ARC August Update 22 and Wrap Up

So I've read my last ARC, Sword and Pen! August is just about over, so I'm not going to finish any more books for this challenge, but I made my goal, even though I started halfway though the month. So yeah, I'm happy with that!

Reading Journey:

T-Minus by Shannon Greenland
Started On: August 2nd
Finished On: August 2nd
Pages Read: 320

Let's Call it a Doomsday
Started On: August 9th
Finished On: August 9th
Pages Read: 400

The Summoning by Heather Graham
Started On: August 12th
Finished On: August 12th
Pages Read: 384

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Paw of the Jungle by Diane Kelly
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 4:52 PM
Pages Read: 320

The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Dukes Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 368

Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 9:49 AM
Pages Read: 352

Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 1:24 PM
Pages Read: 480

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 8:24 PM
Pages Read: 368

Betty Bites Back Anthology
Started On: August 17th
Finished On: August 17th, 11:30 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Seekers by Heather Graham
Started On: August 20th
Finished On August 20th, 9:38 PM
Pages Read: 332

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands
Started On: August 21st
Finished On: August 21st, 2:31 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 7:39 PM
Pages Read: 384

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 9:47 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 11:28 PM
Pages Read: 288

Unforgettable You by Brenda Novak
Started On: August 26th
Finished On: August 26th, 11:38 PM
Pages Read: 409

Sharpest Sting by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 11:30 PM
Pages Read: 257

Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 2:27 PM
Pages Read: 352

Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Started On: August 28th
Finished On; August 28th, 7:49 PM
Pages Read: 288

16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick
Started On: August 28th
Finished On: August 28th, 10:00 PM
Pages Read: 208

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Sky
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 2:25 PM
Pages Read: 399

The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Sky
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 11:32 PM
Pages Read: 417

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
Started On: August 31st
Finished On: August 31st, 6:35 PM
Pages Read: 368

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine
Started On: August 31st
Finished On: August 31st, 10:41 PM
Pages Read: 368

Goals: 25
Read: 25
Pages Read: 9570

ARC August Update 21

So I've read my next ARC, Twice on a Blue Moon, and I'm going to be reading Sword and Pen!

Reading Journey:

T-Minus by Shannon Greenland
Started On: August 2nd
Finished On: August 2nd
Pages Read: 320

Let's Call it a Doomsday
Started On: August 9th
Finished On: August 9th
Pages Read: 400

The Summoning by Heather Graham
Started On: August 12th
Finished On: August 12th
Pages Read: 384

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Paw of the Jungle by Diane Kelly
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 4:52 PM
Pages Read: 320

The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 8:40 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Dukes Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan
Started On: August 14th
Finished On: August 14th, 10:23 PM
Pages Read: 368

Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 9:49 AM
Pages Read: 352

Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 1:24 PM
Pages Read: 480

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
Started On: August 16th
Finished On: August 16th, 8:24 PM
Pages Read: 368

Betty Bites Back Anthology
Started On: August 17th
Finished On: August 17th, 11:30 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Seekers by Heather Graham
Started On: August 20th
Finished On August 20th, 9:38 PM
Pages Read: 332

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands
Started On: August 21st
Finished On: August 21st, 2:31 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 7:39 PM
Pages Read: 384

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 9:47 PM
Pages Read: 320

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Started On: August 25th
Finished On: August 25th, 11:28 PM
Pages Read: 288

Unforgettable You by Brenda Novak
Started On: August 26th
Finished On: August 26th, 11:38 PM
Pages Read: 409

Sharpest Sting by Jennifer Estep
Started On: August 27th
Finished On: August 27th, 11:30 PM
Pages Read: 257

Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Started On: August 29th
Finished On: August 29th, 2:27 PM
Pages Read: 352

Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Started On: August 28th
Finished On; August 28th, 7:49 PM
Pages Read: 288

16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick
Started On: August 28th
Finished On: August 28th, 10:00 PM
Pages Read: 208

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Sky
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 2:25 PM
Pages Read: 399

The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Sky
Started On: August 30th
Finished On: August 30th, 11:32 PM
Pages Read: 417

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
Started On: August 31st
Finished On: August 31st, 6:35 PM
Pages Read: 368

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine
Started On: August 31st
Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Goals: 25
Read: 24
Pages Read: 9202

24 Hour Reading Challenge 1st September Sign Up

So I've decided that I'm going to try 2-3 24 hour reading challenges a month, on a day I'm not working, or a weekend. And so my first September one, will be on the 2nd because it's a long weekend! Well, I think I'll start it on the 1st at 9 PM again, and read till 9 PM on the 2nd. And again, my goal is between 6 to 8, but I'll list more than that, so I have options to choose from!

On the list is I'm Not Dying With You Tonight, Run the Risk, More Happy Than Not, Last Things, The Gallery of Unfinished Girls, Bombshell, This Darkness Mine, Gem & Dixie, Kat and Mat Conquer the World, Verify, Even If the Sky Falls, Autoboyagraphy, The Rest Falls Away.

I do have hope that I'll read a lot of these books, I've picked a lot of shorter ones I think, so I should read a good number of them! Can't wait to see!

The one downside of these reading challenges, is that I have a lot of reviews to write. So I think I'll do a review challenge on the 3rd, probably a Emergency Review a Thon.

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 35 Reviews: The Crown's Game, The Crown's Fate

From Goodreads:
The New York Times bestseller The Crown's Game is a thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy about two teenagers who must compete for the right to become Russia's Imperial Enchanter—or die in the process—from debut author Evelyn Skye. Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Red Queen.

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown's Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know.  The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar's most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown's Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can't stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai's best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love, or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown's Game is not one to lose. 

From Goodreads:
Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake…

Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha's coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown's Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he's given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he's willing to go to return to the world.

With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.

My Review:
I'm so glad that I finally read these books! I've been meaning to read them since I got them-and since her 3rd book has already released, well, I got behind. But on the upside, I got to read these back to back, which was really fantastic, because they flowed together so well!

First off, I have to talk about the covers. The crown of paper with the images of a palace on it, on the ice, and then in the second book, the ice has broken, and the colours of the 2nd are two different forces, yeah, it looks so fantastic and symbolic! Love them, though the second more, because the colours are so fantastic to look like! I'm a sucker for colours on covers like this!

This world of Imperial Enchanter, it's so interesting! What they can do with their magic was pretty interesting. Though that's a double edged sword, since the power of the land is linked to belief, and the citizens don't believe. Or when they find out in Fate, well, they're scared and it's all burn the witch kind of thing. Not fun!

There's this idea in the Fate, from a Greek fable, where we were perfect and threatened the gods, so they split us up. And if you found your other half, you'd be perfect. And yeah, it's only in two spots, but the 2nd spot, that was a pretty important moment, and I enjoyed how that all played out and was explored!

This was a fantastic series, and I enjoyed it so much! Can't wait to read more of her books!

Author: Evelyn Skye
Series: The Crown's Game #1, 2
Read: August 30th, 30th, 2019
Source: Bought/Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books! And The Crown's Game is a DAC Book and a RR Book, and The Crown's Fate is a Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 17th 2016, May 16th 2017

The Crown's Game:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Crown's Fate:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: 16 Ways to Break a Heart

From Goodreads:
Unfolding through letters, texts, and chats, Lauren Strasnick's smart, sexy, page-turning new novel is the ultimate he said/she said breakdown of a relationship gone wrong.

Natalie and Dan were electric from the moment they met. Witty banter and sizzling chemistry made falling in love easy—even inevitable. He was in awe of her subversive art and contagious zest for life; she was drawn to his good-guy charm and drive to succeed as a documentary filmmaker.

But that was before. Before hot tempers turned to blowout fights. Before a few little lies turned to broken trust. Before a hundred tiny slights broke them open and exposed the ugly truth of their relationship.

And now Natalie wants Dan to know just how much he broke her.

Over the course of one fateful day, Dan reads sixteen letters that Natalie has secretly, brilliantly hidden in places only he will find. And as he pieces together her version of their love story, he realizes that she has one final message for him. One that might just send his carefully constructed life tumbling down. 

My Review:
This book was a great read. I didn't always like or agree with these characters, but this was a contemporary without any life or death situations. It's about a broken relationship, so I didn't have to like these characters. I didn't need to to enjoy this book! I did have some confusion on the whole timeline, though.

In the beginning, I didn't know who to believe. I mean, like the synopsis said, it's a he said/she said story. She was over the top and he was an admitted cheater. In the end, I think they were both to blame for the breaking down of their relationship. They both just weren't good for each other.

In the beginning, there were only 6 letters, and then he was left letters again after he thought it was over. But it wasn't, because the title says 16, and the story wasn't quite halfway through. But that was a pretty great moment, that he thought it was over, but then finding out it wasn't!

The ending wasn't explosive. It was quieter than that. And I don't mean that it was a disappointment, it feels satisfying, though a bit hollow. Like, there was so much energy put into this relationship and this revenge, and then it was over. I don't know if I'm describing it right. It was different but really great to read!

This book was a really enjoyable read, and I'm glad that did read it!

Author: Lauren Strasnick
Read: August 29th, 2019
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2019 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: July 25th 2017

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Midnight at the Electric

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson's epic tale—told through three unforgettable points of view—is a masterful exploration of how love, determination, and hope can change a person's fate.

2065: Adri has been handpicked to live on Mars. But weeks before launch, she discovers the journal of a girl who lived in her house more than a hundred years ago and is immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding her fate.

1934: Amid the fear and uncertainty of the Dust Bowl, Catherine's family's situation is growing dire. She must find the courage to sacrifice everything she loves in order to save the one person she loves most.

1919: In the recovery following World War I, Lenore tries to come to terms with her grief for her brother, a fallen British soldier, and plans to sail from England to America. But can she make it that far?

While their stories span thousands of miles and multiple generations, Lenore, Catherine, and Adri's fates are entwined in ways both heartbreaking and hopeful. In Jodi Lynn Anderson's signature haunting, lyrical prose, human connections spark spellbindingly to life, and a bright light shines on the small but crucial moments that determine one's fate.

My Review:
This was a pretty great read. It's not an action packed book, it's slower and deals with moving on and it's quiet. The writing was lyrical, and I enjoyed learning about these different characters and learning how they were connected.

All of these characters are on the verge of leaving. Adri to leave Earth, Catherine to leave her small town farm during the Dust Bowl, Lenore to leave England after WW1. Change is uncertain and hard, and they all face it. I really enjoyed watching their journeys!

In each section were had a different method of communication. Adri's sections were as regular book. Catherine's first section was diary entries, and her second section and Lenore's sections were letters that they wrote. I enjoyed how they were all connected, and how Adri learns about Catherine and Lenore's story, and Catherine finds out about Lenore's! It was so well written!

This book was kinda melancholy, which goes with all the change that they're going through. And while both Catherine and Adri's fates are uncertain, there's hope, and I would like to imagine the best lives happened for them!

Yeah, it's not my usual book, but I did enjoy it!

Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Read: August 29th, 2019
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good and it's a part Historical Fiction 2019 Book and a SAC 2019 Book!
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: June 13th 2017

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Deadly Little Scandals

From Goodreads:
"Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League—by way of Skull and Bones…" 

Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret. 

When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up... until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discover near the family's summer home--and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making. 

No one is quite who they seem to be in this twisty, soapy, gasp-inducing sequel to Jennifer Lynn Barnes' unputdownable Little White Lies.

My Review:
Oh, yeah, this book was utterly fantastic! I just had to read it right away because I wasn't expecting to read this book. But I was so glad that I was approved, I just had to read and devour this book! It was just so freaking amazing!

There's two main things in this book. There's the search for the other baby of the teenage baby pact. And there's the discovery of the body at summer hangout of the elite. We're hit with twist after twist, and I enjoyed how it all came together so much!

We are introduced to some new characters in the form of the White Gloves group. I really enjoyed seeing our gang of friends in that dynamic, because they're not the alphas of the group, they're the newbies. And with all the drama going on, well, it came together so well!

Honestly, I think that we could have more books in this series. I mean, we learned so many scandals and secrets in this book. But there's this one niggling question that's probably unimportant unless we have more books in this series. Which I would absolutely love!

I loved reading this book so freaking much, it was a really fantastic read!

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Debutantes #2
Read: August 29th, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: I love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Freeform
Expected Publication: November 5th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Sharpest Sting

From Goodreads:
The truth won't set me free—but it will probably get me killed ... 

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I'm used to having a target on my back. But ever since I started investigating the secret society known as the Circle, that target seems bigger than ever. 

Still, I'm trying to relax and enjoy the events leading up to my friends' wedding when I learn that an old enemy has returned to Ashland. And that's the just beginning of my latest nightmare. Soon, I have Circle goons watching my every move, but I have no choice but to continue searching for a key piece of evidence against the evil group. 

The deeper I dig, the more horrifying secrets I uncover, and the more dangerous things become for me and my friends. Just when I think I finally have a handle on things, a shocking revelation shatters my heart and leaves me with an ugly realization—that betrayal is the sharpest sting of all ...

My Review:
This book was such a fantastic read! The whole plot and the reason for the sharpest sting, oh, yeah, that hit hard! But was just so freaking great to read! We've been on a good number of adventures with this group, and yeah, I think we're coming to the finish line, but we're not there yet!

This book was a mix of wedding events and dealing with the Circle. And yeah, it's a bizarre mix, because wedding, you think of joy. The Circle, well, it's a group of people who control things behind the scenes, usually via criminal means. Those two ideas don't mash up very well in theory, but in practice were so great to read!

This book, we learned more about the older generation, both of her parents, Mason, and others...not all bad, but not all good, either. Again with the sharpest sting. As well as we learned the origins of the Circle, how it came into being, and yeah, it makes a dastardly amount of sense!

That ending was pretty intense! Gin was very clever, and I really enjoyed how she dealt with things. And how she figured out the various mysteries that were in her path. It made for some really entertaining reading! The way that it ended, yeah, I can't wait to see where it's going to go from here!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for more!

Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #18
Read: August 27th, 2019
Source: Author for Review
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book!
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Expected Publication: October 8th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Reviews: Diamond Fire, Sapphire Flames

From Goodreads:
together with their parents

NEVADA FRIDA BAYLOR

&

CONNOR ANDER ROGAN

invite you to join

their wedding celebration

November 6, 2018

Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.

From Goodreads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrew comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend's mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina's teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro's true motives are unclear, but he's drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart. 

My first review of Diamond Fire

My Review:
Wow, I just loved reading these books! Diamond Fire was just as good as it was the first time, and yeah, I absolutely adored Sapphire Flames! I loved spending more time with these characters, in this world, because it's just so fantastic!

Diamond Fire, I did remember most of the broad strokes, like the bastard child, the quiet end of Rogan's cousin, and what happened to the diamond. But it was really great to read it again, because Catalina changes drastically between the two, because of the tutelage offered at the end of Diamond Fire.

Sapphire Flames, oh, yes, this was an absolutely amazing book! I loved seeing her and Alessandro interact. There's some mystery there, that he has these skills, and whatever he's hunting, but watching those two together was so fantastic!

There were a few elements in this book. Like the origins of the powers, the Osiris serum, and how that played into this book. And the position that Catalina fills.Yeah. It was just a really fantastic read, and I can't wait to see where things are going to go from here! 

Loved these so much, and I can't wait for more from this amazing series!

Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Nevada Baylor Trilogy #3.5, Hidden Legacy #3.5, 4, Catalina Baylor Trilogy #0.5, 1
First Read: August 17th, 2018
Read: August 27th, 27th, 2019
Source: Ebook.bike, Bought
Reason Why: Love these books so much and this series, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books and Sapphire Flames is a WoW Book!
Publisher: Avon Impulse, Avon
Published: November 6th 2018, August 27th 2019

Diamond Fire:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Sapphire Flames:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Unforgettable You

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak returns to Silver Springs, where no past mistake is so big the heart can't find a way to fix it.

Jada Brooks couldn't have known how her life would change when she fell for bad boy Maddox Richardson back in high school. She couldn't have known his troubled brother would leave hers forever crippled. Or that she'd be forced to shun Maddox completely--only to discover she was carrying his child.

Although Maddox was devastated by the events that transpired that fateful night, losing Jada was the worst of it. He's back in Silver Springs, ready to make amends and provide the kind of youth outreach that once saved him. If he'd known Jada was in town, too, he would never have come. 

Jada has returned to Silver Springs to be with family after her father's death. But when she sees Maddox, every tough decision she's made concerning their now twelve-year-old daughter begins to haunt her. Falling for him again is so tempting, but not only does she stand to alienate her family--if he finds out about Maya, she could lose what matters most.

My Review:
This book was another amazing, sweet read! After all, a story about a couple who were split up because of one horrible night-and the fact that she had their daughter and didn't tell him, yeah, that's quite a story!

There was a bit of this story where she anonymously contacted him, and yeah, that was pretty hilarious to read, because they both let their guards down, as well as some flirtations. That he wants to know who she is, and she knows that can't work, well, it was an interesting dynamic!

I kinda really didn't like her parents. Well, her father died, but given that he seemed to be of the same opinion as his wife, well, I don't think I'd like him either. I mean, they favored their son, and while Jada made a mistake going to the party, it's not like she pulled the trigger. Her mom acted horribly.

There were a few fears in this book. That Maddox would take Maya away from Jada. That Maya would hate her for not telling her about her dad. And I just had to read more, to see how they found their happy ending!

Really enjoyed reading this book, and can't wait to read his brother's story in the next book!

Author: Brenda Novak
Series: Silver Springs #5
Read: August 26th, 2019
Source: NetGalley/Bought
Reason Why: Love this series and her writing, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: MIRA
Published: February 26th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: The Upside of Falling

From Goodreads:
It's been years since seventeen-year-old Becca Hart believed in true love. But when her former best friend teases her for not having a boyfriend, Becca impulsively pretends she's been secretly seeing someone.

Brett Wells has it all. Being captain of the football team and one of the most popular guys in school, he should have no problem finding someone to date, but he's always been more focused on his future than who to bring to prom. When he overhears Becca's lie, Brett decides to step in and be her mystery guy. It's the perfect solution: he gets people off his back for not dating and she can keep up the ruse.

Acting like the perfect couple isn't easy though, especially when you barely know the other person. But with Becca still picking up the pieces from when her world was blown apart years ago and Brett just barely holding his together now, they begin to realize they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. When the line between real and pretend begins to blur, they are forced to answer the question: is this fake romance the realest thing in either of their lives? 

My Review:
This book was a lot of fun to read! And it was such a quiet read, as well! I really enjoyed this fake dating story, how they grew to be friends, and then to be more! I really enjoyed their relationship! It was a really sweet story! And of course, there's a bunch of delicious baked goods from her mom!

Both Becca and Brett have their reasons why they want to enter into this fake relationship. Becca so she won't be tormented by her ex friend anymore. Brett, so that his parents think that he's taking his time to enjoy high school before his football career takes off in college. Two different kind of pressures, but both significant ones!

On one hand, Becca had parents who divorced when she was younger, and while her dad has moved on and started a new family, her mom started a baking shop. On the other, Brett had a seemingly perfect family. It's a book, and there has to be conflict!

Near the end, with the fake/real debate about their relationship and all the rest of the drama, I understood why they were doing what they were doing. I just wish that they hadn't been so destructive with themselves and with others. It did open them both up, which was a good thing, but it wasn't an easy time!

Really enjoyed reading this book, it was such a fantastic read!

Author: Alex Light
Read: August 25th, 2019
Source: Edelweiss Book
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Expected Publication: February 18th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Jane Anonymous

From Goodreads:
Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz's thrilling novel Jane Anonymous is a revelatory confessional of a seventeen-year-old girl's fight to escape a kidnapper—and her struggles to connect with loved ones and a life that no longer exists. 

Seven months.

That's how long I was kept captive.

Locked in a room with a bed, refrigerator, and adjoining bathroom, I was instructed to eat, bathe, and behave. I received meals, laundered clothes, and toiletries through a cat door, never knowing if it was day or night. The last time I saw the face of my abductor was when he dragged me fighting from the trunk of his car. And when I finally escaped, I prayed I'd never see him again.

Now that I'm home, my parents and friends want everything to be like it was before I left. But they don't understand that dining out and shopping trips can't heal what's broken inside me. I barely leave my bedroom. Therapists are clueless and condescending. So I start my own form of therapy—but writing about my experience awakens uncomfortable memories, ones that should've stayed buried. How far will I have to go to uncover the truth of what happened—and will it break me forever?

My Review:
This book was a fantastic read! I loved how we went back and forth between then and now, of the story of being kidnapped, and the story of recovering from what she experienced. It was pretty intense, and such a great read!

One thing that I really enjoyed, was that everything, from her school to her name, which wasn't her real one, her name probably isn't Jane, was generic, fill in the blank kinda of name. So you could fit her story in pretty much anywhere, imagine it was your town where this had happened.

With going back and forth, we knew that there was something up with the kidnapping and the subsequent captivity. And then when we found out what that was, wow, did that make for great reading! Jane had a long journey to go through!

The now side of the story was for healing. That nobody really knew what she went through, who might have guesses, well, yeah, that wasn't easy to go through. And her method of coping, from the outside, was worrying. She had to come to terms with that she knew, and what she didn't, and find out the truth of what happened to her.

Loved reading this book, it was a fantastic read!

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Read: August 25th, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: It sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Expected Publication: January 7th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: The Library of the Unwritten

From Goodreads:
In the first book in a brilliant new fantasy series, books that aren't finished by their authors reside in the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, and it is up to the Librarian to track down any restless characters who emerge from those unfinished stories.

Many years ago, Claire was named Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing-- a neutral space in Hell where all the stories unfinished by their authors reside. Her job consists mainly of repairing and organizing books, but also of keeping an eye on restless stories that risk materializing as characters and escaping the library. When a Hero escapes from his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must track and capture him with the help of former muse and current assistant Brevity and nervous demon courier Leto. 

But what should have been a simple retrieval goes horrifyingly wrong when the terrifyingly angelic Ramiel attacks them, convinced that they hold the Devil's Bible. The text of the Devil's Bible is a powerful weapon in the power struggle between Heaven and Hell, so it falls to the librarians to find a book with the power to reshape the boundaries between Heaven, Hell….and Earth. 

My Review:
Wow, I really enjoyed reading this book! It sounded really fantastic, and the idea of the world, of a library of the unwritten (which of course is in Hell) yeah, it's just so fascinating! I couldn't wait to read this book! It was such a great read!

First off, can we talk about that cover? It's so creepy, and is a good look about what this book is about! There's the page of a book, torn in the middle, where it's pitch black with some gray smoke drifting out. And then there's the arm sticking out. With books that have their characters literally jumping off of the pages, this cover is amazing and I can't wait to have it on my shelves!

We were in 3 different heads in this book. Claire, head librarian with a secret. Leto, who was more than he seemed. And Ramiel, the fallen angel who could get back in Heaven's graces if he finds the Devil's Bible. Oh, we were in Brevity's head a time or two when she was apart from the other characters, and we only got 3 or 4 chapters of that.

I really enjoyed their adventure looking for the read of the Devil's Bible. It takes them across a number of different afterlives, like the Norse Valhalla, as well as on Earth. There was a bit of a mystery of why the book had popped up now, and I really enjoyed the reveal there!

Loved reading this book, it was a really fantastic read, and I can't wait to see where this series is going to go from here!

Author: A.J. Hackwith
Series: A Novel from Hell's Library #1
Read: August 25th, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: October 1st 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars