Train Wreck was like a breath of fresh air. It was so cute, light, sweet and funny and it was impossible to not be charmed by Pepper and all her adorkableness. She was honestly one of the most refreshing new characters that I have read in awhile. I think we have all felt like a train wreck of sorts at one time or another, and Pepper managed to make it feel okay to embrace that a little. Or at the very least accept it and still be able to face the day with a smile and a can-do attitude.
 
Pepper and Derek were really cute together. I liked the idea of these two both out trying to find their own way in life, free of the family expectations that don't quite fit them, and ultimately finding a new way together. Even if they were kind of fumbling through it at first, actually that might have been my favorite part.
 
This is the perfect little rom-com that pulls your right in from the beginning and has you rooting for these two to figure things out and make it work. It is a fun, quick read with laugh out loud moments. If you like contemporary romance with a side of comedy I suggest giving Train Wreck a try!
 
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM BY: ELISE KOVA
The Alchemists of Loom was definitely a unique read. I appreciated the vast world building that Kova pulled off beautifully and I also found the characters to be very dynamic and intriguing. The only thing that threw me off at first was it wasn't exactly clear that the dragons were not actually huge flame breathing beasts, but really people...in a sense. It was confusing at first because you have a distinct picture in your head already of what a dragon should be and unfortunately it takes a bit to understand that the dragons in this story are a breed of their own and nothing like what you thought.
 
Once that little tidbit sinks in you end up wanting to know more about these dragons and the dangerous world you've been immersed in. Of course I was greedy to know more right away, but Kova hands out little nuggets of truth and clarity as you go so it takes awhile to put it all together. All in all I liked the story, even more so after the confusion was cleared up, and I have high hopes that the sequel will be very interesting!

WHITE HOT BY: ILONA ANDREWS
I was so freaking excited to get my hands on this book! Anything Ilona Andrews is automatically an auto-buy for me. And I had been waiting for the sequel to Burn for Me for sooooo long. Of course, it did not disappoint. I was up till 3am the day I got this because I could not put it down until I got to the very end! I enjoyed jumping right back into Nevada's adventures in Private Investigations.
 
Ilona Andrews does Urban Fantasy so well. Her world building is always on point and the only thing I can say about this one is that it is so well done that I will be crushed if this series doesn't carry on past the slated trilogy. I love the whole magic based hierarchy with the Primes and their unique powers. It is so well thought out and executed that I think there are so many stories to be told in this world. I could easily see it flourishing along the same lines as the Kate Daniels series, and that's saying a lot considering how epic that series is!
 
I love the push and pull and undeniable chemistry between the Nevada and Mad Rogan. Though to be honest I was kind of hoping for a little more of the slow burn, maybe more so as a sign that they might consider further expansion with the series. But there's no denying that Nevada and Mad Rogan were inevitable. As much as I love the two of them together, I am so enamored with Nevada's whole family. They are each individually interesting and compelling, and quite a handful, but all of them together is 110% magical and completely riveting! I need to know more about each of them! Every new little bit of info we get on each of them only makes me NEED to know more. I freaking love this crazy family!
 
I am so glad that we don't have long to wait to get the next book in the series, I just hope it isn't the last! If Urban Fantasy is your thing, I highly recommend that you give this series a try (and the Kate Daniels series too!). You will not be disappointed, this dangerous duo does UF like no one's business!

3.5 stars

Hard to Resist was full of steamy nerdiness! What I really liked about this addition was that Ravi and Hadley were first and foremost best friends. I love a good friends to more romance story. Sparks were definitely flying when these two got together. I quite enjoyed the sweet moments too, where it really came through just how well they knew each other and how much they thought of one another.



I wasn’t always impressed with how Ravi handled things with Hadley, or most people in his life. I get that he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but by lying and sneaking it was inevitable that someone was going to get hurt. In the end though, I think he hurt himself more than anyone else, so it was hard to stay mad with him. And after he wrote Hadley that sexy story, I was like where can I find my own Ravi?!



I enjoyed the whole dynamic between Hadley, her brother and Ravi. It was sweet how close they all were. I am curious to see more of Chase too. I kept finding myself wondering what he was off doing each time he disappeared. Ohhh and PLEASE tell me there will be a book for Mathew because he is my new favorite! I need for him to find someone super nerdy and awesome too! All in all it was a good addition to the series and I look forward to seeing what comes next!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I first heard about Roar around a month or so before it released. The premise instantly intrigued me and I knew I wanted to give this book a try so I pre-ordered it. I am so glad that I did! Roar did not disappoint! It was everything I was hoping it would be, and more!

