The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

I long for the days before the Last Desolation. Before the Heralds abandoned us and the Knights Radiant turned against us. When there was still magic in Roshar and honor in the hearts of men.

In the end, not war but victory proved the greater test. Did our foes see that the harder they fought, the fiercer our resistance? Fire and hammer forge a sword; time and neglect rust it away. So we won the world, yet lost it.

Now there are four whom we watch: the surgeon, forced to forsake healing and fight in the most brutal war of our time; the assassin, who weeps as he kills; the liar; who wears her scholar's mantle over a thief's heart; and the prince, whose eyes open to the ancient past as his thirst for battle wanes.

One of them may redeem us. One of them will destroy us. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1246838722

MAGNIFICENT! Where do I begin reviewing this book!

I loved it for starters. I can't imagine how someone can have such a brilliant mind to think of an epic book like this, much less going to have 10 in the series. Sanderson is an amazing story teller!

I loved how everything in the book came together. Everyone's stories eventually collided into one end game and I loved it! OMG, that ending! I can't believe some of the things that were revealed!

I loved Dalinar and his story. I wasn't much into Shallan's story until it got closer to the end. But... Bridge Four... Kaladin... love, love, love. I have a huge crush on Kaladin. Don't judge me!! :)

All of the characters were great, but Kaladin is my favorite. He is a great man to do all of the things he does for others and he's bad to the bone on top of that. I fell in love with Rock because he immediately reminded me of Andre the Giant! If they made a movie out of this book and he was still around, perfect fit, perfect!!

The majority of the crew on Bridge Four were all awesome and I love how Kaladin brought them all together, the camaraderie was great.

This is by far the best high fantasy I have read and I look forward to reading the rest in the series, if I live long enough to read them :)

I recommend to all fantasy lovers. Be sure you know this is over 1000 pages so be prepared to tuck into a long epic creation.

Fin!  5 Stars

The Queen Of All That Dies by Laura Thalassa

In the future, the world is at war.

For the last decade, King Lazuli of the Eastern Empire has systematically taken over the world. No one knows much about him other than a series of impossible facts: he cannot die, he has not aged since the conflict began, and he wants to rule the world.

All Serenity Freeman has known is bloodshed. War has taken away her mother, her home, her safety. As the future emissary of the Western United Nations, the last autonomous region of the globe, she is responsible for forging alliances where she can.

Surrender is on the horizon. The king can taste it; Serenity feels it deep within her bones. There is no other option. Now the two must come face to face. For Serenity, that means confronting the man who’s taken everything from her. For the king, it means meeting the one woman he can’t conquer. But when they meet, something happens. Cruelty finds redemption.

Only in war, everything comes with a price. Especially love. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1200248352

OMG! I loved this book! It is so full of action, suspense, love, hate, and so much more.

**SPOILERS**

King Lazuli rules the Eastern Empire and he has been waging war with the Western United Nation (WUN) for almost 15 years. Serenity Freeman is on the WUN side of the war and she is a soldier. Her part of the country is dying from starvation, cancer from radiation poisoning, not to mention just the war itself.

Serenity's father is an emissary for the WUN and she is an apprentice. He taught her from a young age to use and gun and how to fight. She had her first kill at twelve years old when she killed not one, but 4 men who were going to rape her. Sounds like a good kill to me! Her mother was killed when she was younger when the King dropped a bomb near their house. She wants nothing more than to see the King dead.

There is something strange about the King, you see pictures of him being shot and seemingly dead but he never is, I wonder what it could be :)

The WUN decide to try a peace treaty with the King because they are not going to survive any other way. They send Serenity and her father in as negotiators, they both dread this as none have ever come back alive. They pretty Serenity up in dresses and make up, to her dismay, to try to win the King over. They never in a million years believed it would work, but it does. The King is smitten right away with Serenity, he falls in love with her and can't believe it. She cusses him out at every opportunity, telling him what scum he is and has hit him a few times. This would have resulted in anyone else death but the King can't bring himself to hurt her, he sees a lot of himself in her.

Some bad things go down, some really bad things, but she ends up being married to the King and finds herself falling in love with him. She traded herself for her countries life. He gives her all the demands on helping her people that she makes.

There is just one big problem, Serenity is dying. Can the King save her with his technology? You have to read to find out.

I have to say this book just rocks. It never stops, not once. I could hardly put it down. The way Serenity is so tough and giving the King a run for his money is classic! I love it!


THEN ENDING! TALK ABOUT A CLIFFHANGER! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK IN 2016!
 
5 Stars

Chaos and Moonlight by A.D. Marrow

The Nines, an elite group of vampires, was established to stand as protection for their race. Fractured by centuries of betrayal and loss, the group is now little more than myth, its remaining members scarred and shattered.

Taris, the oldest living vampire, is no stranger to loss and heartbreak. He is all that holds the Nines together as they struggle to save themselves from total extinction.

Enter the beautiful and briliant Dr. Sarah Bridgeman, whose medical research has resulted in a breakthrough for both humans and vampires. Her work may be the salvation this weary band of guardians has been looking for.

Taris needs to reach Sarah and enlist her help—before those aligned against him can act. Can a vampire king convince a stunning young scientist to save a species that isn’t even supposed to exist?

For now, only one thing is certain: no science can explain the explosive chemistry between them. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1267456247

I would like to thank Netgalley and Full Fathom Five for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is great! I'm officially in love with Taris :)

The vampires are looking for a cure so their race doesn't become extinct and Sarah and Nick just might have that cure.

This is the first time I have read a book with a different take on vampires. These particular vampires can have children, well when they are cured they can go back to having children. They have a sort of virus at the moment. They also eat real food. They don't survive on blood, although they drink it, but it's real food that keeps them alive. It was weird, but in a good way. It only means you could have a really good meal with your vampire boyfriend in my opinion! No pun intended :)

The Order of the Nines are a type of warrior group of vampires. They keep things in order etc. They were sort of disbanded years ago by someone going rogue, etc. Trying not to give too many spoilers away!!!! The main ones stayed together in a huge compound of their own. Taris is the oldest living vampire of 800 years and he is leader of the Nines. When they get down to fighting they have an arsenal of weapons and it's just bad to the bone. I love it.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Taris get a connection and we all know what that means. It's hot and heavy and sweet.

There are some really sad stories with a few of the members, but I loved all of these characters. Well I hated Morrigan, but she's not good. Bane has issues of his own.

Overall I really liked this book and I am glad the author is writing more of these as I'm looking forward to the series. I want to see some of them that got together make a vampire baby and other cool things you don't ordinarily read about vampires!

