Her Valiant Dragon (Her Biker Dragon: Book 1) by A.J. Tipton

Her Valiant Dragon: A BBW Interracial Paranormal Romance (Her Biker Dragon Book 1) by [Tipton, AJ]

Title: Her Valiant Dragon

Author: A.J. Tipton

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Date of publication: June 1st, 2015

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Dragons

Number of pages: 90

POV: 3rd person

Series: Her Biker Dragon

Her Valiant Dragon – Book 1

Her Delicious Dragon – Book 2

Her Rock Star Dragon – Book 3

Her Hacker Dragon – Book 4

Her Alpha Dragon – Book 5

Can be read out-of-order from series: Yes but I would recommend reading them in order

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Sexy dragon shifter Dylan Masters seeks redemption for his past by hunting for the Iron Claws, a motorcycle club of exiled dragons with an illicit agenda. When Dylan finally joins them, he is thrown into a new world of shady dealings and powerful enemies. Even in the midst of chaos, everything changes when he lays eyes on the Iron Claws’s brilliant Latina nurse, Marie.

Curvaceous Marie rides alongside the Iron Claws as their human medic, journeying from town to town dispensing magical remedies to those in desperate need. Experience has taught her to shield her heart, but when the dashing Dylan joins the club, she may have finally found a reason to let her guard down. But will her dangerous past cut her happiness short once more?

This adult novella includes naughty nurses, dramatic dragon brawls, and a passionate love that heals all wounds.

My review:

I know I have said this in past reviews, but A.J. Tipton is fast becoming one of my favorite paranormal/fantasy/romance/erotica writers. I was super excited to read the Her Biker Dragon series and I wasn’t let down. This series was fantastic and the books had me hooked. I think I devoured the series in 2 days.

Dylan was a hottie with a sad history. I can see why he wanted to join the Iron Claws and distribute Puff (by the way, love the play on wordage there….I was singing “Puff the Magic Dragon” in my head the entire series). He was an investigator and wanted to bring his skills to the club. His reaction, and his dragon’s, to Marie was great and I really like that he didn’t beat around the bush to get what he wanted.

Marie had an equally sad back story. She found out about Puff when Big Joe gave her some while she was dying of cancer in a hospital and she decided to join their cause. But there was also a far more sinister reason she was more than willing to go on the run with the Iron Claws as their medic (read the book!!).

The sex scenes between Dylan and Marie were hot, hot, hot. I was also pretty excited that I finally got a peek into the back room at AUDREY’s. I was a little let down, though. I thought it was going to be more interesting instead of being your standard backroom…lol. But still, the sex went there….haha.

The storylines were pretty simple. The Puff one wasn’t resolved by any means (even though there was a pretty awesome fight scene) but Marie’s was.

How many stars will I give Her Valiant Dragon: 4

Why: I enjoyed reading this short story. The storylines were great, the sex scenes were hot and I loved the dragon MC!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, language, and violence

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

The Watcher (Crossing Realms Series: Book 2) by Rebecca E. Neely

The Watcher

Title: The Watcher

Author: Rebecca E. Neely

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: November 30th, 2016

Genre: Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Number of pages: 242

POV: 3rd person

Series: Crossing Realms

The Keeper – Book 1 (review here)

The Watcher – Book 2

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Hell-bent on avenging his own death, former Keeper Dev Geary eagerly accepts when the Watchers task him with returning to the human realm to discover the secret for rendering Similitude—the very thing that killed him.

But to succeed in the seven days he’s been granted, he’ll need to work with the one human who wants nothing to do with him, and who he can’t help falling for—Meda Gabriel, a cagey, street-smart bar owner with a unique skill set, and maybe, the key to his mission.

With the clock ticking and the Betrayers barely a step behind, can Dev conquer his demons and find the answers the clan so desperately needs, with Meda at his side? Can love find a way, or will he be forced to abandon her and the clan, leaving them all to face imminent destruction?

My review:

The Watcher is the 2nd book in the Crossing Realms series. Told in 3rd person, this is Dev Greary’s story and oh boy was it a good one. Brought back from death, Dev has 7 days to convince Meda Gabriel, a woman with the power to read minds, to help Dev in his mission. He has to outwit Abel, Haenous’s son and now the leader of the Betrayers while trying to figure out how to keep them from making more Similitude and keeping the Betrayers from destroying not only Earth but the realm that the Watchers are from.

