Review: Acca by Christina Bauer

Acca by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 6 months, Myla's life has been changed completely. Now she is preparing for court to try to get the Acca leader in prsion, while also getting ready for her wedding to marry the love of her life, Prince Lincoln.

But the 3 days to get there has a lot of obstacles. One, Aldred keeps stealing the one thing that Lincoln and Myla have to defeat him in court, and each time it is taken, they have to figure out where it is and retrieve it before Friday at 5pm. Then, Aldred is looking for Lucifer's coin to open up Hell and get Armageddon through...again. He's a thorn that keeps on growing in Myla's life.

Then they have to go to Earth to find both missing items, and act like a teacher and a student. But the things they see on that island would make anyone worried, so now they have to make sure the humans are safe before they go to court.

And to top everything off, both Lincoln and Myla's people hate the other one, and they have to get over that hurdle to be able to rule both worlds without a huge fight on their hands.

So it's safe to say that life for Lincoln and Myla will never be boring. Let's just hope they are able to make it down the aisle.

Such a great novel full of funny lines, kickass scenes, and lots of scheming and figuring out the next step. I very much love Myla. She is awesome and amazing and I want to be her friend. I also love how much she has opened up now that she's with Lincoln, and how confident she has become.

I am so so so frustrated with Lincoln's parents. They are spinless turds who just need to retire and live life with one another on an isolated island and never return. I thought his mother was cool, but the way she lets things get away when it comes to her husband is just terrible. They are supposed to be king and queen of their people, yet they are so blinded by things in their personal life that they cannot possible take care of their people. I am so glad Lincoln will be the new king because he cannot possibly be worse than Connor is right now.

I'm so excited to see what happens in the next book. I definitely recommend this series! :)

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Review: Scala by Christina Bauer

Scala by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After Myla found out who her real father is, her whole life changed forever when she discovered she was the Great Scala. Having an arch angel as her dad means her genes qualify her for the Scala job, whether she wants it or not. And after being powerful enough to send Armegeddon back to Hell, she is now ready to tackle whatever else comes her way.

But since Lucifer's Orb is in Purgatory, she can`t send souls to the afterlife. The Orb is forcing her to send all of the souls to Hell, whether they deserve that destination or not. Now, Myla is holding a strike and refusing to send ANY souls to the next life until that Orb is found and removed. Sounds resonable enough, except that there are MILLIONS of souls that come to Purgatory a day, and there is only so much room to store them while Myla and her team look for the Orb.

Then, if that wasn't enough, Lady Adair - the "Scala Heir" fake, is still trying to take everything that Myla has, including her boyfriend Prince Lincoln. Adair thinks that Myla stole everything from her, so now her soul mission is to find a way to get it all back. So she is making Myla's life miserable by trying to prove that she can't be the right Great Scala because of the situation with the souls being crammed into the Towers, about to explode.

When Myla realizes the dire situation she is in, Lincoln decides to stay in Purgatory for a short while to help with the problems that keep occurring. But they didn't account for how desperate Adair was, and how far she was willing to go to get her perfect life.

Myla may be losing her powers, but her determination and strong will can get her through this...right?

Again, such a great installment to this series! I'm really enjoy this storyline and seeing just how strong Myla is internally, as well as how much of a kick ass fighter she is! I also love seeing her with Lincoln - those two are just made for each other!

I was able to figure out what was happening with Adair way before the reveal, but that's okay because it just added to the story. Seeing Myla struggle with different situations just shows that she is the best choice to be the Great Scala.

I'm so excited for the next book and to see what other issues will come up for Myla to concur.

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Review: Angelbound by Christina Bauer

Angelbound by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Myla just wants to fight in the arena 24/7. As a quasi-demon, she is amazing at kicking ass and she loves the thrill when she wins a fight. Sadly, she still has to go to school for her senior year to get placed in a job afterward. She's not too worried about it now, because she's hoping to be a fighter.

And every time Walker, her ghoul, comes to take her to the arena, Myla just gets more and more excited. Even though lately, not all of the summons she has is to fight. There is a power struggle going between Armageddon, the self made ruler of Purgatory, who should be in Hell since he's a demon, and Verus, the angel who does not want these evil souls to come to Heaven. And because of this power struggle, the structure of Purgatory is breaking apart piece by piece.

Myla also seems to be in the middle of this struggle, even though she has no idea why. When her mother allows Verus to give her dreamscapes about her mom's past, Myla realizes that all those times she asked about who her father is was something she may not want to know now.

And as if that wasn't enough, she is also dealing with the arrogant High Prince Lincoln who thinks she is scum in Purgatory because she is a demon. Myla is all for hating Lincoln, but lately she's starting to think it may be more than hate she feels for him. In fact, it may be the completely opposite, which is just ridiculous.

Life for Myla is about to be turned upside down, and she's going to have to figure out how to deal with all of the changes, or be defeated by the evil minds in Purgatory.

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! Why have I been prolonging reading this book?!? Well, because it's a series and I wanted all of the books, but that's not the point. The point is that I really really really liked this novel! It's so unique from other books out there, and from the ones that I've read, and the author did an amazing job describing and creating this new world for me to live in :)

Myla is amazing. Seriously, I want to be her friend. I can be her and Cissy's friend, right? Well, maybe not Cissy as much because she is such a drama queen, but she is completely loyal to Myla, so I could deal with her.

The sass that Myla has is just ridiculous and I'm always hoping that she will back talk someone every page I read :) And she is so brave. She goes to the arena ready to fight, but she also has to be in the presence of Armageddon, which is no joke to do.

Then the tension between her and Lincoln just flies off the chart!! There was so many feelings that Myla was going through and she just couldn't figure out why she was feeling that toward a guy who was obviously resenting Myla's existence.

I so loved this book and I'm very glad that I have most of the books in the series so I can dive right in and continue reading about Myla's grand adventure, now that everything has changed for her :)

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Review: Duty Bound by Christina Bauer

Duty Bound by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Lincoln, High Prince, is having a rough go at things lately. He has to leave his homeland to stay in Purgatory, because an angel requires them to. Then he has to be around demons daily, which he usually kills them - so his self restraint is being tested. He has to deal with Aldred's incompetence of leading his army, because eventually he will have all of his soldiers killed with his terrible calls. Lincoln has a plan to fix that, but it could end very badly. And now he's obsessing over a quasi demon who is keeping the doxies out of his horse stable. Out of all of this, the girl is what is on his mind over and over again. Which is silly, since Lincoln wouldn't be caught dead being attracted to a demon, right?

Life for Lincoln has always been tense - with being in line to be the next King - but right now, he's just trying to live minute by minute and figure out what is the right choice in every event.

This was a great novella! I actually read this after Angelbound because I knew it was written after the first book, and I wanted to get a feel of the world Christina Bauer created before going into a short story about a main character. And I'm so glad I did, because it gives me a whole different perspective of Lincoln! I can't believe how much he thought of Myla before he even met her! It makes every conversation between them so much better in Angelbound!

Lincoln takes on a lot of responsibility, and I can't believe what happened between him and the Accra tribe - Amazing! He is one stubborn and stern headed person, and I now know that him and Myla belong with each other.

Plus I loved being able to see him with his parents - it gives a lot of perspective to their relationship as son/parents and as husband/wife. You can tell that his mother wears the pants in their relationship :)

I'm so glad this story was created and the reader got a chance to dive into Lincoln's head :) I can't wait for the rest of the series that I'm about to dive into!

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Review: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Violet, Klaus and Sunny have always had a pretty good life. Granted, Violet is the oldest and she is only 14, but for the most part, the three of them were happy and comfortable.

