Waiting on Wednesday #94

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: 

Violet Grenade by Victoria Scott
Publication Date: May 2, 2017

Synopsis:

DOMINO: A runaway with blood on her hands.

CAIN: A silent boy about to explode.

MADAM KARINA: A woman who demands obedience.

WILSON: The one who will destroy them all.

When Madam Karina discovers Domino in an alleyway, she offers her a position inside her home for entertainers in secluded West Texas. Left with few 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 madam’s approval. But after suffering weeks of bullying and unearthing the madam’s secrets, Domino decides to leave. It’ll be harder than she thinks, though, because the madam doesn’t like to lose inventory. But then, Madam Karina doesn’t know about the person living inside Domino’s mind.

Madam Karina doesn’t know about Wilson.

I'm so intrigued by the synopsis for this new book by Victoria Scott. I'm not sure what to expect, and if I know anything about Ms. Scott it's that unpredictable is what she does best! I'm really looking forward to checking this one when it comes out in May. It's definitely going to be different from what we have come to know of Ms. Scott, and that's one thing that makes this one so exciting!


Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

Lucky in Love by Kasie West 
Publication Date: July 25th, 2017 

Synopsis:

Maddie doesn't believe in luck. 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?

This book seems so cute! I'm not usually one for frilly contemps, but Kasie West has a way of making them swoony and enjoyable. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is waiting for the release of this one!

Book Blitz: Too Much

About the Book:
Title: Too Much
Author: Ella Miles
Publication date: April 10th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis: 

A romance that starts at the end, and ends at the beginning.
He’s not coming.
He promised.
He swore.
He said he would always be here for me.
Except this time, when I really need him to be here, he isn’t.
He isn’t f**king here.
Quinn met Hunter five years ago at age eighteen. It wasn’t love at first sight. In fact, it was the complete opposite. But they did make a promise that day. If times ever got sh**ty again, all either of them had to do was text each other for help. For five years, they had always been there for each other until…they weren’t.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

Author Bio:

Ella Miles writes sexy romance with strong females that could kick your butt if you piss them off, which they often do to the men that fall for them. She's currently living her own happily ever after near the Rocky Mountains with her high school sweetheart husband. Her heart is also taken by her goofy two year old black lab that is scared of everything, including her own shadow. Ella is the author of the Aligned series. Get a free book by visiting her website. Or by stalking her on Twitter or Facebook.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Cassie

Book Review: Fear the Drowning Deep

About the Book:
Title: Fear the Drowning Deep
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Pub. Date: Oct. 11, 2016
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pages: 304
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis:

Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.

Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

Review:

This debut novel from Sarah Glenn Marsh truly surprised me with how much I enjoyed the story. With a fast pace and unique twists, this book is sure to impress many readers. It was dark and haunting, and extremely original. I can definitely say that I didn't guess most of the plot, and it was a refreshing read. However, the one thing that made me lower my rating was the insta-love (I'll go into this in a bit). Set against a gorgeous backdrop of the Isle of Man in early 1900s, Sarah Glenn Marsh has written an impressive novel that shows she is an author to watch!

The one part of this novel that stood out to me was Ms. Marsh's writing. It was beautiful, and you're instantly transported to the Isle of Man. The beginning chapters grip you and never let you go. As I said, the book is very fast paced and I was never bored. The mystery of what is truly behind the disappearances of the young girls on the island is something you would never expect, and I loved this unique twist to the story. I had a lot of theories, but nothing even remotely came close to what was actually going on. The other aspect of this novel that stood out to me was the focus on family. Considering this is a book that actually features the main character's parents, it already gets a gold star from me since this is extremely rare in any book these days. But Bridey's relationship with her family is strong and a very important aspect of the story. They all stood by each other even when the rest of the Island was turned against Bridey and Fynn. I loved that her family played a role in the story, and it truly enhanced the story. 