I will be honest, Dev annoyed me. He had such a huge chip on his shoulder about repaying a debt to Nick. He took unnecessary risks and one day it caught up to him and he was killed. Even as a Watcher in Training, he took those same type of risks. Like the beginning scene where he was climbing the mountain and was standing over the edge of the ravine while it was crumbling. But, the more I got to know him, the more it made sense he was taking these risks. I also could see why The Watchers chose him to carry out the mission.

Meda was a little harder to get a handle on in the beginning but as the author started to reveal what made her tick, I could see why she shut herself off from people. When she talked about how she got the scar on her face, I wanted to bawl (ok, I might have cried a bit). I liked that she took no crap from Dev. I really think that he needed someone in his life-like that before he died. Just saying. What I also really liked is that the author chose to include Native American mythology when they were making Flint. I thought that little myth was very interesting and it totally went with the story (click here for the legend of Flint).

The romance between Meda and Dev wasn’t a slow burn. It couldn’t be, seeing that he had only 7 days to do what he had to do. It was explosive and I loved it. Sometimes life doesn’t have time for a slow burn romance. The sex scenes between Meda and Dev were intense and off the page sizzling.

Now, I am going to do something I barely do but I have to talk about Abel, the Broodmaster of the Betrayers.

All I have to say is wow. Have to be Amazon PC, he is not a very nice guy and was determined to follow in Haenous’s footsteps. I did feel for him though, because it seemed like his father abused him (big flag to me was when he was starved by his father energy-wise) and he was always picked on by the other children because he always wore sweaters, even in the summer, because he was always cold. He felt that he couldn’t love Magpie (even though she was completely head over heels in love with him) and he wanted to destroy his niece, Jordan, who he considered a half-breed.

But any feelings of being sad for him were wiped in the last couple of chapters of the book. All I have to say is that I hope he gets what is coming for him. And poor Magpie. I wanted to cry for her. She didn’t seem inherently bad…..just following orders from her Master. I also felt awful for Jordan.

While Dev and Meda’s storyline was kinda wrapped up (I have a feeling that something that Meda said couldn’t happen has happened), the main storyline wasn’t and it looks like it is just revving up.

How many stars will I give The Watcher: 4

Why: This was an action-packed romance right from the get-go. The characters were a bit prickly to read and I honestly thought Dev was annoying in the beginning, but they grew on me and I grew to love them. The storyline was fantastic and I can’t wait for Book 3 (Curtis and Jordan’s story???) to come out.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, language, violence

I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it

The Hatter’s Wife by Anna B. Madrise

The Hatter's Wife

Title: The Hatter’s Wife

Author: Anna B. Madrise

Publisher: Black Quill Enterprises

Date of publication: February 1st, 2017

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Folklore

Number of pages: 89

POV: 1st person

Series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Maddie Milner is mad.

She’s mad about being left behind in the town of Topside and mad about not being mad enough to go that…that…place.

But most of all, Maddie’s mad to get her husband back – the Hatter – whose been stuck at a never-ending tea-party somewhere in the depths of Wonderland.

With time finally, on her side, Maddie is determined to find a way into that…that…place – to save her husband, and make them all pay…especially, the Queen of Hearts.

Maddie was left behind.

She hasn’t forgotten.

Now she wants revenge.

My review:

I absolutely loved The Hatter’s Wife. Written in 1st person, you are taken through Wonderland while Mad Maddie Milner searches for her husband, Tippery Milner….aka The Mad Hatter.

As a fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (I have read both), I appreciate how closely the author followed those stories but at the same time put her own spin on them. I liked that the Mad Hatter had a wife who missed him and was willing to do anything to get him back.

Maddie Milner was hilarious. She was very focused on getting her husband back from Wonderland and had to do some insane things to even get into Wonderland from Topside. To get there involved a yew tree, a pocket watch and a piece of chalk.

What I liked the most about Maddie is that she was unabashedly snarky and she admits, right in the beginning, that the story she is telling is being told to someone in her head. As with most Wonderland/Topside residents, she isn’t really all there….lol.

Her adventure, once she gets to Wonderland, was truly that, an adventure and of course, here I am laughing during it all. I will say this, the Queen of Hearts did get what was coming to her. I never liked her, even when I read the original books.

The end of the book was very interesting and I believe it couldn’t have been more perfect for this story. I do hope that the author takes another trip into Topside/Wonderland again!!

