Review: The Villain We Tempt by Jagger Cole

The Villain We Tempt by Jagger Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I barely put this book down, I was so engrossed by it! I love how addicting Jagger Cole's books are and how they always get me out of a book slump! 

Galina and Lochlan are *chef's kiss* together. You wouldn't think so on surface level but with their alter egos, they both deep down enjoy the same things. I was amazed at how long an identity was kept from the other one. I definitely couldn't be in their shoes cause I would want to know immediately! 

The smark and sass between these two were great along with the intense chemistry! I'm not sure how either are keeping their online identity a secret from their friends, but it seems to work for both of them. 

I was also a bit surprised that this book happened at the same time as book 1 in this series, so kudos to Jagger for, I'm sure, the meticulous notes that had to be kept to keep the same time line! 

So glad this book had beef created and we got this delicious unhinged book from this author! Can't wait for the next couple! 

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Review: Obsessed by Jolie Vines

Obsessed by Jolie Vines
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it! I haven't read the prior series that goes through the older character HEA stories but it wasn't needed to enjoy this book. I'm sure i missed some Easter eggs here or there but overall the author did a great job bringing in a new reader without feeling lost. 

I enjoyed Cait and Lochie together. With Isla too of course. Cait is extremely aware of her thoughts and choices and doesn't let anyone put her down which i love. Her determination to become a mom is so pure and full and she's not going to let anything get in her way. 

Lochie is so protective of Isla, it melts my hearts. He loves that little girl and will do anything to make sure she stays safe. Seeing him add Cait into his heart with Isla was great. He was a bit rocky at the beginning, but once this man makes a decision, he's in it for the long haul. 

Glad I decided to read this story! 

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Review: Hate Mates by Mickey Miller

Hate Mates by Mickey Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read this book in 6 years and I gotta say, I didn't love it as much the 2nd time around. I'm also in a completely different place in life, so I'm looking at this college story with a different pair of eyes. I did so like the things i mentioned in my first review below. I had more issues due to plot holes and grammatical or geographical mistakes. Still enjoy Mickey Miller's books though! 

My review from March 13, 2020:

I was stunned when the location of this novel was revealed: Galesburg, IL!  I had to go there quite often when I was growing up.  Even more crazy?  DJ is from Davenport, IA and I lived 30 minutes from there!  So this book amazed me in just the location of the novel, without even getting to the storyline and characters!

It's quick to read, a funny situation, and a lot of self-reflecting for both characters.  I love how spunky and down to earth Alex is.  She is a serious student because of her tortured past and she's very mature for a freshman in college.  Most college students are about partying and having sex every day, but Alex definitely wants a jump start on her career and is working very hard to get it. 

And DJ.  I love that him and his athletic friends don't fit the standard type of dumb jocks.  When they were hanging out together, I loved the topics they were talking about and how not everything was about that "hot girl" this and that.  He is the standard guy who everyone thinks he has it all, but really his life is a crumbling mess.  But the way he responds to everything is very level-headed (well, except when it comes to Alex that is).  

I loved seeing Alex and DJ interact with each other - when they weren't avoiding temptation and staying away from each other.  I also loved seeing the friendships with other students at school and not having this book be just about their feelings for one another.  College is definitely a place to create a new life, make new friends, and honestly get a feel for how their lives are going to be in the future.  DJ and Alex are definitely going to have many adventures for their future!

This was my first book by Mickey Miller, but you can bet it won't be the last!  I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and now I'm intrigued to buy more from him to see if they are all like this one.  Though this one might be my favorite just because it reminded me of home and growing up myself, being that it was in locations I grew up!

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Review: Room to Breathe by Kasie West

Room to Breathe by Kasie West
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kasie West sure does like to make her characters locked in a room or space, haha! 

I liked Beau and Indy's story. Or really, Indy's story since we are following her home and school life. I can't imagine being in high school and not being able to tell my closest friends about a life altering moment like the one Indy went through. I can definitely understand why she acted the way she did and why her friends acted the way they did. This story was very relatable with everyone's reactions and emotions. 

Im also glad that it didn't take forever for Indy to reconnect with everyone in the scheme of things. Letting those things fester is never good for anyone. She got lodt for a little bit but after forced proximity, finally grew the courage to talk about what she went through and what happened. 

Very glad i finally read this and will hopefully be playing catch up with more Kasie West books soon! 

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Review: The Algorithm Of Them by L Beckett

The Algorithm Of Them by L. Beckett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very quick read! And I actually liked it more than I expected. I liked seeing Colt and Addie shift their priorities for their little one and finding out what works and doesn't. And of course we still had intense and brooding Colt to watch over his girls. I liked seeing Addie grow stronger with her anxiety throughout this journey. Glad I decided to dive into it really fast to get the ending to their story. 

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Review: The Algorithm Of Us by L Beckett

The Algorithm Of Us by L. Beckett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a different style of story than I'm used to reading. It's not a bad thing but it took me longer to get into the novel and to keep up with things sometimes. 

The biggest thing is the two main characters, Colt and Addie, have been married for 13 years. Most, if not all, of the romances i read, start when the characters meet and we get to experience all of the first time moments. I like those first time moments to really understand who the characters are and how they overcome issues throughout that sensitive period. 

Also the amount of science talk went over my head. I love that Colt is super science smart and can do great things with his company but anytime they got into that topic of conversation i lost interest. 

It took me awhile to get over the third person POV, not gonna lie, but i experience got used to it. And, on a personal note, I couldn't put myself in their shoes when they talked about wanting a baby. Since I don't have or wasn't kids, I found those moments to be fine but repetitive.

Now, it sounds like I disliked this book, but i really didn't. I thought it was unique and I liked how determined the characters were to make a difference. They have so many obstacles to overcome but it didn't scare them to back down. 

