tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75618090633341027362024-03-05T21:42:30.888-05:00The Quiet ConcertNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339884453331050427noreply@blogger.comBlogger1078125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-33892293080828459432016-09-21T08:18:00.004-04:002016-09-21T08:18:48.084-04:00 The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart<br />
<b>Author: </b>Lauren DeStefano<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Bloomsbury <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>September 13th 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>ARC from the publisher. Thank you Bloomsbury!</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20499930-the-peculiar-night-of-the-blue-heart?from_search=true">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.<br />
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Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.<br />
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Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever. </i></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3>
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The Peculiar Night was a well written, attention-grabbing middle grade story. DeStefano weaves a delicate story about two young children and their peculiar encounter. The young friendship between the two characters is heart warming. I love that each character has such a different personality. I think it is important to show that young kids and friendships come in all forms and the bond between two friends can so strong. <br />
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Lionel is so different; I just want to hug him for being him. His unrelenting fight for Marybeth and her safety really makes the story. Even though he would rather be an animal then a human boy because of a troubled past he never loses faith in his friend. <br />
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The Peculiar Night, while a shorter book, really draws the reader into this journey of friendship, mystery, tragedy, and family. Readers of all ages can enjoy this book! <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-19048554276980169792016-09-18T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-18T00:00:14.348-04:00The Minpins by Roald Dahl - Road Dahl's 100th Birthday Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>The Minpins<br />
<b>Author: </b>Roald Dahl<br />
<b>Illustrator: </b>Patrick Benson <br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Puffin Books</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73800.The_Minpins">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Come deep into the forest if you dare...but beware the Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling Spittler!</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minpins-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142414743" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/minpins-roald-dahl/1100475287" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3>
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Oh, Roald Dahl, how I love your writing. Starting from the first page I was grinning from ear to ear. Dahl is an amazing storyteller. The illustrations beautifully compliments the fun story. <br />
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Little Billy is to be a 'good boy' but after always being a good boy he really wants to explore. He sneaks out and what started as a simple journey ended up being a life-changing adventure. Little Billy encounters the fire-breathing creature while also meeting the Minpins. <br />
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The Minpins provide Little Billy adventure and friendship. The ending feels a bit rushed, like there should be more story there but overall The Minpins was a great read and would serve as a great book to read aloud!<br />
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About the Author</h3>
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Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated. </div>
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Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies. </div>
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Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans. </div>
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Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK. </div>
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The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities. </div>
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On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.</div>
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Giveaway:</h3>
1 winner can pick 5 books from the Roald Dahl collection! US Only.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-35492422874427148342016-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-16T00:00:17.487-04:00 Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl- Roald Dahl 100th Celebratory Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="reviewDiv"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI485Ht8tfRpkG03cY0vJRxEVyFC2hp4aKUoQ7oiB7V8DYjw-nUG6QJh9pn76qbaqCfgNf50Yb_qEyju4wx7Q4sptEsMv8hWjxLPt59NZlcgOf8o_Il5_Msx0kJ8fYb9BNWVcVKM-2D1Y/s1600/Danny+the+Champion+of+the+World.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI485Ht8tfRpkG03cY0vJRxEVyFC2hp4aKUoQ7oiB7V8DYjw-nUG6QJh9pn76qbaqCfgNf50Yb_qEyju4wx7Q4sptEsMv8hWjxLPt59NZlcgOf8o_Il5_Msx0kJ8fYb9BNWVcVKM-2D1Y/s1600/Danny+the+Champion+of+the+World.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title: </b>Danny the Champion of the World<br />
<b>Author: </b>Roald Dahl<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Puffin</div></div><br />
<div class="goodreadsDiv"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/109082.Danny_the_Champion_of_the_World">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Can Danny and his father outsmart the villainous Mr. Hazell?<br />
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Danny has a life any boy would love—his home is a gypsy caravan, he's the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. But one night Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father has kept hidden for years. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world. </i></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="reviewDiv"><div style="text-align: center;"><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3><div>Danny the Champion of the World was a fantastically fun read. I remember reading Roald Dahl as a kid and really enjoying this book so I was excited to reread it as an adult. It is still 100% the same book, still a wonderful read even as an adult. Dahl truly is a storytelling master. <br />
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Danny is raised by is loving father in a unique environment; the live in a small quiet caravan and live a relatively peaceful life. That is until Danny learns that his father is a poacher! Together they plan a crazy scheme to get the biggest poach ever. The plot is crazy and when they both go to pull it off, I was nervous for them! The story builds a wonderful amount of tension that flows right into the laugh out loud ending. <br />
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My favorite part is the ending, everything about the ending was well done, from the humor, to the interaction with the villian Victor Hazel, to the final pages that fit the story so well. I highly recommend Danny the Champion of the World to any reader both young and old that want a fun, imaginative, laugh out loud story!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHfQDGA5WjJl0qvi1Vm7JKegUtpq3eGyAyPmDIqtBxa8nn3_QcDwjjQaV_6Vh4Gn1H93P55Kon22lZusMiH30rIJyGfT2BUx1Riic7TCv3HOldGCbbACkC1v74vB0Rv7LqVLYVGEpqEc/s1600/Roald+Photo+official+photo-JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHfQDGA5WjJl0qvi1Vm7JKegUtpq3eGyAyPmDIqtBxa8nn3_QcDwjjQaV_6Vh4Gn1H93P55Kon22lZusMiH30rIJyGfT2BUx1Riic7TCv3HOldGCbbACkC1v74vB0Rv7LqVLYVGEpqEc/s320/Roald+Photo+official+photo-JPEG.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.</div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f55991721" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f55991721/" id="rcwidget_4xov7b3b" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71.2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" width="160" /></a></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-79288434328614327062016-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-02T00:00:32.254-04:00Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Nowhere But Here<br />
