Author: Chelsea (Page 36 of 111)

BOOK REVIEW: A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab

May 9, 2016 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2)
by V.E. Schwab
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift – back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games – an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries – a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

And then in the silence, he heard a sound: not a sob, or a scream, but a laugh.
And it took him a moment to recognize the voice.
It was his.

2016 has by far been one of my most rewarding reading years yet, beginning with almost 90% win and so little loss. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve taken what I’ve learned and I have applied it to almost every book I might read, making it extremely easy to see what might work for me…and what won’t. It’s not a fool proof system, I’ll admit, but it certainly makes it easier when there is a bad book thrown in here or there. It’s not near as annoying as when I consistently am reading crap. But, with all this epicness so early in the year, there are also some fears arising, as well…and that’s if I can keep up all this win-It’s a long year, and there’s still a lot of disappointment to be had (Like a couple ends to a few of my favorite series that fell flat, unfortunately). But one thing is an absolute certainty: In a sea of losers, when it comes to second books in series and such, I never had any doubt about how amazing the Darker Shade second book would be….and I have no doubt that the end will take my breath away.

But he’d missed her, and with the city so overrun, how was he supposed to find her again?
Just follow the knives, said a voice in his head. And the bodies they’re lodged in.

I have this curse, you see, where I HATE second books-almost always. I will admit that that’s began to change as of late, but I still find that a few eek in here and there. More often than not, though, it seems the third and final books have been the largest problem: Lack of execution, not tying things up, changing the whole premise of the story, changing characters, etc. etc.-And it has been a large disappointment, more often than not. It’s starting to make the second book curse look tame!! But no, when I picked this book up, I immediately felt my weary muscles relax, my mood lighten, and my heart begin to beat faster and faster.

Dangerous.
Reckless.
Foolish.
Mad.

It doesn’t matter that this fell into one of my least favorite second book tropes (was it a trope, though?? It was kind of a choice?), because every sentence, every page, every little thing was written so beautifully and made it so you couldn’t help to read one more page, one more chapter…and then, before you knew it, you were ten more percent in and still couldn’t stop.

Lila stopped drawing her finger through the cider, and no one noticed that the spilled liquid kept moving, tracing patterns across the wood.
Someone set a fresh drink in front of her.
Alucard was calling for attention.
“To London,” he said, raising his glass.
Lila raised her own.
“To London,” she said, smiling like a knife.

These characters just have a way about them. It’s not so much that they are different from other characters we love, adore, cherish, admire, obsess about-No, it’s not that. It’s something in their chemistry, in their DNA, something that, immediately upon meeting them, crawled under your skin without you even realizing it. It’s something that made you think about them long after you had closed the book. It’s something that had you thinking about them in the dark, longing for more of their adventure deep into the night. You just have this deeper understanding of them….and yet you still want to know more.

He didn’t have anything on his person, and they wouldn’t be able to find anything in his coat, not unless he wanted it to be found. He sometimes worried that the coat had a mind of its own. The only other person who’d ever managed to find what they wanted in its pockets was Lila. He’d never found out how she’d done that. Traitorous coat.

I can’t even begin to explain how much I adore this story, for I can’t think of many books where something I hate becomes a giggle fest for me. A sleight of hand. A shadow in the corner. A lingering thought. A hopeless wish, or maybe even a longing so deep they saw each other everywhere-it’s the simplest thing, yet it gets under your skin and becomes a part of you. I adore these characters so intensely that it became a visceral thing when one of them would hurt, when one of them would cry, when one of them was in absolute pain. And I know you all probably think it’s all Kell and all Lila…but it’s not-Not even close.

As a thief in the night, Lila Bard knew that staying out of the light was the surest way to stay alive, but she couldn’t help it, she relished this kind of trick. Standing right in front of a mark while you pocketed their coins. Smiling while you stole. Looking them in the eye and daring them to see past the ruse. Because the best tricks were the ones pulled off not while the mark’s back was turned, but while they were watching.

There’s Rhy. There’s Alucard. There’s Calla. And, ya know, there’s Lila’s crew…but that’s beside the point-YOU GET THE PICTURE. Rhy and Alucard became two characters who I couldn’t live without, simply because they meant the world to my lovely Kell and my fierce Lila-they were central to the story and not only added to it, but enhanced every single scene. They brought forth extreme visceral, intense emotion that caused the most amazing feelings-Pain, heartache. Soul-crushing love. Unyielding friendship. Loyalty….Jealousy. Like I said, there really is no emotion I haven’t felt while reading this series, and I can’t help but to want to re-read it already. In fact, I could read these two books over and over and over again. But I’m at work (SHHHHH, my laptop has gone to SHIT) and I can’t keep going on and on and on and…..yeah, I love this story, this could go on for a while. So! I will get onto what I want to anyway: My two beautiful lovebirds, Kell and Lila.

I am Delilah Bard, she thought. Pirate, thief, magician.
Her fingertips began to thrum.
I have crossed worlds and taken ships. Fought queens and saved cities.
Her bones shuddered and her blood raced.
I am one of a kind.

Lila is a stubborn little shit, I’ll admit, especially in this one, but she is so damn loyal, fierce, and she has a thirst for life I can’t help but to admire. She longs to see the world, and she is finally seeing it…but she can’t help but to think back to the boy with one beautiful eye and one black, his face set in a perpetual frown with a little crease between his brows (Hey, I didn’t say Lila was the only one who loved him….). And what better way to see him than to compete in the Essen Tasch…a deadly competition showcasing magic from some of the most skilled magicians in their world-Something so dangerous only Lila would find a way into it.

“What brings you to my room?” he asked, relief bleeding into annoyance.
“Adventure. Intrigue. Brotherly concern. Or,” continued the prince lazily, “perhaps I’m just giving your mirror something to look at besides your constant pout.”
Kell frowned, and Rhy smiled. “Ah, there it is! That famous scowl.”
“I don’t scowl,” grumbled Kell.

And then my Kell…my darling Kell. This book was hard for him, in more ways than one. He is lonely. He is tortured from the events in the previous installment (subtly so, but still there). He has a restlessness inside him that is unparalleled to anything he has ever felt before. And, now more than ever, he feels like he doesn’t belong with the family he was brought into…only Rhy makes him feel as he always has-Like a brother. They love each other so intensely, and it is beautiful to see-and then I just love their banter….it keeps Kell grounded and gives Rhy joy to make the forever frowning Kell smile or laugh.

“How subtle,” said Kell tonelessly.
“You could at least pretend to be grateful.”
“And you couldn’t have picked something a little more…I don’t know…imposing? A serpent? A great beast? A bird of prey?”
“A bloody handprint?” retorted Rhy. “Oh, what about a glowing black eye?”
Kell glowered.

But my point in saying all that is he and Rhy are closer than ever *insert eye brow raise here* but there is something darker inside them, something that makes it harder to be who they once were. They feel the gravity of it weighing them down each passing day-They are beginning to feel suffocated and have no way to release it.

But Kell would do literally anything for his brother, something we saw many times in the last book, but we now see that Rhy would do the same…and it warmed my soul.

He tipped his chin up so the men could see his eyes, and took a measure of grim satisfaction as the color bled from their faces. And then footsteps sounded, and Kell turned to find more men pouring into the alley. Drunk and angry and armed. Something stirred in him.
His heart raced, and magic surged through his veins. He felt something on his face, and it took him a moment to realize he was smiling.

It was so hard to see how deeply Kell’s loneliness went, how it effected him every moment of every day…and how he buried it deep within himself so he could continue to help his brother. But when his brother comes to him with a proposition so dangerous, so deadly, so…..exciting, Kell can’t help but to consider it. He’s an Antari…so he can’t compete…but will they find a way around that loophole?? And, most importantly, why can’t he stop thinking about his sharp-edged girl with two differently shaded brown eyes with a knack for knives, thievery, and trouble…and why does he see her in every little person, shadow, and alley?

“Hello,” said Lila.
“Hello,” said Kell. “Where have you been?”
Lila smirked. “Why, did you miss me?”
Kell opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again before finally managing to answer, “Yes.”

This story was naturally made for me, what with all the danger, the peril, the competition, the friendship, passion, and loyalty. I loved the pulse-pounding ending and this whole story, really, but the first admittedly holds my heart, if I’m being honest. I just wanted people to know-the first may not be everyone’s favorite-but it’s mine *shrugs* I can’t help it!!! I just adore first books SO MUCH!!! But, more than that, Kell makes this series for me. I love the writing, the atmosphere, everything about it….but Kell keeps me coming back because I adore every little thing about him. He would do anything for his brother Rhy….but he would for Lila, too. He’d risk his life a million times over for them, and my heart swells even now as I type this out. He has my heart, and so does this series. I know I will surely die of anticipation before February 2017….but it will be completely worth the wait. And I know a certain Snake will be more than happy to finish this adventure with me. KELL!! ♥

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My feels for this series in GIF form…

OMGGGGG MY POOR BOOOY!!!!! I just love this series and Kell so so much! What a cruel thing to have to wait until 2017 for the finale to this absolutely breathtaking, soul-crushing, heartbreaking series.

I can’t believe this series has reached me on such a deep, emotional level, but it has…I am completely obsessed with it. From it’s characters to the setting to the intricate plot, there isn’t a moment in either book where I haven’t loved and adored it.

These characters have such loyalty, such deep, heart-felt connections to those surrounding them-you just can’t help but get sucked into the magic that is this world.

I cannot WAIT to write a review for book two of one of my favorite series EVER!!! 😛

RTC (I WILL DO THIS)

BOOK REVIEW: The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater

May 6, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4)
by Maggie Stiefvater
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey…and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.

I don’t know. She held him tightly, loving him and keeping him. We could just stay here.
I love you, Blue, but I know what I have to do. I don’t want to. But I know what I have to do.

So the wait is finally over-The coveted final book of the Raven Cycle is finally out-or rather, I was one of the lucky people who got her copy early-and now all our questions have been answered (Were they, though??? No, not all of them, frankly). I finally found out the fate of my beloved Gansey and…I just can’t help to be a little disappointed. IE, this is me all alone, not liking this book:

It was this: this moment and no other moment, and for the first time that Gansey could remember, he knew what it would feel like to be present in his own life.

GAWD this makes me sicker than a dog, saying that. Was it because I expected too much?? Was it my fault for putting so much pressure on the finale of one of my favorite series of all time? Or could it possibly be that I blame the author a little bit? Because, in all honesty, I kind of do. I mean…this was supposed to be out 6 months ago or more. That’s a long time. At that point, it had already been a year wait, and then adding on many months more is a like a punch to the gut. When I found that out, I was one of those that figured it was more than worth the wait.

Gansey asked, “Do you have time to run an errand with us? Do you have work? Homework?”
“No homework. I got suspended,” Blue replied.
“Get the fuck out,” Ronan said, but with admiration.
“Sargent, you asshole.”
Blue reluctantly allowed him to bump fists with her as Gansey eyed her meaningfully in the rearview mirror.

But here I am, one of the privileged people lucky enough to have finished the book before it’s even been released, and I can’t help but feel like maybe I was a little disconnected. I LOVE Gansey…I can’t even breathe when I think about him. He will always and forever be one of my absolutely favorite book boyfriends ever. But, even with my large and obsessive I-lost-so-much-sleep-awaiting-Gansey’s-fate feels, I still didn’t fall in love with this story like I did with the previous three.

“For what?”
“Emptying another student’s backpack over his car. I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“I do,” Ronan said.
“Well, I don’t. I’m not proud of it.”
Ronan patted her leg. “I’ll be proud for you.”

I guess maybe I should be up front and say that I didn’t think there was enough Gansey-or even Blue-for my liking. And when he did appear?? He was like….so boring. It crushed my heart every time he came on and was totally unlike himself, totally without that whimsical aura around him I’ve become used to. Call me selfish, but I guess I just wanted way more of the guy who has became a large part of my universe in the final installment. And also, just to be up front, I read this in one day and it’s hard to say if some things didn’t get lost in my mad dash to finish, so maybe I’m looking at this from entirely the wrong perspective. But then again…maybe I’m wholly right.

Ronan’s throat was raw. I’ll do anything! I’ll do anything! I’ll do anythi
It was unmaking everything Ronan loved.
Please

For those of you Ronan and Adam shippers, this is most definitely your book. I can’t say I’m bitter, because I am quite obsessed with Ronan and I don’t dislike Adam anymore, but it did suck to feel like this book was, yet again, focused on Ronan. Now, that being said, I have a certain friend I just know will die from excitement when she reads this. I’m happy for her-and all those who thought this was the best one ever-but disappointed for myself.

It was Blue’s shoulder and her collarbone and her legs and her throat and her laugh her laugh her laugh. He couldn’t stop looking at her, and here, it didn’t matter, because no one here cared that they were together. Here, he could play his fingers over her fingers as they stood close, she could lean her cheek on his bare shoulder, he could hook his ankle playfully in hers, she could catch herself with an arm around his waist. Here he was unbelievably greedy for that laugh.

I got a little greedy, is all, and I need to get my head on straight, because this book was fucking excellent, in more ways than one. I mean, the creepy demon in this one just…ugh it made my day. The problems in this story, they were everything I could ask for. And oh man….the things that happen because of evil….Agh! They are by far my favorite parts of the story and what made me the happiest-Now, hey, I never said I was sane.

“Don’t be like that,” Calla said.
“Like what?”
“Bitter.” Maura considered, and then added, “I just want you to look at your future as a world where anything is possible.”
Blue shot back, “Like Gansey not dying before April? Like me not killing my true love with a kiss? Any of those possibilities?”

I did cry, I did laugh, I did smile. Though, because of my disconnect somewhere along the line, it wasn’t as much as I had hoped I’d feel. I’d get the beginnings of butterflies and then they’d disappear almost as immediately as they appeared. I’m not used to this sensation when reading this series, I must tell you. And I don’t know if it’s because I was reading the hardback (though that’s SURELY not it?), because I just really needed more Gansey because, really, I really am just that selfish, or because….I just felt pressure to love it. I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know. I am just sooooo mad and upset I didn’t feel the love I’m used to.

“I don’t know, Adam! You’re asking me to define an abstract concept that no one has managed to explain since time began. You sort of sprang it on me,” Gansey said. “Why do we breathe air? Because we love air? Because we don’t want to suffocate. Why do we eat? Because we don’t want to starve. How do I know I love her? Because I can sleep after I talk to her. Why?”

And you might be saying oh, but that’s a good rating! No…it is, really, but in Chelsea ratings? For books Chelsea loves and cherishes and adores and obsesses about for a year and a half?? This is a very lackluster rating. And it makes me so sad.

Richard Gansey was failing to sleep. When he closed his eyes: Blue’s hands, his voice, black bleeding from a tree. It was starting, starting. No. It was ending. He was ending. This was the landscape of his personal apocalypse. What was excitement when he was wakeful melted into dread when he was tired.

So. I don’t know. I just don’t feel like dwelling on why it wasn’t perfect for me as I had hoped it would be. There were too many extra POVs talking about things I just didn’t care about (THOUGH THEY WERE ESSENTIAL TO THE STORY, I REALIZE) and not enough of what I had hoped and expected and longed for. Gansey is still some one I will never forget and I will ALWAYS obsess about this series…but, even with all the peril and darkness and epic endings and fantastic writing…for me?? It just wasn’t enough.

Unmaker, unmaker, I wake, I wake, I wake

REVIEW+GIVEAWAY: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

April 28, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

We are so excited to be a part of the Suffer Love Blog Tour! This story is so deep, meaningful, and heartfelt. Your emotions will be all over the place, but most of all you will feel the hurt and betrayal...and what happens when families are in the process of being torn apart. The aftermath is what our two main characters are dealing with, and I absolutely fell in love with both of them. A cruel twist of fate brought them together, but is it enough to tear them apart? Look below to find my 5 star review, some of my favorite quotes, and a giveaway! I hope it will encourage you to give this one a try! Enjoy!

REVIEW+GIVEAWAY: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Hadley St. Clair's life changed the day she came home to a front door covered in slips of paper, each of them revealing the ugly truth about her father. Now as her family falls apart in the wake of his year-long affair, Hadley wants everyone-her dad most of all-to leave her alone.

Then she meets Sam Bennett, a cute new boy who inexplicably "feels like home" to Hadley. Hadley and Sam's connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret about his family that could ruin everything.

Funny and passionate, Suffer Love is a story about first love, family dysfunction, and the fickle hand of fate.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 3rd 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

My heart is crushed within me, Here is the truth: You made me love you-your eyes and mouth and voice. You pulled me into your heart. You don’t want me there and I don’t want to be there, but it’s where I will always live.

You know those books that just pop out at you when you see them? The covers that are beautiful, yet you know that by looking at the synopsis, this isn’t going to be one of those flops where the cover is better than anything possible in the book?? Yeah, well, this is one of those instances. This book, despite it’s absolutely fucking gorgeous cover, doesn’t lack in depth. Whether this will be for everyone?? I have no clue. But what I do know?? Those of you looking for a YA book that isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but still like the warm fuzzies and bouts of butterflies that are likely to choke you with their frequency….will love this story.

I kneel to help, accepting a thank-you from the boy’s harried-looking mother. When we finish, I edge Sam’s hard stomach with my elbow, trying to play off his sudden nervousness. “Don’t get any ideas, Sam Bennett. I just want to hang out.”
Pink splashes over his cheekbones as he throws up his hands in surrender. He smiles that lopsided grin. “I wouldn’t dream of getting any ideas.”
–
“Okay, I would dream of getting ideas.”