I recommend to all paranormal/fantasy lovers.  4 Stars

The Dark by David C. Cassidy

=== NATIONAL IPPY AWARD WINNER IN HORROR ===

Once again, award-winning horror master David C. Cassidy takes his readers into a realm of terror, a world unlike any other. With the inspired flair of Clive Barker and the pulse-pounding beat of Stephen King, The Dark is a supernatural thriller that will leave you breathless, reminding us all that for all we desire there is always a price, the currency in suffering and sacrifice.

IT KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT. IT KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED.

In denial over his father's death in a horrific accident, Kelan Lisk has grown fearful and withdrawn. For this meek and bullied child, a burning desire to tame a deadly sledding hill consumes him, drawing him inside a wondrous place where anything is possible ... including his father. But as this strange new realm spills into this one, twisting an innocent little boy into an agent of evil, the world is forever changed, devoured by an even greater evil--the Dark.

Praise for The Dark:

"While reading The Dark, you're going to wonder why David C. Cassidy isn't the household name that Stephen King's or Dean Koontz's are. The writing and story plot are on par with both of those illustrious authors."

"The Dark is a lean, mean psychological thrill ride that offers generous shades of horror masters such as King or Koontz."

"Cassidy doesn't write scenes--he puts you in them."

"Terrifying, gripping, The Dark is a taut read that will make you want to keep turning the pages." @goodreads


MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1227899697

Read from May 23 to 26, 2015

Wow! This was a huge book of just utter creepiness!

They call it The Dark.. it reels you in and takes your soul.

Little Kelan was in the car with his father when they wrecked and his father was killed instantly. He is devastated thinking it's his fault. His mother Susan and brother Eric try to help him but he just can't get over it. So he starts going to a place everyone calls, The Run. It's a big hill you sled down and try not to land in the river, you either stop before it or if your lucky you can fly over it. Kelan is terrified of the run and he always runs into his bully Arnie when he's up there and gets tortured and so forth. Kelan stays out late one night and meets what he thinks is a new kid that seems kind of weird but is nice to help and says he can make the run. Kelan is so happy to have a friend that he sleds down the slope and does make it over the river. But little does he know this is the beginning of horrible things to come. The Dark steals little kids and brings them to a world they think is all fun..until... it's not! The Dark also takes out as many adults as it can.

You can go back and forth in this world until it takes you for good.

This book has so much creepiness and gory parts you can just feel The Dark's eyes on you!! It makes you not want to go out in the woods again that's for sure.

I recommend this book to any horror fan. It's a good 500 pages, but it's worth it and doesn't drag at any point, it's just too creepy for that and there is way to much going on with a group of people.

I look forward to more of this author's books!  4 Stars

Gathering Frost by Kaitlyn Davis

Will his kiss be enough to revive her frozen heart?

Once Upon A Time meets La Femme Nikita in GATHERING FROST, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Jade was only a little girl when the earthquake struck. Before her eyes, half of New York City disappeared, replaced by a village that seemed torn out of a storybook. Horses and carriages. Cobblestone streets. A towering castle. And, above all, a queen with the magical ability to strip emotions away.

Ten years later and Jade has forgotten what it is to feel, to care...even to love. Working as a member of the queen's guard, she spends most of her time on the city wall staring at the crumbling skyscrapers of old New York. But everything changes when the queen's runaway son, Prince Asher, returns. Jade is tasked with an unusual mission--to let the Prince capture her, to make him trust her, and then to betray his secrets to the crown. In return, she'll earn her freedom. But life outside the queen's realm is more than Jade bargained for. Under Asher's relentless taunts, her blood begins to boil. Under his piercing gaze, her heart begins to flutter. And the more her icy soul begins to thaw, the more Jade comes to question everything she's ever known--and, more importantly, whose side she's really on. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1194038399

Read from April 26 to May 23, 2015

I thought this was a good take on a fairy tale. I love when authors write about these tales, especially if they are different.

There is an earthquake that brings the old world into the new world. This brings the old evil queen into our world and she enthralls as many people as she can, they have no feelings and they do all of her bidding.

There are other parts of the world that is not in her grasp where the world still has power and is somewhat normal with real people. Prince Asher, her son, is one of them. He can't be enthralled by his mother. She can die and transfer her magic to him but that doesn't mean he has to be a troll like she is.

We have Jade who is supposed to be the Snow White type. She is a guard in the Queen's army. She has no feelings and nothing scares her because of the grip the Queen has on these poor people. They can't even remember their families or even care to.

The Queen has some stupid idea of sending Jade in to get captured by her son, Asher, so she can spy on the rebels. This doesn't work as the Queen planned. I'm going to leave it at that.

I thought the story was really good and I look forward to reading the next book because it ended on a sort of cliffhanger. Let's just say the Prince dropped a bomb and ran off with Jade on his butt after him :) 4 Stars

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.
@goodreads

MY REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1232606546

Read from April 28 to May 22, 2015

I thought this book was lovely!

You have two races at war with each other. One is the Avicen, they are beautiful bird people. They are all different types of birds as well. The other race is the Drakharin, they are dragon people. These two races are at war because the Drakharin think the Avicen put a curse on them where they can't turn into their true dragon forms. You have to read the book, I'm not to good at explaining :)

Then you have Echo, she is an orphan who lived in libraries. YES, LIBRARIES!! What better place to be :) An Avicen named Ala takes her in and adopts her. She lets Echo live with her in the beginning but Echo felt too different so she decided after a while to live in the library.

Ala takes really good care of Echo, even though Echo likes to steal things and is hard-headed she still loves her and lets her do what she wants to a certain extent.

So, you have both races looking for this firebird, it supposedly can put an end to the war. Some on both sides are evil and want it for evil doing of course and others want peace.

Caius is the Dragon Prince and he has his own agenda. He has a sister, Tanith who doesn't see eye to eye with him and wants to take his throne. Caius has a very faithful warrior named Dorian who will fight with Caius til the end even if he doesn't totally believe in what he is doing.

On Echo's side you have Ala of course, but she has a best friend named Ivy and Jasper.

Ala sends Echo out to find he firebird as she is the only one that can do it. Echo is found out and in a weird turn of events finds herself teamed up with Caius, Dorian, Ivy and Jasper. They end up on this little journey together trying to keep away from their enemies. They find what they are looking for but I can't tell you how or what happens :)

I look forward to the next book! 4 Stars

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts by K.C. Tansley

Kat Preston doesn’t believe in ghosts. Not because she’s never seen one, but because she saw one too many. Refusing to believe is the only way to protect herself from the ghost that tried to steal her life. Kat’s disbelief keeps her safe until her junior year at McTernan Academy, when a research project for an eccentric teacher takes her to a tiny, private island off the coast of Connecticut.