But then something dreadful happened - their parents died in a fire at their house when the three children were at the beach. Since then, everything has gone downhill fast for the three children, and their story is full of terrible things that they have to endure.

Because of their parents will and their wishes, they want the kids to be raised by a family member. But they wanted them to be in the city where they grew up. Unfortunately, there is only 1 of their very very very distant relatives that lives in the city, and his name is Count Olaf. An illusive actor who is very strange and, as the children find out, very cruel.

Now Violet, Klaus and Sunny have to figure out a way to live with Count Olaf. It doesn't help that Count Olaf is very upset that he can't get to the fortune that is waiting for Violet to become 18, either. So he makes their life miserable by having them do chores, make dinner, and other grueling work.

But when they find out Count Olaf's plan to get to the children's money, that's when they really understand the terrible situation they are in, and now it is up to Violet and Klaus to find a way to leave Count Olaf's care.

So, I thought that I had read this book before, and I believe I did, but I think it was so long ago before I had Goodreads, so I haven't put this on my read list yet! But now that I have read this, I find myself needing to read the whole series, which I know I haven't done yet because the last books weren't even published back then.

I have to say, this may be a short book, but there is so much terribleness in here! Those poor children have been through a horrible ordeal, and then to have to deal with Count Olaf? I would have run away from his house and fending for myself on the streets honestly. And with how book smart Klaus is, and how inventive smart Violet is, I think they could have made it on their own!

I seriously was so mad at Count Olaf's idea to obtain the fortune of the children. I was sick to my stomache, and honestly cannot believe that this is geared toward children with the content that was discussed. And how poor Sunny was treated?

I feel like these children are going to grow more hardened by the end of this series, but more smart and will hopefully find a way out of their predicament on their own instead of waiting for the lazy adults to figure things out.

I am so glad I re-read this novel for bookclub and I'm very excited to dive into the series to see what other horrible things these three siblings will escape from!

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Review: The Boy I Grew Up With by Tijan

The Boy I Grew Up With by Tijan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC. This is my honest review.

Channing has been the boy that Heather grew up with and has fallen in and out of love her whole life. She can't even imagine loving anyone else, because Channing is the guy for her.

Except he is in sketchy things with his crew - things that put Heather in danger. She can't keep getting mixed up with his business, which is why they have been on again and off again so often since high school.

And as much as Heather loves Channing, one of them needs to change their life. The question is who will make the sacrifice, and will it destroy their relationship if they have to change theirselves completely?

I was super excited to get this book, because I have been dabbling in Tijan's novels lately and have really enjoyed them. I think my only 3 stars for this book is because I was a bit lost when I started it. I knew it was a spin off of the Fallen Crest High series (which I have - just haven't read it yet) and I think that is what was wrong with my lack of emotional ties with this book. I know it's a standalone, but I think I could have gotten a lot more out of it if I had already read the previous series.

Plus Heather and Channing were getting on my NERVES. I get that life is complicated and rough for them, but for god's sake, if you want to be together then figure it out! Otherwise, get over it!

So I'm very happy that they got to the figure it out stage, even if it was a bumpy ride...

Overall, I'm glad I got a copy of this book, and I think it's going to convince me to read the Fallen Crest High series - finally! I'm very thankful that I received an eARC to get a glimpse into this world that Tijan is famous for!

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Review: The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian

The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit, if it wasn't for my book club i probably wouldn't have picked this up to read. Sure the synopsis sounds amazing but other than that i would have debated and decided not to read it.

Keeley is a typical teenae girl in a crisis that is definitely not typical. A lot of reviewers on Goodreads say that she is annoying and bratty, but one has to remember that she is a junior in high school and literally everything around her is falling apart. Her home is becoming a lake, her dad is fighting the town, she finally gets a semi chance wuth the boy shes always crushed on, and her friendships are crumbling every day. So yeah she's going to act like a brat.

I seriously wouldn't know how to feel if this happened to my town. This is just crazy and wild and unimaginable to me. Plus I'd be terrified cause i can't swim so i would have been the first one out.

This was a very intriguing and engaging story to read and definitely had me thinking a lot of "what if"s through out the book!

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Review: The Gargoyle Chronicles: A Riga Hayworth Mystery by Kirsten Weiss

The Gargoyle Chronicles: A Riga Hayworth Mystery by Kirsten Weiss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

This novel was okay. I think i made the mistake in starting this series with this book full of short stories instead of reading it in the right order because i was so lost and confused during all of it. I bet readers who have read everything will really enjoy this book, though! I'm glad i got a chance to read it and i may decide to read the series at a later date.

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Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great ending to the series! It's a bit lose ended and has a lot that is unknown but that gives the reader a chance to imagine what happens on their own.

I will say that Lara Jean did annoy me a little more than she should have with all of her indecisions and going back and fourth on hige decisions but i had to remind myself that she is a teenager. That is literally the definition of a teenage girl!

Glad i got a chance to read the series but i am definitely going to be rewatching the Netflix show more times than i will reread this book series :)

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Review: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lara Jean realizes that she really likes Peter. Not in the fake way like they started, but as in she wants to really date Peter now. Real boyfriend and girlfriend.

But then she also just wants to keep it casual and light, like what they have been doing during their fake relationship... Really, Lara Jean is just not sure what she wants right now.

Just when things seem to be working out, two things happen. One, Peter is hanging out a lot with Gen, and Lara Jean doesn't like it. Especially since Peter wont't tell her what they are doing when they are hanging out, except "they are just friends". And two, Lara Jean got a letter in the mail. A letter from John - 1 of her 5 loves that she wrote an email to - saying that he finally received her letter since he moved from the last known address Lara Jean had known.

John was always the one who got away and now that Lara Jean is reconnecting with him, she realizes how much she really liked him.

There is a lot of miscommunication and wild feelings going around, and Lara Jean is going to need to figure out exactly what she wants in life, before she loses it for good.

I liked this sequel. It was a bit slow at first, but then things started to pick up and drama was flying all around with these characters. The drama between the Lara Jean/Peter/Gen situation got to be redunant and annoying honestly. I just wanted everyone to make up their mind and figure everything out, because living in doubt and jealously is so tiring after awhile.

And the whole drama between Lara Jean/Peter/John was an interesting development. I'm glad Lara Jean was able to figure out her brain in the end and not let just her feelings jerk her around.

Overall, this was a good novel, and I'm very intrigued to see what the next novel is going to bring. Oh, and I will say that this book had a lot of the same features that the Netflix movie had, so I'm going to be interested to see how things are different when movie #2 comes out.

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Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lara Jean is a romantic. She has been in love with 5 guys in her 16 years and she has written each one a private letter professing her love and made them as her closure to her young love. These letters were never to be seen in the light of day, mind you. These letter were for her to keep and re-read whenever she wanted to.

But somehow, they got out. As in, they got mailed to the 5 boys. And now Lara Jean has to deal with the questions and reactions.

Because one of those letters was for Josh, her neighbor, and also her older sister, Margo's, ex-boyfriend, Lara Jean does something very...drastic. She tells Josh that she is dating someone else. Someone who also got a letter from Lara Jean. Someone named Peter, and someone who decides that they can pretend to date for their own advantage.

So now Lara Jean, a girl who has never dated before, is now dating one of the most popular boys in her class. And she has no idea what she is doing. She just knows that she has to avoid Josh until everything dies down and he doesn't ask about the letter, and that Margo never finds out.

But of course things don't go according to her plan, and things slightly fall apart. Lara Jean is usually an optimistic point of view girl, but hopefully her looking on the bright side can get her through the bumps she's about to face.

So I made a mistake...I watched the TV movie on Netflix before reading this book. I know, I know, it was bad of me, but I just really wanted to watch it!! And I loved it! And I did enjoy this book, but I think I would have liked it way more if I had read it first.