 
Aurora was such an interesting character. I sympathized with her plight, an heir to her kingdom with a huge secret that could topple it before she even got a chance to take the throne. I liked that she was noble enough to want what was best for her kingdom, not just herself and her pride.



She needed Stormling magic as much for them as she did for herself. I was impressed with the lengths she was willing to go to become independent and strong enough to lead on her own. And considering her sheltered life, hiding herself away so no one would learn her secret, that she lacked her family magic, I thought her going on this epic journey was just what she needed, not only to find her magic, but to also find herself and get a better understanding of the world and the people that she will be ruling over one day.

 
I have to say that not only was Aurora a wonderful leading lady, but each character in this story was enchanting! I genuinely wanted to know more about each and every one, even the ones with the more nefarious intentions, maybe even especially them. Each character was well thought out and multilayered, and it made the story shine that much brighter for it. I loved the rag tag group of storm hunters!



These misfits that found something like a family in each other and a home in wherever the winds were blowing up the next big storm. They each had a compelling tale to tell, what lead them to where they are now and the things that shaped them. I feel like we have only just begun to hear their stories and know their motivations and I really can't wait to get more!

 
Besides the amazing set of characters the setting is equally enriching. Carmack has created a vast world here and I am desperately hoping to get to see even more of it in future books! And the magic! I loved the idea of these people who can conquer these storms that seem more beastly than natural. Forces of nature have always been something that equally interests me and frightens me. These things that can just come out of nowhere, wreak such havoc and bow to no man.



There's a reason "ride out the storm" is a saying, what else can you really do against such raw power? That is part of the reason I found the idea of these people who can stand toe to toe with a storm and steal its heart, its very essence, for their own so wild and compelling! And if that sounds as awesome to you is it did to me...just wait until you get to the end of this book! That twist was not something that I saw coming, and might just be my very favorite thing in this story!



If you are a fan of fantasy and adventure stories with a strong cast of characters I highly recommend giving this book a read! I am so glad that I did and now begins the excruciating wait for the sequel.

Reading an Alys Arden book is like taking a vacation. Her books make you feel like you're an actual part of the French Quarter. Completely immersive and her love of her city shines through each and every page. You end up feeling as if you are living and breathing the city right along with the characters. I absolutely adore that about these books!

 

 



 

 

I loved watching the Coven come together and getting to know some new characters as well as getting more background stories from characters we already know and love. Getting to know Niccolo better was quite endearing. I don't know what Arden is trying to do to my heart, but I don't think I could possibly be any more conflicted between Niccolo and Isaac at this point! Seeing Adele and Isaac's relationship flourish in this book was so sweet. I can plainly see that they are pretty darn wonderful together. But even with Niccolo being out of sight, he was never out of mind, and seeing him as this young determined dreamer with so many hopes of a bright future tugged at each one of my heartstrings. I don't even know what I want at this point! I am DYING to see what happens in the next book.

 

 



 

 

I was really excited to see more of the witch magic throughout the story. It was a lot of fun watching Adele, Isaac and Dee building up their coven and finding their place. I am very eager to see this group grow and flourish! I am completely intrigued by their individual growing powers as well! That ending was OUT OF CONTROL. You could tell that it was building to something huge towards the end, and it did not disappoint. I have no idea what will happen next in this story, but I can't wait to find out!

 

 

 

This book was AMAZING! I rarely give a first book in a series 5 stars, but if I could give this book a million stars I would!

 



 

The world building was TOP NOTCH. I kept telling my friend this was Ilona Andrews level world building. For those that don't know, that is like the be all end all of world building, in my book at least. It was so vast I kept thinking I could stay in this world forever. I can see where there would be no shortage of stories to be told in this world that McAtee has created. There was a supernatural POWERHOUSE in this book, with plenty of beings that are familiar, shifters, witches, demons, necromancers etc. and some new and fascinating beings I haven't read about before! I enjoyed the fact that Ember was new to this supernatural world too so you got to learn everything about this new mesmerizing place and all its colorful inhabitants side by side with her.

 

The characters were so diverse and plentiful. There were a lot of people in this story, and there wasn't one that didn't have me completely engrossed in their life. I could not get enough of them! We get a few different POVs in this story, and they are perfectly executed. I am so particular about multiple POVs. If they aren't clearly recognized each time, rather by each voice being distinguishable and unique enough to stand on their own obviously, or by marking it at the chapter changes, I tend to be disappointed. I had no problem with that here. I was honestly kind of blown away how seamlessly the shift was made each time, and even more impressively, how loveable each person was! I was always happy to spend time seeing things through any of their eyes and that is no easy task!



It also needs to be said that this cover is stunning as well! I really can't even do this book enough justice with a review. I loved everything about it, plain and simple. And if any of this sounds even remotely like something you may enjoy, pick this book up because I have a feeling you are going to fall in love with it too.

 

"He doesn't look like a Drone at all. He looks...he looks like a Felix. He looks like something only he could be in the entire One World, in the universe. All people used to look like that, once, her father had told her. They used to be like that."

No Ordinary Star was a very interesting read! Set in the year 2524, where things are much different than they are now. Boys and Girls grown in labs rather than being born to parents, and being raised separately from one another, each into their predetermined gender roles in life. In a world where there is no hunger or illness anymore, but there's also no wonder, no family, no love.



"It doesn't enter his mind right then that he's been robbed of all of this, of beauty, of life, of the very world for seventeen years."

 

Felix, an impressive soldier in the Chairman's Army, Astra, a rebel on the run, and Ursa, maybe the last polar bear in existence, band together as reluctant comrades to figure out what is really happening in the world around them, and what has brought them all to this deserted Clockmaster's home full of secrets, treasures, and hopefully answers.

 

"She knows what they are; at least she thinks she does. They're the most dangerous weapons, and none are supposed to have survived the Revision. But the Rebels had a couple of them, caked in the mud of decades and half burned -they'd been salvaged from the Revision burnings- still she's fairly certain that's what they were.

Books.

"Oh," she gasps.

In here there are thousands of them. A room full of weaponry -illegal weaponry."



I really enjoyed the dystopian world that Frank has created! I am curious to find out even more about it. I feel like we've only just had a glimpse of it here. I like the coming together of these radically different people like Astra and Felix. Astra has been raised by rebels and has a lot more insight into how messed up this world is and exactly what drones like Felix have been missing out on. On the flip side, Felix has been a good little soldier and quickly climbed the ranks of the chairman's army and his knowledge of the inner workings of the whole system is vast. I can't help but think that this will come in very handy later on in the series. Survival in the harsh elements of the Clockmaster's home has kind of forced them to rely on one another just to make it. But there was definitely a sense by the end that they were forming, at least a shaky sort of alliance.



"Why does it feel like it's the greatest felony of all, the biggest crime in the Planet, that this smart, animated little person who's managed to keep herself as well as him alive for days, isn't able to put letters together to read a simple phrase?"

 

This was a quick read that set an intriguing foundation for this kind of frightening futuristic dystopian world. I am looking forward to seeing how things proceed from here! Also has to be said that this cover is so GORGEOUS!! I might just have to pick up the physical copy to add to my shelves!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

**This book (and its sequel) is currently only $0.99 on Amazon for the Kindle copy right now!

If you're interested, you can get your copy here: https://goo.gl/A4hzKY

 

CHAMPIONS: AT FIRE'S END BY: CHARLOTTE JAIN
I really liked the idea of this book. I am a big fan of Greek and Roman Mythology and the idea of this epic battle between the Titans and Olympians using mortal Champions that they bestow different abilities and elemental control to aid them into destroying each other until the last man is standing to determine the ultimate faction sounded freaking AMAZING to me!
 
 
While I do think some of the battle scenes were quite good, I feel like the first half of the book especially was kind of slow moving and rather hard to follow. I honestly feel like you were basically thrust in this situation being expected to navigate these tricky waters and situations like you were an old pro, but in the end it took a bit to actually understand what was actually happening, and by then you were onto the next situation you had to decode.
 
 
I also had some trouble really connecting to the characters, April and Kyle were interesting, but I just never felt emotionally invested in them. I was satisfied with the ending, but I feel like the first half of the book made it challenging to get there. I was glad I stuck it out till the end, but ultimately I'm not completely certain it was enough to sway me into continuing with the series. Which was rather disappointing because I feel like there was so much potential here, but the execution needed a little more finesse.
 
 
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

MR. TROUBLE BY: NANA MALONE  
  This was a cute contemporary romance. It was a quick read, which explains why like went to love rather briskly. The characters were well developed and likable. Kinsley was smart, sweet, independent lady and Jarred was your typical billionaire on the playboy path that needed something or someone to point him in a better direction. While it sounds pretty standard for the romance genre, I liked that Jarred wasn't a total jerk. It seemed like it was more him finally living up to the low expectations his parents had set for him. It was nice seeing him grow out of his parental issues and finally take his life more seriously. Kinsley and Jarred made a cute pair and they seemed good for each other. I was hoping for a little more of the happy couple at the end, but things wrapped up in a nice way.
 
 
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.