I'm glad i decided to read this and I'm going to get the novella just to see what happens, even though I'm sure it will be much of the same feelings I have for this book. 

On a separate note i think Amber should get her own story. And Nash! Just not together lol

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Review: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was fine. I didn't love it or hate it. I got through it pretty quickly but I also feel like not a lot really happened? It also felt like another version of hunger game meets the selection so I wasnt all that shocked by the betrayals and back stabbing that happened. I read this because a SE is coming to me soon to decide if I'm going to keep it. I suspect I'll not be keeping it but I'm glad i read it to decide if I like it enough or not. 

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Review: Reclaimed by Roxie Ray

Reclaimed by Roxie Ray
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thought this book was okay. There was A LOT of repetition that could have been cut and a lot of giving second or third or fourth chances for characters that needed absolutely none. I thought the story was good and I liked the main characters. But this was an 800 page book that could have definitely been cut to about 450-500. Sebastian and Harley were great characters though and I loved Dylan and Cassidy. Glad I finally got around to reading it and seeing what their story was all about. 

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Review: Beneath a Midnight Moon by Catherine Cowles

Beneath a Midnight Moon by Catherine Cowles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am absolutely loving this series by Catherine Cowles! It's my first dip into her books but I have a feeling I'll be reading the whole backlog soon. 

I really enjoyed Maverick and Aster's story! With the amount of passion they've shown in book 1 and 2, I knew they would have a dramatic novel to get through the past issues. This is a very slow burn and had a bit of a different vibe than the previous books since it had a different overarching story line. The banter and sarcasm between these two were top notch. Still has the Archer drama of course, and getting bigger with each book!

I YET AGAIN did not see the prime suspect coming until right before the reveal. I'm not sure what magic Catherine Cowles has, but I'm always surprised by who the culprit is for each book so far and I'm LOVING that! 

I did, however, predict the couple for book 4 way before that reveal so I was pleased with myself at that moment :)

This series has been in my head since I read book 1 and I don't foresee that changing until we get to the end of the series. I'm not sure why I love it so much, but I adore everything about them including the suspense/mystery story line, the Archer family and their upbringing, WAYLON and his shenanigan's. It's a great mix of so many pieces that blend really well together and leaves a lasting impression on me. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this and now I will be waiting forever for the next installment since I was blessed enough to read this story so early! Definitely a must read series for me!

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Review: Dove by Paisley Hope

Dove by Paisley Hope
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was an okay read. Fast to get through but after the initial attraction of Sean and Layla being obsessed over each other, I kinda grew bored of them repeating the same things over and over. I definitely liked the banter and push/ pull of the beginning part of their relationship. The storyline about her mom was a nice twist and seeing Layla be the strong FMC was great. Overall glad I read it so I know I dont need to own a copy. 

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Review: The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew

The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

At first I was really intrigued with this story and the characters, even if the world building was poor and i felt more lost than anything. But as the book went on i lost interest in the characters with the back and forth secrets with no answers. Once the answers arrive, i was pretty checked out and just wanted to complete the book to see if it got any better. Which it didn't for me sadly. I wont be continuing the series, but I am glad to have read it to not wonder if I would like it or not anymore.  

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Review: Twilight Tides by Samantha Young

Twilight Tides by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been so excited for Murray and Londons story and i was not disappointed with this novel! I love the angst and healing that occurred in this book. By both main characters as well as side characters. 

Watching London start to take control of her life after years of abuse and emotional trauma was so inspiring and emotional. I definitely teared up quite a few times during this book! I loved how she got her confidence back and started to trust more and more people. It was a slow healing for her but time means noting when you've experienced this level of abuse.

Murray is such an amazing character and a fantastic dad. He's also going through his own trust issues after what his ex, Jill, has put him through. Im not sure how he had the strength to drop off his daughter, Kelly, with her all those times. 

I loved seeing both Murray and London getting to know each other and realizing how deep their feelings are towards each other. 

I also loved seeing all the characters from Harbor Island get together often and keeping their friendships strong.

So glad I got the chance to read this! As always, I adore Samantha Young's novels and am always excited for more! 

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Review: The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I love a book with a library in it. I think it's my weakness haha. So I was very intrigued to dive into this book with a library in the title! And I enjoyed it. There were a lot of twists and turns, secrets and reveals. I called very quickly what Kierse is early in the book so I wasn't surprised by that.

I loved that Grave made Kierse read so many books. I mean he had a reason, but seeing a character thrust books at another and them talking about it? Love. I don't understand why Grave had to keep so many things a secret from her. I mean I do get it, I don't like or agree with it. These two kept so many things from each other and kept themselves so distant from each other I just wanted to scream at them.

I love Kierse's dedication to get friends, her found family. She is so fierce when it comes to them. But I'm also glad they will be more protected because of the reveal at the end. I'm tired of them being collateral damage to Kierse.

I'm very curious to see how this all ends and who Kierse ends up with. I have my team, but it's not a strong feeling yet so I could probably be swayed if needed for now. I'm glad I got the chance to read this story and I'm excited to get the pretty deluxe edition when it releases!

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Review: Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider

Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My mind is honestly a bit overwhelmed from this book! I know the beginning was long winded but throughout the whole book so much is thrown at us. I honestly need to reread after just finishing to obtain all the details. 

Jovie is a badass. That's the best description I got. She has sacrificed so much throughout her life and she's still making sacrifices every day. She doesn't love a lot of people, but the ones she does, she loves them fiercely. And she's always keeping her thoughts hidden. I bet it's exhausting being her. 

Acker. I seriously love this man. I knew his obsession with Jovie wouldn't keep him away forever. But four years is such a long time!! But the moment they locked eyes? Swoon! His determination is uncanning. What his father made him do? My jaw literally dropped and I gasped. He also sacrificed everything solely for his love for Jovie and I couldn't be happier. 

I am mad though that the BIG battle moment where Jovie used her gift?! I want that scene through her point of view!! We need this as a bonus scene or something because I was WAITING for that moment!!!! 

Messer is the best in this book. His conversation about how much Jovie means to him literally had me tearing up.  

Kai is an ass. Seriously over this dude. 

I'm so glad we got Jovie and Ackers ending! And we didn't get an awful ending like book 1. Im pretty sure I've guessed correctly on what's coming next and I'm so excited for that adventure! 

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Review: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider

Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book had blown me away with the amount of twists and turns and secrets and deceiving and just all around shock that comes out of nowhere. I have 1,000 questions with no answers and I have been thinking about the surprises all day wondering how I missed everything!

Brynne...Jovie? I'm calling her Jovie. She's extremely determined, a fighter, smart and so much more. Seeing her get shunned over and over again was hard to see because deep down everyone wants to be accepted. But she didn't let anyone see how she felt and kept making sure she was going toward her goal.

Acker is an enigma. I was drawn to him right away. There are so many personalities to him, but under all of it i can tell he's just a man wanting to find his happily ever after.

That ending? THAT ENDING?! I literally sat there staying at the book wondering what on earth happened because I didn't see any of it at all. So many things got revealed and I felt like I was short circuiting. It was so much all at once with no warning and I feel a reread happening in my future. I'm so sad book 2 is so far away!

I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I'm not sure love is the right word, but I'm obsessed to find out more and will be impatiently waiting until I can hopefully get some answers!

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Review: A Pack for Summer by Eliana Lee (Cozyverse)

A Pack for Summer by Eliana Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ahh the last book! I loved seeing all 4 omegas get their happily ever after... because of Felix! Who is my favorite out of all characters! 

Summer is a really strong omega who is determined to get her dreams achieved. I loved seeing this confidence and drive in her because she kicks butt!

As always i have a favorite of the pack men. Out of Jae, Lucien and Mercer, I'd probably pick Mercer. Though Jae is a close second with their backstory. But the brooding grumpy type wins out once again. 

I liked how different this story was from the others and that there was a unique spin to it. I'm glad I was able to binge read all of these books at the same time because seeing the girls friendship grow throughout the books was priceless! 

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Review: A Pack for Spring by Emilia Emerson (Cozyverse)

A Pack for Spring by Emilia Emerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed diving into Lucy, Wilder, King and Leos story! Lucy is always viewed as so bubbly, but she definitely has a lot of self doubt and anxiety due to her exs, which is so sad. I'm glad she finally got her confidence back once her pack finally got their act together.

Wilder is my favorite. He's so grumpy any gruff and seeing him melt for Lucy was so sweet. King is so full of himself but also not at the same time. And Leo is so focused on being strong and taking care of his omega that he doesn't see what she really needs at the beginning. But thankfully they all get their priorities figured out to see they don't need to change to make each other happy. 

And over again, my ACTUAL favorite is Felix! The tree scene? I cackled so hard. This cat is so sneaky and sly and smart and I'm excited to see what shenanigans he comes up with for Summer!

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Review: A Pack for Winter by Eliana Lee (Cozyverse)

A Pack for Winter by Eliana Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I surprisingly flew through this story. I loved seeing Ivy, Logan, Rome and James find their way to courting and growing their pack. Ivy is such a people pleaser and can't say no to anyone. When she finally does say no, I cheered out loud because I was so proud of her for standing up for herself! 

Logan is definitely my favorite of the guys. He's so unsure but protective and attentive. Seeing him open up more with the pack was also a good moment throughout the book. Rome and James have a great relationship together and I love that they opened their hearts for more to get their official pack complete. I also adore how James wasn't blinded by alpha pheromones and could calmly make sure everything was okay for everyone during heated moments. 

I enjoyed this story and looking forward to the next! 

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Review: A Pack for Autumn by Emilia Emerson (Cozyverse)

A Pack for Autumn by Emilia Emerson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've been waiting to read this series until all 4 were released so I decided to dive in now. I thought this was a good book. There are some pretty heavy topics in this book so definitely read the trigger warnings first. Olive is going through a lot of grief and past trauma from prior alphas, so her self-esteem and social skills are nonexistent. Seeing her open up and become the omega she deserves to be was great to see. 

Out of the 3 alphas (Lars, Easton & Finn), I definitely liked Lars the best even though we don't get a lot of story with him. Easton is way too much golden retriever puppy dog and Finn is still going through his own grief for me to connect with. But all 4 of them make a great team once they finally start to communicate with one another. 

Actually, my FAVORITE character is Felix. He's so conniving but so sweet to be with Olive at the beginning. 

Intrigued to see how the rest of the series goes! 

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Review: The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was very intrigued by this sports Romantasy novel since I'm very much into both subjects and thought combining them would be amazing. But sadly this book fell short for me. I think it had a lot to do with the world building and how the reader is just thrusted into this world with all of these tetms that I was unfamiliar with. There wasn't enough description to help me visualize what I needed to really comprehend the scene. 

Plus the characters were blah for me. Especially Taissa. She had too much inner dialoge that went on tangents and I found i forgot what the initial thought was about. Kion was a grumpy, soul tortured guy which usually is right up my alley, but for some reason I just couldn't care that much about him. 

The one i loved the most in this book? Cronus. I cracked up so much when he was in scene imparting his wisdom lol. 

Glad I read this but sad i didn't love it more. 

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Review: The Final Score by Lana Ferguson

The Final Score by Lana Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So glad I got to dive into Jack and Abby's story! These two are definitely opposites when we first meet them but once we get to know the real them, there are a lot of similarities of what they have or are going through. 