But that's okay. I'm still glad that I read it because I am also reading the other two in the series to see how everything goes with these characters.

Lara Jean is just a good girl. She reminds of me of myself in high school in a way, but then also not in a way. One I was never that romantic, nor did I care for high school boys because they were always so immature and I just couldn't handle them in the hallways, let alone actually date one. And two she is a baker and a girly girl, whereas I was always reading and I was a tomboy when doing sports.

For this to have happened to her is just craziness! Poor girl. But I'm also glad that it happened to her because she needed to live a little and get out in the world. No one goes anywhere in life by staying home and watching life outside their window.

The movie was a bit different than this novel, but for the most part it was pretty close to the story. I'm interested to see what happens after the way it ended! I will definitely be recommending this to friends and patrons at work!

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Review: Just Pretending by Leah Rooper

Just Pretending by Leah Rooper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Eva is now Queen of her people, and she couldn't more more thrilled about it. But let's face it, she is still a teenager and she wants to live a normal life for a brief moment. When she gets the chance to go visit her brother in Chicago, Eva is over the moon about it. But it seems that Daniel is determined to keep her extremely busy doing touristy stuff and not just roaming around and having fun.

Tyler met Eva once, and thought she was an amazing person, so he was excited to see her again. But their first meeting didn't go too hot, and then Tyler was doing a favor to Daniel by picking up Prince Tiberius from the airport, when Eva mistook him for Tiberius! Now Tyler is a fake prince, but he is finally finding the connection with Eva that he had the very first time they met.

Tyler knows he needs to tell Eva the truth, but honestly, a poor motherless boy like him isn't going to see Eva, a Queen, again, so what's the harm in pretending?

Well a lot when he ends up falling for her, and then gets dragged to her home, her castle, for Christmas...

Now the cat is going to be out of the bag, and life is going to change dramatically for everyone...

This was a cute novel. I haven't read the first or the second book, but from what I can guess, each of these books have the common denominator of mistaken identities.

I didn't really connect with the characters as well as I would like, but I feel like if I had read the other books I may have had a better connection. I can't imagine being a Queen at only 16, but Eva seems to know what she is doing. She just wants to be a teenager too, which sadly doesn't always happen all of the time.

And Tyler has had a rough go lately, and I really do feel for him for his condition. But I feel like he was struggling for no reason because he could have told his dad or a teacher and gotten the help that he needed.

Overall this was a cute novel and I'm glad I got a chance to read it.

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Review: Bad Judgment by Meghan March

Bad Judgment by Meghan March
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Justine has been working her whole life to get to this moment. She is in law school to become the best lawyer to help kids like her when she was growing up. And Justine is not going to let ANYTHING distract her, not even the sexy Ryker who has been trying to date her for the last two years. He's only mad that she is the only girl who has turned him down, and in order to make sure her future is secure, Justine has to keep ignorning what could be with Ryker.

But when her scholarship for school gets taken away, Justine literally has no way to continue her schooling to be a lawyer. She's not able to apply for student loans, and she has no one else in her life to borrow that money from.

When a professor/advisor offers to pay for her schooling in exchange to tutor Ryker and get him through law school, Justine does not want to do it. It feels wrong. But after looking at all of her options, she really can't turn it down.

The problem is that the more she is around Ryker, the more she is starting to REALLY like him... And now taking money for tutoring him is definitely wrong, so sh has to make a decision: date Ryker and fall in love while feeling guilty, or risk her law school education to have a good future.

This was a great novel. I loved the connection between Justine and Ryker, and I seriously have no idea how she was able to avoid temptation for 2 years, because I would have caved way before then! He is so sweet and sexy and he may want to be played off as a dummy in school, but he is really smart. He goes after what he wants, and boy did he want Justine! It would make any girl swoon :)

Justine's life growing up was really terrible. I can't imagine parents like that and with everything that they did to her? I'm so glad she got the chance to have a normal life with someone who loves her when she was with her grandpa, but it was bittersweet when he passed away.

Justine is a tough little cookie and she was determined to make everything right in the end, which I admire so much. And I loved how everything ended despite the fact that I know things don't end that nicely, especially when it comes to student loans!

So glad I got this off Amazon and I will be looking for more books by this author!

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Review: The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick

The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting novel. It definitely made me think about how I would react if the power and electronics in my life just stopped working. I do know that I would not want it to to happen in the middle of winter, because I HATE being cold.

The TV, video game, cellphone going away wouldn't bother me too much, because that was my childhood when I grew up. I was always outside or reading my book instead of having my face stuck in electronics.

But the no light, heat, plumbing? Yeah, that would be really hard for me to cope with. I like having those abilities in my life, and I'm not too keen on losing those.

This was a great novel that makes the reader really wonder how life was, and how it could be if anything catastrophic were to heppen. I'm just hoping that the world won't come to that!

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Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this so much! Review to come closer to release date!

I received an eARC novel from the author and Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: October 30, 2018

Evie has a normal life with normal expectations. She is the buffer between her friends at times, and she loves to take photos in her spare time - especially with her new camera that she just got.

So when she goes with her friend, Heidi, to the nightclub that has humans and Luxen - well more Luxen than humans - she's a bit intimidated and freaked out. She's never done anything that wild, and Evie is completely out of her element at Foretoken club.

After Heidi left her, Evie found herself being escourted by the bouncer, she's freaking out. And when she's sitting down next to THE gorgeous guy who stole her breath from her the second she met his eyes. But once Luc opened his mouth, Evie knew she was going to have problems with his cocky attitude.

From the moment Evie talked to Luc, her entire life changed. And pretty much not for the better, since her life was falling around her every day.

But now that Evie has been thrust in a world she had no clue about, she needs to find a way to survive this chaotic mess. And she needs to figure out what she is feeling when it comes to Luc and his arrogant/presumptuous demeanor.

O. M. G.!!!!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT WE 1. GOT LUC'S STORY AND 2. GET TO REVISIT THE LUX UNIVERSE!!!! Seriously, I loved this so much! Luc is an eerily similar version of Daemon, and reading his interactions with Evie made me blush just as much as the other series!!! And Luc has no qualms keeping away from Evie, unlike how Daemon was with Katy at the beginning, so we got all of the great stuff thrown at us at once and it was just AMAZING!!!

Evie is a tough bird, She's also stubborn and a bit naive at times, but for a girl who hasn't engrossed herself with the knowledge of the Luxen, I'm not too surprised. Though I have to say, if I was in this world and aliens came to my home, I would so be doing as much research as I could to know about these foreign people who are here to stay. Plus it doesn't hurt that they are so dang attractive!! :D

The big secret that was revealed I called a mile away, but that's okay because it was amazing to see how all of the characters responded to the news. And Evie's reaction was so real and something that any normal person would have done, and I loved that. It may have been a bit much, but it was real and emotional and raw. And I loved it.

I am so, so, so glad I got an early copy of this book, and I am already antsy to get my hands on the next book because I can only imagine what is going to happen drama wise and attraction wise between Luc and Evie!

Fans are going to LOVE this book and will be sitting on the edge of their seat the whole novel!

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Review: Hollow Earth by Amy Miles

Hollow Earth by Amy Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Taryn is being tortured. Going on the royal tour to other lands is downright miserable for her and she is ready for it to be over. She is very grateful for Prince Aed saving her life by saying she was his intended wife, but now she has to suffer through the royal protocols.

And she is also trying to forget her feelings for Devlin, even though she knows that nothing could happen between them being a banshee and human, but that doesn't stop the way she feels. Hopefully her and Aed will find some common ground with their new future.

