Thursday, March 17, 2016

Hurricane Kiss (Worst title of 2016)

Hurricane Kiss by Deborah Blumenthal
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Pages:256
Goodreads
***I received a copy of this from netgalley book in exchange for my honest review***









" For sixteen-year-old Jillian McKay, the threat of Hurricane Danielle means a long car ride with her neighbors--including River Daughtry, the former star quarterback of Harrison High. The guy who was headed to glory until suddenly he disappeared to a West Texas juvenile detention center. Once cocky and flirtatious, he's now silent and angry. When their evacuation route is gridlocked, River is the first to recognize the danger they're in. Together he and Jillian set out to seek shelter in their abandoned high school. As they wait out the storm, they confront the past and realize survival is about more than just staying alive--it's about fighting for yourself. "









Okay, full disclosure, I'm not a huge fan of romance. Because of this, I didn't really expect to love the book but I thought I would give it a try for two reasons; because the early reviews were good, and because it was dedicated to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

The first half of this book felt like most New Adult books I've read.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Interview with Giselle Simlett- Author of The Chosen Saga

I recently had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Giselle Simlett, the author of one of my favorite self published books of 2015, Girl of Myth and Legend. From the small amount of interaction I've had with her, I can say that Giselle is a delight to talk to. Like her main character, Leonie, Giselle is down to earth and totally relatable. 

Giselle kindly agreed to answer a few of my questions...



Saturday, January 2, 2016

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Genres: Fantasy,Horror,Sci-fi
Pages:460
Goodreads


"Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad."





This is not your usual zombie book. Its not like the walking dead, with mindless zombies that you need to kill to survive, all though they do exist in this book, it's not about them. This book is about a very smart little girl named Melanie. Melanie is full of love and excitement and curiosity- she's also a zombie.



Friday, December 11, 2015

The Wrath and Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath and Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 388
Goodreads

"In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?"






I read mixed reviews about this book, so I wasn't sure going into it what to expect. It was a good read. More romance than anything else, but it was the good kind of romance. The kind you  root for even if it is cliche and predictable.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
Genres: FantasyYoung Adult
Pages: 448
Goodreads

"When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption."




I love Rosamund Hodge. Every book of hers I've read has been my 'new favorite book' and to me, she can do no wrong. This is the second book I've read of hers and I'm eagerly awaiting her next book.

Similar to Hodges debut novel, Cruel Beauty, Crimson Bound was so much fun to read. 

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlet

Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlet
Genres:Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 363
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
**Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book**






" Leonie Woodville wants to live an unremarkable life. She wants routine, she wants repetition, she wants predictability. So when she explodes in a blaze of light one morning on the way to her college, it’s enough to put a real crimp in her day.And things only get weirder…Leonie learns from her father that she is last of the Pulsar, a phenomenally powerful member of a magical species called the Chosen. It will be her sole duty to protect the Imperium, a governing hierarchy, from all enemies, and to exceed the reputation of the Pulsar before her. So – no pressure there, then.Leonie is swept away from her rigorous normality and taken to a world of magic. There, she is forced into a ceremony to join her soul to a guardian, Korren, who is both incredibly handsome and intensely troubled, a relationship for which ‘it’s complicated’ just really doesn’t cut it.But Leonie is soon to learn that this ancient world is no paradise. With violent dissidents intent to overthrow the Imperium, and dark entities with their own agenda, she and Korren find themselves caught in a war where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to survive.Dare to dream. Dare to hope. Dare to be a legend.Book One in The Chosen Saga. "



The Chosen Saga is off to a good start with this book. It started off very quickly, too quickly. Honestly, after reading the first chapter of this book, I put it away for a while, it totally turned me off. Eventually though, I did come back to it and I'm glad that I did.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

**Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book**




"Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.
Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up."





"I used to like the name Mercedes. That is, until I figured out I was named after a car. The shiny red car that my dad loved more than anything--the one he waved from as he drove away"

I'm going to start out by saying that I disagree with most reviewers.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Henchgirl by Rita Stradling


Henchgirl by Rita Stradling
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages:344




The children of dragons and humans, the dracons, control eighty percent of the world’s governments. Humans worldwide are either subservient or prey. On the small vacation island of Mabi, humans call for war.


Sixteen year old Dakota Kekoa lives a double life. By day, she pretends to be a human to infiltrate Mabi Academy, a 'human's only' high-school. At night, she works as a henchman for her draconic mafia family, utilizing her ability to steal and manipulate emotions.
When Dakota’s human friend is kidnapped, she takes on the mission to find her. This is not just any mission though; she is diving head first into the escalating conflict between humans and dracons. As more girls disappear and some are discovered dead, Dakota realizes her first honorable mission may also be her last.

This is the very first ARC I've ever gotten, and I want to thank NetGalley for providing that to me in exchange for an honest review.

The island of Mabi Island (loosely based on Hawaii) is basically owned by Dakotas grandfather, a powerful half-dragon with over 500 children. This makes Dakota one eighth dragon, making her the only type of female Dracon capable of producing off-spring. Not wanting to spend her life being used for her womb, Dakota becomes a soldier for her grandfather, using her special abilities to threaten his enemies and gather Intel for him. She uses the payments for these jobs to help provide for her family since her alcoholic mother spends all their rent money on useless things. 

Dakotas' current mission, one that she's been working on for years, involves going undercover in an all human school. She's finally starting to get close to her ultimate goal, when everything starts to go wrong. With the arrival of some powerful guests, Dakotas grandfather suddenly stops showing her any of the favoritism she's used to. At the same time, one of her best human friends mysteriously disappears. As Dakota works to find her friend, and uncovers the truth about who her grandfathers guests are, her whole life is turned upside down.


Dakota is the best kind of protagonist; witty, headstrong, and sarcastic while still being vulnerable and scared at times. She's a heroine who isn't afraid to ask for help when she needs it or to speak her mind. Her lack of manners and etiquette was charming and relateable. Her loyalty and trust towards her friends and family makes her exactly the kind of girl I would've wanted as a best friend in high-school.

When I downloaded this book to my Kobo, I wasn't especially excited. The premise sounded interesting enough... An oppressive dystopian society ruled by half human-half dragons. Once I started reading the book however, I realized that I am either incredibly unobservant, or the synopsis sucked. Either way, Henchgirl does not suck, not at all. In fact, I read all 300+ pages in one sitting, which I haven't done in years.


I am seriously so happy that I read this book,  and I can not WAIT for the sequel.