Tag: 3/5 gavels

Jun 17

{ARC Review+Giveaway} The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate by Sandy Hall

The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate was an ok read. It is a young adult contemporary romance standalone by Sandy Hall. I wanted to love this book so much. It has so many elements that are big winners to me. I love a hate to love dynamic. In fact, it is one of my favorite. And I did really enjoy some aspects of this story, but there were also some character issues that detracted from my enjoyment. Do let me break down what I liked and what I didn’t like as much. Let’s start with what I liked: First, I love a enemies to love trope. I find the banter, the pranks, the revenge all a lot of fun to read about. And there were plenty of pranks, and revenge present in this story. It was a fun read, and the overall romance progression was nice. It was so clear that Paisley and Carter are well suited. They both so clearly like each other, that Paisley had to actively… Read more »

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Jun 11

{Review+Giveaway} Rules We’re Meant to Break by Natalie Williamson

Rules We’re Meant to Break is young adult contemporary romance by Natalie Williamson. This might sound kind of weird, but I was immediately drawn into this book because of it’s cover. It is not a traditionally beautiful young adult cover, but it made me think that I would relate to the main character, Amber. I loved how neat and orderly everything was. That plus the reference to rules, and I knew this was going to be a really cute read that would make me smile. And it totally was. Rules We’re Meant to Break is an adorable romance full of heart. You might think Amber, who is our main character, has these rules set out for herself, but no. Initially, these rules were put in place for Amber to survive her mother’s long string of boyfriends. I loved Amber’s love of dogs, and animals in general. I really, really loved Buffy her dog, and Amber’s obsession with the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but sadly, I didn’t connect with Amber… Read more »

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Jun 06

{Review+Giveaway} Forever Chosen by K.L. Bone

Forever Chosen is an adult paranormal romance novella in the vampire brides series. The books in the vampire brides series are each standalones, so they can be read in any order, and they are all written by different authors and have different lengths and heat levels. I like the concept behind a series like this, and I think it would be perfect if you are craving some vampire romance. My problem is I think I am just over vampires at the moment. Most of the time, they don’t feel unique or different enough, and that was kind of my experience with Forever Chosen. This book was ok. It was well written and the story and characters were fine. It just didn’t excite me because I didn’t really want to be reading about vampires. That is entirely a me issue, not a book issue. I think if you are in the mood for a vampire romance, this book and this series will be right up your alley. Forever Chosen is the… Read more »

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May 01

{Review+Giveaway} The Peabrain’s Idea by Martha Carr

The Peabrain’s Idea is the first book in the Peabrain Adventures series, which is a fantasy series, by Martha Carr. First of all, I should say that I am not a huge fan of the title. In this series, a peabrain is a word used to describe humans (more on this later), but the zany, and kind of rude, name fits with the zany nature of this story. The Peabrain’s idea was certainly a different, in a mostly interesting way fantasy novel than I am used to reading. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away. In the Peabrain’s Idea, we meet our main character Maggie, who is a detective. I love that she is such a logical practical person, because seeing her get swept up in something so zany and not practical was kind of funny. The Peabrain’s Idea starts off on a great note. We dive right into the action and we learn very early on that Maggie is an elemental, right after a weird encounter with… Read more »

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Apr 19

{Review+Giveaway} S.S.S. Year One (Supernatural Spy Academy) by Yumoyori Wilson

S.S.S. Year One is the first book in the Supernatural Spy Academy series by Yumoyori Wilson. The Supernatural Spy Academy starts off with a really cool concept. With an origin of many super hero world stories, there was a change that spread throughout earth which changed people into witches and other supernatural creatures. The Supernatural Spy Academy is a prestigious school where shifters train to become spies. But witches have never graduated from the academy. This is something that our main character, Silver Spell Solange (see what the author did there with another SSS?) is hoping to change. She has always dreamed of graduating from the Academy, but getting in and staying in is no easy feat. Their entrance exam is essentially a dangerous magical quest, which you know is completely up my alley. Silver was a decent main character, and I am starting to warm up to her group of classmates/quest teammates. But honestly, some of their storylines felt a bit forced, and were a little off putting to… Read more »