I did enjoy Bridey as our main character. She's headstrong, stubborn, and willing to do whatever it takes to help her family. However, she is very much the outcast because of the events surrounding her grandfather's death and the "crazy" things she saw. Regardless of this, she's determined to live her life how she sees fit. She has big dreams of getting off the Island, and I was rooting for her throughout the entire story. Fynn was a great character as well, but as I said, the big problem I had with this book was the insta-love. They didn't even speak 2 words to each other and they (well mainly Fynn first and foremost) was in love with Bridey. Their entire romance was incredibly rushed and because of this felt extremely unbelievable. And then when the big twist comes, Bridey does a complete 180 and doesn't love him anymore. I don't know....it just made me do a huge eye roll while reading. The ending also left me feeling a bit unsatisfied because I felt that it too was rushed and then the story just ended. I wanted more of a conclusion overall.

Sarah Glenn Marsh has written a great debut novel that definitely proves she is an author to keep an eye on. I know that I will be checking out future books from her for sure! Despite the insta-love and the slightly unsatisfying ending, I would recommend checking this one out. It's fast-paced, beautifully written, and features something new and unique, and who doesn't like that? 

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Book Review: A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)

About the Book:

Title: A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)

Author: Jessica Cluess

Pub. Date: Sept. 20, 2016

Publisher: Random House

Pages: 416

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?

Review:

Jessica Cluess' debut novel features a unique spin on witches and Victorian England, and is sure to impress many readers who enjoy fantasy. While I did have some ups and downs with the book, I was still intrigued from the get go, and greatly enjoyed the story. The beginning sets up the story nicely, and the plot moves along at a fairly good pace (the middle being a bit slow). With thrilling displays of magic, dangerously terrifying creatures, and an interesting world, this book is sure to be a hit! 

The world building was fantastic in my opinion, and I loved the way that things were slowly revealed over the course of the story. We don't just get an info dump, which is one of my pet peeves when we're being introduced to a new world. Jessica Cluess weaves Victorian England elements into the story seamlessly, and it served as the perfect background to the plot. I loved learning about the different monsters that plagued the world, and there was so much more to the history that we first learn about early on. Jessica's writing is terrific and she has such a great talent. I was never confused while reading, and thought everything was very clear. In fact, everything was set up perfectly for future books in the series, and I'm excited to learn more about the world later on! 

Henrietta was a good main character to follow. She's stubborn and fiercely independent. I loved her strong, determined attitude. However, I didn't feel that instant connection with her like I usually would when a book is from only one character's perspective. I do think that due to the events at the end of this book, we'll get to know her much better in future books and see her potential recognized. The other characters in the book were great as well but I did think they were very one-dimensional. Magnus, Blackwood, and Rook were given more attention than others, but I did find myself wanting to learn more about them. Even though they played major roles in the story, I didn't feel like I knew that much about them or why they should be important. Nevertheless, Jessica does do a good job at making sure we don't know which characters are good or bad (in fact, none of these characters are strictly good or bad). In this way, every character was relatable because they had to make tough choices, some of which were not the best or smartest, but dealt with the consequences. It definitely made for some interesting twists later on in the story though to see which characters were ultimately the betrayers to Henrietta.

There is some romance in the story, but it definitely isn't the main focus. I wouldn't necessarily say that this book has a love triangle because feelings are kind of all over the place, but there are hints at a possible love triangle developing in the next book, so I'm kind of interested to see where this goes. Overall though, the romance is very light and very much in line with the time period I feel. Despite the romantic relationships that seem to be developing, I thought the standout part of this novel was the focus on friendship and working as a team. I loved not only the support certain characters gave to each other, but also how they cared deeply for each other. It was a true testament of friendship to stay by each other's sides despite everything that occurs in the climax and conclusion of this novel.

As I mentioned, there were some slow parts, but there were plenty of action scenes to make up for this. There were also plenty of twists and turns that I (and the characters) never saw coming, which kept the book plenty interesting. I would definitely recommend checking this book out as it is a promising start to a potentially excellent series. It might not be for everyone, but I am highly looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #93

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: 

Dreamfall (Dreamfall #1) by Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 2, 2017

Synopsis:

Cata Cordova suffers from such debilitating insomnia that she agreed to take part in an experimental new procedure. She thought things couldn’t get any worse...but she was terribly wrong.

Soon after the experiment begins, there’s a malfunction with the lab equipment, and Cata and six other teen patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld with no memory of how they got there. Even worse, they come to the chilling realization that they are trapped in a place where their worst nightmares have come to life. Hunted by creatures from their darkest imaginations and tormented by secrets they’d rather keep buried, Cata and the others will be forced to band together to face their biggest fears. And if they can’t find a way to defeat their dreams, they will never wake up.

