Agatha H. and the Airship City by Phil and Kaja Foglio REVIEW

Summery:

The Industrial Revolution has escalated into all-out warfare. Sixteen year have passed since the Heterodyne Boys, benevolent adventurers and inventors, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Today, Europe is ruled by the Sparks, dynasties of mad scientists ruling over--and terrorizing--the hapless population with their bizarre inventions and unchecked power, while the downtrodden dream of the Heterodynes' return.
At Transylvania Polygnostic University, a pretty, young student named Agatha Clay seems to have nothing but bad luck. Incapable of building anything that actually works, but dedicated to her studies, Agatha seems destined for a lackluster career as a minor lab assistant. But when the university is overthrown by the ruthless tyrant Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, Agatha finds herself a prisoner aboard his massive airship Castle Wulfenbach--and it begins to look like she might carry a spark of Mad Science after all.

My Thoughts:

I picked this up at a used book sale, hoping it would be good, but not having high expectations.
Thankfully, this book exceeded my expectations. Once I picked it up, it was very hard to put down.
Agatha is an interesting character. Despite her inability to build something that works, she still keeps trying.
While on the airship, she meets a talking cat who tells her that she's been working in her sleep. And those inventions work! She also makes a sort of friend (Gil) and he wants to save her from the most likely event of being 'examined' by the Baron.
By this time, she has found out that she is a Spark and that her "parents" gave her something to suppress it so this wouldn't happen.
Agatha eventually finds out that she's actually the only living heir of the Heterodyne family.
This was honestly a wonderful book. I'm guessing there's a sequel? There was a cliffhanger at the end.
I definitely recommend giving this book a try.

My Rating: 5 stars

Hunting Memories by Barb Hendee REVIEW

**Sequel to Blood Memories**

Summary:

"You are not alone. There are others like you."
When she reads those words, Eleisha Clevon knows she has to respond to Rose de Spenser's letter and connect with another vampire. both reluctant predators, they venture outside only when the hunger becomes unbearable, try not to draw attention to themselves--and feel guilty when ending human lives.
But Eleisha has learned a way to draw blood from her victims without killing them. She wants to share this knowledge with like-minded vampires and create a haven where they can exist together--and forge a united front against Julian Ashton, a vampire who has been hunting down and destroying his own kind for the past century.
To win Rose to her cause, Eleisha must risk meeting hr face-to-face, knowing full well she might be an agent of Julian's--but never expecting the revelations Rose has to share about Eleisha's own vampire origins.

My Thoughts:

I actually liked this book a lot better than the previous one, Blood Memories. The characters from the past book and this one are both well developed and realistically emotional.
After Eleisha scares off Julian in book one, she doesn't think he will be a threat to them anymore . . .but boy is she wrong.
Julian enlists a ghost and creates a vampire to do his bidding. Using them, he gets information on Eleisha and her friends.
He eventually succeeds in killing Robert (again, because it wasn't successful a few hundred years ago). He wants Eleisha alive so he can find out what other vampires still exist. I honestly hate him so much.
Overall, this book was great!

My Rating: 5 stars

Blood Memories by Barb Hendee REVIEW

Summary:

Eleisha Clevon is irresponsiblly pretty--with a mane of golden locks surrounding innocent hazel eyes and the face of a teen angel. But she is no angel. And she's far older then she looks. Like most vampires, she has a soecial gift. In her case, it's the ability to make men want to care for her. A few even survive the experience. Eleisha doesn't like to kill, but self-preservation comes first.
So when an old friend destroys himself by walking into sunlight right in front of her, Eleisha is shocked. And what she finds afterward points to how very sick of life her friend had become--piling drained corpses in the basement and keeping records of other vampires' real names and addresses. That's a problem.
Because now there are policemen on the case: two very special humans with some gifts of their own. They know who Eleisha is and, even more dangerous, what she is. But Eleisha realizes that being known and understood may have its attractions--even if it puts her and all her kind at risk.

My Thoughts:

This was a surprisingly quick, easy read. It was very interesting to see another person's perspective on vampires.
Maggie seems like a jerk but you kinda feel bad for her when she is killed. Philip is interesting, and Eleisha is kind of odd.
But overall this was pretty good, although pretty confusing too.

My Rating: 3 stars

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory REVIEW

Summary:

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.

