Gabby after she leaves her fiancé in search of more.
I loved Sara’s story in Then There Was You so I was excited to go back to Angel Falls for Gabby’s story. Gabby is the spunky sister, the wild card so to speak. She has a free spirit and her ex has done a number to her self-esteem. BUT one good thing to come from the failed relationship — Gabby is done settling. She’s pursuing her dreams and nothing will stop her, except maybe her new professor.
Caden Marshall isn’t all that much older than Gabby, but he is her creative writing professor. After a failed marriage and a one-hit wonder book, Cade isn’t looking for a relationship. He’s looking for stability for himself and his young daughter, Ava. I think I fell in love with Cade from the start. He’s a struggling single father who adores his daughter and will do anything to make her smile. He’s bitter though from his divorce and rightfully so. She was a terrible person! Gabby brings Cade out of his shell a little and makes him think there may be more to life than just stability.
Overall I really enjoyed Cade and Gabby’s story. They bring out the best in each other. And little Ava steals the show! She’s precious, and Gabby finds herself just as enamored with her as she is with Cade. If you enjoy a sweet, slow-burn romance, I highly recommend it.
Note: While this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
A sweet, slow-burn love story with a small town setting equals my perfect read…..The Way You Love Me by Miranda Liasson is the second book in Angel Falls and follows Sara’s younger sister Gabby after she leaves her fiancé in search of more.
I loved Sara’s story in Then There Was You so I was excited to go back to Angel Falls for Gabby’s story. Gabby is the spunky sister, the wild card so to speak. She has a free spirit and her ex has done a number to her self-esteem. BUT one good thing to come from the failed relationship — Gabby is done settling. She’s pursuing her dreams and nothing will stop her, except maybe her new professor.
Caden Marshall isn’t all that much older than Gabby, but he is her creative writing professor. After a failed marriage and a one-hit wonder book, Cade isn’t looking for a relationship. He’s looking for stability for himself and his young daughter, Ava. I think I fell in love with Cade from the start. He’s a struggling single father who adores his daughter and will do anything to make her smile. He’s bitter though from his divorce and rightfully so. She was a terrible person! Gabby brings Cade out of his shell a little and makes him think there may be more to life than just stability.
Overall I really enjoyed Cade and Gabby’s story. They bring out the best in each other. And little Ava steals the show! She’s precious, and Gabby finds herself just as enamored with her as she is with Cade. If you enjoy a sweet, slow-burn romance, I highly recommend it.
Note: While this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
I loved the Divergent series by Veronica Roth but that ending….ugh!!! It’s been nearly six years and I still can’t even with that ending. SO naturally I was cautious about reading Carve the Mark. However I was pleasantly surprised. Despite a slow start, Carve the Mark was exactly what I wanted out of a YA dystopian scifi. Alternating points of view between two members of clashing nations/clans, the book unfolds.
The book opens with Akos and his family being murdered by members of the Shotet nation. Akos and his brother are then taken, Akos as a slave/soldier and his brother kept hidden for his ability. Akos is described as gentle, kind, and the smaller of his family. Yet it is his currentgift that makes him unique. He is able to stop the flow of the current through others, essentially making their own gifts obsolete, at least for a short time. Loyal and determined to find his brother and return home, Akos is assigned to Cyra Noavek, the sister of the ruler of Shotet.
Cyra is my favorite, hands down. Her currentgift though is pain. She is in constant pain and can channel that pain to others for torture or even execution. However she is torn by this. She struggles with morality in the face of her brother. Which makes her more likable to the reader. I enjoyed reading how her relationship with Akos unfolds.
Despite liking the characters, I struggled with the plot. Basically the gist is you have two warring factions on the same planet. But it is SO much more than that. There are oracles from each culture who deliver the “fates” of each babe born. These fates are the be all/end all of the universe. You can’t go against it, you will live your life to that fate. It’s kinda fatalistic in the sense that you know your destiny, it’s all planned out for you. Yet Cyra and Akos both defy that, or at least want to.
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I took my rating down a star though because the plot pacing was off. It started off quick then went to a snail’s pace for half the book before picking back up again. Unfortunately the pace was up and down the entire book. BUT that wasn’t enough to deter my enjoyment 😉 If you enjoy YA sci-fi, I highly recommend it.
Note: After finishing my review and copying it to Goodreads, I noticed the drama that surrounded the book at release. I was unaware of this prior to reading and writing my review. I do want to address it though.
•I did not see racism in the book. It’s science fiction, I saw described alien races, not black and white.
•I did not see ableism. While I do not deal with a chronic pain and cannot attest to what is being said, I can say that this is one experience and one way of dealing with it. I did not find the author’s descriptions of Cyra as weak, in fact I saw the opposite. She was a strong character, going up against insurmountable odds.
•I did not see anything that would be a blatant trigger warning as described in some reviews. There is no rape, however there is mention of child abuse (off page, not detailed).
I suscribe to the thought that not every book is for every person. With that in mind, I highly recommend that if any of the above would deter you from reading that you research and make your own decision prior to buying the book.
The book opens with Akos and his family being murdered by members of the Shotet nation. Akos and his brother are then taken, Akos as a slave/soldier and his brother kept hidden for his ability. Akos is described as gentle, kind, and the smaller of his family. Yet it is his currentgift that makes him unique. He is able to stop the flow of the current through others, essentially making their own gifts obsolete, at least for a short time. Loyal and determined to find his brother and return home, Akos is assigned to Cyra Noavek, the sister of the ruler of Shotet.
Cyra is my favorite, hands down. Her currentgift though is pain. She is in constant pain and can channel that pain to others for torture or even execution. However she is torn by this. She struggles with morality in the face of her brother. Which makes her more likable to the reader. I enjoyed reading how her relationship with Akos unfolds.
Despite liking the characters, I struggled with the plot. Basically the gist is you have two warring factions on the same planet. But it is SO much more than that. There are oracles from each culture who deliver the “fates” of each babe born. These fates are the be all/end all of the universe. You can’t go against it, you will live your life to that fate. It’s kinda fatalistic in the sense that you know your destiny, it’s all planned out for you. Yet Cyra and Akos both defy that, or at least want to.
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I took my rating down a star though because the plot pacing was off. It started off quick then went to a snail’s pace for half the book before picking back up again. Unfortunately the pace was up and down the entire book. BUT that wasn’t enough to deter my enjoyment 😉 If you enjoy YA sci-fi, I highly recommend it.
Note: After finishing my review and copying it to Goodreads, I noticed the drama that surrounded the book at release. I was unaware of this prior to reading and writing my review. I do want to address it though.
•I did not see racism in the book. It’s science fiction, I saw described alien races, not black and white.
•I did not see ableism. While I do not deal with a chronic pain and cannot attest to what is being said, I can say that this is one experience and one way of dealing with it. I did not find the author’s descriptions of Cyra as weak, in fact I saw the opposite. She was a strong character, going up against insurmountable odds.
•I did not see anything that would be a blatant trigger warning as described in some reviews. There is no rape, however there is mention of child abuse (off page, not detailed).
I suscribe to the thought that not every book is for every person. With that in mind, I highly recommend that if any of the above would deter you from reading that you research and make your own decision prior to buying the book.