31 March 2019

Cute Children's Story - The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James

Released This Week

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James
by Ashley Herring Blake





What they say: Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnecting with her lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl in this stunning, heartfelt novel--perfect for fans of Ali Benjamin and Erin Entrada Kelly. 
When Sunny St. James receives a new heart, she decides to set off on a "New Life Plan": 

1) do awesome amazing things she could never do before; 
2) find a new best friend; and 
3) kiss a boy for the first time.

Her "New Life Plan" seems to be racing forward, but when she meets her new best friend Quinn, Sunny questions whether she really wants to kiss a boy at all. With the reemergence of her mother, Sunny begins a journey to becoming the new Sunny St. James.
This sweet, tender novel dares readers to find the might in their own hearts. 


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30 March 2019

Gimme Gimme Gimme - The Red Scrolls of Magic

Coming 9th April

The Red Scrolls of Magic
by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu 




What they say: From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new series that follows High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they tour the world after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.

All Magnus Bane wanted was a vacation—a lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. But as soon as the pair settles in Paris, an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell friend from foe. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec will have to trust each other more than ever—even if it means revealing the secrets they’ve both been keeping.


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29 March 2019

Coming Soon - Defy Me

Ooh the fifth instalment in Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series is out 2nd April.

Defy Me - Shatter Me #5




What they say: The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

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27 March 2019

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - The Bird King

This week I'm reading...

The Bird King
by G. Willow Wilson





What they say: New from the award-winning author of Alif the Unseen and writer of the Ms. Marvel series, G. Willow Wilson

Set in 1491 during the reign of the last sultanate in the Iberian peninsula, The Bird King is the story of Fatima, the only remaining Circassian concubine to the sultan, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker. 

Hassan has a secret--he can draw maps of places he's never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan's surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan's gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls?

As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate.

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26 March 2019

All That We See or Seem - Tour

All That We See or Seem
by Kristina Mahr

Genre: YA Dark Fairy Tale
Release Date: May 2018

Uncommon Universes Press LLC


 

Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.

By day she is a lady of Acarsaid's royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims. Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars. 

Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.

Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what's real, until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.



BUY 

For the tour I'm reviewing book one!

What I say: Reeve lives a double life, one where she's awake and faces certain expectations and another at night where she has terrifying dreams of a dark world full of monstrous creatures, oh and a mysterious dream guy (who can't see or hear her)...

As the niece of the King, Reeve never leaves the castle and is surrounded by protectors, who are hilarious btw! She's lived a pretty sheltered life and so is a bit removed from reality at times. With so many moody or mean characters out there in similar stories, I found Reeve's almost scatterbrained confusion really charming.

Reeve is always entertaining, especially whenever she's around Arden. She becomes kinda even more bumbling, but I'm still not sure what to make of him.

Now on to Bran. I loved their meet-cute or meet-terror. He's super sweet and I really enjoyed watching things develop. Bring on the swoon!

Can Florian get his act together please!

Holy ending Batman!!! Go read the next one, like now!

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!



A Dream Within a Dream
by Kristina Mahr
Genre: YA Dark Fairy Tale
Release Date: March 2019
Uncommon Universes Press LLC




Invisible to the man she loves, Reeve Lennox fights to reclaim him from a dark world. 

As her wedding day nears in Acarsaid, her betrothed Arden offers only his wayward soul and saucy tongue. At night she desperately tries to reach Bran, the young soldier of nightmarish Tenebris who holds her heart. However, her king insists that the realms of Tenebris and Acarsaid must remain separate, lest the evil wizard Rancore brutally conquer all.

But the dark magic of Tenebris defies mere distance. A war is coming, one only Reeve may be able to prevent, if she can reunite her family on opposing sides.

With two kingdoms at stake, Reeve must discover her strength and her family’s legacy before all is lost. Yet righting the wrongs of the past may require the sacrifice of her truest love.




Author Spotlight:



Kristina Mahr devotes her days to numbers and her nights to words. She works full-time as an accountant in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two dogs and two cats, but her true passion is writing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and waking up at the crack of dawn every weekend to watch the Premier League.



Blog Tour Organized By:


 

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25 March 2019

From Breath and Ruin - Tour



From Breath and Ruin - Elements of Five #1
by Carrie Ann Ryan








What they say: In her YA debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan dives into a world with magic and sacrifice with the Elements of Five.

Five hundred years ago, the Maison Realm was shattered, divided into warring kingdoms of elemental Wielders with fate and truth shadowed and uncertain. Now, factions of both the light and dark venture into the human realm in search of the prophesied Spirit Priestess who is said to Wield the Elements of Five to bring the two fractured kingdoms together.


Lyric has no idea that there's a realm outside the human one she lives in. When fate and circumstances are pulled from her hands after an accident, she finds out that nothing is as it seems.