My Thoughts:

I know I've been reading several books by this author lately (I hope you're ok with that), but they're so good! Including this one.
You kind of immediately fall in love with Mary. She's hard to hate, not knowing her family's plotting. It's also extremely sad to see the king put her aside for her sister. Especially since she already has a son by the king? So it really doesn't make any since (also neither does he a lot of the time).
However it's nice to see her get over her heartbreak and fall in love and marry a man of her choice.
I would definitely recommend this to any fan of historical fiction or those fascinated with Henry VIII.

My Rating: 4 stars

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu REVIEW

Summary:

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

My Thoughts:

I never really got much into Batman. I've watched a few movies, but they didn't really stick. But this book was great. Maybe it was because Marie Lu, an amazing author, wrote it. Maybe it was Batman, telling me to give him another chance. Maybe it was both.
Bruce is only 18 in the book, yet he is expected to do so many things an 18 year old shouldn't have to do. He seems to be a very mature guy. Madeline was extremely interesting. I honestly want a prequel, just to know more about her past that was vaguely talked about (not in too much detail).
Literally every book by Marie Lu is perfect.
So read this book. Now.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory REVIEW

Summary:

Known to history as the Queen who was pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn, here is a Katherine the world has forgotten: the enchanting princess that all England loved. First married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, Katherine's passion turns their arranged marriage into a love match; but when Arthur dies, the merciless English court and her ambitious parents-the crusading King and Queen of Spain-have to find a new role for the widow. Ultimately, it is Katherine herself who takes control of her own life by telling the most audacious lie in English history, leading her to the very pinnacle of power in England.

My Thoughts:

I REALLY loved this book. Not at first though. The beginning was pretty. odd. Then it got so much better.
It was great seeing Catalina and Arthur fall in love. They got really close. It was heartbreaking when he died. I will never understand why she wanted to be Queen so bad that she lies about being a virgin.
However, Harry seemed great at first. He was so bright and cheerful, and loved Katherine. But then Anne turned him from Katherine and, well, you know what happens then. Harry beheads most of his wives in the future too.
I definitely enjoyed this book.

My Rating: 4 stars

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead REVIEW

Summary:

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir-the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir-is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.
The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats distractions, and forbidden romance lurd both outside-and within-the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

My Thoughts:

I didn't expect to like this book, or even understand it. I never read any of the author's other books, and my standards for vampire books are really high (because of the pile of poop that is Twilight). However, I loved this book. It was a quick yet captivating read. Sydney is a great main character-she doesn't treat those she fears like poop. Keith is an a-hole and the total opposite of Sydney. I was glad to see him go. Jill is quiet and sweet. Adrian was...interesting? And the alchemists are pretty selfish and awful. Overall, it was really interesting! Would read again.

My Rating: 5 stars

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory REVIEW

Summary:

When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house-Elizabeth of York-to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.
But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III-and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.
Henry's greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.

My Thoughts;

I first noticed this book at a discount store. It looked interesting, but I didn't buy it. I eventually found it at my library, and it was so good. I am somewhat picky when it comes to historical fiction.
Elizabeth is pretty strong to go through this-marrying the man who killed the one she loved. Not only that, but he and his mother treat her like poop.
About halfway through, Henry becomes more likeable. But by the end he is back to being an awful person.
I really love the author's way of writing and will definitely check out more of her books.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Don't Cosplay With My Heart by Cecil Castellucci REVIEW

Summary:

When Edan Kupgerman dresses up like her favorite character, Gargantua, she feels tall and powerful. That's important right now, because her family is a mess, her best friend is gone for the summer, her crush is confusing, and Edan's feeling small and not sure which end is up.
When Edan's cosplaying, she can be angry, loud, and not the good girl everyone thinks she is. And when she's at conventions, she feels like she's found her own Team Tomorrow. But when her personal life starts to spiral out of control, Edan has to figure out whether she needs a sidekick, or if she has the strength to be the hero of her own story.

My Thoughts:

I was a bit worried to read this because of all the not so good reviews, but I ended up enjoying it. It's a nice fast read if you don't want a huge book with a complicated storyline.
Edan is a very sensitive person. Her only best friend is in Japan for her dad's work, and she doesn't have anyone to hang out with until she finally has the courage to ask out her crush.
Basically he turns out to be an a-hole toward her about two thirds into the book and a huge jerk. Edan's dad is on trial for something, her mom can't pull herself together, and her grandma isn't helpful at all toward her.
Overall, it's good for a mindless reading.

My Rating: 4 stars

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter REVIEW

Summary:

When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.
After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could be different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and to raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. But as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, the risk of revealing the truth may come at too high a price for those she loves.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It is very well written, descriptive enough to imagine everything that takes place, and actually has a well developed romance. This just makes me want to read the author's other novels, just because of that.
Kit is a character with lots of depth. She is very secretive about her past, which is what led her to where she is now. She struggles with lots of regret and sadness over what had happened.
Graham's character isn't as much developed...but the romance between them is. It was nice to watch them slowly fall for each other throughout the book.
I would have really liked to know more about Graham's parents and Jess, but you can't have everything you want.
Overall, I definitely recommend you read this. Books like this are incredibly rare to find.

My Rating: 5 stars

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

Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan REVIEW

Summary:

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings . . . but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bang litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.

My Thoughts:

I really thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, although it took me longer to read than normal because of finals week in school...

The story is kind of slow paced to give a lot of information about the cases Sophie is dealing with, the dangers she goes through, and the different people involved.

The only thing I didn't like was the underdevelopment of characters and the romance. Sophie and Ashley were probably the most developed characters. However, the others weren't very developed at all. And while you could see the love Sophie had for Cooper, you never really saw the resolution fully developed at the end between them.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book a lot.

My Rating: 4 stars

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

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston REVIEW

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an out-law by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called DO9, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But DO9--one of the last remaining illegal Metals--has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Ana's desperate effort to save DO9 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn't care what he'll sacrifice to keep them.

And when everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them--and the coordinates--and not everyone wants them captured alive.

What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change their lives--and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana's past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?

My Thoughts:

At first it was kind of tough and slow getting into this book. But as I read more, it got better and better.

The characters Ana, DO9, and Robb were very well developed. I wish more of the characters were too though.

Ana is found out to be the lost princess who was supposed to be dead--not really a new or exciting concept in books these days, but this one wasn't so bad.

The romance between Robb and Jax was...confusing? It wasn't developed at all, and Jax's character wasn't really well developed either.

But with that said, I really enjoyed this book and wouldn't mind reading any future books from this author.

My Rating: 4 stars

First Impressions by Debra White Smith REVIEW

Summary:

In an attempt to get to know the people of London, Texas--the small town that lawyer Eddi Boswick now calls home--she tries out for a local theater group's production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She's thrilled to get the role of lively Elizabeth Bennet . . . until she meets the arrogant--and eligible--rancher playing her leading man.

Dave Davidson chose London, Texas, as the perfect place to live under the radar. Here, no one knows his past, and he can live a quiet, peaceful life with his elderly aunt, who also happens to own the local theater. Dave doesn't even try out for the play, but suddenly he is thrust into the role of Mr. Darcy and forced to spend the entire summer with Eddi, who clearly despises him.

Sparks fly every time Eddi and Dace meet, whether on the stage or off. But when Eddi discovers Dave's secret, she has to admit there might be more to him than she thought. Maybe even enough to change her mind . . . and win her heart.

My Thoughts:

This book sounded somewhat interesting--but it really wasn't for me. I feel like there could have been a lot better story. A retelling with them acting in the original? Not that interesting.

With that said, I did enjoy the fact that the characters (most of them, anyway) were really well developed, which kind of made up for the not-so-interesting storyline. Retellings aren't supposed to have that much resemblance to the original story.

My Rating: 1 star

**I received this book for free from the publisher to review. Thank you!!!**

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely REVIEW

Summary:

Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two thing from her mother: a pair of six-shooters and perfect aim. Those won't get her far on the farming commune, but in the decadent, dangerous city of Cessation, a fast draw will buy her freedom.

So Pity heads west, where lawlessness is a way of life for those on the losing side of the Second Civil War. She's offered fame and fortune as a sharpshooter in the Theatre Vespertine--where she has a chance to make a real home . . . and where she meets Max, an artistic stagehand who introduces her to a vibrant new world.

But there's a dark side to the Theatre: the Finale. Every so often the fighting factions of Cessation have to be kept in line with a little demonstration, a nightmarish public execution . . . and Pity has a starring role.

My Thoughts:

I actually noticed this book at a bookstore a couple months ago and kept forgetting about it but finally I got around to reading it. And I wasn't disappointed.

This is probably one of the best debut novels I've ever read.

Pity grew up with her father and brothers who don't really care for her. Her father doesn't like that she reminds him of her mother so he sells her off. Before she is forced to go, she runs off with her best friend, Finn. Not long after, the vehicle gets attacked and her friend killed--but Max and a few other come by and rescue her. Then she is introduced to Cessation.

I really liked the development of Pity's character and also Max's character, although I would have loved to see more development from some of the side characters as well.

The book was really well written and I definitely recommend reading it.

I hope there will be a sequel.

My Rating: 5 stars

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo REVIEW

Summary:

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law--risking exile--to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Alia Keralis just wants a chance to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn't know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer--a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Two girls will face an army of enemies--mortal and divine--determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they are to have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't really sure what to expect, as I don't know that much about Wonder Woman, partially because I don't really read/watch DC comics/shows. But I was pleasantly surprised.

In the beginning of the book, Diana is resented by the people because she does not fit in with the other Amazons. While trying to win their approval in a race, she finds a girl nearly drowning and saves her. She then finds a way to bring her away from the island and tries to stop the bad things from happening by hunting for a legendary spring.

I really liked the characters. Diana, Alia, and Theo were very well developed characters. I wish more of the characters had that depth.

Also that (SPOILER) betrayal from Jason was so unexpected and fresh.

I would definitely recommend this book!

My Rating: 5 stars

In Places Hidden by Tracie Peterson REVIEW

Summary:

Camrianne Coulter's brother Caleb is a successful San Francisco attorney. But when three months go by without a word from the usually communicative Caleb, Camri boards a train to the booming West Coast city to find out for herself why he hasn't written. When she arrives at his home, nobody seems to know where he is, or what has become of him.

Camri's search for her brother leads her deep into the political corruption of the city--and into the acquaintance of Patrick Murdock, who Caleb successfully defended from a false murder charge. Getting to know this handsome Irish contractor challenges all of Camri's privileged beliefs, but Patrick is unshakably loyal to her brother, and he seems to know more about what happened to Caleb than anyone else.

As the two edge closer to the truth behind Caleb's disappearance, they risk angering the powerful forces that control the city. Can Camri trust Patrick to protect her from the dangers that lie hidden in San Francisco's backstreets?

My Thoughts:

I'm really happy to say that I enjoyed this book a lot. (the cover is also great!!!)

Camri is such an interesting character. She has an education and she's involved with women's suffrage movements despite her high-ish place in society. I would have loved to know more about her past and experiences with that.

Patrick's character was well developed, as was his sister's, which made me happy (not a lot of side characters have depth to them).

But her friends' characters weren't well developed. Kenzie's was the most developed, though. I hope that the story with them continues so we can know them better.

I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries with a small bit of romance.

My Rating: 5 stars

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

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard REVIEW

Summary:

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own--an ability she didn't know she had. Except...her blood is red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard--the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince--and Mare against her own heart.

My Thoughts:

I know I'm pretty late on reading this, but I kind of forgot about this book for a while.

The story was nice. It wasn't entirely original (someone of a lower class has something the higher class wants to kill her for but can't because it will end badly for them if the problem is found out) but this particular way of telling it was interesting.

Love triangles are awful. Honestly, the only one I can stand is the one from the Hunger Games because it's actually developed enough to call it a love triangle. Mare and Cal seem to sort of care for each other, and Mare and Maven seem to sort of care for each other...but it's underdeveloped to the point where I want to throw this book out the window whenever it's implied that they romantically care for each other. If it's not developed, how can we believe it???

The betrayal of Maven was great. I honestly thought it was going to be Cal, but the author surprised me on this one.

The end was nice. It wasn't a cliffhanger, but it still made you want more.

Overall? This book was pretty good, but not the best of it's genre.

My Rating: 4 stars

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard REVIEW

Summary:

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper--

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor...from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her life may hang in the balance.

My Thoughts:

I love the cover and the description--but sadly it's not as good as it sounds.

There's not much steampunk. In fact, the story isn't even that dark. Just about zombies. It doesn't go any further than that. Also, if the author wanted a love triangle she should have actually made it clear that Eleanor and Daniel care for each other. Other than the kiss later on, there's no indication of that. Nor did their "romance" even get resolved. I really should've seen it coming that her brother was the once controlling the zombies. I mean, she gets a letter from a zombie from her brother--and then finds out the zombies are being controlled by a necromancer.

I really want to like this book more, but I don't.

My Rating: 2 stars

Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz REVIEW

**Sequel to The Rains**

Summary:

Phase One of the invasion began with spores that turned everyone over the age of eighteen into vicious, unhuman beings, unrecognizable as the trusted adults they once were. These Hosts paved the way for the invaders and transformed the small town of Creek's Cause into a war zone. Holed up in the local high school, frightened kids and teenagers struggle to survive--at least until their eighteenth birthdays.

Now, a new breed of predatory creatures has been spawned and is spreading across the world, devouring everything in its path. Earth's only hope is two overwhelmed teenage brothers--and their closest friend, Alexandra--who may hold the key to humanity's survival. But how far will they have to go to save everyone and everything they care about?

My Thoughts:

I genuinely didn't know that The Rains had a sequel until now, whoops. But I am glad I found it because the previous book was great.

The story itself is quite interesting, how the aliens are forcing the adults to map out the Earth and wipe out its population for them.

I really liked JoJo. She was adorable. I really, really hated Ben. And I remembered how awful he was in the first book? He's worse in this one.

The fact that the boys can inject themselves with some solution that would kill them but save the rest of humanity was quite interesting. However, the weird love triangle around Chance, Patrick, and Alex was...weird. Like it's one thing to have a crush on your brother's girlfriend, but her saying she has feelings-ish for him while she and Patrick were still together???

Overall though, this book was great.

My Rating: 5 stars

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren REVIEW

Summary:

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined--and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

My Thoughts:

First of all I'd like to say that I love this cover. Whoever designed it did a fabulous job.

Now onto the book itself. It kind of went into the story fast. Normally, there's a reason for that, and it reveals events leading up to the story gradually as the book goes on. But that is not the case with this one. And because there were no flashbacks or much revealed about what happened previously to the beginning, the main characters didn't really seem developed enough. 

That made me kind of upset, because they seemed very interesting and the plot of this book looked interesting too.

My Rating: 3 stars

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

Nightfall by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

Keeper of the Lost Cities series: Book Six
Summary:

Sophie Foster is still struggling. Grieving. Scrambling. But she knows one thing: she will not be defeated.
The Neverseen have had their victories-but the battle is far from over. It's time to change tactics. Make sacrifices. Reexamine everything. Maybe it's even time for Sophie to trust her enemies.
All paths lead to Nightfall-an ominous door to an even more ominous place-and Sophie and her friends strike a dangerous bargain to get there. But nothing can prepare them for what they discover. The problems they're facing stretch deep into their history. And with time running out and mistakes catching up with them, Sophie and her allies must join forces in ways they never have before.

My Thoughts:

As usual, it's a very well written and great installment of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. So far none of them have let me down..
Sophie and her fiends make plans to rescue her human parents and go into Nightfall with the help of Keefe's mom. To do so, they have to make an alliance with the ogres. (spoiler alert) They find Alvar and help him regain concienceness only to find that his memories are gone. All of them. Dex also confesses. (End spoilers) To sum it up lots of great things happened.
AND THERE WAS A CLIFFHANGER!!!!!

My Rating: 5 stars

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White REVIEW

Summary:

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a critical task at the outset of World War I--to secure a crucial cypher key from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only distraction he finds from his worry is in meeting the intriguing and talented Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find the key, or her own family could pay the same price his surely has. 

My Thoughts:

When I first ordered this book, I didn't realize it was a sort of sequel to A Name Unknown, which I really enjoyed.

I really like Willa's character. She seems to have a very interesting past. The book does touch lightly on her past, but I would've loved to know more. Whenever a character has an interesting story, I seem to like the character even more. It would've been interesting to know a bit on how she met the people she calls her family.

I wasn't really fond of Lukas, I don't know why, but his character just wasn't that interesting to me. However, I did really like his sister. She was like one of those minor important characters that really stands out from the others.

I would recommend this book to those who like mystery/historical/spy books.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

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