Category: Review (Page 152 of 295)

REVIEW + GIVEAWAY – Cradled (Beholder #4.5) by Christina Bauer

August 9, 2018 / Jen / 4 Comments

I absolutely loved this follow up novella to a series I adore! So check out my 4 Star Review below and enter a fabulous giveaway! Enjoy!

REVIEW + GIVEAWAY – Cradled (Beholder #4.5) by Christina Bauer

Cradled (Beholder #4.5)
by Christina Bauer
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Finally, Elea and Rowan are settling in to their new lives. Trouble is, Rowan is spending a lot of time cleaning up messes from his childhood. And considering the nightmare that was his mother, those are some ugly messes indeed. In fact, the experience is enough to make Rowan vow that he never wants children of his own.

Oops.

Review:

Cradled was the perfect follow up to see what all of our favorite characters were up to! It was tons of fun, filled with adventure, we got to spend lots of time with all the characters we loved and we even got a visit from another couple from the author’s Angelbound Origin Series. Although there were some huge spoilers where they were concerned, so be careful if you haven’t read that series yet. But regardless, the epilogue junkie in me absolutely loved this book!

“No matter what happens,” said Rowan. “Know this. I love you with all that I am.” I met his gaze again. Nothing but true respect and love shone in Rowan’s green eyes. “Everything else, we’ll work it out. Together.”

My favorite thing about this book was catching up with all of those that I loved. Yes I adored where the story went, but seeing my favorites?! Priceless! I loved that Rowan was sexy and protective as ever. Little Jericho was still absolutely adorable. And I have no clue if this is a possibility, but I would love to see him in the future, grown up, with his own series. Jericho was that charismatic, I could easily read more about him. And Elea warmed my heart and I loved watching her work through her HEA. So when I reached the end of the book, I loved that there was an epilogue that jumped a year in advance! So if you’re a fan of the Beholder Series, you should definitely pick up this book!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Monster House Books, LLC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Cursed #1 Review: Jen	Concealed #2 Reviews: Jen	Cherished #3 Review: Jen
Crowned #4 Review: Jen	Cradled #4.5 Review: Jen

About Christina Bauer:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

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Giveaway:

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BOOK REVIEW: A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #3)

August 5, 2018 / Cassie / 1 Comment

A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3)
by Sabaa Tahir
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister's life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias's devotion--even at the cost of his humanity.

Skies save me from the men in my life and all the things they think they know.

Hi, I’m Cassie and I’m new to this series. Like, three weeks ago, I still had the first book sitting fairly low on my TBR list. It seemed interesting enough, but not enough for me to move it up and finally get around to reading it. Well, not until my friend shoved the first two books into my hands and said READ THEM NOW.

I am SO GLAD she made me, because I love them. I totally get why everyone loves this series. It’s so good. It’s dark, like really dark, but so good nonetheless.

As much as I love the world and the stakes at hand, what’s kept me into this story so much are these characters, specifically Laia, Elias and Helene. There’s some great side characters as well, but I truly love these main three characters.

Love, I sigh. Love is joy coupled with misery, elation bound to despair. It is a fire that beckons me gently and then burns when I get too close. I hate love. I yearn for it. And it drives me mad.

After the events of A Torch Against the Night, none of our main characters are in a good place. And honestly, they aren’t much better after the Reaper. Laia, after getting her brother back, is looking to stop the Nightbringer, helping with the resistance and dealing with the fallout of Elias being, well, dead and the new Soul Catcher.

“I will not let you torment her to death, even if stopping you tears my own body to shreds. All the world can burn, but I will not simply leave her to suffer.”
“All things have a price, Elias Veturius. The price of saving her will haunt you for all your days. Will you pay it?”

I ship this couple so much. I’m very much worried what Sabaa is going to do them, but based on the Nightbringer’s flashbacks, I’m cautiously optimistic how their story could end. But seriously, the chemistry between these two characters, even in the middle of everything going on, is to die for. Ugh. My heart breaks for them, especially in that last scene, but I’m really hoping this is the dark before the light.

“You are cruel, Elias,” she whispers against my mouth. “To give a girl all she desires only to tear it away.”

And as much as I love Elias and Laia, I actually found Elias’s chapters to be the weakest. Mostly because of the limitations on his ability to move around in the real world, but also how little he comes to know. I felt he often slowed down the pace, as so much else was happening with the rest of the characters.