Jack is so protective of the people and things he loves. Makes him look like a giant teddy bear. And he didn't respond well to threats that break up his bubble. Abby is going through a lot of turmoil following her father's departure and is using her grad class subject as a way to cope. But once these two are in each other's orbits, heading and feelings start to happen. 

I loved seeing these two work through their fears and see them grow individually and independently. So glad I devoured their story! 

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Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was a fun, unique story that i haven't really read before. I liked the escape room adventures even though I knew nothing about what they were talking about. I think their passion and knowledge really just stood out to me during each game and how the 4 characters found their connection and worked as a team. 

Sierra was probably my favorite character because she's so surly and serious, but also not either of those on the inside. Beck was so excitable and passionate about escape rooms, you can't help but love him. Carter is so young and has very little social skills that make her just awkward enough to like her but feel sorry for her. And Adi cracks me up. He is trying to be so distant from the group and keeps to himself but you get a cipher in front of him and you can't shut him up. 

These four really grew on me and I loved by the last room they were flawlessly working together.

The murder mystery of Alicia honestly kept me on my toes. I didn't see the killer coming until it was revealed to me. I had many guesses but none that were correct sadly. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next installment because I'd love to see what else is in store for these 4!

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Review: Frozen Heart by Neva Altaj

Frozen Heart by Neva Altaj
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even though it's been awhile since I've been in this world, I'm glad it's a standalone so I didn't have to remember details from past couples. Though a lot of those characters show up in this book, it was more is appearances than actually plot purposes. 

I really liked Iris. She is so sweet and kind and one would think she wouldn't be involved in the Mafia world in any way. She doesn't let bad things bring her mood down and she's a fighter. 

Adriano is Iris's complete opposite in every way. I loved seeing his confusion on his fascination with her and how his personality changed over the course of time. 

This book is significantly longer than the other books in the series. We got to get to know both characters before they officially merged storylines. I also liked that it was through both points of views. I think it was a bit too much lead up but overall i enjoyed this story! 

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Review: The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson

The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lana Ferguson is an author i love so I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book that took me forever to get to!

I love a shifter book and I liked how different this story was compared to others. Tess is going through a lot of scary changes and I liked that she was worth Hunter who explained things calmly to her and helped her through things she never heard of. I also love that she's in charge of her sibling run construction company and how awesome she is!

Hunter is so grumpy and old school and such a different vibe from Tess that they make absolute sense to be together! I am sad that he's been carrying around so much guilt for this long and I'm glad Tess got him out of that hole he buried himself in so he can finally live his life to the fullest.

I can already guess who the 3rd book is about and I'm excited to see how that story will unfold!

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Review: The Devil We Crave by Jagger Cole

The Devil We Crave by Jagger Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved how this book brought together so many characters from past Jagger Cole novels but with a new twists and new situations! Also i love the slight Harry Potter dark vibe at the school with four houses...though these are all Slytherin with different preferences of diabolical choices.

Yelena is a great character. She's put pressure on herself to be a certain person and had trouble matching that with who she truly is inside. That is until Achilles shows her the side she truly craves. Seeing her accept herself was fantastic! 

I love Achilles. They said he's a golden boy wearing a golden mask but the whole time we read about him I only saw the darker parts that he keeps hidden. And now I can only see him as darker and not golden! His fascination with Yelena was fantastic and I loved every minute of it. These two characters were made for each other. 

I love this new setting at the school and how we can already see which characters are going to end up together. Everyone is extremely intense because of their mafia lifestyle which makes the vibe on high alert. I could never survive in a place like this but I love reading about them! 

So excited to dive into this series and can't wait for more to come! 

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Review: Snatched by Mickey Miller

Snatched: A Reverse Age Gap Romance by Mickey Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very quick read full of angst and intensity. I love how Elena is getting back to the gym to bring her confidence level back up and put herself first. I like that Colt is enamored by Elena the first time he sees her. 

I think the book focused a little too much on their age difference than was needed. And some of the places they hooked up made me cringe since I knew it would be a problem down the road. 

But I liked the connection between these two characters and thought they were head over heels for one another. Glad I decided to read it! 

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Review: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't express how much I LOVED this book!!! And it being a debut novel? Fantastic! Stormchaser romance genre is quickly become one of my favorites and I hope many more will be created so I can obsess over all of them! 

I loved this storyline of photographers racing after storms to get the perfect photo for a nature magazine. There's the risk of being near the storm but am artistic aspect of taking the perfect photo. The blend was amazing and I couldn't get enough of it! 

Sloane is such a lovable character. She's a bit too serious, but that's from years of taking care of her entire family her whole life. But to see and feel her love for storm season was beautiful. I felt her love so much i wanted to join her (and I have no photography talent nor any love for tornados...). 

Wes is such a risk taker, chaotic mess, but anyone can see he loves what he does and really gets in the zone when chasing storms. Wes and Skiane are such opposites, but their attraction is undeniable. Even in the beginning stages when they are bickering at each other, there are definitely under currents of attraction that EVERYONE can see except Sloane. 

I absolutely loved this book and I'm so glad I got to read it! I'll be grabbing a physical copy to own because Im also obsessed over this cover! Will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this debut author! 

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Review: Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles

Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am LOVING this series! Seriously, I have devoured both books and both times was not able to figure out the unsub for both mysteries. I love all of these characters and how strong each and every one of them are. I will definitely be gobbling up each of the brothers books when they release because I cannot get enough! 

Nova is an amazing person. She has been through so much and is fighting every day to get her life back. She's not a quitter and she's determined to move past her horrors to have a brighter life. And I love that so much. 

Kol has his own past demons to avoid and seeing another brother cope through his trauma was emotional. I love how much he adores his daughter Sky. And his love for his brothers is amazing to see. I also love how focused and in tuned he is with Nova. 

The reveal of which brother gets his next book? I'm truly not surprised at that chaotic introduction. But honestly? I'm so so ready for the last 2 books because those 2 brothers stories are going to be epic!

I'm really glad I decided to try this new author and this new series cause I'm obsessed! Can't wait for more! 

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Review: Imperfect Soulmate by Vikki Jay

Imperfect Soulmate by Vikki Jay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have adored Vikki Jay since book 1 and will always immediately read her books when given the chance because I absolutely love her novels. So it's no surprise that I haven fallen in love with this new addition to her collection! 

I love how these two characters connect. To be around your soulmate but not realize it until having the anonymity to truly be yourself? To let your true thoughts and feelings be noticed by a person who feels the same way? To find a soulmate app that actually works? All of it was just beautiful.

The best thing about a Vikki Jay novel is how real her characters feel. They are not flawless. They don't live perfect lives. There are real world issues these characters experience making her novels feel like it would happen in our lives today. 

Rowan is so sweet. This man has been through so much and still fights to make his life as normal as it can be with his muteism. I can't imagine what he goes through every day but I love how much he adores his family and friends. 

Violet is so full of joy and happiness. Which shows how pure she is when finding out about all of her family members she loves not being with her any longer. She has so much hope. Seeing her lost after her accident was gutwrenching because we all know how much she loves life. 

Echo was by far my absolute favorite part of this novel. When Echo and Violet meet? I sobbed so hard. It was the sweetest moment and I was a goner. Yet another fighter in this book that stole my heart! 

I am extremely lucky to have discovered Vikki Jay and will be the #1 fan for life because I feel so much whole reading these books. I'm so glad Rowan and Violet and Echo have their story for everyone to read and I know i won't be forgetting this anyone soon!

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Review: Just This Once by Lena Hendrix

Just This Once by Lena Hendrix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story was okay. Overall I enjoyed it and it was a nice read. I think my biggest problem was that both characters just kept saying the same things over and over and over to the point I got annoyed about it. Forbidden romances are a hit or a miss depending on how well the author writes it and i think this was just a miss for me. 

Also the whole everyone has a nickname in this small town, while depicting a very true statement, got confusing when people had multiple names with no leadway into explaining them...

Whip is a complicated character. He's so confident and demanding one minute then becomes paranoid and self doubting the next. I know this is due to his parents but it makes for a rocky story with Emily and his feelings along the way. 

Emily is also a character who's trying to find her path and has doubts about her choices. And when you put Whip and Emily together it causes a lot of pretending they don't care about each other to not getting enough of each other and back and forth. Of course they finally figure out their issues, but the journey to get there it very very rocky. 

So overall i enjoyed it. I don't need to read it again or anything but it was okay. I liked the Bluebird group and liked the resolution that happened for Emily job wise. 

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Review: Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni

Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lynette Noni has become a must read author for me! I discovered her late but have made up for it by devouring her novels and forcing them onto everyone I know! I dont know how she makes me love her books time and time again but I am always excited to dive into a new novel by this author! 

Viri is an amazing character. I love her fierceness, her determination, and how quick and smart she is. She has been hunting with revenge for the person who took her parents and nothing is stopping her mission. 

Reeve is mysterious, humorous, and the master of keeping secrets. I got so annoyed with him cause I knew he wasn't telling Viri anything she needed to know and it was maddening! Now that I've finished the book, I see why he wouldn't reveal anything but I'm still annoyed with him. But also adore him and ask the sacrifices he made. 

Siren and Wynter are awesome best friends to Viri. We didn't see them often but I know they are the reason Viri is so loyal and dedicated. 

That cliffhanger ending? I expect nothing less from Lynette Noni but it's always a bit brutal every time it happens. I'm so excited to see what new adventures await in the next installment when it's released and how Viri will hone her resources to the level she needs to stop catastrophy from happening. Definitely a must read novel! 

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Review: In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto

In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know how much I needed this trope in my life until I saw this was releasing soon! Twister is one of my favorite movies so of course I was anticipating something along those lines. However, this was focused a little more on the facts and reporting and meteorological side rather than the chasing storms side. Don't worry, though, we get some powerful and intense scenes of dealing with a monster hurricane. 

I appreciate a he falls first and he falls harder story. Sebastian is 100% a Quincy fan and his attraction towards her was wonderful. I think he waited a bit long to decide to do anything about his attraction but I suppose each person moves at their own pace. 

Quincy has struggled her whole life of people judging her for being a female in the field of meteorology. I definitely feel for her and feel her frustration but the amount of times it was brought up in the book was a bit much for my tastes. I'm glad she got to prove her knowledge and abilities over and over again. 

Overall i definitely enjoyed this novel and I'm so glad I got the chance to read this story!

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Review: The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson

The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've been hearing great things about this book so of course I had to pick it up. And while I did stick through until the end to 650 pages, I didn't love it sadly. 

First, the length. This did not need 650 pages. So much repetition and unnecessary parts could have been cut to make this a smaller novel. 

Second, the characters. Both of these characters are in their 30s, but letting mom and dad decide every decision in their lives. All while hating them. Well at least for Harlow. Just grow a spine and make your own choices! 

I did like Harlows gift. I'd love to have that honestly. Henry was just meh. I did like the animalistic personality but that wasn't enough for me to really like him. 

The amount of secrets in this book is ridiculous. And some of the reveals didn't really go far into a description that made sense.

I also think the ending was rushed and wrapped up very conveniently considering it to forever and a day to get to that part. 

Overall I'm glad I read it to know that this book wasn't really for me overall. 

