Saturday 28 February 2015

Release Day Blitz: Animal by Nikki Rae


21893582Title: Animal
Author: Nikki Rae
Genre: Paranormal Suspense, New Adult
Publication date: February 28th 
Buy link: Amazon








Ava has spent her life running from the monsters that lurk in the shadows, always the prey. She finally thinks she can settle down, have a normal life, and work on not being so scared of the world around her. That is until she runs into her worst fear.

He has finally found the potential family he has always wanted. All he has to do is make his little bird sing. Will Ava escape with her humanity intact?



Giveaway


About the author

Nikki Rae is an independent author who lives in New Jersey. She explores human nature through fiction, concentrating on making the imaginary as real as possible. Her genres of choice are mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she'll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or tinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corners, or studying people. Closely.
Author Blog | EditingWebsite  | Amazon |  Facebook |  Twitter |  Goodreads | Tsu

El

EOM Wrap Up February

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I have read 7 books last month: 

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead
Raven (Chronicles of Steele #1) by Pauline Creeden
Rebel Wing (Rebel Wing #1) by Tracy Banghart
Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2) by Tracy Banghart
The Emperor (Virtual Arcana #4) by Karen Amanda Hooper
Frostbitten by Heather Beck
Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun

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I reviewed 5 books last month: 

Raven (Chronicles of Steele #1) by Pauline Creeden
Rebel Wing (Rebel Wing #1) by Tracy Banghart
Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2) by Tracy Banghart
The Emperor (Virtual Arcana #4) by Karen Amanda Hooper
Frostbitten by Heather Beck

Other Posts: 

Book Blitz: Courtlight series & Crown Service Series by Terah Edun
Book Blast: Invade (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers
Book Blitz: Brookhollow series by Jennifer Snow
Release Day Blitz: Animals by Nikki Rae

Top Ten Tuesday #49: Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet
Top Ten Tuesday #50: Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books
Top Ten Tuesday #51: Top Ten Bookish Problems

Waiting on Wednesday #83: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry
Waiting on Wednesday #84: Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks #6) by Miranda Kenneally
Waiting on Wednesday #85: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Sunday Post #7
Sunday Post #8
Sunday Post #9
Sunday Post #10

New Releases in February

El

Sunday 22 February 2015

Sunday Post #10

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

Last week was really busy. I am moving to London tomorrow for four months and there were still so many things that I had to do. Sunday evening we went to dinner with my family because it was our last Sunday together. On Tuesday I went to dinner and to the movies with a couple of friends. Then on Thursday I went to dinner again but this time with other friends. And on Friday and Saturday night I went out with yet again other friends. In the mean time I had to pack my suitcase, clean my room... I don't know how I managed to do everything that I had to do this week. And this evening I have another family dinner because it is my grandmother's birthday. When I look back on this last week, I had a lot of food this week! 

There won't be any post next week because I didn't have the time to schedule any post for next week. And I want to properly settle in first before I pick up my blogging again. Also I'm still looking for a room in London so if any of you guys knows something let me know! 


Last week on the blog: 


El

Friday 20 February 2015

Review: Frostbitten by Heather Beck

22600360Title: Frostbitten
Author: Heather Beck
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Publisher: Enchanted Publishing
Publication date: June 23rd 2014
Pages: 226 (Kindle)
Source: received from author






Great beauty hides dark secrets...

Seventeen-year-old Anastasia Lockhart has never led an easy life, but when she starts getting into serious trouble, she's sent to live with her grandparents in Cedar Falls. The small, picturesque town hasn't changed since she visited four years ago, with one exception - the presence of a handsome, mysterious boy named Frost. Despite warning from her grandparents and friends to stay away from From, Anastasia can't deny their attraction, and the more time they spend together, the deeper in love they fall. Unfortunately, Frost has a secret that is beyond Anastasia's wildest imagination, and she soon finds herself in the midst of a supernatural legend that has haunted Cedar Falls for years.

Can Anastasia and Frost's love really overcome anything, or are their fates much darker.


The setting of Frostbitten is really pretty. It’s set in a small, idyllic town in Canada, in the midst of a wintery forest. For that aspect alone I already liked the book. I love it when books are set in some idyllic town in the middle of nowhere, they always spark my imagination.

