Blog Tour: Between the Blade and the Heart

About the Book:
Title: Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie #1)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pub. Date: January 2, 2018
Pages: 325
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Valkyries have one great responsibility: to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos. 

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

About the Author:

Amanda Hocking is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

Review:

I'm a huge fan of Amanda Hocking since the very beginning, and while I wasn't the biggest fan of Freeks, she certainly brought her A-game in this new series!! Amanda's writing has improved and matured over the years and it shows in Between the Blade and the Heart. The story is fast-paced and full of plot twists you won't see coming. I am eager to read more in this series because it's a fascinating world to be in.

The one thing I love about Amanda Hocking's novels is the creative and unique worlds she writes about. This time the story is all about Norse mythology which was excellent!! I have found that Norse mythology isn't touched on that much in YA novels (it's usually saved for NA or adult), so I love that Amanda took the risk and gave us a YA Norse mythology book. Add on top of that the topic of valkyries (which in my opinion should be a much more explored topic), this was definitely a winner for me. While I would definitely say this is upper YA, it can be enjoyed by adults and YA alike. There's definitely a lot more to learn about the world, but this novel was a great set up. The foundation of the world has been laid, but by the end I wanted to know more!! Amanda also gives the story a bit more depth than you would expect by incorporating the idea of free will vs destiny. I loved this aspect of the story and it really made you think. 

The book is centered on Malin, a Valkyrie who makes kills first and asks questions later. After all, this is how she's being trained. However, when she finds out something big...so big that it changes literally everything she has come to know...she realizes that her profession and life isn't all that it seems to be. I personally loved Malin, and I loved the bisexuality rep even more. I think this is something so important to be representing in novels (especially YA novels) today, and I give Amanda a standing ovation for this. On top of this, Malin is a badass and such a strong female lead. While I didn't fully connect to her in this novel, I already am missing her character. The other characters were excellent additions to the story as well, and I am hoping they will be a little more fleshed out in future books. 

I highly recommend checking out this new book by Amanda Hocking, especially if you're a fan of Norse mythology!! The story is fast-paced and action-packed. I am extremely excited to read the next book in the series and to see where the story goes. It's an easy read so pick this one up as soon as you can!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Top Ten Books of 2017

It's my favorite (and most nerve-wracking) time of year!! Showcasing the Top 10 books I read in 2017.  Even though I wasn't able to read as much as I wanted to this year, I still managed to complete my Goodreads Challenge (yay!)  It was tough narrowing down all of the books to just 10...so I cheated a bit, but this is one place where it's okay to be a rebel ;) 

Without further ado, here are my Top 10 Books of 2017!!

10.  The Lost Codex (The Collectors’ Society #4) by Heather Lyons

This was the year of a whole bunch of series ending, which is always a bit sad.  If you’ve been following my reviews, you know how big a fan I am of The Collectors’ Society.  And Heather Lyons truly outdid herself in this conclusion.  Even though there was some heartbreak and tears, everything turned out alright in the end.  This is a series that I was incredibly sad to see come to an end, and I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.  What’s better than books coming alive and being transported into the fictional worlds we all love so much?

9.  The Great Pursuit (Eurona Duology #2) & Undone (Unknown #3) by Wendy Higgins

          

No 2017 list would be complete without Wendy Higgins! These 2 books were fantastic conclusions to their respective series’ and she continues to impress me with her amazing talent.  While both series couldn’t be more different from each other, Wendy Higgins spun such creative tales that I wish the series weren’t actually over!

8.  Windwitch (The Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard

Susan Dennard is another one of my favorite authors and Windwitch was an absolutely phenomenal book!! I loved this sequel to Truthwitch, and the novel really set the tone for the next book.  Susan Dennard gave even more depth to the world she created in the first book and this made me love the story more.  A prequel is up next and I can’t wait to see what’s in store!!

7.  Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

This is one book that surprised me in 2017! I was actually not sure whether or not I wanted to read this book, but I’m so happy that I did.  It was a heartbreaking and realistic story of what it means to have toxic people/relationships in your life.  It highlights the importance of strong friendships and is a book that should be read by everyone!

6.  Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Would a Top 10 list be complete without a Cassandra Clare book? I don’t think so.  Lord of Shadows was an excellent addition to The Dark Artifices series and the ending was absolutely gut-wrenching and brutal…but I loved every single second of it.  Nothing makes me happier than going back into the Shadowhunter world that I was introduced to so long ago!!  I can’t wait to see what Cassie Clare has in store for us in the next novel, The Queen of Air and Darkness.