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Review: Daybreak by Autumn Woods

Daybreak by Autumn Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm so glad I was able to dive right into this book after the first novel! I love all of the suspense and mystery, but also the many moments where Alex and Ophelia got back into each other's orbit after that ending. The Love these two have for each other is deep and true and I loved seeing both of them fight their inner demons to get the life they both have dreamed about. 

I also adore all is Alex's sisters and think they are the best! They were deeply affected by their dad and seeing Alex be their parent replacement was stupid adorable! 

Glad I decided to read this series! 

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Review: Nightshade by Autumn Woods

Nightshade by Autumn Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyone has been going gaga over this book so I decided to try it. The first part was rough to get through and I almost DNFd from almost stagnant story, i guess? But it did get better afterwards and I got very invested in the story, so I'm glad I stuck through the rough patch.

Ophelia is a badass character. She's been through so much and is still surviving each day she wakes up. The bit where she was literally so alone in the world around Christmas and having that loneliness bear down on her, causing so much grief? I felt that too my core and was just as devastated with her. I love that she is fighting. She wants revenge. Until she realizes how much her revenge would hurt the one person she's come to care about. 

Alex, Alex. I adored this man. What he is putting himself through to survive his father is intense. I love his adoration toward his 6 sisters and his mother. He is bending over backwards to care for all of them and that is the sweetest thing to see. Also his determination to be in Ophelia's life is amazing. 

The reveal of Ophelia's parents was greatest. I guessed that character so I wasnt too surprised. That characters ending have me more glee than it should have. And then the twist at the end was great. I'm very glad I have an arc is book 2 and am diving into it now because I need to know how this duet will end! Glad I decided to give this a chance. 

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Review: After Life by Gayle Forman

After Life by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 27

This is a short but VERY powerful book. It took me just a couple of hours to read but the feelings and emotions it makes you go through is strong. It made me cry at the end! 

The idea of loving someone so much they come back from the dead is beautiful. Amber died 7 years ago and yet she shows up at her house as if she never left. And in my mind, that's because of Melissa, her younger sister. Melissa never stopped taking to Amber. Never stopped believing she wasn't there to ask questions to. And that is honestly so beautiful to think about. 

I, at first, got annoyed with all of the viewpoints only beautiful i didn't know who some of them were. But once you delve into the story it all comes together and makes the meaning of this novel more powerful. Gayle Forman once again created a deep story that fills the readers hearts with love and possibilities. 

I'm glad i read this book. It will stay with me for awhile and leave the powerful question: "What If?".

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Review: The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 27

This was an okay book for me. The twist of magic and science was a cool concept but sometimes the author got really involved in the explaining that I got lost a few times since I'm not a fan of science. I liked that Nhika was so passionate about her heartsoothing and that she had fond memories of her grandmother. I also loved her passion to learn more and got smart she is. 

The rest of the characters were blah for me, including the love interest Kochin. Plus the love kinda came out of nowhere and was a little too convenient that those two ended up together since they are the last heartsoothers. 

I see there is a sequel but sadly I don't have enough interest to find out what will happen after this strange ending.

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Review: Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I struggled through this book. A LOT. I saw the life decisions each of the 3 characters were going through and how each life time has had to adjust and pivot. I see the appeal that most readers like. 

I was just bored and kept falling asleep. Each character just felt a bit dull to me in the end. I did finish it, but it took days longer than it should have. 

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Review: Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young

Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It never fails, Samantha Young always sucks me into her stories and makes me forget reality until I get to the end of the book. I devoured Drifting Dawn in practically one sitting and was so sad when it was over.

I think Quinn might be my favorite MMC of Samantha's to date! I got so emotional reading the flash backs to when they were kids and meeting each other, becoming friends, becoming more. Then years later, seeing him with Heather and Angus, seeing him pursue Taran in a determined but respectful way. He is so in love with Taran but realizes how awful of a mistake he made and doesn't want to make the situation worse. But honestly some of the things he said to her were so swoon-worthy and had me giggling and kicking my feet.

Taran has been through a lot of emotional trauma in her life so I 100% understand her hesitation to trust anyone again. Especially the one person who hurt her the most. She's honestly just trying to survive one day at a time and has lost her passion. To see her open back up to the idea of love with her soul mate and finding her way back to passion and living was so beautiful.

I also absolutely adored Cammie and her bluntness. And seeing Heather follow in her footsteps in priceless! I also love love love the tension and absolute attraction that is going on between Murray and London!

This was honestly perfection. It shows that true love can exist, but we are human and will make giant mistakes along the way. I'm so glad I got to read this book and it will be on my mind remembering this wonderful second chance story (which I usually don't like) for months to come I'm sure!

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Review: Home Stay by Mickey Miller

Home Stay by Mickey Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mickey Miller always delivers amazing novels, and this one did not disappoint! I love the intensity and energy between Cassie and Logan. And meeting at a country concert and getting caught in a rainstorm? You really can't go wrong with that! 

I also adored that this book was set close to and sometimes in Davenport IA since that's where I live and could literally picture the scenery of a small town in the Midwest. 

The chemistry between Cassie and Logan was a mix of extreme intensity but also a fun, humorous rom com. Basically you get both with these two and it became a binge worthy novel! I can relate to Cassie going through her major life change all too well. And Logan has some giant decisions to muddle through which I know can be hard. But when the two of them are together? All of that just fades away.

So glad I got the chance to read this book and always love it when a new Mickey Miller gets released! I definitely recommend picking this up! 

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Review: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this for Battle 27

Hanalei has been on her own for 10 years after her father stole a dragonfruit, a dragon egg, to save Hanalei from a poison she and the princess consumed, making them both sick and stay in a coma. The dragonfruit was supposed to be for the princess until it was stolen, and Hana has been exiled from the home she loved with all of her heart. But with stealing and using a dragonfruit comes consequences, and once Hana got better, her father died, leaving her alone at age 8. 