Anastasia was overall a lovely character. In the past she had made some bad mistakes, hung out with the wrong crowd. But nothing that most teenagers won’t do. So when she is sent to live with her grandparents for the rest of the school year Anastasia is determined to get her life back on track. Some of the things that Anastasia had to face in her new school were sad. But I also had a hard time believing some of the horrible things that were done to her or said by her. I know that people, especially teenagers, can be cruel to each other. But this just seemed a bit unreal to me. In the end she also learns who her true friends really are and she learns to be herself again.
Frost is a really cute guy. He’s a bit of a mystery since no one really ever talks to him so no one knows anything about him. You could clearly see from the beginning of the book that he was a genuine nice guy. It was another good aspect of this book, since nowadays it seems like the girl always has to fall in love with the bad guy. So I really liked it that Frost was a good guy. But I kind of missed the development in their relationship. It happened way too quickly for me. Frost was also not developed enough for my taste. We still know so little about him and his past and family. I wouldn’t have mind if we got to know him deeper. But that might be the case in the second book in this series, I certainly hope so.

The action and the paranormal elements were well done in this book. The author has a really descriptive way of writing. So I had a very vivid image of what was going on. This definitely added to the suspense of the book. Near the end of the book the author also threw in some folklore, I really hope that she will explore this more in the following books. This series has a lot of potential to be great. So I hope that it will have a thrilling sequel.


Overall I really liked Frostbitten. It’s a good young adult paranormal read. I liked the characters, especially Anastasia, and I really would like to see how they develop in the rest of the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new young adult paranormal read.



El

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #85: Confess by Colleen Hoover


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that I am anxiously awaiting is:

Convess
by Colleen Hoover

22609310

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love - and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there's no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn't expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on tracks is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can't seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as  subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin...

Goodreads

Why I Can't Wait

 I have heard so many amazing things about Colleen Hoover but I haven't read a book by her yet. I really want to change that and this book sounds really interesting. Hopefully I will get a chance to read this one. 

Publication date: March 10th 2015

El

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Top Ten Tuesday #51: Top Ten Bookish Problems


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks was a freebie so I chose the topic Top Ten Bookish Problems

  1. I keep buying books even though I still have so many books I haven't read yet on my shelf
  2. The week after I bought a book they go on discount
  3. My mom always complains that I spent to much money on books
  4. My bookshelf is too small
  5. There are so many amazing series that I've started but still need to finish
  6. My review pile keeps growing and still I request books on Netgalley and Edelweiss
  7. There is so little time and so many books that I want to read
  8. The day you read the last book in one of your favorite series
  9. Giving a book to a friend/my sister and not getting it back in the exact same shape
  10. Lacking sleep because you need to finish that book

El

Monday 16 February 2015

Review: Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2) by Tracy Banghart

23556036Title: Storm Fall
Author: Tracy Banghart
Series: Rebel Wing
Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Publisher: Alloy Entertainment
Publication date: December 16th 2014
Pages: 230 (Kindle)






In the action-packed sequel to Rebel Wing, Aris battles for life and love... and not everyone will survive. 

Aris Haan gave up everything to join the Atalantan Military: her family, her boyfriend, even her identity. In the end, though, it didn't matter that she was a war hero. When the all-male Military discovered that she was actually a woman, she was sent home and erased from history.

Now she has a chance to go back to the battlefield - as herself. But as hard as it was to be a soldier in disguise, it's even more difficult now. The men in her unit undermine her at every turn. The Safaran army has spies everywhere, perhaps even on Aris's stationpoint. And she's falling for her mysterious superior officer, Milek. But their relationship is forbidden, just stolen moments between training sessions and missions. There's no room for love in war.

Then Aris discovers that Safara's leaders have set their sights on her, Atalanta's hero. And she must find them before they find her...


Storm Fall picks up two months after Rebel Wing ended. Aris is struggling to fit back into her old life. She isn’t sure she still wants it. So when it is announced that women can now freely serve in the army of Atalanta she is ready to joint them again. That is as soon as she overcomes her fear of flying. But not everyone is happy about the openly return of women to the army. Men believe that they are not fit for fighting and who think they should have safe jobs and take care of their kids. But Aris and her friends will show them that they are not weak and that they might even be better soldiers than most of the men.

