Modern Faerie Tales Book 3: Ironside by Holly Black

Modern Faerie Tales Book 3

In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie.

Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

Holly Black spins a seductive tale at once achingly real and chillingly enchanted, set in a dangerous world where pleasure mingles with pain and nothing is exactly as it appears.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/283494.Ironside

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Definitely the best of the trilogy! A lot happens in this book. The Unseelie and Seelie Courts are courting one another in war. A war Roiben desperately wants to prevent and win in order to have peace with no lives lost. Kaye gets tricked by some faeries that she must declare her love forr Roiben and ask for a quest in order to stay by her side. And to protect Kaye, Roiben gives her an impossible task to keep her away from courts. And if that wasn't enough, Kaye tells her mother the truth about her being a changeling. So yes, a lot. And from the second book, Luis makes an appearance to help Kaye and Corny as they continue to be involved in faerie problems. I really liked this story the best of the three. And I have to say I LOVED the solution to Roiben's impossible quest. Brilliant on Kaye's part for coming up with that answer. I laughed really hard on that final page when she tells Roiben how she pulled it off. And also now that I read these books, I can understand Roiben and Kaye better from the Folk of the Air trilogy, which also means I am about to do a re-read to keep up the momentum and because they were just really good!

Modern Faerie Tales Book 2: Valiant by Holly Black

Modern Faerie Tales Book 2

When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/266607.Valiant

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Book two of the Modern Faerie Tales series and I gotta say it took me a little longer to get into the story. I was waiting for more action and adventure with faeries, though they were pretty present. But Val's story was pretty crazy, I gotta say. Even before the introductions of faeries. After a completely insane revelation, Val runs away and finds herself with homeless kids who run errands for faeries or one particular faerie, Ravus. She ends up striking a deal with him to help him run errands but she learns that faeries are getting killed and Ravus is trying to figure out by whom, despite the fact that the other faeries believe he is the murderer. Val sees more to Ravus and the fact that he is a troll. Back in the world of faeries and there is one more book left in this series. I know Kaye is the main character in the final book, but will Val make an appearance? I look forward to finding out!

Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7: The Dragon's Pursuit by Jessie Donovan

Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7

When Dr. Layla MacFie realizes someone is stealing much-needed medical supplies, she doesn't know who to trust inside her surgery. Determined to find the culprit herself, she reaches out to Lochguard's electrician, Chase, who just happens to be the younger male who's been trying to woo her for months. But since there's no one else to help install the security cameras, she can't avoid him any longer and ends up being alone with him far more than she wants. If only the life of a dragon-shifter doctor wasn't so complicated, she would be tempted to give in and sleep with the male.

Chase McFarland has known for the last two years, ever since the day after his twentieth birthday, that Layla is his true mate. While he tried to resist his dragon's badgering, it didn't take long for Chase to realize how amazing Layla is and that he wants to take care of her and claim her for himself. His initial attempts to win her all fail, but when she asks for his help with a secret project, he decides to change tactics and prove he's a worthy male. The more time they spend together, the more Layla gives in, until he's ready to tell her the truth and face the consequences.

As the pair dance around each other and discover each others' secrets, they learn of the thief and must decide what to do. Will Chase finally be able to prove he's mature enough for the much older Layla, or will she forever be chained to her work and deny what both she and her dragon crave?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50005476-the-dragon-s-pursuit

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I always love visiting Lochguard! When we met Layla and Chase in previous books, I was so excited to read their story. And this one did not disappoint. There were so many twists and turns in this one, I of course ended up reading it in one sitting. What starts as Layla and Chase finding out who is stealing medical supplies, turns into something neither saw coming. And that isn't even about the fact that they are true mates. Their discovery will start a chain reaction of events that keep you on your toes. A lot was jammed packed into this story and I loved every moment of it. And of course, I loved Layla and Chase's love story. Definitely a favorite of mine! And I cannot wait for more future books to come!  

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Modern Faerie Tales Book 1: Tithe by Holly Black

Modern Faerie Tales Book 1

Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries!