How many stars will I give The Hatter’s Wife: 5

Why: I loved reading this short story about Wonderland. The author did a great job of creating new characters that were based on the original characters in Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass. The snarkiness of this book was fantastic too, as well as the play of words. Like I said above, I had to reread chapters because of the wordage and laughed while I was doing it.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older teen (16+)

Why: No sex or language. But there is violence.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

To Tame a Wild Lady (Duke-Defying Daughters: Book 2) by Ashlyn Macnamara

To Tame a Wild Lady (Duke-Defying Daughters, #2)

Title: To Tame a Wild Lady

Author: Ashlyn Macnamara

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept

Date of publication: January 31st, 2017

Genre: Romance

POV: 3rd person

Number of pages: Unknown

Series: Duke-Defying Daughters

To Lure a Proper Lady – Book 1

To Tame a Wild Lady – Book 2

Can be read separately from series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Lady Caroline Wilde is expected to ride side-saddle, but she’s not about to embrace convention. She’s also expected to keep a chaste distance from men like Adrian Crosby, the new estate agent, yet she cannot cease her ogling—which is especially irksome considering their ongoing feud. Adrian insists that the fields must be planted; Caro needs those same fields to train her horses. But whenever she tries to put him in his place, Caro looks into his steely gaze and her words simply … disappear.

A bastard son who grew up on the Wyvern estate, Adrian was lucky enough to receive an education at the behest of the late marchioness. Now that he has set out on his own, Adrian knows better than to fall for Lady Caroline, the Duke of Sherrington’s daughter. Caroline is at once a thorn in his side and an exquisite temptation, especially when she’s playing the feisty daredevil. Adrian would give anything for a chance to tame her—and with Caro in the saddle, he just might get his wish.

My review:

Lady Caroline Wilde, the Duke of Sherrington’s headstrong daughter is in a pickle. She has lost her 11-year-old step-nephew, Gus while riding in the rain. Going back to look for him, she finds him, thrown from a horse, besides a stream, unconscious with blue lips. Which isn’t good. As she struggles to lift him on her horse, Boudicca, she is helped by a man who happened to be passing by.

Adrian Crosby is on his way for an interview at the Sherrington Manor when he notices two children struggling in the mud next to a horse. Going to help them, he is shocked to find out that one of the children is actually a woman dressed in breeches. He was scandalized (remember the era!!) and brings the boy, and the woman, to the manor for help. Once he’s there, he is again shocked to find out that the woman he helped is The Duke of Sherrington’s middle daughter, Caroline.

Adrian is offered the job as an estate agent and his first order of business is to cultivate some fallow fields. Unfortunately, Caroline has plans for those fields. What she was going to do is host a hunt in those fields and try to get into another, more desirable hunt. So to say that she was not very happy with his plans are an understatement.

As this is happening, there are strange happening around the household. Caroline’s horse keeps getting let out and the stable hands are at a loss as to how it is happening. Gus is slowly recovering from his head wound and keeps giving the maid who is supposed to be watching him the slip. Holes are showing up all over Sherrington lands and that causes the horse Caroline is riding to stumble and throw her…..spraining her ankle.

Caroline is also fending off a dastardly man by the name of Marcus Pendleton. He is trying to get her horse, Boudicca, and has been going through extreme measures to try to get her. That includes having his stallion nearby to breed with Boudicca when she comes into season (and it does happen).

Adrian, however, is dealing with his own issues as the estate agent. He steps in and helps a maid by the name of Sadie who is being abused by her stepfather. He offers her a position as a nursemaid in the Sherrington house. But Sadie has other plans. Plans that could not bode well for Adrian or Caroline.

While all of this drama is happening, Caroline and Adrian are growing closer and closer. Adrian has a few secrets that he would rather that Caroline not find out and Caroline, well she is determined to find out.

Will Caroline find out Adrian’s secrets? Will Pendleton get his slimy hands on Boudicca? Will Gus learn to listen to his elders? Will they find out who has dug the holes? Will Caroline and Adrian be together despite their difference in stations?

Guess you need to read the book to find out.

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

Caroline really annoyed me in this book. She wouldn’t listen and argued with Adrian over everything. Heck, a prime example would be when Boudicca was in season and being difficult to handle. He advised her not to take her out and what does she do….takes her out to spite him. Seriously, I wanted to throttle her.

