Thursday, February 28, 2019

A Pack Of Blood And Lies by Olivia Wildenstein

The primal rule of winning: don’t fall in love with the contender.

Three months shy of her eighteenth birthday, Ness is forced to return to Colorado. Even though it’s been six years, and the wolves of her all-male pack don’t recognize her, she recognizes them. People who shun others because of their gender are hard to forget.

Especially Liam Kolane—son of Heath, the crudest and cruelest Alpha to have ruled the Boulder Pack. Liam is as handsome as he is infuriating, as kind as he is punishing, and he makes Ness’s traitorous heart race, which isn’t good. After all, he’s a Kolane. Like father like son, right?

When Heath dies, Liam vies to become the new Alpha and no one dares challenge him.

Except Ness.

Thus begins a treacherous game.

The rules: winner takes all…including loser’s life.

Fans of Kresley Cole and Cassandra Clare will devour A PACK OF BLOOD AND LIES.

* Contains Alpha males.
* Not suitable for children under 14.




At first I was going to give this 2 stars or dnf, but I kept going and I'm glad. I think it was my mood and not feeling the story at first, because I'm a HUGE werewolf fan. I mean I have always wanted to be one so........

Anyhoo, this is a story about Ness who/whom was shunned when she was a little girl and forced out of town with her mother. Things happen and when Ness is a teen the pack drags her back home to Colorado. <-- Not literally




I love Ness as a character; she's loving and kind but a bad ass when she has to be and she certainly has to be in this book.

The old evil Alpha is gone and Ness decides to go up against Liam because she thinks he's evil like his father. Turns out there are different evil peeps in the book you wouldn't have seen coming.

But Ness is strong and she fights for what she believes in and doesn't back down when it comes to the ones she loves.

Some of the characters I loved to hate but some of my favorite are Liam, Ness and Evelyn. The book even brought a bit of a tear to my eye with some happiness that ensues. Get over it, I cry when I'm happy and sad =)

I'm very happy with the ending of this book and look forward to the next book!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a digital copy of this book.*


Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥ 

GOODREADS REVIEW  

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.

As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?







Reading this with my lovely friend, Tammie! Did I get to reread the first trilogy that I loved before this one? No! Do I care? No! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ



So I wanted to smack Genevieve there at the end but I get to the last page and chills went down my spine!! Woot!!



I was so excited to read this book because I loved the first books and Sybella and Beast!! Of course now I need to do a reread but that’s neither here nor there.

Sybella is bad ass as well as Beast as well as all assassin girls!


He is a big man, thickset and heavy. Either it has not registered that I have just mortally wounded his two friends or he is stupid, so certain he has a killing blow that he moves slowly, like an executioner at a beheading.

In the time it takes for his sword to arc toward me, I retrieve the stiletto from my left sleeve. Ducking in low, I launch my entire body at him, aiming for his gullet.

The move brings me up against his chest, my blade sinking deeply into the hollow of his throat. For one crystalline moment, we are pressed together in an embrace, his sword flailing uselessly behind me. I twist the stiletto, shoving it in deeper.

**********************

Beast

His physical presence has all the sublety of a small mountain, and as he draws closer, the tattered remains of the lingering souls retreat. He slips his arm around my waist and pulls me close—the only man in the kingdom who could survive taking such a liberty with his throat intact.


I love them sooooo much!!

This book is told in the POV’s of Sybella and Genevieve. Where I was more interested in Sybella’s parts, I was interested in what was going on with Genevieve and the mysterious prisoner.

I did want to smack Genevieve at the end but that last page has me hoping for something awesome in the next book!! And I swear!! Sybella & Beast better not get hurt!!! 



Happy Reading!

Mel ๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿถ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿพ  


GOODREADS REVIEW 

AMAZON REVIEW 

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson


Eragon meets And I Darken in this thrilling new fantasy debut that follows a fallen princess as she ignites a rebellion to bring back the magical elemental crows that were taken from her people.