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46777.Tithe

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

For me this was the perfect example of needing to be in the right mood and mindset to read a particular book. I had tried to read Tithe a long time ago and could not get into it. So I figured that was it. It just wasn't going to be interesting to me. But, later on I had come across Holly Black's The Cruel Prince and I absolutely loved it. And Kaye and Roiben were mentioned and were in a bonus chapter at the end of that story. And I was like aw man I really need to read their story. Because I am a firm believer that you can appreciate a series more when you have everything that came before it read. Especially again when I read The Wicked Prince and then not too long ago The Queen of Nothing. How could I keep reading these and see these two characters and not go back and try to read Modern Faerie Tales one more time? So, though I am late to the game (and by the time I finish this trilogy, I will probably feel the need to re-read the Folk of the Air trilogy. Which isn't a hardship since they were amazing!), I finally made it through Tithe. Because I figured I liked the sequel series, I am sure I will like the first series, I just need to give it a real chance and stick with it. So glad I did because it was really great! Knowing small bits of future Kaye from the Folk and Air trilogy, I can see how Kaye will reach that point. In Tithe, she is discovering the life she had is a lie and all the times she communicated with faeries, she wasn't crazy. It was real. And after helping Roiben, she is dragged into Faerie and the world is so different than her own. I enjoyed this first book and I look forward to seeing what the other two stories will tell and how the Unseelie Court will turn into the one I saw in the Folk and Air series.

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh pivots in a new direction with her first mainstream thriller that will be sure to keep readers on their toes.

Anahera Rawiri left New Zealand at twenty-one, fleeing small-town poverty and the ghosts of her childhood with no plans to look back. But eight years later, she returns, seeking familiarity as respite from the shattered remains of her new life. And despite the changes brought on by a bump in tourism--the shiny new welcome sign at the town line and a decidedly less shiny new police presence--Golden Cove appears much as it ever was: a small settlement on the savage West Coast of the South Island, populated by all the remembered faces and set against a backdrop of lush greenery, jagged cliffs, and crashing waves.

Detective Will Gallagher knows all about ghosts; his own chased him out of a promising career in Christchurch, landing him as the sole cop in a quaint town where his most pressing concerns are petty theft and the occasional drunk. When Golden Cove resident Miri Hinewai goes out for a run and fails to return, Will finds himself heading up a missing person's search that rapidly escalates into an official investigation after this case is connected with similar ones from the past. As an outsider, Will begins to rely on Anahera's knowledge of the area and its residents to help him delve into Golden Cove's secrets, and to determine whether it shelters something far more dangerous than just an unforgiving landscape.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44525771-a-madness-of-sunshine

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Different from what we usually get from Nalini Singh, but still a great story to read. Nalini's writing is great and for her to step out a write something different, she still did a great job. Though suspense. mystery, and thrillers aren't my go to, I have read some and this was definitely one of the better. To me, what makes this genre good is that it has to keep you guessing the entire way. You don't want the obvious person to the be the killer for obvious reasons. You have to piece the clues together and want to have a satisfying end where you are surprised and the motive is surprising. And I think we got that here. Anahera and Will are definitely two characters that were suited to tell this story as they work together to bring to light what happened to Miri. It's hard to put the book down when you want to find the answers. And when they are so many possible suspects and motives. Great book!

Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 17.5: Where Winter Finds You by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 17.5

#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward is heating things up this winter with a holiday novel featuring some of her most iconic Black Dagger Brothers.

When Trez lost his beloved to a tragic death (The Shadows, Black Dagger Brotherhood #13), his soul was crushed and his destiny seemed relegated to suffering. But when he meets a mysterious female, he becomes convinced his true love has been reincarnated. Is he right? Or has his grief created a disastrous delusion?

Therese has come to Caldwell to escape a rift with her bloodline. The revelation that she was adopted and not born into her family shakes the foundations of her identity, and she is determined to make it on her own. Her attraction to Trez is not what she’s looking for, except the sexy Shadow proves to be undeniable.

Has fate provided a grieving widower with a second chance...or is Trez too blinded by the past to see the present for what it really is? In this sensual, arresting book full of the themes of redemption and self-discovery, two lost souls find themselves at a crossroads where the heart is the only compass that can be trusted...but that may require a courage that neither of them possesses.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45032683-where-winter-finds-you

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When I first read The Shadows, book 13 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, I cried hysterically. Tears were streaming down my face a majority of the book and I kept thinking there has to be a happily ever after, there is always a happily ever after. But not everyone got their happily ever after. Trez and Selena certainly did not. And like I said, cue the endless tears. Their story was heartbreaking. Truly. And now here we are. Where Winter Finds You finally gives us, gives Trez and Selena, their happily ever after. But not in the way either expected. Reincarnation. Yep. As readers we see it, but will our beloved characters get to? Let's just say it is complicated. But this is the story we deserve. Trez and Selena, well now Therese, get their happily ever after. We get a deeper look at how Trez has been coping and how is brother iAm has been (also his news in this story was great!!!). We meet Therese who has some remnants of Selena, but can't piece it together as well as the readers can. And of course we got some behind the scenes action from our favorite angel Lassiter. And let me tell you, without spoiling, is the end where he finally makes an appearance and speaks. He is just the best and he was hilarious and his speech was amazing, but then of course he has to keep "balance". So while we groan that our beloved characters have to be in the dark about Lass's interference, for a few short pages it was quite a joy to read his delivery of some excellent news. But as a whole, this story makes up for the pain The Shadows caused. And of course shows some of our favorite characters. A perfect story before The Sinner because we all know the showdown that is about to go down. And what exactly will happen there is still up in the air. Loved this book. As always an excellent addition to this world Ward created. 

Debutantes Book 2: Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Debutantes Book 2

"Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League-by way of Skull and Bones?"

Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret. When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up... until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discover near the family's summer home--and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.

No one is quite who they seem to be.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43661348-deadly-little-scandals

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When I read the first book I had said that it was one that once you start you just can't put down. Well the same could be said for book two. I picked it up this morning and finished before I went to sleep. It was fantastic. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is just that good at writing mysteries and drawing her reader in. With all the clues sprinkled throughout you just have to know what happens. You need to know the big reveal. We are back with Sawyer and crew, and when it comes to scandals and cover ups, they find one that is impossibly bigger. Plot twists on plot twists. And I tried to guess throughout the story the answer to the big questions, but you truly don't see the whole picture to the end. Which is exactly what I like in a mystery. The stakes are higher and the scandal even bigger than the first one. You may think you know everything going into this one, but you do not. Not at all. Really loved this book. And like I said I couldn't put it down. A great sequel and I look forward to more books by Barnes. 

The Folk of the Air Series Book 3: The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The Folk of the Air Series Book 3

After being pronounced Queen of Faerie and then abruptly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude finds herself unmoored, the queen of nothing. She spends her time with Vivi and Oak, watches her fair share of reality television, and does the odd job or two, including trying to convince a cannibalistic faerie from hunting her own in the mortal world.

When her twin sister Taryn shows up asking of a favor, Jude jumps at the chance to return to the Faerie world, even if it means facing Cardan, who she loves despite his betrayal.

When a dark curse is unveiled, Jude must become the first mortal Queen of Faerie and uncover how to break the curse, or risk upsetting the balance of the whole Faerie world.

The finale to the New York Times bestselling Folk of Air trilogy, that started with The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King, from award-winning author Holly Black.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44428899-the-queen-of-nothing

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Was so freaking excited for this book, especially after I had finished The Wicked King. And it did not disappoint!!! Absolutely loved this conclusion to the Folk of Air trilogy. It was just that good. With the way The Wicked King ended, the need for The Queen of Nothing was a must. I wanted Jude to get her butt back to Faerie. I wanted to see her and Cardan's reunion. And I wanted them to finally defeat Madoc. And every bit of this book, beginning to end, was just what I wanted. I don't want to spoil, but if you loved the previous books you will definitely love this last one. Lots of questions are answered and it gives such a sweet ending to the story. One thing I love about these books are the Faerie riddles. You try to solve it and no matter how much you think you understand, you truly don't until the end, which is great. It's not predictable. And this book and series was definitely not predictable. I was super satisfied with this book and this series. I'm so sad to see that it is over. I really hope Holly Black will dive back into this world she created. 

The Iskari Trilogy Book 3: The Sky Weaver by Kristen Ciccarelli

The Iskari Trilogy Book 3

At the end of one world, there always lies another.

Safire, a soldier, knows her role in this world is to serve the King of Firgaard—helping to maintain the peace in her oft-troubled nation.

Eris, a deadly pirate, has no such conviction. Known as the Death Dancer for her ability to evade even the most determined of pursuers, she possesses a superhuman power to move between worlds.

When one can roam from dimension to dimension, can one ever be home? Can love and loyalty truly exist?

