Tag Archive | Fantasy

Down with the shine #review #YAlit #wish

Down with the Shine  by Kate Karyus Quinn

4heart

Synopsis
As the story opens, Lennie does not have the best of circumstances. Lennie lives with her almost comatose mother and 3 uncles who sell moonshine. Her father is a con artist, notorious bank robber, and all around bad person. Lennie is not a delinquent, but it seems everyone in authority assumes she is. To make matters worse, she finds out that her best friend was brutally murdered.

Considering her life, she wants to escape and, for once, have some fun. She steals some moonshine from her uncles and goes to a party were all the “cool kids” will be. All night she is giving shots and pretending to grant wishes. After a wild and crazy night, she goes home and passes out drunk.

The next morning, to everyone’s horror, the random, wild, insane wishes of a bunch of drunk teenagers are all coming true. Now it is up to Lennie to learn the rules of wish granting and figure out how to fix this mess without making things worst.

Opinion
I chose this book because of the cover. I love the mason jar visual with the mysterious vapor.

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I have read books with the similar theme of “Be careful what you wish for”. However, none of the previous stories have wishes-gone-wrong to this level.

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I do not usually like first person novels, but made an exception in this case because I was so intrigued by the plot line. In the beginning, I did not like Lennie very much though. I thought I would sympathize with her more because of her circumstances. She seems to be floating through life with no one who cares about her.

Her dad is a sociopathic criminal. Her mom is barely there emotionally for her. And her uncles try to keep her out of trouble but otherwise ignore her. She has an inner dialogue going at all times in which her snarky comes through to the reader. There were some positive aspects to her personality displayed when she talked about her best friend and how Dylan’s death affected her.

All throughout the book, while I thought she made a lot of bad decisions (VERY BAD DECISION MAKING), I could not help to wonder if I could have done any better. She thought her life was one way, only to find out some of the reasons behind what happened and why. She did not have the luxury of enough time to fully examine the pros and cons of what to do. Making quick decisions is not the best and when it can mean life or death, which adds to the pressure even more.

While you have to read the story for yourself to see how everything gets resolved, everything is resolved in a nice a neat way.

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TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY! This is a quirky, slightly gruesome young adult novel with some dark humor sprinkled in. For me to recommend it, you know it must be something special. I am not usually one to recommend young adult lit.

Book Details
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (April 26, 2016)
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers

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Emerald Dragon – Awakened #Dragons Series #paranormalromance #shifterRomance

Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6) 

Synopsis
Aegis has been looking for Opal for years and finally finds her. To his surprise, she was being held captive by the dark oracle, the same woman who Aegis has been loosely aligned with. He does not care if he has to take on the world if it means he will have his one true mate for eternity.

Even though the Opal dragon has been imprisoned for hundreds of years and been the victim of many injustices, she still has this overly optimistic view of people. While she knows that Aegis is most likely her one and true mate, she does not think they will be happy together since he has a decidedly less optimistic view of people and their intentions. She ran from him once before and she will run again if she thinks it would be best for her sanity.

Opinion
Aegis and Opal were a classic story of opposites attract. She is an eternal optimist and he is ever the pessimist.

In the series, Aegis has always been the villain or more amoral than not. At times, we saw a bit of a selfless side. I am so glad he has his own book. Here, we get the full picture that helps us to understand why he is the way he is.

For somebody who was bullied for so long, he decided once he had power that he never would be in a situation where he would be the victim. When they were children, it seemed that Opal would never fight for herself. Aegis felt that he had to protect her because he always said that they were fated mates.

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I do not totally agree with the reasons Opal gave for leaving Aegis, but I can understand how she was not happy. She wants to give everyone the benefit of the doubt even when they are obviously taking advantage of her. In the case of Aegis, he has put up a protective wall to prevent himself from getting hurt as he did as a child.

As adults, Opal realizes that she still has the same feelings for Aegis as she did when they were younger. As she’s trying to navigate this new world, she’s also trying to figure out if they really can be happy together. Aegis, on the other hand, realizes that without Opal, he has no reason for existing.

Aegis is also finding out what it is like to have friends, people that have your back no matter what. Up until now, this concept was foreign to him because everybody that he knew wanted something from him.

I am glad they have their happy ending. I was rooting for Aegis more than Opal. I know it was in her nature to let people take advantage of her, but it was infuriating to say the least. In the end, I like that she finally was able to understand Aegis’ point of view.

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TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY! The whole series is a BUY for me. All in all, this was a satisfying ending to this series awakened dragons. And Terry Bolryder did not disappoint in setting up my anticipation for her new series which is coming out after she takes a short break. Please HURRY with the next series Terri!!!

Book details
Series: Awakened Dragons – this is a standalone story but best read after the others in the series for the full picture.
Heat Level: Smokin 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

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Gravity by @annabloombooks #sale #KUfreebie

Title: Gravity
Series: Gravity Series #1
Author: A.B. Bloom
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
– ON SALE FOR $0.99 –

They are calling it the End of Days. 

The world is plunging into darkness, the days growing shorter and the nights longer. Meteor showers are falling to the earth and there are some who would take advantage of the growing darkness.

For sixteen-year-old Bronte Bell, her problems are closer to home. Since her birthday she’s become weaker, her bones breaking, her hair falling out and plagued with constant migraines. No one can explain why. Until a mysterious new boy arrives and tells her that everything is not as it seems. She is not what she seems.

Drawn into a war that divides the sky, Bronte is torn between her desire to save the world and her growing connection with Nick. But she will have to let go of reality as she knows it, if she is to accept her role in destiny before the Hunter, who has been tracking her since birth, finds and destroys any chance she has of making the choice which is her birthright to make.

Her destiny will change everything.

 

“My excitement about this book is beyond controllable! I want, no I need EVERYONE to read this book. It’s the author’s first Paranormal book, but I guarantee you its AMAZING!!” ~Willow’s Corner 5 Star Review


“This story is so refreshing. So beautiful so different. It left me speechless and content at the end. I was like: yes. That was IT.” ~Heavenly Good Books 5 Star Review

“Listen. Can you just take the cap off? It’s annoying me.”
He laughed, an unexpected sound. He seemed too intense to be the kind of person to laugh. “Well, I’d hate to annoy you.” He swept the cap off, leaving a shock of jet-black hair standing on end.
“Oh.” My mouth fell open.
“Oh, what?” His eyes narrowed and I snapped my mouth shut.
“Nothing.” I took a few breaths, just to make sure I was alive and there was the slimmest chance this was real. “So, am I going to ask the questions or are you going to talk?”
He laughed again, and I was sure his body pitched a little bit closer to mine. Violet eyes pinned me in place and I struggled to remember how to swallow. “When you were seven you decided you wanted to climb trees.”
My body stiffened. “Yes?”
“There’s a fir tree in your back garden that’s easily sixty feet high.”
“Yes?”
“What do you remember about the time you fell?” The violets flickered at me. “It was August and scorching hot, you were wearing red shorts and a yellow T-shirt. You fell through the branches like a pine cone?”
I stared up into his face, his skin was dark olive, eyes burning bright. My tongue ran along my lips while my heart made a terrible thudding noise in my chest. “I don’t.” I whispered. “I woke up and I was on the ground.”
“I know. I caught you.” My body stepped back although his hand darted out and snatched hold of mine. “Bronte, I’ve been watching you your whole life. I know it sounds weird.” His nose scrunched as he contemplated just how weird it sounded.
“Why?”“Because,” he ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up at electrifying angles. “Because you’re the last of the star children. The last of the half born.”


I rubbed my thigh, which was already aching with that heavy lead sensation that comes from a dead limb, and tried to gain my footing.
“Easy there.” A hand jutted out and grasped my elbow, stabilising me as I threatened to topple again.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. My cheeks were glowing a vicious, volcanic, burn. I could live without Eleanor Heavers finding out I’d fallen over not once, but twice on the first day. I knew she would, though. Gossip spread through the school like fire through a parched forest.
“You seem to be vertically challenged.” The voice was soft, bringing a low bell to mind. My stomach felt all squishy, which was odd when combined with numb legs.
My eyes snapped up into the shadowed face of the boy from the picnic bench. His face tilted under the worn peak of his baseball cap. His features obscured in shadows so I couldn’t get a good look at the caps owner. “I am not.” I stated. My blatant lie made the burn running along my cheeks intensify until I was uncomfortably hot. He was scrutinising me and I didn’t know why. I stood there, while from under the cap, I knew he was evaluating what he saw. I prickled, straightening my shoulders. I didn’t exactly march off down the corridor in outrage at his blatant presumptuous scrutiny. I just kind of suspended there while he stared from under the cap.

“No?” he asked. His fingers still held my elbow, and I tried to peer closer so I could see him better. It was an impulse I couldn’t ignore and I shifted forward.
“You also don’t seem to grasp the concept of personal space.” He stepped away, breaking the spell that had pulled me towards him. The burning flush transformed into an all out uncomfortable sweat.
“Sorry, I was just. Um, just.” What was I doing?

“Just, what?” The voice sounded like it might be amused if it could be arsed.
“Just trying to see you.” The words blurted from my mouth, clanging into the air around me like boulders into a small rain puddle.
“Trying to see what?” As he spoke, my bag slipped off my shoulder. It smashed onto the floor with the heavy thud that twenty overdue library books will make. I scrambled to pick up the mess.


“You,” I said. Glancing up, I looked to see his reaction to my outrageous declaration, but there was nobody there. Just me and an empty hallway and the bell tolling on the wall, telling me I was late for my first class.

I’m Anna Bloom a contemporary romance writer. 
My heart lies with mature young adult, I just love writing about first love and the trials and tribulations of young romance. When I do write for adults I like it to be about second chances, not only in love but in life itself. 

I live in Surrey with my husband, three children, two cats and a dog with a beard. I love cooking, especially if I’m also holding a glass of wine at the same time. I’m trying to get into growing my own veg . . . but I may just stick to writing books. 

Currently I’m enjoying time at home with my new baby who’s only a few months old and writing on a full time basis. When I can I love to read and watch all things supernatural on the telly : )
I’m a big believer in true love, even the instant kind and I’m at my happiest when I’m writing stories about it for other people to enjoy.

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Book Review: Twin Dragons #dragons #swirlromance #triad #paranormalromance #shifterromance

Twin Dragons 1heart ♥

Synopsis

Gail meets Eli and Tyler while on a trip to Seattle.

Eli and Tyler are twin dragon shifters that decide that Gail is their fated mate.

Opinion

When I first started reading, I did not realize this was going to be a triad romance. Since I decided to continue reading after finding that out, I did not deduct any of my rating for that fact. This story was weak for many reasons but here are my top three:

  1. Eli and Tyler take Gail to their penthouse apartment after knowing her for only a few hours. Why is she blindly following two strange guys to their apartment? Irresponsible behavior. She is acting with no common sense at all. At least send a friend or family member a text, “Hey, if I mysteriously disappear, these two blond guys named Eli and Tyler might have disposed of my body somewhere in Seattle.”
  2. They walk in to the apartment and NO TALK before they get physical. Two dragon shifters and one girl. I actually turned from one page to the next twice trying to figure out what happened. It seemed that the story jumped from them walking through the door to them knocking boots.
  3. Tyler asked Gail if she wanted to try a particular position but did not wait for her answer before doing it.
    And I quote, “he would not be denied.” I am all for an alpha male taking charge, but THIS sounds kind of rapey to me.

Should you buy? I do not recommend. The story was choppy as if it was missing chapters. I wanted to read a story but felt like I was playing hopscotch. I know the author can do better because I have read more entertaining books from her (see The Alpha Lion’s Bride) . This one has lots of potential, but the characters need to be stronger and the plot more developed.

To the author: Alyse, I know you can do better than this. If you need a beta writer to help you work through plot holes, I am here for you. My email is amaryllisturman [at] gmail [dot] com. Other authors, this blanket invitation is for Alyse only. Everyone else can check my submission guidelines here.

Book details
Print Length: 55 pages
Publisher: Zaftig Publishing (June 25, 2015)
Publication Date: June 25, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

If after everything, this looks like a book you want to read, click here to buy on Amazon.

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Trapped with the #Cyborg #romance #scifi #fantasy @carabristol

Trapped with the Cyborg

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Synopsis
Sonny and Amanda meet at a bar and have a one night stand. Little do they know, they are working together the next day. They are cyborgs assigned to a top secret assignment that will be very dangerous and possibly turn into a suicide mission.

Opinion
First of all, I love cyborg romances! The author created likable characters with Sonny and Amanda. I was on pins and needles trying to figure out how they would get out of danger. I felt invested in their success. There cannot be a HEA if they are both dead, so I knew they would make it out alive.

But HOW?!?!?!

There were so many plot twists and turns that I could not put my Kindle down.

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I like how Sonny tries not to be seem like a male chauvinist but he wants to protect Amanda. Each time he is trying to convey his concerns, it comes across in the wrong way. It endeared him to me. Here was this big bad guy who is ready to take on the world, but he is trying to be delicate with his words for his woman.

Amanda is my kind of heroine! She was strong, smart, and sexy. Even as a cyborg, Amanda still had feelings of self-doubt which cause her to try even harder to prove herself.

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I think it is ultimately her strength and resilience is what attracted Sonny to her.

She was his equal and he could love and respect her.

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TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. There was so much action, the right amount of suspense, a hint of humor, and plenty of romance. I was thoroughly entertained and I think you will feel the same way.

Book Details
Print Length: 168 pages
Series: Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance Book 4
Publisher: Cara Bristol (June 19, 2016)
Publication Date: June 19, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

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