5.  One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

This was another completely unexpected (but very much welcome) surprise for 2017! I never thought when I originally picked this book up that I would enjoy it as much as I did, but One of Us is Lying has stuck with me even as I write this.  Karen McManus crafted such an excellent suspense YA novel and it’s a book that I think everyone should read.  It’s fantastic and will keep you guessing until the end!

4.  Aequus (Royal Protector Academy #2) & Stolas (Dark Souls #1) by Randi Cooley Wilson

         

I can’t even begin to express how much I love Randi’s writing, and I am honored to consider her not only a favorite author but also a friend.  Both of her novels this year were absolutely outstanding and I honestly never wanted them to end.  This is another author where it’s hard to rank her books separately when I enjoyed them both equally.  While Stolas is only the start to a series and I have 2 more books to look forward to in the Dark Souls series, there is only 1 more book the Royal Protector Academy (which comes out in January!!) and I already know that will be one of my favorite reads of 2018 (and we also be a novel that ends with me gross sobbing)!   

3.  The Struggle (Titan #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jennifer Armentrout will always be in my Top 10 and The Struggle especially deserves to be here this year.  The Titan series is one of my all-time favorite series with Seth and Josie being one of my absolute favorite couples.  I honestly don’t know how I’m going to wait until the 4^th book comes out because I need to find out how everything will end (even though I already know that it’s going to end with me gross sobbing)! 

2.  Riveted (Saints of Denver #3), Salvaged (Saints of Denver #4), & Dignity (The Breaking Point #2) by Jay Crownover

              

Jay Crownover will never write a bad book in my opinion and seeing as she released 3 books this year and they were all equally amazing, I think it’s safe to say that she’s quite the storyteller!  It’s impossible to rank her novels as better than one another because I love them each for their own reasons. Each of these novels was unique and feature deliciously sexy, tatted men…how can you not want to read her books?!  

1.  A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns & Roses #3) & Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas

     

All hail Queen Maas!! I knew as soon as I read these two novels by Sarah J. Maas that they were going to be my favorites of 2017.  I honestly can’t choose between these two novels for the top spot because they are both so amazing and must reads.  Sarah J. Maas must have some sort of witchy powers because she has me spellbound by her writing and I know this is something that will never change.  I can’t wait to meet her again at Apollycon 2018!!

2018 is already shaping up to have a lot of great reads and I can't wait to see what will make my list next year!  What are some of your favorites from this year?? 

Happy reading everyone!!  

~Cassie

Book Blitz: Shelter

   

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover returns with the second standalone title in her Getaway series, SHELTER. Check out the excerpt below and pick up your copy today!

And that’s not all! RETREAT, the first standalone title in the Getaway series, is on sale! You can grab your copy for just $.99 for a limited time only.

   

About SHELTER:

His life is chaos and confusion. It’s a storm of uncertainty and raging emotion.

Sutton Warner is a mess. Everything in his life feels like it’s unraveling.

He’s let a lot of people down lately, including his daughter. Sutton always promised his little girl he would never disappoint her and that he would always be there when she needed him. Until he wasn’t.

The truth is, he’s used to disappointing the women in his life. First was his mother who couldn’t find a reason to stick around when he was growing up. Then there’s his ex. The woman who takes unbridled delight in making his life incredibly complicated. Luckily, his daughter is still young enough to believe her old man is some kind of hero. But, he knows the day is coming when she realizes the truth, that he’s just a man with some serious flaws and a list of ever-growing weaknesses.

Finally, there’s the woman he’s desperately trying to forget with every shot tossed back and each pill popped.

He more than disappointed Emrys…he almost got her killed.

Her love is steady and sure. It’s a shelter shaped by conviction and silent assurance.

Emrys Santos is lost. Everything in her life feels pointless and futile.

She’s been busy running away from her feelings and all the people who love her the most—including her best friend, the one person who knows exactly what she’s been through. They promised to always stick together and to lean on one another. It was a promise Em had to break so she could lick her wounds and figure out her next move. For once, there is no easy way out of the tangled web of emotions she’s caught up in, and right now, she recognizes that all roads lead back to Wyoming…and back to Sutton.

The man she nearly got killed.

Shelter is a standalone novel, the second book in the Getaway series, which features the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women who dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.