I'm a huge fan of Amy Plum, so it was pretty much a given that I want to check out her brand new series! This seems like such an interesting and unique concept for a story, so I'm excited to see where this story goes.  And the cover is just gorgeous! How can I say no?


Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios 
Publication Date: June 13th, 2017 

Synopsis:

Grace wants out. Out of her house, where her stepfather wields fear like a weapon and her mother makes her scrub imaginary dirt off the floors. Out of her California town, too small to contain her big city dreams. Out of her life, and into the role of Parisian artist, New York director—anything but scared and alone.

Enter Gavin: charming, talented, adored. Controlling. Dangerous. When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it's too good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison she's unable to escape. 

Deeply affecting and unflinchingly honest, this is a story about spiraling into darkness—and emerging into the light again.

I've never read a novel by Ms. Demetrios before, however I have heard fantastic things about I'll Meet You There from some trusted book bloggers! It seems as if she does a great job writing about hard-to-hear topics and that's one thing I truly respect in an author. I can't wait to read it!

Book Review: Fire in You (Wait for You #6)

About the Book:
Title: Fire in You (Wait for You #6)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pub. Date: Nov. 28, 2016
Publisher: Jennifer Armentrout
Pages: 390
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis:

Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.

She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.

Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the past sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.

Review:

“I loved you when I was eight. I loved you when I was twelve. I loved you when I was twenty, and I... I love you now.” 

We've come to the end of another JLA novel, and it never seems to get easier. This book is bittersweet in many ways, and Jen delivers yet another beautifully heart-touching story. It was very difficult to say goodbye to these characters and the Wait for You world, but Jen did a fantastic job at wrapping up all of the past couples' stories. While the previous characters don't play huge roles in this one, all of them are mentioned or are featured in several scenes throughout the book. We even get to see Katie have a nice HAE. 

“Scars, whether physical or emotional, could be not just a representation of survival but also a story of hope.” 

We first met Brock and Jillian in Forever with You, with Brock being one of the best MMA fighters in the industry and Jillian, the young, naive girl with an unrequited crush on Brock who only sees her as his "Jillybean." Fast forward to six years in the future and both these characters have changed drastically. It was great to see how their story played out, and find out more about their past with each other. It was obvious from the very start of this novel that they both played crucial parts in the other's life while growing up, and it was great to be able to delve deeper into that as the story progressed. After experiencing something tragic, Jill is changed forever. For the past 6 years she's been afraid to live, and honestly this was incredibly heart-breaking to read. What exactly happened is only revealed in small snippets throughout the book, and it was refreshing for an event to be revealed this way. Jen did an excellent job with the reveal. 

“I love you because you have this fire in you that you don't even recognize, but I do. You're strong and you're a survivor.” 

The one thing I loved about Jill is that she is incredibly relatable, and it made me love her character instantly. Her inner monologue is hilarious and had me laughing out loud multiple times while reading. When she finally comes to the realization that she needs to break out the box that she put herself in, the transformation she undergoes is remarkable to watch. Jill is an incredibly strong woman and certainly doesn't give herself enough credit. But with Brock and her other friends by her side, she overcame her fears and became the person she was meant to be. Brock on the other hand was the epitome of mystery. Unlike in other books in this series, we knew very very little about our male lead going into the story. All we really knew was that he was a famous MMA fighter that Cam idolized. To me, this was a fun way to go into the story because I knew we were in for a treat with him. I loved Brock's background story, and I loved being able to go deeper into who he is as a person...what makes him tick, what happened to fracture the original friendship that formed between him and Jill, and what Jill means to him now. 

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.” 

There are many sweet and steamy moments between Jill and Brock, and their chemistry is undeniable! Seriously, every scene is just sizzling!! The tension between them is palpable and this resulted in me yelling at them to "JUST KISS/DO IT ALREADY" multiple times (I have no shame). Honestly, I just loved them as a couple because they had that strong friendship first and it just builds into an even stronger relationship in the future. It's so obvious how much Brock cares for Jill, and there was one scene in particular where it's clear that he never forgot about Jill and what she meant to him during those 6 years they didn't talk. 