She also was very impulsive and couldn’t care less about her reputation. I mean, heck, she was going glass for glass with Pendleton because she wanted to show she could be just as good as a man. All because she wanted to ride in a hunt and show her horsemanship off. Again, I wanted to throttle her.

I did feel bad for Adrian. Not only is he dealing with the spoiled, impulsive middle daughter of his employer but he has to deal with tenants who have their own agendas. I seriously felt that he needed a medal for everything that he dealt with there.

He also needed one for the stuff he dealt with at his previous employer. When it came out why his ex-employer’s wife acted the way she did, I was a little shocked. Actually, a lot shocked. I didn’t see it coming in the book (kudos to the author to keeping that secret well hidden with only a few hints).

The romance between Caroline and Adrian didn’t feel right to me. It felt forced in a way. Almost like Caroline was thumbing her nose at her station. The attraction was there but I honestly can’t pinpoint where they fell in love with each other and that kinda bothers me. Usually, I can pick it out and I couldn’t.

The end of the book was pretty standard…with a HEA and everything.

How many stars will you give To Tame a Wild Lady: 3

Why: I give the author major props for trying to make a Regency-era woman a feminist outlook. I really do. Too bad I couldn’t get past Caroline’s chip on her shoulder. I also felt that the romance between her and Adrian was forced. There is a pretty good plotline, though, and the secondary characters really came alive in this book.

Will I reread: No

Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe.

Age Range: Adult

Why: Sex and some mild violence. No language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Unpunished (Gardiner and Renner: Book 2) by Lisa Black

Title: Unpunished

Author: Lisa Black

Publisher: Kensington Books

Date of publication: January 31st, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, General Fiction

Number of pages: 321

POV: 3rd person

Series: Gardiner and Renner

That Darkness – Book 1

Unpunished – Book 2

Can be read out-of-order from series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Maggie Gardiner, a forensic expert who studies the dead, and Jack Renner, a homicide cop who stalks the living, form an uneasy partnership to solve a series of murders in this powerful new thriller by the bestselling author of That Darkness.

It begins with the kind of bizarre death that makes headlines–literally. A copy editor at the Cleveland Herald is found hanging above the grinding wheels of the newspaper assembly line, a wide strap wrapped around his throat. Forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner has her suspicions about this apparent suicide inside the tsunami of tensions that is the news industry today–and when the evidence suggests murder, Maggie has no choice but to place her trust in the one person she doesn’t trust at all . . .

Jack Renner is a killer with a conscience, a vigilante with his own code of honor. In the past, Jack has used his skills and connections as a homicide detective to take the law into his own hands, all in the name of justice. He has only one problem: Maggie knows his secret. She insists he enforces the law, not subvert it. But when more newspaper employees are slain, Jack may be the only person who can help Maggie unmask the killer– even if Jack is still checking names off his own private murder list.

My review:

I really wish I had read That Darkness before I read Unpunished because I had so many questions about Maggie and Jack that couldn’t be answered in this book. I got frustrated because there were references to what happened to the first book and I had no clue what the characters were talking about.

But, besides my frustrations, I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed it because it was a true vigilante/police novel. The last vigilante story that I read quickly turned into softcore book porn and the vigilante part was lost between the main characters bumping uglies. So, I was very pleased when this book didn’t even go near there.

I did like Maggie. She was so relatable on so many levels and she had a great relationship with her coworkers. She was a bit apprehensive when she found out that she was working with Jack on a case, but who wouldn’t be. I mean, she knows about his secret. She wasn’t unaffected by what happened to her (read the book to find out what) and she is required to see the police psychologist.

Now, Jack, on the other hand…..I wasn’t sure what to think of him. I wish I knew why he started vigilante killing (I am sure it was explained in the first book) because it would have explained a lot. I do know that I did start to see him soften towards Maggie, towards the end.

The newspaper storyline was pretty solid and moved rather quickly after the first victim was killed. I did have the killer pegged towards the middle book but doubted myself, took him off my list and added another person. All because of a red herring. Blah. I do want to say that I learned more about print newspapers and their equipment then I ever wanted to know.

The other storyline of Jack being a vigilante killer was barely touched upon. I do wish that it was included more in the book but I have a feeling it will be featured more in the next book. The reason I feel that way is because of certain events that happened towards the back of the book.

The end of the book was pretty gruesome and, to be honest, drug out a bit. I was a little surprised at who the killer was (see above). I will say that Maggie got the short end of the stick, again and that Jack seemed like he was softening up towards her.

