The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen REVIEW

Summary:

The lifeblood of the village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant land-lady. Jane has no idea how to manage a business, but with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must quickly find a way to save the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to overcome her losses and find purpose for the future. As she works with Jane, two men from her past vie for her attention, but Thora has promised herself never to marry again. Will one of them convince her to embrace a second chance at love?

As pressure mounts from the bank, Jane employs new methods, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place, including a mysterious newcomer with secret plans of his own. With the help of friends old and new, can Jane restore life to the inn, and to her empty heart as well?

My Thoughts:

This book was actually a lot more interesting than I thought it would be, as many of the woman in it are very strong and able to do things without being married. However, I find that any of the romance in this book is greatly unnecessary, as the overall plot has no need. I would have enjoyed the "romance" parts, but they weren't very greatly developed and seemed a bit forced into the story.

But even with those things, I still enjoyed the story a lot, Jane and Thora are very strongly developed characters, which is most of the reason why I finished this book.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

**I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. Thank you!**

Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch REVIEW

**Sequel to Snow Like Ashes and Ice Like Fire**

Summary:

Meira will do anything to save her world.With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her magic--so when the leader of a mysterious order from Paisly offers to teach her, Meira jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she's learning to control--and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira--and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war--and protecting Meira--slips further and further out of reach.

Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she's freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer's slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together...or lose everything.

My Thoughts:

It's been a while since I've read the previous books, but many of the things I'd forgotten came back to me at some point or another during this one.

I really enjoyed this book, it's probably one of my favorite 2016 releases. It was very well written and picked up where Ice Like Fire left off.

My only complaint about it is that the battle scene near the end didn't seem to be long enough, it seemed rushed. 

However, the rest of the book and the ending really made up for that.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu REVIEW

**Sequel to The Young Elites and The Rose Society**

Summary:

Adelina Amouteru is done with suffering. She's turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest, her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all she's gained.

When a new danger appears, Adelina's forced to revisit old wounds, putting not only herself at risk, but every Elite. In order to preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest--though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book a lot. I can't say that it's better than the previous one since I haven't read it in a while, but it's probably one of my favorites.

Not only does Adelina risk her life to go to her dying sister's side, but she also creates an alliance to rid the Elites of their suffering--with the very people she wanted revenge on; who used her. And at the very end of the book, although they achieve their goal without going at each other's throats, her sister dies. And Adelina makes a deal with the gods to trade her life for her sisters' (this part actually made me cry). 

My Rating: 4.5 stars 

The Crown by Kiera Cass REVIEW

The Selection series: Book Five

Summary:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illea to hold her own Selection, she didn't think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn't sure she'll find the fairy-tale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you . . .and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible--and more important--than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

I finally finished this series after I kept forgetting to read this book .. . .

I did like this book a lot better than the previous one, The Heir. 

What I liked is that Eadlyn didn't fall in love with one of the suitors, she fell in love with the translator of Henri. And she thought it was impossible to have a relationship with him . . .but it actually happened. In a way, he is like Aspen, but the total opposite circumstances, the fact that I liked him better than Aspen, and that he actually got the girl.

However, I do think the ending was a bit rushed. And the fact that the author made two of the suitors gay for each other was . . .weird? If she was going to do that, she could have not made it a last-second decision, because that's what it seemed like (rushed/forced).

My Rating: 4 stars

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Two

Summary:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go--especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil--and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Thoughts:

For me, this book was interesting, but also a slow read. Several parts of the book were pretty uninteresting, so it took me a lot longer to read this book than normal. 

But there were a few things I didn't like/understand: apparently Clary and Simon are dating? they didn't make that clear until halfway through the book. Also, Clary is still in love with Jace even after finding out he's her brother? isn't that kind of, well, gross? not to mention probably illegal? And Simon turns into a vampire a very long time after getting bitten in the first book? how does it take that long to turn?

Although several parts were interesting, I didn't get into this book as well as the first one, and even then I didn't really like the first one that much.