Storm Fall tells the story of Aris, Dysis and Galena. There stories were each unique in their own way. There was some romance in this book but it didn’t dominate the plotline. The book was more about friendship and a lot of action. This mix of elements is what makes this book so great. It book kept surprising me and it didn’t stop to amaze me.

Aris is an amazing character. She doesn’t need anyone to keep her safe and to take care of her. But she also allows people into her life and she has no problem to accept their help. And that’s one of the things I love so much about this book. In a lot of cases the heroine is either a damsel in distress who needs constant saving. Or she is a badass who won’t let anyone help her even if she needs the help. Galena is another strong women. People look at her for all the wrong reasons. She was tortured but she survived. And she’s sure to not let it determine the rest of her live. I really liked her she’s such a tough women. Then there is Dysis. Like Aris she’s a women in the military. But people know not to play with her. Because if they do they will lose. But underneath her tough exterior she has a soft heart and she will do everything in her power to protect the people she cares about. These three women are such an inspiration for everyone. And I believe that they should be taken as an example of how women should be portrayed more often in books.  

This book is fast paced, packed full with action and girl power. It was impossible for me to put this book down. I just couldn’t do it. I had to know what would happen to all these characters so I just kept reading till I finished it. And now I can’t wait till the third book in this series is released. I highly recommend this book to anyone. Seriously this series should be popular by now.

Favorite quote:
Milek turned toward her, searching for her face in the shadows. “You stay here. As soon as I’ve got Elom, I’ll come back for you.”
She laughed. “No chance.”
To his credit, he didn’t bother arguing. “It was worth a try.”
With another fast, hard kiss they crept together into the sunlight.



El

Sunday 15 February 2015

Sunday Post #9

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

This week was a quiet one. It took me till Wednesday to finally feel better. So the first part of the week I just spent sleeping most of the time. On Friday I got together with two really good friends that I hadn't seen in too long. It was really nice to catch up with them. And then yesterday I went shopping with my mom and sister. It was a fun day. I have two weeks off now so that means a lot of reading! 


Last week on the blog: 

Next week on the blog:
  • Monday: Review: Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2) by Tracy Banghart
  • Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #51: Top Ten Reader Problems
  • Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday #85
  • Thursday: Band of the month
  • Friday: Review: Frostbitten by Heather Beck

El

Saturday 14 February 2015

Review: The Emperor (Virtual Arcana #4) by Karen Amanda Hooper

23361164Title: The Emperor
Author: Karen Amanda Hooper
Series: Virtual Arcana
Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Publication date: February 15th 2015
Pages: 58 (ebook)
Source: Received from author







No short description



The Emperor was crazy. It really messed with my head but I am loving it!

To me each it feels like each novella is crazier than the other one. Every time I think that things will get clear now. But at the end of the novella I am even more confused than before. I have long ago lost track of what is real and what is not. I cannot say more because otherwise I would need to give spoilers and I really do not want to do that.

Kelsey remains as confused as ever. And she really gets annoyed with her ignorance, no one ever gives her full and complete answers. She has to figure out herself what are dreams or virtual reality and what is real. Kelsey starts to have moments that she isn’t sure of anything of anyone anymore. She wakes up in places she doesn’t remember getting to, people don’t seem to be who they told they are. Her timeline is muddled and she has no idea what to think of her life anymore. And that exactly how the reader experiences it. Xander was different in this novella. He finally seemed ready to explain things to Kelsey and he took control of everything.


These novellas are always hard to review. Everything is so complicated, it’s hard to explain everything. Really you just have to read this series yourself to figure it all out.


El

Thursday 12 February 2015

Review: Rebel Wing (Rebel Wing #1) by Tracey Banghart

23204489Title: Rebel Wing
Author: Tracey Banghart
Series: Rebel Wing 
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Alloy-entertainment
Publication date: July 29th 2014
Pages: 372 (Kindle)
Source: Netgalley






The Dominion of Atalanta is at war. But for eighteen-year-old Aris, the fighting is nothing more than a distant nightmare, something she watches on news vids from the safety of her idyllic seaside town. Then her boyfriend, Calix, is drafted into the Military, and the nightmare becomes a dangerous reality.

Left behind, Aris has nothing to fill her days. Even flying her wingjet - the thing she loves most, aside from Calix - feels meaningless without him by her side. So when she's recruited to be a pilot for an elite search-and-rescue unit, she leaps at the chance, hoping she'll be stationed near Calix. But there's a catch: she must disguise herself as a man named Aristos. There are no women in the Atalantan Military, and there never will be. 

Aris gives up everything to find Calix: her home. Her family. Even her identity. But as the war rages on, Aris discovers she's fighting for much more than her relationship. With each injured person she rescues and each violent battle she survives, Aris is becoming a true soldier - and the best flyer in the Atalantan Military. She's determined to save her Dominion... or die trying.


Rebel Wing is one of the books I have read so far this year. It captured my attention right from the very first page until the end. This book is truly amazing.

Aris her life had always been comfortable. She had her boyfriend, Calix, her friends, her family and her wing jet to fly. But when Calix is drafted into the military her life is turned upside down. This wasn’t the plan, they were supposed to promise and now she can’t be sure that she will ever see him again. In order to be with him she makes an impulsive decision to join the military herself disguised as a man since women are not allowed in the military. Soon she finds out that she is fighting for more than her relationship with Calix.

Aris is a great character. And I really loved her. At the beginning at the books she was naïve and a damsel in distress. Everyone always hovered around her and took care of her because she had a limp. When she decided to join the military she did if for all the wrong reasons. She only did it to find her boyfriend while she should have done it because she wanted to save lives. But she developed so much true this story. She grew stronger both physically and mentally. Aris blossomed into a wonderful woman. And the reason why she fought harder than anyone else was the right one, she realized what kind of good she could do when she fought in this war and saved people there live. Aris turned into a person with commitment, courage and loyalty.  

Parallel with Aris her story there is also the story of Ward Vadim, the Warden of Ruslana, and Ward Nikos, the Warden of Atalanta. Ward Nikos is trying everything he can to ward of the Safaran troops in his dominion. But he knows that he is failing, so every help he can get is more than welcome. But when Ward Vadim is taken ill his greatest ally disappears. The thing is Ward Vadim hasn’t taken ill but is being held captive. She doesn’t know where she is or why she is being held captive. I really liked all the suspense surrounding these parts of the books. You couldn’t help wondering why her kidnappers went through so much trouble and who is behind it all. In the end everything became clear and I have to say that I was taken a bit by surprise, which is a good thing.  


I love this book so much. Really I can’t believe why this book has such a few ratings, it’s a brilliant story. Rebel Wing is a mix of different things, there is of course a lot of action but there is also time for friendship and even a bit of romance. The romance wasn’t the main focus of the novel and I really loved that. Tracy Banghart here writing style is really fluid and I once I started reading this book I wasn’t able to put it down. After I finished this book I immediately went ahead and got the second book because I couldn’t wait to find out how the story continued. This hadn’t happened in a really long time so it’s another indicator of how amazing this book is. I would highly recommend this book to everyone! 


El

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #84: Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks #6) by Miranda Kenneally


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that I am anxiously awaiting is:

Jesse's Girl
by Miranda Kenneally

16045315

Practice Makes Perfect.

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she'd get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville's teen idol.

But spending the day with Jess is far from a dream come true. He's as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he's accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya's lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse's pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya's playing back up to other people's dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart - and go solo?

Goodreads

Why I Can't Wait

So far I've only read the first three books in this series, but I really enjoyed them all. And Jesse's Girl sounds really great. Besides it's a book about music and I really love that kind of books.

Publication date: July 1st 2015

El

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Top Ten Tuesday #50: Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks was a freebie so I chose the topic Top Ten Thins I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books

Likes

  1. Love-interest with a different background story
  2. Best-friends romances
  3. Believable slow romance
  4. Hate-to-love relationships
  5. Second chances relationships

Dislikes

  1. Insta-love
  2. Love triangles
  3. Main characters who let the love interest become their whole world
  4. Relationships based on good looks
  5. Cheating

El

Monday 9 February 2015

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Brookhollow series by Jennifer Snow



Hero vs. Hero-Ethan vs. Brad

Hero #1-Ethan Bishop
Ethan Bishop
Age 28
6’ 0 180 lbs
Brown hair, Brown eyes
Firefighter

He has been friends with Bailey Sheppard for so long that it is impossible to see her as anything but his cool chick, best friend, but when Bailey decides that she wants more than friendship from Ethan, he starts to see his friend in a whole new light…

Favorite ‘Ethan Moment’ in What A Girl Wants:
Moving toward her, he took the box from her and covered her hands with his. His grip tightened when she tried to pull away. “Bailey, for the first time in my life, I’m feeling something real, something exciting. I haven’t been able to sleep or eat. My stomach turned at the mere notion of you with Adams...or anyone else for that matter.” He paused. “Look at me, please.” His voice was gentle as he lifted her chin. He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m falling for you, Bailey, and my biggest regret is not having realized how perfect, how beautiful, how strong and compassionate you are before now...when it’s too late.”
Pushing him away, Bailey backed up until her back hit the wooden shelf. She shook her head, avoiding his eyes. “No, Ethan, I’m sorry. I don’t know what you think was happening between us....”
“Stop. You’re a terrible liar.” What was she saying? That she didn’t have feelings for him? That was crap and they both knew it.
Touching her cheek, he wiped a tear away, but another fell in its place. “I’m sorry.” The words were so empty, so meaningless. But they were all he had.
Her smile looked forced when her pained eyes met his. “You get her back. It was what you wanted.”
“You think this is what I wanted?” She couldn’t be more wrong.
“Please go now,” she whispered, moving past him.
“Bailey, what do we do now?”
“The same thing we’ve always done.”
“Can you do that?” he choked out.
“Maybe not today...or tomorrow, but eventually. Like you, I have no other choice. Bye, Ethan.”


Hero #2-Brad Monroe
Age-34
6’2 190 lbs
Blonde hair, one green eye, one blue eye
Country Music Star

Going home for the holidays for the first time since the death of his best friend, Brad is determined to get in and out of Brookhollow as quickly as possible, causing the least amount of emotional damage to Patrick’s widow-Melody Myers, but when he finds himself falling in love with her…things get a little complicated…

Favorite ‘Brad Moment’ in The Mistletoe Melody:
“SO, SHOULD I DRIVE you back to Luke’s for your rental car?” Melody asked as Brad climbed into the passenger side of the minivan. While he’d been in the clinic, she’d dropped the boys back home with the babysitter and changed for her evening shift at the Green Gator.
“Um...no, I shouldn’t drive while I’m on these prescription painkillers,” he said, putting on his seat belt.
“Back to the tree lot, then?” She turned the van out onto the street.
Brad eyed her. “You changed.” He turned and glanced into the backseat. “Where are the boys?”
“I drove them back to my place. I have to work at the Gator tonight. So, home?”
He hesitated. “How busy will it be there tonight?”
“At your house?” How would she know? She suspected the farm might be a little busy...
“At the Gator.”
“Oh, completely dead,” she said. The nasty weather and driving conditions tended to keep families at home this time of year. “Maybe a couple of staff parties...” She glanced at him. “But surely yourhead hurts too much for even the slightest noise.”
“Have you been to my house this time of year?” He laughed. “Ow.” He rubbed the back of his
head.
He had a point. “Okay, the Green Gator it is.”
He sniffed the air and scanned the van. Giving her a puzzled look, he leaned closer and smelled her hair.
“What are you doing, weirdo?” she asked, moving away from him. She hadn’t had time to shower.
The last thing she wanted was him sniffing her.
“I smell gingerbread cookies again,” he said.
“I don’t know...” Then she realized. Her new holiday-scented lotion. “Oh, it’s my body lotion. It’s ginger spice.”
“That delicious smell is coming from your skin?” he asked, intrigued.



Giveaway

All 4 e-books of the Brookhollow series will be gifted to one person that comments on this post. The winner will be announced at the end of the tour. 

About the author


Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Romance Writers of America, the Canadian Author Association, and SheWrites.org. She is also a regular blogger on the Heartwarming Authors site and is a contributing author to Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine and RWR. Her 2013 Holiday Romance-The Trouble With Mistletoe was a finalist in the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold Contest. More information can be found on her website 

El

Sunday 8 February 2015

Sunday Post #8

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

On Monday I had my last exam, finally, so afterwards we went out to celebrate it. The rest of the week I worked on my thesis and on Thursday I went to visit my grandmother. So that part of the week was great. But then on Friday I came down with the flu and I've felt horrible since then. I hope to be better soon. 


Last week on the blog: 

Next week on the blog:
  • Monday: Book Blast: Brookhollow series by Jennifer Snow
  • Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #50: Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books 
  • Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday #84
  • Thursday: Review: Rebel Wing (Rebel Wing #1) by Tracy Banghart
  • Friday: Review: The Emperor (Virtual Arcana #4) by Karen Amanda Hooper

El



Friday 6 February 2015

Review: Raven (Chronicles of Steele #1) by Pauline Creeden

23206075Title: Raven
Author: Pauline Creeden
Series: Chronicles of Steele
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: AltWit Press
Publication date: October 2014
Pages: 248 (paperback)
Source: Negalley






Human life has value.
The poor living in the gutter are as valuable as the rich living in a manor. 
The scoundrel is no less valuable than the saint.
Because of this, every life a reaper takes must be redeemed.

Raven has lived by this first tenet since she was trained by her father to become a reaper. But since his death, she's been spending years redeeming the lives she's taken. By her count, she's even and it's time for that life to end. If she settles down and becomes a wife, she might just feel human again. But on the way to the life she thinks she wants, the baron of New Haven asks her to complete a task which she cannot ignore... Just when Raven decides to give up her life as an assassin, she's pulled right back in.


Steampunk is such an interesting genre and I really love it. Still somehow I have read only a few books in this genre. But when I saw this book I knew that I had to read it, and I am glad that I did.
Raven Steele is a reaper. Once they were the elite guard of the Duke but now they are the villains. A price is set on their heads. Still Raven never once thought to changer her lifestyle. But now she is willing to give it all up for love after this one last assignment. Or is it already too late?

Since it is a story about a reaper the book was packed with action. I often sat on the edge of my seat anxious to find out how the events would turn out. But there was also time for friendship and love. I loved seeing how both of these developed. When we first met Raven she was all by herself. She only had one person she could go to. But at the end of the novel she got so many people surrounding her who truly loved her and cared for her. It was so great to see.

Raven was an amazing character. Her way of life might not be perfect but she is a good person. She cares for people and would do everything to protect them. She is very determined to complete what she has begun. Raven has some rough edges but at the same time she has a little heart. She is afraid to get hurt again or to hurt someone she cares about. But I really loved that she was so independent and well she is a kickass girl.  
Grant was a very noble and loyal man. Maybe even a bit too loyal since he follows the orders of his duke without questioning.  But I liked that he was such a gentlemen, he knows how to behave in front of a lady. And at heart he is a really good and decent guy.


The plot of this book was good. There were enough twists to keep me enthusiastic. The story progressed nice and slowly. But there were times that I felt a little lost. Especially with the time indications. Sometimes the author told that it had been over a month since something had happened but in my head it had only been a couple of day. I also felt that some things could have been worked out better. Like for instance she mentioned the use of automatons a couple of times in this book and they were important at the end of the story but we never got to know what the full story of them was. There were a couple more of loose ends in this book. Also the love in this book came out of the blue for me. Suddenly they had these feelings for each other and I kept thinking “When did that happen?”.  Other than that I have no complaints about this book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait to read more steampunk books. If you like steampunk or fantasy books in general then I would recommend this book for you. It was an entertaining read and I cannot wait to read Darius his book. 

El

Thursday 5 February 2015

New Releases in February


This month is a month in which some amazing books are released. I'm so excited for some of them and I can't wait to read them! 

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Invaded (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers (February 3rd)
I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios (February 3rd)
BeastKeeper by Cat Hellisen (February 3rd)
Stung (Struck #2) by Joss Stirling (February 5th)

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The Sin Eater's Daughter (The Sin Eater's Daughter #1) by Melinda Salisbury (February 5th)
Collide (The Taking #3) by Melissa West (February 9th)
The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead (February 10th)
Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard (February 10th)

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The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (February 10th)
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons (February 10th)
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga (February 10th)
One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin (February 10th)

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When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez (February 10th)
Touch & Go (Dare to Love #2) by Mira Lyn Kelly (February 17th)
The Return (Titan #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (February 17th)
Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V. Snyder (February 24th)

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Unleashed (Uninvited #2) by Sophie Jordan (February 24th)
A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab (February 24th)
A Wicked Thing (A Wicked Thing #1) by Rhiannon Thomas (February 24th)
Homecoming (The 100 #3) by Kass Morgan (February 24th)

Which book is on your TBR list? Let me know! 

El