How many stars will I give Unpunished: 4

Why: While I really liked the book, I do wish I had read book 1 before reading this one. Other than that, the book was great. The characters were engaging, the mystery was pretty good (had me going for a little while) and the thriller parts of the book were very well written. I do wish that more attention was paid towards Jack and him being a vigilante but at the same time, I do think that it would have taken away from the main storyline (the killings of newspaper employees).

Will I reread: Yes but only after reading book 1.

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Caged Light by Tom Howard

Title: Caged Light

Author: Tom Howard

Publisher: Lulu.com

Date of publication: December 18th, 2016

Genre: Thriller, Christian

Number of pages: 140

Series: No

POV: 3rd person

Where you can find this book: Amazon (paperback only)

Goodreads synopsis:

Former hitman, Wyatt Cage, turned detective, stumbles upon a mysterious woman whose only memory is her name. Their lives are quickly thrust together and soon find Wyatt’s past threatens the discovery of not only the woman but her life as well. Stopping at nothing to uncover the truth, failure would certainly bring destruction in the spiritual realm, as Wyatt’s former boss, Damon Carver, a powerful crime lord, would chase them to the ends of the earth to get his hands on the woman. However, unsealing the reality of the woman’s identity may just come at too high of a cost for Wyatt. Of the battle between good and evil, it appears the latter may just have the upper hand.

My review:

I was a little surprised when I read Caged Light. Not surprised in a bad way but surprised in a good way. I honestly wasn’t expecting the book to be what it was…..a Christian thriller with horror elements woven in. It was a first for me to read something like this and I enjoyed it very much.

I liked how the author dragged out who Michelle was until the end of the book. I was honestly very surprised when it was revealed who she was and why everyone wanted her. The red herring that the author put in did have me thinking what he wanted me to think. Which was great because once it was revealed, I was shocked.

I really liked Wyatt too. He was a former assassin for a crime boss who had a change of heart and profession. When he met Michelle, he was as a detective. I liked how the author combined Wyatt’s past and present life. It was very interesting to read about a detective with his assets. His relationship with his former boss was something that bothered me. Why would someone be that interested in a person who left him? But then I found out why and I was like “Makes sense now”.

I will say that the things happening to Michelle did creep me out. Like I couldn’t sleep afterward because I thought a little girl was going to show up out of nowhere creep me out. But once it was revealed what they were, at the end of the book, it made perfect sense. At one point in the book, though, I really did think she was losing it….lol.

The relationship between Michelle and Wyatt was cute and for a little while there, I thought it was going to turn romantic. I am glad when it didn’t, though, because it would have ruined the book in my eyes.

I liked that the Christian element wasn’t too heavy-handed in this book. I have read plenty of books where it is forced down your throat until you gag on it. Which was very nice and I was able to read the characters without having to worry about being preached to.

The storyline was pretty straightforward. Girl wakes up in craters, can’t remember anything but her name, gets chased through a forest by some seriously evil things and gets rescued by a handsome police officer. The rest of the story is her and the police officer running from some unnamed evil while trying to remember who she is. The crime lord storyline was woven beautifully into the main storyline and it was ended wonderfully, as was the storyline of Wyatt’s twin brother.

The end of the story was pretty good. There were a couple of twists in the story that I honestly didn’t see coming and they made the book. I do think that there could be a book 2 with the way the story ended and I really do hope that. I need to read more about Wyatt :).

How many stars will I give Caged Light: 4

Why: I enjoyed reading this book. It was scary enough to keep me up at night and was not preachy. The characters were well-rounded and the mystery about who Michelle was kept the book hopping.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age Range: Adult

Why: Violence

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Esper Files: The Sky Cult (Esper Files: Book 2) by Egan Brass

Esper Files 2: The Sky Cult (A Steampunk Superhero Series) by [Brass, Egan]

Title: The Sky Cult

Author: Egan Brass

Publisher: Inkitt

Date of publication: January 25th, 2017

Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Number of pages: 183

POV: 3rd person

Series: Esper Files

Esper Files – Book 1 (review here)

The Sky Cult – Book 2

Can be read out-of-order from series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

After the events of the first book, Freya has joined the Institute – an organization created to help Espers control their powers, and she thought she’d finally found peace.

