Jilliand by Clare Gutierrez

Jilliand

3 Stars

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group, River Grove

Date publication: April 17th, 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction

Where you can find Jilliand: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

“Bruised, bloody, and barely dressed, she knew it was over. She had no doubt the Vikings would search for her if she tried to run—especially now, with their companion lying dead. It would be dark soon, and she had no idea where she could go or hide. Jilliand knew they would come for her. The Vikings were not likely to let this go—especially it being an attack by a woman. She was defeated. Weak and shaking, she stared at the man’s body. I think tonight I die. ”

My review:

I haven’t read a lot of books that have taken place in the Viking Era. So, I was pretty excited to read Jilliand. I have a genuine interest in the Viking culture and was looking forward to reading about it. While the book did cover that, I felt it was lacking in some areas. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the book. I loved that the author took her time to research the Viking culture. I also liked that she made Jilliand a strong female character. I also liked how Jilliand seemed to overcome the odds. But there were things I didn’t like about the book. I felt that Jilliand was a little too progressive for the time. Not a lot of women traveled alone during that time. Also, not a lot of women knew how to fight. I also felt that she was too easily accepted at the Viking village. Everything else I have read points to the exact opposite for slaves. I also didn’t believe that Jilliand’s brother didn’t know how she was living when she was a child? Please.

Jilliand’s storyline was interesting. Jilliand was an abused, young girl who was going to be married off to her father’s closest ally. But, on the eve of her arranged marriage, Jilliand is set free. Given clothing and a short dagger, she makes her way to a nearby village. It is there that she settles down with a family. Her freedom is short-lived. She is soon captured by the Vikings in a raid. Ruik, the sea-king of his village, falls in love with her. But language stands in the way, as does Jilliand’s attempts to escape. Eventually, she ends up at his village and they are married. But a huge tragedy happens and Jilliand is separated from Ruik, for years. Taken in by her brother, Jilliand is treated as a treasured, if eccentric sister. What happens next, though, will bring Jilliand back to Ruik. But will it be too late for them?

I liked Jilliand and I admired her for overcoming awful beginnings. But I couldn’t quite connect with her. She was progressive for that era. Females were only there to have children. They contributed little to society other than that. So for Jilliand to be taught how to fight struck me as a little odd. There was an explanation about why she was taught but still. Saying that she was a very strong and positive female character. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how she was portrayed.

I thought her relationship with Ruik a bit Stockholm Syndromeish. I know that captives can fall in love with their captors after being with them for a while. So, that part is believable. But to have the village accept her? I don’t think that would have happened. She came in as a slave and she would have been at the bottom of the totem pole. Instead, she was treated very well and accepted as Ruik’s wife almost from the beginning. I also felt that their relationship was flat. There was no sizzle to it. I didn’t get the warm fuzzies when they were together. It was blah.

The subplot with Jilliand’s brother didn’t sit well with me either. I could believe that a king wouldn’t go wage war on the man who kidnapped his mother and forced her to marry him. I also couldn’t believe that he left Jilliand with that man, knowing how he was. It didn’t sit right with me.

I will say that I liked the end of the book. Jilliand was magnificent. I loved the surprise at the end. I was expecting it and but it didn’t make the ending anymore happier for me.

What I liked about Jilliand:

A) Jilliand being a strong female character

B) The research that went into the book. It was unbelievable and I learned so much about the Viking culture

C) The ending.

What I disliked about Jilliand:

A) She was too progressive for the era

B) Her relationship with Ruik

C) The subplot with her brother

I would give Jilliand an Older Teen rating. There is sex but it is not explicit. There is violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

There are trigger warnings in Jilliand. They are child abuse, attempted rape, kidnapping, and slavery. If you are triggered by any of these, I recommend not reading Jilliand.

I am on the fence about rereading Jilliand. I am also on the fence about recommending this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Greenlove Book Group, River Grove, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Jilliand.

All opinions stated in this review of Jilliand are mine.

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

I Think I Love You (Oxford: Book 5) by Lauren Layne

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept

Date of publication: July 10th, 2018

Genre: Romance

Where you can find I Think I Love You: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Series: Oxford

Irresistibly Yours – Book 1

I Wish You Were Mine – Book 2

Someone Like You – Book 3

I Knew You Were Trouble – Book 4 (review here)

I Think I Love You – Book 5

Book Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A game of seduction between two best friends goes deliciously wrong in an irresistible Oxford Novel that brims with wit and sexual tension. Library Journal hails Layne’s work as “exemplary contemporary romance.”

Brit Robbins knows that dating in New York City is hard—she just hoped to have it mastered by age thirty. But after yet another promising suitor says they have no sparks, Brit decides it’s time to torch her dating game and try a new plan. And who better to coach Brit through the art of seduction than the guy who first gave her the “let’s be friends” card?

Hunter Cross has always figured there’s nothing his best friend Brit can do to surprise him. But Brit’s request is a surprise he doesn’t see coming—and one he’s definitely not ready for. Hunter and Brit have always been careful to keep things perfectly platonic, but the fake dates and faux flirting are starting to feel like the real deal. And soon Hunter realizes he has taught Brit too well. Not only has she become an expert at seduction, the man becoming thoroughly seduced is him.

Lauren Layne’s New York Times bestselling Oxford Novel series can be read in any order:
IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
I WISH YOU WERE MINE
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
I THINK I LOVE YOU

Don’t miss any of Lauren Layne’s hot reads:

The Love Unexpectedly series: BLURRED LINES | GOOD GIRL | LOVE STORY | WALK OF SHAME | AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS

The Sex, Love & Stiletto series: AFTER THE KISS | LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH | JUST ONE NIGHT | THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

The Redemption series: ISN’T SHE LOVELY | BROKEN | CRUSHED

The I Do, I Don’t series: READY TO RUN | RUNAWAY GROOM | JUST RUN WITH IT

My Review:

I enjoyed reading the last two books of the Oxford series. I was bummed when the author left a note at the end of I Think I Love You saying that this is the last book in the series. I became attached to the characters and the world they are set in. I did get a little weepy when I read that.

I also want to point out that all these books can be read as stand-alone. But, I would suggest reading them in order. That way, you aren’t confused (as I was in I Knew You Were Trouble) about some of the backstories. Also, if you are going to read I Think You Love You, you should read I Knew You Were Trouble first. That way, you aren’t going “Whaaaa” during some scenes.

The plot of I Think I Love You was simple. Brit is having a hard time keeping a boyfriend. After her last boyfriend broke up, she figured something was wrong with her. So, she decides to change her dating game. She also decides that she needs some help in the seduction game. The perfect person? Her best friend, Hunter. Hunter’s friend zoned Brit after their first date. Instead, they became besties. Who better to teach the art of seduction than your bestie? But can Brit keep Hunter in the friends with benefits zone, or will she start to fall for him? The same goes for Hunter.

I liked Brit. She was hilarious. I also felt her pain about dating. When I was single, way back when, I had a hard time with guys too. I didn’t have a male bestie to help me with my seduction game. I loved how she propositioned Hunter. I was dying laughing. What I didn’t like was how desperate she sounded when she was talking to her friends. Hello, because you turn 30 doesn’t mean suddenly you are undateable. It rubs me the wrong way when I hear/read that.

I liked Hunter. I did feel that he was more realistic about what would happen with Brit. I loved the surprise when she propositioned him. I laughed my butt off. I liked how he dealt with all their friends’ ribbing and concern. He was a likable guy.

The romance between Hunter and Brit wasn’t there until after she told him what she wanted. Which was great because up until then, I got to see how comfortable they were with each other. I also got to see exactly why Brit couldn’t keep a boyfriend. Let’s say that Hunter marked his territory when it came to Brit. After that, the romance was a little tepid. But it was too scorching hot real fast. Like a chapter fast.

The sex scenes were everything that I expected from them. They were comfortable enough with each other not to have issues with being naked with each other. The sex itself was hot. Scorching hot. The first time they had sex, it was a little awkward. I mean, isn’t it always? But every time afterward, it wasn’t. As I said, they were comfortable with each other.

The end of the book was great. I loved how Brit and Hunter realized that they loved each other. It was also a little bittersweet because the series was ending. The epilogue was even more so!!

What I liked about I Think I Love You:

A) Brit. She was awesome

B) Hunter. Loved him

C) How comfortable they were with each other

What I disliked about I Think I Love You:

A) How desperate Brit sounded at the beginning of the book

B) How turning 30 is portrayed as the end of dating

C) Being the last book in the series.

I would give I Think I Love You and Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is no violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings in I Think I Love You.

I would reread I Think I Love You. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review I Think I Love You.

All opinions in this review of I Think I Love You are mine.

