April Book Releases

Hey guys! There are so many amazing April book releases, I’m so excited to talk about them!

This year has already started with a bang in the book department. It feels like there have been a ton of hits the last few months. I’ve been counting down on a few April releases since last year, so lets dive in!

If you haven’t read Tahere Mafi’s Shatter Me series, YOU MUST! I devoured these books last summer after being told over and over again that I should read them, and isn’t it the best feeling when you just cannot put a book down?! If you haven’t read them, now is a great time because next month the fifth book in the series will be released! Defy Me will release on April 2nd, so we don’t have to wait too much longer! You can read more about it here on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34992959-defy-me

 

Ok, who else is a giant Cassandra Clare fan?! I’ve bought her new releases religiously since reading The Mortal Instruments years ago, she is definitely one of my go to authors. Next month she is releasing the first book in a NEW series that follows fan favorites Alec and Magnus on some exciting adventures. The Red Scrolls of Magic releases Apirl 9th, so make sure to grab a copy!

 

 

King of Fools is the follow up book to last years hit Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. It releases April 30th and already has a ton of great reviews from early readers. I’ve read Foody’s first book Daughter of the Burning City and really enjoyed her writing style, so I’m excited for this series!

 

If you haven’t read any of Kennedy Fox’s romance books, you’re missing out! I’ve read a few of their books (they are written by author duo Brooke Cumberland & Lyra Parish), and they are always fun reads! Next month they are releasing what sounds like another great two-book series, with the first book dropping April 23rd, and the follow up on Apirl 24th! You will definitely want to put these on your TBR!

 

What releases are you looking forward to next month?! Tell me below in the comments!

Review: The Monster of Selkirk two

Summary via Goodreads:

Tallis is learning how to deal with loss and violence as she and her friends traverse the forests of Selkirk trying to find the reason behind the elven uprising. Not to mention why they keep hissing her name. But the further into the forests they go, Tallis is finding that the elves’ depravity can still surprise her, and thoroughly test the bonds of friendship, family, and love.

Tallis’s journey eventually leads to answers they’re not prepared for. Now Tallis begins to wonder just who she really is, and if she’s the evil that will end up destroying Selkirk. But she cannot stop to process these revelations, as an unforeseen betrayal lands those she loves at the feet of the very monster responsible for all the hurt, and heartbreak.

Coming face to face with her foe, Tallis discovers all too late she has no idea how to deal with this level of pain, and death. One way or another, the monster’s path ends here, and all Tallis can hope to do is bring those she loves safely out of the heart of the forest.

Review:

The Monster of Selkirk two: heart of the Forest continues the story of Tallis and her friends searching for the truth.

In the first book Tallis learns that the elves surrounding Selkirk are burning villages while chanting her name. Along with her cousin Donovan, her best friend Rosslyn, and sweet Tomas, she embarks on an adventure to find out the truth about her past, and why she is being called by the elves.

I  really enjoyed this book. Tallis is a great character; she is strong-willed, kind, and is portrayed in such a realistic way with her insecurities it was easy to relate to her. Her blossoming relationship with Tomas was written so well, I was definitely rooting for the two of them and their will-they, won’-they storyline.

I loved where the story went in The Heart of the Forest! Clayton had me guessing the entire time, and I never got bored with it. There are some really interesting twists, and I had to close the book a few times to gather my thoughts at some of them! The ending had me racing through the pages to figure out what was going to happen, and it has left me so excited for the third book! I can’t wait to see where Tallis’ story goes!

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Hooked

Summery from Goodreads:

If you ask the confident and snarky skater girl, and she’s in the mood to share, she’ll tell you her name is Cat. She might even tell you that she’s hooked on graffiti, 80s movies, and having fun—the riskier the better. Cat will share a good time with you, but she won’t ever trust you enough to share her heart. It’s protected by secrets and she’d like to keep it that way.

Cat knows one thing for certain: Love isn’t really her thing.

If you ask the confident and rich pretty boy, he might tell you his name is Huck. He might even tell you he loves a challenge and is used to getting his way. He won’t tell you that his life is a mess because he risked his heart by trusting the wrong girl. Huck is ready for a change, he just wasn’t ready to get hooked on someone like Cat.

Huck knows one thing for certain: Love hasn’t done him any favors, but Cat just might be worth the risk.

Cat and Huck think a one-night stand seems harmless, but when all the little secrets they didn’t share turn out to be toxic truths, they realize how easily a one-night stand (or a few) could ruin everything.

The thing is, you can be ruined in more than one way. Once you’re HOOKED, what wouldn’t you risk for the chance at more?

Review:

Hooked is the first book in the Hearts of Stone novels

It usually takes me a while to read a book. I get distracted easily, and it’s hard to find the time, but not with Hooked. I finished it in a couple days. I could not put this book down! The writing is really great, the author has a wonderful style that pulls the reader in. I had to know how this book would end!

Cat is an independent, fierce woman. She is easy to relate to, both in her strengths and insecurities.  Huck is the perfect leading man. He’s charming, confident, and sweet. I could tell from the beginning that these two characters had a lot of chemistry between them, and their interactions with each other are really fun and intense. The other characters in the story are done well, they each have a unique personality and they shine throughout the book.

The story itself I really enjoyed. It’s filled with romance, heartbreak, humor (I loved the humor!) , and some great twists. I highly recommend Hooked!

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Taming Him

Summery from Goodreads:

Alex Bishop is your typical cowboy.
Charming, sexy, and wears a panty-melting smirk.

Working on the ranch helped build his solid eight-pack and smoking body. He’s every girl’s wet fantasy, and he knows it too. Alex doesn’t follow the rules of your typical playboy bachelor. After wining and dining his dates and giving them the best night of their lives, he always sends flowers and calls the next day—even if it’s to say, let’s just be friends. His mama taught him manners after all, and his Southern blood knows how to be a gentleman. Still, that isn’t enough to tame the wildest of the Bishop brothers.

River Lancaster has finally met the man of her dreams. Too bad after six months of romantic bliss, she finds out he’s married. With a broken heart and blind rage, she books herself a ticket to Key West, Florida. Tired of cheaters and liars, she’s set on escaping to forget he ever existed. Who needs a man when there’s an all-you-can-drink margarita bar, anyway? That’s what she tells herself until she bumps into the right guy who can make all those bad memories disappear.

Even if it’s only temporarily.

Two weeks on the beach is what they both need. No strings attached, no expectations, no broken hearts. Too bad the universe has other plans—one that’ll change the entire course of their lives in just nine short months.

Review:

Taming Him is my first KennedyFox read, and OMG was it incredible!

let’s start by talking about the cowboy himself, Alex Bishop! He’s charming, sweet, and has all the best qualities you’d want in a leading man. I hope you have room on your book boyfriend list, because you will definitely be adding Alex to it when your done reading! River Lancaster is a sweet, and relatable character. Her journey through the book has some great twists, and keeps the reader on their toes!

I love how KennedyFox wrote the book from both Alex and River’s points of view, because we get to see the story through both character’s eyes, which adds a lot of fun to the experience! The story itself is really charming, and had me completely absorbed! The steamy scenes are written really well, and are well placed throughout the book. Since the series will continue with the rest of the brothers that are introduced in Taming Him, it was really fun to read scenes with them and get hints as to what their stories could be about.

Whether you’ve read every book KennedyFox has released, or haven’t read anything by this amazing author duo, I highly recommend Taming Him! It’s the first in their new Bishop Brothers series, and i can’t wait to find out more about the other Bishop boys!

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Heart of the Fae

 

Summery from Goodreads:

Beauty and the Beast meets Irish Mythology in this sweeping retelling of the beloved fairytale…. 

Once upon a time…

A plague sweeps across the emerald hills of Uí Néill, leaving a young midwife’s father with months to live. To save her people, Sorcha makes a deal with a dangerous Fae. She must travel across the sea, through merrow and kelpie lands, to find a forgotten king on a crumbling throne.

Born king of the Seelie Fae, Eamonn fought battles unnumbered to uphold honor, duty, and freedom… until his twin brother sank a blade between his shoulders. Crystals grew from the wound, splitting open skin and bone. His people banished him to a cursed isle for his disfigurement, now king of criminals and fools.

With the help of brownies, pixies, and will-o’-the-wisps, Sorcha battles to break through his crystalline shell and persuade him to take back his stolen throne.

This determined beauty could come dangerously close to stealing his beastly heart.

Review:

Emma Hamm’s Heart of the Fae takes place in the rolling hills of Ireland, and the island of Hy-Brasil. The descriptions of the landsape are realy breathtaking, and Hamm does an amazing job of transporting the reader to the scene. It was easy to get lost in Hy-Brasil and it’s gorgeous scenery and its inhabitants.

The main character, Sorcha, is a strong-willed and fierce woman. She is determined to solve the mystery of the plague that is destroying her village, which is hard for her to do when the men of her community see her as ‘just a woman’ and not someone that can actually help. She believes in herself and her ability as a healer to continue to fight for an answer. Eamonn is a secretive and evasive banished Fae prince. He tries to keep his distance from Sorcha, the newcomer to his island, by being cold and frightening. Throughout the book though we see a soft and protective side to him that made him a really well-rounded and great leading man. The side characters I found really interesting and enjoyed their personalities. I really hope to see more of them, and learn more about their stories in the sequel!

The story itself I was a big fan of. It starts out as a woman who is hoping to heal her people and turns into a sweeping saga of fae, love, royalty, power, and revenge. I am incredibly excited for the next installment of this series, and highly recommend them!

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Daughter of The Burning City

Summery from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how life like they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

Review

One of my favorite things about Daughter of the Burning City was the world building. The setting of this book, Gommorah, I found to be really intriguing and striking. The eeriness and mystery of all the tents and people were really fun. It’s written so well that imagining the creepiness in the atmosphere, like the lighting and smells of the carnival were really fun to bring to life.

Each of the characters were fascinating and were given great development throughout the book. The main character, Sorina, was relatable and was a great character to follow through the mystery of who was killing off her illusions. I really enjoyed how the illusions were written, each one so different from the others and greatly detailed.

The story itself of the book, the challenge of trying to find who or what was hurting the illusions was done really well. I wasn’t able to see any of the twists and turns which I really had a lot of fun with. The ending was really satisfying too which made it all tie together really well. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great mystery in a fantasy surrounding!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: The Monster of Selkirk book 1

Synopsis via Goodreads

Monsters come in many forms, and not everyone knows a monster when they see one. After three hundred years of monstrous, feral elves plaguing the island nation of Selkirk, everyone believes they know what a monster is. Humans have learned to live with their savage neighbors, enacting a Clearing every four years to push the elves back from their borders. The system has worked for centuries, until after one such purge, a babe was found in the forest.
As Tallis grows, she discovers she isn’t like everyone else. There is something a little different that makes people leery in her presence, and she only ever makes a handful of friends. But when the elves gather their forces and emerge from the forests literally hissing Tallis’s name like a battle mantra, making friends is the least of her troubles. Tallis and her companions find themselves on an unwilling journey to not only clear her name, but to stop the elves from ravaging her homeland.

I found the world C.E. Clayton created for this book really fascinating. The descriptions are vivid, and I didn’t have any trouble imagining the settings and backdrops for the characters.  The timeline for the book begins when the main characeter, Tallis, is a child. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. I feel like it helped in understanding why she feels the way she does later on in the book, and it also gives insight to other great characters that she grows up with that stay relevant throughout the book. Tallis herself is a strong, willful female lead. She is equal parts confident and innocent, which we see develop along the way. Donovan is every bit the protective older cousin, and his bickering with the carefree Rosslyn I thought was realistic considering how different they are. Tomas is such a lovable character and I found myself really rooting for him, his ingenuity and his  sweet personality made him a favorite of mine!  I’m a big fan of character development, and C.E. Clayton made sure that each character had their own growth within the first book, and it makes me really excited for the second!

The story itself I really enjoyed. The idea of feral elves and humans coexisting is exciting itself, so with the added questions around Tallis’s history and why it’s making the elves change made it a book I couldn’t put down! I highly recommend The Monster of Selkirk, and get ready for the sequel The Monster of Selkirk: Heart of the Forest coming soon!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Buy it here on amazon: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y7v3ehgn

July 2017 Book Releases

Hey guys! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve done a new release list, so I’m hoping to get back into it starting with July releases! there’s some great ones coming out this month, see any you’re interested in?

Daughter of the Burning City

DOR: July 25th, 2017

AUTHOR: Amanda Foody

GENRE: Fantasy / Young Adult

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen

SYNOPSIS: A darkly irresistible new fantasy set in the infamous Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival of debauchery that caters to the strangest of dreams and desires.

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

Lucky In Love

DOR: July 25th, 2017

AUTHOR: Kasie West

GENRE: Contemporary / Young Adult / Romance

PUBLISHER: Scholastic

SYNOPSIS: In this new contemporary from YA star Kasie West, a girl who wins the lottery learns that money can cause more problems than it solves, especially when love comes into the picture.

Maddie doesn’t believe in luck. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment —

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun… until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.

The Punch Escrow

DOR: July 25th, 2017

AUTHOR: Tal M. Klein

GENRE: Science Fiction

PUBLISHER: Geek and Sundry

SYNOPSIS: It’s the year 2147. Advancements in nanotechnology have enabled us to control aging. We’ve genetically engineered mosquitoes to feast on carbon fumes instead of blood, ending air pollution. And teleportation has become the ideal mode of transportation, offered exclusively by International Transport—a secretive firm headquartered in New York City. Their slogan: Departure… Arrival… Delight!

Joel Byram, our smartass protagonist, is an everyday twenty-fifth century guy. He spends his days training artificial intelligence engines to act more human, jamming out to 1980’s new wave—an extremely obscure genre, and trying to salvage his deteriorating marriage. Joel is pretty much an everyday guy with everyday problems—until he’s accidentally duplicated while teleporting.

Now Joel must outsmart the shadowy organization that controls teleportation, outrun the religious sect out to destroy it, and find a way to get back to the woman he loves in a world that now has two of him.

Checkmate: This is Dangerous (logan and Kayla book #1)

DOR: July 6th, 2017

AUTHOR: Kennedy Fox

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

SYNOPSIS:  Logan Knight is a real life knight in shining armor. 
A detective godsend in a sleek black suit has me thinking less than secretive thoughts. Brooding and mysterious, he’s the kind of guy every girl instantly notices. Between his seductive smirk and charming good looks, it’s no wonder I can’t help the way he makes me feel whenever I’m near him. 
Too bad he’s unavailable—or so he says.

He thinks I’m a do-gooder who shouldn’t get involved with a guy like him. His past is messy and relationships just add to that. He insists the timing is all wrong and he’s devoted to his career, but I don’t buy that excuse for a second. I see the way his body tenses and his jaw ticks every time another guy is around me. He just won’t admit it, but I’m more determined than ever to show him what he’s missing.

I’m a devoted animal rescuer and I’ll risk everything to save them, but when a dramatic turn of events puts both our lives at risk, I’m positive Logan will write me off for good. But when he asks for my help with a personal crisis, I know it’s my last chance to finally show him I can handle anything he throws my way—messy past and all.

He might think he has me all figured out, but I’ll prove him wrong no matter what he thinks. This game of push and pull has me running in circles. One wrong move and we could both lose.

 

Book Review: Grey Stone

                                                       And now, o king, we meet at last                                                         Shadows all and ghosts long past.

Grey Stone is the story of two unlikely allies, a world where the ranking of creatures may surprise you, and finding the courage to do what is right.

In Pietre’s universe, humans are on the bottom of the ranking system. Above them are dogs, above the dogs are wolves, and at the top and rulers are the Veranderen (better known as werewolves at one time, but now have the power to shift on command). When the young boy Pietre and his family take in a dying dog’s young pup, it sets course for a prophecy told for thousands of years. Pietre’s father is accused of illegally owning the pup, and is sentenced to death until the king Veranderen Crespin learns of his skill at weapon making. Now escaping death, he must make the tools the Veranderen will need in the upcoming Motteral Mal competition. It is during this time that his father in imprisoned that Pietre learns the a rebellion growing against the king. Will he be brave enough to fight for what he knows will make his world better? Can he work with those that he has been told all his life to avoid and be frightened of?

Grey Stone is the perfect coming of age, adventure book to me. I could feel the characters courage and strength build while I was reading, and it made me want to root for them the entire time. the world building authors Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy create is really amazing. I found the rankings between species and the idea of language between them so interesting. Grey Stone has humor, sadness, revenge, and adventure. I highly recommend!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

COVER REVEAL: The Queen and the Cure

I am so excited to be apart of the cover reveal for Amy Harmon’s newest novel, The Queen and the Cure! it is the sequel to her amazing ya fantasy, The Bird and the Sword.

Synopsis for the Bird and the Sword:

“Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive. The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?”

Sounds amazing right?! it is!!! i devoured this book. It’s been at the top of my favorites list since I read it! The writing style is breathtaking, and the story itself is full of emotion.

Now without further ado, the cover of The Queen and the Cure!