Devlin is determined to get to the Netherworld. One, so he can find Taryn and make sure she is okay, and two, so he can find Tris and figure out how to help Seamus, who is getting sicker and sicker with the Lorcan bite that he got.

Finally Devlin was able to get into contact with Tris, and they were able to be smuggled into the Netherworld. When he finds Taryn, the situation is far more complicated than he could have imagined.

And with the Lorcans changing and attacking out of normal, Taryn is determined to save her people, even if Aed is all about the ridiculous royal tour.

But things are about to become very complicated when everyone realizes just how much the Lorcan has changed, and the fate of everyone's lives are in very grave danger.

I seriously am enjoying this series so much! There were SO MANY twists and turns in this book. One that made me disappointed, because I really am Team Aed, and now that isn't in the cards, which is very upsetting, but I'll get over it.

I have so many questions after the big bomb went off at the end, and none that I can ask because it will contain spoilers to everyone who hasn't read this book yet, but they are killing me!!

And it also is killing me that I have to wait for FOREVER to get the next book and find out what happens. Have I mentioned that I hate cliffhange endings in series...? Sigh...

Anyway, I really loved this book, I really love these characters, and I really love this world that Amy and Danielle have createad. I wish that I had the eniter series to binge read through fast, but I guess I will have to contain my frustration of having to wait.

Fans of Amy and Danielle and this series are going to love this book with the twists and turns and action that is jam packed into this novel! I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to read it!!

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Review: Whiskey Prince by Toni Aleo

Whiskey Prince by Toni Aleo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anberlynn has had a very trying life in her 18 years. She lost her father when she was 12, and then it was just her and her mom. Then they found out that her mom had cancer, and Amberlynn took care of her for the past 2 years. When her mom died, she was lost on what to do, but then she got a letter her mom wrote to her telling her to go stay with Amberlynn's aunt and uncle in Ireland and finally live her life like a normal 18 year old.

At first, she didn't want to leave her home that she has lived her whole life, but eventually she decided that it was the right move to make.

Declan is the Whiskey Prince. His family, from as far back as he can remember, has been in the Irish whiskey business, and Declan is more than ready to become the next person to take charge of this business. The problem is that he can't take over the business until he marries. Declan hasn't found the right woman to fall in love with, so he isn't sure who he will marry within 6 months of the timeline his father gave him.

The second Declan saw the "american" across the lake, he was done for. He knew that Amberlynn was the one for him. Once he finally got up the courage to talk to her, he was ruined for any other girl in town.

Things were moving slowly between Declan and Amberlynn since both were not used to dating or being in a relationship. But then their lives are threatened, and Declan and Amberlynn have to figure out how much they care for each other, and if they will have the chance to see how things progress.

For the most part I liked this book. I liked the storyline and the intent the book was going. There were some slow moments where I got a bit bored, and it seemed like there were a couple of moments that really didn't need to be included in this book, but overall I enjoyed it.

I feel so much when I think about Amberlynn. To have one person go through all of that heartache and pain and sadness is just so sad. And to see her still being an uplifting, light spirited girl gives me hope that there are people like her out there. She was so in love with her parents and so close to them, that when she lost them she lost a piece of herself as well. Her mom was her best friend, and she lost that person to turn to for happy and sad events to talk about. So I was really happy she found her cousin and became best friends with her, so Amberlynn could have another close connection with someone.

Declan seems like a great guy and he is so loyal to his family and his family business. I do have to say that he is very quick to anger when he gets mad, though. I don't like that side of him and it always made me worried that he was going to go to far when he lost his temper.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, and I may eventually read the next book, but I'm not dying-right-not-that-I-have-to-have-it, so I think I'm going to read the 1,000+ other eBooks that I have.

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Review: Claire by Abigail Strom

Claire by Abigail Strom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After Claire gets dumped by her boyfriend of 4 years, she decides that she is going to be single for awhile. She even makes a pact with one of her friends at college. And Claire is set on her goal, until Will comes around and he seems interested in her as more than friends...

Will has been crushing on Claire since the moment he met her freshman year. But since both he and Claire were dating other people, he knew nothing was going to happen.

Then Claire became single and he thought it might be his chance with her. After Claire made her declaration of single life, he saw his chance come crashing down. And to add to that, he thinks he may be getting the friendzone status. It may be better than the rebound guy, but Will really wants to have something serious with Claire.

The longer they hangout together, the more both Claire and Will realize they like each other as more than just a friend.

An accident happens at one of Will's football game that left him devastated. Claire decides to take things in her own hands and knock some sense into Will. But she's afraid that if she pushes too far, she may lose everything she has with Will.

This was such a good book! It was nice to go backk to the Hart University world that Abigail Strom has created, and I enjoyed the characters in this novel.

I loved the fact that Will was so into Claire. Most times, the guys are being aloof and distant and trying to make the girl work harder to get him, but it was kinda the opposite in this book. Will so wanted to date Claire but he respected the fact that she had a boyfriend and that it wasn't the right time then. And he is so shy almost! Then he also respected her plan to be single and to find her true self instead of rushing her into another relationship. Pretty much Will is the perfect guy out there.

And I respected Claire's decision to be single for a little bit. She didn't want to lose herself and her true identity into a guy and to revolve her life around him. Many women do that and think they have to be with a guy to be happy, and that is not true. So for Claire to decide to find herself is amazing.

I think this novel has a lot of great messages to the reader, and I'm so glad I finally read this. I think other readers will fall in love with this book.

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Review: A Nordic King by Karina Halle

A Nordic King by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aurora has decided that nannying may not be the job for her anymore, even though she's been doing is amazingly well for 7 years. When her agent wants her to apply for another nanny position, she decides she'll give it a try and see how it goes.

What she didn't realize until she met the family was that she was going to be watching two princesses. No. Legit princesses of Denmark. The Queen passed away and now the King needs someone to keep up with his 5 & 6 year old daughters while he's busy with ruling his country. Aurora is stunned, but she realizes that she does want to help these girls get past their grief. Aurora can relate to them since she also had a parent die when she was a young girl.

The only bummer part about this job is the king... He outright told Aurora that she isn't right or good enough for the job, and the only reason she even got it is because his daughters wanted her and guilted him into his decision.

Now Aurora is struggling to prove that she belongs there, while also fighting the attraction she feels toward the surly king.

King Aksel did not need the temptation of beautiful Aurora in his castle. She is too young, too pretty, and too much sunshine personality for his life. But he will do whatever he needs to do to make his daughters happy, so now he is stuck with her.

The longer Aurora is there, the more Aksel sees that she is exactly what his daughters need, but he is trying so very hard to keep his distance from her. Aksel already got his heart broken once, but he has a feeling that if he got too close to Aurora, he would experience another level of brokenness.

This was a great book! I got intrigued by the cover first and then I read the synopsis and knew that I had to read this novel. The back story of both Aurora and Aksel invovled heartbreak, betrayal and survival that you can't help but root them on throughout the entire novel to find a way to move on and get a brighter future.

I appreciated how long it took the two of them to get together. Most romance novels the attraction is instantaneous and off the charts intensity, but this book took us through almost half a year before the characters really got involved with each other. And I loved reading about their inner struggles and how real it felt, because that is how it is in real life with real people.

I also loved the storytale feel of this book, because, hello? Kings and princesses? Every girl's dream, right? But it didn't start off like a normal fairy tale, so that made it even better for me as a whole.

I am so glad that I took a chance on this novel and decided to read it, because it was fantastic. So many twists and turns and pining and love and risks and adventure. It was the whole package, and now it has made me want to go and read more books by Karina Halle. Maybe I'll just go have to check out some more books by her :)

I definitely recommend this book for readers and I will be looking out for more by this author!

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Review: Wolf by Bella Love-Wins

Wolf by Bella Love-Wins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rose lives a simple life. She takes care of her grandmother and she works 6 days a week waitressing. Simple. Or so she makes it look like to everyone around her. The truth is, she's hiding her true identity, and she's constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Rose is prepared for anything that comes her way, and she will fight to the death to see another day.

But when The Hunter - Thorne - shows up, she can't figure him out. She fights with him and is trying to stay out of his sight, but Thorne was assigned to watch her, observe her. He hasn't figured out why, yet; all he knows is this is an easy assignment for him after his last couple of jobs.

Thorne realizes that this isn't a normal girl, though, especially when she KNOWS that he is around her, even if she can't see him. No one knows when he is watching her, so that alone makes him understand that this girl is something else.

When the real reason Thorne is in town comes blazing in, Thorne and Rose both are going to have to let their guard down to trust one another, but trusting anyone may be the one mistake that ends their lives.

This was a great novel! I loved Rose so much, and Thorne was a tough, moody, sexy man who I couldn't get enough of. Rose, though, she's a great character and she is so strong. She is a fighter and she doesn't give up. At all. And she is loyal to the 3 most important people in her life, making sure they aren't around when shit hits the fan.

The attraction between Rose and Thorne was catching the pages on fire with how intense it was. It did move a bit faster than I think it woud have in real life, especially with how much they didn't trust each other at the beginning, but overall it was good.

I'm really glad I got a chance to read this, and I will definitely be looking for more books in this series to see how all of the stories pan out!

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Review: Tiny Pieces by Stephanie Henry

Tiny Pieces by Stephanie Henry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Cole has always been a huge part of Aria's life, but when he destroys her 10 years ago, she has had to learn how to move on from him. The problem is that she is still broken by his betrayal, no matter how much time has past.

But Aria definitely wasn't prepared to see him back in their hometown, and then she was floored when he said that he was moving back home. Aria cannot stomache the idea of seeing him around randomly, and since he is best friends with her family, she keeps running into him over and over again.

Cole has had a lot of time to think about his life and the struggles that he has overcome, but the one thing he has always regretted was how things ended with Aria. Now that he is back in town, he is going to try to make amends. But some things are harder to smoother over than others, and Cole may find that Aria doesn't want to go through that heartbreak again by letting him back into her life.

I liked this book. I was just disappointed with how much DIDN'T happen in the novel. All the characters did was talk about the "incident" that happened to destroy Aria, but it wasn't revealed until later what it was. So nothing really happened, just a party, working, hanging out with family and friends, and not a lot else. I do have to say that there isn't a "bad event/person" who comes to try to destroy them, so that was a bit of a change, but I think many novels thrive when there is an atmosphere of suspense.

The other thing that really annoyed me was that Aria was so destroyed by what Cole did to her, but the second the truth is discovered, it's like she instantly forgives him... I mean, this broke her heart for 10 years, but now that she knows the truth, all of those years are forgot about how much she was hurt? Definitely not believable. And quite annoying as well. It makes it seem that it's normal that people are forgiven that fast for past mistakes, and that is definitely not the case.

Overall, it was a good novel. I'm not going to re-read this book in the future, but I would be interested in other novels by this author to see what else she has written. This was a cute, short novel that I can see other readers liking.

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Review: Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: December 18, 2018

Zae has a great life. She lives with her mom, dad and younger brother in the house she's been in her whole life. She has a great boyfriend. She does cheerleading at school and has 3 amazing best friends.

But things started to go downhill fast around spring break Junior Year. First she caught her boyfriend cheating on her at a party. Then she finds out her parents are splitting up due to cheating.

Now, Zae doesn't believe in love. She comes up with a plan to have fun and basically "act like a guy" by getting as many kisses as she can during spring break. Guys do it all of the time, why can't Zae and her 3 best friends?

At first it's fun, but after awhile, past kisses come back to talk to Zae, crushes are off the table and jealously runs among the friends, and feelings are hurt in the end. Zae realizes that her good idea of fun may have terrible reprecussions. And mix that with the secrets she finds out about her parents, Zae is realizing that love is a very complicated thing.

I love Wendy Higgins, and I am not surprised that I adored this book of hers as well! Not only was this a good YA book, there were so many issues that readers can relate to. It is so real and there are so many messages that are given in this book.

This book is about love. It starts off with love and heartbreak, and the reader essentially goes through every stage of love you can think of: child's love for parents, husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, best friends, crushes, endearment, heartbreak, and pinning/wanting something to be more.

I loved the aspect with the poetry from English class. To know that someone is watching you, paying attention to you, attracted to you but it being a secret is a complicated mystery. On the one hand, you really want to know who it is, but on the other hand, you are unsure if you want to know because you may not like that person as much as you did when it was a mystery.

What Zae and her friends did - the kiss list - is something I would never do, let alone think about doing. I can see how the girls wanted to give the guys a taste of their own medicine, sure. But after reading about their drama for the rest of their junior year makes me happy that I didn't have to deal with that mess. I was simply at school to go to class, do homework, and then read my books. Because I know that high school is really similar to this novel, so I was one of the lucky ones I feel like :)

And I felt so much for Zae and her brother when they were going through their parents separation. I feel like they should have included her brother in all of the information about why they were separated because I think an honesty policy needs to be used in this situation, but I may be alone in this thoughht process.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the ending! It made me so happy to see Zae figure out her life and to realize that love is ever changing. She grew so much during this novel and showed the reader that you can experience so much when the opportunity rises. Doors open all of the time, you just have to take a chance to try something new.

This book was so great, and I know there will be many happy readers when this is released in December! There is so much to learn from this novel and to realize that not everything is as it seems. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this early! :)

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Review: Mating Season by Theresa Hissong

Mating Season by Theresa Hissong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Tessa is thankful that she was able to find two places to work at in her new town after having to escape her crazy ex-husband, even it if means she only gets one day a week off to do things for herself. Some days make it seem rough and hard, but nothing will compare to her life before when she was scared and bossed around.

Drake is growing impatient finding his mate for his shifter, but he knows that it will be impossible to find the one if he is always on his land and not pursing his bear's mate. But Drake hates humans, and the only place where they do not come is his land that he shares with his 2 brothers.

After hibernation, Drake and his brothers need to get ready to plant their crops to make their money for the new season, so he heads into town to get parts for their tractor. Who knew that the person who will be delievering their parts would be none other than Tessa, a human, who is also Drake's mate.

Tessa knows about shifters, but she's never met one before Drake and his brothers. And she's definitely never met a bear shifter. To say she's intrigued is an understatement, but she has no idea what being a mate is...

Just when Tessa and Drake are getting used to the idea of being mates, trouble comes into town when Tessa's ex is hunting for her. But if you've ever encountered a grizzly bear, you will understand that things are about to get...grizzly...when Drake's mate is threatened...

Wow! This is my second book by Theresa Hissong and I loved it! The first wasn't for me, but give me a good shifter book and I'm in it! I loved how tough but shy Tessa was and I loved how rough and moody Drake was.

I especially loved the 360 of Drake's attitude when he accepted that Tessa was his mate and how attentive he was to her. Now I want a bear shifter as a mate, cause the lifee they want to give their mates sounds amazing!!!

It really sucks how bad Tessa's first marriage was and how it got worse as time went on. I'm glad she was able to get out of that situation, even though he wasn't letting her go.

And it was great that Tessa was really able to help Drake get past his hatred toward humans because hating a whole species is not healthy.

I'm very glad I got a chance to read this book, and I will probably be seeking more novels from this series soon to see how the 2 brothers find their mates - especially since they are the ones actively seeking their mate!

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Review: Price of Duty by Todd Strasser

Price of Duty by Todd Strasser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.

Being in a family that has served the country by being in the military, Jake felt that it was his duty to also enlist into the Forever War. He wasn't pressured by anyone, but he knew that his grandfather would judge him. Funny thing is, his father was sad and disappointed that he enlisted.

After his convoy got invaded by the enemy, Jake was one of the lucky ones who survived. His leg is in a cast, and his left arm and hand got serious injuries. Because of his wounds, he was able to go home for awhile to rest and recoup, before going off to rehab to finish off his time.

But being back home is weird. He was excited to go back to normal, but nothing is normal anymore. When fireworks go off, Jake thinks that there is gunfire happening.

So now Jake is trying to figure out how to live, and what choices he wants to make for his future.

Jake has a lot of difficult decisions to make, and a lot of past events to reflect upon.

Wow. I seriously liked this book!! It was short, but had a HUGE message in this novel, and the content was so gutwrenching to read about. My heart was breaking for Jake and what he went through overseas and then what he was going through once he got home. Everyone called him a hero, but Jake felt anything but being a hero and that shows how much he was affected by what had happened to him.

I can't even imagine being in Jake's shoes, and then to come home to "normal" only to have it not be normal anymore? I mean, he missed holding his gun, and he wasn't even at war for that long.

This book definitely shows how much war wears on a person and makes them change as a whole. Everyone always says that they look and act the same, but someone who is going to PTSD will look and act like normal. It's what's going on inside of them that really matters and will really make you understand the struggles they are going through.

This is a powerful book. A memorial book. And one that I really think teens should read.

Especially for the fact that Jake and his friends he made stated that they thought it would be good because they love playing Call of Duty video game. That, to me, makes that so real since I know how many teens do play that game. And it is completely true that being in war in real life is nothing like being a character in a video game.

I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book, and I definitely won't forget it anytime soon!

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Review: Pulled Back Again by Danielle Bannister

Pulled Back Again by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Jada and Tobias moved from their home to try to hide from Hawk when he got out of prison. Tobias is terrified of what Hawk is going to do for revenge, and is scare of what Hawk has become. Jada didn't think Hawk was that far gone, but when she went to visit him, she saw how unhinged he has become.

And they are both terrified of what will happen to their family, but they started to see a silver lining when they heard nothing after Hawk got released.

But after a horrifying phone call, Tobias and Jada will be thrown into chaos again. And they are going to have to rely on their Twin Flame connection to make sure they don't lose each other in the horrible situation that is ahead. Because if they can't save each other, history may be repeating itself again and again...

This was a good ending to this series. I was a solid 3 star girl for all three novels because there were things I liked and things I didn't like. This third novel, though, nicely summed everything up and made a great 360 turn to fix things that were super mixed up from the previous novels.

I really wished that I had a better connection with the characters, but ALL of them were just too flawed and damaged for me to find strength in them. I mean, they did at the end find the strength they need, but that took 3 books and many many pages of my life to get there.

I thought it was fitting how Hawk was able to help Tobias in the end, and I absolutely loved the epilogue. That alone was redeemable in my mind of all the horrible things that happened in this novel.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this series, even though it wasn't my all time favorite. I definitely will not be forgetting certain things about these books!

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Review: Pulled Back by Danielle Bannister

Pulled Back by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Jada has had a pretty crappy life so far in her 17 years. When she was born, her mother passed away in childbirth, which has made her father very bitter and angry at Jada. It only gets worse when he decides to move them to her mother's hometown for Jada's senior year in high school.

When they arrive, Jada finds out something interesting: she was one of 3 babies born on the same night, on the same day, in the same hospital. And she meets the other two: Tobias and Hawk. Hawk is insistent that he and Jada are meant to be. What else does it mean that they were born on the same night?

And even though Hawk and Tobias are best friends - and next door neighbors - their feelings toward each other are getting strained because of their own personal feelings toward Jada. Because while Hawk thinks he is destined to be with her, Tobias has this pull, this connection, with Jada that he cannot describe. Whenever Jada is near, Tobias doesn't feel sick anymore. And being sickly all of his life with asthma and only 1 working lung, he knows that something is unique about him and Jada together.

But everything is falling apart around everyone. Tobias is getting sicker, and he's being forced to stay away from Jada, who is the only person he feels 100% healthy around. Hawk's anger is getting worse and worse, and ever since Jada came to town, he can't control his actions anymore. And Jada's father is getting meaner and drunker every day they are in this town.

Tragedy struck this town once, 17 years ago, and fate has made it that tragedy is about to strike again. Because even though these three don't know their history, they have a tragic past that might be repeating itself...

So. I liked this book. I did! But I'm just so ready for something happy to happen to these characters and for them to get their happily ever after. Because even though they don't remember their past life, I'm still haunted at how book #1 ended and I need for them to be happy and content and live a long, blissful life.

But I don't think that is going to happen. Oh, sure, the ending to this book SEEMED happy enough, but I can see the dark cloud forming around that cursed town of theirs, and I don't think things are going to be all hunky dory soon...

I am still so mad at Jada. Seriously, if you are being abused, even verbally, let alone physically, tell someone! Report it! DON'T TAKE IT AND ACT LIKE YOU DESERVE IT!!! It just frustrates me to no end, and it makes me so sad that this is how the female Twin Flame is always going to live. It just breaks my heart.

And Tobias. I loved how strong he got and how brave and determined he is. Every breath is a struggle for him, but he does a lot of brave things to make sure that Jada is okay.

And do NOT get me started on Hawk. I seriously have never wished death upon a character as much as I do with him. He is a nasty man, and I despise him so much.

I'm excited to read the next one, and will be crossing my fingers and toes and legs and arms the whole time I'm reading, hoping and praying that things end up good in the end. Because if it's another ending like book #1, I'm throwing my book across the room. No, seriously. And I've only done that one other time in my life, so it's that serious.

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Review: Pulled by Danielle Bannister

Pulled by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC from Red Publishing Company. This is my honest review.

Naya went through a horrible event when her parents died in a car accident. Ever since then, she has been disconnected and has panic attacks and black outs. She's hoping that starting over at her dream college will be the right track to get herself under control and make happy memories again. Even though her boyfriend, Seth, decided he was coming with her... despite the fact that he has no interest in performance art, which is what this school is known for.

When she meets Etash for the first time, she is stunned by the connection she feels for her. It's instant and so powerful she has no idea what is going on.

But she's not the only one who feels it. Etash is shocked and confused about this girl who he can't get out of his head. With the scar on his face, Etash is used to being ignored and made fun of and whispered behind his back, but Naya isn't doing any of that. In fact, it seems like she may be feeling the same connection that Etash is feeling.

When Etash and Naya get the lead roles in the upcoming play, they find the connection is only getting stronger the more they are near each other. Both have tried to fight the connection - for multiple reasons - but it's impossible.

Then things go downward fast when Naya runs from Seth. Secrets are revealed, and high strung feelings are being thrown around, and the pressure is on for Naya and Etash.

This book...wow... The connection between Naya and Etash was very intense, and I could definitely see the struggle they had figuring out what was going on between them.

The reason this was rated as 3 stars and not a bit higher is because I was so mad at Naya with her decisions to stay with Seth. I was so mad at her and I just wanted to shake some sense into her. I wanted her to go to the police and get a restraining order against him, but she just accepted whatever he did to her. Even til the very end, she was still making excuses, and I wish that this wasn't true in real life, but it is. And it makes me very sad knowing this, and knowing it's common.

Also, I felt so sad for Etash and the bullying he gets because of his scar on his face. Again this is common in real life, and it's just heartbreaking. Obviously he has been through something terrible if he got that wound, so why do people think it's okay to pick on him?

There were so many bombshells that happened at the end of this book that I feel like a hole has been ripped into my heart. The shocking realization on how Etash and Naya's story really started, and then that ending. So many thoughts and feelings went through me, I couldn't even put it into words if I wanted to.

All I have to say, is thank god Danielle Bannister made another novel, because that was gutwrenching to experience.

I think many readers will enjoy this novel, and now I need to dive into book #2 and hope that it has a better ending than this novel!

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Review: Reckless King by Maya Hughes

Reckless King by Maya Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heath is known as the laid back and fast skater on the ice among his friends and teammates. But what no one knows is that he struggles with an anger that builds inside of him. That's why he is always pushing himself to train - it's the only thing that curves his anger.

Kara is working her tail off to become a professor and teach like her adopted parents. Kara had a hard life before leaving that situation, so now she wants to show her parents that she appreciates everything they did for her.

When Kara and Heath see each other for the first time across the bar, it's an instant connection and attraction. And because of the intensity they both feel, they waste no time getting to know each other.

With the pressure of hockey and the pressure of obtaining her scholarship, the times Kara and Heath can see each other are few and far between. But both know that this is something they want to fight for.

Things get complicated when they find out that Kara is Heath's TA for his independant study class. Now, they have to be professional, teacher/student relationship to not risk their dreams.

But when the pressure gets too much for Heath and Kara, the only thing they want to do is go to each other. Will they lose everything or will they lose each other with the decisions they make?

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!!! Maybe not aaasss much as book #1, but it was still amazing. Heath is smoldering and boy, when he wants something, he makes it his sole mission to get it if there's any possiblity that it's available. And the way he was with Kara? Holy Crap! I wish I was Kara....haha

And I was very surprised with Kara. The way we were introduced to her, she seemed shy, school oriented, very focused, but when she first met Heath, she was bold and brave and she went for what she want. I was shocked, but I was so rooting her on!

Plus, I loved that she went out to a bar by herself and stuck through it even though she was definitely uncomfortable being there by herself. She showed that a single woman can do things on her own and still have fun without a group of people relying on her.

The personal issues that Heath and Kara were both going through were heartbreaking. Heath has so many emotions running through him and it makes the reader see that even though a person can look happy and be laid back and cool, you never know what is going on inside of them. And Kara is haunted by her past, but you would never know that by watching her go for her goals to have a great future.

There were so many great moments in this novel, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this novel. It's a series that is going to be an insta buy for me the second the next books are released.

And let me tell you, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!! I need Emmetts book NOW!!! It's been killing me not knowing everything ever since I read the prequel book, so I'm so glad it is going to be next!!

I definitely recommend this novel, and this series, to any reader because I love them so much :)

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Review: Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: February 5, 2019

Lacey Barnes is going to be famous. She's been in commercials, and had a small acting role in a popular TV show, but now this is her big break. She is the LEADING woman in a movie based off a book, and she is co-starring with GRANT JAMES. The Grant James! Heartthrob, teen actor who everyone is in love with! And she gets to kiss him in the movie!!

What more could a girl want, right!?

Well, it would have been awesome if this could have happened after her senior year in high school. She is grateful for her big opportunity, but she is missing so much at home and at school. She's never going to be able to have another senior year, so that`s a bit of a bummer.

And she also wishes that she has more chemistry with Grant on stage, because it seems like she is struggling to get it just the way the director wants it to be. And Lacey can't mess this up, because if she doesn't do well now, who knows if anyone else will hire her for future movie roles...

So all is not as perfect as she thought it was going to be. Then you throw in the tutor her father hired for her so she won't get behind in school, and the fact that weird things are happing on set and are missing that she needs for her character, and things are starting to look down for Lacey.

But she is going to make the most of her situation, and find solutions for everything, because she needs for this to turn out well. The more she gets invested in everything, though, the more she realizes that you can't plan for everything, and that with fame comes the unpredictable.

I love Kasie West, so I was extremely excited to get a chance to read this eARC!! And it was such a cute novel. I don't think it was my favorite book by West, but it was still a great read. Fun, quirky, mysterious, full of love, laughter, and a lesson on how the perfect life you've always dreamed of may not be what you envisioned.

There were a lot of different qualities to this book that I think will appeal to a large audience of readers. And I loved reading about being on set and filming a movie. I haven`t read too many of those (if any....?) so it was something unique and fresh for me.

And poor Lacey. She has so much on her plate, and she's only 17. I definitely would not want to be in her shoes, that`s for sure!

The mystery was fun in this book. I had a couple of ideas on who was sabotaging the set, and one of my predictions because true, so that was nice! And I loved the snippets we got from the script Lacey was acting in. I almost wish there was a book written about THAT storyline, because I would be very interested in reading that as well!

And the romance between Lacey and Donovan was adorable. It was so fun reading about them and seeing them struggle with their feelings for one another, only to cave into them.

Overall, this was a cute novel and I know die hard fans of Kasie West are going to enjoy it!

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Review: Guarded Desire by Christi Snow

Guarded Desire by Christi Snow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

After being kidnapped by a fan of her mothers, Elle is finding out that going back to her normal life is not as easy as she thought it would be. She thought it would be okay, but her panic attacks are coming more frequently, and she's not able to stop them when they are happening.

That doesn't mean that she appreciates her mom hiring a bodyguard for her. Elle just wants to go to class and get back to her normal, boring life out of the spotlight. But the longer Elle thinks about her kidnapper still out, the more worried she's getting.

Jonah is not thrilled that he has to bodyguard the daughter of a spoiled rich woman. He's not going to enjoy following a pampered princess who will boss him around. But the second Jonah meets Elle, he knows that she is nothing like her mother. In fact, Elle is tying very hard to be the complete opposite of her mother. Which makes her kidnapping 10x worse because he gave Elle a makeover to look exactly like her mother.

All Jonah and Elle want is to find the kidnapper so their lives can get back to normal. But the more they are around each other, the more they realize they are attracted to one another, and once the kidnapper is caught, they won't be in each others lives after that.

And once the mystery is revealed on who Elle's kidnapper is, Elle may never find the ability to trust another person again.

This was a good book. I enjoyed the mystery of it, and I really enjoyed seeing Elle overcome her fears in the end. She was such a confident woman, and anyone would be terrified after what she went through. I especially love how she didn't want to depend on Jonah to take care of things because she realized that puts her in a vulnerable state, and she didn't want to be like that.

The attraction between Jonah and Elle was a bit rushed for me. I thought it went from, we can`t be anything to I can't live without you pretty fast. And at the beginning Elle did depend on Jonah a bit much, which showed how low her self confidence was.

The big reveal was pretty surprising for me, I have to admit. Usually I can figure out the culprit, but this was very shocking for me, and I definitely didn't see it coming at all, which was great! I love when books surprise me! I`ll be interested to see how many readers were able to figure it out beforehand!

I'm very glad I got a chance to read this eCopy of the novel, and I will have to keep my eyes out for more books by Christi Snow in the future!

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Review: Shameless King by Maya Hughes

Shameless King by Maya Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love these characters so much! Usually I give a synopsis of the book first and then my thoughts, but I just adore this book and I basically gave a synopsis with the prequel novel (which by the way, HOOKED ME so I had to get this first novel. So get it!!)

Declan and Mac go from enemies to friends to perhaps more. When Mak goes to school where Declan has been king for the past 3 years, so hopes that they won't see each other. I mean, she is doing science classes and he's doing whatever besides hockey.

But every student is required to take Sophmore Seminary, no matter if you are a transfer or a great hockey player who got a failing grade.

Now Declan and Mak not only have the same class together, and are the only seniors too, but they are now partners who have to turn in every single assignment together.

Throughout the whole semester, they are butting heads, but they are also starting to learn more and more about one another, which puts them in a whole different light for each other.

The tension between these two kill me so much! Seriously, you can feel the heat come off of them on every page. I loved when they were together and was just biting at the bits waiting for them to finally cave into the tension between them and let the sparks fly.

To see Mak loosen up and live a little was amazing, and to see Declan take something as serious as hockey is for him. I also loved how they were able to overcome their personal issues as well, and to finally find the courage to trust each other to tell them what is going on.

I can't wait to read the other hockey players stories, especially Emmetts!!, and I will definitely be keeping this book in mind as one of my favorites to recommend!!! So glad I stumbled upon this series (thanks Facebook ads... ;))

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Review: Kings of Rittenhouse - A Shameless King Prequel by Maya Hughes

Kings of Rittenhouse - A Shameless King Prequel by Maya Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Declan can't wait to go to college and get that out of the way so he can go pro in hockey. He has to outdo his sperm donor, but he also wants to make his mom to be proud of him to graduate from school. And Declan has been the King of hockey for 4 years, so he's a shoe in.

So when the big bash party is coming up, he's very much excited to relax and have a good time with his second family on the hockey team.

But Makenna keeps getting in his way. First it was the yearbook information she needs from him to print the yearbook. He wouldn't have an issue answering it, but Mak is a bit snotty and perfect and impossible to make happy. So his life's mission in the past 4 years was to taunt her whenever she was nearby. By now, it's a game to see how much he can rile her up.

Declan just needs to forget about prom night, and things would be back to normal...

Mak doesn't have time for fun or parties or being popular. She needs to make sure she gets perfect grades to get a scholarship for Standford so her parents don't have to pay any money on that expensive school. And Mak has a promise she NEEDS to keep, so nothing can go wrong.

When her friends bully her into going to the "biggest party of the year" Mak really doesn't want to go. She needs to go over her final exam information for the 4th time to make sure she knows everything she needs.

But she did end up at the party, and of course the obnoxious Declan was there to egg her on again and again. If only she could forget about prom night, things would go back to normal for her...

This was a great novel! Wow, it sucked me in and left me hanging by the end of the novella. I knew it was short, but I really didn't think I would love it so much. So of course, the author gave me a hanging carrot and I immediately went and bought book #1 because I HAD to know what happens with Declan and Mak.

(And I also really, really, really need to know Emmett and Ashley's story!!! Seriously, I'm dying here! That ending was insane!!)

The banter between these two character was incredible and had me wanting more and more. And because nothing happened between them, I had to get the first book to see the whole playout between them.

So kudos, Maya Hughes, for getting me hooked like an addict. I am now going to be waiting very impatiently for all of the books in the series to come out, and you can have my money. I must know everything now!

So glad I stumbled upon this book and I CANNOT WAIT for the others to be released!

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Review: One Night in Heated Snapshots by Ashley C. Harris

One Night in Heated Snapshots by Ashley C. Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beth has an opportunity of a lifetime: to gain an amazing photography job at a famous magazine company. She has to travel from New Jersey to Miami, while taking photos of a subject that is chosen for her, and then get her photos finalized by the time she gets to Miami.

This is what Beth lives for, and she is so hoping she will win. What Beth didn't expect was her annoying, popular neighbor to be going the exact route she is. Sterling is a swimmer and he is always having parties that are interrupting Beth's studying.

So when Sterling saves Beth from a really bad situation in New Jersey, she realizes that Sterling is not as bad as she thought he was. In fact, both of them have secrets that are coming to light, making them understand that they might not be as different as they thought.

But then Sterling is still keeping one big secret - something that Beth may not be able to forgive him for.

This was a cute novel. I loved the photography aspect and I really loved the topic that Beth got to take photos of. Sterling is a playboy, but only because he's expected to act like that because of his lifestyle. His revenge plot was interesting - it really showed how devoted he is to his older sister, though I think she could have done her dirty work on her own instead of getting her brother involved.

The intensity between Sterling and Beth was flying off the pages, which was amazing. I loved their banter and their annoyance with one another, but then I loved how they were getting to know each other too.

This was a good novel and it was my first novel by Ashley Harris. I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the future!

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Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tally has 3 months before she becomes pretty. She wishes she went with her friend Peris, because now he is having all of the fun and excitement, but Tally doesn't turn 16 until the end of summer. But since most of her friends have already left Uglyville and went to New Pretty Town, Tally's a bit bored.

Then she meets Shay, and they start doing tricks together, becoming fast friends.

Except Shay has a secret, and she doesn't tell Tally until she leaves: she doesn't want to be pretty. She wants to live off the grid and in the wilderness. Tally can't comprehend a life like that - why wouldn't anyone want to be pretty? That's what everyone prepares for.

But when Tally gets put into a corner, she has to make decisions that are going to break promises. The question is, which promises are worth keeping and which ones are worth betraying?

This is the second time I've read Uglies, and I'm pretty much on board with the 3 star review I gave it in 2010. It has a bit of a slow start, and it takes a little while to get into the story with all of the different language since this is dystopian. However, by the time I got to the end, I remembered why I dived into the next book. The ending leaves you wanting to know so much more, which I'm at that stage right now, but after looking at my star reviews, I think I'm going to pass since I didn't give any book higher than 3 stars. That's okay, I have a lot of reading to do!

I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book, and I think many readers who are looking for a Divergent/Hunger Games/Maze Runner read a like would really enjoy this series!

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Review: The Chase: Briar U by Elle Kennedy

The Chase by Elle Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from the author. This is my honest review.

Summer has had a rough few months. After getting kicked out of her old school for reasons she doesn't want to talk about, she gets enrolled into Briar "with help from her parents" who are famous lawyers. Summer just wants to study fashion design and learn about the business. She doesn't want any fuss.

Except when she gets to campus, she's being told she's not allowed to live at the sorority house that her mother was president of... for multiple years! Now, Summer has to find somewhere to live for the next two years. Thankfully, her older brother saves the day, and contacts his friends who were on the hockey team with him.

Unfortunately, that means

1. Summer is going to be living with 3 guys
2. One of the guys she lives with she has a crush on, even though they are complete opposites and he isn't giving her the time of day
3. Another one of her roommates is a guy she made out with on New Year's Eve and is showing major signs that he's crushing on her.

So Summer is going to have to decide what her future holds, if she can deal with the animosity that some of her classmates are giving her, what she is going to do with 2 out of her 3 roommates, why she is getting a very bad vibe from one of her famous professors, and how to deal with everything else.

Things are about to get interesting...

This was a great novel! I haven't read the prior spin-off series that introduces these characters, but I loved it just the same! Summer is a fun character. She is popular, pretty and is always happy it seems like. I feel so bad for her when people judge her on her looks. Looks aren't everything, people!

I was a bit frustrated with the Summer and Fitsy and Hunter issue. I mean, obviously Summer likes Fitsy, and yes, I get that he's being indifferent to her, so she doesn't want to miss out on her chance to hangout with Hunter, but she should have talked to Colin about everything before making a huge mess of things!! I just wanted to strangle the two of them because they were being dumb and annoying for me.

I loved that Colin had a passion for art and video gaming creations, but is also a hockey player too. It just goes to show that you can't put a person into one category - humans are made up of many, many different features!

I am very glad I got a chance to read this book, and I sure do hope to continue the series in the future! I may also find the other novels and read them, if I can ever find any time to do that ;)

I think many, many readers will enjoy this great novel! :)

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