Now Safire and Eris—sworn enemies—find themselves on a common mission: to find Asha, the last Namsara. From the port city of Darmoor to the fabled faraway Star Isles, their search and their stories become woven ever more tightly together as they discover the uncertain fate they’re hurtling towards may just be a shared one. In this world—and the next.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35843942-the-sky-weaver

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I have to say that this was probably my favorite in terms of the myths woven in to the story. The story of The Sky Weaver and the Crow was so fantastic. And the way it was told and the way it connected to the current story of Safire and Eris was just great. Third book in and we finally get a story for Asha and Dax's cousin Safire, who has been a constant in the previous books. Safire is determined to protect those she loves even if it is from the Death Dancer. Who both infuriates her and intrigues her. Eris has no choice when it comes to being a pirate and thief. She will do what she has to do to stay alive. With no one in the world who cares for her, someone has to look at for herself. But when these two are thrown together it is a story of adventure, lies, love, and gods. I really loved this story. It captured me immediately and I just zoomed right through it. Like I said the myths told in this story was just really good and intriguing. A great end to this series and world. 

The Dreamer Trilogy Book 1: Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Trilogy Book 1

The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . . 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31373184-call-down-the-hawk

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Been looking forward to this book. And let's be real the main reason is: Ronan and Adam. Cause how can you not love those two after The Raven Cycle series? And a book that follows up with Ronan, Adam, Ronan's brothers, and other dreamers just adds to the excitement. We learn more about the dreamers and their world and it is even bigger than we imagined. Like the previous series, Maggie Stiefvater tends to have many different running parts in her books. And for me, it takes a bit to figure out all the pieces, but by the end it usually makes a bit more sense...until she leaves you with some cliffhangers that leave you asking even more questions. I'll admit to getting a bit lost along the way (maybe because I just wanted to read Ronan's point of view and when he would see Adam next), but getting lost isn't so bad because like I said things tend to start making sense later on. And it's also because we have several points of view in the story. But for those who loved The Raven Cycle, you will love this book as well. I'm looking forward to the next two books. I'm looking forward to what is next for Ronan, Declan, Jordan, Hennessy, Matthew, and what they will do against those hunting them. 

Renegades Series Book 3: Supernova by Marissa Meyer

Renegades Series Book 3

All's fair in love and anarchy...

The epic conclusion to Marissa Meyer's thrilling Renegades Trilogy finds Nova and Adrian struggling to keep their secret identities concealed while the battle rages on between their alter egos, their allies, and their greatest fears come to life. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed as anarchy once again threatens to reclaim Gatlon City.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42771754-supernova

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

An epic conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. So not gonna lie, I was terrified going into this third book. With the lies built up between Adrian and Nova, I had no clue how the truth would come out and how the damage would be anything but permanent. How could their relationship recover from such secrets? Is a future possivble? And it was touch and go for quite a while there. So much packed in this final book. And the plot twists were insane. There were some things that I was like, "Yes! Finally! They figured it out!" and other things where I was like, "Wait. Stop. Shut up. That can't be real." Uhm, spoiler, yeah it happened. Seriously insane. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. Over 500 pages of just awesome super powered people. The constant battle between heroes and villains, but really who are the real heroes and villains of the story? Everyone makes mistakes and both sides were equally right and wrong. I loved how Marissa Meyer approached this series. It was not a simple good verse bad story. It was in that gray area the entire time. And as for that ending? Well there is a reason the book is called Supernova. And don't get me started on the epilogue. The biggest reveal and a cliffhanger ending that I think we all deserve a follow up story. There is a lot of stories yet to tell in the world Meyer created and I for one would love to revisit Gatlon City. Great, great book! So sad it is over, but like I said I would love some follow up series.

House of Night Other World Series Book 3: Forgotten by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

House of Night Other World Book 3

Before he was freed by Neferet, Kalona was imprisoned within the earth for centuries because of the Darkness in his heart. But what happened to the Other World's Kalona? It's as though he's been forgotten, or maybe he never existed at all

In the present, Other Neferet may have left her House of Night, but she has far from given up her goal of immortality and world domination. As she operates in secret to gain access to Old Magick, the new High Priestess, Anastasia Langford, works toward peace and acceptance for the vampyres of the Other World. But just as Other Kevin's broken heart will take time to heal, peace in that world will also take time and work--and not all of the Other World vampyres want peace. After all, why should they return to being shunned by humans, especially when they've had a taste of how it feels to be in power?

Meanwhile, Zoey is desperate to help rid the Other World of Neferet once and for all, and not knowing what's going on over there is eating away at her. But, as the Nerd Herd warns, it's far too dangerous to call on Old Magick time and again. As a distraction, she throws herself into her work and attempts to bring the humans and vampyres of Tulsa closer together with the first human-vampyre swim meet in history! It's too bad that something always seems to go wrong whenever the stakes are high.

What happens when worlds clash and powers that should be left alone are awakened? Can Other Kevin and his world heal from the wounds Neferet continues to inflict? Can Old Magick ever truly be harnessed and used for good? Or will Darkness extinguish Light and leave our heroes broken, hopeless, and as forgotten as Kalona of the Silver Wings? Don't miss this second to last volume in the House of Night Other World saga!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43704439-forgotten

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

So for what is apparently the last book in these series, it sure didn't feel like it. Not with the cliffhanger ending that was so open ended, how could there be nothing else coming? I will say I was a bit disappointed with this book because it felt like a transition book. It started off slow, but it was still interesting. A promise that something was coming but then we didn't see the results. It was broken up I would say in two parts. The first part was about Kalona, Nyx, and Erebus and how their story began and was different in the Other World. Then in the next part it jumped to the Other World with Other Neferet and a few new characters along with Other Kevin. And then we did get a glimpse of Zoey and all our favorite characters. It was a build up of what Other Neferet plans to do and how Other Kevin and his friends figuring out to heal after the war and track down Neferet. Like I said earlier, it was just more of a build up story. Get the information you need and see what is planned because the next book things are about to go down. But that's not the case. The Q&A in the back of the book did mention the possibility of more which honestly I hope happens because this wasn't as satisfying as previous books in the series. This book felt like a promise for more interesting things and stories left to be told yet we are told it's the last. Like I said, I hope that changes. If you love the series, of course read it, but be prepared for some questions and cliffhangers. 

Bad Apple by Elle Kennedy

A flirty standalone novel* from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy!

One night with him will change her life...

Between her waitressing job, volunteer work, and college classes, there are never enough hours in Maggie Reilly’s day. Especially not for a relationship. Luckily, she’s got the perfect arrangement: a lover she meets three or four times a year. But when she shows up at the hotel expecting to hop into bed with one man, she accidentally ends up with another—Ben Barrett, Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy.

Ben, determined to lay low after another scandal, just wants some much-needed sleep. What he gets is a scorching make-out session with a gorgeous, naked redhead. He won’t accept her apology, but what he will accept is a place to hide out…and if there’s some hot, no-strings sex involved, why the heck not?

But Ben soon discovers that one week with his sassy, bed-hopping waitress is definitely not enough. He wants more. A lot more.

Now he needs to convince relationship-averse Maggie that a bad boy might be oh so good for her—and the best thing that’s ever happened to both of them.

* Previously published in 2008, Bad Apple (formerly Midnight Encounters) features almost entirely new content, including a point-of-view switch. Enjoy this new version of an old favorite! 

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

A short standalone novel from Elle Kennedy that is pretty hilarious as it is romantic. Maggie doesn't have time for relationships when her life is constantly balancing, work, school, and volunteering. But she does give herself two (or three) times a year for a hookup with a familiar face. Except this time, the guy she goes to meet isn't there. She accidently enters the room of Ben Barrett, famous movie star. Though she doesn't know that. With her crazy life, she doesn't exactly have time to watch TV. Ben, meanwhile, is just looking for some peace and quiet. The paparazzi are constantly on his tail hoping for  a new scandal. And when he meets Maggie, he is drawn in by her down to earth personality. He convinces her to let him crash at her apartment for a week to hide from the paparazzi. Their chemistry is off the charts and it doesn't take a long for them to accept that. But there are always complications and that is Maggie's one rule: Don't complicate her life. Really hilarious their exchanges and banter. And their romance is just another swoon worthy one by Elle Kennedy.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43205122-well-met

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

So freaking cute. Loved every moment of this adorable book. Fun, romantic, hilarious, and throw in a Renaissance Faire, it's the perfect package. Well Met was just such a fun book to read and one I couldn't put down. I love when you find such a fun book that makes you smile and swoon and laugh and Well Met does all that. When Emily moves in with her sister and niece, after they are an in accident, she ends ups volunteering at the small town's Renaissance Faire fund-raiser so her niece can participate. What she doesn't expect is for the town to grow on her and the spirit of the Faire. And of course a grouchy English teacher who makes an excellent pirate. After her previous relationship had left her hurt and feeling unloved, she is hesitant to make the same mistake twice. Yet, there is something about Simon that makes her want to take a risk. Cause despite his attitude, she learns to see past his mask. Their flirting on the Faire grounds soon proves to be more than act as they navigate their feelings for one another. Such a fun story! And I learned there is a second one on the way, so I will definitely be checking that out and I'm curious to whose story will be told next. 

Shatter Me Series Book 5.5: Reveal Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me Book 5.5

This fourth companion novella to Tahereh Mafi’s New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series is narrated by fan favorite character Kenji Kishimoto!

The explosive revelations in Defy Me have left readers reeling and desperate for answers. This fourth and final novella in the series will bring readers back to the world of the Shatter Me before the final novel installment hits shelves in winter 2020.

And don’t miss Find Me, the gorgeous paperback bind-up that brings together Shadow Me and Reveal Me in print for the first time! 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43514655-reveal-me

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another perfect novella to  hold us over as we wait for Imagine Me to come out. And with one of our absolute favorite characters, Kenjii, how can it be anything but great? And it is! Picks up right where Defy Me left off, Kenjii isn't feeling so great. A lot has happened in just a short amount of time and Kenjii is having a hard time wrapping his around around it. Especially that Adam and James are missing... Turns out he was right to worry. And then we get another peek at his relationship with Nazeera and things take an interesting turn for them. Love Kenjii. Just a great character and getting a peek inside his head it always super interesting. Cannot wait for the final book. 

The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth

Bestselling Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth delivers a stunning collection of novella-length stories set in the future, illustrated with startling black-and-white artwork.

No world is like the other. Within this masterful collection, each setting is more strange and wonderful than the last, brimming with new technologies and beings. And yet, for all the advances in these futuristic lands, the people still must confront deeply human problems.

In these six stories, Veronica Roth reaches into the unknown and draws forth something startlingly familiar and profoundly beautiful.

With tales of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. Each story begins with a hope for a better end, but always end with a better understanding of the beginning.

With beautifully intricate black-and-white interior illustrations and a uniquely designed package, this is the perfect gift for book lovers.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43453699-the-end-and-other-beginnings

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

A futuristic story collection full of novellas that I wouldn't have minded seeing a few as full length novels or a series being built off some of the worlds that were created. The novellas from the Carve the Mark world were definitely interesting and I loved re-visiting that world. The other novellas definitely held my interest. Some more than others, but still all were pretty good and unique. 

A Legend Novel Book 4: Rebel by Marie Lu

A Legend Novel Book 4

Respect the Legend. Idolize the Prodigy. Celebrate the Champion. But never underestimate the Rebel.

With unmatched suspense and her signature cinematic storytelling, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Marie Lu plunges readers back into the unforgettable world of Legend for a truly grand finale.

Eden Wing has been living in his brother’s shadow for years. Even though he’s a top student at his academy in Ross City, Antarctica, and a brilliant inventor, most people know him only as Daniel Wing’s little brother.

A decade ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy from the streets who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. But Day is no longer the same young man who was once a national hero. These days he’d rather hide out from the world and leave his past behind. All that matters to him now is keeping Eden safe―even if that also means giving up June, the great love of Daniel’s life.

As the two brothers struggle to accept who they’ve each become since their time in the Republic, a new danger creeps into the distance that’s grown between them. Eden soon finds himself drawn so far into Ross City’s dark side, even his legendary brother can’t save him. At least not on his own . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42288081-rebel

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Now THAT is how you return to a series that was completed, to tell one more story after an ending that was emotional and in a way a cliffhanger since you desperately wanted just a few more pages to get a satisfying happy ending. Rebel was exactly what I needed to read after finishing Champion way back when. Rebel was just so satisfying. When Champion ended I was a heartbroken. Even with that ending that was supposed to leave you hopeful for the future of characters you've come to love. Re-visiting the world of Legend and its amazing characters was great. We got the pleasure of seeing characters we love, while exploring new ones. We got Eden's point of view, someone who had a bigger impact on the original trilogy than you may think, and here he was grown up and facing his own challenges. We revisited Daniel's point of view and how he has changed and how he is finding his way back to June. Rebel kept you on your toes with a new conflict that challenged our characters but gave you a taste of the previous books as well. To sum it up, like I said earlier, it was just a satisfying read. And I loved every moment of it. And with all good books you wish for more and I would love more from this world, but this was a solid closing to a great series. And a much needed one at that. Great, great book. For fans of Legend, Prodigy, and Champion, Rebel does not disappoint! 

Briar U Series Book 3: The Play by Elle Kennedy

Briar U Book 3

A brand-new standalone novel in the New York Times bestselling Briar U series!

What I learned after last year’s distractions cost my hockey team our entire season? No more screwing up. No more screwing, period. As the new team captain, I need a new philosophy: hockey and school now, women later. Which means that I, Hunter Davenport, am officially going celibate…no matter how hard that makes things.

But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says I can’t be friends with a woman. And I won’t lie—my new classmate Demi Davis is one cool chick. Her smart mouth is hot as hell, and so is the rest of her, but the fact that she’s got a boyfriend eliminates the temptation to touch her.

Except three months into our friendship, Demi is single and looking for a rebound.

And she’s making a play for me.

Avoiding her is impossible. We’re paired up on a yearlong school project, but I’m confident I can resist her. We’d never work, anyway. Our backgrounds are too different, our goals aren’t aligned, and her parents hate my guts.

Hooking up is a very bad idea. Now I just have to convince my body—and my heart.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43877254-the-play

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

These books always take me by surprise. I knew I would love the book seeing as I loved them since I read the first one from the original series, Off-Campus, and then when Elle Kennedy did her spin-off, Briar U, I was ecstatic that we were still in that Briar U hockey world. But what always surprises me are our main characters in each one. I think I know what is going to happen and then...plot twists! Turns out we don't know these characters as well as we thought and truthfully that makes it better. I had a picture in my mind of how this story would go and I'm glad it wasn't predictable at all. Sure, there were some predictable things, but you can say that about a lot of books. Hunter and Demi took me by surprise. Hunter especially since we have met Hunter before and have been seeing him through the eyes of his friends. And finally we get his point of view and wow! So much we didn't know and I loved getting to know his character. And then there is Demi. New character and she was absolutely hilarious. Her and Hunter's interactions were golden. And she was just an overall awesome character to get to know. Another great addition to this series. As we know Hunter made a vow to avoid women this hockey season and let's say that Demi puts that to the test. They start off as friends and as their friendship shifts to best friends and then shifts into something more, it just ends up being really satisfying. It wasn't rushed. It was more real. I loved the cameos of some favorite characters and that ending had way more twists and turns than what I would have expected. Loved this book! 

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

The Trials of Apollo Book 4: The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan

Trials of Apollo Book 4

In his penultimate adventure, a devastated but determined Apollo travels to Camp Jupiter, where he must learn what it is to be a hero, or die trying.

It's not easy being Apollo, especially when you've been turned into a human and banished from Olympus. On his path to restoring five ancient oracles and reclaiming his godly powers, Apollo (aka Lester Papadopoulos) has faced both triumphs and tragedies. Now his journey takes him to Camp Jupiter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the Roman demigods are preparing for a desperate last stand against the evil Triumvirate of Roman emperors. Hazel, Reyna, Frank, Tyson, Ella, and many other old friends will need Apollo's aid to survive the onslaught. Unfortunately, the answer to their salvation lies in the forgotten tomb of a Roman ruler . . . someone even worse than the emperors Apollo has already faced. 

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The Burning Maze left us heartbroken and after waiting over a year and a half for The Tyrant's Tomb, well at least I can say it was worth the wait. A lot when down in the book. And I will say I was still emotional, especially in the beginning seeing as this book picked up where the last one left off, but there were plenty of fun and laughing moments. Apollo has changed a lot since The Hidden Oracle. He values the friends he has made along his journey and is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he loses no one else. Now at Camp Jupiter, Apollo and Meg work with Frank, Hazel, and Reyna to prepare the legion for the emperors who will be arriving on the blood moon. The legion has lost a lot but their hope is gone just yet. There may be a way to turn the tides in the upcoming battle, Apollo just has to be ready for the sacrifice when it comes. Great, great book. Emotions were up and down and plenty of plot twists. And the surprises at the end? Just wow! One more book to go and I cannot wait to see how Riordan closes this series.

Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry

Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother's ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it's something more...

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but his adrenaline addiction draws him to Veronica.