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

The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall

The Subway Girls

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: July 10th, 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction

Where you can find The Subway Girls: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

In 1949, dutiful and ambitious Charlotte’s dream of a career in advertising is shattered when her father demands she help out with the family business. Meanwhile, Charlotte is swept into the glamorous world of the Miss Subways beauty contest, which promises irresistible opportunities with its Park Avenue luster and local fame status. But when her new friend—the intriguing and gorgeous fellow-participant Rose—does something unforgivable, Charlotte must make a heart-wrenching decision that will change the lives of those around her forever.

Nearly 70 years later, outspoken advertising executive Olivia is pitching the NYC subways account in a last ditch effort to save her job at an advertising agency. When the charismatic boss she’s secretly in love with pits her against her misogynistic nemesis, Olivia’s urgent search for the winning strategy leads her to the historic Miss Subways campaign. As the pitch date closes in on her, Olivia finds herself dealing with a broken heart, an unlikely new love interest, and an unexpected personal connection to Miss Subways that could save her job—and her future.

The Subway Girls is the charming story of two strong women, a generation apart, who find themselves up against the same eternal struggle to find an impossible balance between love, happiness, and ambition.

My Review:

I like reading women’s fiction and historical fiction, I have had issues finding books that can focus on both of those genres. They are few and far between. So when I read the blurb for The Subway Girls, I almost didn’t get this book. I almost passed it over. I am glad that I didn’t because I would have missed a fantastic book that takes place in 1949 and present day.

I liked how the storylines mirrored each other. I didn’t get confused when going between the time periods because they were doing (or trying to get into) the same field of work. Even the mindset of the men (past and present) were the same. The only time the storylines stopped mirroring each other was when Charlotte was in the Miss Subways contest and Olivia was working on finding a way to keep her job. Even then, it was only for a couple of chapters. Then it was right back to mirroring each other.

I thought Charlotte was progressive for her time. She was trying to get into a field that was dominated by men (think Don Draper). She was optimistic until she got the last rejection letter. I liked how she called the guy and told him to keep her in mind. She had no real interest in doing the beauty contest, she entered on a whim. She needed the money but thought that she would at least have a job if they got back to her. I loved her reaction to being asked to do something that she was uncomfortable with. I was chanting “You go girl” the entire time.

I liked Olivia but I felt that she wasn’t as developed as Charlotte’s character was at first. Then she gained depth. She was a strong person but she also had a certain vulnerability to her. I didn’t get her being in love with her boss. I felt that the book didn’t have to go that way. I also felt that her co-worker was a little too hostile to women. Considering what happened at the end of the book, I wasn’t surprised. But still. I liked how she made time for her elderly next door neighbor and her grandson.

Rose’s betrayal set the tone for the last half of the book. Not going to get into it but Charlotte did the absolute right thing when she did what she did.

I loved how the author brought the two storylines together. How I didn’t see what I didn’t see is beyond me. The author did a great job at keeping Ben’s grandmother’s identity a secret. There were a few red herrings thrown out. Same goes for Olivia’s Subway Girls revival. I was so mad when the events happened the way they did.

I should mention that the contest was based on a contest that was run in New York City. The author had an afterward where she described how she took that contest and made it her own.

The end of the book cleared up some details that I figured out but needed to see in print. I like that it ended happily but realistically.

What I liked about The Subway Girls:

A) That it was based on a real contest.

B) Well developed characters

C) Interesting plot with plot twists that I didn’t see coming.

What I disliked about The Subway Girls:

A) Olivia’s relationship with her boss.

B) Charlotte not being taken seriously in her career choice

C) Rose’s betrayal

I would give The Subway Girls an Older Teen rating. There are sexual situations but nothing graphic. There is language. There is mild violence.

There are no trigger warnings in The Subway Girls.

I would recommend The Subway Girls to family and friends. This is a book that I could see myself rereading.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Griffin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Subway Girls.

All opinions stated in this review of The Subway Girls are mine.

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

Moon Blood (The First Blood Son Series: Book 2) by Carol McKibben

Moon Blood (Book 2)

3 Star

Publisher: Troll River Publication

Date of publication: May 1st, 2018

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Series: The First Blood Son Series

Moon Blood – Book 1

Moon Blood – Book 2

Where you can find Moon Blood: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Two vampires battle against the werewolf nation

Hybrid-wolf “Moon” and her human vampire master, Kane, fight for their lives against a stalking shifter network out to destroy them. Each battle may be their last as vampires and werewolves edge ever closer to war.

While Kane and Moon work to unravel the looming threat, more and more questions surface. But one thing is for sure; the real motives behind the werewolves’ plot against them include destroying the vampire race.

Only an act of bravery and trust will stop the werewolf species from destroying what Kane and Moon love the most. Vampire teeth flash and wolf claws clash as supernatural beings fight for life, love, and family.

My review:

I liked this book, even if I felt confused during the first few chapters of the book. Why was I confused? Because it is the 2nd book in the First Blood Son Series. There were references to the first book that made me go “Ok“.

The plot of Moon Blood is simple. Moon and Kane head to Italy to battle werewolves after getting word that the werewolves are mounting an attack against the vampires. While there, Kane meets a beautiful woman who is the direct descendant of the first werewolf. She, more than anything, wants peace. But she realizes that sometimes you have to fight for what you want. Even if that means fighting against your own kind.

I liked that the book was told from Moon’s perspective. She was an interesting narrator. I did like her ability to shift but didn’t understand how she got that ability. Because she wasn’t a werewolf. I have a feeling that it had something to do with Kane and that it was explained in the first book.

The big battle scene between the vampires and werewolves gave me a Twilight flashback.

I am not going to go into the end of the book because I will give away some major spoilers. Let’s say that I thought Moon was an interesting narrator and that her abilities were pretty awesome!!

What I liked about Moon Blood:

A) Moon.

B) Moon’s abilities

C) The lore. Loved it

What I disliked about Moon Blood:

A) Not a stand-alone book

B) The Twilight feel to the book

C) Not knowing how Moon got her abilities

I would give Moon Blood an Adult rating. There is sex. Nothing graphic but it is there. There is explicit violence. There is language.

There are no trigger warnings in Moon Blood.

I am on the fence if I would reread Moon Blood. I am also on the fence if I would recommend it to family and friends.

I would live to thank Troll River Publications for allowing me to read and review Moon Blood.

All opinions stated in this review of Moon Blood are mine.

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

To Kill an Assassin: The Priors, Part 2 by Weston Kincaide

To Kill an Assassin: The Priors, Part 2

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: February 1st, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, mystery, thriller

Series: The Priors

To Kill a Priest – Book 1 (review here)

To Kill an Assassin – Book 2

Trigger Warning: None

Where you can find To Kill an Assassin: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Episodes 10-18

Mutations abound in far-reaching worlds and some planes are being devastated by war. The PASTOR agency has an agenda to do so much more… including ruling them all.

It is up to Madelin and her evolved friends to not only stop the black-op agency but free the other victims—including those attempting to kill her. She must discover her own abilities and learn to harness them… or else entire worlds will be overrun.

Even then… it may be too late.

My review:

I couldn’t wait to read To Kill an Assassin. I had read To Kill a Priest and enjoyed it. I assumed that To Kill an Assassin would be the same. And I was not wrong. This book was Ah-Maz-Ing. I could not put it down.

To Kill an Assassin’s plot takes place shortly after the final events of To Kill a Priest. Madelin and her group had found a sanctuary of a sort in a bunker. But that sanctuary is short-lived. Leodenin and his group of vampires tracked them there. After a fight that injured Madelin, the some of the group finds a sanctuary in a snow-covered world. There is a surprise ally in this snow-covered world. But Jedd and Daniel find themselves in a different world. A world where Daniel finds out that his path is different from everyone else’s. They do find their way back to Madelin and carry out a plan to rescue all the children at the PASTOR facility. Can they rescue the children with minimal damage? More importantly, can they defeat Leodenin?

What I enjoyed the most about this book is that the author took already flushed out characters and added extra depth to them. Madelin, Roger, Jedd, Daniel, Juno, and even Leodenin’s characters got more depth to them. I loved it!!! It made for a better read for me.

The suspense angle of the book was fantastic. I was kept on the edge of my seat reading To Kill an Assassin. The author did a great job of keeping up the pace from the earlier books. It was almost like I couldn’t catch my breath. That is what a suspense book is supposed to do to you and I loved it!!!

The paranormal angle of this book was fantastic also. I loved how Roger discovered what he could do with his new vampire skills. I was pretty impressed with how he put them to use. I also like what happened to Daniel. I wasn’t expecting it and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in Part 3. Of course, Madelin and the PASTOR children were fascinating. Again, I can’t wait to see what else Madelin has up her sleeve. I also can’t wait to see what secrets and abilities the children have.

I did like the romance between Madeline and Juno. What I didn’t care for, though, was the hint of a love triangle between Madelin, Juno, and Daniel. I felt that it wasn’t needed. Just my opinion but I felt that it took away from what Daniel was going through because of his feelings for her.

The end of the book was great. Some plots were wrapped up and others were not. I liked that the author left enough unsaid so that I need to read Part 3.

What I liked about To Kill an Assassin:

A) more depth added to characters

B) book kept me on the edge of my seat

C) Roger discovering what he could do with his new vampire skills

What I disliked about To Kill an Assassin:

A) Leodenin. He made my skin crawl in this book

B) the hint of a love triangle between Madelin, Juno, and Daniel

C) That’s it

I would give To Kill an Assassin an Adult rating. There are sexual situations (but no sex). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings for To Kill an Assassin.

I would reread To Kill an Assassin. I would also recommend it to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review To Kill an Assassin.

All opinions stated in this review of To Kill an Assassin are mine.

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

Malevolent Sadness: A Paranormal Suspense Thriller (The Prophet’s Mother: Book 2) by Julian Coleman

Malevolent Sadness: A Paranormal Suspense Thriller (The Prophet's Mother Book 2) by [Coleman, Julian M.]

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: June 24th, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Horror, Suspense, Paranormal

Trigger warning: Kidnapping

Series: The Prophet’s Mother

Stolen Prophet – Book 1

Malevolent Sadness – Book 2

Where you can find Malevolent Sadness: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

A new paranormal suspense thriller from the WINNER of The Independent Author Network 2016 OUTSTANDING BOOK of the YEAR. Can a detective save a Prophet from a monster? Harry is an Army veteran who survived a childhood tragedy and tough years in foster care. Today, he’s a pragmatic and no-nonsense Homicide detective investigating the Victor Adamson kidnapping. As he digs for leads, Harry realizes that he’s in the middle of a dark conspiracy and that his life is in jeopardy. His only option is to save Victor. But to do that, he must understand and then embrace the supernatural. He has to believe that monsters are real. If he doesn’t, then both he and Victor may die.

My review:

I wish, wish, wish that I had read Stolen Prophet before reading Malevolent Sadness. I would have had a better understanding of some of the back story of the book. Other than that, I enjoyed reading Malevolent Sadness. This is a fast-paced book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. The twists and turns in the book made it. As did the supernatural aspect.

With the good, there is the bad. I didn’t like how little I knew about the Orisha (Evie) and how she manifested. I also didn’t like how little I knew about the religion that the Orisha came from. My other complaint was the secret that Evie kept from Harry. That was pretty awful.

Malevolent Sadness’s plotline pretty simple. Harry starts working on a kidnapping case. This case ends up turning into something much more. Harry learns that everything he has known for the past 10 years has been a lie. That it was part of a plot to keep him hidden from sinister forces. Harry’s world is turned upside down when he learns that the things that go bump in the night are real. But nothing compares to what he finds out about Evie and what she has kept from him. It soon becomes a race against time to find Evie’s son before something horrible happens to him.

I liked Harry. He was a no-nonsense cop that did his job well. I thought he was treated horribly by his fellow officers. The nicknames that they called him. “Cap’n Eunuch” was one. I also felt bad for him. He had a bunch of life-changing information sprung on him at once. While on the job. I was surprised that he didn’t blow a gasket sooner than he did. He did give his all to solving the case.

I couldn’t put this book down. Even though it is not a stand-alone book, I was still sucked in. That very rarely happens with me when I am reading a nonstandalone book. Most of the time, I am stuck wondering about the earlier book or the characters relationships than focusing on the book.

Also, the twists and turns in the book were fantastic. The author had no qualms about injuring off what I deemed important people to the plot. Loved it!!!

I do wish that I had a better understanding of Evie and her religion. There were explanations but it sounded like the characters were giving footnote versions. I have a feeling that everything was explained in book 1. I thought it was interesting how she manifested and wished that I had a better understanding of how she did it.

What I also didn’t like was the secret that Evie kept from Harry. How he was told/found out was awful. I would have spit nails, I would be that mad. I did think that he dealt with everything pretty well.

The paranormal angle of the book was fantastic. I loved the idea of an avenging goddess. She was badass in all the scenes. I also liked that the author touched upon other paranormal beings. The shapeshifter/demon was one.

The suspense angle of the book was fantastic also. Like I stated above, I was kept on the edge of my seat with everything that was going on. I love it when a book does that to me!!

The horror angle fell a bit short for me. I was scared during certain scenes but I wasn’t scared enough. I am thankful that the paranormal and suspense angle was more than enough for this book.

The mystery angle was very well written. I was as surprised as Harry was at who had Victor. It wasn’t who I thought it was.

The end of the book was intense. Everything came together in a way that satisfied me as a reader. I was a little put off that the book ended as a cliffhanger. But, it makes me want to read book 3.

What I liked about Malevolent Sadness:

A) 3D characters

B) twists and turns in the plot

C) Harry. He was a tough guy

What I disliked about Malevolent Sadness:

A) Almost no understanding of Evie and her religion

B) The secret that Evie kept from Harry

C) Horror angle fell a bit short.

I would give Malevolent Sadness an Adult rating. There is no sex but some sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There is a trigger warning for Malevolent Sadness. It would be kidnapping. If that triggers you, I would suggest not to read the book.

I would reread Malevolent Sadness. I would also recommend it to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publisher for allowing me to read and review Malevolent Sadness.

All opinions stated in this review of Malevolent Sadness are mine.

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

The Girl in the Tower is now in paperback

Yes, you read that right. The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden is now in paperback. So run, not walk, to your computer and grab it. It’s well worth the read!!!

Where you can find The Girl in the Tower: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

My review of The Girl in the Tower – here

The Emperor’s Doom (formally Visionaries) by R.A. Denny

5 Stars

Publisher: Self Published

Date of publication: January 15th, 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees

Refugees – Book 1 (review here)

Seekers – Book 2 (review here)

Captives – Book 3 (review here)

Warriors – Book 4 (review here)

Visionaries – Book 5

Where you can find Visionaries: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

“The only thing keeping that seal around his neck is his head. Heads are easily removed.”

Time is running out. Tzoladia is under siege. Heads will roll.

As the prophecy unfolds, young people dream and old men see visions. Emperor Zoltov’s forces move to exterminate the “Subhumans.” Risky alliances are formed as Metlan’s ambition propels him into places of mystery and murder. Brina and Amanki sail through a sea filled with enchantment and betrayal. Moshoi is dazzled by treasure as he faces the horrors of an evil empire. All forces converge on Tzoladia. Time for a showdown. Will mud, rocks, and trees come together at last?

Who will lose their heads?

My review:

The plot of Visionaries was excellent. Tzoladia is under siege. Brina and Amanki are sailing on a sea of myth. What they find while sailing will change everything. Moshoi has been pushed aside by his father so that Tuka can take credit for everything. Jealousy is consuming him. Will he let it get the better of him? Metlan is on shaky ground with several people that he wants alliances with. But, can he rise to the occasion when called upon? What will happen when Brina, Amanki, and Moshoi meet? Will they be able to recover the missing seals and fulfill the prophecy?

I don’t know where to begin with this review. So much happened in this book. I don’t want to get into too much because there are some serious spoilers. So, I will gloss over everything.

Brina came into her own in this book. If she had any doubt, she did a great job of not showing it. I do like how she was willing to follow Amanki anywhere and when his ship got taken, she did. Speaking of that, her budding romance with Amanki was adorable. But it is going to turn into a triangle because she still has feelings for Metlan.

Amanki got crapped on in this book. I felt bad for him. He ended up in situations that had me shaking my head and wondering if he would come out of them alive. Somehow he did. It was through those trials that I got a good feeling about why Baskrod chose him as the leader. I am looking forward to seeing how he fits into that role in the next book. I am also looking forward to seeing where his romance with Brina goes.

I felt awful for Moshoi. He was thrust into the background by his abusive father and forced to watch as Tuka becomes the figurehead of a revolution. His relationship with Tuka suffered because of that. On the other hand, he did become involved in a plot that changes the entire book. I was shocked when I realized what was happening. Then I did a fist pump because he was involved in ends up helping people.

I was a bit iffy with Metlan. While I understood why he was doing what he was doing, I felt that he was underhanded about things. I did admire when he took charge of the refugees from the Mesmeringa Forest. But, I was sickened at him not doing anything. He knew that Amanki was his twin and he sat there. I understand that a rescue was going to happen but still. I also couldn’t tell what he felt for Brina or if he had any feelings for her.

The Christian angle of the book was wonderfully written. It wasn’t heavy-handed. Unlike some Christian books. You knew that it was there but it wasn’t shoved in your face every other sentence. Which made it a very pleasurable read for me.

I enjoyed how the plotline unrolled. The intensity from the other books did not slow down in this one. Instead, this book kept up and added to the fast pace. I am certain that book 6 will be explosive. There are twists in the plotline that definitely took me by surprise. The Island of the Dolls and who Amanki and Brina rescued from there is a huge one. That person is going to be a big part of the next book.

The fantasy angle of the book was superbly written too. I couldn’t get enough of the different races that appeared in the book. The world building that the author did was superb. This world was like an onion. When one layer was peeled back, another appeared. Loved it!!!

I very rarely don’t find anything that I do not like when I am reading books. This is one such case. I could not find anything that bothered or annoyed me. So, that makes this book a keeper in my eyes.

The end of the book was a cliffhanger. Normally, I don’t like cliffhangers. I think that they ruin the book. But, in this case, it didn’t. It only pumped me up to read book 6.

What I liked about Visionaries:

A) The storylines.

B) Brina coming into her own in the book

C) The entire book

What I disliked about Visionaries:

A) Nothing!!!

I would give Visionaries an Older Teen rating. There is no sex or sexual situations. There is violence. There is also no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings in Visionaries.

I would reread Visionaries. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Visionaries.

All opinions stated in this review of Visionaries are mine.

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

One for the Rogue (Studies in Scandal: Book 4) by Manda Collins

One for the Rogue (Studies in Scandal, #4)

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: June 26th, 2018

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Studies in Scandal

Ready Set Rogue – Book 1

Duke with Benefits – Book 2

Wallflower Most Wanted – Book 3

One for the Rogue – Book 4

Where you can find One for the Rogue: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

LOVE IS THE GREATEST DISCOVERY OF ALL

Geologist Gemma Hastings has no interest in pursuing romance—and no patience for Lord Cameron Lisle, an esteemed fossil hunter who has a way of always honing in on her territory… .annoyingly handsome though he may be. But when a shocking attack puts Gemma in very real danger, she may have to accept Lisle’s offers of protection. Even if that means entering into a dangerous flirtation. . .

Lisle was once amused by Gemma’s dedication to her work. But now that he understands how much he’s underestimated her—a woman whose beauty is matched only by her genius—Lisle is desperate to prove his respect…and prove himself worthy of her. But is he too late? A bitter rival, desperate to steal Gemma’s scientific findings, is still at-large. Can Lisle help uncover the culprit and keep her safe—forever, in his loving arms?

My review

I like it when historical romances take a different spin. I love reading Regency Era romance but sometimes they follow the same plot. So when I come across one that does something different, I have to read it. One for the Rogue does that.

Gemma is a geologist with an interest in fossils. Her interest in rocks, sand, and fossils are not a passing fancy. She is an expert in her area and in any other era would have been considered a genius. But, this is the Regency Era. Upper-class women were only valued for their dowries and bloodlines. Any woman who was interested in anything scholarly was labeled as a bluestocking and shunned by Polite Society. So, it was interesting to see the direct opposite of that happening in this book.

Gemma and 3 other gifted young women were invited to stay at a well-known woman scholar’s house for a year. During that time, they will be able to pursue their area of interest. If they manage to stay in the house for the year, they inherit everything that is in it. Out of the 4 girls, Gemma is the last one left and she is the most determined to finish her year. But, she needs to decipher the clue left behind by her benefactress. The only thing is that the clue is half-finished, with her benefactress dying before it could be complete. What she wasn’t counting on was a rival being murdered the same night she finds the artifact left for her. She also wasn’t counting on developing romantic feelings for her brother-in-law. She needs to push aside those feelings, find her fossil and the killer before the killer finds her.

Gemma was a breath of fresh air. She didn’t care what society thought of her. She wanted to be left alone, with her fossils and rocks. She wanted to be taken seriously by her male contemporaries. She wanted nothing to do with love. She had no time for it. I loved it. I loved how she decided that she was going to solve Sir Everard’s murder. Forget the constables, she was going to solve it herself. I also liked how she roped Cameron into helping her. I also liked how direct she was. She told Cameron that she didn’t want to marry him (after being caught kissing) but she would have him for a lover. LOVED it!!!

I did like Cameron but he rubbed me the wrong way. Until Sir Everard’s murder, he went back and forth on what he thought of Gemma. It wasn’t until Sir Everard’s murder that he started taking her seriously. I also thought his view on marriage was very skewed. He took something that he saw as a teenager and let it dictate what he thought about marriage. Listen, if I found out what he did, I would have thought the same thing. But, I wouldn’t let it affect me years down the road. I did think that he let himself be caught kissing Gemma. I believe that he wanted to be caught. Just the vibe I got from that. I liked that he was with Gemma every step of the way during her “investigation“.