That is until Anti-Esper weapons find their way into the hands of The Coalition, a radical group who is determined to kill anyone with powers.
At the same time, the Sky Cult has arisen, claiming that Espers have the right to rule over lowly humans.
The timing couldn’t be worse, as all of this happens three days before Esper Day, the first holiday designed to show that humans and Espers can coexist.

Now Nathan, Freya and the team have to fight both organizations in a race against time before one of the radical groups tips the scales and plunge the entire world into their own version of Armageddon.

My review:

The Sky Cult was a fast-paced, excellent second book to the Esper Files. Picking up shortly after The Esper Files ended, the book starts off with a bang and there are two new villains introduced. Jupiter, who can control thunder and lightning, and Lichtmann who can burn people with his touch and exudes a golden light (he also thinks he’s an angel). Jupiter is the leader of the Sky Cult and he believes that the Espers should rule over the non Espers. Lichtmann’s agenda is to protect Jupiter……as long as Jupiter is in the good graces of the mysterious Hades.

Freya is still my favorite character in this series. She is a typical teenager, except she can wield ice like Elsa in Frozen (sorry, I had to put it in there). And her mouth, oh boy, I was laughing in some parts. But, she was also someone you didn’t want to mess with. When the Institute gets attacked by the Anti-Esper Coalition, she was there defending it from the Coalition with her ice powers.

Nathan was still as suave as he was in the first book. He was also still absorbing other Esper’s powers. That is something he does by touch. I will say that he did get plenty of action in this book. The poor guy was injured more often than naught….well until he absorbed Red Cap’s powers.

The main storyline of the book was great. I loved that there was so much action and the steampunk elements (Hello….airships, RAILGUNS!!!!!!) were absolutely great. If it seems like I am going on a little overboard with the praise it’s because I can count on one hand how many good steampunk books I have read and truly enjoyed. This series is one of them.

The secondary characters of this book made it. I cannot wait to see if the Phantom Thief, Red Cap (who cracked me up while reading because while he was so evil, his one-liners that had me rolling) and more of the Espers from the Institute will be featured.

I loved the climax of the book. I was not expecting what happened to happen. It threw me for a loop. I also liked the explanation about why Nathan couldn’t absorb Jupiter’s powers. It made so much sense. Well, at least it made sense to me.

While the Coalition storyline was somewhat wrapped up and the storyline about the weapons that can cripple the Espers was definitely wrapped up (want to know what that is?? Read that book), another storyline opened up. I am very curious about what is going to happen with it and if we will ever find out who the mysterious Hades is. I also want to know how Nathan fits into this whole insane thing.

The end of the book was different and it raised more questions than it answered. Which is makes me want to read the next book.

How many stars will I give The Sky Cult: 4

Why: A strong second book that I couldn’t put down. It was full of action and humor, as well as mystery, and I loved it. Plus, it was steampunk and I love, love, love steampunk!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Young Teen

Why: Mild violence

I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

The Girl Before: A Novel by [Delaney, JP]

Title: The Girl Before

Author: J.P. Delaney

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine

Date of publication: January 24th, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Number of pages: 352

POV: Alternating 1st person

Series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

Emma
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate-glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.

Jane
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before.

My review:

Emma and Si were looking for a new apartment (or flat as they call it in England) after Emma was attacked in a burglary. All of the apartments that Emma and Si visited were no good for various reasons. The agent was at the end of his rope until he remembers this one house that was on the market. Emma is intrigued and they are able to go and see it. The house is a work of art, with a state of the art computer system that runs the house and a minimalist design. Emma falls in love with the house and fills out the application. After an anxiety-filled wait, Si and she get the 2nd meeting. That’s where they meet Edward Monkford, the owner and architect of the house. Needless to say, they are approved.

Jane is recovering from having a stillbirth that could have been prevented if the hospital had more staffing and more Doppler radars. She decides that she needs a change of scenery and starts looking for apartments/houses to rent. Perchance, she is told about One Folgate Street by her realtor and makes the decision to fill out the application. Like, Emma, Jane is granted a 2nd interview and like Emma, she signs a very specific and odd lease once Edward decides she can rent it.

Both Emma and Jane find out that Edward has a tragic past. His wife, Elizabeth, and his son were killed in an accident on the site of one of his projects. They also both find out that there was a cloud of suspicion hovering over Edward about that.

But this is where Jane and Emma’s stories differ.

Emma and Si don’t last very long in the house. Emma actually breaks it off with Si, who takes it very hard, and starts a relationship with Edward. But, the more the author reveals about Emma, the more you start wondering if everything that is happening is in her head.