A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose--can they conquer their demons together?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45043529-echoes-between-us

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I'm never disappointed in Katie McGarry's books and this one just proves that statement is even more true. Another fantastic book in her collection. And silly me, didn't realize before that Veronica is our V from Only a Breath Apart. As soon as I saw Jesse's and Scarlett's names it clicked. I was like duh, no wonder she is familiar! And it made me wish I re-read Only a Breath Apart so that I remembered everything about V. But it was okay, because as I read things started clicking. So Veronica and Sawyer's story, just wow! So many emotions with this one. Lot of difficult topics were tackled in this book and McGarry did it beautifully. Really, really fantastic. With Veronica's brain tumor and feeling like Death wherever she went and Sawyer's adrenaline addiction, you would think that throwing them together would immediately equal disaster. It didn't. And I was glad. I was glad to see that instead of their flaws and issues hurting one another and making a relationship between them impossible, it really had them acknowledging their issues and supporting one another. There wasn't hostility toward one another or throwing their issues in the other's face to harm them. It was, this is what is should be when two people love one another and only want to help the other, even when your own life is collapsing. And those two specific issues were just pieces of many others that are tackled in their stories. I was hooked from the moment I started it. I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to know how they would make it through their story, what their outcome would be, and how would they get there. If you love her other books, this one needs to be on your TBR list. It doesn't disappoint. I loved Veronica and Sawyer's story and like all good books, I'm sad to see it over. 

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Guild Hunter Series Book 12: Archangel's War by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter Series Book 12

Wings of silver. Wings of blue. Mortal heart. Broken dreams. Shatter. Shatter. Shatter. A sundering. A grave. I see the end. I see. . .

The world is in chaos as the power surge of the Cascade rises to a devastating crescendo. In furiously resisting its attempts to turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael’s power, Elena and her archangel are irrevocably changed. . .far beyond the prophecy of a cursed Ancient.

At the same time, violent and eerie events around the world threaten to wipe out entire populations. And in the Archangel Lijuan’s former territory, an unnatural fog weaves through the land, leaving only a bone-chilling silence in its wake. Soon it becomes clear that even the archangels are not immune to this deadly evil. This time, even the combined power of the Cadre may not be enough. . .

This war could end them all.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42599859-archangel-s-war

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Got super lucky and got my hands on this book a few days before the release date and it was insane!! The long wait after the craziest cliffhanger Singh has given us in this series, the book was well worth the wait. The book was everything we could have asked for and more. A simple summary of the book without any real spoilers is that war has finally come and it comes with more surprises than I would have predicted. Plot twist after plot twist. There was one in particular I was like oh man that's gotta be this and then bam! Nope. It was even crazier than what I originally had thought it was going to be. And that was just a side plot. There were so many fun surprises in this book. And the war was nothing below epic. I always hear Archangel's Legion was a favorite because of the epic battle, well just imagine that battle on steroids and higher stakes and a lot more players in the game and you have Archangel's War. Just wow! Definitely not a disappoint and with so many familiar faces (and new ones for that matter) it was a fantastic way to what I see ending one arc of this world, because we know Singh is contracted for more books in this series. There are plenty of stories left to tell and the world after this book has changed in many ways. Looking forward to what comes next but I'll still be processing what I just read. Great, great book!

The Fallen Isles Trilogy Book 3: When She Reigns by Jodi Meadows

The Fallen Isles Trilogy Book 3

The First Dragon

The Great Abandonment has begun. Panic has seized the Fallen Isles, where no one knows which god will rise next. Mira Minkoba believes her dreams hold the secret to bringing an end to the destruction, but in order to save her people, she’ll have to find a legendary treasure: the bones of the first dragon.

The Last Hope

Mira’s desperate search leads the Hopebearer and her friends on a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory: the Algotti Empire itself. The empress is more than willing to help—for an impossible price. And as tensions escalate beneath the shadows of the risen gods, Mira grapples with a terrifying question: What will she have to sacrifice to preserve what she loves?

The explosive finale to Jodi Meadows’s Fallen Isles trilogy is ablaze with sizzling romance and fiery magic as Mira’s fight to save dragons from extinction evolves into a mission to save her world from annihilation. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43191345-when-she-reigns

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

We have finally reached the end of Fallen Isles Trilogy and I have to say this was the best of the series. I'll admit I had moments in this series where I wasn't sure how I was feeling about the book, but then I would hit a point in each book and my faith was restored and I was eager to see what would happen to Mira and the rest of her friends. In the final book, When She Reigns, The Great Abandonment has begun and chaos and panic spread to the people of the Fallen Isles. Mira and her friends are desperate to save their home. And when she begins to have dreams of the first dragon, she believes that this is the answer she has been seeking. The solution to stopping the gods from abandoning them. The journey takes her to her enemies doorstep and there she realizes just exactly what needs to be done to save her home. A great ending to this series. Lots of dragons and adventures and plot twists. If you stuck around, this last one is definitely worth it!