   

SHELTER is now available! Grab your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Audible

 

Add to your Goodreads

     

EXCERPT: 

I’d been fooled once by the promise of quiet nights and serene days in the sunshine. I believed the brochure when it said I could leave my worries at home and escape to a simpler, quieter kind of life. I let myself be lured in by the picturesque landscape and stunning mountains. I foolishly fell prey to the temptation of leaving my current set of troubles behind in San Francisco while I hid away in the middle-of-nowhere Wyoming. I now knew firsthand the glossy brochure that brought me to Wyoming the first time was nothing more than a bunch of pretty, packaged lies. I knew the bar brawl erupting in front of me was hardly the worst thing that could happen here. In fact, the level of bloodshed and violence was child’s play compared to what I’d witnessed the last time I’d stepped foot in this small, quaint town. Well, I hadn’t really been in Sheridan last time I was here. I’d spent most of my time in the backwoods that surrounded the Warner brothers’ ranch, which was still a good forty-five minutes outside of this tiny town. The ranch was where I was currently trying to get to so I could see my best friend. When I left Wyoming, I told myself I would never come back. Ever. I told myself there was nothing here for me but bad memories and heartache. I was a pro at lying to myself, at telling myself exactly what I needed to hear to justify my actions. I could convince myself of anything, like it was okay that my last boyfriend stole my grandmother’s silver when I kicked him out because he needed it more than I did. I had no problem believing that pulling Leo out of the city was the only way to heal her broken heart even though she didn’t want to go. It was easier to distract her than it was to watch her wallow. I persuaded myself into believing what I needed to heal was space and solitude. I held onto that until time passed and I was still a mess. I was sick of my own company and of hiding from everything I was feeling. I was the one who always went out of my way to fix everyone else around me, it wasn’t exactly a shock to learn I didn’t have the skills to repair myself. I spent my days helping others focus on their goals, on doing better and achieving more, so I didn’t have to think about the lack of any ambition of my own. I turned thirty at the end of the year and I was still trying to figure out what and who I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d been aimless for a long time; the only direction in my life come from the fact I knew all the way down to my bones that I had to go back to Wyoming and face off with Sutton Warner.      

   

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And don’t miss the first standalone novel in the Getaway series, RETREAT, on sale for just $.99! Grab your copy today! ✦ RETREAT on Amazon ✦ RETREAT on Other Retailers

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And preorder you copy of the third standalone novel in the Getaway series, ESCAPE, releasing January 30, 2018! ✦ ESCAPE on Amazon ✦ ESCAPE on Other Retailers ✦ Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

     

About Jay Crownover: 

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.        

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

   

  

~Cassie

Book Review: Lucky in Love

About the Book:
Title: Lucky in Love
Author: Kasie West
Pub. Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: Point
Pages: 352
Rating:  4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Can’t buy me love…

Maddie’s not impulsive. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment—

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun…until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

Review:

I'm a relatively new fan of Kasie West, but everything I have read from her so far I have enjoyed a great deal! And this book is no exception. I know there are a lot of negative reviews with this book, and I can understand where they are coming from. But personally, I thought this was a cute, light-hearted summer read. As all of her books are, they're quick and fast-paced and easy to read in one sitting. Sure, the story is predictable, but none of her books ever came across to me as an in-depth look at relationships. These books are all about the fun and craziness that goes along with love. And that's what I enjoy the most about her books, this story included!

Maddie was a great MC for this book. She's relatively level-headed and very mature for her age. She believes that success will come from hard work (my kind of girl!), she makes goals for herself to crave the path for her dreams to be attained, and she cares for her family (which means in many ways she's the glue that holds her family together currently). But when Maddie wins the lottery after an impulsive purchase on her birthday, things go a little crazy. Maddie just wants her life to remain normal, and because of this she doesn't tell the one person she's got a crush on...Seth. She does begin to use the money responsibly, but obviously she does get a little bit irresponsible with her winnings as well. I know this is a complaint that others had, but honestly...who wouldn't be a little irresponsible after they won the lottery. We all would like to think that we'll be straight and basically save all of that money for good use in the future. But would we really? I think that Maddie started spending the money how any 18-year-old would. She threw her friend the ultimate party, she went on a shopping spree, etc. The important thing was that she realized what she was doing was irresponsible and wised up! Maddie learns a lot of lessons over the course of the story and that's always something I love about Kasie West books. When the MC learns and grows from their mistakes, she humanizes her characters and they become even more relatable and likable. 

Seth was hilarious and I loved him from the start! Together, Maddie and Seth made the perfect couple. His humor balanced well her random facts, and they just were adorable. The romance is light and not the main focus of this novel (despite what the title might imply), but I didn't mind it at all. I loved that Seth was there for Maddie when she truly needed someone, and the whole penny thing was super cute! 

I definitely would recommend checking out this book if you're a fan of Kasie West! While you might not enjoy it as much as other books, I honestly loved it. It's fun, light, and a quick read...and it's the perfect way to end your summer!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #126

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Deadly Sweet (The Spellwork Syndicate #1) by Lola Dodge
Publication Date: January 16th, 2018

Synopsis:

Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spell books in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch in the suburbs, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Unfortunately, witches have a bad rep, and Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with each rejection letter.

Then her great aunt Agatha pops out of the woodwork with a sweet offer. If she signs on as Agatha’s apprentice, Anise can have all the training and ingredients she’s ever imagined, and she’ll inherit the family bakery.

The catch? Studying with Agatha means moving to Sedona—a dangerous otherworldly power center where her aunt is a key player in the magical community’s shady dealings. And the last apprentice? Assassinated.

Now Anise is next on the hit list. If she can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brulee.

Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

This book sounds like the perfect mix of Hex Hall and Practical Magic, which means it's right up my alley.  Plus, it has baking in it?! Ummmm...I sold!! This book has pretty much everything I could want in a book.  Deadly Sweet sounds like so much fun, and I honestly can't wait to dig into this book ;) 

Book Review: The Battlemage (Summoner #3)

About the Book:
Title: The Battlemage (Summoner #3)
Author: Taran Matharu
Pub. Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 385
Rating:  5/5 stars

Synopsis:

The epic conclusion to the New York Times–bestselling Summoner trilogy, by Taran Matharu!

Fletcher and his friends fight for survival in the ether, where they pursue a mortally dangerous quest to rebuild their world and broker peace.

Even as hatred threatens to turn friend into foe in The Battlemage, Fletcher must lead a small army of soldiers into battle to protect his ancestral homeland, and face his biggest challenge yet: his nemesis, the albino orc, Khan, who seeks to destroy everything Fletcher holds dear.

Review:

Taran Matharu has done it again, and has delivered one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I have ever read. This series is greatly underappreciated and I truly believe it deserves a heck of a lot more attention than it has. The Summoner series is such an epic fantasy series that is incredibly well written, with likable characters, and non-stop action. I said in my review for the first book that it is the perfect mix of Harry Potter, LoTR, and Pokemon...and that's no exception here. I think it's amazing how well Taran has managed to combine all of the positives of these series into such a unique and wonderful fantasy series. He has such a great talent and I know that he is going to be an important and big part of the literary world. I can't stress enough how much you should read this series because it is that good.

Fletcher has come a long way from the first book. No longer is he the young, naive boy...instead he is a strong warrior that is willing to sacrifice his own life to fight and protect his people (just fyi...I'm not trying to imply Fletcher dies or anything by that statement). His character development over the course of this series has been magnificent and it's rare to see characterization done this well. Fletcher is so likable, and no matter what he decides, you're on his side. Taran Matharu has written Fletcher so well and has stayed true to Fletcher's morals and values. While Fletcher is different, he's still Fletcher at the end of the day. And that's something that is very important to me as a reader. He shines throughout the story and I honestly couldn't wait to see how his story would end. The other characters in this book are just as amazing, and I love how important they all are to the finale. I appreciated that these characters weren't just shoved to the side and didn't play any role at all in this book. Ultimately though, this is Fletcher's story, and I loved the way it played out.

One of the biggest things for me in this book and the series in general is that Taran Matharu made me enjoy the political side of this story....and trust me that is a rare feat to be accomplished. I usually hate the political side of stories because it oftentimes becomes messy, especially in fantasy stories such as this one. But Taran made me find it fascinating and interesting. The magic/demon system in place in this world just blows my mind with it's creativity and I loved how well-balanced everything is. It just futher lends to Taran's writing ability that he can write such a well-balanced story that keeps you intrigued until the end.

When I look back, I never expected this series to become such an epic and rich fantasy story. To see how far we've come in this world--from a boy that was special and just wanted to go to school where he belonged, to a fierce warrior who will fight and stand with his people to the very end--is mind-blowing and utterly incredible. Obviously, as this is the conclusion of the story, there is a bit of heartbreak...but I expected it. After all, you can't have a war without a few tragedies.