<b>Author: </b>Katie McGarry<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Harlequin Teen <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 26th 2015<br />
<b>Source: </b>BEA!</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492282-nowhere-but-here">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.<br />
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Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.<br />
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Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.<br />
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No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home. </i></div>
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It says a lot when I dislike an audio book's narrator yet continued with the book. Nowhere But Here was worth the read/listen. While the narrator's voice didn't sit well with me, the story was great and I had to continue. <br />
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Nowhere But Here teleported me into what felt like a TV drama (in a good way). At times the motorcycle club drama seemed a bit excessive but it worked. I was drawn into this vastly different world. It all seemed so foreign to me but the main character was having the same feelings so it was easy to relate in that sense. Oz is the picture perfect bad boy; he is rough around the edges, has a strong protective nature, and loves fiercely. <br />
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The dynamic between Emily and Oz is cute and slow building with no love triangle. Emily's choices at times and her overall attitude was not always my favorite. Oz, on the other hand, I really liked him as a character. The family of both main characters play a huge role in the overarching plot. There are a lot of pieces in this motorcycle club territory battle/love story. Nowhere But Here reminded me a bit of Jay Crownover's book in their plot execution and characters, just with a younger MC.<br />
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Overall there were a lot of pieces to this story that had me engaged from start to finish. I look forward to the next companion novel!<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-37311170881056344312016-08-31T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-31T00:00:12.309-04:00Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Diplomatic Immunity<br />
<b>Author: </b>Brodi Ashton<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Balzer + Bray <br />
<b>Release Date: </b> September 6th 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>E-ARC from the publisher! Thank you Balzer & Bray</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28512629-diplomatic-immunity">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy.<br />
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Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.<br />
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Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.<br />
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Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.<br />
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The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love? </i></div>
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Diplomatic Immunity was an entertaining, easy to read story. I was hoping for a bit more mystery and drama surrounding Embassy Row. The drama that was present seemed to be unrealistic and hard to believe and slightly impacted my overall enjoyment of the story. It felt rather over the top at times.<br />
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Aside from a couple points, I felt like the love story was also predictable. It was rather easy to know what was coming and while I still was entertained while reading it did take away some of the excitement. There are other aspects of the story like a few of the secondary characters that I felt like were forced into roles and were not fully developed. The main character is not really a like-able character making it hard to relate to her struggles.<br />
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The plot does pick up and it was easy to finish the book in just a couple days. I can't say I was not entertained while reading it; this a book that you cannot nit-pick on the small details. In the end, even though it was an cute contemporary romance, the characters, the predictability of the love story, and the forced secondary characters made the book just an okay read.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-23402713267306655022016-08-24T09:44:00.000-04:002016-08-24T09:44:03.609-04:00The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>The Vanishing Throne<br />
<b>Author: </b>Elizabeth May<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Chronicle Books <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>June 21st 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>E-arc from the publisher. Thank you Chronicle Books! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26797462-the-vanishing-throne">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>The second book in the Falconer trilogy is packed with surprises and suspense. <br />
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Aileana Kameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed. Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And the price of doing that might be her life. <br />
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Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer. </i></div>
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The Falconer came out of nowhere for me. It sounded up my alley so I gave it a try and loved it. But there was one of the worst cliff hangers, so I patiently had to wait for The Vanishing Throne. The Vanishing Throne picked up right where The Falconer left off. (I found it helpful to reread The Falconer before starting The Vanishing Throne.) <br />
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Aileana is one kick butt female lead. She faces some serious struggles; she is held captive, tortured, learns ugly truths, and has to fight bad guys all while dealing with the destruction of her home. Kiaran- what a character, he is good but then he is bad, he has no feelings but then he is passionate. He is all over the place in some ways but based on his background that is understandable. The reader learns more about Kiaran and pieces start to fall into place. I admire that he remains fairly honest, he does not hide away from his character or his brutal past. These two characters truly make the story worth reading. The secondary characters are a nice addition as well but Aileana and Kiaran are fantastic. <br />
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If I were to describe The Vanishing Throne in a couple of words it would be action-packed and high intensity. I was almost taken back by the amount of fighting and intense scenes. Elizabeth May throws the reader right into battle with Aileana; you feel nervous, worried, and powerful with her. I cannot wait to see what the next book holds! <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-52919759337985191072016-08-22T08:34:00.000-04:002016-08-22T08:34:03.961-04:00Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Asa<br />
<b>Series:</b> Marked Men #6<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jay Crownover<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>William Morrow Paperbacks <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 21st 2015<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22821845-asa">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.<br />
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Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.<br />
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A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make. </i></div>
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This is a sad review to write, as it signifies the end of a great series. I actually listened to the audio book versions of the entire series. Let me tell you, that is the way to go; the variety in narrators and multiple narrators in each story really got me into the book. Plus if you are a fan of a Southern accent, Asa has a wonderful one. <br />