I liked that the author didn’t have to dedicate much time to build up a relationship between Gemma and Cameron. They already had a relationship from the earlier book. That left time for the author to build up the romance. It also left time for the author to develop their relationship from not liking each other to falling in love.

There is sex in One for the Rogue. I know that most people like reading “clean” historical romances. Not this chick, I like sex in these types of books. It flushes the book out. What was surprising to me was how in charge Gemma was. She was a virgin but she knew what she wanted out of her relationship with Cameron. She wasn’t afraid to tell him. She didn’t want to marry him. I found it silly that Cameron was being forced to marry Gemma. After being caught kissing <eye roll>. If I had to marry every guy that I kissed, well, let’s say that I would have a lot of husbands…lol.

Image result for funny eavesdropping quotes

I did find it frustrating that Gemma jumped to the conclusion about things after hearing only half a conversation. Like my grandmother used to say “Don’t do no good listening in on other people talking. You only hear half of what is said and assume the other half.”

I loved the mystery part of One for the Rogue. It kept me on my toes and left me surprised when the mystery was solved. I was not expecting the murderer to be who it was.

The end of One for the Rogue was typical. All the storylines were wrapped up in a way that satisfied me as a reader. I do hope that there is a book that gives the chaperone her own love story. She deserves one!!!

What I liked about One for the Rogue:

A) Gemma. She was ahead of her time in this book.

B) Zero relationship build up for Gemma and Cameron.

C) The mystery angle. Kept me on my toes

What I disliked about One for the Rogue:

A) How smart women were treated in the Regency Era

B) Cameron and his issue with marriage

C) Gemma jumping to conclusions. Drove me crazy

I would give One for the Rogue an Adult Rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings in One for the Rogue.

I would reread One for the Rogue. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review One for the Rogue.

All opinions stated in One for the Rogue are mine.

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

Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: June 26th, 2018

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Trigger Warning: Traumatic loss of a child

Where you can find Before and Again: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends―and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made―though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself―or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

My Review:

I did something that I keep swearing that I’ll stop doing. I judged the Before and Again by its blurb. I figured it would be one of those chick lit books where the heroine was insufferable. Guess what. It isn’t. Instead, this is a beautifully written book about accepting loss and second chances. I will warn everyone, you will need Kleenex. You will cry. Not a “maybe” you will cry but a definite yes you will cry.

I felt bad for Mackenzie/Maggie. In a short amount of time, she lost everything. She decided to start over in Vermont because of the media frenzy that surrounded her court case. She fought hard for every bit of peace and quiet. When her ex-husband showed up as the new owner of the spa that she worked in, she could see her hard-won peace of mind slipping. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to handle it if my ex showed up. I would have lost it. I don’t blame her for acting the way she did. She was dealing with a lot.

What got me the most with this book was the amount of pain and guilt that Maggie had. My heart broke every time she thought about Lily. When Edward showed up in her town, it brought back all those memories that she tried to suppress came back…good and bad. Everything that she didn’t get a chance to resolve started bubbling up. My heart broke during those scenes between Edward and Maggie. So much was left unsaid 5 years before. So much that it drove them apart.

I will be honest, I didn’t like Grace at all. She was self-absorbed. I thought her friendship with Maggie was one-sided for most of the book. Maggie tried to be there for her and kept getting pushed away. Even when Maggie was instrumental in finding out Grace’s big secret and getting her help, she was still ungrateful. She kept pushing her away. Made me think that she was an ungrateful idiot. Plus, her reaction when Chris was first brought in for questioning grated on me too. More concerned about what people would think about her than the trouble her teenager was in.

The storyline with Maggie’s mother was another one that had me ugly crying during it. The regret that her mother had been almost tangible. I felt bad that it took 5 years and a broken hip for the reconciliation to happen.

The end of the book was what I expected. Everyone’s storyline got wrapped up. Some I was happy with and some I was not. I did think that Grace’s big secret should have been revealed earlier in the book. I felt that it was kind of a letdown when she finally told what it was. I also didn’t like how Maggie’s brother showed up out of nowhere after no contact for 5 years. And acted like everything was OK. Everything was not OK.

What I liked about Before and Again:

A) Well written characters

B) The storylines. Fantastic

C) Great world building

What I disliked about Before and Again:

A) How much this book made me cry

B) Grace. Couldn’t stand her

C) Maggie’s brother showing up out of the blue

I would give Before and Again an Adult rating. There is sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are trigger warnings in Before and Again. They would be a traumatic loss of a child.

I would reread Before and Again. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Before and Again.

All opinions stated in this review of Before and Again are mine

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

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