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life...until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.

That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.

But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.







I freaking love this cover! 

December Fairyloot! 




This book was amaze balls!! Welp, looks like another ARC I will be preordering the hardback!

I’m going to add a few spoilers so
Don’t read after the gifs unless you want a bit of spoilery








The shit hits the fan maybe a page out of the gate! Thia is having a good time out joyriding on one of the elemental crows; she was still waiting to get one of her own.

Thia is out with her friend, Kiva, who is a warrior. Then all hell breaks loose! The Illucians arrive and kill all the crows and kill many people including Thia’s mom. Thia’s sister becomes the new Queen and decides to marry Thia off to Prince Ericen of Illucia. Thia fought this tooth and nail but had to succumb to her destiny. My ass! And Thia’s ass too if she has anything to do with it.

Thia leaves with the Prince to go to his home. BUT.... Thia found a crow egg and is taking it with her. Thia’s sister is all for this as Thia must find the way and the magic to hatch the egg.

Thia meets the handsome boy Caylus, who just happens to be a rebel. Woot!! Oh, and the evil Queens servant, Auma is a rebel as well. Oh happy day!! The evil witch needs to be taken down.

Anyhoo, Caylus helps Thia find her inner power to hatch the egg!! And we have sweet little Resyries which means “ Stormbringer” and oh does he have a charge!!

Turns out the prince might not be so bad. Turns out that evil Queen has a whole slew of crow eggs! That bitch! And she needs Thia to hatch them. Not today dear Queenie! The gang escapes and are planning her take down! I hope the next book will have then raining hell down on the Queen. SIDENOTE: The Queen did have some bad things happen to her but she didn’t have to turn out the way she is but...

Either way, I loved the book and look forward to the next one!


Happy Reading!

Me
l ๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿถ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿพ 


GOODREADS REVIEW
 

Monday, February 18, 2019

Spin The Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renรฉe Ahdieh.






I loved this so much, it went to my favorites list and I have the hardback pre-ordered!


Animation: Arthur Redhawk


Let me tell you people! Do not always go by what a summary says! When I read this was a cross between Project Runway and Mulan, I immediately put hitting that pre-order button aside. I'm not into those two descriptions. BUT, I saw it on Netgalley and thought I should take a chance. I'm so glad I did! SPIN THE DAWN is nothing like what I was thinking in that part of the description!
This book was everything for me. Let me try to keep this simple without any spoilers. Hmmm....okay, Maia is a tailor in her own right, but girls are not allowed to become tailors. <-- What?! I was like, are you for real?! Anyhoo, her dad was a famous tailor but since Maia's mom died he's not the same and he has become sickly. (I mean we all get old right?) So Maia is the one running the shop and doing all of the mending. Maia has three brothers but things happen to them so they are not doing any kind of tailoring.

THEN, one day some dude shows up saying Maia's father has to come to try out to become a Royal Tailor to the Imperial Majesty. We all know that's not happening...soooooo.. Maia pretends she is one of her brothers and goes up against some other men (some whom are real jerks) to try to win the spot of Royal Tailor. Maia is not just doing this for herself, she wants to get money to her family.

All kinds of shenanigans ensue and even some people trying to kill people! Geez!

Maia befriends Edan who is the Lord Enchanter and he's a bit of something else too. I wish I could tell you. I might come back with a spoiler section =) Edan takes a liking to Maia because he knows her secret and she's a good person; she has some magic too!

They end up on a quest to seek these amazing things to make dresses out of for the Imperial Majesty's soon to be wife. She doesn't want to be his wife but that's how it goes in these arranged things. Anyhoo, this that and the other happens. I was so happy and then I was sad because I'm not sure what the future is going to hold AND I don't have the next book yet!? Do I want to read the next book? I'm afraid! If I'm still alive, I will be reading it!

I love Maia and Edan so much and that's all that matters!

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥


*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me a digital copy of this book to read.* 


GOODREADS LINK  

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

It's a dangerous thing, to choose the lesser of two evils.

The war is over, and army priest Tomas Piety finally heads home with Lieutenant Bloody Anne at his side. When he arrives in the Stink, Tomas finds that his empire of crime has been stolen from him while at war. With his gang of Pious Men, Tomas will do whatever it takes to reclaim his businesses. But when he finds himself dragged into a web of political intrigue once again, and is forced to work in secret for the sinister Queen's Men, everything gets more complicated.

When loyalties stretch to the breaking point and violence only leads to violence, when people have run out of food, and hope, and places to hide, do not be surprised if they have also run out of mercy. As the Pious Men fight shadowy foreign infiltrators in the backstreet taverns and gambling dens of Tomas's old life it becomes clear; the war is not over.

It is only just beginning.






Woot!! This one went right into my favorites list! Happy Freaking Day!!


I loved almost every character in the book!! My favorite being Bloody Anne!

"I don’t want a fucking love spell," Bloody Anne snarled at him. "I’ve paid you silver for wisdom, so you’ll have the good grace to shut up and listen to the fucking question without interrupting me again or I’ll nail you to your door with your fucking rat, you understand me?"

Old Kurt stared at her for a moment, then laughed his thin, reedy old man’s laugh.

"That’s me told, ain’t it," he said. "I’ll listen, my fine lady. I’ll listen to you."


She’s Tomas second and she’s bad to the bone!!

Tomas is a fighter, a businessman and a priest. <— just read the book!

I love these people and laughed my butt off at some of their antics! I also give kudos to the author for having Tomas kill one of his own men that was going to rape a girl and also give a beating to one that hurt one of his brothel girls! Also, there was no senseless animal killings in the book! Hell yeah! I mean I can’t say what he will do in the other books but he got my full 5 stars for a great book and the forementioned <— is that even a word!

This is a grimdark my peeps and done in a way I could fully love and not cringe or skim. Yes, there are blood and guts and stuff. Uh, I did mention grimdark. Anyhoo, I loved it and look forward to the rest of the books!!


Happy Reading!

Mel
๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿถ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿพ 


GOODREADS REVIEW

AMAZON REVIEW

The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

Lindsay Harrel presents a powerful story of healing, forgiveness, and finding the courage to write your own story.

A year after the death of her abusive fiancรฉ, domestic violence counselor Sophia Barrett finds returning to work too painful. She escapes to Cornwall, England--a place she's learned to love through the words of her favorite author--and finds a place to stay with the requirement that she help out in the bookstore underneath the room she's renting. Given her love of all things literary, it seems like the perfect place to find peace.

Ginny Rose is an American living in Cornwall, sure that if she saves the bookstore she co-owns with her husband then she can save her marriage as well. Fighting to keep the first place she feels like she belongs, she brainstorms with her brother-in-law, William, and Sophia to try to keep the charming bookstore afloat.

Two hundred years before, governess Emily Fairfax knew two things for certain: she wanted to be a published author, and she was in love with her childhood best friend. But he was a wealthy heir and well out of her league. Sophia discovers Emily's journals, and she and William embark on a mission to find out more about this mysterious and determined woman, all the while getting closer to each other as they get closer to the truth.

The lives of the three women intertwine as each learns the power she has over the story of her life.








What a lovely story this was; all the warm and fuzzy feels! 

You have Sophia the counselor. She's going through some rough things and decides a change is in order. And oh, she goes to Cornwall and rents a room above a bookstore! Gasp! I would love that soooo much! It would be lovely enough being in Cornwall but living above a bookstore too! Be still my heart! ♥

Ginny is the owner of said bookstore BUT is having trouble with her husband ~ish. 

But soon Ginny is on a whirlwind adventure with Sophia when Sophia discovers and journal from many years ago written by a woman named Emily. So, Sophia drags Ginny her lovely brother-in-law William on a wonderful ride of finding out about this woman. 

I love the characters and the setting so much. The POV's are wonderful and oh, that ending! I love a story that has a beautiful happy ending! 

*I would like to thank BookLookBloggers for a print copy of this book. All opinions are my own*

Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥ 

Friday, February 15, 2019

Owlcrate February 2019 Unboxing

It's February Unboxing month! Woot! Get ready for some lovely things in this month's Owlcrate Box! 



Next we have one of my favorite things! A Haku keychain from the movie "Spirited Away" OMG! And we also have an enamel pin designed for the book of the month! 



Next is a cute little Pixie Dust crystal soap! 

 

Next we have a letter from the author but there is a map on the other side so I'm showing that and a bookmark designed for the book of the month 


The next two pictures is of the cutest little graphic novel! 



Next we have an umbrella inspired by the creatures from Harry Potter 


And my other favorite thing is a beanie with unicorns!! OMG! Inspired by the unicorns from Harry Potter. 


And finally we have the book "Crown of Feathers" with beautiful stained edges


Happy Reading All! 

Mel ♥

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..







OMG! OMG! OMG! PLEASE LET ME LOVE THIS......



Thank goodness I loved the book! Let just give you a little skinny on the book first before I tell you WHY I love it.

The book starts out with a bang; action right out of the gates. We have Nadya, she's a cleric and has been hiding in a monastery forever! She has powers and some peeps found out about her and all hell broke loose. She has to go on the run with a friend in order to not be killed or captured for other horrible reasons.

We have Serefin who is a Prince and a mage and he is after Nadya. The POV's are his and Nadya's but we get other characters through their story lines.

Then we have Malachiasz who is another mage character and from the same place as Serefin, but who helps Nadya and her friend get from point A to point B.

I loved the book in the very beginning but the only reason I kept loving it is because I fell in love with the villian! Yes, you heard it first here people. And there are actually a few villians in the book.

I also love the Vultures! They are bad guys and girls in the book as well. What is it with me and the bad guys! I don't always love them so there!

I am interested to see where this will go in the next book because that ending had me "shook" and I'm not over it yet. I hope that it gets better and doesn't suffer from second book syndrome!

Anyhoo!


*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a digital copy of this book to review.*
Mel ♥

Friday, February 8, 2019

The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters


Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”






What a lovely tale...




Once upon a dark December, in a year we
must
remember,
Morbid mounds of ash and ember told a
gruesome tale of gore--




Wow, I think Cat Winters did a great job on this book!

I was reading through her author's notes, etc and she was telling how she went about finding out as much history as she could before writing this book. I think she made a remarkable book on fiction and fact to create a young Poe.

I loved reading about Lenore! The book is written in two POV's; Edgar and Lenore. I must say it's bloody brilliant. I loved the creepiness to the book and the way the author incorporated a muse for different people. It was so freaking gothic and awesome and like I said a bit creepy. If you accept what you have created then the creepiness goes away and you find that you have a friend for life.

That's all I'm going to say before I sit right here and type a spoiler before the book is even out yet. This is February and this fine book will be out in April; I'm putting it on my birthday book buying list for myself.


*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for review.*

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥  


GOODREADS REVIEW 

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo


Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.






Okay, wait!!! That ending ..................................................................................





This book was so freaking awesome and some sad and a good bit of OMG! I do have the hardback but switched to the Audible I have as well and the narration was great!! I’m not going to go on and on as I don’t any more, I just want to say I loved it. But now I have to go back and finish the first trilogy and reread Six of Crows and this one again!

I do hope you guys enjoy this one ๐Ÿ˜Š Oh, I did get a cute little pin through the mail from preordering. I will show it later because I’m lazy right now!!

I’m already ready for the next book...... maybe!......

I’m so excited!




Happy Reading!

Mel ๐Ÿ–ค
๐Ÿถ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿพ 


GOODREADS REVIEW

Runes of Truth by G. Bailey

Thief. Runaway. Assassin. What happens when your rumoured name destroys your life? When the very runes engraved on your skin since birth, are a death sentence?

Evie doesn't remember a life before she was on the streets, a life before thieving to live and killing to stay alive.
When a royal family she didn't know anything about go missing, Evie finds herself thrown into the royal court of the protectors, and they demand her help.
Help in exchange for a chance at freedom and the name that's haunted her, forgotten. A name she can’t even read, a name she doesn’t understand.
But when three Royal protectors are tasked with helping her, her demon ex who is literally from hell, stalking her...will Evie ever be free?






Holy crap on a cracker!!!!! I freaking loved this book! Thank God for my book group challenges or I never would have found this gem!!

First let’s take a look at this absolutely gorgeous cover!!




"For a woman people fear, you are the kindest woman I’ve met in years," he says


Evie is bad assed! She’s a killer of things for reasons. She has a young girl she watches over for reasons. Some jerks capture said girl. Some of them turn out to not be jerks. They have to venture into hell with Evie’s ex boyfriend demon for reasons. A lot of crap goes down with a surprise ending for reasons! Oh, and it could be considered a love triangle but not in the way you’re thinking because I hate love triangles but this book is on my favorites list so it didn’t effect me that way.

Also, this book is on kindle unlimited US but I have bought the kindle version and the paperback version!! Now, I only hope the rest of the books are as good!



Happy Reading!!

Mel
๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿถ๐Ÿบ๐Ÿพ 


GOODREADS REVIEW 

 

Monday, February 4, 2019

Trapped by Amanda Byrd

I'm a monster. A literal monster. But I'm a "good" kind of monster. You know, like the serial killers who kill the drug dealers, rapists, and general scum of the earth.

The difference between those serial killers and me? I'm only part human; two-thirds of me is werepire. That's right, werewolf and vampire. It's not fun, but I make due. I'm also a therapist; the one these scum pay to... talk to. I listen, sure. But then I have my own personal brand of justice. It gets messy, so if you plan to stick around, might I suggest you wear a rubber suit?

From the back cover:
I'm stuck - stuck in this body with two blood-hungry beasts who happen to be relatively clueless to what being human means. Luckily, I still have that part of me, too. I realized a while ago what happened to make me this way and now I'm on a mission to find a cure without killing myself in the process.

I also may have the opportunity to buy a castle in England complete with gargoyles. Am I going to? You bet I am! But while I was there, I gained a follower of sorts - a watcher. I don't know who it is or why, but my monsters inside are helping me to figure it out. The watcher even followed me home - I feel them.

At least I can get back to helping my patients and finding that cure to rid myself of this werepireism. How will I ditch the watcher before they out me for the monster I truly am?








I picked this book from Netgalley because of the cover and the description! The cover is freaky cool and how cool would it be to read about a human/werewolf/vampire?!


So here I am, three months later, a werepire, yet still part human and doctor. Okay, fine, I am not a doctor in the sense that you come see for a physical or something like that. I am a psychotherapist, also knows as a psychologist. I get to help patients work past their insecurities, anxieties, and other issues all while being two-third monster, mentally and physically.


Of course, since then I have found you can get this on Kindle Unlimited so there you have it.

Anyhoo, at first I was all over the place at how I wanted to rate this and how I felt about the book. I went from 3 to 2 and back to 4 stars. There are some annoying things with the main character but overall it won me over; mostly due to the fact that she has gargoyles (real ones) and she takes out mostly evil people. AND the werewolf/vampire thing. I mean I want to be a werewolf myself, but I digress.

This is a bit gruesome when she's killing someone so take that in mind if you don't like that kind of stuff.

There is a good bit of snark and just regular times which I found fun!

*And thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book!*


Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥

GOODREADS REVIEW  

AMAZON REVIEW