Month: May 2020 (Page 1 of 2)

BOOK REVIEW: Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone #1) by Annette Marie

BOOK REVIEW: Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone #1) by Annette MarieChase the Dark (Steel & Stone #1)
by Annette Marie
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

When everyone wants you dead, good help is really hard to find.

Piper Griffiths wants one thing in life: to become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons. There are three obstacles in her way.

The first is Lyre. Incubus. Hotter than hell and with a wicked streak to match. His greatest mission in life is to annoy the crap out of her, but he isn't as harmless as he seems. The second is Ash. Draconian. Powerful. Dangerous. He knows too much and reveals nothing. Also, disturbingly attractive--and scary. Did she mention scary?

The third is the Sahar Stone. Top secret magical weapon of mass destruction. Previously hidden in her Consulate until thieves broke in, went on a murder spree, and disappeared with the weapon.

And they left Piper to take the fall for their crimes.

Now she's on the run, her dreams of becoming a Consul shattered and every daemon in the city gunning to kill her. She's dead on her own, but there's no one she can trust--no one except two entirely untrustworthy daemons ... See problems one and two.

Review:

Buddy Read with Sophie at Beware of the Reader and Raven at Dreamy Addictions

Chase The Dark was an action packed ride that had me completely obsessed.  With magic, secrets, friendship, betrayal, lust and the beginnings of something more in the pages, I fell madly in love with this book.  The characters became my friends and not only did I deeply feel everything they did, but I was terrified with what was to come next.  There was a richness to the world they lived in, and I felt like I was with them every step of the way.  If you love urban fantasy, friendships, action or slow burn romance then definitely add this one to your tbr!

The only two people in the world she could trust right now were sitting on either side of her and she couldn’t trust them at all. They were daemons.

By that second page, I already loved Piper Griffiths’ thoughts.  She was an Apprentice Consul and worked and lived at the Consulate, which was like an embassy to the daemons.  Our world had been opened to the Underworld and Overworld years ago and the Consuls helped keep the peace and protected humans from daemons.  Right from the beginning we got to see Piper’s fighting skills.  She was fierce, deadly and totally kicked ass. Piper was a haemon, part human and daemon, but she possessed no magic like the other haemons and daemons around her.  And that was a huge issue, since all Consul’s had magic to help keep the peace.

Some nights she wondered if she was looking for goodness in him that wasn’t there. Other nights, she imagined a thousand ways to tell him thank you and none seemed good enough.

While daemons stayed at the Consulate, there were two she’d seen around before.  Lyre and Ash.  Lyre was an incubus, who was sexy, playful, intoxicating and fun.  He had a heart of gold underneath it all and I loved watching how much he cared for his friends.  And then there was Ash.  He was a draconian who was extremely powerful and had a dangerous reputation.  Others feared and respected him, so I was leery of him, just like Piper.  But when Piper got framed for taking the Sahar Stone, a magical weapon of mass destruction, she found herself running for her life.  With Lyre and Ash right by her side.

The world was spinning but Ash’s arms were steady and strong. Always strong. He was her only rock in the ocean of adversity that had flooded her life since the night of the attack on the Consulate. He was the only one who showed up again and again, his strength offered, nothing asked in return.

While I loved Lyre, I found myself becoming obsessed with Ash.  Ash was a huge mystery who was sarcastic, smart, and quick on his feet.  He was so subtle and mysterious that he pulled me right into his dark web.  Especially since he helped defend and protect Piper’s life every step of the way, even if they struggled or butted heads with each other.  And the moments where he would show his emotions, oh, Ash stole my breath away.

She clamped her fingers over the back of his head and pulled him closer still, demanding even more. His hand tightened in her hair and she tilted her head farther back as their kiss deepened into something even wilder.

Ash, Lyre and Piper were running for their lives, while trying to prove their innocence.  Being thrown into life and death situations made them quickly form a bond and I loved how much they trusted each other.  Moments between them made me smile and laugh, which was needed with all of the action that surrounded them.  It felt like I always had sweaty palms lol.  On top of that, I had no clue what was going to happen next.  Just like that moment with the hottest kiss ever *fans face*.  Yup I was obsessed.

Black irises met hers. Terror sucked out the breath she’d just taken. She clenched her teeth and fought to remember his careful touch on her cheek. He wouldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t. He’d promised.