War is raging around her, and when Lyric realizes that they are searching for her, she must rely on those she once trusted as she trains: a boy who isn't who she thought, and a new realm of warriors who have come to protect her.


For the darkness is coming, and the Queen of Obscurité wants to ensure that the King of Lumière can't get his hands on Lyric. And the only way to ensure that is if Lyric herself is no more...no matter the cost to prophecy.





I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!


What I say: I went through a range of emotions reading From Breath and Ruin. I started off distracted by some of the characters immaturity and 'young' language - The beginning is slow. We get detailed descriptions of things like the main character, Lyric's, favourite running outfits and a lot about the usual teen relationship drama, but after this initial slow pace, the action picks up and the characters all go though huge changes. They find the missing maturity and become more developed characters. As a result the narrative improves and I could understand their 'voices' more.


I found Lyric difficult to like at first because she's full of doubt and lacks confidence - I blame a lot of this on Emory (more on her later). I did warm to Lyric throughout the story as I began to empathise with her struggle and the huge revelations. 

I really liked Braelynn. Kind characters are often underrated in stories but I appreciated the support she provides and the balance she brings to the plot. Emory - ugh! I know we're not supposed to like her, but I really wanted her to disappear and never be mentioned again. I kept thinking she can't be that selfish all the time.

Oh Rhodes! I liked him and wanted to see his confidence grow. I liked his badassery (yep I know it's not a word) and did find him charming. My suspicious mind kept expecting him to do something terrible - no spoilers here!

Once the story gets going, it's an engaging read and I like how everything is set up ready for the next book...!

4 Stars in my Sky!




Author Spotlight:

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.






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24 March 2019

New Release - Queenie

This funny story was released last week - be prepared to smile!

Queenie
by Candice Carty-Williams




What they say: Queenie Jenkins can't cut a break. Well, apart from the one from her long term boyfriend, Tom. That's definitely just a break though. Definitely not a break up. Then there's her boss who doesn't seem to see her and her Carribbean family who don't seem to listen (if it's not Jesus or water rates, they're not interested). She's trying to fit in two worlds that don't really understand her. It's no wonder she's struggling.

She was named to be queen of everything. So why is she finding it so hard to rule her own life?

A darkly comic and bitingly subversive take on life, love, race and family, QUEENIE will have you nodding in recognition, crying in solidarity, and rooting for this unforgettable character every step of the way.


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23 March 2019

Recent Release - Space

Space - Laws of Physics #2
by Penny Reid




What they say: One week.
Private cabin.
Famous physicist.
Still an unrepentant slacker.
What’s the worst that could happen?

Mona’s meticulously planned allotment of relaxation is thrown into chaos by the unscheduled appearance of her older brother’s band of friends, including the one person she'd hoped to never face again. Abram still makes her feel entirely too much, which is one of the reasons she disappeared after their one week together. But now, trapped on a mountain of snow and things unspoken, Mona will have to find a way to coexist with Abram, chaos and all.


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22 March 2019

Am reading - The Portal

The Portal - Tangled in Time #1
by Kathryn Lasky




What they say: Life used to be great for Rose: full of friends, a loving mom, and a growing fashion blog.

But when her mother dies in a car crash, Rose is sent away to live with a strange grandmother she hardly knows and forced to attend a new school where mean girls ridicule her at every turn.

The one place Rose finds refuge is in her grandmother’s Tudor-style greenhouse. But one night, she sees a strange light glowing from within it. She climbs a ladder to investigate . . . and finds herself transported back four hundred years to Hatfield Palace, where she becomes servant and confidante of the banished princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII. Rose soon discovers something else surprising—a locket with two mysterious images inside it, both of them clues to her own past.

Could her grandmother’s greenhouse portal offer answers to the mysteries of her family . . . and their secrets? And how will she ever unravel them all?


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21 March 2019

The Infamous Duchess - Historical Romance Review

The Infamous Duchess - Diamonds in the Rough #4
by Sophie Barnes




What they say: A woman with a shocking past… 

Branded a money-hungry con artist for marrying the elderly Duke of Tremaine days before his death, Viola Cartwright has found refuge in her work at St. Agatha’s Hospital. No one must know the painful reason behind her marriage. She steers clear of attachments—until Henry Lowell, heir to the Viscount Armswell, lands on her operating table after a duel. Charming and wickedly handsome, Lowell is one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels. Yet he may not be all that he appears.

And the man who can promise a future filled with love… 

Posing as an unrepentant rake has helped Lowell avoid women pursuing him only for his title. But now that duty has finally called on him to marry, he finds himself entranced by the mysterious, independent-minded Viola. Then her late husband’s son returns from overseas, contesting Viola’s inheritance. Lowell longs to help her and sets out to convince Viola that a strategic union may be the best way to save all she holds dear. But can he also persuade her to take a chance on love…?

Releases 26th March by Avon books.



I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Some say Viola is a money grabbing, social climber, whilst others would say she's a bit odd. I'd say she's really unlucky and has suffered a lot of pain in her life so far.

Her marriage to the much older, and unwell Duke of Tremaine days before his death, see Viola in a elevated position as a wealthy Duchess, but she has no interest in society and prefers to develop her hospital and use her position for good.

Current Viscount and future Earl, Henry finds himself the target for many matchmaking mothers and sets himself the reputation of rake to avoid marriage. He finds himself in hospital, being treated by a beautiful woman. Little does he know that she's actually the infamous Duchess of Tremaine!

The story is sweet and funny. In this cold weather, it's lovely to read a story set in another lifetime.

I enjoyed all the medical interludes and Viola's passion to help people is a delight to see. I enjoyed their slow burning friendship and wanted them to find a HEA. The secondary characters are an interesting bunch - I liked Florian!

4 Stars in my Sky!

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20 March 2019

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - All That We See or Seem

This week I'm reading...

All That We See or Seem
by Kristina Mahr





What they say: Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.

By day she is a lady of Acarsaid's royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims. Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars. 

Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.

Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what's real, until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.

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19 March 2019

From Breath and Ruin is LIVE!!


From Breath and Ruin - Elements of Five #1
by Carrie Ann Ryan





What they say: In her YA debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan dives into a world with magic and sacrifice with the Elements of Five.


Five hundred years ago, the Maison Realm was shattered, divided into warring kingdoms of elemental Wielders with fate and truth shadowed and uncertain. Now, factions of both the light and dark venture into the human realm in search of the prophesied Spirit Priestess who is said to Wield the Elements of Five to bring the two fractured kingdoms together.


Lyric has no idea that there's a realm outside the human one she lives in. When fate and circumstances are pulled from her hands after an accident, she finds out that nothing is as it seems.

War is raging around her, and when Lyric realizes that they are searching for her, she must rely on those she once trusted as she trains: a boy who isn't who she thought, and a new realm of warriors who have come to protect her.


For the darkness is coming, and the Queen of Obscurité wants to ensure that the King of Lumière can't get his hands on Lyric. And the only way to ensure that is if Lyric herself is no more...no matter the cost to prophecy.



I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!



What I say: I went through a range of emotions reading From Breath and Ruin. I started off distracted by some of the characters immaturity and 'young' language - The beginning is slow. We get detailed descriptions of things like the main character, Lyric's, favourite running outfits and a lot about the usual teen relationship drama, but after this initial slow pace, the action picks up and the characters all go though huge changes. They find the missing maturity and become more developed characters. As a result the narrative improves and I could understand their 'voices' more.


I found Lyric difficult to like at first because she's full of doubt and lacks confidence - I blame a lot of this on Emory (more on her later). I did warm to Lyric throughout the story as I began to empathise with her struggle and the huge revelations. 

I really liked Braelynn. Kind characters are often underrated in stories but I appreciated the support she provides and the balance she brings to the plot. Emory - ugh! I know we're not supposed to like her, but I really wanted her to disappear and never be mentioned again. I kept thinking she can't be that selfish all the time.

Oh Rhodes! I liked him and wanted to see his confidence grow. I liked his badassery (yep I know it's not a word) and did find him charming. My suspicious mind kept expecting him to do something terrible - no spoilers here!

Once the story gets going, it's an engaging read and I like how everything is set up ready for the next book...!

4 Stars in my Sky!




Author Spotlight:

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.


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18 March 2019

Cover Reveal - Steel Tide

The cover for the second instalment in Natalie C. Parker's Seafire series was released last week. What do you think?

Steel Tide - Seafire #2
by Natalie C. Parker




What they say: The second book in a heart-stopping trilogy that follows the captain of an all-female ship intent on taking down a vicious warlord's powerful fleet.

Caledonia may have lost her crew, but she's not done fighting yet. After nearly dying at the hand of a powerful foe, Caledonia is pulled from the sea and nursed back to health by a crew of former Bullets that call themselves Blades. The Blades escaped Aric Athair's clutches and now live a nomadic existence, ready to disappear at a moment's notice should trouble come their way.

But Caledonia wants to do more than just hide. She wants to find the Mors Navis and her beloved sisters. She wants to continue fighting Aric's fleet and to take back the Bullet seas. She'll need to do everything in her power to convince the Blades that fighting is their only option, that there has to be a life better than the one under Aric Athair's reign, and that finding the women of the Mors Navis is the first step to revolution.

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17 March 2019

Am Reading - What the Wind Knows

This is a bit of a change from what I usually read but am really enjoying it.

What the Wind Knows
by Amy Harmon




What they say: In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything…

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make? 


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