Review: Notable by Marni Bates

Chelsea Halloway is the main focus of "Notable" book three in the Smith High series. That's how it should be though, right? After-all she is queen of the notables at Smith High, able to destroy your social life in the time it takes to flip her beautiful blonde hair. Everyone has this image of Chelsea - perfect, beautiful, and blonde. And according to her own mother dumb. Her mom was not shy about pointing out her flaws or fighting with her dad constantly about coddling her. So when Chelsea finds out that her parents are divorcing its really no big shock, but what she didn't expect was for them to ship her off to Cambodia!

Now she's in a dangerous country with a group of college kids who stereo type her from the moment they met, running from drug lords! How in the world did Chelsea get mixed up in something like that? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I absolutely love Marni' s quirky fun books and Notable is no exception. Notable practically oozes charisma from every page! Only Marni could make a book about a girl running from drug lords so deliciously fun and intriguing. Her characters are relatable, interesting, and multi-demisonal. I really enjoyed the adventure in Notable, not to mention the romantic tension as well ;) Overall it was a quick fun read. Exactly what I've come to expect and enjoy from Marni Bates.

** I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review **

Review- Sunblind by Michael Griffo

 On Dominy' s sixteenth birthday her life was forever changed when the curse that turns her into a werewolf took hold and she killed her best friend. Now in this amazing sequel to Moonglow - The Darkborn Legacy book 1, Dominy has to learn to harness her curse to help her defend those closest to her, not only from Luba, but some unsuspected alliances of hers as well. 

 As an ultimate evil is hovering, Dominy and her group of friends struggle to uncover who they can trust and who they can't , until they discover their opponent may have more influence in their lives than they ever expected. 

 I absolutely loved this book! I was very anxious to find out more about Dominy, her friends, and the butterfly and bee after the ending of Moonglow, but I never expected things to turn out quite like they did. Michael Griffo is one of those amazing authors that as soon as I know he has another book out, I just have to read it! Sunblind was no exception. It has action, suspense, and true friendship, all the makings of a great read. Even when I thought I had everything figured out something else would happen that made me realize that I had most of the puzzle but a few pieces were still left unseen. In summary Sunblind is a great followup to Moonglow and its fascinating fast-paced story will have you not wanting to put it down until you've read every word. 

** I received this book  from the publisher in exchange for a honest review ** 

review: Broken Beauty by Lizzy Ford

  Broken Beauty is part 1 of a 6 part novella series revolving around the rape of Mia Abbott-Renou. Mia is the seventeen year old daughter of a politician. Immediately following the horrible night Mia was found battered and raped, her dad not only treats her like a political pawn but also tries to convince  her she is wrong about who raped her.

Everything about that man just rubs me the wrong way. He is so despicable! Mia is struggling with the aftermath of all of this with no real support from her family. Thank goodness for Ari and Dom or I don't think I would have been able to continue reading through the coldness Mia had to endure from her father and his team.
Broken Beauty is a powerful and emotional story that had me hanging on to every word. Although this novella is short  , it had big impact and great flow. I feel like it was the perfect beginning to the novella series. It gave me enough to feel invested in the characters but ended in a major way, leaving me desperately craving the next novella. I can't wait to find out where Mia will go from here.

* I received this e-book through Netgalley for review purposes *

review : Quarantine by James Phelan ( Alone #3 )

Quarantine is the final book in the riveting " Alone " trilogy. 

Jesse has been living in post-apocalyptic New York, dealing with Chasers and fighting for survival, for over two weeks now. To say he's been through a lot is a major understatement. Now trying to cope with the events at the end of Survivor that left him one friend down and still struggling to survive, he decides that he must leave his shelter behind to find the group of survivors Caleb told him about in book 2. 

This series has been full of action and has had some major "Whoa!" moments. Quarintine does a great job of following through with that drama, while still bringing to light the fragility of human life and the drive to survive. I think the added danger from some of the other survivors ( other uninfected ones ) speaks volumes about human behavior in this story. 

I feel often times with the final book in a series there's a lot of pressure to tie everything into a neat little bow. While I thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about everything that happened, I tried not to get bogged down by the need to have all my questions answered. I mean when in life do we get handed all of the answers? So with that in mind I believe this was a great conclusion to the trilogy. 

I think this is a great young adult post apocalyptic novel. It's a fast paced, action filled story that I think has great crossover appeal. I would highly recommend reading books 1 and 2 in the series first for full impact.

* I received this book in exchange for a honest review * 

Review: Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

Although she’s still heartbroken over what happened between her and Logan Quinn, Gwen still has been searching for the artifacts that Nike previously revealed to her. She needs to get them before the reapers do. Gwen is used to Reapers attacking her and her friends. Since everyone knows she's Nike's champion now, she's expecting even more attacks. What she doesn't expect is for the Reapers to try to poison her and she especially doesn't expect them to accidentally poison someone else instead. There is only one place to get the antidote to the poison and Reapers are sure to be waiting there for her...