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Asa grew on me, his troubled past and previous lack of care for others did not sit well with me. It did give him plenty of room to grow though and that he did. He eventually grew on me as a character and as a part of the crew's family. <br />
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The hurdle/issue Asa and Royal had to overcome was a difficult issue and kind of intense and hard to wrap my head around. I could not really imagine being in that situation ; the whole thing made me rather uncomfortable. Aside from that aspect of the plot, Asa was a great read and ended the series in a wonderful way. I loved not only hearing Royal and Asa's story but also hearing all the other happy endings.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-21485763091571508222016-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-19T00:00:16.258-04:00Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Rowdy<br />
<b>Series:</b> Marked Men #5<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jay Crownover<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>William Morrow Paperbacks <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>October 21st 2014<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20530956-rowdy">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.<br />
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Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.<br />
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Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.</i></div>
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Goodness, what to say about Rowdy's story. Rowdy has a lot going on and I liked it. The rest of the Marked Men's story's continue, much to my enjoyment. Similar to Nash, Rowdy was not a main focus character for me yet I still really enjoyed learning more about him.<br />
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Rowdy is a tough guy but also a sweetheart and I loved that trait. I really really liked the dates he took Salem on and how it was a perfect blend of cute romance with steamy romance. While their romance is fiery it also grows throughout making it feel more real.<br />
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Between Salem's sister's drama and Rowdy's family surprises, I was flying through this book. The plot never lets up. While some of the sister drama was a bit of a turn off, in the end I felt like it really came together. I am definitely glad to have learned and understood more about Rowdy's character. This was another great addition to the series!<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-45700101118413173192016-08-17T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-17T00:00:47.320-04:00Nash (Marked Men #4) by Jay Crownover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Nash<br />
<b>Series:</b> Marked Men #4<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jay Crownover<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperCollins Publishers <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 29th 2014<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18655937-nash">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Will their past determine their future?<br />
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Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.<br />
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Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.<br />
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When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?</i></div>
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Nash has never been one of the characters I felt drawn to. I have always thought he seemed like a more distant secondary character. It was nice to get to learn more about his history and his role in the marked men family. The details and aspects of his life really add to another layer of depth in the overall series. <br />
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Nash has some sadder moments than Rome. Even though there were some steamy scenes and happy moments, this book felt a little less happy than the others. When I finished the book, I felt that I had enjoyed it but did not leave with the grin on my face that some of the other books evoked. Saint, the main interest in this book, has some personal demons to overcome. At times I really could relate or feel for her but then at other times I just found her to kind of bother me. <br />
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This one was not my favorite but it was still enjoyable and added to the overall series. At times I felt like I was merely reading to continue some of the other secondary character's stories, not quite for Nash and Saint's story line. But I love a lot of those other characters so it all worked out!<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-28474577202294787952016-08-15T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-15T00:00:29.111-04:00Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="reviewDiv"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1464908803l/28110857.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1464908803l/28110857.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title: </b>Ghostly Echoes<br />
<b>Series:</b> Jackaby #3<br />
<b>Author: </b>William Ritter<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Algonquin Young Readers<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>August 23rd 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>E-arc from the publisher. Thank you Algonquin Young Readers! </div></div><br />
<div class="goodreadsDiv"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110857-ghostly-echoes">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.<br />
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Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced. </i></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="reviewDiv"><div style="text-align: center;"><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3><div>Ghostly Echoes is the third book in the Jackaby series and probably my favorite thus far. This main mystery in this book focused on characters we are introduced to in books one and two. Jenny is the ghost that currently resides in Jackaby’s house and her murder is the main focal point in Ghostly Echoes.<br />
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The previous two books introduced Jenny’s back story slightly but it was a nice change to have this book focus on a character the reader has already grown attached to as oppose to introducing new characters and plot lines. Compared to the first two books, Ghostly Echoes was more suspenseful and faster paced. Everything about the mystery had me flipping through the pages in one sitting, so much more was at stake. The reader also learns more about Jackaby’s past really developing him as a detective and overall more dynamic character. The underlying humor is still sprinkled through out, I enjoyed Jackaby’s eccentricities and Abigail’s spunk and dedication.<br />
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Ghostly Echoes is the perfect mix of mystery and the supernatural. As the story progresses it gets weirder and weirder, stranger characters appear and the stakes climb to life or death situations. This third installment of the Jackaby series will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more of the Sherlock-like world. <br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71.2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" width="160" /></a></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-68594497147617695722016-08-12T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-12T00:00:21.505-04:00Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="reviewDiv"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378491674l/17798233.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378491674l/17798233.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title: </b>Rome<br />
<b>Series:</b> Marked Men #3<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jay Crownover<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>William Morrow Paperbacks<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>January 7th 2014</div></div><div class="goodreadsDiv"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17798233-rome">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .<br />
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Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.<br />
