Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded Review...

Chantel would much rather focus on her magic than on curtsying, which is why she often finds herself in trouble at Miss Ellicott’s School for Magical Maidens. But when Miss Ellicott mysteriously disappears along with all the other sorceresses in the city, Chantel’s behavior becomes the least of her problems.

Without any magic protecting the city, it is up to Chantel and her friends to save the Kingdom. On a dangerous mission, Chantel will discover a crossbow-wielding boy, a dragon, and a new, fiery magic that burns inside her—but can she find the sorceresses and transform Lightning Pass into the city it was meant to be?

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

REVIEW!!!!

This book felt like a mix of Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children mixed with Harry Potter.

Chantel attends Miss Ellicott’s School and has always been told that she was ‘the chosen one’ because of the snake in her head.  When Miss Ellicott goes missing she and her friends head out in search of food and a spell to save everybody within the wall.  Can they find the missing pieces they need?  Will they save everybody?

I enjoyed this book and could easily find myself falling into the world in which it took place.  The characters were unique and fun.  The plot was different and not overly used.  However, I felt that it was kind of slow moving and could have picked up the pace just a little bit.  It felt like it took forever to get to the point of this book in the long run.  I really enjoyed the writing style as well.

All in all I enjoyed the book and the pace didn’t do much damage to the book.  I hope to see more books by this author in the future because this was a truly unique book on all accounts.

4 stars!

End of month and End of year wrap up...

So today is the last day of the year and the last day of the month so first let's take a look at the books I read this month and then some of my favorites of the year!

So with the holidays it was a slow reading month for me because it was an insane time of year.  Here are the books I made it through this month:

The Worthington Wife by Sharon Page - Edelweiss

The Freemason's Daughter by Shelley Sackier - Edelweiss

Being Brooke by Emma Hart - Review Tour

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter - Audiobook

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Screenplay by J. K. Rowling - Print

Freeks by Amanda Hocking - NetGalley/Jan Review Tour

A Harmless Little Plan by Meli Raine - Review Tour

Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley - NetGalley/Jan Review Tour

Chasing Casey by Jane Anthony - Review Tour

In Real Life by Lawrence Tabak - Edelweiss

Hunted by Meagan Spooner - Edelweiss

A 2 Step Game Plan by Candy Gray - EBook

Shamed by Chelsea Camaron - Review Tour

Turbo Twenty Three by Janet Evanovich - Print

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer - Edelweiss

Full Package by Lauren Blakely - Jan Review Tour

The Lottery's Plus One by Emma Donoghue - Edelweiss

The Marriage Bureau by Penrose Halson - Edelweiss

 Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood - Edelweiss

I am currently listening to:

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - Audiobook

Masquerade Menage by Trinity Blacio - EBook

I am currently reading (and hope to finish before midnight, yet not likely)

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - Print

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

Some Favorite's of the Year!

Favorite Authors:  Colleen Hoover, Colleen Houck, Emma Hart, Diana Gabaldon

Favorite New To Me Author:  Diana Gabaldon

Favorite Audiobook:  It's a toss up between Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Favorite ARC:  This one is between Freeks by Amanda Hocking and Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Favorite Graphic Novel:  Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children and Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Favorite YA Book:  Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Funniest book:  The Mother Road by Meghan Quinn

Favorite Series:  The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Favorite Colleen Hoover Book:  November 9

Favorite New Adult Book:  #Nerd by Cambria Hebert

Favorite Scripted Book:  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Favorite Historical Fiction Book:  The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~~

Update on things coming/continuing next year!

I will continue to post book hauls monthly

I will also do monthly Wrap Up/TBR posts

Once I get my own place I will most likely do a bookshelf post (unclear at this time)

I will continue doing cover reveals, sales and blitzes through tour groups however I will not be doing as many review tours.  I will be working on cleaning out my personal TBR pile on my kindle and storage unit/shelves.  So you will see more reviews hopefully than in the past.

I am also considering starting an online book club but have not finalized that plan.

The Secret...

The Secret by JB McGee is out now! 

Follow the release week blitz and grab your copy today!

About The Secret:

The past finally catches up with Holden and Cammie in book four of the Magnolia Grove Series. Hidden lies have destroyed and robbed him of nearly everything Holden Masters cares about.

As buried truths come to surface, the only question that remains is whether he can finally be redeemed. Well, and will they be strong enough to survive the secret?

Get Your Copy Today:

THE SECRET: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7560B7

Catch up on the series:

The Auction: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LW4ZWJW

The Date: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1IO7AY

The Promise: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDNKI6L

 

About JB McGee:

J.B. McGee is a mother, wife, and the Amazon Top 100 author of the best-selling This Series.  Amazon Crossing acquired the German rights to her debut novel, Broken.  Heartfall, her coming of age novel about a bullied ballerina, is a #1 best seller in the Teen and Young Adult Performing Arts genre.  Skipping Stones, a military romance about a young woman strongly influenced by her faith and her family all the while searching for her true love, is a #1 best seller in Women's Christian Fiction.

When J.B.'s not writing, she enjoys reading as well as watching and live-chatting her favorite television shows with her friends. Her favorite shows are Quantico, Blindspot, Grey’s Anatomy, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Below Deck, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Scandal (mainly because of her love of Scott Foley).

Born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina, she attended Converse College and eventually earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006.

In college, she was told by her children’s literature professor she would be the one student from her class to be an author. McGee shook her head and laughed. But in 2012, over six years after that statement was made and after a love of reading had been reignited, she gave writing a shot. J.B. gladly ate crow when she emailed her first book to the above mentioned children’s literature professor thanking her and acknowledging the accuracy of her prophecy.

In 2011, it was discovered that not only do both of her children, but also she and her husband, have mitochondrial disease. Affecting 1 in 2500 people, it has no cure or treatments. Being a writer allows J.B. to care for her family’s unique needs while also providing a platform for raising awareness for this disease.

She is a hopeless romantic who loves to escape into fairy tales—some she reads and some she creates.

J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia.

Find JB McGee:

Website:  http://www.jbmcgee.com

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/tfyhf

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/authorjbmcgee

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/j_b_mcgee

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+JBMcGee/posts

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/jbmcgee

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/jbmcgeebooks

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/j_b_mcgee

Tumblr:  http://jbmcgee.tumblr.com/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-u-7coNwA9t1fp6bMS5wKw

SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/jb-mcgee

 

Enter JB’s giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spindle Fire Review...

It all started with the burning of the spindles.

No.

It all started with a curse...

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king's headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.

And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora's blood--and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

As the faerie queen and her army of Vultures prepare to march, Isabelle must race to find a prince who can awaken her sister with the kiss of true love and seal their two kingdoms in an alliance against the queen.

Isabelle crosses land and sea; unearthly, thorny vines rise up the palace walls; and whispers of revolt travel in the ashes on the wind. The kingdom falls to ruin under layers of snow. Meanwhile, Aurora wakes up in a strange and enchanted world, where a mysterious hunter may be the secret to her escape . . . or the reason for her to stay.

Spindle Fire is the first book in a lush fantasy duology set in the dwindling, deliciously corrupt world of the fae and featuring two truly unforgettable heroines. 

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

REVIEW!!!!

This book while good was unable to hold my attention.  I enjoy retellings but I have struggled through each Sleeping Beauty retelling I have ever read.  I find the story of Sleeping Beauty itself an uninteresting tale. 

 

This author did a good job of portraying the story but there were things I didn’t understand.  I did really enjoy the characters.  I thought the plot was good.  The book itself was just really too slow.  I also found it choppy and hard to follow.

 

I did enjoy it enough to look into other books by this author in the long run.

 

3 stars

Ariel Rising Sale Blitz...

Title: Ariel Rising

Author: Aj & CS Sparber

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Cover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & Photography

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb:

My dreams were simple. College, a career, and let’s see what happens from there. But things don’t always go according to plan. 

My name is Ari Worthington and I’ve had a very eventful week. A life-changing week. The kind of week that would make the average person whimper. 

It started when my ex-boyfriend Luke accosted me in the woods. 

How badly was I injured? Not a scratch. And Luke? Not so lucky. Nope, I whupped him good. It surprised the heck out of me. And it probably surprised him, too—once he woke up. 

And then I met Davin. Handsome, witty, amazing Davin. Perfect in every way, unless you think being an alien, from a planet called Olympus, might be a liability. 

I don’t want to be alone in the guest suite. It’s not that I’m afraid. I just want Davin close to me. I need the comfort only he can provide.

“I’d rather not sleep alone tonight.”

“Ari, your mother—I promised her.”

“I don’t intend for us to do anything that would cause that promise to be broken. Please?”

He moves to my side and places his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure?”

I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m very sure,” I whisper, speaking directly to his heart. “I want you near me.”

“I know you do. But…”

“No buts,” I say softly. “I’m an angel. And I happen to be in love with you.”

He looks startled. He looks as if he wants to speak, but he can’t find his voice.

“Do you not want me to love you, Davin?”

He arches his brow and stares.

I’m getting worried. Did I just make a complete fool of myself? “Davin?”

His poise seems to return and he smiles. “It happened the night we slept on your sofa—”

“What? What happened?” Did I miss something? Something important?

His smile widens and lights up his eyes. They’re sparkling like jewels.

“I fell in love with you that night.”

My heart flutters and I feel warm all over. “You did?”

He nods slowly. “I did.”

“You didn’t tell me.”

“I wasn’t sure how you felt. Love between two angels is a very powerful force. It is...”

“Forever,” I say, completing his thought. “Are you afraid I don’t understand that? Do you think my human side makes me prone to frivolous fits of infatuation? Because if you do, please allow me to set you straight.” I take a long breath and gaze into his eyes. “I am in love with you, there will never be anyone else, and that’s all there is to it.”

He shakes his head and chuckles.

“What?”

“This is why I love you.”

“It is? What is?”

“I believe the term is moxie. You are bold and fearless. You are spunky.”

“You love me because I’m spunky?”

“Well, that…and because you are kind, and selfless, and brilliant, and very beautiful?”

“You think I’m all that?”

He loses his voice again and just stares.

“Davin?”

“Come here, my Padawan.”

Before I can respond, he laces his fingers through my hair and pulls me tight to his chest. “You are the most extraordinary angel ever born and I…I am the most fortunate.”

He kisses the top of my head, as he whispers, “Forever and never ending.”

His words and his touch make me shudder with ecstasy. “Kiss me, Davin. Kiss me like your life depends on it.”

“It does,” he says, as he captures my upper lip softly between his teeth.

Our kiss deepens and I smile inside, because I realize that each kiss we share seems to be better than the ones before, and we have eons of time and kisses to look forward to.

When it comes to being a husband and wife (or wife and husband) writing team, there are advantages, or benefits. Chief among them is that you get to practice the love scenes. He writes, she steers, and…well, it’s fun. He is a software designer and she is a doctor of education. AJ and CS Sparber live in the lovely town of Hudson, Ohio, with their son Ryan, their daughter Melanie, and the spirit of an Aussie shepherd named Hunter.

Author Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJ_Sparber

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14550075.A_J_Sparber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Young-Adult-Books-by-AJ-CS-Sparber-166558160353513/?fref=ts

Website: http://www.ajsparber.com/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VVk6KU

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VWMKut

Turbo Twenty Three Review...

In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

REVIEW!!!!

As always Janet Evanovich has thrown us into the hilarious world of Stephanie Plum again.  For fans of the Stephanie Plum series this book is just as good as the other twenty two books!

Stephanie is not only getting getting better as a bounty hunter but in this book she moon lights as a consultant for Ranger.  She is still going between Morelli and Ranger.  However in this book it is Lula and Grandma Mazur who ensure this book is HILARIOUS!  I will not spoil anything by telling you more than that you will just have to read it to find out.

This book took me forever to get through but it wasn't because it was bad.  It was because I was insanely busy and had not a spare second to read.  I laughed so hard I was crying through a lot of this book.  I have loved watching Stephanie grow through out this entire series.  Then there are not one but TWO very hot guys throughout the whole series.  Finally you have Lula, Grandma Mazur and the FTA's giving you that air of hilarity.

Now I have not read anything else by Janet however, they are on my list for this coming year.  I look forward to more books in this series because I truly love the characters.  I also really love the writing style of the author.  She is a must read author for me!

A 2-Step Game Review...

Two men. One college co-ed. Passion filled nights none will ever forget.

Larisa pretended to do exactly what her mother thought she was doing – studying hard at school, but what she didn’t know is that her daughter was hitting far more than the books.

Now Larisa’s home from school and two of her former lovers have been welcomed with open arms into her family home.

What’s a girl to do? Push the steaming hot memories out of her mind or face them head on and see what happens?

The temperature is rising for this too-close-for-comfort threesome and temptation is about to get the best of them.

With passions ignited and their hearts on the line, will there be any winner in this seductive game of tag?

This is a steamy, standalone 20k words novella with loads of juiciness and explicit content, suitable for mature audience only. For a limited time, this novella comes with 10 super steamy menage stories as your special bonus.

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

REVIEW!!!!

I had conflicting thoughts about this book.  So one year ago she had a one night stand at a club with an older man.  Now she meets him again only he is now her step-father.  While her mother is out of town and she is home for Thanksgiving they have an affair.  Then they whopper hits when her best friend/the guy she slept with just a few days ago shows up and is announced to be her new step brother.  How does she get out of this now?

 

So while I truly enjoyed this book it was a very convoluted plot that I had a few issues following which man she was with and when.  I got the general idea and wow was it steamy.  However the flow needed work and I needed some more background on the characters.  It makes a good quick and steamy read but that is about it.

 

3.5 steamy stars

Shamed Review...

Dixon James Cartwright – the cowboy on a steel horse.

Trouble with a capital T.

The rigid edge of his jawline to his no holds barred lifestyle DJ is the one person I should stay away from. 

Why then when everything crashes around me is he my only saving grace?

***Each book in the Ruthless Rebels MC is a new couple, but are best read in order. This is a biker book so please expect violence, foul language, and sexual situations. Do not buy if any of this offends you.***

US: www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU18SH5
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MU18SH5
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MU18SH5
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MU18SH5

~~~~****~~~~****~~~~

REVIEW!!!!

I grabbed this book because I am a huge fan of Chelsea Camaron’s MC books and was excited to see another MC series come out.

 

I was not disappointed.  Dixon better known as DJ joined up with one of the local MC’s EIGHT years ago leaving Kenderly (love that name by the way) to deal with all of her issues and problems alone.  Now that Kenderly is in a decent place DJ swoops back into her life and claims her not only to protect her but because he never stopped caring about her.  Will Kenderly let him back in?  Will they finally get their Happily Ever After?  Will everybody in their lives get their sh*t together at last?

 

Okay so wow, just wow.  I finished this book in like two hours, I couldn’t put it down.  So freaking good!  First of all, Loved Loved Loved, the name Kenderly.  So unique and interesting.  The writing styles between the two authors flowed well together.  I have not yet had the chance to experience Ryan Michelle’s books but have read almost all of Chelsea’s books.  Once I get my stuff out of storage again I will be delving into my Ryan Michelle collection because I’m pretty sure I have one of her series.

 

Anyways, back on topic.  I loved the story so much.  The plot was fun and intense.  Everything flowed really well.  The pace was great.  The characters were so much fun.  The writing styles were great.  The only problem was that it was too freaking short.  I need more and don’t want to read the next three books.  Can you release them all this month so I can devour them all at once?

 

5 intense stars!

Sweet Venom...

Sweet Venom

(A Venin Assassin Novel)

By Gena D. Lutz

Blurb: 

My name is Cassis Dark, and I am a Spider Venin. My bite is venomous and can paralyze a man within seconds of exposure, and if I choose, it can kill.

As a teenager, I was sold into slavery by my stepmother. As a newly freed woman, I fight to protect the innocent from a world of pain with which I'm all too familiar.

The evils that stalk the night aren’t all human. Good thing for their intended victims…neither am I.

Available for purchase at 

Excerpt

“Cassis, I’ve missed you,” Ice said, and immediately pulled the trigger.

My legs carried me sideways as the bullet sliced through the air, grazing my cheek. A line of blood crawled down my face, but I didn’t feel a thing.

Keri’s braid moved suddenly, shooting forward like a whip. It flew in a quick, fluid motion, extending to around six or seven feet long. With exquisite precision, the stinger hit its mark, sinking deep within Edge’s chest.

Edge’s shocked stare fell to the twisted braid protruding from his body. As he realized what had happened to him, I witnessed true fear blossom in his eyes.

He shook his head, and wheezed, “No.”

“The bigger they are…” Keri began.

It only took a couple of seconds for the scorpion venom to work its way through the blood stream, dropping the oversized hellhound like a sack of potatoes to the hardwood floor.

“The harder they fall,” she finished, sounding pleased with herself.

I jumped back to my feet. The fangs in my mouth elongating, I could taste the venom welling at the tips. Violence and mayhem infused the air around me, spurring my arachnid instincts on.

Ice’s stare widened. It was the first time I’d ever seen him sweat. Normally, he was all cock and crow. For me, this was a far better look on him.

The next gunshot startled me out of thought. The bullet lodged deep inside my shoulder—that time I felt the slow burn of pain as it sizzled down my arm. 

      

Bitterness rose with the sting, and with it, a shiver of power coated my palms, bringing forth my web. I only had a moment to decide if I was going to kill the mutt, or just incapacitate him, before he could get off another shot.

Time passed slowly as I decided, and blood oozed from my wound, landing in abstract dots on the floor next to my boot. Then I realized, the answer was as obvious as a punch in the gut—death was the answer, it only seemed right. 

About The Author

Gena D. Lutz lives in the blistering heat of Arizona with her husband, four kids, and two high-maintenance dogs Chihuahua and an Australian shepherd. When she is not busy writing, Lutz can be found watching the classics, like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, marathon style. Lutz

enjoys reading, riding horses, and playing poker, and she looks forward to the day she can travel the world.

You can find Gena at 

            

Join Gena's Newsletter

Presented By

Shadows of Pain Cover Reveal...

Title: Shadows of Pain

Author: Ashley Dawn

Genre: Christian Fiction--Inspirational romantic suspense

Cover Designer: Kris Wagner

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb: 

Revenge is sweet…unless you are on the receiving end of it.

“Do you know of anyone who would want…you dead?”

Officer Daniel Jenkins was no stranger to the dangers his job posed but usually he knew who was trying to kill him. Being stalked was a completely different ball game, and he wasn’t sure there were any rules…

“…I need you.”

Terrified didn’t even begin to describe how Kami felt with the stalker targeting her. As an FBI agent you were trained to handle stressful situations, but being the victim put the whole process in a different light.

As the killer gets closer, so do Kami and Daniel, but will they live long enough to see their love bloom?

Only God can save them from this unknown killer…

Author Ashley Dawn was born and raised in rural Arkansas where she developed her love for writing while helping in her parent's office. She graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Central Arkansas but is currently working as a legal assistant.

Ashley has been writing professionally for the past ten years and has three published books.  Her Shadows Series include Shadows from the Past, Shadows of Suspicion and Shadows of Pain.  She is currently working on multiple projects including the fourth in her ‘Shadows’ series entitled “Shadows of Deception” and also a standalone suspense titled ‘One of Their Own’.  She and her family make their home in Texas.

Author Links: 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1083381.Ashley_Dawn

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2d5z2o5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorADawn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorashleydawn

Web: http://www.authorashleydawn.com/

Buy Links: 

Shadows from the Past: http://amzn.to/2dE8tbp

Shadows of Suspicion: http://amzn.to/2daDGC3

Shadows of Pain: http://amzn.to/2daCqyR

Stupid Cupid...

Title: Stupid Cupid

Author: Annelise Reynolds

Genre: romance/erotica romance/contemporary

Editor:  Dawn Lewis

Cover Designer: Dark Water Covers

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb:

After finding out that Cory is her Santa, Katie is furious with herself for letting go during one night of passion. Except, one night of passion is about to turn into a whole lot more...

According to Katie, Santa sucks and Cupid is stupid, and the two of them are out to give her more than she bargained for.

Cory stumbles across Katie's secret, and he's going to seduce her into 'fessing up, but can he trust what they feel, or is it just the workings of Stupid Cupid?

I spend my days working, my evenings with my two wonderful kids, and my nights are when the characters in my head are given free reign. The tagline for Phoenix Bar, "Beauty After the Burn", holds special meaning for me and really helped to give birth to the story. Like Phoenix, I've had to rebuild my life from the ashes. It's been a long journey with a roller coaster of emotions and stresses, but I can truly say where my life is now is more beautiful than where it was.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Authorannelisereynolds/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneliseReynold

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h3AAkN

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14055728.Annelise_Reynolds

Website: http://annelisereynolds.wixsite.com/annelisereynolds

a Rafflecopter giveaway