My Rating: 2 stars

Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl REVIEW

Summary:

Following in her absentee father's footsteps in a law enforcement career, US Marshal Mercy Brennan has just recovered from being shot in the line of duty. And, unbeknownst to her, her father's recent reappearance in her life has put her in the sights of St. Louis's most powerful gang. Her boss assigns Deputy US Marshal Mark St. Laurent--Mercy's ex-boyfriend--to get her out of town until her safety can be guaranteed.

Unaware of the extent her boss and Mark have been keeping her in the dark, it isn't until a freak ice storm strands them at a remote location and out of contact with the district office that the full severity of their situation becomes clear. As the storm worsens, the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy to put them in great danger. Can they survive long enough for help to arrive--if help is even coming at all?

My Thoughts:

Although this seems to be the typical police/mystery/gang book, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would, even though this isn't the genre I typically read.

Mercy is known as "Frosty the Snow Cop" because of her inability to open up to people in her life, which is why she broke up with Mark, and why she never forgave her father for leaving her family alone. Shortly after having lunch with her father, who tried to apologise for not being there for her when she needed it, Mercy finds out that her father was killed by a gang--and that he was killed for a piece of evidence to catch this gang. When the gang didn't find the evidence from her father, they started to target her, thinking that they would find it since she was his daughter. This forces her to go into hiding, which didn't actually do any good, since the gang found them stranded from a storm...

Although I did somewhat enjoy this book, I wouldn't be interested in reading the rest of this series whenever it comes out.

My Rating: 3 stars

**I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers to review. Thank you!**

Newton & Polly by Jody Hedlund REVIEW

Summary:

Now remembered as the author of the world's most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father--until the night he hears Polly Catlett's enchanting voice, caroling. He's immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.

An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John's reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?

My Thoughts:

At first I wasn't entirely sure I would enjoy this book, since romance isn't exactly my favorite genre, and I've read a lot of disappointing Christian historical romance.

But I was wonderfully surprised. There was not only a pretty well developed connection between Newton and Polly, but there was also some adventure (Newton being forced to become a sailor, tries to desert and find his way home but is caught and tortured, etc.). It was also a pretty inspiring message that people can change for the better, and sometimes they need a frustrating experience to go through before they can fully appreciate and follow God.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone wanting to grow in their faith, or even to a non Christian who wants to know a little about how God sometimes works in people's lives.

My Rating: 5 stars

More Info 

Author Bio

**I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!**

Jackaby by William Ritter REVIEW

Summary:

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby's assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: a serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it's an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local authorities--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--seem adamant to deny.

My Thoughts:

I got this book during the summer reading program at my library (a long time ago, I know) and didn't read it until now, although I kind of wish I read it earlier, because it was so good.

It has been a really long time since I have read a mystery this good and as impossible to put down.

The only part I would like to read more about is Abigail's reason for going to New Fiddleham. Was something wrong with where she was living? Did something happen there that made her want to leave? Or did she just really want to go there?

My Rating: 4 stars

The Wish by Beverly Lewis REVIEW

Summary:

Leona Speicher got the "sister" she always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be the answer to Leona's prayers--until Gloria's father is expelled from their Old Order Amish church for reasons no one will discuss. Much to Leona's dismay, the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear. Then, after a silence of several years, Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona, who makes up her mind to go after her friend. Yet Leona's fiancee--the deacon's son--is alarmed. Will Leona's dearest wish lead to her own undoing?

"'You really think this is a gut idea, goin' clear out there, spendin' time with folk who've left the People?' 

Leona wondered if she was getting the carriage before the horse. Even so, she was willing to do whatever she could to bring Gloria back home--where she belonged."

My Thoughts:

*Fun Fact: My class is taking a trip to Lancaster this year*

I picked up this book not really knowing what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised by it.

I'm not a huge romance fan, so the fact that there was very little romance helped a lot. The story really dragged me into it and I could almost never put it down.

I would totally recommend this book to people who are interested in Amish fiction but also to those who might not be into this kind of book because it was really interesting.

My Rating: 5 stars

**I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. Thank you!!!**

The Inquisition by Taran Matharu REVIEW

Summoner series: Book Two

Summary:

Fletcher and Ignatius have been locked away in Pelt's dungeons, but now they must face a trial in the hands of the Inquisition, a powerful institution controlled by those who would delight in Fletcher's downfall.

The trial is haunted by ghosts from the past with shocking revelations about Fletcher's origins, but he has little time to dwell on them, the graduating students of Vocans are to be sent deep into the orc jungles to complete a dangerous mission for the king and his council. If they fail, the orcish armies will rise to power beyond anything the Empire has ever seen.

With loyal friends Othello and Sylva by his side, Fletcher must battle his way to the heart of Orcdom and save Hominum from destruction . . . or die trying.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and just as interesting as the first book in the series. I feel as if a lot of authors seem to slack off on their second book, but this one didn't.

The way it was written made me want to shout at the evil councilors at the trial and kept me reading until the end, which of course, just had to have a cliffhanger.

I would totally recommend this book.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Siren by Kiera Cass REVIEW

Summary:

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can't resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.
Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude . . . until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can't talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny . . . and Kahlen doesn't want to.
Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean's rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen's feelings, she'll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

My Thoughts:

I was really excited to read this, as I enjoyed the Selection series for the most part.
I wasn't disappointed.
The book is very well written and interesting. The Ocean can communicate with the Sirens and read their minds kind of, and that was really interesting to me. But the Ocean never experienced love before, so She has no idea what love is like, really. So she's kind of like a really strict parent but that's because She's not really experienced in being like a parent.
Anyway I would really recommend this book, it was really good.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen REVIEW

Summary:

Mason isn't supposed to know about the Greenhouse. He isn't supposed to meet the beautiful girl who is part of the experiment, and who doesn't need food or water to survive.
Now, Mason is on the run with the girl. And the Gardener, who is the mysterious mastermind of an institution that grows humans, wants them both, dead or alive.

My Thoughts:

This was a quick enjoyable read.
Mason meets Laila after confronting his mother about things she hasn't told him--about his father, and his father's work.
They go on the run, because people want Laila back and she's scared of them.
It turns out that Mason's father is the Gardener, and that his assistant was slowing poisoning him to take over his company. They save him and the end is kind of vague. Like, he sees Laila again after a few years? But they don't really say what happens after?
Still, I did enjoy this book.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Doodletopia: Manga by Christopher Hart REVIEW

My Thoughts:

I'm super awful at drawing, so I decided to try out this book and see if it would help me at all.

At first look, I decided it looked cute and fun, but had no idea if it would help.

In some ways, it has helped. I was able to draw something I didn't  throw out because it wasn't at all ugly. It wasn't perfect either though.

I have yet to try everything in this book, but  when I have the time, I will.

It has so far helped in a few small (yet big) ways, and one is that I am able to draw somewhat manga-like eyes. However, looking through this book I realized that the chapter on drawing chibi like characters would be little to no help at all since the author never taught how to draw them in this chapter.

My (Overall) Rating: 3 stars

(here's a pic of a drawing I drew using this book)

More Info

Author Bio

**I received this book from blogging for books for free for my honest review. thank you!**

The Dead by Charlie Higson REVIEW

Summary:

The disease only affects people sixteen or older. It starts with the symptoms of a cold. Then the skin begins to itch, and spots appear--spots that soon turn into pus-filled boils. But the worst part is the headache, the inner voices that tell you that you need to eat them . . .the young ones.

When the Disaster strikes, the world turns upside down for Ed, Jack, Bam, and the other students at Rowhurst school. The parents and older siblings they left back at home are dead--or worse.Once the teachers go on the attack, the kids know it's time to escape and make their way to the city. It's got to be better in London . . .or will it be worse?

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book at lot. People are turning into zombie-like creatures and eating children to keep their disease at bay. Ed is the type of person who in the beginning refuses to fight because he cannot bear to kill someone he knew.
They leave for London on a bus with a bus driver who later reveals himself to be one of the zombie like creatures and tries to kill them. However, they escape to what seems to be a safe house where other children survivors live.
With his friends dying, Ed is finally able to fight the creatures. But even the museum, their safe house, can't be safe forever.

My Rating: 4 stars

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton REVIEW

Summary:

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries.On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book, although the beginning was super boring, and I wasn't sure if I would like it at all.