The site of a grisly mystery, the Isle of Acacia is no place for a girl who ignores ghosts, but the ghosts leave Kat little choice. Accompanied by her research partner, Evan Kingsley, she investigates the disappearance of Cassie Mallory and Sebastian Radcliffe on their wedding night in 1886. Evan’s scientific approach to everything leaves Kat on her own to confront a host of unbelievables: ancestral curses, powerful spells, and her strange connection to the ghosts that haunt Castle Creighton.

But that’s all before Kat’s yanked through a magic portal and Evan follows her. When the two of them awaken 129 years in the past with their souls trapped inside the bodies of two wedding guests, everything changes. Together, Kat and Evan race to stop the wedding-night murders and find a way back to their own time—and their own bodies—before their souls slip away forever. @goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1285604094

Read from May 20 to 22, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and Beckett Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I liked the book, I thought it was a good ghost story. It's not really creepy or anything, some of the ideas are creepy, like ghosts taking over your body for good, but that's about it.

Every since Kat was a child she could see ghosts, they rocked her in her cradle, sang her to sleep, became friends with her. Until... one day she finds a very creepy ghost around her all of the time and she starts missing chunks out of her day. Another ghost named Toria comes to her and says this ghost is trying to take over her body. Well as you can imagine, this freaks Kat out, but Toria says she will help her get rid of her. I won't go on about all of that, I will just say it worked.

Years later.. she is on a project with her class to go to Castle Creighton in CT to try to find out what happened many years ago. There seems to be a curse on the family and all of the children die at some point. There is one heir left, Joshua Radcliffe and they are going to see if they can find the curse and help him out. The group includes, Morgan, Kat's best friend, Seth and their TA, Evan.

It turns out Kat can't seem to fight all of the ghosts in this castle and they find her again. She finds Toria again, whom she loved and wanted to see again anyway. It turns out Toria and the evil ghost, Leanna is involved in the castle business.

Kat and Evan get pulled into a mirror that takes them back to the time frame of the first murders and they have to solve the crime. This they succeed in doing after coming back through the portal with the help of Toria, their friends, and the Radcliffe's.

I thought it to over all to be a very good little ghost story with some good characters and background. 
4 Stars 

Storm Front (Dresden Files Book One) by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden -- Wizard

Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever.

There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1275226483

This is the first time I have read a Harry Dresden book and I love it! I'm so glad for my friends at goodreads for bringing me into his world.

I had no idea Harry was so freaking funny! And the cast of characters in this book were great. The bad guys sucked of course. I loved Mac, the bartender. He made me think of a quiet-ish Andre the Giant :) I loved Toot-Toot, the funny little faerie. I wish he was in the book more but hopefully I will get to see him in more books. I could just order a pizza and he might show up :) Mister is a no brainer because I love animals and he's a cool cat! Then there is Bob, who could not resist Bob the talking skull :) I'm not sure what kind of creature lived inside, I may have missed that part but once in awhile Harry would let him out, but not so much because he seemed to like to hang out at the sorority's and cause trouble!

So, someone is going around killing people with black magic and Harry must find out who is doing this because so many people are blaming him for it.

The story is really good and didn't drag for me at any point. There is too much craziness and action going on for that. I look forward to reading the other books in the series up to date.

Fin  4 Stars 

The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

The Girl from the Well is A YA Horror novel pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge", based on a well-loved Japanese ghost story. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/989281696

Read on May 20, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks for having this book available to read now.

The Grudge meets, The Ring, meets an awesome book! This book is creepy but in a good way. I loved it!

The girl from the well is named Okiku and she was killed years ago. Her ghost stayed around to kill people that murder children. She's really creepy at first, well she's creepy all along, but she's good! She certainly does some creepy things and makes some creepy noises. I would love to see this as a movie!!

She meets a boy named Tark on one of her watches. She is keeping an eye on her next man to take out that has killed many kids. This man is also watching Tark. The murderers she picks kills all different ages of children. Tark is fifteen so he's a little older. Okiku notices something different about Tark, there seems to be a dark entity surrounding him.

So Tark and his dad just moved into the neighborhood. They move around because things seem to happen where ever Tark ends up. Tarks cousin Callie is a teachers aide at the new school he is enrolled in and she's really cool.

There seems to be a lot of children and people in the book that can see ghosts. I just thought I would mention that, some of the people and kids are a little freaky!

Tarks mom is in a mental institution but she's not really crazy. Just that kind of crazy where you can see evil spirits and every one else thinks your a nut ball!

Anyway, all kinds of bad things go down and Tark, his dad and Callie have to travel to Japan to take care of some business. I'm not giving away any spoilers. I so wish I could :)

All I know is this book is creepy and Okiku, although creepy as all get out, is a really good spirit. I look forward to reading more about her! 4 Stars

Netherworld by K.N. Lee

Our world is threatened by the creatures of an alternate land called the Netherworld. Koa and the Netherworld division are there to keep the vampire population in check. Koa is a powerful half-blood vampire. Her best friend is her boss, she has a cursed mother, an enchanted sword, and an attractive human pet.

Koa also has a problem. A Netherworld serial killer, with a taste for little girls, threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Koa's boss, Halston can stop him. But he knows one prisoner that can. Too bad that prison is in the Netherworld.

Is Koa ready to journey to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can break her mother's curse and protect all that she holds dear?