Jane also starts a relationship with Edward, shortly after moving into the house. Around the same time, Jane finds out about Emma’s death and starts researching it. All of the information points towards Edward being her killer but Jane can’t help but something’s off about that.

This book sticks to the thriller and mystery elements, unlike some of the other books that I have read. I was genuinely surprised by the 180 one character does. It took me by surprise that the web of lies that was spun was so extensive and that the character just didn’t know when to stop.

The ending was a little sad and I had to reread it a couple of times to understand what happened. Then to have another renter show up and look at the house….shudder. What a sequel that would make!!!!

How many stars will I give The Girl Before: 4

Why: A thriller/mystery that genuinely had me guessing until the big reveal. The plot twists were done in such a way that you couldn’t help but be shocked. And the ending was the biggest one of all…

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, violence, and language. A scene of a mother saying goodbye to her still-born child (which was heartbreaking), a scene of a badly brutalized kitten and a scene of someone’s head smashing off a marble floor.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Royal Scandal (Royals in Exile: Book 1) by Marquita Valentine

Royal Scandal (Royals in Exile, #1)

Title: Royal Scandal

Author: Marquita Valentine

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept

Date of publication: January 24th, 2017

Genre: Romance

Number of pages: 176

POV: Alternating 1st person

Series: Royals in Exile

Royal Scandal – Book 1

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Forced to flee to the United States with his siblings after their parents’ assassination, Crown Prince Colin Sinclair takes it upon himself to become the caretaker of his family while hiding out near Charlotte, North Carolina. But after a decade in hiding, the secret’s out and Parliament demands that Colin wed a princess of their choosing. Unwilling to play their game, Colin decides to marry an American instead, and he has the perfect candidate in mind.

As a home-service professional, Della Hughes doesn’t believe in storybook endings. But when her best friend and secret crush reveals that he’s a flesh-and-blood prince, she doesn’t know what to think. Still, she’ll do anything for Colin, including becoming his wife—in name only, of course. But when their plans to stay purely platonic go by the wayside, their fake honeymoon turns all too real. After a week of white-hot nights, Della can no longer deny her feelings—not with a happily ever after so tantalizingly close.

My review:

Colin Sinclair’s parents, they were assassinated by a rebel faction in their home country, the Isle of Man. Almost immediately after they were killed, Colin and his siblings were exiled from their kingdom by that country’s Parliament. Where were they exiled too? America, more exactly a suburb one hour outside of Charlotte. Which is a pretty crappy thing to do to two teenagers, two tweens, a toddler and an infant.

Colin meets Della during an angry confrontation over him evicting her family from their cottage on the grounds where Colin’s house is. After realizing that he might have signed the papers without looking at them (and possibly being sleep deprived), he apologizes to Della and tells her that her family can stay indefinitely. During this time, Della meets Pierce and Aiden and falls in love with them.

Fast forward 10 years,

Della and Colin have become best friends (and each is harboring a secret crush on one another) and are co-raising Colin’s brothers, Pierce and Aiden. Della doesn’t know that Pierce and Aiden are Colin’s brothers. Even more, Colin hasn’t come clean that he is royalty. Actually, any of his family, to be honest. Imogene, his sister, is the Queen with Charlotte, Theo, Pierce, and Aiden as Princes. Della just thinks that Colin is a suave businessman who goes to London, a lot.

Colin is summoned to London by Prime Minister Davies, a nasty old man who is the head of the Parliament of Colin’s kingdom. He has news regarding their exile (which Colin has been tirelessly petitioning to lift it) and needs Colin to fly into London ASAP. When he goes to the meeting, he gave a proposal. Their exile will be lifted if he A) marries a woman of their choosing and B) Parliament crowns him as King. Bit of a side note, this is a matriarchal rulership. There has always been a Queen… never a King.

Colin decides to take matters into his own hands regarding who he is going to marry. He refuses to be pushed into a marriage like his grandmother and mother and he refuses to let the Parliament push him around anymore. He decides that he is going to tell Della who he is and then ask her to marry him.

The sex between Colin and Della seemed forced and I saw no connection between them, sexually. Not that it wasn’t hot, because they were flaming hot. Maybe it was because I thought that there was really no attraction. We had no build up. No flirting. Just, getting married and hopping into bed.