Chase the Dark was impossible to put down!  And while I figured out one thing, there were quite a few twists I didn’t see coming.  So with betrayal, secrets, friendship, lies, and trust, you can count on this book pulling your emotions every which way.  Plus I have so much hope for a certain two characters.  If they move forward, their love for each other is going to be beyond powerful *fingers crossed*!

“Is he alive, Zwi?” she whispered. She gathered the little creature against her chest and hugged her gently. “Please let him be alive.”

PS I don’t want to say how she’s connected to the story, but I loved Zwi with my whole heart.  She was a little dragonet, and I wanted to steal her out of this book!

BOOK REVIEW: The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu

BOOK REVIEW: The Best Lies by Sarah LyuThe Best Lies by Sarah Lyu
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Remy Tsai used to know how her story would turn out. But now, she doesn’t even know what tomorrow will look like.

She was happy once. Remy had her boyfriend Jack, and Elise, her best friend—her soulmate—who understood her better than anyone else in the world.

But now Jack is dead, shot through the chest—

And it was Elise who pulled the trigger.

Was it self-defense? Or something deeper, darker than anything Remy could have imagined? As the police investigate, Remy does the same, sifting through her own memories, looking for a scrap of truth that could save the friendship that means everything to her.

Told in alternating timelines, Thelma and Louise meets Gone Girl in this twisted psychological thriller about the dark side of obsessive friendship.

We were a forest fire, wild and full of rage. We were a galaxy unto ourselves, a million stars blazing and bright. Everything was possible then.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is another YA thriller that is full of potential but fails to execute on its premise. What could have been a twisty and dark story about toxic female friendships and how that can boil over into terrible consequences is more bark than bite. I almost DNF’d at 50%, when the pace of the book was still moving at an almost glacial speed, but wanted to see it to the end. The end picked up a little bit, but it couldn’t make up for the slow pace and repetitive scenes and conversations that plague this book.

I know she’s here somewhere. I can feel that invisible push and pull whenever she’s near, like she is a star and I am a captured object.

The Best Lies follows Remy Tsai’s life over a couple of months. The book jumps back in forth between the night her boyfriend, Jack, is killed and the beginning of her friendship with Elise. Elise meets Remy outside of a school dance right after Remy is dumped by her now-college boyfriend. They quickly bond over their screwed up family lives: both girls are dealing with a lot of heavy and serious issues at home and learn to lean on each other to deal with it.

At the heart of every good lie is the truth, that’s what Elise told me once. The best lies are at least half-true she said.

Elise is nothing like Remy. She is obsessed with justice for those who can’t fight for themselves, she is extremely loyal to those she deems is worthy of her loyalty and she impulsive and rash. Once she becomes fixated on something, she can’t let it go. Remy is more quiet and reserved, living in the shadow of her much more popular and accomplished older brother. She is kind of drifting through life, with a small social circle that she’s not really attached to. Elise and Remy are opposites attracting and a strong bond is quickly formed.

“What we have is real,” she repeated. “No one else has what we have. No one will ever love you like I do.”

However, the bond between Remy and Elise begins to fray. Remy is not comfortable with some of Elise’s decisions, especially related to her vigilantism. In a chance meeting after Elise abandons her at party, Elise meets Jack. Jack is her light in a dark world. He’s funny and caring and sees her for who she really is. Before long, Remy is spending more time with Jack and less with Elise. This is the main catalyst for many of the problems and crescendos up until the night he is killed.

I told myself I was running toward him and not away from her, but maybe that was just a convenient lie.

As I said before, this story had a lot of potential. The mini recap I wrote above shows how dark and twisted this story is and I liked the ideas presented by Lyu. However, I felt it fell very flat in execution. First off, it’s so repetitive. So many scenes and conversations are almost identical that I often wondered if my Kindle glitched and I was reading something I already had. Remy and Elise seem to have the same arguments over and over. They also are ALWAYS crying. I’m pretty sure one of them does not go more than five pages without being described as crying or sobbing or tearing up. I get there are a lot emotions happening, but it was too much. If there had been variety to the story, as well as better pacing with these scenes, I could have been more forgiving.

Overall, I’m in the middle about this book. I liked aspects of it. The subject of a toxic and dependent female relationship was new and different from a lot of other YA thrillers. I liked how Remy’s family life issues were handled and resolved. I really liked Jack and Remy and Jack’s relationship. Elise was an interesting character, who while flawed, kept my attention. However, I still can’t get over the pacing, the repetitiveness and the minimal twists in a thriller. 3/5 stars.

We believed our wounds made us special. We believed what didn’t kill you made you stronger. We believed our tragedies were romantic.

CW: Death/murder, physical abuse, verbal abuse, manipulation, cheating, lying

BOOK REVIEW: Yours in Scandal (Man of the Year #1) by Lauren Layne

BOOK REVIEW: Yours in Scandal (Man of the Year #1) by Lauren LayneYours in Scandal (Man of the Year #1)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A political golden boy and the woman of his dreams take the risk of their lives in a sexy romantic comedy of strange bedfellows and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.

Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.

Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?

Review:

Yours in Scandal was smile inducing and so much fun!  With steamy scenes, moments that made me laugh out loud and the perfect amount of angst, this book was such a big hit!  The story was effortless to devour and I finished it in no time at all.  If you’re looking for a flirty romance story to get lost in, definitely give this one a try!

She wasn’t for him, and he wasn’t for her. Not now, not ever.

Robert Davenport was NYC youngest mayor for the last eight years, and he had just been voted Man of the Year for a magazine like People. He was a good man who wanted what was best for the people of his city, he truly cared.  Robert had aspirations to be governor, and was advised that the only way would be if he knocked down the current governor a peg or two. And what better way to get the dirt on the governor than becoming close with his estranged daughter, Adeline, who’d been hiding in plain sight.

“It’s perfect,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes, his hand dropping lower, fingertips brushing teasingly over her palm before he stepped away. “Absolutely perfect.”
The butterflies were back.
But they had nothing to do with the party.

I loved Adeline Blake, who use to be known as Adeline Brennen.  She was wild in her younger years and the media had a field day with her topless photos and partying.  But she seemed to disappear.  And years later, she’d been hiding in plain sight, with a different last name.  She was an event planner and I loved how hard she worked.  Adeline was quick witted, strong and definitely held her own.  She said it like it was, but you could tell that she was trying to be someone more reserved.  So when Adeline got invited to plan an event for the mayor of NYC, it brought her into contact with Robert. And he offered her an invitation that she couldn’t refuse.

Because when he looked at Adeline, he didn’t think of himself as the mayor. Somehow he’d turned into a goddamn Hugh Grant movie, standing in front of a girl, asking her to like him.

I absolutely loved Robert!  He was thoughtful, listened and felt so down to earth.  And in a world where everyone tried to use him, Adeline didn’t.  It was refreshing and made Robert want to be around her more.  But he could also be so awkward. Especially when it came to trying to make a true friend lol. Adeline tried her best to keep Robert at arms lengths, since she didn’t want to be back in the world of politics.  She had already been there and done that.  So Adeline could be standoffish and cold to Robert, even if she liked what she saw in him.

He lifted his hand to her face and lightly dragged the tip of his finger from the base of her ear along her jawline until it rested under her chin.

I loved Robert and Adeline’s interactions!  I couldn’t stop smiling when they were together, especially with Robert’s sense of humor.  But I was nervous with how the story was going to unfold.  Adeline saw that Robert wasn’t a typical politician, he showed emotion, was heartfelt and it was impossible for her not to like him.  And Robert was pulled in by Adeline and couldn’t seem to keep away from her.  But ultimately he originally interacted with her to get dirt on her father.  So it felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and I was so nervous.

“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly.
Addie smiled in feminine pleasure that he appreciated her efforts, but her smile slipped when she realized he hadn’t even looked down yet— he was still looking into her eyes when he said it. He thought she was beautiful. Not her body, not her lingerie, not her curves.
Her. All of her.

The path this story took was emotional, and I even had tears in my eyes.  But there were also moments between Robert and Adeline that were so sensual.  Lauren Layne writes some of the steamiest and classiest scenes.  So if you’re a fan of romance, you’re going to want to add this one to your tbr.  Yours in Scandal was hilarious, heartwarming and scorching hot.  I can’t recommend it enough!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: Lyrics & Curses by Candace Robinson


Today we get to help share the cover for Lyrics & Curses by Candace Robinson!  So check out what her latest book is about and enter a fabulous giveaway.  Enjoy!♥

Lyrics & Curses
Candace Robinson
Published by: Filles Vertes Publishing
Publication date: November 10th 2020
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Lark Espinoza could get lost in her music—and she’s not so sure anyone in her family would even care to find her. Her trendy, party-loving twin sister and her mother-come-lately Beth, who’s suddenly sworn off men and onto homemaking, don’t understand her love of cassette tapes, her loathing of the pop scene, or her standoffish personality. For outcast Lark, nothing feels as much like a real home as working at Bubble’s Oddities store and trying to attract the attention of the cute guy who works at the Vinyl shop next door—the same one she traded lyrical notes with in class.

Auden Ellis silences the incessant questions in his own head with a steady stream of beats. Despite the unconditional love of his aunt-turned-mother, he can’t quit thinking about the loss of his parents—or the possibility he might end up afflicted with his father’s issues. Despite his connection with lyric-loving Lark, Auden keeps her at arm’s length because letting her in might mean giving her a peek into something dangerous.

When two strangers arrive in town, one carrying a mysterious, dark object and the other playing an eerie flute tune, Lark and Auden find that their painful pasts have enmeshed them in a cursed future. Now, they must come to terms with their budding attraction while helping each other challenge the reflection they see in the mirror. If they fail, they’ll be trapped for eternity in a place beyond reality.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

 

About Candace Robinson:

Candace Robinson spends her days consumed by words and hoping to one day find her own DeLorean time machine. Her life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, watching classic movies, and living with her husband and daughter in Texas–where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / Bookbub

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monthly Wrap-Up: March & April 2020

During our Monthly Wrap-Up, we’ll take a look at what has happened around here in the last month. That’ll include what’s happened in my life, what the four of us have read, any other posts we may have had, giveaways still going on, our most popular Instagram posts, and books that I’ve added to my ever-growing TBR.

*We linked this post to the April Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

♥ Enjoy!

Jen’s Life:

Some of my highlights from March & April were:

✮ We celebrated my youngest kiddos birthday.  Thankfully his birthday fell right before our state shut down, so he got to celebrate with cupcakes in his classroom and then with our family that night.  Then in April we celebrated my birthday which I’ll remember forever. Lots of video chats and even a drive by from my best friends that made me cry.
✮ I never thought I’d be homeschooling my children, but I’m so thankful we have the most amazing teachers ever.  I’m so impressed by how much they can do and interact with them through Google Classroom.  Their schedule is intense but I love that we finish school an hour or so early and then can go outside and play all afternoon.  We’ve gone on tons of bike rides, walks and lots of baseball and soccer games in our backyard. 
✮ I’ve done tons of baking.  Some of my favorite recipes have been Triple Chocolate Cake, S’more Cheesecake (although it tastes more like cookie dough), Glazed Strawberry Bread, Oreo Cheesecake Cookies, Best Banana Cake, Banana Donuts With Chocolate Glaze
✮ Some of my favorite dinner recipes have been Chicken Parmesan, Baked Honey BBQ Chicken Fingers, Beef and Cheese Enchiladas, Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes (I use artichokes instead of mushrooms),

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What Arielle, Cassie, Chelsea & Jen Read:

5 Stars:
The Resistance (The Union #5) by T.H. Hernandez
Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Finding Him (Covet #2) by Rachel Van Dyken
From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Tell Me Pretty Lies by Charleigh Rose
The Best Mistake (Southern U O’Brien Brothers #1) by Cookie O’Gorman


4 Stars:
Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams
Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy #3) by Laura Sebastian
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1) by Kaitlyn Davis

 

 

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn (Cassie’s Choice)
It was a cute story, with fully realized teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, with a great setting.

 
 
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From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Jen’s Choice)
The story was layered and the twists and turns were breathtaking.  The sexual tension was absolutely perfect and the characters are forever etched into my heart.  The story-line enchanted me and the action kept me glued to the pages.  This book refused to be put down!

 
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Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff (Arielle’s Choice)
I really don’t want to give ANYTHING away, just know that this was the sequel that I had been looking for and I will be counting down the mother-custard-ing days until that last book is out.

 

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Instagram:

We thought it would be fun to share our most popular posts for March & April. And they were….

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog) on

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog) on

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog) on

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog) on

 

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Books Added To Jen’s TBR This Month:

I just keep adding books to my tbr and this month was ummm yeah….I don’t even know lol…..

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So that was our March & April! Did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book? Or have you read any of the books I just added to my TBR?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful March & April too. And cheers to May being fabulous for all of us!

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