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Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .</i></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="reviewDiv"><div style="text-align: center;"><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3><div>I LOVED this book. (Even after finishing the whole series, this is hands down my favorite book) I love Rome and I love Cora. Of the first three books Rome felt like it had some of the heaviest themes, PTSD specifically but Crownover did an amazing job of incorporating his struggles into the story line without it feeling forced. <br />
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I have always been a fan of Cora, I can picture her perfectly and just feel her spunk and feisty-ness every time I read. Her love for all the marked men and the girls is fantastic. She really encompasses friendship and tough love. The dynamic between Rome and Cora is wonderful- they fight, they love and they conquer. While some aspects of the plot were a bit predictable other parts were such a pleasant surprise. <br />
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I for sure recommend this series but especially this book. If you were on the fence after Jet, really give Rome a try! Even though Rome was not my favorite in books one and two, he really really grew on me. <br />
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<b>Title: </b>Goldfish<br />
<b>Author: </b>Nat Luurtsema<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Feiwel & Friends<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>June 7th 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>Arc from the publisher. Thank you Disney-Hyperion! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25944787-goldfish">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Lou Brown is one of the fastest swimmers in the county. She’s not boasting, she really is. So things are looking pretty rosy the day of the Olympic time-trials. With her best mate Hannah by her side, Lou lines up by the edge of the pool, snaps her goggles on and bends into her dive… <br />
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Everything rests on this race. It’s Lou’s thing.<br />
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… or it was. She comes dead last and to top it all off Hannah sails through leaving a totally broken Lou behind.<br />
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Starting again is never easy, particularly when you’re the odd-one out in a family of insanely beautiful people and a school full of social groups way too intimidating to join. Where do you go from here? Finding a new thing turns out to be the biggest challenge Lou’s ever faced and opens up a whole new world of underwater somersaults, crazy talent shows, bitchy girls and a great big load of awkward boy chat. <br />
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Lou Brown guides us through the utter humiliation of failure with honesty, sass and a keen sense of the ridiculous. This girl will not be beaten.</i></div>
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Goldfish was a quick and fun read. Humor and competition are two key elements in Goldfish. Lou doesn’t make the swimming time trials and feels like everything she worked for is gone along with her best friend. So she is faced with finding her new role in school without swimming or her best friend<br />
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I really liked Lou, she had me cracking up throughout the entire book, goldfish is lined with some dry humor and some laugh out loud humor. The overall premise is a bit crazy but it works. It was super easy to imagine all the wackiness that ensures. I love the rag tag group and how they all worked together to achieve something crazy.<br />
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Overall I really enjoyed Goldfish; it was a funny sports competition focused book. That while not the most memorable read it was thoroughly enjoyable! It is quite a feel good story that will leave you grinning when you finish. <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-59811765269275257732016-08-08T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-08T00:00:07.238-04:00Jet (Marked Men #2) by Jay Crownover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Jet<br />
<b>Series:</b> Marked Men #2<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jay Crownover<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>William Morrow Paperbacks<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 28th 2013</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17204860-jet">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.<br />
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Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.<br />
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Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes? </i></div>
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It took me a tad longer to get into Jet and Ayden's story than it did Rule and Shaw's. Once the plot picked up through, I was hooked again into the Marked Men world. While I did enjoy their story, there were times when I wanted both of them to get over themselves. Both Jet and Ayd had issues to overcome and circumstances that continued to make it challenging for them. <br />
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This book stands alone really focusing on Jet and Ayden yet all the secondary characters from book one are present. I love the addition and tie in from the other characters. Not only does it strengthen my attachment towards Jet and Ayd but it also had me feeling attached to all the others as well. When the plot slowed or I was getting slightly annoyed with the Jet and Ayd it was a reprieve to get to hear more about the rest of the group. <br />
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I definitely recommend Jet and the Marked Men series if you are looking for a steamy, new adult read with a fantastic case and great plot. <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-88429111880129631212016-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-05T00:00:07.301-04:00Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="reviewDiv"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438372060l/22537367.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438372060l/22537367.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title: </b>Summer of Sloane<br />
<b>Author: </b>Erin L. Schneider<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Disney-Hyperion<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 3rd 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>Arc from the publisher. Thank you Disney-Hyperion! </div></div><br />
<div class="goodreadsDiv"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22537367-summer-of-sloane">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.<br />
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These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.<br />
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Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.<br />
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But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself. </i></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="reviewDiv"><div style="text-align: center;"><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star-half fa-3x starcolor"></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3><div>Summer of Sloane was not what I was expecting at all in a surprising way. I was expecting a light summery book with a strong romance element yet instead it was a story of a young girl finding happiness in herself and her surroundings. <br />
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Friendship, trust, and starting over are some of the major themes throughout. The friendship aspects were heartfelt and honest, while at times the drama seemed a little much it also seem feasible. Some friendships are hard and Sloane has her fair share of complicated friendships both new and old. She has to face tough decisions and also gets called out for some of her actions. Sloane grows up some during the course of the summer, she learns about choices her family made and choices her friends made that really force her to reevaluate her thoughts. <br />
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While I did really enjoy the story line, the character development (specifically Sloane), and the friendship dynamics, Summer of Sloane was not as uplifting and light as I was looking for. It did make me pause and think and really take in the circumstances of the story but I did not finish the book with an overwhelming happy feeling. It was much more along the lines of, ‘Oh, this was pretty good.’ I do recommend it though if you are looking for a character driven plot, believable high school struggles, and a beautiful Hawaii setting. <br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71.2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" width="160" /></a></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-34057243854475624112016-07-04T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-04T00:00:25.695-04:00The Score (Off-Campus #3) by Elle Kennedy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="reviewDiv"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447303226l/27252717.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447303226l/27252717.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Title: </b>The Score<br />
<b>Series:</b> Off-Campus #3<br />
<b>Author: </b>Elle Kennedy<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Self-Published<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>January 11, 2016</div></div><br />
<div class="goodreadsDiv"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27252717-the-score">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>He knows how to score, on and off the ice </b><br />
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Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di-Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands. <br />
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<b> It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over </b> <br />
Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.</i></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="reviewDiv"><div style="text-align: center;"><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i><i class="fa fa-star fa-3x starcolor"></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3><div>I have been loving the Off-Campus series so I was thrilled when I finally got The Score. I love the setup of the series; that while they are all stand-alone the book takes place in the same setting with a familiar cast of characters. <br />
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It is hard for me to pinpoint my exact reasons that this was only three stars for me instead of the 4-5 of the first two books. Basically I felt like this one had a lot more sex scenes which ended up outweighing some of the other elements in the story. Though if you are looking for a steamier read, this one has plenty of steaminess! I liked Dean as a character as aside from his semi-cliche trope of player until he finds the right girl. Aside from that I loved that he had a good heart and was a smart guy. The Twilight jokes between Dean and his friend are fantastic as well. I just did not connect really with Allie which impacted my overall rating.<br />
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All that being said, The Score was still an entertaining read, probably the most sex heavy in the series thus far. The ending though, the author for sure drops a bomb and walks away, leaving you shocked and wanting the next book. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71.2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yJK92um6WvH7nrNFfe9WpAP3DCQxR93CCLAqbr8sjCPLDrr5KZG-m2y0FtYHXXg7J8vKD4N4dXGq8oo-MpgDWggm2gZIk-Izkhy8OETsGhcx6XYfTNG8ILGukLFNiJl4Hb0HJ-SM_8/s1600/ashley+(1).png" width="160" /></a></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-71961069379988330002016-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-01T00:00:24.701-04:00Two Summers by Aimee Friedman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Two Summers<br />
<b>Author: </b>Aimee Friedman<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Point<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 26th 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>Audio-book from Scholastic Audio. Thank you Scholastic! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068916-two-summers">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>ONE SUMMER in the French countryside, among sun-kissed fields of lavender . . . <br />
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ANOTHER SUMMER in upstate New York, along familiar roads that lead to surprises . . . <br />
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When Summer Everett makes a split-second decision, her summer divides into two parallel worlds. In one, she travels to France, where she’s dreamed of going: a land of chocolate croissants, handsome boys, and art museums. In the other, she remains home, in her ordinary suburb, where she expects her ordinary life to continue — but nothing is as it seems.<br />
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In both summers, she will fall in love and discover new sides of herself. What may break her, though, is a terrible family secret, one she can't hide from anywhere. In the end, it may just be the truth she needs the most.<br />
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From New York Times bestselling author Aimee Friedman comes an irresistible, inventive novel that takes readers around the world and back again, and asks us what matters more: the journey or the destination. </i></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3>
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Two Summer was not the light summer vacation read I was expecting. Two Summers is really about a young girl experiencing two different journeys to get to the same place. These journeys are not easy journeys either. Summer lives with her mother who is divorced in New York but has plans to visit her father in France for the summer. <br />
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The story alternates between the two different journeys. There are family secrets, new friendships, changed relationships, new loves, and ultimately new experiences. Two Summers offers the reader a deeper look into one girl's life and how while the journey matters sometimes the destination is the same. <br />
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While I did enjoy the audio narration, plot pacing, and the character development, Two Summers was heavier than I was looking for in a summer read.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-15341868423744415482016-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-29T00:00:10.656-04:00Mini Reviews: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh, and The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>A Court of Mist and Fury<br />
<b>Author: </b>Sarah J. Maas<br />
<b>Series: </b>A Court of Thorns and Roses<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Bloomsbury USA Childrens<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 3, 2016<br />
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Review</h3>
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My oh my. I feel like I need an ice cold bath and a nap after every SJMaas book I finish. Her books take me on such an emotional roller coaster and they keep getting steamier and steamier! For those who’ve read her Throne of Glass series, I would say that ACOMAF is similar to Heir of Fire in feel such that it is very character-driven and full of changes. Feyre is going through an incredibly transitional period in her life as she recovers from all that she endured Under the Mountain and adapts to her new life. Since I’ve come to care for her in the first book, my heart went out to her, which made her transformation all the more rewarding. She was always fierce, but now she is fierce in a whole new way. While ACOTAR took place predominantly in the Spring Court, ACOMAF takes place mostly in the Night Court. I loved deepening relationships with old characters (ahem RHYSAND ahem), meeting new characters, and exploring more of this world that SJMaas brilliantly crafted. And there was plenty that happened to set up what I’m sure will be one hell of a next book. Of course, I need it now. </div>
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<b>Title: </b>The Rose and the Dagger<br />
<b>Author: </b>Renee Ahdieh<br />
<b>Series: </b>The Wrath and the Dawn #2<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 26, 2016<br />
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Review</h3>
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*Happy sigh* This conclusion was everything I had hoped it would be and more. It was just as beautifully written, suspenseful, romantic and magical as the first one, if not more so. And I felt that the story had a strong focus on love and forgiveness which I really appreciated. It picks up right where The Wrath and The Dawn left off and expands the world considerably. Yet everything is still wrapped up nicely in the end. Shazi learns quite a few new things about herself and I enjoyed watching her develop her talents, even though it was only a small portion of the story. Most of the story was focused on breaking the curse and saving Khorasan. And while Shazi and Khalid are still the shining stars of this series, there were so many secondary characters that stepped into the limelight. One of which I particularly loves getting to know was Shazi's younger sister, Irsa who grew into quite the young woman. Everything about this book was wonderful. </div>
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<b>Title: </b>The Crown's Game<br />
<b>Author: </b>Evelyn Skye<br />
<b>Series: </b>The Crown's Game #1<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Balzery & Bray<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 17, 2016<br />
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I had so much fun reading this one… until the ending at which point all I could do was cry! The premise of two magical people competing for a place of power, with only one being able to survive, might not sound like such a novel idea. Variations of this type of story have obviously been done before. And probably 9 times out of 10, the two competitors fall in love because what a convenient layer of complexity that adds! BUT what made this book unique was the historical Russian setting and the magic that was performed, which was intricately woven into the setting and very beautiful. And who cares if the basic plotline isn’t new, it was still fun! I liked the characters and I thought their attraction to each other was sweet, even if it could’ve used more time to develop. I loved the playfulness with which they competed. And I loved the emotional turmoil they each underwent for being torn between wanting to win and not wanting to hurt the other. BUT I DID NOT LOVE THAT ENDING. I stared gape-mouthed at the end of this book not wanting to believe what I just read. I need the next book now because I need this to be fixed! And I want more magical fun.:)<br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339884453331050427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-66783913152409985582016-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-27T00:00:03.868-04:00Wanderlost by Jen Malone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Wanderlost<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jen Malone<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperTeen<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 31st 2016</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26244548-wanderlost">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.<br />
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Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.<br />
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Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.<br />
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But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up. </i></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Review</span></h3>
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This is the perfect summer book. It had everything I was looking for, romance, adventure, and humor. Even having traveled more than a handful of times, I thoroughly enjoyed all the nerve-racking feelings Aubree felt on her first trip. She is already an apprehensive traveler and on top of that she is in charge of the safety and happiness of an elderly tour group. I truly felt for her.<br />
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Her travel struggles had me grinning through the entire book. The fact that new and unknown foods wig her out was so relate-able and laughable. I know when I travel there are times when I am just like, yea no thanks, plain bread please. (I know, terrible!)<br />
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Overall, I highly recommend Wanderlost; it was a cute and fun read. I was laughing and constantly rooting her on. She really sees past her tour members' age and she sees past her traveling fears, truly embracing the joy exploring can bring. She finds a new part of herself through the course of the book that really gave the story an additional layer of depth. <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-32842508289776823272016-06-25T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-25T00:00:05.889-04:00Stacking The Shelves (169) - June 25th<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a> - features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.</span><br />
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Upcoming Reads </h3>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26797462-the-vanishing-throne?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">The Vanishing Throne (The Falconer #2) by Elizabeth May</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110857-ghostly-echoes" target="_blank">Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26156203-the-crown-s-game" target="_blank">The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game #1) by Evelyn Skye</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25063781-summer-days-summer-nights?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">What books are stacking your shelves??</span></h4>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-86149851454286454082016-06-24T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-24T00:00:01.974-04:00Mini Reviews: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows, And I Darken by Kiersten White, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>My Lady Jane<br />
<b>Author: </b>Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperTeen<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>June 7, 2016<br />
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My Lady Jane will no doubt put a smile on your face and, if you are anything like me, even make you laugh quite a few times (the horse jokes were amazing). It is just FULL of personality. The characters are charming, the relationships are full of heart and the plot was just plain fun. Readers will especially relate to Jane and the great lengths she will go to for her beloved books. I really liked how her relationship with Gifford developed - – they were an adorable pair - and I really enjoyed the magical twist on this story. I don’t know much about this period of history or if any of it rings true, but it was definitely interesting AND entertaining. I could easily have rated this book 4 stars but If I had to guess why I withheld half a star is that maybe this book read a little young. Or maybe because it failed to live up to its potential just a teeny bit. But if you are a fan of any of the authors on their own, you should definitely read this book. Their voices really shine through. </div>
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<b>Title: </b>And I Darken<br />
<b>Author: </b>Kiersten White<br />
<b>Series: </b>The Conquerors Saga #1<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Delacorte Press<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>June 28, 2016<br />
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THIS BOOK WAS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE. It wasn’t really even on my radar (granted that’s not saying all that much considering how MIA I’ve been) but then I was looking up reviews for some books I had on my shelves to help me decide what to read next and this book was getting some serious attention so I decided to read it. First, I am so so glad that I did. Second, this book deserves all the praise. It’s a slower moving book, and I wasn’t really sure where the plot was going while reading most of it, but god damn was it captivating. It’s very character driven and Lada is such a different character than we are used to seeing. She did what she had to do to take care of herself and those she loved even if it made her appear cold and distant to those around her. She always thought two steps ahead and didn’t really let her emotions cloud her judgment. She also battled with being considered equal to men. She constantly resisted and fought back against the limitations that were placed on her by society for being a woman. Another thing I loved about this book was the political focus and "conquer or be conquered" theme. There was really so much I loved about this book and I honestly can’t do it enough justice. Just read it. You won’t regret it.
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<b>Title: </b>The Dark Days Club<br />
<b>Author: </b>Alison Goodman<br />
<b>Series: </b>Lady Helen #1<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Viking Books for Young Readers<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>January 26, 2016<br />
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My feelings for The Dark Days Club is definitely a case of, “It’s not you, it’s me”. Or maybe we can take joint responsibility, I don’t know. There was nothing overtly wrong about this book - it even had quite a few surprises that impressed me while reading it. But overall, I think I’ve either outgrown this type of story/time period (and I mean preference wise, not age wise!) or I just wasn’t in the mood for it. It felt like a story I had already read countless times and there was very little about it that marked it as different. As a result, I started getting restless to finish the story and almost didn’t but I realized I was close enough that I might as well just power through. I felt very little for the characters so I highly doubt I will continue with the story. But if you want to read about Historical London and underground Demon-fighting clubs than you should give it a shot.<br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339884453331050427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-55572019691025133332016-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-22T00:00:15.777-04:00All the Feels by Danika Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>All the Feels<br />
<b>Author: </b>Danika Stone<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Swoon Reads<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>June 7, 2016<br />
<b>Source: </b>ARC received from Publisher in exchange of an honest review (<i>thanks Swoon Reads!!</i>)<i><br /></i><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29222548-all-the-feels?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Summary from Goodreads:</a></i><br />
<i style="text-align: justify;"><i>College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.</i></i><i></i><br />
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<i><i>Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.</i></i></div>
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What I enjoyed most about All the Feels was the fandom premise. This is the book's most obvious draw in my opinion. As avid readers, we all likely belong to several fandoms and we GET it. We've waited hours for our favorite books or to meet our favorite authors. We've suffered those book hangovers. We've cried over those soul-crushing deaths, or breakups or whatever. And we've fangirled and vented with our friends via text and over the internet. SO much about this book was relatable. AND geek-tastic. Especially the Dragon-Con experience during the last third of the book. It was fun reading a book that really speaks to readers.<br />
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BUT.... it felt a little too over-the-top. Liv grieved for her fictional hero like I might grieve for one of my closest family members and that felt a little wrong to me. I've shed many a tear for some of my favorite characters and yes, at times it might've feel like there was a Dementor sucking away all of my happiness but I moved on because it is fiction and I am a sane and functioning human being. Whereas, Liv basically let her entire world crumble. But if I overlook that, I enjoyed Liv's passion for vidding and being a part of the Starveil community. The cosplay and SpartanSurvived movement was fun. <br />
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My second favorite part of the story was Xander. He was such a unique character with his steampunk obsession and old-world demeanor. And he was SO SWEET.. I have a pretty good picture in my head of that boy and YUM. I loved Liv and Xander's easy way with one another and the slowly building attraction between them. Their happy ending was well worth the wait.<br />
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Other than that, there was an even balance of nice-touches that I appreciated and things I that I thought were unnecessary and only added for dramatic effect. For a little bit I was even leaning towards a 2-2.5 star rating because the scales were tipping towards the unnecessary but the ending made up for it. So we get a nice even 3 stars. I don't think this book is a MUST read but it had it's merits and is a pretty quick one if you are looking for some geeky relatable fun.<br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339884453331050427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-35498776897175754262016-06-20T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-20T00:00:06.521-04:00Mini Reviews: Ruined by Amy Tintera, The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt, and Maid of Wonder by Jennifer McGowan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Ruined<br />
<b>Author: </b>Amy Tintera<br />
<b>Series: </b>Ruined #1<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperTeen<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 3, 2016<br />
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I had a lot of fun reading this book! I love plots that involve infiltrating enemy territory and Em was a total badass despite her perceived weakness among her people for having no power. I love how Tintera proved that there are more ways to be useful and powerful besides what is expected. I was also a total sucker for the romance. It might not have been THAT moving and sure, it was a trope that I had seen before but it just worked for me. I liked Em, I liked Cas, and I liked Em and Cas together. I also loved the ending to this book. Like LOVED. The last third was non-stop action and holy hell, Em’s sister is a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see what mayhem she causes in the next book. </div>
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<b>Title: </b>The Chapel Wars<br />
<b>Author: </b>Lindsey Leavitt<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Bloomsbury USA Childrens<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 6, 2014<br />
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The Chapel Wars wasn’t quite the book I hoped it would be but since I had been meaning to read this book for over 2 years now my expectations probably got the best of me. I expected MORE from it – more laughs, more playfulness, more war, more romance – so what I got fell a teeny bit flat. Sure, it had it’s cute moments and I think it was interesting. I also think Leavitt handled some important topics well – like divorce and first love and all the fun growing up that comes with those teen years. But it didn’t leave that strong of an impression on me. And while I appreciated the honesty of the ending, it kind of let me down at the same time. Points for uniqueness though! The Vegas Wedding Chapel premise was a great idea!
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<b>Title: </b>Maid of Wonder<br />
<b>Author: </b>Jennifer McGowan<br />
<b>Series: </b>Maids of Honor #3<br />
<b>Publisher: </b> Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers <br />
<b>Release Date: </b>August 25, 2015<br />
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Unfortunately for Maid of Wonder, it is the 3rd book in a series and the previous two books are, what I consider, some of the best YA Historical Fiction has to offer. So while Maid of Wonder had its merits, it paled in comparison, impression-wise. I enjoyed learning more about Sophia and her Seer abilities. And I enjoyed being back in this world and diving even deeper into the bigger picture. But unlike the previous two books, the mystery wasn’t quite as captivating, the romance wasn’t quite as shippable, and the overall emotional response I had to the writing wasn’t quite as strong. Also, Sophia herself just wasn’t as dynamic of a character as Meg or Beatrice. So this is why I didn't love it, only liked it. But I do still hope that S&S publishes the final book about Jane or I am going to be PISSED.</div>
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18339884453331050427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-78686939634000620042016-06-15T12:26:00.002-04:002016-06-15T12:36:11.111-04:00The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>The Star-Touched Queen<br />
<b>Author: </b>Roshani Chokshi<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>St. Martin's Griffin<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 26th 2016</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25203675-the-star-touched-queen">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?<br />
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Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…<br />
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But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself. </i></div>
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I am still quite bummed out by this review and my reading/listening experience with this book. I wanted so much to just love and devour this book but unfortunately it did not work for me. I opted to listen to the audio book version of this book.<br />
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Ultimately what did me in was the fact that at about the 50% mark I just still did not care what happened to the characters. I could not immerse myself into the world and I just was not feeling any emotions towards Maya or any other character. It was not until the last 75% of the book where I started to feel like I was interested in the plot. <br />
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The narrator felt rather monotone and just lacked the spark I felt that was necessary to get me into the Otherworldy realms. There is a lot going on in this book and I can see why other readers did enjoy it, but for me, it just was rather slow and uneventful. The fantasy aspects and unique world definitely provided promise and could be enjoyed by other readers.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-68517834328163683832016-06-13T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-13T00:00:00.993-04:00Everland by Wendy Spinale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>Everland<br />
<b>Author: </b>Wendy Spinale<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Scholastic Press<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 10th 2016</div>
<b>Source:</b> Audiobook from Scholastic Audio. Thank you Scholastic! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26085520-everland">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Forget the story of Peter Pan you know. Because in Everland, the only way to grow up is to survive.<br />
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London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German Army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.<br />
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Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a mysterious boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook?</i></div>
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I listened to the audio book version of Everland, it was fantastic, I love multiple narrators, especially ones with British accents. The chapters are either told from HOOK or Gwen's point of view, which is a nice change since you do not always get to hear the story from the villain's POV. <br />
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Everland is a unique and dark re-telling of Peter Pan just without the fantasy and fairy tale aspects. This story is a darker more post-apocalyptic version of the original fairy tale. London has been plagued with a disease and there is only one cure that both Pete and Hook are after. It was fun to pick out all the subtle and some less subtle traces of the original story in this creative retelling. <br />
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Everland is a very plot-driven book with a focus on the search for a cure and hope in saving those that are sick. Parts of the story line were easily predictable but that never took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I definitely recommend Everland if you are look for a fairly romance free but high adventure story!<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561809063334102736.post-34867647361981394592016-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-10T00:00:03.880-04:00The Sleeping Prince (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #2) by Melinda Salisbury<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: </b>The Sleeping Price<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Sin Eater's Daughter #2<br />
<b>Author: </b>Melinda Salisbury<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Scholastic Press<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>May 31st 2016</div>
<b>Source:</b>ARC from the Publisher. Thank you Scholastic! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26625494-the-sleeping-prince">Summary from Goodreads:</a><br />
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<i>Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater's Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.<br />
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Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin's life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.<br />
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When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won't reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help her, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom. </i></div>
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Goodness, The Sleeping Prince might be an even stronger book than The Sin Eater's Daughter. The stakes are higher, the romance is more forbidden, and the war is now upon the kingdoms. This story is told from Errin's point of view which gives the readers access into a different part of the story's world and a different view of Lief. It further enriches the vivid setting and add a layer of depth the the overall story. <br />
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There is SO much going on in this book, there are appearances from various book one characters and many new characters as well. Since the stakes are higher and the Sleeping Prince is awake, the tension throughout the book was much higher then the first book. I felt like I had to get through to know what was going to happen because towns were being pillaged, people were dying, and there was an overall sense of havoc.<br />
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There is some hint of a love interest but overall the romance elements take a back seat in this book and let the suspenseful magical war drama ensue. I was engaged up to the very last page and was kept on my toes with new surprises and unexpected turn of events. I highly recommend this book and this series if you want to dive into a darker almost fairy-tale-like world full of living stories and old myths. <br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779069199557750900noreply@blogger.com0