Page 231 of 427

Item: Thief of Lies
Rating: 4
Author: Jen

FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 01/13/17

January 13, 2017 / Jen / 14 Comments

Life:

This past week our lives have been inundated with snow. Tahoe is at almost 200 inches in less than two weeks, and I could not be happier (well except for the rain that we had that melted the snow and caused severe flooding and then we lost power when it was 20 degrees outside but we’re back to snow again as of yesterday yay!)! I was California born and raised, but I have lived on the Nevada side of Tahoe for the last 10+ years. And while I thought I’d miss the ocean, I’ve come to realize that I love every single thing about this area. The ski resorts, the beaches that are beyond gorgeous, the hiking, the small town feel, the list just goes on and on. I am so grateful we live here and I am definitely counting the seconds until our 3 day weekend begins and we can enjoy every moment of sledding, snowboarding, and hiking! Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend planned too!

In case you aren’t familiar with our Friday Star Posts, we like to take a look at what’s happened around here in the last week, what’s coming up that we are excited about and anything else that we may have to share!

♥ Enjoy!

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Just Finished and Loved:

Unfortunately there weren’t any books that we loved, but I did find a book that I enjoyed immensely!

4 Stars:
Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake → Jen’s Review

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We also had a Top Ten Tuesday Post about 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!). If you missed it, then you can check it out here.

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Reading Next:

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
“We were perfect together. Until we met.”
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the lyrics in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should’ve gotten his phone number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.

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Upcoming Releases:

Carve the Mark (Untitled Duology #1) by Veronica Roth (Releases 01/17) – (Chelsea’s Review)
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.

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Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (Releases 01/17)
A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.
They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.
Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.
Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.
It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.

You can check out the rest of the books that we can’t wait to be released → HERE

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Sales:

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New Sale	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	Chelsea’s Review
4 Stars! Laura’s Review

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New Sale 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	New Sale 5 Stars! Anna’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review
5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
4 Stars!

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4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

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5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review
	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	Anna’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review
4 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review
5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review Laura’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Laura’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

Freebies:

5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review	4 Stars! Anna’s Review

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TOP TEN TUESDAY – 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)

January 10, 2017 / Jen / 12 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week is – 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!). And they are…..

(Chelsea’s Choice)

1. A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1) by Jessica Cluess
Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she’s shocked when instead of being executed, she’s invited to train as one of Her Majesty’s royal sorcerers.
Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.
But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

2. Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard
On a continent ruled by three empires, everyone is born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others. Now, as the Twenty Year Truce in a centuries long war is about to end, the balance of power-and the failing health of all magic-will fall on the shoulders of a mythical pair called the Cahr Awen.
The biggest thing on Safi and Iseult’s minds is saving money for their planned future in the Hundred Isles. Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the emotional Threads binding the world. Safi, on the other hand, is a Truthwitch-she always knows when a person is telling a lie. A powerful magic like that is something people would kill to have on their side-or to keep off their enemy’s side-and so Safi cannot even admit what she truly is.
With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and a ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must rise above their doubts and fight to learn who they are and what they are made of, if they are going to stay alive and preserve the balance of their world.

(Chelsea’s Choice)

3. Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5) by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie
The conclusion to the epic ten-book series about the unbreakable strength of family, friendship, and love.
Lily & Lo are back one final time. Childhood best friends and soul mates.
Ryke & Daisy are back one final time. Wild risk-takers and flirty adventurers.
Connor & Rose are back one final time. Genius rivals and intellectual teammates.
Ten years of laughter. Of heartache. And love.

4. The Crown’s Game (The Crown’s Game #1) by Evelyn Skye
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

(Jen’s Choice)

(Jen’s Choice – Review)

5. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Signed, sealed, delivered…
While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her. Intrigue!
Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters — sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

6. Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman
Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.
Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she’s done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There’s only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.
Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.
Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally’s best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He’d do anything for Sal–even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she’s “more than pretty,” and expertly kissing her at parties.
The problem: Sally’s been in love with Becks all her life–and he’s completely clueless.
This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:
Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

(Jen’s Choice)

(Jen’s Choice – Review)

7. Nobody’s Hero (Burned Lands #1) by Bec McMaster
First rule of surviving the Wastelands: don’t be caught out after the sun sets…
After her father was killed in a warg attack, Riley Kincaid was forced to stand on her own two feet in the brutal Wastelands she calls home. She knows how to survive, but when a lapse in judgment leaves her out after dark, Riley realizes she’s in trouble. The sun has set, the monsters are out to play, and there’s a band of reivers heading straight for her settlement. Riley needs to warn her people, but that’s before she runs a handsome stranger down in her jeep. A stranger who might not be a man after all…
Kidnapping her was the worst mistake he ever made.
Dangerous outlaw, Lucius Wade, lives only for revenge. But when he kidnaps Riley in order to lure an old friend into a trap, suddenly the tables are turned. Riley has no intentions of being bait, and she tempts him in ways he hasn’t felt for a long time. He’s never played the hero, but suddenly a part of him wants to. Even as he knows there’s no point.
When dangerous secrets are revealed, and Luc realizes an old enemy is on his trail, he’s forced to change his plans. The hunter is suddenly the hunted, and the only allies he has… is a stubborn blonde who thinks there should be more to live for than revenge, and the ex-friend who shoved a knife in his back ten years ago.

8. The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1) by Roshani Chokshi
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…
But Akaran has its own secrets — thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.

(Jen’s Choice)

(Jen’s Choice – Review)

9. Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

10. The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1) by Wendy Higgins
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous.

So these are the 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)! Have you already read some of these? If not, are they on your list too? Or what books did you want to read last year, but didn’t get around to?

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BOOK REVIEW – Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake

January 9, 2017 / Jen / 20 Comments

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1)
by Brenda Drake
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Parislibrary, where Arik and his Sentinels-magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books-rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren't busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and her own, before both are destroyed.

Review:

***Updated Review After Re-Read***

Thief of Lies was addicting and completely entertaining. And I’m so glad that I re-read this book! You see, the first time I picked this up, I struggled connecting to the characters. The story was so much fun, but I never felt as though I was fully immersed until Bastien appeared on the pages, and well I’ll talk more about him later. But this time around, it all clicked into place. I was so happy because Thief of Lies was an adorable story filled with adventure and magic! And I can’t wait to see how this series unfolds!

Time crept by as I waited for Bastien, and I closed my eyes. But the nightmare of where I was and who I didn’t know I was, strangled my breath. Gia Kearns didn’t exist anymore. She’d been lost somewhere on that first day when the gateway book ripped her from her world, dumping her in a dark hole. A fog surrounded me.

But to start, can you imagine what it would be like to jump from library to beautiful library? Well Gia and her friends accidentally jumped through a book and landed in a library in Europe. Yet it’s not all ahhh this library is breathtakingly gorgeous and I’m going to sit here and read some fabulous books. They become witness to the Sentinels, who protect the libraries with magic, kill a demonic hound that almost took out Gia, our heroine. Within the group of magical knights that saved them was Arik.

“Did you just check out my boobs?” I whispered. Please say yes.
“No.” He smirked. “Okay, yes. I am a guy.”
That you are. I yanked the covers up to my chin and suppressed a smile.

At first, Arik was everything I adore. Sexy, secretive, protective and with a wounded past. He had so much potential! Yet I had a love hate relationship with him. Luckily, this time around I got why he was being standoffish and cold to Gia. But at other times, he could be so sweet and charming. Yet, I never felt any electricity between Gia and Arik. Their moments together didn’t leave me all smiley and giddy, so I truly don’t feel like he’s the right guy for Gia. Especially when he said things like the quote above. So I nicely stepped off Team Arik.

I gulped down my fear, drew my sword from its scabbard , and kept it close to my side.

Gia had a lot on her plate, and she tried her best adapt while leaving her old life temporarily behind (I can’t say why, but you learn the why early on in the book). Yet it took me a while to warm up to Gia. At times, she got caught up in being jealous and boy obsessed. It came across as immature, and I wanted her to work harder on finding herself. But as I watched her deal with her new world and a new set of people/creatures I loved her resilience. Even though she kept getting thrown into situations that were way above her head, I loved how she reacted realistically while she also jumped right in to help others. Gia is someone who showed huge possibilities for growth, and I can’t wait to see how much she’ll learn and improve as the series progresses.

“With time, I’ll prove to you we belong together. Go ahead and have your fun with Arik, but it’s my arms you’ll end up in one day.”He kissed my cheek and headed over to the gathering crowd. – Bastian to Gia

I have to talk about Bastien now, or I will burst. Oh Bastien. From the first moment that he appeared on the page, I was captivated. He was a wizard who was confident, sexy and strived to do great things while dealing with a broken heart. He fascinated me. And whether it was his sense of knowing himself or knowing what he wanted, he felt so much more grown up than Arik. The words and manor that Bastien spoke to Gia always left the hugest smile on my face. He was respectful, caring and I loved that he seemed in control. So I truly hope Gia sees what I see and comes around. Please oh please don’t end up with Aric by the end of this series and break my heart.

“I take it you’re not used to rejection,” I said.
He lifted a smile. “I’ll admit it’s a rare occurrence.”
Arik took a step toward us. “All right, we’re finished here.”
Bastien stood and leaned over to my ear. “You not wanting nobility intrigues me. I’m curious to learn more about you, Gianna.” His whisper tickled my neck and sent a shiver down my back. I held my breath, every inch of my body at attention. He straightened, gave me a wink, and swaggered to the door with Arik on his heels.

Besides Bastian, Gia and Arik, we’re introduced to a lot of characters who range from witches, wizards, sentinels, fae etc. On top of that, we learn about many different places and kinds of magic. But I never once felt overwhelmed or lost. We’re slowly introduced with little bits of info here and there, except for a few info dumps that were relatively quick. So it was easy to take it all in. And ironically, I thought the story was somewhat simplistic a few chapters in, but I couldn’t be more wrong. It continually grew and become more elaborate and layered as each chapter went by. Especially when I started to discover clues and meet people err creatures? who were bent on not only revenge, but also ruling their world and the humans world too. It was so entertaining! So I can’t wait to see how the story proceeds, and here’s hoping you’ll join me and be on Team Bastien!

I grabbed a stapler and crouched behind the nearest cabinet. Nick and Afton ducked down beside me. I pulled the leg down on the stapler, held it up, and readied it to shoot.
“Yeah, that’ll work,” Nick said.

PS I have to give a shout out to her best friend Nick who could be grumpy at times, but I adored him. And Afton, her other best friend, was this lovable girl who warmed me heart! Ohhhh and Lei, she’s a Sentinel that is funny, sweet and kick ass. I can’t wait for you to meet all of them!

PPS I finished Guardian of Secrets (the 2nd book in the series) last night and LOVED! It’s 4.5 Stars and this series just gets better and better! My review will be posted on February 6th with the Blog Tour. ♥

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Thief of Lies #1 Review: Jen	Guardian of Secrets #2 Review: Jen	Assassin of Truths #3 Reviews: Jen

FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 01/06/17

January 6, 2017 / Jen / 8 Comments

Life:

Yesterday was my oldest son’s birthday, and he turned 6. He wanted to go bowling, so we headed off to our local bowling alley with the 4 of us, my mom, dad, Grandma and my best friend and her 21 month old son. Watching him throw the ball, I have no clue how he did as well as he did lol. It was a spectacle and so hysterical. But the best part was that it didn’t matter if him or his brother knocked down 1 pin or 6 pins, each time they bowled they would jump around while clapping. It was so adorable! We then finished off the evening by coming back to our house and having pizza, cake (he wanted chocolate cake, chocolate filling and chocolate frosting – oh my gosh the cake was so rich but yummy!) and presents. I’m so sad he’s growing up so fast *cries*, but I’m so happy for the cheerful, friendly, lovable little man he is growing into. Here’s hoping you all had a fabulous week too.

♥ Enjoy!

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Just Finished and Loved:

Unfortunately there weren’t any books that we loved, but I did find a book that I enjoyed!

3.5 Stars:
Island of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles #1) by Erica Cameron → Jen’s Review

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We also had a Top Ten Tuesday Post about Debut Authors Whose Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2017. If you missed it, then you can check it out here.

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Reading Next:

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake
*Currently re-reading and this time around I’m connecting with the characters and loving. I’ll be re-writing my review*
Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Parislibrary, where Arik and his Sentinels-magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books-rescue them from a demonic hound.
Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed.

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Upcoming Releases:

There aren’t any books releasing in the next week that we are dying to read. But we do have a huge list of books that we are counting down until they are released. You can check them out here → HERE

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Sales:

$0.99

New Sale	New Sale 5 Stars! Jen’s Review	New Sale Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Jen’s Review	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	Jen’s Review
		4 Stars! Laura’s Review

$1.99

New Sale 5 Stars! Anna’s Review	New Sale 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	New Sale 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review
4 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars!	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Anna’s Review Chelsea’s Review		4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review
4 Stars!

$2.99

5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review		4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

$3.99+

5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review
	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	Anna’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review
4 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review
5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review Laura’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Laura’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

Freebies:

5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review	4 Stars! Anna’s Review

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BOOK REVIEW – Island of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles #1) by Erica Cameron

January 4, 2017 / Jen / 8 Comments

Island of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles #1)
by Erica Cameron
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
In Khya’s world, every breath is a battle.

On the isolated desert island of Shiara, dying young is inevitable. The clan comes before self, and protecting her home means Khya is a warrior above all else.
But when following the clan and obeying their leaders could cost her brother his life, Khya's home becomes a deadly trap. The only person who can help is Tessen, her lifelong rival and the boy who challenges her at every turn. The council she hoped to join has betrayed her, and their secrets, hundreds of years deep, reach around a world she's never seen.

To save her brother’s life and her island home, her only choice is to trust Tessen, turn against her clan, and go on the run—a betrayal and a death sentence.

Review:

Island of Exiles was one the most unique books I’ve ever read. The world that was created was fascinating, and I’ve never encountered one even close to how it was described. On top of that, the characters that appeared on the pages were larger than life. And the way the plot unfolded was completely entertaining. Island of Exiles was beyond original. So I wish there wasn’t a but, but there is. I never fully connected to any of the characters. And on top of that, the names that were created for ranks, magic and basic terms in their world was beyond confusing and wouldn’t stick me.

What is pain when death bites at our heels?

In the first chapter alone, you get a good grasp on the harsh lifestyle and what it’s like to live on the isolated island of Shiara. Each day is a fight to survive. It’s completely brutal. From the terrifying creatures, to the intense terrain, to the unforgiving weather, they are constantly under attack. Khya, our heroine, is a trained warrior. She scouts, fights and protects those in her group and her Clan. She is the definition of kick ass! But at the same time, it’s easy to understand that Khya was raised to put the Clan before herself. The needs and safety of the clan will always be more important than just one person.

“Where’d you learn to fight like that?” It really is galling to know that Tessen was right about Yorri, but my pride in my brother is enough to trump even that.
My brother smirks. “Where do you think? From watching you.”

Well, that is until something happens to her brother, Yorri. She loves him more than life itself, and finds herself on a different path because of her brother. On her journey, her world gets flipped upside down. Not only in regards to what she knew, but also for who she can and can’t trust. One of my favorite people that kept appearing in her life was Terren. He would never go away, no matter how much Khya wished it lol. I quickly formed an opinion on him, and I loved every single time he graced the pages with his presence. The moments they were together were so much fun!

I don’t breathe as Tessen reaches out to brush the tips of his fingers along the line of my jaw, an almost sad smile on his lips. “I see you , Khya. I’ve always seen you. And except for your tendency to pretend that you hate me most days, I like what I see.”

So while this book seemed like a huge win win, I unfortunately struggled. There were so many new terms, and I never could grasp them. Between their ranks, kind of magic and basic world terms, there was 80ish new words to learn. And while that didn’t seem like a lot, only a handful stuck with me. On top of that, I struggled keeping track of who was who. Their names were so unique, and even though I made a cheat sheet, they just wouldn’t stick.

So I closed the book lost. Because on one hand, I loved the story. It was one the most unique book I’ve ever encountered, and I was beyond fascinated. I loved how the plot was fast paced and where the twists took the story. But not being able to connect to the characters, and also getting lost in terminology every few paragraphs, definitely pulled me out of the story again and again. So if you’re looking for a unique fantasy, then definitely give this one a try. You may adapt easier than I did, and therefore fall head over heels in love with this book. But for me, it just didn’t work out in the end, so I unfortunately won’t be picking up the sequel.

*ARC kindly provided by Entangled Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 01/13/17

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TOP TEN TUESDAY – 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)

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BOOK REVIEW – Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake

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“Did you just check out my boobs?” I whispered. Please say yes. “No.” He smirked. “Okay, yes. I am a guy.” That you are. I yanked the covers up to my chin and suppressed a smile.

I gulped down my fear, drew my sword from its scabbard , and kept it close to my side.

“With time, I’ll prove to you we belong together. Go ahead and have your fun with Arik, but it’s my arms you’ll end up in one day.”He kissed my cheek and headed over to the gathering crowd. – Bastian to Gia

I grabbed a stapler and crouched behind the nearest cabinet. Nick and Afton ducked down beside me. I pulled the leg down on the stapler, held it up, and readied it to shoot. “Yeah, that’ll work,” Nick said.

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FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 01/06/17

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BOOK REVIEW – Island of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles #1) by Erica Cameron

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What is pain when death bites at our heels?

“Where’d you learn to fight like that?” It really is galling to know that Tessen was right about Yorri, but my pride in my brother is enough to trump even that. My brother smirks. “Where do you think? From watching you.”

I don’t breathe as Tessen reaches out to brush the tips of his fingers along the line of my jaw, an almost sad smile on his lips. “I see you , Khya. I’ve always seen you. And except for your tendency to pretend that you hate me most days, I like what I see.”

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“Did you just check out my boobs?” I whispered. Please say yes.
“No.” He smirked. “Okay, yes. I am a guy.”
That you are. I yanked the covers up to my chin and suppressed a smile.

I grabbed a stapler and crouched behind the nearest cabinet. Nick and Afton ducked down beside me. I pulled the leg down on the stapler, held it up, and readied it to shoot.
“Yeah, that’ll work,” Nick said.

“Where’d you learn to fight like that?” It really is galling to know that Tessen was right about Yorri, but my pride in my brother is enough to trump even that.
My brother smirks. “Where do you think? From watching you.”