My Year of Books 2017

As 2017 comes to a close, I would like to share my Reading Challenge Results of 2017, thanks to Goodreads for keeping track. I set a goal of 150 books and ended up reading 255. They ranged from short stories of book series I loved to full length novels. A lot of re-reads but a lot more newer ones. It's been quite a year and I look forward to the new releases of great authors that are coming in 2018.

And with those new releases will be my reviews! A New Year's Resolution: Review the new books I read. I hope to accomplish this and I hope that by sharing my thoughts it will inspire you to read these amazing books and start your own reading challenge.

Goodbye 2017 and Hello 2018.

Bring it on.

A Wicked Trilogy Book 3: Brave by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Wicked Trilogy Book 3

Ivy Morgan hasn't been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine... and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart. If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves--and, ultimately, to save herself.

Because behind ever evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23149316-brave 

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I've loved this series since the moment I opened book one. The characters, setting, and plot were so compelling that I when I finished book 2, Torn, I couldn't wait for the release of Brave. And lucky for me I didn't have such a long wait since I didn't discover Wicked and Torn until this past September and since it is now December, that's a pretty decent wait, unlike most of the yearly ones I have. 

Anyway, this was an incredible story to wrap up the trilogy of our heroes Ivy and Ren. The story begins with Ivy dealing with what has happened to her at the end of Torn. She is hurting and afraid and vulnerable and the nightmares that plague her are pretty serious. And why wouldn't they be? She was held captive by someone who wants to get her pregnant, so that the baby can open the worlds between the Fae and humans, which will only lead to chaos. So yea, a little alarming. She is having trouble opening up to Ren and Tink, who have become family to her, and though no one can blame her, it's still hard for them to watch her try and push them away. Ivy has a felt a loss of who she is. She looks in the mirror and sees a stranger. So a good portion of the story goes into her trying to find herself again after everything in her life changing. You feel her struggle and all you want is to cheer for her to push past it and let those who love her help her. Because you know that she is such a strong character and it breaks your heart to see her hurting.

After a deadly encounter, everything once again changes for Ivy and she has to learn with to live with the aftermath. Luckily, Ren and Tink are there for her and they will never give up on her. Ren is another one of Armentrout's great book boyfriends. No matter how hard it gets between Ivy and Ren, the good and bad choices or the sacrifices they make, they are still in love with one another, and that will never change. It makes them stronger. They fight to be with one another because they know they are it for one another. When you find the one meant for you, you hold on. And Tink is just as protective of Ivy as Ren is. They are family. 

On top of some crazy plot twists for Ivy, that is almost nothing compared to the plot twists to come. Every time you think you figure something out, something happens and the entire story changes. I really don't want to spoil so I will keep those details to a minimum. But I loved the plot twists in this story because they were that good and you seriously don't see them coming. There are some new characters that bring about those changes. And then there is Tink, who come on, is the best part of this series with his personality and he never ceases to surprise you with what he has up his sleeves. Then there is the ending that was given, which I really hope this isn't the end of that universe that was created. 

Though one small spoiler!! (Read at own risk!)

There will be a novella released in August 2018 titled The Prince. So let's just say, things definitely got interesting. 

Again, amazing series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. She truly is an incredible author and has never let me down with her books. I can't wait for what else she has coming!

The Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dark Elements 0.5

(Dark Elements Books 1-3)

Bitter Sweet Love (prequel):

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again..

White Hot Kiss (book 1):

One kiss could be the last 

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world. 

Stone Cold Touch (book 2): 

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Every Last Breath (book 3):

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

https://www.goodreads.com/series/98903-the-dark-elements

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My Review: 5/5 Stars for each book and the series. 

I decided I would just do an overall review of the series since I read them before I started this blog, but still read them recently enough that despite it being a couple of weeks, I am still thinking about them. 

So let me start by saying that when you go to read the series, definitely start with the prequel, Bitter Sweet Love. It isn't one of those prequels that would totally spoiler the entire series. Besides it came out before the first book anyway, so it's supposed to be read that way! Bitter Sweet Love's main characters are Jasmine and Dez. After 3 years of being separated, Dez had mysteriously left the night Jasmine was told they were to be mated, he is back and is ready to make that claim on Jasmine. It's a good start to the series to really understand the world that Armentrout has created. She's done mythology, aliens, and now faeries, now it's time for gargoyles. Yup, gargoyles. Haven't seen that one yet. And though I remember hesitating because how could a story of gargoyles be interesting, I was glad I caved and read them. (It was after caving to reading her Lux series, and man did I wish I did NOT hesitate on that series because it is one of my favorite series of all time, probably my favorite from her.) She makes the myth of gargoyles and demons SO interesting and awesome. 

So the prequel gives you insight on the world of gargoyles and the society of the Wardens. And Dez and Jasmine introduce us to two of the main characters of the series, Layla and Zayne. Well, actually three! Though he isn't named, Roth does make an appearance, that the moment you pick up White Hot Kiss and see our characters wondering who is humming Paradise City, then you know immediately who he is. 

The series as a whole is excellently written, with plot twists, romance, and action. Layla is half-demon and half-Warden. Her demon genes make it so that she has the power to steal souls by a kiss. The Wardens for the most part are wary of her, except for Zayne. Her best friend and the boy she has had a crush on since she was taken in by his father as a child. Layla is sure she is in love with him despite knowing that they could never have a relationship, until the moment she meets Roth. The demon prince from Hell. There is an immediate connection and it doesn't hurt that she can touch him without having his soul sucked out, since he is a demon, he has no soul. 

Love triangles aren't my favorite thing in a story, but this one wasn't so bad. The good news is she does make a decision early in the third book, instead of waiting until the end. But with any good love story there are happy moments for the couple you are rooting for and moments of tears when something bad happens. 

The overall story that develops of the three books, besides the love story, is that Layla is the key to breaking free the mother of demons, Lilith. But with any good story, some bad things happen, and monsters are released and created. Then there is Layla who is learning to embrace both sides of her nature, instead of locking up the part that she was told was always bad. Roth shows her that not all demons are evil creatures. Some just want to be normal and be left alone. The character development for all the characters are great. Because while Layla is on her journey of learning about herself, Roth is learning that he has a choice on who he gets to be. Just because he was born a demon doesn't mean he can't love and make his own choices. And Zayne, learns to go after what he wants and not let it matter what others think. He follows his heart and understands right and wrong. 

Definitely a great series to pick up and read. Like always Armentrout doesn't disappoint. 

Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . . 

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31558744-till-death 

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I don't usually gravitate to murder mystery stories but since I am such a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout I figured that I have reached the point where she could write any genre and it will be good. And that remains true with this novel. 

Main character Sasha Keaton returns home after 10 years to help her mother run the family inn. Sasha is the survivor of a serial killer who had held her and tortured her for days physically and mentally before she was lucky enough to escape. Though he died, Sasha did not stick around. She left her family and friends behind, including her boyfriend Cole Landis. 

Sasha comes home, still not completely whole, but sacrifices her own needs to be there for her mother. Her mother and her best friend welcome her home with open arms. And her long lost love Cole comes racing through the doors at the inn to see if his cousin was telling the truth that Sasha has returned. The chemistry is still there and even stronger than she remembers, though can they build a relationship after being apart for 10 years? Cole certainly thinks so. And with a little bit of coaxing and a spirit that is determined to overcome her fears, Sasha does too.

However, not everyone is happy to see Sasha, what starts off with vandalism to her car turns into a full blown investigation when local girls go missing. And the connection between them is that the girls look like Sasha...the MO of the serial killer, the Groom, who had held her all those years ago. 

This story is filled with mystery, action, and romance that builds and has you scrambling to figure out the pieces. I will admit that I figured out the murderer pretty early on. Which doesn't happen often to me, but as I was reading I was determined to figure it out and started analyzing each character introduced. Though I had an idea of who it could be, it wasn't until the end where it was revealed that I had all of the pieces I was missing. Which makes the book worth reading and finishing. Just because you may have an idea doesn't mean the story gets boring. I read this book in a day because I just had to know if I was right and what the murderer's motives were. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn't see coming which proved how well the story was written. 

Great story and now I'm thinking that I may want to pick up some more murder mysteries and that Armentrout definitely needs to write more! 

Ryker Falls Book 1: Somebody to Love

Ryker Falls Book 1

He was the bad boy no one trusted 

  

Bailey’s burned out, and unsure why she’s landed back in Ryker Falls, but has a feeling it’s got something to do with closure. Bad boy Joe Trainer was once her soulmate, but she wasn’t sure she had a soul anymore. Finding he’d made something of his life is a shock, as he’d been on a one-way trip to hell when she left. This new Joe is sexy and enticing, but she knows all too well there’s a devil underneath the urbane exterior. 

  

She was the good girl who never broke the rules 

  

When Joe finds his childhood sweetheart, Bailey Jones, has returned to Ryker Falls, his life suddenly shifts from settled to off-center. Once they’d been closer than anyone ever guessed; now, they’re chilly strangers. But Joe’s not letting his stubborn, sexy-as-hell ex-bestfriend stay closed off. He lost her once through his own stupidity this time she's not getting away. Joe knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance, but he’s never played by the rules before so he’s not starting now. Game on. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36511684-somebody-to-love?from_search=true 

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I received an ARC and told myself that I was going to take my time reading. I have the weekend, I thought, to enjoy this story and write a review. Little did I know (though I should have expected), that wouldn't be the case. Instead, I found myself picking it up when I came home from work and spending the rest of the night reading it. Yeah, it was that good. 

Wendy Vella creates another town that I wish was real so I could go live there! I loved her Lake Howling series (which, by the way, I hope is not finished yet) and created the Ryker Falls series and book one was everything I hoped it would be. Bailey and Joe have that soul mate kind of love. They met when they were preteens and were separated for fifteen years! But that kind of connection doesn't disappear over time. 

Bailey is a famous pianist who has returned home to Ryker Falls for a break and to escape the cage that her Grandfather created for her in his attempt to control her life and career all while believing that he was helping her. Returning to Ryker Falls, she tries to gain her footing and learn what it is like to be on her own and have some control over her life and choices. 

Joe Trainer didn't have an easy childhood and his young-adulthood wasn't that much better. After leaving his home at Ryker Falls, he returns years later and makes something out of himself and for his family. He's much happier and continues to prove to the town that he has put his troubled youth behind. However, no matter how many years have passed, his feelings for Bailey have always been there. 

Reunited, and Joe is determined to not lose the girl who got away, while Bailey tries to keep her emotions in check in fear that she will have her heart broken all over again. The story was beautifully written and the character development was great. You watch as these characters learn to get to know one another again and break the barriers around their hearts to find their way to happiness. It isn't an easy journey, but it's one that has love worth fighting for.

With action that keeps this small town and its people on their toes and plot twists that you never see coming, this book is definitely worth checking out! Especially if you loved the Lake Howling series as much as I did. And my fingers are crossed that these towns exist in the same universe and a crossover of characters is a possibility (there may not have been any hints of that, but hey, a girl can dream!). 

With a cast of characters that i fell in love with and that I hope will get their own books, this was a great to start to what I think will be a great series! Another favorite of mine of Wendy Vella's to add to my collection.

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all - popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 

But Cassie is still missing, and the truth about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory - someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18296030-don-t-look-back?from_search=true 

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I always wanted to write a story where the main character loses a significant amount of  his or her memory. And I was happy to dive into Jennifer L. Armentrout's book where she did exactly that. Though she took it further than I had ever written. Not only does her main character not remember how she ended up walking on the side of the road, bloody and confused, she doesn't even remember her own name! Let alone her family members or how old she is. Our main character is truly a blank slate. And it was written so well that I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. I had this need to find out what happened to her and if she was going to get her memory back and solve the mystery of where she was and what happened to her friend Cassie. 

The book begins with Samantha walking on the side of the road pretty messed up and confused. Luckily for her a police officer picks her up and takes her to the hospital. She wakes up not recognizing her parents and doesn't know her name. From there, Samantha returns home to her fraternal twin brother who at first doesn't believe her but quickly realizes this isn't Samantha covering for herself in the usual trouble she may get into. 

Samantha learns that she hasn't been the best sister or friend in the last six years. Ever since she met Cassie, the girl who is currently missing, she had changed into a witch with a capital B. Her brother doesn't really know what initially sparked the change other than meeting frenemy Cassie, but Samantha realizes that she doesn't exactly want to go back to being that bad of a person either. 

The book continues with Samantha trying to regain her memories so that she can help figure out what happened Cassie, figure out who is leaving her threatening messages and the "Shadow Man" she keeps seeing, trying to navigate her way through the social hierarchy of high school where she once at the top but without her memories she has dropped to the bottom, and reconnect with the boy next door (Carson) who was once her best friend but somehow she lost along the way. 

Carson is another worthy book boyfriend that Armentrout can add to her collection. He is sweet and kind and will do anything to help Samantha, despite their past being less than friendly when she changed. That alone makes me as a reader want to shake Samantha and say "how could you let him go!?" 

The book is filled with mystery, romance, and action as Samantha and Carson team up to recover Samantha's memories and learn what happened that night Samantha and Cassie disappeared. It grasps the reality that is high school and how our parents and friends expectations can change who we are all in order to fit in or to even be perfect. 

When second chances come Samantha learns to take it. 

An amazing and definite worthy read, with plot twists that you truly don't see coming until it's too late! 

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dying sucks

...and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. 

After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.

For real this time.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11945589-cursed?ac=1&from_search=true

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my favorite authors and this book is just another one to add to her collection of amazing stories. It's sort of like X-Men in the sense that there are people with abilities but a lot more low key in the sense that this is tight secret from humans for the most part. And minus the characters becoming superheroes. The main character Ember wasn't born with powers. She with in a fatal car accident that killed both her and her father. However, she is the one that comes back to life thanks to her three-year old sister Olivia, who has healing abilities powerful to bring back the dead. Jumpy two years later and Ember is the responsible one in her home. She takes care of Olivia like a mother would a child because their mother hasn't been able to really get out of bed since the accident killed her husband. Ember struggles with the taking care of her sister and what makes it worse is that when she was brought back from the dead, she gained an ability of her own. Her touch equals death. No touching plants, animals, or even holding her baby sister's hand. (Hey, it's kind of like Rogue from X-Men! Though no gaining other mutants abilities.)

After an deadly incident, Ember and her family are taken by Jonathan Cromwell, a man with abilities of his own and holds a home where other kids with abilities lives. Though it is clear they want Olivia rather than Ember when it comes to abilities, Cromwell's adopted son, Hayden, is the only one who believes that Ember is gifted and that she can control her powers if given a chance. An almost impossible romance blossoms between Ember and Hayden. Thankfully, his powers are about absorbing others' abilities, so he can touch her! If not for a few seconds at a time before their powers clash. But as Ember adjusts to what feels like a kidnapping and a forced life, there is something else going on. Ember is being targeted and she doesn't know by who but she wonders if this person is the one caused her father's and even her own death.

It took me a little bit to warm up to Ember. But it's hard to blame her for her attitude. I mean, I would be pretty grumpy too if I couldn't hold my baby sister or kiss the guy I like. But her development is great as she learns to see her gift in a new light. And Hayden, well he is such a great book boyfriend! Which Armentrout is definitely an expert on writing (Can I just say Daemon Black?).

The book had action, mystery, romance, and so much more that gave it that great paranormal young adult combo. My only thing is that it is a standalone that left a lot of questions unanswered and an ending that could definitely lead to a series, which even though the book was published in 2012, I really hope that it is something Armentrout will go back and add more too.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Renegades Book 1

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28421168-renegades

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Marissa Meyer has created something that all of us comic book and superhero fans have been waiting for, and it couldn’t have been better! But hey, there is a sequel coming out next year, so let’s be honest, knowing her she is going to top the thrilling, action-packed, story that is Renegades. Hero or Villain? Renegade or Anarchist? That is the choice for the characters in the world that Meyer has created. The story was thrilling and kept you on your toes the whole way through. It wasn’t a black and white, good versus evil story. Nope. Not at all. Meyer has no fear in bringing out the gray areas. Especially with her two main characters, Nova and Adrian. Nova, the prodigy secretly known as Nightmare, has the power to make others sleep at her touch and she doesn’t have to sleep herself. But before she was Nightmare, she was a kid who deeply loved her family and believed in what the Renegades, the Council and heroes that protected their city from crime, did. Until, the night her parents and baby sister were murdered in front of her. (Batman, anyone?) Heartbroken that her heroes failed to protect her family when they needed her most, she was taken care of by her uncle Alex aka Ace Anarchy. The leader of the Anarchists. A group villains who just want to be equal and not punished for their gifts. Nova grows up with her uncle and his fellow Anarchists in hopes of one day taking down the organization that failed her. Adrian is the adopted son of Captain Chromium and The Dread Warden, two founding members of the Renegades and leaders of the Renegade Council. His mother was killed in the line of duty, she too was a founding member of the Renegades. Adrian’s superhero name is Sketch because he can bring his drawings and artwork to life. But that’s not the only thing he is known by. He has another secret identity because despite his belief in what the Renegades do, he feels that sometimes you need to dig a little deeper for justice. What I really loved about this story was that it switched back and forth between Nova and Adrian so you can see both sides of the story in terms of what is considered good and what is considered evil. It was never a simple concept of good versus evil. The Anarchists aren’t just villains trying to cause chaos and hurt people. They have a real purpose and it’s about freedom. They prove that the system that was created isn’t perfect and that relying on the so-called heroes shouldn’t be how the world is governed. It needs to be equal for those with and without powers. As for the Renegades, they are all about being heroes and saving people but their system isn’t perfect. And there can be those who are given a hero uniform but still are bullies. And how far are they willing to go in their quest to bring peace? I bet they are willing to cross some lines when the time comes. Adrian and Nova meet on the streets by chance and the spark between them is immediate. Though their initial meeting is brief, both know that something has changed. Circumstances throw them together once more and they find themselves on the same team. Nova goes undercover as a Renegade to learn how to take them down but in the meantime she sees that not everyone there is as evil as she once believed. Adrian opens her eyes to some of the good. And Nova, though she keeps her secret away from Adrian, shows him some of the realities of what it is like outside the Renegades group. Slowly they see both sides of the picture. But their true identities are still hidden from one another. When the time comes will their feelings be strong enough to overcome the pressure and beliefs that were pushed on them since children? We won’t find out until book two! (Which seems too far away!) If you love heroes, villains, superpowers, action, mystery and the hilarious characters then this book is for you. Even over 500 pages long it didn’t take me long to finish, because there was no dull moments. The small mysteries kept it interesting and there are still so many unanswered questions. As someone who loves Marvel and DC comics and movies, it was finally nice to find a young adult novel that held these ideas and bring them into a new light. With cliffhanger endings and shocking twists this book is a great read and I seriously cannot wait for the next one!

Lake Howling Book 6: A Long Way Home by Wendy Vella

Lake Howling Book 6

Sexy, contemporary romance filled with heart, humor and characters you’ll fall in love with. 

Hope Lawrence’s life has imploded. Losing her job, savings, and lastly boyfriend, she thought she’d hit rock bottom. WRONG! She makes a fool of herself in front of her childhood nemesis. How is she to face Newman again, knowing his black eye was a result of her stupidity? Can she go back to Lake Howling and pick up the pieces of her life? Both seem unlikely, as does the sudden attraction she feels for the man who wears designer clothes and has a girl in every city. Her head is telling her to run, but her heart has other ideas. 

Paul Theodore Newman liked his life. He has order, friendship and a job that allows him to help people, and until Hope Lawrence storms back into town, that was enough. Her fashion sense makes him shudder, as do her kale smoothies! Down on her luck, she challenges him at every turn, but when trouble follows her to Howling, he finds himself determined to help her, only to discover it’s him who needs rescuing from the demons of his past. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35513757-a-long-way-home

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another great book in a wonderful series! We finally get to Newman's story and it was one that was worth the wait. Newman is a character who lives to help people, wears designer clothes, and likes to keep order to his life. So of course the woman he falls for has to be chaotic. And Hope Lawrence is exactly that. When they opposites attract, Newman and Hope are a perfect example. My favorite part about this book and about this couple is the clashing of their personalities. Their witty banter will leave you laughing and smiling the entire time you are reading the book. Every time they enter the same room you can’t wait to see the verbal battle that will have you rooting for them to just admit their feelings for one another. 

Neither of these characters had an easy life. You learn some truths of Newman’s past. And witness Hope’s struggle of learning that you don’t have to face everything alone. It’s real and relatable. Like the past books in the series, you can’t help but attach yourself to these characters. And it’s even better that no character is ever forgotten. Everyone is back and you get to see their lives even after their story had ended. 

Wendy Vella delivers another beautifully written story that is action packed with some drama and danger. It’s the town everyone secretly wants to live in and has the romance and love story you secretly wish for. Another must-read that will have you hoping that this isn’t the end of the Lake Howling series. 

Lake Howling Book 5: Don't Look Back by Wendy Vella

Lake Howling Book 5

Unexpected But Undeniable 

After a disastrous marriage, Macy Reynolds has picked up the broken pieces of her life and moved on. She’s sworn off men and is building a new life in the safe haven of Lake Howling, Oregon with her son, friends, and her boutique business. So why now is she suddenly distracted by the seriously sexy Texan, Brad Gelderman? The man spells d-a-n-g-e-r, in large flashing, neon letters and Macy’s had more than enough of that in her life. Macy swears she won’t fall for Brad … but the heat between them is irresistible. 

Brad Gelderman has come to Lake Howling to lay ghosts to rest from the past, and he’s definitely not planning on sticking around. What he hadn’t expected was this quirky little town filled with people who thought it was okay to interfere in his life, and one captivating firecracker called Macy Reynolds, who is sweet, sexy, and as messed up emotionally as him. She got to him, touched something inside him that was both terrifying and wonderful. 

Lake Howling is healing their pasts; can it hold a beautiful new future for Brad and Macy? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32993011-don-t-look-back

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

This series hooked me from the very first novel, A Promise of Home. The moment I finished it, I sped through the rest because I honestly could not put them down. Don't Look Back is another great one in this series and what makes it extra special is our main characters, Macy and Brad. Macy and Brad were introduced early in the series. And what you don't realize when you meet them is that they are very alike. When we first see them, there is an immediate dislike. Macy was cold and stuck up and Brad was a sleazy angry drunk. However, what you don't realize at first is that they both were being abused and controlled in their lives. They were drowning and at the time no one was around to save them. Branna saved Macy. She saw behind the makeup and cold frontier and realized that this woman had a lot more going on. Branna pushed Macy to fight back because she was worth it. Her life was worth fighting for. Macy was abused physically and emotionally by her husband Brian. And by the end of Branna's story, Macy was free from him and left to have her son and begin healing. When we meet Brad in The Texan Meets His Match, we see a man who let his father control him and watch him drown in alcohol, to hide the true reach of his father's power over him. At the end of Ethan's story, we see the first hint of Brad trying to escape his father's control when he reaches out to Ethan. Macy and Brad's beginnings are awful but at some point everyone deserves a happy ending. 

What makes Don't Look Back special, is that about 4 years have gone by from their introductions. Instead of a story where we see how weak these characters are and how they find each other and heal one another, we get a story where they have already battled through the worse of their insecurities and are reaching a point where they are just about ready to be happy and live again. Macy we have watched through the 4 novels before, slowly heal and raise her son with the support of her friends. She is stronger than she was and knows how to be independent. Brad we learn has left home 2 years ago and made himself a life. He may still be trying to figure it out how to be happy and let go of the past, but when a tragedy strike, he realizes that he needs his make amends with his siblings. By Brad reaching out to Ethan, it's another step forward in his life to finding happiness and peace. 

This story is about how Macy and Brad bring out the best in one another. Brad teaches Macy that she has always been strong and that she doesn't have to let her friends fight her battles and always protect her. She can speak her mind and not be afraid to do so. It's okay to take control again because no one there will break her down. She is respected and able to take a stand. Macy teaches Brad to let emotion in and forgiveness. Because there is no way to heal if you cannot talk about what it is that is tearing you up inside. Their story is of two broken souls that have been healing slowly on their own but learn that together they are the happiness and love they deserve and have been looking for all their lives. 

Beautifully written, action packed (because there is always a little danger and drama in the beautiful town of Lake Howling), and, of course, romance and love that everyone ones craves and wishes for themselves, this story is fantastic! A must-read in a series I hope will never end!

Guild Hunters Book 2: Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunters Book 2

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of angelic rulers, vampiric servants, and the woman thrust into their darkly seductive world...

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel, Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority.

They've barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel, Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6582637-archangel-s-kiss

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

People are always worried that the second book in a series will never be as good as the first one. How could it beat the original? Well that is never the case for Nalini Singh’s novels. She only makes her stories more addicting. After an ending like Angel’s Blood, Archangel’s Kiss continues the story of Elena and Raphael. Raphael’s love was so strong and real for Elena, that it not only saved her life but it transformed her into an angel. Though Elena may now have a pair of wings, it is not enough to changed Elena completely. Elena keeps her “mortal heart” and stays exactly who she is: a warrior. The second book brings and Elena and Raphael to the Refuge, where Elena has finally awakened after spending a year in a coma. Physically weak, she learns to adapt to her new body. Elena also now gets to see what life is like amongst the angels and get ready to face the new enemies emerging to hurt her and Raphael. This novel keeps the action going and we see the development of Elena and Raphael learning to be with one another. It’s a love so strong, you can’t help but be drawn to it.

Guild Hunters Book 1: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunters Book 1

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible. 

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad. 

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3819326-angels-blood

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

After reading Nalini Singh’s addicting Psy-Changeling novels, i had to see what her Guild Hunter novels had to offer. And she does not disappoint. She sets up another modern day world but instead of the Psy and Changelings, we get angels and vampires. There were so many different aspects of this story that i loved. The creativity was once again superb and the love story was heart-achingly good. But one of the things that really got me was the main heroine, Elena Deveraux. A beautiful, tough as nails skilled hunter, who is such a strong female character, i couldn’t help but be addicted to the book. She isn’t put down for being a woman, she is actually considered the best at what she does at the Guild. She is respected even among the angels and vampires. It is was draws her to the big bad archangel, Raphael. 

The chemistry between Elena and Raphael is electric. Their banter is hilarious and the serious moments between the two are so real and raw. As powerful and scary as Raphael is, Elena admits her fear, but that isn’t enough to stop herself from falling for the archangel. Her mortality and heart is irresistible to Raphael. They challenge one another constantly, each holding their own broken pasts that only surface for one another. Giving them a real connection and relationship. 

The secondary characters are just as intense and interesting as Elena and Raphael. Whether they are friends of Elena’s from the Guild or the Seven that make up Raphael’s most trusted friends and soldiers. I look forward to learning more about them and especially those who are honored to have their own books in the series. No one is left out and no one should be. It makes the world Singh creates even more interesting. 

Action-packed. Elena’s hunter-born abilities are tested to help Raphael on a hush-hush mission to find an out of control archangel. There is never a dull moment in this book. Especially with an ending that you can’t help but “fall” for.