I did like Colin a lot. From the minute his parents died, he assumed responsibility for his brothers and sisters and he started working on getting their exile repealed. At only 19. Of course, he had Beaumont, Tressie, and Della helping him. But still.

I liked Della too. She was sweet, sassy and loved Colin for who he was, not who he is (if that makes sense).

There were a couple of plot twists that took me by surprise and I thought I had figured out one but there was more to it and I was genuinely surprised. The other plot twist, which was revealed around the same time as the other one, kinda blew my mind. Not what I expected.

The ending was what I expected, with everything wrapped up neatly with a bow. And I loved the epilogue, that was 5 years later. Made me all teary eyed. I honestly can’t wait to read the rest of the books.

How many stars will I give Royal Scandal: 3

Why: I loved the book but I felt that the dialogue was stilted and the romance between Colin/Della seemed very forced. The book did lag in the middle but the author did recover nicely. Overall, a nice book that would be perfect for the beach/pool.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen by Jacque Stevens

Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen

Title: Winter Falls

Author: Jacque Stevens

Publisher: sjacquebooks

Date of publication: January 24th, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Mental Illness, Depression

Number of pages: 288

POV: 1st person

Series: No

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Katie knows better than to believe in happy endings.

She learned there was no such thing after her mother died. In the postindustrial town of Riverside, Katie struggles to care for her distant father and his failing hotel. Her only comfort lies in the arms of her true love, Shay.

Yet one evening, he disappears without a trace.

Devastated, Katie jumps off a bridge in the dead of winter, expecting to meet death at the bottom. Instead, her fall transports her to a snowy netherworld, where trapped souls take on the form of animals and the only thing that matters is survival.

When Katie discovers that Shay has been kidnapped by a deadly witch called the Winter Queen, she goes on a journey to find him, traveling through the realms of storybook fairies, princesses, thieves, and monsters to bring him home. But the path is harsh and dangerous. Will Shay and Katie be reunited? Or be forever trapped within an eternal winter?

A retelling of the classic fairytale The Snow Queen, WINTER FALLS is a young adult epic fantasy romance which examines the trials of depression and mental illness in a magical world of action and adventure.

Teen fans of C.S. Lewis and Shannon Hale will love this inspirational novel by author Jacque Stevens

My review:

What a great retelling and imaginative retelling of the Snow Queen.

Told in 1st person and through flashbacks, after Katie jumps off of the same bridge that her mother, Winter Falls explores depression, suicide and how it affects the people left behind. The way the author wrote about it and the sensitivity that she showed about such sensitive subjects was amazing. I also like that she didn’t glamorize suicide, as I have seen in some books. Beth’s reasons for committing suicide were awful and I cried when the reason was revealed.

I liked how Katie’s character wasn’t perfect by any means. She is a snob, keeps herself away from her family and openly mocks her stepmother as she tells fairy tales to Katie’s younger brother and sisters. You are hard-pressed to like her in her flashbacks because of how she is.

But, everything does change when she enters the land of fairy and starts on her quest to get Spring, Summer and Autumn’s tokens of powers. You could just see her come into her own and you could see her processing how closed off she was, how rude and how snobby she was as she is retelling her life story and how she fell in love with Shay.

Shay’s character was as flawed but he was aware of it and he did try to better himself. I felt awful when he was talking to Katie about how bad his home life was after his mother died and when Katie’s stepmother basically told his father to get lost.

Katie’s quest was different and full of surprises. The people/animals that she met and helped/were helped by stood out to me. Each season was basically her finding herself and her understanding that she didn’t need to live her life the way she was and that only she could change her life.

The climax of the story was great and I was put on edge. I did get slightly emotional during a certain scene with Shay and Katie.

All of the storylines were resolved by the end of the book. I really liked how they were resolved in realistic ways. Not every storyline was a HEA and it was refreshing to read that.

The end of the book was great. It was pretty standard but the changes in Katie and Shay was there for everyone to see.

How many stars will I give Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen: 5

Why: This was a book that I really got into and it has to be the most creative retelling of the Snow Queen that I have ever read. The characters are engaging and the storyline was great. I really liked that the story was told, in part, by flashback. It made for an interesting read. The author also did a great job of covering the sensitive subjects of suicide, mental illness, child abuse, and rape.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen (16+).

Why: This is not a book for a tween or younger teenager. Because of the content (suicide, mental illness, child abuse, rape), I would suggest that older teens (16+) read this book.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: