Book Review: The Memory Thief

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Lauren Mansy

Format: eBook

Pages: 368

Publication Date: October 1, 2019

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.

Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal’s” memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.

To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to Blink and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC.

The premise of this story is really interesting. Memories are used as currency and the world created around this idea is fascinating. Taking memories sounds a bit scary to me, just because I wonder how someone would stay themself with other memories in their head. Also it feels like cheating. If you want to learn a skill, steal a memory and now you are an expert in it. It shows how the Gifted has the upper hand in this world.

Etta Lark is hiding from her past. Her best friends are dead and her mother is in an asylum. Etta made a deal with Madame, the ruler of Craewick, that would help her hide from the Shadows, a group she betrayed to help save her mother. But Madame changes the rules on her and Etta has to go back to the people she hurt to help her mom again.

This was a fast read. I devoured all the information about the Gift, Ungifted, and Minders. The world of the Shadows is really intriguing and probably my favorite part of the book. Some of the story is told through memories, since Etta has taken a few. There is insta-love but I think it works because it is a standalone book. Etta and her love interest do get to know each other on their quest. I’m so used to reading trilogies with love stories drawn out that seeing insta-love in a book that isn’t purely a romance novel is sometimes hard to get used to. It works in this story but I wasn’t that invested in the romance though.

When Etta and Reid get to the end of their journey, Etta’s past is revealed in a twist and it seemed so convenient. Etta accepts this reveal so easily. From there on, the story wraps up and everything works out in the end. Which is great, but my interest was dwindling by then. The time span of this story happens in one week, so the ending felt rushed.

Overall, this was an interesting book, with a potential to be amazing because I really enjoyed the underworld of the Shadows. Everything else though fell flat for me.

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Book Review: Broken Trust (Dark Legacy Book 2)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Authors: Tate James & Jaymin Eve

Format: eBook

Pages: 278

Categories: Bully Romance, New Adult

Book Blurb:

They think they own me now. They think they’ve won, and that I’ll be their good little soldier.

Four dangerous, damaged, messed up boys. There used to be five, but one of them died, and I’m starting to suspect he was murdered.

I didn’t ask for this. No one would ask to be played, manipulated, seduced and betrayed. But that’s what happened, anyway.

It wasn’t enough for them to break me. Sebastian Beckett has decided that he can’t let me go, but I refuse to forgive and forget his betrayal so easily. His fixation is bordering on obsession, but when we begin to suspect a spy within Delta, there’s no time to deal with his feelings.

Someone is selling us out, and it’s having a dire impact.

It’s life and death hiding behind corporate greed.

Let the battle begin.

MY REVIEW

The first book of the Dark Legacy series started off good and was exciting. This is a bully romance series and it is dark with lots of sexual themes. Book one had a cliffhanger ending that made me want to read this next installment.

This book was okay until a certain scene and then I decided it was not for me but I did finish it. I have a big problem with Beck, Riley’s lover/boyfriend. And yes, I’m in the minority here 🤷🏻‍♀️, Riley can so do better 😅. I understand he’s under the control of Delta, but he messed up, again. The characters are ALL broken people, I get that too, but after they betray her in book one, he wants her on their side so they publicly reject her. Just, no.

Riley is in a state of shock and feels betrayed after what takes place in the first book. The Delta guys are slightly remorseful but still arrogant. Beck is super possessive as usual but Riley had a right to be mad after what they forced her to do. I felt like some revenge on her part would have been perfect but nope. Nada. I wanted her to teach them a lesson. And these Delta guys that had her back supposedly, still threaten her (even after their betrayal), and publicly reject her. They leave her isolated at school and she is attacked, horribly. Honestly, it pissed me off so much and I blame Beck, since he’s their leader and he’s the guy she’s in love with it. Riley is right: they are not okay and they all need therapy.

I was also tired of Riley’s conflicting feelings about Beck (because I’ve cut him off in my mind 😂). She wants him, she hates him, he betrays her, he breaks her and then he’s sorry about that. Eventually the desire wins out and they continue to hook up. Apparently it’s easy to forgive guys who force you to murder someone. These Delta guys struggled too, I admit, they messed up and they know it. I just wanted a little more severe punishment for them, not just broken trust issues to deal with.

And this story is just unbelievable. I don’t believe these guys who are in high school (well Beck isn’t but he’s always hanging around there) have power to rule the world. They are rich and drive expensive cars. They talk the talk but nothing about them convinces me they are the most powerful high school boys in the world. Beck keeps mentioning that this is all a game for power, but I didn’t see much of the plot moving towards any power play until the ending which was a bunch of twists. The one new aspect in the story was the introduction of a Huntley (their nemesis) at the school, but it was predictable that she was there to cause trouble.

The ending is another twist, another cliffhanger, but one that made me cringe so bad and I don’t want to dive into that mess. 😂

So, if you like dark romance with lots of twists and turns that shock you, definitely read this series. It’s a quick read, it has the hot possessive rich guys, steamy (and even rough) sex, lots of bullying and angst. It’s not for someone who is easily triggered by traumatic events though, so fair warning there. I wish Riley was given a chance to kick someone’s butt in this book (Beck’s 😂) but that’s not going to happen.

Get it here: Amazon

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Click here for the review I wrote on the first book in this series: Broken Wings

Book Review: Rebel Born (Secondborn, #3)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: Amy A. Bartol

Format: eBook

Pages: 315

Publication Date: June 4, 2019 (eBook); August 13, 2019 (paperback)

Categories: Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

Roselle faces a mind-reeling showdown with the deep state agent controlling her psyche in the conclusion to the Wall Street Journal bestselling Secondborn series.

Roselle St. Sismode is many things: victim of a conspiracy, unwilling host of an ever-evolving mind algorithm, spy for a rebel army, and heir to the Fate of Swords. As a warrior, she’s also the anticipated main event at the Secondborn Trials. When the opening ceremonies erupt in chaos, Roselle is abducted by a sadistic agent with a diabolical plan: transform Roselle into a mind-controlled assassin to topple society. But a rogue scientist has implanted Roselle with a genius technology that is far more powerful. It renders her untouchable. Faster. Stronger. And maybe immortal.

With her enhanced abilities come the highest stakes yet, as Roselle confronts shifting realities at every turn as well as her own mother’s stunning betrayal. Racing against time with a determined resistance group, can Roselle overthrow the forces of destruction and reclaim the most valuable of commodities—her humanity?

MY REVIEW

Thank you to 47 North and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this e-arc. I screamed when I saw I was approved to read it!

Rebel Born is the last book in the Secondborn series. So here is a mini recap of what happened in the previous books: secondborn children in the Fates of the Republic (there are nine fates) are property of the government. Thirdborns die, you get the idea. Roselle, a secondborn from the Fate of Swords becomes a soldier in the fight against the rebels, the Gates of Dawn. Census is the acting body of the republic who upholds the secondborn law, among other things. One person in Census in particular, Agent Crow, has a sick fascination with Roselle. The more successful she is, the harder he tries to take her down, but his plans are more sinister than anyone imagines. With the war between the Fates and the Gates of Dawn heating up, Agent Crow is brewing up something nasty to take over everyone.

Rebel Born takes place right after that heart-stopping Traitor Born cliffhanger ending. Roselle is separated from Reykin in a horrific fashion. She is unfortunately under Crow’s mind control now but with the help of a somewhat familiar face, a technician in Crow’s lab – she has a better chance of breaking free from the madman.

This book is filled – filled with information on Crow’s ability to control minds and I wasn’t patient enough for it. Keep in mind, I was here first and foremost for Reykin and Roselle. 😉 I felt like I was hyperventilating looking for his name in the first few pages. I teared up when they were finally reunited in this story. I’ve been waiting a whole year for this to happen. After I was reassured they were okay, I told myself to really focus. And as a lover of this series, I also knew I was going to re-read Rebel Born many, many times over, so I forgave myself for rushing through a lot of the technical parts in my first read.

The author goes into tons of detail about mind control, implants, biotechnology and so much more, I got lost trying to understand how it all worked. Mind you, I am not a big sci-fi genre reader but when Amy writes it, I read it. ☺️ The first two books of this series introduces us to the Fates, the characters, the Gates of Dawn and the rebellion. This third book is about Crow’s take over of the Fates and him trying to infiltrate the Gates of Dawn. And then it escalates even more and at one point it was data overload for me. Because then the story adds additional surprising elements and it’s a mind bend. But I do get it, Agent Crow wanted it all, more than mind control, he wanted power forever…immortality and Roselle is a key to that.

But this is one of the reasons why I love this author. Amy A. Bartol always kicks things up a notch. And it seems crazy and chaotic but I find her stories super creative, fascinating and exciting, plus I love her characters. There is a new character in this book who was pretty fun to get to know. The author is so detailed in her descriptions that I can see these books on screen, and actually I wish I was watching this as a tv series instead of reading it.

Roselle, has always been a fierce and smart character. Agent Crow wants her because she’s an amazing fighter. I love how she can be strong and yet vulnerable. Here in Rebel Born, she is broken down emotionally by the mind control, but she is also upgraded in amazing ways.

When I read the ending I thought I missed something because I was waiting for Crow’s ultimate destruction. I wanted him completely eliminated. He is such a villain, so I thought the ending was abrupt but the epilogue made up for it. Then I realized the ending left a possibility to return to this world some day and that made me really happy.

In the end, I was satisfied with the story. It gave me exactly what I wanted for Reykin and Roselle especially, and then some. I’m not even sure if the extra stuff was needed, but I’m here for it all if Amy is writing it. Overall this is a good ending to a fabulous series. I’m already looking forward to see what she will be writing next.

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: Some Like It Scandalous (The Gilded Age Girls Club #2)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Maya Rodale

Format: E-book

Pages: 368

Publication Date: June 18, 2019

Categories: Romance, Historical, Enemies to Lovers

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

They are sworn enemies…

Theodore Prescott the Third, one of Manhattan’s Rogues of Millionaire Row, has really done it this time. The only way to survive his most recent, unspeakably outrageous scandal is marry someone respectable. Someone sensible. Someone like Daisy Swan. Of all the girls in Gilded Age Manhattan, it had to be her.

Pretending to be lovers…

Daisy Swan has plans and they do not involve a loveless marriage with anyone. But when a devastating family secret threatens to destroy her standing in society, suddenly a fake engagement with Theo is just the thing to make all her dreams come true.

And now it’s time to kiss and make up…

Daisy Swan aspires to sell cosmetics that she has created, but this brainy scientist needs a smooth talking charmer’s flair for words and eye for beauty to make it a success. Before long, Daisy and Theo are trading kisses. And secrets. And discovering that despite appearances, they might be the perfect couple after all.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to HarperCollins Avon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

I enjoy Maya Rodale’s novels but never got a chance to read her Gilded Age Girls Club series until now. And though this is the second book in the series, it read fabulously as a standalone.

Daisy Swan is a high society young lady in New York City who garnered the nickname Ugly Duck Daisy in her adolescent years. The person who gave her that name is none other than Theodore Prescott the Third. Daisy grows up without much change to her looks but she’s got a mind for chemistry and plans to run a business some day selling face cream. Theo grows up to run circles around New York City creating scandals wherever he goes.

Her mother wants her to marry, and his father wants him to marry. So of course they get thrown into a farce of an engagement. They don’t like each other and now are forced to marry. It’s a common trope in a historical romance novel, which I usually enjoy, but there is a really interesting element in this story, the focus on women’s history in the Gilded Age.

This story is set in a time when women aren’t allowed to dine in a restaurant without a man accompanying them. Women are expected to marry but Daisy wants her life to be different. She creates a face cream for women but not even her high society friends would be caught dead buying something so vulgar. Cream for their faces? Oh the horror! Oh we’ve come a long way in cosmetics, haven’t we? Daisy’s friends that are featured in this book are strong women and that was my favorite part of this book. It reminded me how much I take for granted the things I’m allowed to do in this day and age. Who knew lipstick was such a dangerous statement back then!

Now this is still a romance novel and it’s a delicious part of the story. They are enemies due to some adolescent bullying, but Theo realizes how foolish he was when he gets to know adult Daisy. She’s a bright, no-nonsense woman who he really is intrigued by. Theo has a reputation for a being handsome playboy, and that’s all he things he’s good for. But he helps Daisy with her business plans and it becomes a partnership, with sparks. He encourages Daisy to push the boundaries and he’s a great business partner. The sex is steamy and the love is sweet. They make a great team.

This was a really quick, enjoyable read. It’s a story that is a fun balance of romance and women’s history. I look forward to reading the other books in this series and meeting more strong women from the Gilded Age.

Get it here: Amazon

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Children’s Book Review: Stinky Science

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Edward Kay

Illustrator: Mike Shiell

Format: E-book

Pages: 44

Grade Level: 3-7

Age Range: 8-12 years old

Categories: Science

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

This book about the science of smells takes a funky subject and makes it fascinating — and hilarious! It starts with the basics, from the reason why things stink to how our sense of smell works (hint: it has to do with the six million scent receptors way up inside our noses). Then come some specifics such as how and why smells are closely linked to memories, descriptions of some of the stinkiest stinks on Earth and information about the chemicals that smells are made of. (Young readers finally learn why feet and some cheeses can smell the same!) Altogether, the book offers a complete tour of everything olfactory, while also being a compendium of the best-of in the gross-out category. Poop, rotting flesh, b.o.: what more could a nose-y kid ask for?

Edward Kay is an award-winning children’s television writer and science writer. Here he uses his knack for knowing what kids like to create an entertaining, laugh-out-loud book that’s thoroughly researched and full of up-to-date facts. It offers strong curriculum links in the life sciences, particularly the human body structure and systems, and molecules and organisms. Adding to the fun are the funny comic-style illustrations by Mike Shiell on every page. (Yes, of course, there’s farting!) Kids may not even notice they’re learning science! A glossary and index round out this terrific book.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to Kids Can Press and Edelweiss+ for giving me a free e-arc of this book to read.

My 6 year old son is a very curious boy who seems to be asking me questions non-stop about space, sea creatures that live in the deep, bacteria, you name it! Obviously, I am no expert in these subjects. I saw the title of this book and knew it would answer some of his questions. I also thought I could learn a few things. Another reason I requested this book is that my son needs to read and log 25 non-fiction books per school quarter. He reads a lot of fun fiction books but it’s harder for us to find fun non-fiction books.

When I was done reading it to him, he asked if the author wrote more books and that I should buy them if he did. The book was funny yet informative and the illustrations were hilarious. We learned about body odor, foot odor, cheese that smelled like foot odor, smells that come from animals. We even learned about poop smell – the grosser the funnier for my son. 🤷🏻‍♀️ He is younger than the recommended age level for this book but he understood most of it and if he didn’t it was easy for me to break it down for him. This was a fun, informative and enjoyable learning experience for both my son and I.

Get it here: Amazon

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Children’s Books – Mini Reviews:

Here are three books I got for my 6 year old son at the Hawaii Book and Music. We enjoyed all of them. 😄

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Boy From The Dragon Palace

Author: Margaret Read MacDonald

Illustrator: Sachiko Yoshikawa

Format: Paperback

Pages: 32

Categories: Japanese Folklore, Wishes

Book Blurb:

One day, a poor flower seller drops his leftover flowers into the sea as a gift for the Dragon King. What does he get in return? A little snot-nosed boy—with the power to grant wishes! Soon the flower seller is rich, but what will happen if he forgets the meaning of “thank you?”

MY REVIEW

I picked up the paperback, autographed copy of this book at a recent book festival. I love the cover and thought it would be perfect for my 6 year old son. We read it together and we laughed a lot. It’s a retelling of a Japanese folktale about a boy who would blow his nose and basically grant wishes. A snotty nosed genie! 😂 The illustrations are very beautiful and the lessons taught in the story are about greed and being ungrateful. My son and I loved this book!

Get it here: Amazon

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My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Bye, Bye, Big!

Author: Margaret Read MacDonald & Gerald Fierst

Illustrator: Kitty Harvill

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 36

Categories: Animals, Circle of Life

Book Blurb:

BIG BIG Frog snaps up little little mosquito. But BIG BIG snake snaps up little little frog. And so the chain continues…until BIG BIG man is zapped by little little mosquito. BIG print and easy to read text, fun to read aloud or to pour over on your own. Kitty Harvill’s bright papercuts leap off the page.

MY REVIEW

I got the autographed copy of this hard cover version at a book festival and what caught me eye was the colorful cover. Also, I wanted a book my son would have fun reading by himself. This is simply worded and repetitive enough that he wouldn’t find it too challenging to read. He also loves animals, so this was perfect for him. I read it to my 2 year old daughter and she actually told me to stop it. I think because the animals were getting eaten by the bigger one, similar to There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly. She was scared for the animals, I think. But when I read it to my son again, she listened and actually laughed this time. The illustrations are nice and big!

Get it here: Amazon

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My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Look Inside Space

Author: Rob Lloyd Jones

Format: Hard Cover

Pages: 14

Categories: Space

Book Blurb:

This is a great fun flap book packed with interesting information about space, and the amazing things that float through it – stars, moons, comets, and the planets of our solar system. Each double-page spread has a stunning colour illustration, and several flaps to lift to find out more about what’s going on in the scene – such as what goes inside the International Space Station, how astronauts visited the Moon and what they did there, as well as the history of astronomy, from Galileo to the Hubble Space Telescope.

MY REVIEW

Another book festival find at the Usborne books tent – my son is into all things space, so I had to get this book for him. It was flaps in the book which makes it a but more interactive. We went through this book together and I learned some things as well! We loved the illustrations and facts about planets, black holes and more. It’s a great book for kids who are interested about space!

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: Breakout

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Author: A.M. Rose

Format: E-book

Pages: 400

Publication Date: June 3, 2019

Categories: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, A.I., Technology, Dystopia

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

Six days.

That’s the amount of time until Lezah’s execution.

She’ll die never knowing what got her locked up in this godforsaken prison in the first place. Her only chance of survival is to escape. Except the monitoring bracelet that digs into her wrist, the roaming AI, and the implant in her neck make freedom close to impossible.

Her best chance is to team up with the four other inmates who are determined to break out, even if one of them is beyond (gorgeous) annoying—oh, and in for murder. But he has a secret of his own. One that could break Lezah if she finds out, but could also set him free.

Figuring out how to work with him and the rest of this mismatched group of criminals is the only way Lezah will survive to see the outside world again.

But nothing in this prison is as it seems. And no one.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this opportunity to read this free e-arc for an honest review.

First off, I was attracted to this cover. It looks menacing with that huge spider and the book blurb sounded mysterious so I was curious enough to request this book.

Lezah is in prison but she can’t remember why she’s in there. In this prison there are A.I. robots: WALTERs (WALKing compuTERs) that resemble humans and AIRS which are security guard robots. And everyone has a SOUL – it’s a device that is a phone, computer, appearance alternator, and money. Hmmm…how does all that work?! 😮 Seriously an appearance alternator would benefit me daily. 😂 Well I can’t say everyone has one, Lezah and the other kids in prison do not have a SOUL, it’s taken away from them. All prisoners have a bracelet attached to their wrist that zaps them and basically it’s a horrible place to be. With Lezah’s execution coming up, she needs to breakout.

The story is told in first person through Lezah. There is a lot of action and it is non-stop. This whole book is full of tension and it is fast-paced. It’s some parts creepy, but plenty parts exciting. It kept me guessing and left me with a few questions.

The world building is different and fascinating. It is set in a futuristic dystopian United States where climate change damaged coastlines and left them with fewer resources than before. A.I. is everywhere and the technology aspects were very detailed. So much detail that some of the explanations went over my head.

Lezah’s meets different companions on her way out of this prison and they add to the story in different ways. For one, it’s hard to know who to trust and everyone she encounters has a story tied to Lezah. There is a tiny bit of a romance, but nothing that takes over the story. Everything starts to piece together in the end but there are still loose ends to tie up by the time the story is over.

This was an interesting, fast-paced, young adult sci-fi novel with lots of twists and turns. I think sci-fi lovers would enjoy this better than I did but overall it was a fascinating story.

Book Review: What The Woods Keep

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Kataya De Becerra

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 365

Categories: Mystery, Psychology, Physics, Dark Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mythology

Book Blurb:

On her eighteenth birthday, Hayden inherits her childhood home—on the condition that she uncover its dark secrets.

Hayden tried to put the past behind her, and it worked. She’s getting ready for college, living in a Brooklyn apartment, and hanging out with her best friend and roommate Del. But now it’s all catching up with her: her mother’s mysterious disappearance a decade before, her father’s outlandish theories about a lost supernatural race, and Hayden’s own dark dreams of strange symbols and rituals in the Colorado woods where she grew up.

As soon as Hayden arrives at her hometown, her friend Del in tow, it begins: Neighbors whisper secrets about Hayden’s mother; the boy next door is now all grown-up in a very distracting way; and Hayden feels the trees calling to her. And among them, deep in the woods, Hayden will discover something incredible—something that threatens reality itself.

MY REVIEW

This is one of those books where I borrowed it because of it’s lovely cover. The book blurb sounded interesting but I didn’t quite know what to expect.

What The Woods Keep, follows Hayden, who just turned eighteen and inherits her mother’s home in Promise, Colorado. Hayden has a quite a past: a childhood in Promise with memories of these dark woods, her mother disappearing, her dad who is a physicist but obsessed with Nibelungs. And yes I had to google Nibelungs to see if they were a real thing and they definitely are a thing, a thing of legend and lore.

This story is different and I was drawn into Hayden’s psychosis. She has dreams that haunt her, she’s a warrior on a horse. Hayden’s past also revolves on an incident of unexplained violence at her school – her counseling sessions are presented to us in the book like evidence.

When she goes to Promise with her best friend Del, more strange things start to happen. The people in town have eyes like her, one color different than the other. The woods around them are creepy and a white raven is constantly watching her. Plus there is a facility called Blue Haven Research Institute in Promise with security guards. What is going on? I kept reading to find out, so this book definitely kept me engaged.

This book is hard to categorize. It’s a mashup of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery. I really loved how most chapters started off with some scientific tidbit on physics or psychology. And some parts were creepy too whenever it was about the woods. What is in these woods? What did Hayden’s mom do there? How did she die or disappear? Are the Nibelungs real? The story moved along quickly for me. I loved all the extra things in this book like Hayden’s case files, newspaper clippings and her mother’s hand written notes.

The only thing that didn’t grab me was the romance between Hayden and her old childhood friend Shannon. It happens a bit quick after they reunite but I guess I can surmise the feelings were always there because they grew up so close together.

Overall, this was a pleasantly surprising fun book to read! It is a really good debut from this author. I look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.

Get it here: Amazon

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Book Review: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Format: E-book

Pages: 507

Publication Date: June 11, 2019

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance, Young Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Book Blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

MY REVIEW

Thank you Harlequin TEEN and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this free e-arc for an honest review.

I’ve read a few books by Jennifer L. Armentrout and really enjoy them but I did not read the The Dark Elements series. Maybe I should have because Storm and Fury is a spin-off from that series.

With that said, I struggled a little with this one.

Trinity Marrow is special. She is half human, half something else, and that “something” is very powerful. Trinity lives in a regional seat of the Wardens somewhere bordering West Virginia and Maryland. Wardens are human looking but when they need to fight and protect, they shift into their true forms: gargoyles. I thought that was really cool and different. They protect the world against demons and all things evil.

I really liked getting to know Trinity because she’s quirky, tough, spunky and skilled in combat. She can also see spirits and ghosts. Peanut, is a ghost that lingers around her and he is pretty funny. Trinity is also very impulsive and wants to help kick demon butt, but the Wardens need to keep her safe. Thing is she’s always getting into trouble or trouble seems to find her.

Zayne is a Warden with a past, apparently all of which can be read in The Dark Elements series! 🤦🏻‍♀️ He’s a gorgeous, strong Warden and he and Trinity have sparks right away. It’s all good until it kept getting a bit repetitive. At first I enjoyed their dialogue, but I felt like it could have moved along quicker.

Once Trinity and Zayne leave West Virginia is when the action and romance really picks up. This happens all in the second half of the book which is my favorite part. The sparks really ignite between them but also it’s all very complicated because of Zayne’s past. And then the ending was a surprising twist that left me sad. Also it reveals some things about Zayne and Trinity that didn’t leave me feeling satisfied about the outcome (trying not to mention any spoilers here).

For me, the second half was the best part of the book and a lot of the first half could’ve been trimmed. Also, I thought the 80’s pop cultural references were funny but because that’s my childhood and I got it. It’s why I adored Peanut. ☺️ I think fans of the Dark Elements series will love this one but it was just an okay read for me.

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Book Review: The Bluestocking (Wicked Wallflowers, #4)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Christi Caldwell

Format: E-book

Pages: 348

Categories: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

Gertrude, the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a kitten, but given the chance, she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted brother, Stephen, has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the Mad Marquess.

Still haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds only hatred for the Killorans—the people he believes kidnapped his son. And not one of them will ever see the boy again. But when Gertrude forces her way into the household and stubbornly insists that she remain as Stephen’s governess, Edwin believes he may have found someone madder than himself.

With every moment he shares with the tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration…and more. Is it possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal his broken soul?

MY REVIEW

The Bluestocking, is the fourth book in the Wicked Wallflowers series and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even read book three yet because I wanted THIS book. I wanted to read Gertrude’s story ever since I was introduced to her in the first book. In summary, the series follows the Killoran family, who were raised by a vicious man in St. Giles. They learned a life of pickpocketing, thieving and violence. Gertrude Killoran is blind in one eye and comes off as the weakest link in the Killoran clan. But I knew her story would be good.

And it is so good. The Killorans have a younger brother, Stephen, but earlier in the series it’s revealed he isn’t really their brother. He was kidnapped and his father is really the Marquess of Maddock. Stephen was kidnapped, and Lord Maddock’s pregnant wife at the time dies in a fire as well. All of this happened because of Gertrude’s father.

This story continues Stephen’s story as he is returned to Lord Maddock, but Gertrude accompanies Stephen and refuses to leave his side.

This story is so emotional it pulled at my heartstrings and broke it. I could imagine the pain Lord Maddock had to live through. I could also empathize with Stephen who loves the Killorans, the only family he’s known and who needed time to adjust to his new situation. Also the Killorans were heartbroken at losing Stephen, but felt horrible at the truth of how he came to be their brother. There is so many conflicting emotions.

Gertrude Killoran is an amazing character. Her past isn’t innocent, no child of Diggory’s ever had the luxury of innocence. She is usually the overlooked Killoran but this was her chance to shine. But she is patient, smart, strong, fearless, compassionate and has the biggest heart.

This story even made me cry. 😢 I shed a few tears for Lord Maddock and Stephen. Lord Maddock comes off so emotionally withdrawn because of fear. He loves his son so much and is so afraid of losing him again. He doesn’t know how to be a dad to a hardened eleven year old. And Stephen lashes out, as a pre-teen would, who’s ripped from the life he knows.

And yet despite the despair I felt in the characters, there is hope. Gertrude is the hope. She is the person who helps the father and son forgive and try to move past the bitterness of the past.

This story is about love, forgiveness, and family. After all the emotional turmoil the characters go through in this book, the ending was such a satisfying happily ever after. Thank goodness for that because it was well deserved. Love this book!

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