Or maybe you won’t-that’s just the way of it, and I am hardly a person who picks on each and every flaw within a story. But there was just something so sweet, yet heartbreaking, about this story. Something that reached into my soul and latched onto it, making it hard for me to breathe long after I had put it down. I adore YA realistic fiction, but lately it’s hard to find those winners that really stick with you. I don’t know what it was about this story that made me so happy-Whether it be the not so easy romance or the flawed family relationships or even the hilarious banter that I found so life-like and tangible and authentic…no matter what it was, it really resonated with me, and that’s not so easy to do lately.

As I adjust the temperature on the oven and listen to Mom as she finally trudges up the stairs, I think about what Hadley said about wanting something you don’t even believe is possible. I wonder now whether she was really talking about a happy ending or whether she was just talking about the kind of life where you don’t have to fight so hard to feel at home with your own family.

For years I was caught in an inferno of insta-love, lust, and easy-fix relationships when it came to romance novels. It wasn’t until I got onto Goodreads that I really started to find the books that touched me in ways I never imagined possible. YA is a genre I latched onto quickly, using the idea that, after reading a few fantastic novels, YA writers have a little more difficult time writing a truly engrossing story because they can’t use sex as a crutch or raunchy conversations to make time pass quickly-fade to black may not be for everyone, but it happens frequently in these YA novels. And it has became something that doesn’t bother me, but makes me appreciate how wonderful everything is that surrounds the intimate moments.

My arms go around her and she sort of melts into me. I rest my cheek on her head and we just stand there, wordless. I let myself imagine a different life with her, free of knots and lies and little slips of paper. I let myself believe what feels true-that she’s just a girl and I’m just a boy and we want to be together. We couldn’t not be together, because being together was the only thing that made sense. The only thing that kept us from both disappearing.

My point in all that was simple: YA is such an underappreciated genre because people feel they outgrow it or can’t relate to something that happened so long ago for them…but for some reason it’s the opposite for me. When I read a story like this, it helps me embrace the moments from long ago where I fell in love with my husband in the hallways of our high school. It helps me reminisce about the carefree days and nights and how we fell in love despite what people said about our completely different lifestyles, how we would never make it because we had nothing in common-But look who’s laughing now, hmm? And you know what they say…opposites attract.

Her movement startles me out of my fog, and I turn to look at her. A lawnmower cranks up next door and we sit in its rumble as I try to figure out why the hell I’m so furious with Josh, want to slash Sloane’s tires, want to crush every guy who even looks at Hadley below the neck.

Again, back to my point-this story wasn’t about two opposites. In fact, it was about two people living the same lonely life, connected in a way no one in their right mind would ever wish to be. Her father cheated, causing tension and strife in what was an otherwise stable household. His mother cheated, breaking up a family that wasn’t perfect, but was whole. These horrible instances brought these two together….but they don’t realize it until it’s too late. Didn’t you wonder why this was called Suffer Love? Well…that’s a piece of it.

And everything slows down.
Crash.
In Romeo and Juliet, stars didn’t cross. They collided.
Game over.
Hadley slides the paper across the table.
I don’t need to look at it.
I know what it is.
Crash.

Sam and Hadley were two characters I just absolutely adored. Sam, for his broken soul, his unwavering loyalty that changed the way his family looked at him forever, the way he takes care of his little sister, Livy, and the fact that he was real. He wasn’t a cardboard boy in a cardboard story-He had real feelings and real anger and real angst and he did some things wrong (I won’t mention one that made me cross my arms and humph, even though he wasn’t really in the wrong). And then the way he slowly fell for Hadley, despite the devastating consequences of such a heartbreaking connection. He knew what it would mean, what it would cost, and who it would hurt to fall in love with the beautiful Hadley…but he couldn’t help falling. I mean…come on. Of course I fell in love with him and with this story.

And that’s when I know I’ve finally lost this battle with myself. I don’t care who I am. I don’t care what our parents did or how I’ll explain everything to her. I only care about being with her, right now up on this hill. I feel her in my gut and in my bones and that deep, hollow place in my chest.

And then Hadley-Going through a phase to help numb the pain, she’s dealing with things in the only way she knows how. But when she meets Sam, all of that changes. Instead of seeking solace in stolen kisses in dark rooms and utility closets, she finds that simply talking to Sam, spending time with Sam, falling in love with Sam….is the only distraction she needs. She starts to see that she doesn’t have to feel alone, that he understands and can relate in ways no one else can-And that when things start to crumble, he’s the one she wants to run to.

Relief pours through me, and suddenly I need him closer. Unlike with josh or any other guy, it’s not about filling some void or only having fun. It’s about Sam. It’s about me. It’s an overflow of whatever this unspoken unseen thing is between us, and I realize that I do want it. I want him.

An authentic ending, a beautiful portrayal of families in turmoil who are just trying to make it work again, and a wonderful look at a relationship that is built from broken hearts and closet betrayals, even as the world continues to crumble around them. Hadley’s relationship with Sam’s sister, Livy, warmed my heart in ways I didn’t think existed. The familial ties that, no matter what they’ve gone through, don’t sever, but stay frayed as everyone tries to hold on as best they can. These people are real, and real people have flaws, make mistakes, and don’t handle themselves like they should. Maybe everyone wouldn’t agree, but I found that every little step felt right, like this would really happen if this story actually did exist. And because of this, unexpected tears coursed down my face without me even realizing as the book came to a close, causing me to hug my iPad to my chest and cradle these characters close as they held onto the hope, longing, and sacrifice that would mold their tentative new relationship. Not all HEA’s are clean cut and care-free….and HEA’s don’t exist for everyone. I hope that all of you will give this one a try, but if you aren’t convinced, ask yourself this-Can you really resist his charms? Can you?

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Purchase Here:

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ENTER TO WIN A SUFFER LOVE SWAG PACK HERE (It’s international!)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

8545130 Ashley Herring Blake is a poet, teacher, and YA novelist. Her debut novel, SUFFER LOVE, follows two teens as they attempt to wade through an intense relationship complicated by their parents’ infidelities. Ashley lives in Nashville, TN.

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Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget-Follow the rest of the tour HERE!

RELEASE DAY BLITZ + GIVEAWAY-The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn #2) by Renee Ahdieh

April 28, 2016 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

I am so excited that THE ROSE & THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway! If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Renée Ahdieh, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for a paperback of THE WRATH & THE DAWN and a hardcover of THE ROSE & THE DAGGER and an awesome candle from The Melting Library’s Etsy Store, US Only! So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

RELEASE DAY BLITZ + GIVEAWAY-The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn #2) by Renee Ahdieh

The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn #2)
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

“Above all there is the shattering, triumphant catharsis of love… In a story about stories, love is ‘the power to speak without words.’ Thrillingly full of feeling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Fiery romance, a spirited heroine, shifting loyalties… With more than a few heartrending twists and turns.”—Booklist

Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

About Renée:

Renee Ahdieh

Renée lives in North Carolina (Go Heels!) with her husband Victor and their dog Mushu. Her YA fantasy novel, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, will be published on May 12th, 2015. In her spare time, she likes to cook, dance salsa, and wreak havoc on the lives of her characters.

She’s also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as an active member of theScience Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a paperback of THE WRATH & THE DAWN, a hardcover of THE ROSE & THE DAGGER, and a His Calipha candle from The Melting Library’s Etsy Store, US Only.

The Rose and the Dagger Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK REVIEW: Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly #2) by Lauren Layne

April 27, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly #2)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of her USA Today bestseller Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

“A little more time, Vaughn,” I say quietly. “I hate having to say this out loud, but I’m…I’m reeling, man. I feel like I’ve been in an aimless free-fall for years, and this place…it’s helping. I don’t know why, I don’t know how, but it’s helping.”
He searches my face carefully. “You sure it’s the place?” he asks slowly. “Or is it the girl?”

Romance is an escape. It’s a good break from the hardcore fantasy and soul-crushing dystopian. And, most importantly, if it’s a romance novel by an author I like, then it makes all the bad things go away, turns my frown upside down, and gives me the laughs I need to make it through the day. And as it turns out?? This is an author I really enjoy and this was a week where I needed a little bit of happiness.

I look from her to the dog, who I belatedly realize is now wearing a pink bow.
No. Just hell no.
What have I gotten myself into?
More important, how do I get myself out?

It’s no secret that I’ve never really rated an LL below a four-I always feel like that day is coming, yet it hasn’t. And it may not be the author so much as me-Do you ever feel like an author just…gets you?? Like, if you were to write a book in this genre, or write a book at all, that author takes almost all the words out of your mouth and handles things just as you would? Almost as if he/she is you in author form. Well…I think LL is that person. She never fails to make me smile and I’ve yet to be near the end of one of her books and wishing it would ‘just be over already’. LL is my author soul mate and I’m not afraid to admit it. If ever I need a smile…I know just where to go. But, as it turns out, I’m always out of her books lol.

I hurriedly grab my stuff, making sure there’s no sign of my presence before I can dash into Noah’s tiny closet, leaving it open just a crack so I can breathe and see what I’m doing.
Oh, what’s that? I didn’t mention that my revenge plan is totally creepy and a lot immature? It is.
Don’t care.

This book has been getting a really bad rap. I mean yeah, there are lots of four star reviews in the community section, sure. But, more often than not, my feed has made me cringe with the status updates and reviews. And, ya know, I get it. I went into this expecting to hate it (even though I am almost always on my own in the ‘LL is the best’ fan club) because a lot of my close friends did. And I’m not going to name any names, that would be ridiculously rude, but even someone who I think is my equal in LL love gave this a three. Why, you ask?? Well…let me list the ways.

I stand still, my body humming in anticipation, as Noah comes in the door.
“Hey, boy,” I hear him say quietly to Ranger. “Where’d you get that bone, huh? You steal it from the stupid cotton ball?”
I roll my eyes. Sure, my dog’s the stupid one. I saw Ranger barking at his own shadow the other day.

Noah is an asshole. Noah is an asshole who continually hurts Jenny. Noah is an asshole who says things that are basically unforgivable….yet he is always forgiven. Jenny is the girl who wants to see the good in everybody (much like me-something that didn’t escape my attention as I was reading-EEPS) and wants to believe Noah isn’t a total jackass. Now, some people believe she was a doormat….but I disagree (See reason above…why would I diss on myself, flawed or not?).

But anyway, back to Jenny.
Am I avoiding her? Yes.
Out of embarrassment? No.
I’m avoiding her because I can’t even think her name without remembering what it felt like to have her hands and mouth all over me. I can’t blink and not see her in that sexy black bra. I can’t breathe and not smell her scent, all sweet and innocent.

Just because you repeatedly forgive someone doesn’t make you a doormat…it makes you someone who just wants, I don’t know, the happiest life with the person you have feelings for. And hey, let me just say, I don’t like doormats for main characters, and I know a damn doormat girl when I see one, and Jenny was distinctively different based on her actions. Or, at least, I’ve seen much worse. Namely…myself.

I dump a handful of chocolate chips into the blender. Chocolate fixes everything.
Tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder, I put the lid on and flick the blender back on, sort of relishing the hacking noise the chocolate chips make as they whir.
“What the heck is that noise?” Amber asks.
“Just throwing some carrots into the blender,” I lie.
“Oh, good call! I love how carrots add that delicious bit of sweetness,” she says.
I roll my eyes. Sweetness my ass. They’re carrots.

Just wanted to put here that I deleted three paragraphs of a personal story because I don’t want friends and family here at home to get the wrong idea-It was relevant to why I loved this story so much, but this is what’s best for me. Back to the review! 😛

So here is my disclaimer, and it is different from the one that I put in my pre-review: This is unlike any LL book I’ve ever read….and I’ve read them all. If you don’t want change or something different than you’re used to with LL, then don’t read this one. That can be the only warning I give you. I may have loved the different style of this story, but ratings have proven that others don’t. It is what it is-just use your gut and go from there. I can’t make that decision for you.

I exit out the front door just in time to see my big brown Lab leap forward, his clumsy paws finding the shoulders of a blond girl who lets out a shriek, holding a cat above her head like that scene from The Lion King.
“Ranger, no! Down!”
I run forward, my hand finding the collar of my dog and yanking him backward as I search the ground to find the source of the small-dog barks still piercing the air.
Then I register that the sound is coming from above, and I realize…
The cotton ball isn’t a cat.
That orange peace of fluff is a dog, and Ranger is apparently in love.

So, the good stuff! This is my favorite atmosphere yet by this author-

I both loved and hated this book in equal measure, making this a completely foreign feeling, which I’m totally unaccustomed to. I went into this not expecting to like it, yet came out with the goofiest smile on my face, scolding myself all the while because it felt wrong to love something that, at times, was vile. But it made me feel strongly, and that’s all I ever really want when I read-To feel strong emotion for a story, both good and bad, instead of the typical, ’Okay, onto the next!’ This was a situation of ‘like-love-hate’, but love-more-than-dislike and happy-more-than-not that it was a 5 star love/hate relationship rather than a 3 star love/hate. Does that make sense? No?? Oops.

I climb into the truck, moving the seat slightly, since Finn’s a couple inches shorter than me. I glance over at Jenny, hoping she doesn’t ask why I’m adjusting the seat in what she thinks is my truck, but she’s too busy fiddling with something orange and hideous on her head.
I pause in the process of jamming the key into the ignition, staring at her in horror. “What the hell is that?”
“A wig,” she says, pulling down the visor to look in the mirror. Only there isn’t one, it having broken long ago, so she turns to me. “So how does it look?”

The writing, the banter, the conversations, her eye-rolls, Noah’s looks of horror when Jenny did something moronic. The humming her songs in secret and then humming them to taunt her. The way he always walked her back to her house no matter what so she’d be safe. Jenny reminded me of myself, wanting to hold her resolve but unable to when Noah looked hurt or hopeful. And hey! He teared up..I can’t even.

You know how I said Jenny’s voice sounded like her heart?
I’m wrong.
Her voice sounds like my heart.
And I want it back. I want her back.

I do have to say this: this book set a record of firsts for me: One being her Pomeranian, Dolly!!!! LL has a pom, and I have a pom, so naturally we know the breeds mannerisms and what makes them so fucking perfect…and it all translated perfectly onto the page. I just….it was so sweet to feel like I was reading about my baby every time I read. It was just awesome. And then, oh yeah, Noah was so cruel one time that I actually found myself tearing up for Jenny. Like…wow. That has NEVER happened before. Bravo…or…ouch, I dunno.

“What the heck is wrong with your dog?” the girl says as she slowly lowers the puffball from over her head, cradling the hideous little monster against her chest as it continues its high-pitched bloody-murder yips.
“At least my dog is actually a dog,” I say, staring in horror at the pointy face of a canine that could fit in one of my hands. “I’ve seen dust bunnies bigger than that thing.”
“Dolly’s a Pomeranian,” she says, setting a hand on top of the monster’s head. “She’s supposed to be this tiny.”

^YES

Yet I liked him, loved him, swooned over him (at times) –especially at the end. It definitely makes me want to re-evaluate what types of dudes I like (book wise). I get what she was trying to create-A different guy, a different atmosphere….and she succeeded-He was so mean, almost unforgivably so, and I’m always on the guy’s side.

His eyes rake over me. “Playing dumb won’t change the fact that you’ll be thinking about me all night, princess. Your fingers will be a poor stand-in for my tongue, I can promise you that.”
“I’m trying to figure out which word better applies here, delusional or disgusting. I’m thinking it’s a tie.”
Noah bends down slightly, enough so that I can feel his warm breath on my mouth. “Enjoy your night, princess.”

Soooo yeah. Feeling super vulnerable after this one, but the review took me there, and I respected it’s wishes. I don’t think this one is for everyone, but I think a lot of people will still love it-If you like the type of book that makes you smile so big your face is bursting or you like laugh out loud banter and conversations or inner monologues, LL is the author for you, and this book is most likely something you’ll enjoy….just know that this one has a crueler guy and he’s unlike any of her other heroes-Even Paul was kinder (I ADORE PAUL I LOVE YOU PAULLLLL). I giggle snorted (hey, a new first) and covered my mouth to stifle my smiles and giggles and, frankly, LL won again. But is this a shock to anyone?? Hmmm…no. Even when I try not to like it…I like it harder. Whatevs. I lose…like usual.

************
Soooo yikes. Black sheep much??? Okay, so, here is the most honest thing you will ever hear me say, so listen closely: I legitimately feel guilty for loving this book. There-I said it. The way Noah treats Jenny is deplorable, disgusting. And yet….I just couldn’t help smiling and, ultimately, falling in love with this story. And the sickest part: I DID NOT WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY BECAUSE IT FELT SHAMEFUL TO DISAGREE WITH THE VALID POINTS MY FRIENDS HAVE SO ASTUTELY POINTED OUT.

And the bottom line? I loved this fucking book, even though I tried to not like it, just so I would feel like everyone else. And it makes me extremely mad at myself. Shame on me. I can like whatever the fuck I want and I shouldn’t feel like I first did when I got on GR. So. There it is. I don’t give a fuck if I have five starred fifty books this month- I like what I like and I refuse to feel ashamed about it.

I loved the Louisiana setting. I loved Dolly. I loved Ranger. I loved Jenny and Noah and Finn and Vaughn. They are flawed and they are wrong and they make lots of mistakes…but my heart wants what it wants.

I didn’t like this because it was an LL-I liked this because I was having a shitty week and this cheered me up immensely. *shrugs* whatever.

Baaaaah

Review to come-a less crazy sounding one, for sure