**Bonus Material**
Someone has stolen classified documents from the Netherworld division's vaults. Read the secret interviews that were leaked to the press, and discover the hidden clues of Dark Prophet and Lyrinian Blade (The Chronicles of Koa #2 & #3)

Editorial Reviews:
“The Chronicles of Koa is a wonderful story full of likeable characters, a clear world, and a fun mission.” Kirstin L. Pulioff, author of The Escape of Princess Madeline
~~~
“It has a fantastic story, twists and turns throughout, and some mysteries you won't see coming. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books as she writes them. The Chronicles of Koa #2 will certainly be a day one purchase for me!”
Thomas Ray Manning, author of Energize (From the Logs of Daniel Quinn)
~~~
“The ending had me on edge. I have to say I have not read a vampire novel like this one before.”
Glenna Maynard, author of Beautiful Strangers
~~~
“The author has created an engrossing world with vampires, angels and other mythical creatures. And not just any mythical creatures, her creations were... awesome!”
Morgan Jane, author of the Sanguis City series @ goodreads 

MY REVIEW:

4 STARS 

That ending!!! Talk about a cliffhanger, but I guess you have to do that sometimes. I have to get the second book to continue on and see what is going to happen.

I thought this book was pretty awesome. Now Koa could get a little whiny at times, which she shouldn't do because she's a kick-butt heroine :)
I might have to put in a few *SPOILERS* to explain a few things.

So Koa is half vampire and half something else, we don't know yet what that is, it's a big secret. Her dad was a powerful vampire that was King of the Netherworld until he was killed by a demon named Bund. He is a mercenary to Greggan who is the new King of the netherworld.

Koa's mother Raven is a black cat because she had a curse put on her by another person in the book. I will keep that to myself :)



Halston is her boss and she's in love with him. They work for the Netherworld Division. Halston isn't a mere man either, but I will keep that one to myself too :)

Koa has this bad@ssed Lyrinian sword that is from the netherworld and seems to have a mind of it's own and goes into a frenzy when she uses it against evil. Halston has a similiar weapon but it's a gun. Of course they are more bad @ssed then the picture below ↓



Someone is out to get Koa and they have to travel to the netherworld to get some help from different types of monsters and try to defeat Greggan and Bund. There is a lot going on with this part of the book. Actually, there is a lot going on in the book period. I loved that it just didn't stop. There are not points in this book that dragged for me, it just flowed right along.

There are several new characters I'm excited to learn more about. I love the characters currently in the book, well accept for the bad guys but I digress!



*I would like to thank NetGalley and Booktrope for the opportunity to read this book.* 

GOODREADS REVIEW: 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1269889909

AMAZON LINK TO THE BOOK:

 http://www.amazon.com/Netherworld-Chronicles-Koa-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00X0PRW08/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1457976561&sr=1-2

What Doesn't Kill Her by Carla Norton

From the acclaimed author of The Edge of Normal, a riveting new thriller in which the heroine must confront her former tormentor who has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane

Reeve LeClaire is a college student, dammit, not Daryl Wayne Flint’s victim. Not anymore—not when Reeve is finally recovering a life of her own after four years of captivity.

Flint is safely locked up in Olshaker Psychiatric Hospital, where he belongs. He is walking the grounds of the forensic unit, performing his strange but apparently harmless rituals. It seems that he is still suffering the effects of the head injury he suffered in the car crash that freed Reeve seven years ago. Post-concussive syndrome, they call it.

For all that Flint seems like a model patient, he has long been planning his next move. When the moment arrives, he gets clean away from the hospital before the alarm even sounds. And Reeve is shocked out of her new life by her worst nightmare: Her kidnapper has escaped.

Less than 24 hours later, Flint kills someone from his past--and Reeve's blocked memories jolt back into consciousness. As much as she would like to forget him, she knows this criminal better than anyone else. When Flint evades capture, baffling authorities and leaving a bloody trail from the psychiatric lock-up to the forests of Washington state, Reeve suddenly realizes that she is the only one who can stop him.
Reeve is an irresistibly brave and believable heroine in Carla Norton's heart-stopping new thriller about a young woman who learns to fight back. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1227893939

Read from May 16 to 19, 2015

I won this book in a goodreads first reads give away and I would like to thank the author for an ARC of this book.

This is the first book I have read from this author and it was so good I'm looking forward to reading more. This book is an awesome psychological thriller.

When Reeve was younger she was kidnapped and held captive for four years by a freak pedophile named Daryl Wayne Flint. By pure luck she was found when Flint was driving one day and had her in the trunk of his car. I'm not sure where he was taking her at the time, I may have missed that part. Reeve went through four years of torture and mutilation with this creep and all they do is put him in a mental institution!

A few years later he escapes. He played a psycho in the hospital for years biding his time to escape and he had people outside of the place helping him!! Well one was a child pornographer, but one was his freaking mother! What kind of crazy woman is she!!

Anyway, he escapes and wants to find Reeve again even though she's older he still wants her. I will not give any spoilers as to what all he did to her, but it's horrific! He also tries to grab some other little girls that look like her but he's off his game.

Reeve wants to try to help the police catch him so he doesn't hurt anyone like he hurt her, so she teams up with the retired FBI agent she worked with on her case, Milo. She does a great job, they both do.

The ending is really good and I definately enjoyed this thrill ride trying to find Flint and tie all of these things together. I would recommend it to anyone that loves mystery/thriller books.  4 Stars

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream? @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1268913644

Read from May 01 to 18, 2015

It has taken me awhile to get through this book. It as no where near as good as the first for me. I'm not sure what the problem was but it just wasn't great. I think I will have to do a re-read at some point to see if it was just my mood.

The part I started really getting into it was when Zuzana and Mik showed up to stay with Karou. I would have freaked out myself and would not have stayed with those evil things, but I digress :) They had some fun times while they were there. I loved how Zuzana helped Karou with the rebirths I will call them because I can't remember what they actually called them in the book.

I loved Issa and glad to see her there. I really loved Ziri and so did not see that ending with him. I will have to get used to that in the next book.

Of course there is a lot of evilness going on, you find out about their pasts, which was awesome, well the finding out part and so much information it was almost hard for me to take it all in.

And Akiva, sweet Akiva, all the the good things he does in the book. He's just a great angel right?

I wish this trilogy was in a graphic novel because I think seeing all of these creatures and angels would be beautiful in full color!

Fin 

3 Stars

Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back... @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1194397480

Read from May 09 to 17, 2015

I liked this book. Greta falls through a portal to make sure her little brother doesn't fall through and ends up in a world of goblins, sprites, faeries, etc. She lives with a man/sprite, Luke, who claims her as his daughter. In this land of Mylena, humans are not tolerated. They are hunted down and killed or taken to the demon Agramon.

But there is a goblin King named Isaac that invades Greta's dreams. He takes her to the human world where they talk and so forth. She thinks he doesn't know that she is human, as she hides her self as a bounty hunter sprite, but he knows. He seems to know everything. He is a very likable character though.

Some bad things happen and she ends up finding this little band of boys in the woods. They are humans that have been hiding together for different times, 3 years, 1 year etc. They have a little child with them that you just have to feel sorry for, his name is Jacob and he is only five.

Greta describes them as a cross between Lord of the Flies and Boyscouts of America!

OH and Greta has a bounty on her head because the creatures of Mylena found out she is a human some of her human friends and Isaac fight to make sure she is not killed. I won't go into that as I'm not adding any spoilers.

I hope to read the sequel at some point.  3 Stars

The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright

Che Milan’s life is falling apart. Not only has her longtime lover abruptly dumped her, but her eccentric, demanding mother has recently died. When an urn of ashes arrives, along with a note reminding Che of a half-forgotten promise to take her mother to Canterbury, Che finds herself reluctantly undertaking a pilgrimage.

Within days she joins a group of women who are walking the sixty miles from London to the shrine of Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, reputed to be the site of miracles. In the best Chaucer tradition, the women swap stories as they walk, each vying to see who can best describe true love. Che, who is a perfectionist and workaholic, loses her cell phone at the first stop and is forced to slow down and really notice the world around her, perhaps for the first time in years.

Through her adventures along the trail, Che finds herself opening up to new possibilities in life and discovers that the miracles of Canterbury can take surprising forms. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1228220932

I would like to thank Galley books for an ARC of this book.

I thought this was a great book about women taking a pilgrimage for many different reasons. I love all of the characters of the book. Che is the main character who decides to take this trip after her mom dies of cancer and sends a message to Che with her ashes telling her to go to Canterbury. She had wanted to make the trip with Che before she died, but it didn't happen. Che's boyfriend Ned dumps her by snail mail for another women, so Che decides getting away just might be something she needs.

She goes with a tour group of women. She's not really excited about it but she learns to like many of the women and finds herself while she is on this walk.

Each woman tells a story while they are walking to the Canterbury Cathedral. Some are just so very sad. The two I love the most are Silvia's story, it's very heartbreaking and touching. Steffi's story is extremely sad and makes me just disgusted with people in this world. But her story has a happy ending so that made me feel good.

Valerie's story is the saddest and Che can relate to her. The others were ok, but these three were the most touching.

It's a very beautiful book about women sharing stories, connecting with each other, and some of them finding themselves and what they need. I think it was very well written and I look forward to more of the author's books. This is the second book I have read of hers and they are both wonderful.  4 Stars 

Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde

They might’ve been a family.

Virginia finally had the chance to explore a relationship with Aaron when he asked her on a date. She had been waiting, hoping that the widower and his young son, Buddy, would welcome her into their lives. But a terrible tragedy strikes on the night of their first kiss, crushing their hopes for a future together.

Nineteen years later, Virginia is engaged, though she has not forgotten Aaron or Buddy. When her dog goes missing and it comes to light that her fiancé set him loose, a distraught Virginia breaks off the engagement and is alone once again. A shy young man has found the missing pet, and although he’s bonded with the animal, he answers his conscience and returns the dog. Before long, Virginia and the young man discover a connection from their pasts that will help them let go of painful memories and change their lives forever. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1265606219

I would like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book!

I have read some many of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and there are so many I love as favorites, this is a new one. She can write such heartfelt books.

Aaron and his 4 year old son Buddy and their dog Sheila walk every day to the diner just so Aaron can spend time with Virginia (Ginnie). They eat as well of course :) Aaron and Ginnie have feelings for each other and he finally gets up the nerve to kiss her and ask her out on a date. Unfortunately, a tragedy strikes on their walk back home and Buddy ends up getting carted away to live with his grandparents in Florida.

Nineteen years later, Ginnie and Fern own the diner where they worked all of those years ago. The diner was put up for sell that same fateful day that Aaron and Buddy came in to eat. Buddy suggested she buy the diner so she wouldn't have to move or worry about another job, and her and Fern did just that.

Ginnie is engaged to a jerk named Lloyd. Fern can't understand why and Ginnie has been having some reservations. But all of this changes when Lloyd tries to get rid of Ginnie's dog T-Rex that she has had for 6 years and loves more than anything.

Needless to say, when she finds out, Lloyd is out the door and she meets a boy named Jody that took in her dog and saved him from freezing to death.

From here is a story of old wounds, healing, love, and the ability to change lives forever in a most wonderful way!

I loved every minute of it!  5 Stars

Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva by Eliza Redgold

We know her name. We know of her naked ride. We don’t know her true story. We all know the legend of Lady Godiva, who famously rode naked through the streets of Coventry, covered only by her long, flowing hair. So the story goes, she begged her husband Lord Leofric of Mercia to lift a high tax on her people, who would starve if forced to pay. Lord Leofric demanded a forfeit: that Godiva ride naked on horseback through the town. There are various endings to Godiva’s ride, that all the people of Coventry closed their doors and refused to look upon their liege lady (except for ‘peeping Tom’) and that her husband, in remorse, lifted the tax. Naked is an original version of Godiva’s tale with a twist that may be closer to the truth: by the end of his life Leofric had fallen deeply in love with Lady Godiva. A tale of legendary courage and extraordinary passion, Naked brings an epic story new voice. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1271651424

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

I loved this book! It is so well written. The author stated she used fictional accounts of Lady Godiva and Lord Leofric's love for one another, but it seems the history she found is that they had a happy marriage throughout their lifetime.

So many scenes had such beautiful poetry. The details in the towns and every little thing that was going on was so precise to me. There is bloodshed, tears, evilness, love, betrayal, courage and the ride that has been told over and over. She did this for her people and I think it was wonderful.

I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this book. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it turned out and I actually look forward to reading more from this author. I also want to get some more books about Lady Godiva to read more history. But I think this was the best one yet, fiction mixed in with real history. Perfect.  5 Stars

Boundary Crossed by Melissa F. Olson

After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is.
She wakes up to two shocking discoveries: she has miraculously survived the fight, and baby Charlie is a “null,” gifted with the ability to weaken supernatural forces...and a target for creatures who want to control that power. Determined to guarantee her niece’s safety, Lex makes a deal with the local vampires. She sets out with the mysterious—and undead—“fixer” Quinn to track down whoever’s responsible for the kidnapping, sharpening her newfound magic skills along the way. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her powers become.
Boundary Crossed is a dark, thrilling journey into a world where the line between living and dead isn’t nearly as solid as it appears... @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1262731764

Read from May 13 to 15, 2015

I won this is a GoodReads first reads giveaway!

A few mild *SPOILERS*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the character Lex. She is a former US Army Sergeant and a boundary witch. She has no idea she is a witch until she is attacked by a couple of vampires that are trying to kidnap her little niece. This attack led her to be in the hospital where she meets another witch and a vampire who start filling her in on what she is, of course blowing her away.

She has to go and meet with the head vampire and make a deal to keep her niece safe as there will be more beings trying to kidnap her because she is a null. They explain to her that a null is someone that can drain power. Example: If a vamp is close to her, well carrying her since she's only one, they can actually walk in the sunlight, wolves wouldn't have to change on the full moon, etc.

So with the help of some other witches they start training her on how to use her powers. She also has a great vampire friend she meets because of this named Quinn. He is a love interest, but that isn't really dwelled upon in this book.

They have a few good battles and learn some really cool things.

I think Lex is awesome. She has a menagerie of adopted animals, she's bad to the bone and she has a little snark and don't put up with much from anyone. She doesn't whine or go on about things, she just gets it done.

A great book and I hope there is going to be more because I want to see what could happen next!

4 Stars

The Iron Princess by Sandra Lake

A Sons of the North Romance novel from Sandra Lake, author of The Warlord’s Wife, who takes readers to 12th-century Scandinavia where two hearts clash in furious passion…

The daughter of a Northern warlord, Katia is known as the Iron Princess for her mettle in battle. Headstrong and defiant, she instigates sword duels on a whim with little regard for her own safety. Katia would rather die on her feet as a warrior than live as a token wife and child bearer for a husband who keeps her castled as if she were a prisoner.

Lothair is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, who was granted the title of baron, a castle and lands. Raised in an atmosphere of mistrust and deceit, he rejects the concept of husbandry and wants a life of purpose and sacrifice in the pursuit of security for the Baltic Sea.

And when fate brings the Iron Princess and reluctant baron together, Katia and Lothair discover they are kindred spirits with fiery temperaments—and insatiable desires—to match… @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1271649405

Read from May 04 to 14, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for an ARC of this book.

First off I love the cover of this book. I think it's just beautiful!

The beginning of the book was great with Katia, the princess, dressing up as a boy and fighting in the duels they had at the castle. I thought this was going to be a story about another strong woman.

Her stepfather, the King, Jarl Magnus didn't have a problem with her learning sword fighting and he and her mom didn't plan on pawning her off to the best man to marry, they were going to let her make this decision. I thought her family were really cool in this regard for back in those days. And the King treated her like his own daughter. She had I think 5 brothers. I lost count as they weren't dominate characters in the book.

Now even though the King didn't mind her learning the sword, he did not want her participating in any duels etc. She had a sword master named Rikard. She had all of her guards, her best friend Tosha and Rikard to say nothing so she can fight in the games. They were all against it of course and only agreed to let her if she gave up when it got bad. She holds her own pretty good but gets a good blow and makes everyone freak and want to attack the poor man that had no idea who he was fighting. He was livid when he found out and thought she was stupid. This is where she meets the man she decides is the love of her life. This would be Lothair.

So that's all of the spoiler ish I'm going to say about the book. It goes on that Katia takes off with Tosha to be a spy on Andrei. She wants to prove to her stepfather that she can help in missions and things. So, this doesn't bode well and she almost gets them killed, but Lothair is there to save them with his men.

This leads to a mission of getting them back home safe and sound. There is a lot of running from people, a few bloody fights, and a lot of irritation from Katia. From the point when they were saved she did a few good things helping out but she whined too much for me. The love of her and Lothair takes up the whole rest of the book with a few other things thrown in.

I did like the book, I loved the time frame, I loved the idea of a heroine, the landscape, but it just needed a little bit less of Katia being a brat!

I would like to go back and read the first one and read any more in the series to see what all happens. 

3 Stars

Ashfall by Mike Mullen

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

For Alex, being left alone for the weekend means having the freedom to play computer games and hang out with his friends without hassle from his mother. Then the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plunging his hometown into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence. Alex begins a harrowing trek to seach for his family and finds help in Darla, a travel partner he meets along the way. Together they must find the strength and skills to survive and outlast an epic disaster. @goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/549446222

Read from May 10 to 13, 2015

This book is really good. It's such a creepy thought that it could really happen!

I loved the characters Alex and Darla.

Alex decides he wants to stay home while his parents and little sister went out to visit relatives about 2 hours away. Unfortunately, after they leave the supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park decided to erupt. Naturally chaos ensues. Alex stays with his neighbors for a few days before heading out to try to find his family.

This journey involves a few nice people, some starvation, killers and killing, many deaths and a fight to survive.

Alex runs into Darla and her mom on their farm while he is traveling. They take care of him since he was half way to dead from a vicious fight with an ex con, although Alex can hold his own with his martial arts skills. Darla's mom is a sweetheart, Darla not so much at first, she is leery of people and I can't say I blame her. But, she stitches him up and they all seem to have a wonderful little time on the farm, at least the best they can in the situation. Until some bad things happen then Alex and Darla head out on his quest to find his family. He was staying with them to get his strength back but still planning to leave, it just happened sooner than he thought.

Darla and Alex see a lot of things on their travels. Most of them are not nice and they have to do some not so nice things, but they stick together and do whatever they have to do to survive.

I really liked this book even though I wanted to smack Alex a few times. It seems Darla had to get them out of his messes a lot. I look forward to the other two books in the trilogy! I have to see what is going to happen!  4 Stars

End of Days by Susan Ee

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other? @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1256244652

Read on May 12, 2015

Wow!! The ending of this wonderful series was epic! I'm really sad to see this one end, but I have to say Susan Ee didn't disappoint!! I love how these books pick right up where the other one ended too!

There is so much going on in this book I'm not sure how I can give a review without spoilers. I must say the end of the book was so freakin awesome! There are some sad things, some good things, a whole lot of crazy fighting, different monsters coming into the picture and things going on.

**SPOILER ALERT**

I was really sad that Obi died, but you know someone has to bite it. I did have a moment of feeling sorry for Beliel when I found out his story. I guess sometimes there are reasons for being a jerk. But he took one for the team and died as well, at least he went out a sort of good guy.

**SPOILER OVER**

I just can't write any more spoilers for this book, although there are so many people reading it today I'm not sure it would matter much :)

We get to meet some new characters in the book and I love them. Paige takes on a different form so to speak, which is cool. The Tweedle Twins are just as hilarious as ever and getting it done. Oh, and Pen's mom is just as crazy cool as ever. She's got some smarts rolling around in that head! LOL!

I feel like I want to read another one :) I want to see what other things could happen now that things have changed drastically. Oh well, I'm still happy with this one and I would recommend it to one and all :)

Fin

5 Stars

One Enchanted Evening by L.A. Kelley

One Enchanted Evening is the cheeky retelling of the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood. The heroine finds a wellspring of courage she didn't know she had. The hero discovers disability doesn’t equal weakness. The villain—well, he’s just plain rotten. Meanwhile, the reader will never look at a clothing from a consignment shop the same way again.

Blurb:
Enchanted clothing has a mind of its own.

Restlessness plagued Charlotte Becker. Unable to settle down, she moved from place to place searching for an elusive something to calm her turbulent spirit. A sudden invitation from her sister sends her across country to Lobster Cove, Maine. Anchors abound by the sea, but surely nothing would keep her rooted in place in a pokey resort town during the off-season.

Drawn into a consignment shop named One Enchanted Evening, Charlotte is confronted by a mysterious article of clothing requesting her help to stop a man in a wolf mask from killing women. Charlotte agrees to protect the citizens of Lobster Cove and find the hunter before an innocent is slain.

Luke Maddox’s hunting days are over. Wounded in action, he left the Marines to return to Lobster Cove, the only place to bring him peace as a child. Hiding his disability, he accepts life will be nothing more than dull routine. Then he meets a singular young woman wearing an unusual cloak. She tells an incredible story of a wolf that walks on two legs.

And the hunt begins…

Excerpt:
The woman’s gaze raked over Charlotte. Sharp brown eyes caught her in an unblinking stare.

“Um, hi,” said Charlotte, suddenly feeling as if she had walked out of her apartment without pants. Unconsciously, she ran a hand down her side, and was relieved to touch denim.

“Oh? A consignment shop?” chirped Annabel. “Perhaps we could look around. My sister and I love vintage wear,” she added with her winning smile. Charlotte rolled her eyes. Annabel never gave up easily. She’d have that woman arm-wrestling over a price for the armoire before she could say interior designer discount.

“Your life is complete, Mrs. Fisher,” said the shop owner pleasantly. “Nothing in here would fit.” Amused, Charlotte for once noted Annabel at a complete loss for words.

The coins on the woman’s scarf jangled as her head swung toward her. Charlotte swallowed hard as the pantsless feeling crept up her legs again. “You have possibilities,” the woman said. “The path traveled can be diverted. Come back when you’re ready to accept the consequences. I warn you, though; the first step to fulfilling one’s destiny can be dangerous. Good day.” She shut the door in their faces.

Annabel gawked at the building. “Helluva way to run a business. She’s not going to last long in Lobster Cove with that attitude.” She slipped her arm into Charlotte’s. “Come on, I know a fabulous little place around the corner that sells dynamite shoes.”

As Charlotte allowed herself to be led away, she glanced back over her shoulder. The curtains were still closed. The shop appeared as vacant as before, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that behind one of those obscured windows stood a little old lady peering intently in her direction. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1269923645

Read on May 11, 2015

I won this book in a goodreads/firstreads giveaway! I would like to thank the author for this book.

I really liked this book. If you like re-tellings of old fairy tales then you will probably like this one. It has a little bit of magic, romance, crazy psycho killer, all in a quaint little town called Lobster Cove.

Charlotte comes to Lobster Cove to be with her sister Annabel after Charlotte gets let go from her job. She's able to still work from home through networking and told Annabel she would give her a month to see if she wants to live there forever.

I will be adding a few *SPOILERS*

Charlotte goes into a clothing store called, "One Enchanted Evening" There is a creepy old lady there that tells her to choose a wardrobe to open. Charlotte thinks this lady is a freak and just wants to get out of there. The lady talks Charlotte into trying to open wardrobes until one actually opens and hanging there is Red Riding Hoods cloak! The lady mumbles some stuff about the hood picking Charlotte and she just basically says whatever and leaves the place.

Finding out later the hood can move on it's own and pulls itself down over Charlotte's eyes and writes to her. The cloak calls itself the Red Writing Hood. I know it sounds corny but it really isn't.

Anyway, so Charlotte has to find a man dressed in a wolf mask killing people and take him out of the game. She gets help from a nice war veteran named Luke who runs an organic shop. He makes different things from his grandmother's old recipes.

Eventually they get the killer and a little surprise ending that I thought was great. I hope there will be more on this little town!

Fin  4 Stars

The Novice by Taran Matharu

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1275227905


THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!! I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy when it comes out!

Fletcher is so cool, but can get into so much trouble just walking around! He's a blacksmith's apprentice, who is Berdon. Berdon actually brought him up as a baby. But I won't go into that story. Fletcher ends up getting into trouble with the punk Didric in their little town of Pelt. He has to leave in a hurry so they won't catch him since Didric is a high figure in the town.

Berdon gives him a wicked blade and some gifts with money to get away. I was saddened that he had to leave Berdon and I hope he is ok. Fletcher also has a little demon named Ignatius, but you will have to read the book to see how that came to pass.

Fletcher ends up in the town of Corcirllum. And her sure seems to do some dumb things at times like taking out a big bag of money in a tavern is one of them. He gets followed by some roughnecks but is saved by a man named Arcturus who takes him in and gets him set up in the academy for adepts where they teach you all about summoning etc.

He meets some wonderful friends here. My favorite is Othello the dwarf! He is a wonderful character. Dwarves are treated like trash, but Fletcher treats everyone equal. My other favorite is Sylva the elf. She is really sweet and cool. They make the best of friends and I love their demons. They certainly don't seem like demons. They are sweet :)

There are some other characters in the book that I like and that you are going to hate naturally. I like one of their teachers Lovett. She is just too cool!

All of this training is for a battle with the Orcs.

I really loved this storyline! There are so many things that are great about this book. The author used a lot of details and I didn't have any trouble keeping up. Well, on some of the names of things, I'm not good with remembering names right away, but that has nothing to do with the book.

Seemed like a mix of Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings. Just certain things reminded me of those books and that just makes it all the better :)

I recommend this book to anyone that loves this type of a read.

Fin. 

5 Stars

The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn

They only come when it snows, and nobody ever gets away. A group of close friends gathers at a secluded cabin in the wintry mountains of Colorado for a final holiday hurrah. Instead, it may be their last stand. First a massive blizzard leaves them marooned. Then the more chilling realization: something is lurking in the woods, watching them, waiting? Now a weekend of family, friends, and fun has turned into a test of love and loyalty in the face of inhuman horrors. The only hope for those huddled inside is to fight - tooth and nail, bullet and blade - for their lives. Otherwise, they'll end up like the monsters' other victims: bright pools of blood on glittering snow, screams lost in the vast mountains. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1275221206

Read from May 08 to 09, 2015

I really loved the monsters in this book. They were so creepy and I would like to know more about them. I think this would make a great B movie or graphic novel just so I can see the creatures :)

The people got on my last nerve and I didn't much care for the ending. I wanted to see Oona walk off into the sunset all happy and going home!

I loved this was set in a cabin, or should I say an estate sized cabin, in the woods in the middle of no where with all the snow! And then you add in the creepy creatures!

The people, meh, not so much. I think Lauren is the only one I really liked a lot. Ryan wasn't so bad and I loved Oona the best. But this thing with Jane, Sawyer and April, that got right on my nerves. I was actually glad the person who got killed first was the one to go :)

There are people that say this reads like a B movie and I have to totally agree with them. I thought I was watching one of my crazy movies!

I think horror buffs would love this if not only for the creatures, they are amazing, and Oona of course.

Fin 

3 Stars

The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy

In Benjamin Percy's new thriller, a post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Lewis and Clark saga, a super flu and nuclear fallout have made a husk of the world we know. A few humans carry on, living in outposts such as the Sanctuary-the remains of St. Louis-a shielded community that owes its survival to its militant defense and fear-mongering leaders.

Then a rider comes from the wasteland beyond its walls. She reports on the outside world: west of the Cascades, rain falls, crops grow, civilization thrives. But there is danger too: the rising power of an army that pillages and enslaves every community they happen upon.

Against the wishes of the Sanctuary, a small group sets out in secrecy. Led by Lewis Meriwether and Mina Clark, they hope to expand their infant nation, and to reunite the States. But the Sanctuary will not allow them to escape without a fight. @ goodreads 

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1217010110

Read from May 05 to 08, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I originally heard about this book in my Stephen King Book Group. It was up as one of the books to read and I thought it sounded really interesting.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot. The world is all but wiped out by a virus/nuclear bombs. It's like a cluster of things going on. Then we have all of the mutations from the radiation that shows up in people and animals. Of course, the animals were there worst as they were either bigger or just plain freaky and dangerous!

So here is this Sanctuary that is built around St. Louis with a tyrant of a Mayor, Thomas Lancer, who is a lot like The Governor in The Walking Dead. Meaning, he's a big jerk who has a big head and has no trouble with torturing and killing people!

Not everyone wants to stay in the Sanctuary under these conditions and are waiting for a chance to escape. This comes to them unexpectedly in the form of a girl with black eyes that shows up at the wall of the Sanctuary. There are a lot of things that go down with her arrival, but eventually some of them escape and head to what they are hoping is the promised land as the girl, Gawea, makes it out to be.

I love so many characters in the book, even some I didn't like in the beginning. You have Clark, she is a girl that is a wall sentry and ranger. York is Clark's half brother, he is funny and sweet. Lewis I didn't care for at the beginning, he seemed to be shady with his mechanical owl going around spying on people and out in the bad lands looking for signs of life, but I ended up liking him. I loved Gawea with her black eyes but feel sorry for her later in the book when some things happen. Ella, who is a girl that worked for Lewis that he just left behind. And there is Simon, I loved his and Ella's story. Although, he has a sad story with his father.

There are other characters in the book but I didn't seem too impressed with them accept Jon Colter, he was cool.

So some of them set out to find this land and a man named Aran Burr that has sent for Lewis, that is why Gawea is there.

On this trip you have deaths of people you love as per the norm. and a whole lot of craziness going on! But I did enjoy this little journey into the Dead Lands and beyond!  4 Stars

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down! @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1230825660

Read from May 05 to 07, 2015

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved it so much in the beginning, then I felt a little off with it for a bit, but the end took me right back to loving it.

I think this is a very unique take on Beauty and the Beast. I loved Tamlin, he is a wonderful beast! There were times that Feyre got on my last nerves and I wanted to smack her, but it happens. She did great over all.

I loved some of the characters in the book. There is Lucien, who I hope to learn more about in the next book. Alis, who is Feyre's sort of maiden when she comes to the manor. And I actually liked Rhysand in the end. He's a bad guy of sorts but I won't give that spoiler away.

I loved the scenery I pictured in the book from the descriptions. It seems like a beautiful place to live, or is it? There is all sorts of bad stuff going on, bad monsters, curses, killings, you know, the normal stuff!

I'm not sure where the next book is going to take us, but there was something a little weird happen at the end and I'm hoping that is explained.

I think Sarah J. Maas fans will like this book, but if your look for another Throne of Glass type book, this is NOT it. This is a fairy-tale with some bad stuff involved. So just be aware of something different and nice.

Fin! 4 Stars

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova comes a powerful new novel that does for Huntington’s Disease what her debut Still Alice did for Alzheimer’s.

Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease.

Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?

As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

Praised for writing that “explores the resilience of the human spirit” (The San Francisco Chronicle), Lisa Genova has once again delivered a novel as powerful and unforgettable as the human insights at its core. @ goodreads

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1240196992

Read from May 05 to 06, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and Gallery books for an opportunity to read this book.

I'm rating this book a 3.5 only because of the ending, it left me wanting to know what happened.

This book is so sad. I feel so bad for this family and all of the real families out there struggling with Huntington's Disease! To find out that you have a disease that is going to eventually kill you, but first stripping you of your motor function, all of your control is beyond devastating!

Joe is the dad of 4 children and he's married to Rosie. He's a Boston Cop. He starts doing some weird stuff that no one can understand. He gets very angry, forgets stuff, starts moving around weirdly both at home and at work. Rosie finally gets him to go to the doctor. He thinks it's his bum knee giving out and making him fall, etc. He doesn't understand the other stuff going on. They find out he has the dreaded HD and their world is shattered. He inherited it from his mom who was always called a drunk and carted off to the mental hospital, when in reality she had this horrible disease that finally killed her in that mental hospital. To make this even worse, they find out he could have transmitted the gene to the kids. They can all have tests to see if they have it. I feel so bad for Joe and Rosie.

Their kids are Katie, who wants to run her own Yoga Studio. Patrick, who is an idiot that just bums around. J.J., who is a firefighter and gets married to Colleen. And Meghan, who is a dancer at the Boston Ballet.

One of the children refuses to get tested. Two of them do and have the gene. And one goes around and around through the whole book about trying to find out or not. I mean I would be right down there getting it done. This is what has me mad at the ending, they finally decide to find out and we are not told!!!! I want to know, because they have two decisions they are making about their life depending on this diagnosis.

I don't want to give any spoilers out so I just want to say the story is really good. It's really sad and I very much enjoyed it accept for the end. I didn't enjoy the bad things, but I enjoyed getting to know the family, even though this particular one isn't real, but they are out there.

And I have to add that I love Yaz the dog. All dogs get a love in my reviews :)

I recommend this to anyone that likes stories that are based on real life tragedies, but see them for real people.  3.5 Stars