Especially Helene. Our dear Helene. Who continues to suffer so tragically. I feel so badly for her and yet she continues to remain strong and keep some sense of morality. She loves her family and would do anything for them. And she does care for those she’s working closely with, especially Harper. Ugh. Not quite the level of Elias and Laia, but I still love them together nonetheless. Even with *that scene* near the end, where I wanted to slap some sense into her, I hope Helene can find some happiness by the end of this series. And I can’t wait until Elias and Harper finally meet!

I witness myself through his eyes: angry and cold and weak and strong and brave and warm. Not the Blood Shrike. Helene.

Swoon.

But last but not least: The Nightbringer. I’m on the fence about him. I’ve seen a lot of people say they really came to feel for him, etc. I get it. He does have a more tragic backstory. But it doesn’t mean that what he’s doing is OK either. I certainly hope there’s some kind of compromise to what our characters are fighting for and what the Nightbringer wants, because if not, it seems like it just ends with even more death (if that’s even possible?).

I know love better than any other creature alive. Certainly better than any other creature alive. Certainly better than a girl who gives her heart to whoever happens by.

All in all, I’d give this a 4.5/5. It was great being able to pick it up just after finishing the second book, but now I’m dying for the fourth, which is easily 1-2 years away. These books certainly aren’t for the faint of heart, as so many bloody and tragic moments. I thought the pacing was a little off on this one, and I think it may have had to do with Elias’s storyline. It was a bit jarring compared to Helene and Laia’s.

I’m really hoping there are some happier days ahead for our protagonists in the next book, after everything they’ve been through in these first three. I think Sabaa has laid some groundwork for that to happen, but as we’ve seen, anything can happen to just about anyone.

“In truth, you shall find freedom. Let me free you, Laia of Serra.”
“I don’t need your truth.”

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

August 3, 2018 / Jen / 4 Comments

Almost two years later, I’m jumping back into this book. It’s a series I have wanted to finish and I’m so happy that I love it even more the second time around! If you haven’t read this trilogy yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

BOOK REVIEW: Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

Review:

Wicked was seductive, insanely addicting and had moments that were oh so funny. I love picking up a Jennifer Armentrout book there’s a great chance that I’m going to love the story. But somehow I always forget how deeply immersed I become with the storyline and the characters. So by the time I got to the end of Wicked, I couldn’t help shaking my head because I had tears pouring down my face. Again. I don’t know why I’m always shocked that I feel every single tiny moment of joy, hope and utter devastation with the characters she creates. Because that’s what always happens. But her endings, oh my goodness, this one left my heart hurting yet I have lots of faith and can’t wait to see where the story will go!

We lived with death and we knew it waited for each and every one of us. We were taught not to fear the inevitable, but again, what we were never taught was how to live on when those around us left.

It was so much fun being back in a world that somehow reminded me of the Covenant/Titan series. I think I’m grasping straws here, but the setting took place in a world much like the one we are living in now. Plus, the members of the Order have endured a lifetime of training and a dedication that they will protect those around them. I was fascinated learning everything I could about them.

“Are you hitting on me?” Shocked, I shook my head. “Are you for real?”
“My momma probably thinks I’m real.”
I ignored that. “While I have a stake at your throat?”
“You’re also sitting on me, and sweetness, if you slide about an inch or so down, things are going to get real awkward.”
Holy shit.
“Or fun,” he added, and his lips did that slow curl again, like he savored the whole process of smiling. “I told you I found that move you made to be fucking hot. But I don’t think you’re going to be down for that.”

Ivy is a member of the Order, and while she spent her days going to college, at night she hunted the fae. I loved that she had aspirations to become more in life then what she was raised to be. But it was fun watching her hunt the fae at night. She was beyond brave and I quickly admired her strength and her perseverance to keeping others safe. But during the day I got to see many other sides to her. When she was around Tink, a brownie that she saved and was living with her, the humor that floated between the two of them was electrifying. And then the naivety and uncertainty that she showed around Ren, a new transfer in the Order, just made me like her that much more. She was so relatable, real, caring, ahhh you know what? Ivy was someone that I would value and be grateful to have as a friend.

“You’re going to have to get to know me better before you taste my cake.”
Ren opened his mouth then closed it a second before he stopped and stepped right in front of me. I skidded to a stop to avoid slamming into him . The guy behind us cursed and shot us a dirty look as he walked around us. Ren ignored him. “Was that an invitation? Because I’m willing to get to know you in any way possible if that means I get to taste your cake.”
“Invitation for . . .?” Oh my God. My words replayed. My face turned crimson. “You are such a pervert!” I smacked his chest hard. “That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s a damn shame then,” he said solemnly.
I hit him again, on the arm this time, then stormed around him. “You’re such a dog.”

Ren, oh my gosh. *shivers coat my skin* I loved how direct and to the point he was. I loved that he knew right away that he wanted Ivy and he definitely had no problems physically and verbally expressing that to her. He was forward, seductive, charming and I couldn’t get enough of him! While I’m usually not the biggest fan of a forward approach, he quickly had me begging for more. The way he treated Ivy, the way he performed his job, actually everything he did I was a huge fan of. I loved, loved, loved Ren.

“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Tink?”
“No.” He grinned. “You have Amazon Prime.”

I couldn’t end this review without talking a little bit more about Tink. Tink was ridiculously hilarious. That little bastard had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. My favorite moment with him was the ‘Braveheart’ scene, oh my gosh I had tears pouring down my face! Add in the fact that he was obsessed with Amazon Prime and sugar, well I honestly think we could be best friends forever! And I’m just as excited to see what happens to him in the future books, as I am about Ivy and Ren! So yes, I easily fell madly in love with this story and the characters and hopefully you will too!

P.S. I love that Ivy reads and that she mentions The Marked Men by Jay Crownover (I 💗 Rule & Asa).

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Wicked #1 Reviews: Jen	Torn #2 Reviews: Jen	Brave #3 Reviews:

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BOOK REVIEW- Addicted After All (Addicted #3) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

July 25, 2018 / Arielle / 2 Comments

Addicted After All (Addicted #3)
by Krista and Becca Ritchie
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Two addicts. One epic love story.

Prepare for the worst.

That’s what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an “important” meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they’re not sure what the worst is anymore.

In a sea of many changes—including Ryke & Daisy living with them—Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst.

Her sex drive is out of control.

Loren knows that she’s insatiable, but he’s not giving up on her. She’s too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve.

In the conclusion to their love story, Lily & Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after.

I fell in love with Lo like a little girl opening her heart to magic. It always seemed surreal until the moment it became true.

What a ride this series has been. It has been so fun re-reading these books again after having read about their children in the About Us series. While you could read those separately, and even the Calloway Sisters series separately, it makes more of an impact if you had started at the very beginning with Lily and Lo.

And there is a hope, a chance, that he could be more than what I am. That he could be better than me.

Initially I had decided to go back and read this series despite the negative things that I had seen about book one because of how much I fell in love with this family in the Calloway Sisters books. So much so that I felt like I owed it to Lily and Lo. In the other series, which really focuses on Rose and Daisy, I felt like I just didn’t know enough about this couple that had struggled with two very serious addictions for nearly their whole lives. I found myself being put off my Lo’s abrasiveness because I did not understand where it was coming from. I also found myself being annoyed with Lily’s skittish nature and her inability to talk about anything sex related without either turning bright red or hiding. I still came to love them though and connected with them through their talk of all things geek so I wanted a chance to remedy that.

A feeling swirls inside of me—one where you know someone all your life, but in a singular moment they look strangely different. Like you’re unearthing a fragment of them that has never surfaced or been touched before.

By the time that this book came around, the progress that both Lily and Lo have made has been tremendous. Yes, that first book is heartbreaking and hard to read –it’s about two terrible addictions. HOWEVER, if you can weather through it (and I hope you do) it gets better. It’s not all completely smooth sailing, as both of them continue to struggle with their addictions but they TRY. They gain their strong support system and try and they gain hope which is good.

“Fly away with me, Lily Calloway?”
She whispers, “Only if we make-believe that we never, ever have to grow up.”

My favorite part of this book in particular was reading about the pregnancies of Rose and Lily. I almost felt cheated in Fuel the Fire because the last time I had seen the two girls, they had just found out they were pregnant and then then it skipped straight to them having the babies. I wanted to DEFINITELY see a fierce, pregnant Rose but I also wanted to see how Lo and Lily handled it seeing as they weren’t sure if they ever wanted kids. It was delightful. ALSO—that friggen scene where Rose has her baby….INTENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONNOR ♥ Loved it.

“For what it’s worth,” I tell Connor, “it’s kind of extraordinary that you can transcend sexual orientations. You’re like an amoeba.”
“Amoebas are asexual,” he says. “I’m more like a god.”

Another important thing that you get to see in these books are the relationships that form between Lo and Connor and especially, Lo and Ryke. Right away in Kiss the Sky you see that Lo and Connor have this really close relationship and hilarious banter but you never really get the gist of how it all happened. I loved being able to see Connor meeting the two and then how Ryke ends up inserting himself into their lives. It really is a special thing and you can really see how much Lo ends up depending on his brother for help staying sober.

“Or you could write one,” I shoot back, rising to my feet. “Perks of having the Hots for a Sixteen-Year-Old Supermodel and Having to Wait until She Turns Eighteen, Only to be Cock-blocked by Your Bastard Half-Brother.”
I flash a bitter smile.
“That title needs some work,” Connor says, clipping on his Rolex watch. “And that’s if we all agree Ryke can write a full-length novel.”

What I am TRYING to say is that if you have read the Calloway Sisters and fell in love with the characters like I have, you realllllly need to read this series too. It may be hard at first but believe it, it is so worth it being able to get into ALL of their lives, learning about every facet of each of them. I haven’t been able to read anything else since starting this series and am SOOOOO excited to read Some Kind of Perfect (which is basically a 664 page prologue of the three couples growing up and having babies).

“Your name is on her ass,” I state blankly.
“I’m so fucking in love with her,” is all he says. And I believe every word.

BOOK REVIEW: Furyborn (Empirium #1) by Claire Legrand

July 24, 2018 / Cassie / 5 Comments

Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

We all have darkness inside us, Rielle,” he said, his voice rough. “That is what it means to be human.”

Whew. This book was a beast to tackle. It comes in at a whopping 512 pages of non-stop action, following two kick-ass women: Rielle Dardenne and Eliana Ferracore. The book jumps back and forth between Rielle and Eliana and a span of 1,000 years.

From the very start, we are off and running, as we see Rielle handing off her daughter to a young boy before dying by the hands of someone named Corien (more about him later).

After that opening, we jump back to follow Rielle performing in trials to prove she is the Sun Queen, who was foretold in a prophecy.

Two queens will rise. One of blood. One of light.

Through these trials, Rielle is aided and supported by her two friends: Audric and Ludivine. I adored both of these characters. Ludivine was a fantastic supportive friend and very much cared for Rielle. And Audric, oh Audric, was Rielle’s forbidden love. He was entirely swoon-worthy and I enjoyed watching as Rielle and Audric grew closer. During Rielle’s story, we also meet Corien, who at first appears as only a voice in her head and who meet later on in-person. What a fascinating character Corien was — we know what he ultimately does to Rielle based on the prologue, but it was engrossing learning how Rielle and Corien came to know each other.

And then there’s Eliana. I’ve seen a number of other reviewers say they enjoyed Rielle’s story more, but honestly, I was more attached to Eliana’s story. She was entirely unapologetic about who she was and what she was doing to keep her family safe (until she couldn’t); I was also completely enamored with her back and forth with Simon.

“Have you always been this unspeakably irritating?”
“Has your face always looked so temptingly carvable?”

While I definitely enjoyed Eliana’s relationship with her little brother, Remy, and her newfound friendship with Navi, I was very much invested in the complicated relationship between Eliana and Simon. A LOT happens between when they first meet and the end of this book, but I’m very intrigued by what will follow.

But Simon only smiled. “Oh, Eliana,” he murmured, his voice no longer playful, “I want so much more than simply a peek.”

A few other things of note:
-There are some important TW: abuse (child and adult), death/gore/violence, sexual content, slavery, torture, and my VERY least favorite, animal death (I will say, however, the main character does feel quite terribly afterword…but still, UGH)
-I think this book explored what loss means and how that can shape your actions very well. Both Eliana and Rielle experience death early on and it has a large impact on their future decisions and life out look. I really appreciated the subtle nuances for each character as she dealt with her grief and guilt.
-I’m still deciding how I feel about the ending. Obviously there are more books to come, but it just didn’t end how I expected. Especially for Eliana.

All things considered, I really enjoyed this book. I’ll be honest, after the prologue, I found myself struggling to get started from the beginning, especially the drastically different timelines. But once I got near the 40% mark, it started to pick up and as I approached the end, I was very much into it. I look forward to the next installment!

“You are so like her,” he muttered darkly. “I am like myself,” she hissed, “and no one else.”