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Mar 29

{ARC Review} Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan

Wicked Saints is the first book in the dark fantasy series, called the Something Dark and Holy series by author Emily A. Duncan. I am all about dark fantasy, so I was super excited to dive into a new world. And even better if it is the first book to a new series. Wicked Saints has a lot of things that I really enjoy in a book. I really liked that the magic system was intertwined with politics and religion. I loved the russian inspired setting. That is a setting that I don’t read about too much in the young adult fantasy realm, but it is a fascinating landscape. I had a few pacing issues with the story, but I am still interested to see where this series will go from here. Wicked Saints is the story of a holy war between Kalyazin and Tranavia that has been going on for centuries. At the root of this holy war is magic. More specifically, the ability to talk to the gods… Read more »

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Mar 05

{Release Day Review} THE DRAGON OF NEW ORLEANS by GENEVIEVE JACK

The Dragon of New Orleans is the first in the adult fantasy series, The Treasure of Paragon, by author Genevieve Jack. I enjoyed this book, and I think I will likely continue on with the series, but it didn’t blow me away like I was hoping it would. It is no secret that I love fantasy books, and I have been very into dragon tropes for the past 6 months or so. The Dragon of New Orleans was a good book and there were many things that I really enjoyed about it, but it was not my favorite dragon related story in the romance department. But first, let’s start with the elements of the story that I really enjoyed. I loved that the world building in the novel. I thought Raven’s abilities, and bloodlines were really interesting, and Paragon was very cool. Both are something I look forward to exploring and learning more about in the next installment. I loved some of the secondary characters, as well as the curse… Read more »

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Feb 07

{Review+Giveaway} Silver Hollow by Jennifer Silverwood

Silver Hollow is the first book in the Borderlands saga by Jennifer Silverwood. The borderlands saga is a young adult fantasy romance that blended arthurian legend with fae legend. I have never seen this type blending before but I have to say I was loving it! I cannot wait for the next book in the saga because this was unlike anything I have read before. I am a huge fan of fae stories, and I have always been a fan of the legend of king Arthur. I’m not going to tell you exactly how the two things intertwine in the story (because…spoilers!) but I will say it is pretty cool. In Silver Hollow, we meet Amie. One of my not so favorite tropes was used to kick start this book (parents tragically dying) but it did serve it’s purpose in propelling Amie on a surprise adventure. She is whisked off and finds herself in a town that feels like another world. Amie gets to know a long lost relative of… Read more »

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Jan 25

{Review+Giveaway} The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh

The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me is a young adult contemporary novel by Olivia Hinebaugh. There were a few things I didn’t love about this novel, but overall I thought it was still a good read. The good certainly outweighed my few gripes. So let’s start with the good. The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me is a novel that is both very educational and was a cute coming of age story. I really enjoyed our main character, Lacey( most of the time). And I loved her friendship with Theo and Evita. Her friend group was my favorite part of the story. Lacey was happy enjoying her senior year in high school, playing and listening to as much music as possible with her best friends, but when her school decides to take an abstinence only approach to sex education, Lacey decides to counter this sex health education. She falls into the position as a virgin sex health expert, and the book takes o And now for the few things… Read more »

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Dec 03

${Mini Review+News+Giveaway} Duty Bound by Christina Bauer @CB_Bauer$

{Mini Review+News+Giveaway} Duty Bound by Christina Bauer @CB_Bauer

Today we are celebrating the paperback release of four novels (& novellas) from author Chirstina Bauer! She is releasing books from a few of her different series in Paperback this month, so it is the perfect time to check them out! If you are new to Christina Bauer, here is some more information on the books she is releasing. Check out more info on the books below, and then I have a mini review and excerpt from Duty Bound as well as a great giveaway!