Trying to not spoil anything about this book is so hard, but I'll do my best.

Ellie is really a being created to fight the reapers. When they "kill" her, it's kind of like regeneration, but she has to grow up again (like she'll start out as a baby). 

Later on *SPOILERS* she finds out she's not what she thinks she is, she's actually one of the most important angel ever.

And the reapers are trying to find the one thing that will make her dead forever.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

The Novice by Taran Matharu REVIEW

**Summoner series: Book One**

Summary:

He can summon demons. But can he win a war?

Fletcher is working as a blacksmith's apprentice when he discovers he has the rare ability to summon demons from another world.

Subsequently chased from his village for a crime he did not commit, Fletcher must travel with his demon, Ignatius, to an academy for adepts, where the gifted are taught the art of summoning.

Along with nobles and commoners, Fletcher endures grueling lessons that will prepare him to serve as a Battlemage in the Empire's war against the savage Orcs. But sinister forces infect new friendships, and rivalries are formed at this school. With no one but Ignatius by his side, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. As he soon learns, the fate of the Empire is in his hands...

My Thoughts:

This has been on my to-read list for a while but I only got to it now.

The book sounded cool and interesting, and I guess the only reason I thought that is because I got into Black Butler...

It's a good fantasy novel, not the best I've read, but better than others.

Fletcher somehow made enemies with someone in his village by existing. His enemy tries to kill him one night, the same night he found out he could summon demons, and Ignatius attacked his attacker without Fletcher's consent, leaving him injured or dead? He runs away for this.

He makes friends at the academy but some become enemies because the nobles there don't like commoners, and they were hanging out with them.

At the end is a cliffhanger: people arrest him for attempted murder of the boy who tried to kill him in his village.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Waterfall by Lauren Kate REVIEW

**Sequel to Teardrop**

Summary:

Tears are falling...
Eureka's tears have flooded the earth, and now Atlantis is rising, bringing with it its evil king, Atlas. Eureka is the only one who can stop him, but first she must learn how to fight. She travels across the ocean with Cat, her family, and the gorgeous and mysterious Ander. Ander promises to help her find Solon, an enigmatic lost Seedbearer who knows how to defeat Atlas.
Once on land, Eureka is taunted by gossip-witches, a group of displaced Atlantean sorceresses, and ambushed by locals struggling to survive amid the destruction her tears have wrought. And she feels no closer to facing Atlas when Solon lets slip that love is Ander's weakness, and that any affection he feels toward her makes him age faster.
Trying to make sense of the dark world her sorrow has created, Eureka receives startling insight from an enchanted pond. Her bewildering reflection reveals a soul-crushing secret: if she's strong enough, Eureka can defeat Atlas--unless her broken heart is just what he needs to fuel his rising kingdom...
In Waterfall, Eureka has the chance to save the world. But she'll have to give up everything--even love.

My Thoughts:

This book was really good for a sequel, and I found some of it better than the previous book.
There were a few things I wanted to know, though:
1. who are the gossip-witches, why do they exist, and why are they helping Eureka?
2. Is Atlas' possession of Brooks like how the monster in Siren's Fury possessed people?
3. Why did Solon isolate himself from everyone, other than to keep himself from loving again?
I wish these questions were answered in the book, but unfortunately, they aren't.
The end was kind of confusing. I mean, Eureka sacrificed herself to stop Atlas, but what happened to her and everyone else wasn't clear.

My Rating: 4.5 stars
(I hate the new covers though)

Redemption by Debra Driza REVIEW

MILA 2.0 Trilogy: Book Three

Summary:

Mila has been running for her life for so long. But there might be nowhere left for her to go. Especially now that she's an incredible danger to herself and anyone who dares get close to her.

That's why Mila has gone into hiding with friend and tech expert Lucas, someplace secluded where she'll never be found. She can't take the risk of hurting people worse than the way she hurt Hunter: the boy she'll always love, the boy who might never forgive her for what she's done.

But then Mila discovers that General Holland--her ultimate enemy--is an even bigger threat to humanity than she is. His quest to reclaim Mila is only part of a larger mysterious endgame that will put people's lives at stake. Mila must make a choice: either push aside her fears and fight hime with everything she's got...or turn her back on the world forever.

My Thoughts:

As expected, this book was well written and well paced and hard to put down.

The only thing I don't get is when she falls in love with Lucas, and doesn't really care about Hunter as much.But this book was super good.

Anyway the ending? I hated it. Why did Mila go and let herself die instead of choosing to live freely? I mean, what she thought would happen if she did would probably happen, but still. Why aren't there any happy endings to trilogies now?

My Rating: 4.5 stars

The Twice Lost by Sarah Porter REVIEW

Lost Voices Trilogy: Book Three

Summary:

Mermaids have been sinking ships and drowning humans for centuries, and now the government is determined to put an end to the mermaid problem--by slaughtering all of them. Luce, one mermaid with exceptionally threatening abilities, becomes their number one target, hunted as she flees down the coast toward San Francisco.

There she finds hundreds of mermaids living in exile under the docks of the bay. These are the Twice Lost: once human girls lost the first time when a trauma turned them into mermaids, and lost the second time when they broke mermaid law and were rejected by their tribes. Luce is stunned when they elect her as their leader. But she won't be their queen. She'll be their general. And they will become the Twice Lost Army--because this is war.

But how can the mermaids defend themselves when Luce is determined to stop her followers from killing humans? How can she convince humans to listen to them? And it's one thing for Luce to forgive humanity, but another to forgive Dorian, the boy who betrayed her--even when he fights to prove his love to her.

My Thoughts:

Despite how others feel about this book, I don't think its as good as the previous books. Yes, things in the second book weren't exactly perfect, but no book is perfect.

The story was written well, but what happened to Anais at the end wasn't clear. neither was what happened to Catarina.

this book was alright, but definitely not my favorite.

My Rating: 3 stars

Courageous by Dina L. Sleiman REVIEW

Summary:

Inspired by the vision of the young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men woman, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She'll gladly give herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and feels she no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.
Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church but has always dreamt of protecting the innocent as a Templar knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of adolescents. When faced with political intrigue and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't told this was the third book in a series, but it seems that the previous books are about different people, as the book was only a little confusing.
The prologue was super interesting, however the storyline got boring until about halfway through the book, when the characters stop in a town for help.
The villain was kind of a predictable one, maybe too predictable. But what happened to her wasn't really explained at all. It just sort of implied that she was killed.
The backstories of Rosalind and Randel are intriguing yet sad, and that's what makes a backstory good.

My Rating: 3.5 stars
**I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. Thank you!**

I Become Shadow by Joe Shine REVIEW

Summary:

When Ren Sharpe was 14, she was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called FATE and trained to be a human weapon.
Now, four years later, she receives her assignment: protect Gareth Young at all costs. Currently a student at Texas A & M, Gareth will someday change the world. FATE calls people like Gareth "FIPs"--future important people--and they're everywhere, each with a FATE-trained shadow.
But when disaster strikes, Ren will have to turn on her maker. Together with Junie, a fellow abductee and the one person she trusts, Ren takes Gareth on the run.
Because whatever else happens, failure is not an option.

My Thoughts:

This book was SO GOOD. It's been a long time since I've read a spy novel, and this one was so good that I want it to be made into a movie, even though the movie would change everything. I want to see the fight scenes:).
Ren is kinda like me. She's a bit of a nerd, although not too nerdy, she's quiet, and she doesn't have many friends.
Then she's kidnapped.
I really wish the author had made the training sequences Ren had to do a bit longer, because that is usually my favorite part of the story. Other than that, I have no complaints. Ren was a really strong character, but it seems that she either likes two guys? Or two guys like her? That part was confusing.
It would be nice if there was a part of the book where we would see how/when/why FATE was originally founded. Maybe it didn't used to be corrupted?

My Rating: 5 stars

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Summary:

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world's most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow's infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average. The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments--until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn't really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light of the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned--and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava mus unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava's dreams . .

My Thoughts:

I've heard mixed reviews about this book, some say its awesome, some say its an ok book, and others say its terrible. But I would fit in with those who said its awesome.

You see the backstory of when Natasha saved Ava, and you see her life in the city. Ava apparently escaped her protection and fled to the city. 

Ivan goes after Ava and Natasha shows up to stop him. They find out that they're quantum linked and they share knowledge and memories of the past (which is why Ava dreams about Alexei, who turns out to be Natasha's brother). Also apparently Natasha and Alexei's memories were wiped by SHIELD so she doesn't trust them.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

Let the Sky Fall series: Book Three

Summary:

Vane Weston is ready for battle. Against Raiden's army. Against the slowly corrupting Gale Force. Even against his own peaceful nature as a Westerly. He'll do whatever it takes, including storming Raiden's fortress with the three people he trusts the least. Anything to bring Audra home safely.

But Audra won't wait for someone to rescue her. She has Gus--the guardian she was captured with. And she has a strange "guide" left behind by the one person who managed to escape Raiden. The wind is also rising to her side, rallying against their common enemy. When the forces align, Audra makes her play--but Raiden is ready.

Freedom has never held such an impossible price, and both groups know the sacrifices will be great. But Vane and Audra started this fight together. They'll end it the same way.

My Thoughts:

Okay, I know I have admitted how much I hate the change of covers, but it's not so bad, I guess.

I really disliked the second book in this series, but this one was as awesome as the first one.

Audra and Gus were captured by Raiden, who wants to learn Westerly. Gus survives more than they expect from the deadly torture methods, but he ends up dying around the time they escape. Audra is confused about whether she still loves Vane because their bond broke. But they end up together at the end (yay). Vane is forced to trust Audra's traitorous and murderous mother, as well as Solana, the girl the leaders of the Gale Force want him to marry. A new character is introduced to help them, and he is the only one who's ever escaped Raiden's capture--ever.

My Rating: 4 stars

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Four

Summary:

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his drams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes--even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

My Thoughts:

Sorry for the posting of these last three books all in a row:). But the last book had a huge cliffhanger, so I had to read this one next.

Ethan died to protect everyone he loves (and all the humans) but apparently that wasn't actually his fate. Someone wrote that in his page of the Book, and to erase that fate, he must travel to and infiltrate the Far Keep and tear out the page. He gets reunited with his dead relatives, including his mother, and he sees how he can never have both his mother and Lena: either stay dead with his mother or go back to Gatlin. Anyway, this series was SO amazing and the ending was...well..kind of sad and perfect at the same time.

My Rating: 5 stars

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Three

Summary:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home from the Great Barrier, strang and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected--and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What--or who--will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

My Thoughts:

Sorry that this series is all I've been reading lately, but it's so good!!! And there's one last book to read . . .

I thought for about halfway through this book that the series would be repetitive, that there would always be a new moon song, that the reasons would all be the same. But I was wrong. Because the One Who is Two isn't Lena. But it's not John either. It's Ethan, the Wayward. And **spoilers**Ethan had to sacrifice himself at the end to save Gatlin, and the people he cares about**end spoiler**

This book turned out to be even better than the previous two, which were all about Lena and her Claiming. This one was about Ethan.

My Rating: 5 stars

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Two

Summary:

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together Ethan and Lena can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been oped to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

My Thoughts:

I used to think that the second book in a series is always the worst one, but that changed when I read this book--I thought it was way better than the first one.

Lena's uncle died and she can barely stand being with anyone in Gatlin, so she goes away with other Castors and tries to tell Ethan not to follow her.

**spoilers**it seemed that Lena used the Book of Moons to save Ethan's life, but at the cost of her uncle's life. However, somehow Ethan's dead mother captured him with an Arclight, a thing that can imprison Castors, but this saved her uncle's life**end spoiler**

I really enjoyed this book a lot.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

From this Moment by Elizabeth Camden REVIEW

Summary:

Stella West's artistic talent made her the toast of London, but when her beloved sister dies under mysterious circumstances she abandons everything and heads for Boston. With single-minded determination she fights to pierce the ring of secrecy surrounding her sister's death. Upon meeting Romulus White, a publisher with connections into every important power circle in the city, she quickly realizes he could be a valuable ally in navigating Boston society.

Romulus has been pursuing Stella for years to create art for his magazine. Her luminous illustrations are the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry, and he will stop at nothing to get her on board.

Sparks fly the instant they join forces, but Romulus is unsettled by the unwelcome attraction he feels toward Stella, fearing she might be the one woman who could disrupt his hard-won independence. He may have finally met his match in Stella, but is helping her solve the mystery of her sister's death worth the risk to his publishing empire?

My Thoughts:

First: I love the cover!!! It's so pretty, and it makes me want to make a dress like that.

When I first started to read this book, it was slow progress because the first half of the book wasn't very interesting. But as I kept reading, not only did it get interesting, but it got to the point where I didn't want to stop reading to do other things. Which is really the best and worst thing a book can do to you. Around halfway through, the mystery of Stella's sister's death got super intense and interesting. 

For the most part, I enjoyed this book.

My Rating: 3 stars

**I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. Thank you!**

Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy REVIEW

My Thoughts:

I found this book for free on Amazon for kindle, saw the description was sort of interesting, and got it. While it was well written with somewhat developed characters, the plot was very predictable and at times confusing. She starts to like the guy with the obnoxious girlfriend who pretends to like her. I could guess that coming even before the girlfriend was introduced in the story.

The main character seems to think about her family a lot, but we never get much of a glimpse into Shade's human life. Not only that, but the cover says "A Dark Faerie Tale" but the story wasn't really dark at all.

This book was okay, but it definitely needed more depth and more developed characters. Not only that, but also less predictability. The romance was way too easy to predict.

My Rating: 3 stars

Teardrop by Lauren Kate REVIEW

Summary:

Never, ever cry . . .

Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes in New Iberia, Louisiana, he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than ever before. But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, jus her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance from her mother--a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one can understand. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea--and something about the story is uncannily familiar.

Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than just a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . .and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

When I first read this book a couple years ago, I didn't like it at all. But when I reread it, I discovered how much I enjoyed this book.

Eureka is a young teen who lost her mother and has tried to kill herself several times after her mother's death. No one really understands her at all except for Brooks, her best friend.

The fantasy elements are nice, about her tears bringing back Atlantis, and very interesting.

This was a captivating novel.

My Rating: 4 stars

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter REVIEW

Lost Voices Trilogy: Book Two

Summary:

After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn't last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, the tribe's cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary.

But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce's new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change its murderous ways. But how can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian?

My Thoughts:

This is a nice sequel to Lost Voices and I enjoyed it a lot. Here's why:

1. you get to see from the perspective of a boy whose family was killed by mermaids sinking their ship

2. you get to see a bit more of Luce's human side come out from the shadows where she hid it

3. and you get to see tragedy, love, loss, and hope

Luce finds out that her father didn't die on a ship, he actually survived and was stranded on an island. But Dorian turns out to be a jerk to Luce and sort of cheats on her with a human, then accuses her of abandoning him when she saved her father. That made me want to throw the book out the window.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Arena 1 by Morgan Rice REVIEW

My Thoughts:

I got this book for free off of Amazon with high expectations. 

When I started reading this book, I was a bit disappointed; since the beginning  really dragged on a lot, but then, as I got about halfway through the book, I realized that it was a sort of introduction, telling us readers a bit about the world the main character (Brooke Moore) lives in, which is far in the future.

While it got better later on, the feelings of one of the characters, the boy she leaves with to go after her sister (who was kidnapped by slavedrivers), seemed to have feelings for her, but it's never plainly said. Brooke seems to like the boy she meets who helps her escape from being captured, but nothing happens between them, which I enjoyed, because way too many books these days have a lot of unneeded romance. The end was satisfying, but the talk of how 'Arena 2' is somehow worse than Arena 1 was strange, because the same words were used to describe Arena 1 in the beginning: No one survives.

My Rating: 4 stars

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book One

Summary:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Thoughts:

This book was amazing, and I really enjoyed it a lot. 

It was a kind of slow read at first, but then as the story continued, the suspense got more suspenseful, which was really nice.

Ethan has few friends, and when he realizes that Lena is the girl from his dreams, he tries to become friends with her, which made almost the whole town turn against them, just because a lot of people hate Lena because of her uncle who doesn't come out of his house at all.

My Rating: 3.5 stars