Tag: 3/5 gavels

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!

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Nov 28

{Review+Giveaway} Twelve Months of Awkward Moments by Lisa Acerbo

Twelve Months of Awkward Moments is a new adult romantic suspense by Lisa Acerbo. This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster ride. First, it wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. I knew there was a stalker involved, but I didn’t know too much more than that other than it was set at a college. I was expecting this to be a light romantic suspense story, heavy on the romance. And I have to tell you, this is a not what I would call a light read. It was much more intense than I was expecting. It took me a while to get my bearings with this novel, but I ended up enjoying the story. The best part of Twelve Months of Awkward Moments were the characters. I absolutely loved Dani. I am going to be 100% honest with you. If I didn’t love Dani so much, and if I didn’t find her so relate able, this book would have taken me a lot longer to get… Read more »

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Aug 20

{Mini Review+Excerpt+Giveaway} Fling Club by Tara Brown

Fling Club is the first book in the Serendipity Series by Tara Brown. This book was so much fun! As you will see below, it was influenced by Cruel Intentions and Gossip Girl, and being that I am huge fans of both of those movies/series, I knew this was going to be the perfect fun summer read. And it totally was. I am already itching for the next book in the Serendipity Series! I will say, that while it shouldn’t come as a surprise, a book that is inspired by Gossip Girl does have a flair for the dramatic. So if that is not your thing in romances, then this might not be the book for you. But if you don’t mind overly dramatic characters, and can read the book for what it is- a guilty pleasure fun read, then I think you will enjoy it. We meet a lot of characters in Fling Club, but the one that sticks out the most is Cheery. I do love a good revenge plot,… Read more »

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Feb 14

{Review} Layover by Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer @GetUnderlined

Layover is a young adult contemporary novel by authors Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer. I love a great sibling story, which is exactly what I got with Layover. Layover follows three step-siblings- Amos, Flynn & Poppy. Layover felt refreshing and delightfully “not canned”. I really enjoyed the emotional themes explored as well as the dynamic between the characters. There is a romance as well, but it didn’t take over the story and best of all, it didn’t take anything away for our three main characters and the other things they are going through. Layover is told in the point of views of Poppy, Amos and Flynn. I really liked this multiple perspective format. It was great to see the rotating chapters because we got to delve deeper into what each of the siblings were going through. Let’s start with Flynn. Flynn’s mom has just passed away, so she goes to live with her father and step-mom, which is Amos and Poppy’s mother. Then we have Amos, who escaped to boarding… Read more »