I absolutely loved Midnight Frost! I enjoyed each book in the series but I believe this may be my favorite. Estep once again carried me away on an enthralling mythological adventure that seemed to leap right off the pages. I was anxious to find out where Gwen and Logan would stand in the after effects of Crimson Frost but this book was so much more than just a follow-up on their relationship. A new character is actually introduced in this book that took the story to a whole new level. We find out a little more about Gwen's family history and gain a little more of a peek into that past. I also have to state for the record, I want a gryphon! I won't post any spoilers but I am totally in love with the gryphons now! 

Midnight Frost is book #5 in the amazing Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep. If you love to read young adult novels with mythology and adventure then this series is for you! 

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review * 

Review: Invisible by Marni Bates

Marni Bates once again had me up flipping pages late into the night with her new laugh out loud worthy novel, Invisible.....

Invisible tells the story of Jane Smith. Jane has never wanted to be anything other than invisible at her school. Jane's best friend Mackenzie recently became an overnight internet sensation and their other best friend Corey started dating a rock star. Leaving Jane feeling left behind. Invisible was okay with her best friends by her side but now Jane feels left out and no longer as connected with her best friends as she once was. Now she's thinking it might be better to get some attention after all and to stop being so invisible. Which results in Jane being assigned a front-page article for her high school's paper, The Smithsonian. For that, Jane must write a groundbreaking story on which she is accompanied by Scott, the cute newspaper photographer that she just so happens to resent. 

I really liked Awkward, the first book in this series, and liked being able to get to continue the story here with Invisible while getting to know Jane better. I really liked Jane in this story. Even though she starts off a little reserved, her inner voice can actually be quite spunky and funny at times. Scott on the other hand is cute and infuriating but totally loveable. He really helps bring Jane out of her shell and they have great romantic chemistry. I was really surprised by Chelsea's role in the book and can't wait to read more about her in the upcoming book "Notable". 

Invisible is fresh, young, and hilarious. It will have you wrapped up until you can't help but to know what happens next. 

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review *

Review Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

I loved that in this novella we get to see Logan's point of view! Spartan Frost picks up right after the events of Crimson Frost. Logan and his father have now moved to their home in New York to put some distance between Logan and Gwen. He can't forgive himself for what happened even though he had no control after Loki took over his body. It's a little sad hearing how miserable he is but it also shows us how much his love for Gwen has grown. We also get a glimpse into a possible mending in his and his father's relationship. Hopefully that can be the silver lining of all the recent bad events. At the end of the novella I feel we start to see some of Logan's spark coming back. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book "Midnight Frost".
This is not a necessary read for the series, readers won't be lost if they go straight from book 4 to book 5. But would I skip it? No way! I think getting this "extra" little snippet will enhance your reading experience and help you to share better in Logan and Gwen's story. I always prefer when the novellas remain optional for the reader. Although I can't imagine passing this one up!

**I received this book in exchange for a honest review via netgalley**

Review: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Spirit is book #3 in the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer. 

We met Hunter Garrity in book 1 "Storm" but this is the first time we really get a chance to see all of his inner turmoil that is hidden under that calm facade. He has had a lot happen recently in his life and it all seems to be boiling over and raising all tensions right to the surface. There were times when I was thinking WOW can this poor guy just not get a break, yet other times I just wanted to smack him for his desicions or lack there of.Hunter has this horrible where do I belong scenario going on between the Merrick brothers with which he has so much comradery and the guides which he grew up thinking he was destined to become. Then there is Kate. Kate is the new girl in school and there are instant sparks between her and Hunter,but we find out right from the beginning she has a hidden agenda. Things are already so crazy without a girl coming in and messing with Hunter's head yet like Hunter I couldnt help but to be drawn to her and yearn to find out who she really is. Kate and Hunter have a lot in common including each has their own inner battle about what excactly it is they believe in and stand for. 

I absolutely love the Merrick brothers! I just can't get enough of their clever wit and antics, but their amazing brotherhood and emphasis on family is the real heart stealer for me. I feel like Hunter is a long lost brother but since even Hunter doesnt know quite where he stands how can they? So in turn it's all about who can trust who and for how long. 

Brigid has made me feel so fickle in my fiction crushes! She somehow manages to make me fall for each character she introduces me to. She brings such amazing depth and life to her characters that I feel like I not only know them but like I know the secret parts of their personality that only few get to see. They are so perfectly flawed and well defined, which makes them all the more believeable and human. 

Spirit has it all - action, romance, humor, and paranormal edge. It is an excellent addition to the series that I so dearly love. I am so ready for the next book :) 

** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review **

review: Survivor by James Phelan

Survivor is the second book in the Alone series and picks up right where Chasers ended. Still trying to make it in the devastation of the attack on New York, Jesse is now alone but has found hope in a video he found from a young girl who is also a survivor. As Jesse sets out to find other survivors and try to get them all to safety, the Chasers are now posing a new threat. They now seem to no longer be solely opportunist but also hunters. They are becoming smarter and banding together to try to hunt down their next meal. If Jesse and his new found companions are not careful it could be them.

After reading the twist ending of the first book I could not wait to get my hands on this second book in the series. Sometimes after such an amazing first book the expectations for the second is so high that it gets unfairly judged. I for one did not feel let down one bit. Survivor is an enthralling fast paced read that had me anxiously hanging on every word to find out what would happen next. New pieces of the puzzle fall into place that help us figure out a little more of what happened but still leaves us with some aching questions that have me longing for book three. The new characters were a nice addition to the story but I think my favorite thing about the books is James writing style. I feel like he just has such an amazing way with words. I was consumed by the words on the page and felt the emotions and will to survive burning stronger inside of me with the turn of every page. The writing is graphic and intense but not overly so. We get to see all the intensity but without all the gore, which makes this the perfect book for young and mature readers alike. 

The first book in the series " Chasers"  is currently free 4/16 - 4/22   Survivor goes on sale 4/30

**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review **

short review Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer

Wow, for this just to be a short novella I feel as though I really got to know a lot more about both Nick and Quinn in this story. Nick and Quinn are both struggling with a lot here and I really feel the weight of what they are going through. Breathless is book #2.5 in the elemental series. Some novellas and short stories tend to  feel a bit rushed but Breathless has perfect timing and impeccable writing. Brigid's words are like lyrics flowing effortlessly off the page. Breathless has me very excited to read more of Nick' s story. I just can't get enough of these elemental boys ;) Brigid has wrote her way into my heart and onto my list of my top favorite authors!

** I received this title through Netgalley for review purposes **

Review: Moonglow by Michael Griffo

Dominy Robineau hasn't been herself lately... 

She's been so full of rage and having disturbingly violent thoughts. She's starting to think shes losing it, especially the morning after her sixteenth birthday when she wakes up beside her dead best friend. She has no idea what happened except for  a vague memory of hearing a wild animal. She soon finds out that wild animal is her and she is cursed to a lifetime of turning into a werewolf. Now her best friend is dead, her dad has a deep dark secret, and she still can't figure out if Nadine is friend or foe.

Moonglow is riveting, with excellent pacing and a wonderfully ecelectic cast of characters. I feel as though I really got to know Dominy as I watched her go through the darkest time in her life and each of her friends added something unique and essential to the story. I know werewolf books have become quite popular but I believe Moonglow has some very unique aspects that really make it stand out in the crowd. Michael Griffo has once again proven himself to be an amazing writer with a story that kept me on the edge of  my seat from beginning to end wondering what would happen next. I love that this book both suprised and excited me on a sometimes very predictable topic. I am hooked  and am so anxious to read book two. Not only to find out where Dominy will go from here but also to find out more about those mysterious twins. I know there is much more yet to be uncovered.

** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

The Suburban Strange ebook giveaway!

I have one copy of The Suburban Strange to giveaway. One random commenter will be chosen. Winner will receive a secure link to use. This will bring you to a secure page to choose either epub mobi or pdf file of the book. Winner will need to either have or register for a (free) libboo account. COMMENT BELOW TO BE ENTERED. 

Review: Othermoon by Nina Berry

 Othermoon is book 2 in the Otherkin series, it picks up where the first book left off. But this time there is  much more at stake. With The Tribunal up to something big, tensions and emotions are running high and the group finds itself in turmoil.
Everyone has achieved a new confidence in their abilities, especially Dez. It's  amazing how much she has come to accept herself as a tiger-shifter. We get to see her grow into a leader in this book and I love that! She's tougher, stronger, and more comfortable in her tiger form, but the more sure she is in her decisions and what she has to do,  the bigger the drift between her and Caleb grows. They can't seem to agree on anything, but oddly enough the one person who seems to understand her is the last person she ever would have expected.
There are several new developments in the story that I never saw coming. New intentions, feelings, and abilities were exposed leaving me consumed from the first page to the last. Othermoon is fast-paced  with lots of action and surprises. It will have you hanging on every word. After that amazingly bittersweet ending I anxiously await the next book to see where it all goes from here. 
I highly recommend Othermoon to YA fans who love a good shifter story. 

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Review : Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Crimson Frost is book 4 in the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep. The book picks up where the last book " Dark Frost " left off. Gwen and Logan are finally on their first date when the Protectorate show up and place her under arrest for freeing Loki. As if it' s not bad enough that she is being falsely accused of purposely freeing Loki of her own free will and that Logan' s dad is part of the Protectorate but then they also accuse her of the falsehoods in front of the entire Mythos Academy staff nd student body. So in the midst of being attacked by her fellow students Gwen has to also find a way to prove her innocence.                                                                                    

 I really loved reading Crimson Frost. Even though it is the fourth full length book in the series it is still very enthralling and every time you think you know what is going to happen Jennifer throws in another twist and your left in awe. There's more at stake now than ever with Loki freed and the action that ensues is riveting. I think it is very nice seeing the strength of the friendships and bonds that Gwen has made in the  past novels, really come to light here. There are some things mentioned toward the end of the book that make me very curious to see what' s in store for these friends in book 5 but I am not going to tell what,you will just have to read it and see. Speaking of the end of the book I was really shocked by what happened between Logan and Gwen and I am anxious to see where they go from here. Full of action, suspense and a little bit of romance I highly recommend Crimson Frost to fans of urban fantasy and PNR and of course especially Jennifer Estep fans. But I would like to note that I highly suggest reading the rest of the series first.