Ten years later, Hana is reconnected with her home island and her closest friend Sam, son to the princess. She is on an adventure to find another dragonfruit to help the princess, but is having a lot of conflicting emotions when it comes to harming the seadragons and their dragonfruit. 

I honestly adored this book. I read it in one sitting and gobbled up the story so quickly! I loved all of the dragon parts and how Hana had a connection with them. I love how they learned more about these seadragons as the story grew. I love the culture in this book and how easy it was to picture everything so clearly. It was a great novel and I'm glad I got the chance to read it! 

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Review: Stay Dead by April Henry

Stay Dead by April Henry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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This book takes you on an ultimate survival story, showing you that anything is possible if you have the determination to survive. This novel has 3 POVs: Milan, Janie, and Lenny. 

Milan is a 16 year old girl who lost her father in a car accident, and has now just lost her mother in a plane accident. Both accidents Milan was with them and both times she survived the crashes. Only now when the plane crashes, she's alone on top of a mountain and has to survive the cold weather along with wild animals. With thoughts of her parents life lessons, Milan takes one step at a time to find help and also find out why her whole family has been targeted.

Janie has lived on her family farm her whole life. But farm life is showing signs of struggle and when she's offered the chance to give up a little bit of her land for a lot of money, she decided to take the deal. But the longer the workers are there digging, the worse her farm gets. Animals and family members are getting sick, the water is getting extremely dirty, and construction workers are literally in her front yard. What she discovers had really happened, Janie's sole mission is to take down the company that has destroyed her life. 

Lenny grew up with a hit man as a dad, so it's no surprise Lenny also became a hit man. And now she is currently hunting down any one who was in that plane crash that survived: Milan. Lenny is there for a party check. She had no qualms about her target, until she finds out it's the same girl she helped after the car accident she cause that killed Milan's dad. But a target is a target, so Lenny, while extremely impressed by Milan's resources and talent to survive, is on a mission to complete her assignment. 

This book had a lot of suspense and thrilling moments. My biggest issue was the beginning was excruciatingly slow. I need dialog to get immersed into the story and when Milan was on her own after the plane crash, not a whole lot of dialog happened. Because of that it took me a lot longer to get through this book. Definitely a me issue and not the story, but my brain is already mushy in what occurred for the first 45% of the book. The ending was really good though! 

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Review: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm quite surprised at how much I love this novel! I thought it would be a good read, but there is so much packed in here and I was bursting to read more and more. 

I am stunned this is a standalone and honestly, as much as I usually want more single novels, I wish there was more to come for Tru and Elang. I'm a bit sad is all done in one book and i can't pine for the rest of their story! 

I adore that this is a retake is Beauty and the Beast, but underwater with talking turtles and mermaids, and a talented painter with swimming dragons. So much encumbered in this book that kept my attention the entire time. 

I love how much Tru is a fighter and will do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Even marry the Demon Prince who is then discovered to be the Dragon Prince. Tru has always wanted to go on an adventure, and an adventure she got when she met Elang!

Elang is so full of secrets, I'm shocked Tru didn't bash him on the head. But she also so smart and figured out so many hidden secrets without his help. They really are synced up with each other. 

I thought the author did a phenomenal job describing the multiple worlds these characters lived in. I felt like I was right there with them, seeing it all through my own eyes. 

I'm so glad I decided to read this and may just have to explore more books by this author! 

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Review: Mountain of Fire by Rebecca E.F. Barone

Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens by Rebecca E.F. Barone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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This is a narrative non fiction describing the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. The author interviewed numerous witnesses and survivors of this event to be able to write this short but powerful story about a true event. When Mount St. Helens stated having earthquakes in April 1980, scientists, reporters, and tourists all rushed to the site to see what would happen. Many thought it would be safe and nothing would erupt. Others were treading lightly with information saying it was possible the mountain could erupt, but couldn't give any detailed information. This eruption was the first of is kind with a rare timeline of events that couldn't be predicted. If the technology today was available in 1980, more information could have been discovered. 

This very short book has a lot of information provided in a way that can be easily read like a story but also gives great information on how this time frame passed for the people who were involved in this natural disaster. I didn't really know a lot about this event so it was nice to learn some history while also feeling the emotions of the survivors. 

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Review: Dreamslinger by Graci Kim

Dreamslinger by Graci Kim
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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Aria lives in a world where nightmares can leave magic inside of you unless you release the build up once she wakes up. This is magic that she has feared for the last 3 years when she discovered she had it at age 13. But when the royal family opened up a competition to allow anyone to come to their kingdom and see if they can find a dreamcompanion and live in their society, Ariana thought this would be a good way to spy on their world and report back to her father, who wants to contain people with magic to make the world a safer place. 

But once Aria arrived in this new world, she realized that her father's way may NOT be the only way to live her life. Here she is accepted for her magic and dreams. Here she can learn to control the magic and not be scared to hurt someone. And she found new friends and got her own dreamcompanion, Rio, her unique tailed dragon. 

Now Aria is trying to find all the answers to what happened 10 years ago with the Battle that killed her mom, the secrets of the royal family, and the untold lore of how the magic came to be, all while trying to stay in the competition and be the top 20 that passes, and find a way to still help her father, even when her feelings are becoming conflicting... And the answers that she discovers changes everything she thought she knew her entire life. 

With the help of her new friends Tui and Lion, Aria is slowly learning to trust her heart and make the right decisions for her future and the future of their world. 

I honestly thought i would like this more than I did. Fantasy is right up my alley. I think i struggled the most because there were so many words and terms that were unfamiliar to me. So many dream___ that distracted me. Just a lot of unknowns that brought me out of the story and made me ho "what?". I think Aria definitely grew as a person throughout this book. She had a lot of growing up to do in a very short amount of time. I was proud her her reasoning at the end of the book. But I'm not going to read the next novel because my brain might explode trying to keep up with everything to remember again. 

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Review: The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald

The Right Call: A Game Changer Companion Novel by Tommy Greenwald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 27

This book is more than sports and baseball, surprisingly. This is about a 15 year old baseball superstar going through a lot of emotional decisions about his sport, his family and his life. The entire novel is told only through text messages, transcriptions, and announcements that explain what Cal Klondike is going through during a pivotal moment in his baseball career as a high school student. This story also goes into depth in how one bad moment and one good moment should not define a person as a whole. 

Cal's dad got too involved in the idea that Cal is talented enough to play in pro baseball in his near future. Cal grew as a great pitcher overnight and once that happened, so many changes happened for the Klondikes. Going to a specific school to improve his talent. Having scouts, college recruiters, and even professional team recruiters come to games to watch his games. 

But the biggest change was attacking the manager or umpire for calls that were made not to his dad's liking. Arguments, yelling matches. Embarrassing moments. Moments that distracted Cal from playing the sport that he loves. Moments that made Cal not love the sport he used to love. 

I didn't think I'd like this format of a book, but I was actually very invested. And the message was really great. I loved how Cal had his guidance counselor and how he reached out to the umpire, discovering a whole new person than the umpire he thought he knew. Very glad i read this. 

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Review: Good Girl Exception by Maren Moore

Good Girl Exception by Maren Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maren moore always writes amazing romances filled with tension but also some really deep emotional battles for her characters. This book has both in spades and did not disappoint! 

Maisie is such a joy to read about. She literally has no bad bone in her body. Always wanting to help everyone and had such a great personality that makes everyone around her happy with her contagious perspective on life. But I loved how she met Wilder and how she decided to put her own wants first for once. Rather than letting her parents choices dictate her life. 

Wilder has so many past demons to work out. And Maisie is the perfect person to be next to him helping him through those nightmares. I love how polar opposite they are from each other because it makes them the perfect match. 

So glad I got the chance to read this book and I'm always looking forward to more from Maren Moore! 

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Review: The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen

The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Living on Mars had always been talked about, but this book people actually do live on Mars. And dragons exist. Each planet and moon have their own dragons and some dragons have a crew of humans who ride on their dragons and protect their space (whether it be the moon or the planet the drain is in charge of).

Mars' dragon, Ares was killed by it's 2 moon dragons. After Ares died, the planet of Mars started to die. No plants or food can grow. Wild animals hunt humans. Pretty much the planet and humanity are going extinct. 

Lunar was born on Mars and only knows this dying planet. He scraps for metal and any other sources that had been buried to receive money and food for the people who live with him. On one of his hunts, he stumbles and finds a bunker where a dragon is being kept secret. And then gets chosen by that dragon, named Dread, to be the leader of his crew, the dragoon. 

Each crew can have up to 15 members, and there are 20 members who have been trained for 5+ years to be chosen on this crew. Proctor was sure she was going to be the dragoon and now has to accept she will not be the leader. And now the actual leader has zero military experience, but has instinct and bravery that Dread wanted.

While still training, Lunar gets thrust into another war where other dragons are trying to kill him, his crew, and his dragon Dread. Now they have to find allies and save Mars while he is still learning his role as dragoon and while his dragon is still learning, since he was only hatched less than 20 years ago. 

This was an interesting story. It was hard at first to get a grasp of this world but eventually I got used to it and just enjoyed the adventure that Lunar was on with his new mission with Dread. I won't be continuing the series but I'm sure more adventures will come up after the ending of this book. 

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Review: Edge of Obsession by Megan Crane

Edge of Obsession by Megan Crane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was very intrigued by the synopsis. Dystopian Viking? How can this be? And overall the idea was good, but the writing style was not my favorite. It is a lot of observation and not as much dialogue. Large paragraphs really do get my eyes to wander too much and jump ahead to see if anything happens. 

I liked the connection between the two main characters, and the world is a unique setting, but overall, I just don't think this book was for me. Glad I read it though!

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Review: Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles

Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With this being my first Catherine Cowles book, I wasnt sure what to expect going in. But I'm glad I decided to read it because I was hooked! 

Braedyn is a great character. She is determined, focused and resourceful. She is not going to back down from anything and i love that quality about her. I love her connection with her son Owen. I absolutely freaking love that she got Yeti and trained her to be a search dog. And I love that she was determined to get answers about Nova, no matter the result, because she loves that human. 

Dexter is great. I love that he's a badass but also extremely nerdy. And how he connected with Owen over computers was really adorable. 

For once in my romance only reading lifestyle, I didn't care about the romance! I wanted to know who the unsub was. I wanted to know about Nova. I needed to know all of those things and got pretty nervous because I got so close to the end without those answers. Thankfully it all came rushing at the end and I got my answers, but I was pretty amped up that i would have to wait until book 2.

The Archer brothers are pretty awesome not gonna lie. Wylder, Kol, Orion, Dex and Maverick. All 5 are so different from each other, but they 100% have each other's back after what their serial killer father did. I can't imagine the trauma they have gone through, and are still going through. I'm glad they have Kols daughter, Skylar there and their Uncle Waylon.

I will absolutely be reading book 2 because I need to know more about those two characters. And I will need to read Orion's story to see him get his HEA after everything he's been through. Plus I gushed when he started opening up to Brae and how protective he became towards her. I know it will be even better when he's with the woman he falls for! 

Glad i dived into this book and can't wait for the rest of the series! 

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