“They all had their own struggles and stories to tell and they all made it to this point, happy and in love.” 

Lastly, I loved how Jen incorporated all of the other couples into the story. It was nice to see how everyone is doing after all these years, and how they've grown together as a couple. Also, if you got the bonus scene, you get to see even more in the future (basically fast forwarding to the reason why the characters were in this book) with every couple (including Jill and Brock) making an appearance. I can't think of a better way to end this series than by bringing back all of these characters that have grown so close to our hearts and having their dreams recognized. 

This book can certainly be read as a standalone, just as all the other novels in the series can, however you'll love this series so much more if you read them from start to finish. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better way to end this series, and Jen takes your breath away right from the first page. Definitely pick this one up as soon as you can! You won't be disappointed!!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Book Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1)

About the Book:
Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1)
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Pub. Date: Sept. 20, 2016
Publisher: Jimmy Paterson
Pages: 326
Rating:  4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

Review:

“Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate. Show the world your bravery.” 

Kerri Maniscalco's debut novel is a definite must read for fans of mystery and suspense novels, and is sure to be a hit! I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this one, and I certainly didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Let's face it, there have been a TON on books written about Jack the Ripper, and they can either be really good or just eh. Fortunately, Kerri did an excellent job at weaving the Jack the Ripper mystery into a very unique story that keeps you gripped right from the beginning. Her writing is excellent, and she tells a macabre tale that you never want to stop reading. The characters are a definite highlight and truly make the entire book, and I'm interested to see where she takes the story in the future.

“Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It’s a queen who sits on that throne. Never forget that.” 

Our main character, Audrey, is far from the perfect lady that her father (and society) would like her to be. Interested in forensics and cutting up dead bodies instead of sipping tea and learning embroidery, you could definitely say that Audrey has some trouble fitting in. However, she has found her niche and she's sticking to it! I admired that tenacity and determination she had. Audrey was such a strong female lead and I loved reading from her perspective. Audrey is a girl that is determined to prove society wrong...that girls can do more than just look pretty and find a husband. She wants to show that women can accomplish great things and are capable of much more than discussing the latest gossip and the newest bachelors. She's reckless and impulsive, but that just makes her an even more enjoyable character to read about! It was that personality that attracted a certain British hottie named Thomas Cresswall. 

“Thomas smiled at my eye roll, puffing his chest up and standing with one foot proudly resting on a chair as if posing for a portrait. “I don’t blame you, I am rather attractive. The tall, dark hero of your dreams, swooping in to save you with my vast intellect. You should accept my hand at once.” 

Thomas seriously had me swooning. Who knows why because he's arrogant, cold, and distant...but he's also hilariously sarcastic, witty, and loyal to the core. He cares a great deal about Audrey, and I loved how protective he was of her throughout the novel. Thomas reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes and perhaps that's why I enjoyed his character so much! Plus, the banter he and Audrey had was pure gold! They're always bickering back and forth, getting on each other's nerves...you see where this is going. Honestly, the attraction and chemistry between them is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship form.

“I promise. I’ll be as silent as the dead.”

“Ah,” Uncle said, putting a hat on and tugging it low, “the dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.” 

The entire backdrop to this story was amazing. I thought that Kerri did an excellent job at weaving the Jack the Ripper story into the plot, and it made for such an exciting read. There were definitely some graphic scenes (this was just due to the descriptions of the murder scenes), but this is Jack the Ripper, so it's was pretty gruesome. I actually applaud Kerri for not shying away from Jack the Ripper's disgusting work. The way she told the story made everything so eerie and I felt as if I was right there next to Audrey and Thomas walking the foggy streets of London trying to solve the murders. 

“Fear is a hungry beast. The more you feed it, the more it grows.” 

Kerri Maniscalco's debut novel is excellent, and I highly recommend checking this book out as soon as possible. While there are some graphic scenes, I think this book will appeal to many readers. If you're even remotely interested in the Jack the Ripper story, you'll definitely enjoy this read. With strong characters and a plot that is the perfect mix of creepy and cool, Stalking Jack the Ripper is sure to be a hit!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie