It's Monday! What Are You Reading #360, April 30th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #359
Teaser Tuesday #367
WWW Wednesday #367
WOW #364
Will the Time Come #358
Third Sentence Thursday #349
Random Reads #335
First Lines Friday #363
The Reward Challenge Update #344
Book Blogger Hop #29
How Well I Stuck to It #197
Wrote that Review Update #194

Week 17 Reviews:
Before We Were Strangers
Where Would You Be Now?
The Wild Dead
Bones to Ashes
Inferno
This Mortal Coil
Cruel Beauty
Gilded Ashes
Between the Heart and the Blade
From the Earth to the Shadows

Tours:
Dark Queen: Giveaway

Random:
We Have the Cover of Crown of Shards #1!!!!

OK, so I got 21 posts in 7 days, I read a decent amount, and I saw Infinity War yesterday! But otherwise I slept on Sunday, knocked out by a migraine that's still getting me today. Much more sleep needed! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Beast, Black Star Renegades, A Court of Night and Frost, Devil Bones, and Endless Water, Starless Sky.

Filled with magic and fierce emotion, Lisa Jensen's multilayered novel will make you question all you think you know about beauty, beastliness, and happily ever after.

They say Château Beaumont is cursed. But servant-girl Lucie can't believe such foolishness about handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, master of the estate. But when the chevalier's cruelty is revealed, Lucie vows to see him suffer. A wisewoman grants her wish, with a spell that transforms Jean-Loup into monstrous-looking Beast, reflecting the monster he is inside. But Beast is nothing like the chevalier. Jean-Loup would never patiently tend his roses; Jean-Loup would never attempt poetry; Jean-Loup would never express remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. Gradually, Lucie realizes that Beast is an entirely different creature from the handsome chevalier, with a heart more human than Jean-Loup's ever was. Lucie dares to hope that noble Beast has permanently replaced the cruel Jean-Loup — until an innocent beauty arrives at Beast's château with the power to break the spell.

Cade Sura holds the future of the galaxy in his hands: the ultimate weapon that will bring total peace. He didn't ask for it, he doesn't want it, and there's no worse choice to wield it in all of space, but if he doesn't, everyone's totally screwed. The evil Praxis kingdom is on the cusp of having every star system under its control, and if that happens, there'll be no contesting their cruel reign. Especially if its fanatical overlord, Ga Halle, manages to capture Cade and snag the all-powerful weapon for herself.

Cade can't hide from Praxis, and he can't run from the destiny that's been shoved into his hands. So he only has one option:

He has to fight.

Cade's not going to let destiny send him on a suicide run, though. With some help from his friends—rebels and scoundrels alike—Cade's going to use this weapon to chart a new destiny for the galaxy, and for himself. He just has to do so before everyone around him discovers that he's a complete and total fraud.

The Winter Solstice. In a week. I was still new enough to being High Lady that I had no idea what my formal role was to be. If we'd have a High Priestess do some odious ceremony, as lanthe had done the year before. A year. Gods, nearly a year since Rhys had called in his bargain, desperate to get me away from the poison of the Spring Court to save me from my despair. Had he been only a minute later, the Mother knew what would have happened. Where I'd now be. Snow swirled and eddied in the garden, catching in the brown fibers of the burlap covering the shrubs My mate who had worked so hard and so selflessly, all without hope that I would ever be with him We had both fought for that love, bled for it. Rhys had died for it.

In a house under renovation, a plumber uncovers a cellar no one knew about, and makes a rather grisly discovery — a decapitated chicken, animal bones, and cauldrons containing beads, feathers, and other relics of religious ceremonies. In the center of the shrine is the skull of a teenage girl. Meanwhile, on a nearby lakeshore, the headless body of a teenage boy is found by a man walking his dog.

Led by a preacher turned politician, citizen vigilantes blame devil worshippers and Wiccans and begin a witch hunt, intent on seeking revenge. Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan — "five-five, feisty, and forty-plus" — is called in to investigate, and a complex and gripping tale unfolds in this deadly mix of voodoo, Santería, and devil worship.

In the last days of the world, the walls of Viyara are still falling, and the dead are rising faster than ever.

Juliet is trapped—ordered by Lord Ineo of the Mahyanai to sacrifice the remaining members of her family, the Catresou, to stave off the end of the world. Though they're certain his plan is useless, Juliet and her former friend Runajo must comply with Lord Ineo's wishes—unless they can discover a different, darker path to protecting Viyara.

Romeo is tortured: finally aware that his true love is alive, he is at once elated and devastated, for his actions led directly to the destruction of her clan. The only way to redemption is to offer his life to the Catresou to protect and support them . . . even if it means dying to do so.

When Romeo's and Juliet's paths converge once again, only a journey into Death will offer answers and the key to saving them all—but is it a journey either of them will survive?

Wrote that Review Update #194, April 29th

If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Before We Were Strangers, Where Would You Be Now? and The Wild Dead, Bones to Ashes, Inferno, This Mortal Coil, Cruel Beauty and Gilded Ashes, Between the Heart and the Blade and From the Earth to the Shadows, so I have 7 of 7 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #197, April 29th

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 18:
Beauty by Lisa Jensen, Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci, A Court of Night and Frost by Sarah J. Maas, Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs, Endless Water, Starless Sky by Rosamond Hodge

Tour Books: 1. Check.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: 1. Check.

Edelweiss: 1. Check.

Meme Books: NA.

Rereads: NA.

New Books: 2. Check.

This is a slightly longer week, but I had a good week and I have a lot of great books to read this week!

Week 17:
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak, From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking, Inferno by Julie Kagawa

vs.

Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak, Where Would You Be Now? by Carrie Vaughn, The Wild Dead by Carrie Vaughn, Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs, Inferno by Julie Kagawa, This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada, Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge, Between the Heart and the Blade by Amanda Hocking, From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking

Yeah! I read all of what I wanted to read, and more! So yeah, that's a good week, and I can't wait for next week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 17 Reviews: Between the Blade and the Heart, From the Earth to the Shadows

From Goodreads:
Valkyries have one great responsibility: to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos. 

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—she's also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin's ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

From Goodreads:
Malin's mission to avenge her mother's murder has uncovered dangerous secrets. As a Valkyrie-in-training, Malin must slay immortals who've had their time, to maintain balance between humans and immortals. But her quest could destroy earth's stability – and unleash chaos.

Just when she needs to focus, her friend Asher is in grave danger. He's been dragged into the underworld, where vengeful immortals plot revolution. Malin believes her feelings mustn't distract from her goal – but is desperate to rescue him. So she ventures into the darkest of realms, knowing she may not survive. With new allies at her side and new enemies ahead, Malin will face terrible choices. She'll have to keep her head – or be ruled by her heart.

My Review:
Oh, I really enjoyed reading these books! They were in a different world, of immortals and mortals, and I loved the world building! Plus these characters were pretty great, though sometimes I just wanted to shake my fists at them!

One big thing was free will, and the fact that the people in this world, they don't have it. Everything that was happening, was pre-determined to happen. On one hand, boo, no free choices and making your own mistakes and wonderful decisions, on the other, you're not to blame for anything that goes wrong in your life.

The first book was more about what happens when a Valkyrie doesn't kill an immortal like they're supposed to. Because Malin's mom decided that this one dude that she was supposed to kill was a good person and did good for the world. And boy, were there consequences!

The second book continued with those consequences, but there were also the missions that Odin was sending her on, and discovering just how much they could change the world. Some pretty heady stuff, what with the world in chaos, and all! Loved how it all worked out!

These books were so great, and I really enjoyed reading them!

Author: Amanda Hocking
Series: Valkyrie #1, 2
Read: April 27th, 27th, 2018
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they're 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books and a WoW Books! And From the Earth to the Shadows is a End of Series 2018 Book!
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: January 2nd 2018, April 24th 2018

Between the Blade and the Heart:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

From the Earth to the Shadows:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Reviews: Cruel Beauty, Gilded Ashes

From Goodreads:
Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

From Goodreads:
A romantic and fantastical reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale, Gilded Ashes is a novella by Rosamund Hodge set in the same world as the author's debut novel, Cruel Beauty.

Orphan Maia doesn't see the point of love when it only brings pain: Her dying mother made a bargain with the evil, all-powerful ruler of their world that anyone who hurt her beloved daughter would be punished; her new stepmother went mad with grief when Maia's father died; and her stepsisters are desperate for their mother's approval, yet she always spurns them. And though her family has turned her into a despised servant, Maia must always pretend to be happy, or else they'll all be struck dead by the curse.

Anax, heir to the Duke of Sardis, doesn't believe in love either—not since he discovered that his childhood sweetheart was only using him for his noble title. What's the point of pretending to fall in love with a girl just so she'll pretend to fall in love with him back? But when his father invites all the suitable girls in the kingdom to a masked ball, Anax must finally give in and select a wife.

As fate would have it, the preparations for the masquerade bring him Maia, who was asked by her eldest stepsister to deliver letters to Anax. Despite a prickly first encounter, he is charmed and intrigued by this mysterious girl who doesn't believe in love. Anax can't help wishing to see her again—and when he does, he can't help falling in love with her. Against her will, Maia starts to fall in love with him too. But how can she be with him when every moment his life is in danger from her mother's deadly bargain?

My first review of Cruel Beauty
My Review:
Oh, wow, I enjoyed reading these books so much! I mean, Cruel Beauty was one of my top reads of 2014, but I hadn't read Gilded Ashes, so it was so great to go and read these both together! My one thing is, that Gilded Ashes should be 0.5, since Ignifex has a minor role, and in Cruel Beauty, well, yeah, that can't happen after Cruel Beauty!

I remember when I first was waiting for Cruel Beauty to come out, and I found a short excerpt of the first few chapters, and they just pulled me right away. Even having read this book before, they did so again, which just proves that it was well written. I just had to devour it!

Both of these books were really clever and twisty, and plotted to a T. From Ignifex and Shade, the last prince of the kingdom, to whole inside/outside thing, to the deals made. They were just so incredible to read about!

I really enjoyed Gilded Ashes, it was a wonderful take on Cinderella, and it definitely had unique elements, like her mom being a ghost trying to make sure her daughter is happy-but it means that Maia always has to pretend. A lot happens quickly in the end, but it was so great to read!

These books were just incredible to read, and I can't wait to read more by Rosamund Hodge!

Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: Cruel Beauty Universe #1, 1.5
First Read: January 29th, 2014
Read: April 27th, 27th, 2018
Source: Own, Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Rereading! And they're 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books! And Gilded Ashes is a WTC Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: January 28th 2014, April 1st 2014

Cruel Beauty:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Gilded Ashes:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Review: This Mortal Coil

From Goodreads:
In this gripping debut novel, seventeen-year-old Cat must use her gene-hacking skills to decode her late father's message concealing a vaccine to a horrifying plague.

Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that's not what makes her special. In Cat's world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius.

That's no surprise, since Cat's father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.

When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat's instincts tell her it's just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat's help to release it and save the human race.

Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself? 

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book so much! It was so unique, with the plague and how it worked, and gene-hacking, and how the world is because of all of these things. It was so different and unique and I really enjoyed reading about it!

The idea of a plague that spreads by exploding its victims, yeah, not cool. But even worse, is that to get immunity to it, you have to eat the flesh of someone who is infected, but who isn't at the exploding phase yet...yeah. It's a pretty harsh world.

I really enjoyed Cat, she's had a hard time, since her dad and his assistant, her crush, are taken away by Carataxus. Who her dad said were really bad. I really enjoyed watching her go on this journey, to release the cure that her dad created. There were a lot of ups and downs, and some terrifying moments that were just so great to read!

Twist after twist happened. Like, when they actually released the cure, but a) she didn't die in the process, and b) there was more code then expected. And then that ending, wow! Everything came together, and it was just mind-blowing! Loved it!

The ending was also evil, and I really can't wait for the next book! I need to read it, because this one was so freaking good!

Author: Emily Suvada
Series: This Mortal Coil #1
Read: April 26th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2018 Dystopia Book, DAC Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 and a RR Book!
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: November 7th 2017

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Review: Inferno

From Goodreads:
From the New York Times, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of The Iron Fey and the Blood of Eden series comes the fiery, hugely anticipated finale of The Talon Saga… 

INFERNO 

What if dragons walked among us in human form? Enter a modern fantasy of heroes, sacrifice, forbidden love and enemies turned allies who have no choice but to fight side by side… Don't miss the epic conclusion as Ember, Riley and Garrett face off against Dante and the Talon dragon clones. Join them…or burn.

My Review:
I loved reading this book! After the ending of Legion, I just needed to know what would happen next! And yeah, it's the last book in the series, which is a bit sad, but it was a heck of a send off! I loved reading it, and it was a heck of an book!

After the devastation of the previous book, where basically all of the Order of St. George is wiped out, all I wanted to know was what would happen next. And we didn't have to wait long for a plan or for action! Bah, so great!

So much happened in this book, from meeting another really old dragon, to the offense against the compound holding captive breeding females, to dealing with tensions between dragons and St. George personnel, that was just fantastic to read, good pacing and changes between action scenes, info scenes and emotional ones! So great!

Loved that ending! It was fierce, and it hurt, there were incredible losses. Dante was one that really hit you in the feels, because he knew the truth and how it all played out...yeah, emotional! And then that Ember would be in charge of Talon now, well, it does serve a purpose, it just had bad leadership!

This book was really fantastic and such a great read, and I'm so glad that I read it!

Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Talon #5
Read: April 24th, 2018
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2018 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: April 24th 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Review: Bones to Ashes

From Goodreads:
Temperance Brennan, like her creator Kathy Reichs, is a brilliant, sexy forensic anthropologist called on to solve the toughest cases. But for Tempe, the discovery of a young girl's skeleton in Acadia, Canada, is more than just another assignment. Évangéline, Tempe's childhood best friend, was also from Acadia. Named for the character in the Longfellow poem, Évangéline was the most exotic person in Tempe's eight-year-old world. When Évangéline disappeared, Tempe was warned not to search for her, that the girl was "dangerous." 

Thirty years later, flooded with memories, Tempe cannot help wondering if this skeleton could be the friend she lost so many years ago. And what is the meaning of the strange skeletal lesions found on the bones of the young girl?

Meanwhile, Tempe's beau, Ryan, investigates a series of cold cases. Three girls dead. Four missing. Could the New Brunswick skeleton be part of the pattern? As Tempe draws on the latest advances in forensic anthropology to penetrate the past, Ryan hunts down a serial predator.

My first review of Bones to Ashes
My Review:
Yeah, I enjoyed reading this book so much! Sure, it's one of the last books that I know that she's with Ryan, but it also deals with her past with her friend that went missing, so yeah, that was different and I enjoyed reading it!

It has been a long time since I last read this book, about 7 years. So there was a lot of this book that I'd forgotten, like what her friend's family was hiding, and all the truth there, so yeah, that was really awesome to read!

Honestly, the whole idea that Ryan had to be with Lily's mom, no, I don't think that was needed. They really only should have had to stand together, they didn't need to try to be together. That just seems over the top, and I didn't like it!

The ending was pretty bittersweet, that they'd had these belief about lepers that was just outdated, and that she suffered so long when she didn't need to, yeah, that sucks. But the truth is out so she'll have treatment and yeah, that she and Tempe can have a relationship again!

This book was awesome, and I can't wait to reread one more book I think,m and then read the rest of the series!

Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #10
First Read: June 4th, 2011
Read: April 23rd, 2018
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book!
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: August 28th 2007

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Reviews: Where Would You Be Now?, The Wild Dead

From Goodreads:
The world as they know it is ending, a new world is taking its place. Among the doctors and nurses of a clinic-turned-fortress, Kath is coming of age in this new world, and helping define it. But that doesn't make letting go of the old any easier.

From Goodreads:
A century after environmental and economic collapse, the people of the Coast Road have rebuilt their own sort of civilization, striving not to make the mistakes their ancestors did. They strictly ration and manage resources, including the ability to have children. Enid of Haven is an investigator, who with her new partner Teeg is called on to mediate a dispute between households over an old building in a far-flung settlement at the edge of Coast Road territory. 

The investigators' decision seems straightforward--and then the body of a young woman turns up in the nearby marshland. Almost more shocking than that: she's not from the Coast Road, but from one of the outsider camps, belonging to the nomads and wild folk who live outside the Coast Road communities. Now one of them is dead, and Enid wants to find out who killed her, even as Teeg argues that the murder isn't their problem.

In a dystopian future of isolated communities, can our moral sense survive the worst hard times?

My Review:
I really enjoyed reading these stories! Where Would You Be Now is a nice short story of the beginning of the old, and the building of the society that is The Coastal Road. And then The Wild Dead gave us another mystery! So great to read!

Kath was mentioned in Bannerless, as the only remaining person who remembered what the world was like before it crashed. It was so great to see her as a young lady, helping the doctors and nurses. It was a great look into what life was like then, when things were in chaos!

The Wild Dead, Enid has a new partner who is nowhere near as good as the one who died in the previous book. Sure, he's new at the job, and is learning a lot from Enid, but he's prejudiced and pounces on the easy solutions. I didn't like him!

While they were only there for a simple case on judging whether a building should stay or not, and should the neighbors help or not, but then a murder is discovered. I felt bad for Enid, because she's starting to build a reputation for solving murders!

Honestly, the whole situation made me mad. The murderer, the reasoning behind that act, was just outrageous! Just because they didn't follow the same rules built by the Coast Road communities, that doesn't mean she's not a person! The ending was fitting, and still I'm upset that it happened at all!

That last chapter, though, was much lighter and made for a fantastic ending! Loved it, and I wouldn't mind another book in this series! 

Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: The Coastal Road #0.5, 2
Read: April 22nd, 22nd, 2018
Source: Online, Edelweiss
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and they're 2018 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books, and The Wild Dead is a WoW Book!
Publisher: Tor Books, Mariner Books
Published: February 7th 2018
Expected Publication: July 1st 2018

Where Would You Be Now?:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Wild Dead:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 17 Review: Before We Were Strangers

From Goodreads:
Something happened to her mother that night. Something no one wants to talk about. But she's determined to uncover her family's dark secrets, even if they bury her.

Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn't sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound—the ominous thump before all went quiet.

In the morning, her mother was gone.

The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn't sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn't just difficult—he was deadly.

Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a small town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend and a father and brother who'd rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn't whether she can uncover what really happened that night…it's what will remain of her family if she does? 

My Review:
Wow, this book was so awesome! I always enjoy Brenda Novak books, and this was no exception, I just couldn't stop reading it! It was so good and tightly plotted, so while there's not a lot of action besides discovering clues, it's very fast paced! Loved it!

I felt so bad for Sloane, believing that her dad killed her mom. Even if he didn't, the situation remained that her mom was gone, and her dad wasn't always the nicest person. And then there was Micah, who was really awesome, but that she'd left behind when she left her hometown. And that he'd had a life, which caused some friction with the two of them, and her friend Paige with whom he'd had said life.

Reading this book, I was always on edge that something bad was going to happen. There was this one point with her brother where it got really tense, but it was more her dad that I was worried about. I mean, Sloane has reason to suspect that her dad killed her mom. So I was kept on the seat of my pants, worrying that he might come after her. There were a few scenes where the tension for us readers was particularly high, and they went by so fast!

Sloane's dad, Ed, wasn't the nicest guy. Sure, he was Mayor and was popular, but he kept his dark side hidden, and he could be really cruel. Case in point, that she could even believe he had killed her mom. He also wasn't faithful, and he used his power in a lot of ways that it shouldn't have been used.

There should always be checks and balances on power. The chief of police being buddies with the Mayor, that negates some of the checks. Innocent until proven guilty, yeah, but also nobody should be above suspicion. Because everybody can do bad things under the right-or wrong-circumstances.

How it all ended, with the truth coming out, was pretty vindicating. There were a lot of red herrings, but her mother got justice, and Sloane settled into a pretty happy life. It worked out well, and I was glad for that olive branch that was extended, for forgiveness and closeness. So great!

This book was so fantastic and I really enjoyed reading it!

Author: Brenda Novak
Read: April 21st, 2018
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing, and it's a SAC 2018 Book!
Publisher: Mira
Expected Publication: September 25th 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Book Blogger Hop #29, April 27th

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, I relaunched the meme on February 15, 2013. Check out the hop here! 

Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

The Question of the week is: Have you ever thought of writing a respectful, but angry letter to an author to ask them WHY they killed off one of your favorite characters in a novel? (submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books)

Nope. That's not really my thing. And while it sucks that characters die, well, it happens. It's sad, But usually has a point or progresses the plot in some way! What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #345, April 27th

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I read Before We Were Strangers which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a SAC 2018 Book, Where Would You Be Now? which counts 3 times as a 2018 Dystopia Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, The Wild Dead which counts 5 times as a 2018 Dystopia Book, Edelweiss Book Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, and a WoW Book, Bones to Ashes which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, Inferno which counts 4 times as a End of Series 2018 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 and a WoW Book, This Mortal Coil which counts 5 times as a 2018 Dystopia Book, DAC Book, Edelweiss Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018, Cruel Beauty which counts 3 times as a 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, Gilded Ashes which counts 4 times as a 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WTC Book, Between the Heart and the Blade which counts 5 times as a 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book, From the Earth to the Shadows which counts 6 times as a 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, End of Series 2018 Book, NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book.

So I have 40 counts which translates to $20this week! I'll use it to buy books!

First Lines Friday #363, April 27th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

"I was raised to marry a monster. The day before the wedding, I could barely breathe. Fear and fury curdled in my stomach. All afternoon I skulked in the library, running my hands over the leather spines of books I would never touch again. I leaned against the shelves and wished I could run. wished I could scream at the people who had made this fate for me." -Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Yeah, this opening is dark and I love it! So perfect for this book! What about you guys? Happy reading!