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.