I cannot even begin to emphasize enough how much I want you to read this series. Give this series the spotlight it deserves because it is such an amazing and well-written set of novels. Taran Matharu has an fantastic imagination that allows him to create unique and fun worlds for all age readers to enjoy. If you are a fantasy novel fan, check this series out. I know for a fact that this series will be a favorite of mine for a long time to come, and I can't wait to do a re-read. I would adore more stories in the future about where these characters are (I honestly don't want to let go of them yet!!), but for now, I'm glad we'll be getting a prequel and seeing how things were before Fletcher came onto the scene. 

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Book Review: Abby In Wonderland (Whatever After, #11)

About The Book:

  Title: Abby in Wonderland (Whatever After, #11)

  Author:  Sarah Mlynowski 
  Pub. Date: September 12th, 2017
  Publisher: Scholastic Press 
  Pages: 261

  Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Retellings

  Rate: 5/5 stars 

Synopsis :

Down the rabbit hole . . .

I'm spending the day with my best friends, Frankie and Robin, and -- UGH -- snobby Penny. I'm not expecting anything magical to happen, until Frankie falls into a mysterious hole behind Penny's house . . . and we all wind up in the story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

I've visited fairy tales before. But in Wonderland, everything is topsy-turvy. There are potions that make you grow, cakes that make you shrink, bossy caterpillars, and a horrible Queen of Hearts who wants to put us on trial.

Now we have to:
- Solve a riddle from the Cheshire cat 
- Attend a wacky tea party with the Mad Hatter
- Become BFFs with Alice
- And find Frankie

. . . Or we'll be stuck in Wonderland for good!

Review:

As a School Psychologist, reading books of various age levels helps me better relate to students and allows me to recommend them books! I initially picked up Abby in Wonderland because I'm a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. It was my favorite childhood movie and to this day, remains a beloved tale of mine by Lewis Carroll.

This book was one of the most fun middle-grade novels I've ever read. I quickly learned that this novel was a special edition of Sarah Mlynowski's Whatever After series, which typically follows a girl and her brother as they stumble into numerous fairy tales through a magical mirror in their basement. Since this was a special edition, I didn't need to read the prior books to be able to understand what was going on. However, I now plan on it! Since reading this, I've been recommending this series to older elementary students who are fans of fairytales and looking for fun books to read! Abby in Wonderland is a wonderful and fun spin on Alice in Wonderland and also includes all of your favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatter, The Cheshire Cat, The White Rabbit, and more. It is also FUNNY, and includes great friendship dynamics and teaches conflict resolution.

If you're a fan of fairytales and enjoy reading middle grade - this series is for YOU! Or, if you know of any younger child who enjoys reading, I would definitely say this would be a great series for them. This is definitely a big winner for Ms. Mlynowski.

- Jocelyn

Book Blitz: Nox (The Royal Protector Academy #3)

About the Book:
Nox (The Royal Protector Academy #3)
Author: Randi Cooley Wilson
Publication date: January 20th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Love has revived an ancient war
Jealousy has risen and torn lives apart
And one prophecy demands the ultimate sacrifice.

What if rewriting your destiny means that you must sacrifice the one you love? Serena St. Michael has forsaken her future—for him. Tristan Gallagher has renounced the throne—for her. The Vergina Sun prophecy has been fulfilled, but at what cost? Their love has renewed an ancient war. With Serena gone, will Tristan save her in time? Or will the dark army of Diablo Fairies descend upon the Royal Protector Academy, destroying the London clan’s legacy and ending the existence of the gargoyle race forever?

Nox is the final novel in the Royal Protector Academy series. This dangerously exciting and darkly romantic conclusion will take your breath away. It can be read as a stand-alone trilogy or after the bestselling Revelation series. Intended for mature readers (18+) due to language, mild violence, and sexual situations.

The Royal Protector Academy novels are a serial trilogy meant to be read in order:

Vernal (Book #1)
Aequus (Book #2)
Nox (Book #3)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

 

Author Bio:

Randi Cooley Wilson is the bestselling author of The Revelation Series, The Royal Protector Academy Novels, The Dark Soul Trilogy, and "Covetousness" a Havenwood Falls Novella. She resides in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

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~Cassie

Book Review: There's Someone Inside Your House

About The Book:

  Title: There's Someone Inside Your House

  Author: Stephanie Perkins  
  Pub. Date: September 26th, 2017
  Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
  Pages: 289

  Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Contemporary 

  Rate: 2.5/5 stars 

Synopsis :

Love hurts...

Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.

Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.

Review:

I was extremely excited to pick up There's Someone Inside Your House because I know many fans of Ms. Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss series. The basis of this book was enough to have me intrigued - a small town where students start dying in gruesome ways, with no real apparent pattern to the murders. Unfortunately, this book seemed to miss the mark for me in terms of horror stories.

While the murders were creepy, and I was interested enough to find out who the killer was - I just could not get into this book. I initially started this book back in the summer. I got bored and decided to pick it back up around Halloween time, when I'm notoriously more interested in spooky stories. Even with it being Halloween time when I read it, I still wasn't a fan. I couldn't get invested in any of the characters. They were very plain and boring. There were also situations which seemed to serve no other purpose other than to throw more possibilities into 'who could the killer be'.

This wasn't a Halloween hit for me, but I'm sure previous fans of Stephanie Perkins may enjoy it. While the setting and world-building were the real winners here, the characters fell flat. I'm now a little reluctant to pick up her other novels, but I'm hoping I like her contemporary style better than her thriller style. Have you read There's Someone Inside Your House? What are your thoughts?

- Jocelyn

Waiting on Wednesday #125

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk
Publication Date: January 16th, 2018

Synopsis:

Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire--an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master's favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end--and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus.... 

This seriously sounds AMAZING!!!! I am so happy I stumbled upon this book because who doesn't want to read a book about a warrior princess and a handsome gladiator?! I honestly can't wait until this book comes out and I hope it's as good as I'm imagining it will be :)

Blog Tour: Hinder

About the Book:
Title: Hinder (Guardian of Monsters #1)
Author: Kristin Ping
Publication date: May 15th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis: 

Ethan Sutcliff seems like a normal seventeen-year-old—at least that’s what he’s trying to portray. In a secret society run by the Supernaturals, Ethan is what witches call a Bender. Benders are Witches’ Guardians, who are able to control a witches’ ability, bend it, or move it away from harming humans. In Ethan’s case, he is able to bend the Earth element. But at the age of fifteen, he lost all connection to it, and the reasons behind it could only mean one of two things: His Wielder is either dead, or hiding out somewhere.

Alex Burgendorf has been living in her aunt’s locket for the past sixteen years with her mother—a Fire Wielder, and her father—a Water Wielder. For sixteen years, her parents vowed to protect her, and they have, as she is the last Earth wielding witch. However, time is running out. Alex must find her Bender, or the fate of the Supernaturals might be at stake.

Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

Kristin resides in South Africa with her husband, two beautiful girls and two bulldogs that tries to eat her house.
She has been writing for the past eight years and her first debut novel, Hinder: A Bender’s novel will be published 2018 by Fire Quill Publishing.

When she isn’t writing, she is spending her time with her family, or trying to teach her two bulldogs to not eat her house. You can find more about Kristin at www.authorkristinping.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Review:

Hinder by Kristin Ping is a refreshing read that is fun and unique. Even though it's about magic, witches, and demons, Ms. Ping puts her own creative spin on the fantasy genre that many will enjoy. I would have loved to give this book 4 stars (or higher) but there were several things that made me lower my rating to a 3. I really loved the concept of this book and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here. 

The story follows Alex and Ethan...two people who don't know the other exists but are trying to find the other. Ms. Ping immediately sweeps you away into a fantastical world of witches, benders and wielders, and an evil enemy. I truly loved this part of the story because it was so unlike anything I had read previously. I loved learning about this new world!! It was fun and exciting, and Ms. Ping offered plenty of twists that I didn't see coming. The more I read of this story, the more invested in the world I became. There are a lot of questions left unanswered by the end of the book so I'm excited to see how she continues to build the world up and answer some of these questions. 

However, the one thing I had a small problem with in the beginning was that it was basically an "info-dump." The reader learns a little bit more throughout the book, but the first 2 chapters are where you find out all of the info that you need to set up/understand the story and plot. I do wish it was spaced out a little more but I didn't mind this too much. It just meant I could jump into the story faster. 

Ms. Ping's writing is great and she gave her characters a lot of spunk. While marketed as an NA novel, I would say this could also be geared toward older YA. I personally loved the banter between the characters and the "adult" moments. Also, the fact that family plays such a huge role in this story really made me love it that much more. It was a welcoming change from most books where the family basically disappears and the main characters are left to fend for themselves. Instead, Ms. Ping incorporates them into the story and gives them a huge role to play as not only mentors, but as...wait for it.... actual parents . I can't stress enough how important this was because let me tell you, I'm all for parents who actually parent. This is rarely done in YA/NA books and I'm glad that Ms. Ping decided to incorporate them into the story! 

For the most part, Alex and Ethan were developed as characters but I definitely would have liked a little more. The book is told from dual POV (Alex and Ethan), and Alex had a great internal monologue that I loved. She was the perfect lead for the story and I enjoyed her journey during the novel. I loved seeing her grow and become a more independent person. Ethan was also a decent character to follow--he's the typical good-guy jock. But I didn't like him as much as I wanted to...especially since he is the other main character AND the love interest in this book. Perhaps the biggest reason for this was the fact that he referred to girls as different animals. He repeatedly said throughout the book that he knew it was wrong to do this, but it never once stopped him. I wanted to see him grow out of this habit by the end of the book, but he never did. I felt this aspect of his character was unnecessary and it made me dislike his character a lot. 

This series has a lot of potential and I'm interested to see where Ms. Ping takes the story! I would recommend checking the story out because it is a unique read and fun. There are a lot of plot twists that took the story in a different direction than I was expecting. I am excited to check out the sequel and see what new adventures await for both Alex and Ethan!

                                            

Happy reading :)

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~Cassie

Book Review: Violet Grenade

About the Book:
Title: Violet Grenade
Author: Victoria Scott
Pub. Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 300
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Her name is Domino Ray.

But the voice inside her head has a different name.

When the mysterious Ms. Karina finds Domino in an alleyway, she offers her a position at her girls’ home in secluded West Texas. With no alternatives and an agenda of her own, Domino accepts. It isn’t long before she is fighting her way up the ranks to gain the woman’s approval…and falling for Cain, the mysterious boy living in the basement.

But the home has horrible secrets. So do the girls living there. So does Cain.

Escaping is harder than Domino expects, though, because Ms. Karina doesn’t like to lose inventory. But then, she doesn’t know about the danger living inside Domino’s mind.

She doesn’t know about Wilson. 

Review:

Obviously I was going to read this book because 1) the cover is GORGEOUS, and 2) it's by Victoria Scott. I have loved everything this woman has written so far, and I knew this wouldn't be an exception. But I will say, I wasn't expecting to like it quite as much as I did. This definitely is very different than what we have read from Ms. Scott previously, but I was here for it! I flew through this book, and read it in almost 1 sitting (the only reason I couldn't read it in 1 was because I had an exam the next day and girl needs some sleep before an exam). This book is incredibly fast-paced and has plenty of twists and turns that mean you can't trust anyone .

Domino is a runaway who is living on the streets of Chicago just trying to get by. She has some violent tendencies, but when everything goes down...she finds herself accepting a place at Madame Karina's Home for Girls. Sketchy? 100%. Is it what you think? Probably not...because it's actually much worse. But Domino needs a way out, and she's willing to do anything and be anyone in order to do so. Domino is a fighter through and through, and as she finds herself advancing through the ranks quicker than normal, she realizes that not everything is as it appears and that she needs to get out...like now. 

Domino herself is an excellent lead. We find out bits and pieces about her life throughout the entire story and boy is it a doozy! The entire book is a crazy roller coaster ride of dark secrets and horrors that you wouldn't even think of in your wildest daydreams. But this is what made this book oh-so-good. Domino's secrets, especially Wilson, was one of the many surprising twists about this book, and with every twist I was left hanging on the edge of my seat. Speaking of Wilson, I don't know if I was supposed to love him as much as I did, but let me tell you...whenever he showed up in the story, I knew you know what was about to hit the fan and it was going down. These were easily some of the most awesome scenes in this book. Victoria Scott knows how to tell a good story, and this one is probably her best work yet! 

I honestly don't know how Victoria Scott came up with the idea for this book, but I'm sure glad she did. It was unlike anything I have ever read and I loved the unique-ness of the story/plot. The book was the perfect length as well, and I loved every single sentence. I also adored the friendship that arose during Domino's time at Madame Karina's. The loyalty that formed between the two characters was completely unexpected and added yet another element to the book that made me love the story more. Check this book out now! You won't regret it!!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie