Showing posts with label C.J. Lyons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C.J. Lyons. Show all posts

Monday, December 8, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #757, December 8th

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 #756
Teaser Tuesday #764
WWW Wednesday #764
WOW #760
Will the Time Come #757
Third Sentence Thursday #747
Random Reads #733
First Lines Friday #760
Book Blogger Hop #426
A-Z Reading Challenge Update 69
The Reward Challenge Update #742
Wheel of TBR #289
How Well I Stuck to It #594
Wrote that Review Update #591
Celeste Connally Author Page

OK, so I got 36 posts in 7 days, and it was a decent week, I read some really great reads, and I'm just counting down the days! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want.

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Week 49 Review: Watched

From Goodreads:
He Can't Run, and He Can't Hide

Jesse is terrified. For four years, a twisted hacker named King has hijacked his computer webcam, collecting incriminating photos and videos he uses to blackmail Jesse. So far, Jesse's given into King's ruthless demands in order to protect his family. But now King wants something that's too horrible to contemplate-and if he doesn't get it, he'll kill Jesse's little sister.

Jesse is trapped. King's always watching. There is no escape.

Then hope arrives in a plain manila envelope. Inside is a cell phone and a I can help.
My Review:


Author: C.J. Lyons
Read: November 30th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and its a SAC 2025 Book!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: November 4th 2014
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, December 5, 2025

25 Books to Read in 2025 Update 8

So I read my next book for the 25 Books to Read in 2025 Challenge! 

So I read Watched by CJ Lyons from the NetGalley list!

Yep. Happy reading!

Here's the link to this year's post with my journey.

But to recap, I wanted to do a version of These Books Will Self Destruct in 12 months without the self destruct. I wanted to read books that I've had for a while, that I really needed to get read, but maybe I forgot about them or that I had them. So I made 2 lists, one for each way I have them, as physical books, and as ARC's, half from NetGalley, and half from Edelweiss.

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Next to be Published November Update 30 and Wrap Up

So I've read my final book for the Next to be Published November, and it was The Possibility of Somewhere and yeah, I just barely hit my goal, but I made it, and read some fantastic reads, and I can't wait for the next ARC reading month! 

My Reading Journey:

The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee
Started On: November 1st
Finished On: November 1st, 4:01 PM
Pages Read: 368

Watch Me Disappear by Ross Armstrong
Started On: November 2nd
Finished On: November 2nd, 4:57 PM
Pages Read: 355

The Demon and the Light by Axie Oh
Started On: November 3rd
Finished On: November 3rd, 11:27 AM
Pages Read: 400

Cast in Blood by Michelle Sagara
Started On: November 4th
Finished On: November 4th, 7:13 PM
Pages Read: 512

The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch
Started On November 5th
Finished On: November 5th, 5:58 PM
Pages Read: 336

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos
Started On: November 7th
Finished On: November 7th, 4:06 PM
Pages Read: 369

Silver Stars by Michael Grant
Started On: November 13th
Finished On: November 13th, 11:21 PM
Pages Read: 566

The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison 
Started On: November 15th
Finished On: November 15th, 2:44 PM
Pages Read: 320

An Archive of Romance by Ava Reid
Started On: November 15th
Finished On: November 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 251

The Others by Cheryl Isaacs 
Started On: November 16th
Finished On: November 16th, 1:56 PM
Pages Read: 336

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Started On: November 16th
Finished On: November 16th, 7:32 PM
Pages Read: 305

Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally
Started On: November 18th
Finished On: November 18th, 2:06 PM
Pages Read: 336

The Thorn Queen by Sasha Peyton Smith
Started On: November 18th
Finished On: November 18th, 7:51 PM
Pages Read: 368

A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price
Started On: November 19th
Finished On: November 19th, 3:28 PM
Pages Read: 416

Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
Started On: November 19th
Finished On: November 19th, 8:59 PM
Pages Read: 352

When We Talk to the Dead by Ian Chorão
Started On: November 20th
Finished On: November 20th, 10:21 AM
Pages Read: 304

A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber
Started On: November 21st
Finished On: November 21st, 3:06 PM
Pages Read: 371

It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
Started On: November 21st
Finished On: November 21st, 9:32 PM
Pages Read: 384

Watch Us Crack by Gabriella Lepore
Started On: November 22nd
Finished On: November 22nd, 4:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

A Deadly Inheritance by Kelley Armstrong
Started On: November 23rd
Finished On: November 23rd, 3:54 PM
Pages Read: 424

Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay 
Started On: November 25th
Finished On: November 25th, 4:27 PM 
Pages Read: 352

The Alchemary by Rachel Vincent
Started On: November 26th
Finished On: November 26th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 512

Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison
Started On: November 26th
Finished On: November 26th, 9:27 PM
Pages Read: 513

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter
Started On: November 27th
Finished On: November 27th, 2:33 PM
Pages Read: 363

How Girls Are Made by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: November 27th
Finished On: November 27th, 6:42 PM
Pages Read: 384

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara 
Started On: November 28th
Finished On: November 28th, 1:49 PM
Pages Read: 288

Julia Song Is Undateable by Susan Lee 
Started On: November 28th
Finished On: November 28th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher
Started On: November 29th
Finished On: November 29th, 5:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Watched by CJ Lyons
Started On: November 30th
Finished On: November 30th, 2:06 PM
Pages Read: 322

The Possibility of Somewhere by Julia Day
Started On: November 30th
Finished On: November 30th, 7:25 PM
Pages Read: 320

Books Read: 30
Goal: 30 Books
Pages Read: 12657

Next to be Published November Update 29

So I've read my next book for the Next to be Published November, and it was Watched and I'll be reading The Possibility of Somewhere next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee
Started On: November 1st
Finished On: November 1st, 4:01 PM
Pages Read: 368

Watch Me Disappear by Ross Armstrong
Started On: November 2nd
Finished On: November 2nd, 4:57 PM
Pages Read: 355

The Demon and the Light by Axie Oh
Started On: November 3rd
Finished On: November 3rd, 11:27 AM
Pages Read: 400

Cast in Blood by Michelle Sagara
Started On: November 4th
Finished On: November 4th, 7:13 PM
Pages Read: 512

The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch
Started On November 5th
Finished On: November 5th, 5:58 PM
Pages Read: 336

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos
Started On: November 7th
Finished On: November 7th, 4:06 PM
Pages Read: 369

Silver Stars by Michael Grant
Started On: November 13th
Finished On: November 13th, 11:21 PM
Pages Read: 566

The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison 
Started On: November 15th
Finished On: November 15th, 2:44 PM
Pages Read: 320

An Archive of Romance by Ava Reid
Started On: November 15th
Finished On: November 15th, 8:35 PM
Pages Read: 251

The Others by Cheryl Isaacs 
Started On: November 16th
Finished On: November 16th, 1:56 PM
Pages Read: 336

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Started On: November 16th
Finished On: November 16th, 7:32 PM
Pages Read: 305

Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally
Started On: November 18th
Finished On: November 18th, 2:06 PM
Pages Read: 336

The Thorn Queen by Sasha Peyton Smith
Started On: November 18th
Finished On: November 18th, 7:51 PM
Pages Read: 368

A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price
Started On: November 19th
Finished On: November 19th, 3:28 PM
Pages Read: 416

Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
Started On: November 19th
Finished On: November 19th, 8:59 PM
Pages Read: 352

When We Talk to the Dead by Ian Chorão
Started On: November 20th
Finished On: November 20th, 10:21 AM
Pages Read: 304

A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber
Started On: November 21st
Finished On: November 21st, 3:06 PM
Pages Read: 371

It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
Started On: November 21st
Finished On: November 21st, 9:32 PM
Pages Read: 384

Watch Us Crack by Gabriella Lepore
Started On: November 22nd
Finished On: November 22nd, 4:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

A Deadly Inheritance by Kelley Armstrong
Started On: November 23rd
Finished On: November 23rd, 3:54 PM
Pages Read: 424

Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay 
Started On: November 25th
Finished On: November 25th, 4:27 PM 
Pages Read: 352

The Alchemary by Rachel Vincent
Started On: November 26th
Finished On: November 26th, 3:15 PM
Pages Read: 512

Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison
Started On: November 26th
Finished On: November 26th, 9:27 PM
Pages Read: 513

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter
Started On: November 27th
Finished On: November 27th, 2:33 PM
Pages Read: 363

How Girls Are Made by Mindy McGinnis
Started On: November 27th
Finished On: November 27th, 6:42 PM
Pages Read: 384

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara 
Started On: November 28th
Finished On: November 28th, 1:49 PM
Pages Read: 288

Julia Song Is Undateable by Susan Lee 
Started On: November 28th
Finished On: November 28th, 6:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher
Started On: November 29th
Finished On: November 29th, 5:39 PM
Pages Read: 480

Watched by CJ Lyons
Started On: November 30th
Finished On: November 30th, 2:06 PM
Pages Read: 322

The Possibility of Somewhere by Julia Day
Started On: November 30th
Currently On: Page 0 of 320

Books Read: 29
Goal: 30 Books
Pages Read: 12337

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Will the Time Come #314, June 8th

Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!
Want to Join?
-Pick a book you have been meaning to read
-Do a post telling us about the book    
-Link the post up in the linky  
-Visit the other blogs

A gripping behind-the-scenes drama of four women who face life and death every day On her first day at Pittsburgh's Angels of Mercy Medical Center, L.A.-transplant Lydia Fiore, the new ER attending physician, loses a patient: the Chief of Surgery's son. Now, to save her career, Lydia must discover the truth behind her patient's death, even as it leads her into unfamiliar-and risky-territory. At least she's not alone. There's med student Amanda, a sweet Southern belle with problems of her own; Gina, a resident with a chip on her shoulder; and Nora, the no-nonsense charge nurse with a cool head but a fiery temper. Not to mention the paramedic who'd like to try out his bedside manner on Lydia. 

Why the time hasn't come yet...
Well, I've read it, it was just before I was on Goodreads and blogging. And yeah, I want to read it again, so hopefully it'll happen soon! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, May 2, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #256, May 2nd

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 #255
Teaser Tuesday #263
WWW Wednesday #263
WOW #260
Will the Time Come #256
Third Sentence Thursday #246
Random Reads #231
First Lines Friday #250
The Reward Challenge Update #241
Follow Friday #233
How Well I Stuck to It #85
Wrote that Review Update #90
Show the Books Showcase #8

Week 18 Reviews:
Hard Fall
Bad Break
Tristan's Escape
Rogue Belador
Hit
Strike
What's Broken Between Us
Oblivion
A Bite to Remember
Fire Bound

Tours:
Last Light: Review
Origin of the Sphinx, Curse of the Sphinx, Demigods and Monsters: Reviews

Random:
Alexis Bass Author Page
We Have the Title of Lords of the Underworld #13!!!
We Have the Cover of Chronicles of Nick #8!!!!

OK, so I got  posts in 7 days, What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Change Places With Me, How it Feels to Fly, Red Velvet Crush, A Season for Fireflies, UnpluggedWe Were Never Here, and Winning.

From Lois Metzger, acclaimed author of A Trick of the Light, comes a work of speculative fiction set in the near future about a teen girl who finds a new, mysterious perspective on her life.

Rose has changed. She still lives in the same neighborhood with her stepmother and goes to the same high school with the same group of kids, but when she woke up today, something was just a little different than it was before. The dogs who live upstairs are no longer a terror. Her hair and her clothes all feel brand-new. She wants to throw a party—this from a girl who hardly ever spoke to her classmates before. There is no more sadness in her life; she is bursting with happiness.

But something still feels wrong to Rose. Because, until very recently, Rose was an entirely different person—a person who is still there inside her, just beneath the thinnest layer of skin.

A bold and original work of speculative fiction set in a familiar future, Lois Metzger’s latest novel is a profoundly authentic and heartbreaking tale of the things we keep locked away inside us, even from ourselves.
The movement is all that matters.

For as long as Samantha can remember, she’s wanted to be a professional ballerina. She’s lived for perfect pirouettes, sky-high extensions, and soaring leaps across the stage. Then her body betrayed her.

The change was gradual. Stealthy.

Failed diets. Disapproving looks. Whispers behind her back. The result: crippling anxiety about her appearance, which threatens to crush her dancing dreams entirely. On her dance teacher’s recommendation, Sam is sent to a summer treatment camp for teen artists and athletes who are struggling with mental and emotional obstacles. If she can make progress, she’ll be allowed to attend a crucial ballet intensive. But when asked to open up about her deepest insecurities, secret behaviors, and paralyzing fears to complete strangers, Sam can’t cope.

What I really need is a whole new body.

Sam forms an unlikely bond with Andrew, a former college football player who’s one of her camp counselors. As they grow closer, Andrew helps Sam see herself as he does—beautiful. But just as she starts to believe that there’s more between them than friendship, disappointing news from home sends her into a tailspin. With her future uncertain and her body against her, will Sam give in to the anxiety that imprisons her?
Rock music, a broken family, challenging sisters, and the crush of first love—Red Velvet Crush has everything you need in a summer read. For fans of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Eleanor & Park, and This Song Will Save Your Life.

Teddy Lee’s mother ran off when she was in second grade. And ever since, Teddy Lee, the often-overshadowed middle kid, has tried to keep her family together. But her older brother Winston usually keeps himself busy with smoking, drinking, and girls, and who knows what else. Her younger sister Billie is occupied with her shoplifting habit and boys . . . and who knows what else. So when Teddy Lee finally takes the songs she’s always written and forms a band, maybe it’ll bring everyone closer together, maybe it’ll be her time to shine. Unless Billie steals the spotlight—and the boy—just like she always does. Christina Meredith explores the complicated relationship of sisters—both the unconditional love and the unavoidable resentments—in a novel full of music, urgency, the first blushes of love, and the undeniable excitement of hitting the road.
A story of second chances from the author of Between Us and the Moon, which Kirkus Reviews called “what first love is meant to be.”

A year ago, Penny Berne was the star of her high school’s theater department, surrounded by a group of misfit friends and falling in love for the first time. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, her new best friend is the most popular girl in school, and her first love, Wes, ignores her. Penny is revered and hated. Then, in a flash, a near-fatal lightning strike leaves Penny with no memory of the past year—or how she went from drama nerd to queen bee.

As a record number of fireflies light up her town and her life, Penny realizes she may be able to make things right again—and that even if she can’t change the past, she can learn to see the magic where she never could before.

This captivating new novel about first love, second chances, and the power of memory is perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall and Katie Cotugno’s How to Love.
The first book in a provocative new series from acclaimed author Donna Freitas—Feed for a new generation.

Humanity is split into the App World and the Real World—an extravagant virtual world for the wealthy and a dying physical world for the poor. Years ago, Skylar Cruz’s family sent her to the App World for a chance at a better life.

Now Skye is a nobody, a virtual sixteen-year-old girl without any glamorous effects or expensive downloads to make her stand out in the App World. Yet none of that matters to Skye. All she wants is a chance to unplug and see her mother and sister again.

But when the borders between worlds suddenly close, Skye loses that chance. Desperate to reach her family, Skye risks everything to get back to the physical world. Once she arrives, however, she discovers a much larger, darker reality than the one she remembers.

In the tradition of M. T. Anderson’s Feed and Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, Unplugged kicks off a thrilling and timely sci-fi series for teens from an award-winning writer.
In this exquisitely written and emotionally charged young adult debut, Jennifer Gilmore explores how sometimes the wounds you can’t see are the most painful.

Did you know your entire life can change in an instant?

For sixteen-year-old Lizzie Stoller that moment is when she collapses out of the blue. The next thing she knows, she’s in a hospital with an illness she’s never heard of.

But that isn’t the only life-changing moment for Lizzie. The other is when Connor and his dog, Verlaine, walk into her hospital room. Lizzie has never connected with anyone the way she does with the handsome teenage volunteer. However, the more time she spends with him and the deeper in love she falls, the more she realizes that Connor has secrets and a deep pain of his own . . . and that while being with him has the power to make Lizzie forget about her illness, being with her might tear Connor apart.
House of Cards meets Election in this wickedly entertaining story about an uber-ambitious high school junior.

Whoever said being nice would get you to the top?

Certainly not Alexandra Miles. She isn’t nice, but she’s more than skilled at playing the part. She floats through the halls of Spencer High, effortlessly orchestrating the actions of everyone around her, making people bend to her whim without even noticing they’re doing it. She is the queen of Spencer High—and it’s time to make it official.

Alexandra has a goal, you see—Homecoming Queen. Her ambitions are far grander than her small town will allow, but homecoming is just the first step to achieving total domination. So when peppy, popular Erin Hewett moves to town and seems to have a real shot at the crown, Alexandra has to take action.

With the help of her trusted friend Sam, she devises her most devious plot yet. She’ll introduce an unexpected third competitor in the mix, one whose meteoric rise—and devastating fall—will destroy Erin’s chances once and for all. Alexandra can run a scheme like this in her sleep. What could possibly go wrong? 

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Week 18 Reviews: Hard Fall, Bad Break


From Goodreads:
59 days ago FBI Special Agent Lucy Guardino had a perfect life…and almost lost it all.

There comes a time in every hero's life when they fall harder and father than ever before and they face a choice that changes everything: to give up or claw their way back again. Lucy thought she'd made her choice two months ago when she sacrificed everything to save her family, but now she has to decide whether or not she can save herself…

When honor, duty, and family collide…who would you save?

From Goodreads:
Vacations can be deadly… 

NEW! From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons: 

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Lucy Guardino is ready for a well-deserved break from chasing the worst of the worst. She's hunted serial killers, violent child predators, and vicious psychopaths but nothing has prepared her for spring break alone with her teenaged daughter in a secluded beach resort in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. 

When Megan befriends a local boy who is accused of a brutal crime, it's up to Lucy to soothe the ruffled egos of the well intentioned but ill equipped local police, prevent Megan from playing amateur sleuth, and track a cunning killer before Megan or her friend become the next victim. 

BAD BREAK is the sixth novel in the Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers series. If you enjoy captivating suspense, intelligent storytelling, strong and vulnerable characters, and a freight-train pace, then you'll love this adrenaline rush of a heart-pounding thriller. 

My Review:
Yeah, these books! I just loved reading more about Lucy Guardino and her friends, family and co-workers! It was really great and enjoyable, and I just really loved it! There were such great mystery thrillers, and yeah, I need more!

I went in reading this series knowing that after these two books, Lucy would no longer be with the FBI, because I started reading this series in preparation for being a part of the Last Light review tour. So when it happened, I was more interested in the how and why then the what?

There were some tough decisions to be made in Hard Fall, not so much Bad Break, but still a few. There was dealing with what's happened previously in the series, which includes several momentous moments that are carrying on in these!

Really enjoyed those high notes! They brought everything together, and while they hurt sometimes, they were basically the best case scenario that was offered to her. So yeah, really enjoyed that, they were really great endings!

Yeah, really enjoyed and loved these books, and I can't wait to read more!

Author: C.J. Lyons
Series: Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers #4, 4.5
Read: April 23rd, 23rd, 2016
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: I got the first book in the spin off series for a Review Tour, and I had to read these books first! And they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2016 Books! And Bad Break is a End of Series 2016 Book!
Publisher: Edgy Books
Published: September 6th 2014, July 9th 2015

Hard Fall:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars









Bad Break:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars

Monday, April 25, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #255, April 25th

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 #254
Teaser Tuesday #262
WWW Wednesday #262
WOW #259
Will the Time Come #255
Third Sentence Thursday #245
Random Reads #230
First Lines Friday #249
The Reward Challenge Update #240
Follow Friday #232
How Well I Stuck to It #84
Wrote that Review Update #89
Show the Books Showcase #7

Week 17 Reviews:
Love Bites
Single White Vampire
Tall, Dark and Hungry
An Improper Arrangement
A Scandalous Proposal
Twice Bitten
Mr. Fahrenheit
No One Knows
Please Don't Tell
The Secrets She Kept
Snake Skin
Blood Stained 
Kill Zone 
After Shock

Random:
We Have the Title of Sigma Force #12!!!!
We Have the Cover of Boy #4!!!!
C.J. Lyons Author Page
We Have the Cover of The Young Elites #3!!!!
Lauren Gibaldi Author Page
Melinda Salisbury Author Page
Rick Yancey Author Page

OK, so I got 28 posts in 7 days, so a pretty good week! I enjoyed it! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Ivory and Bone and What Happens Now.

The only life seventeen-year-old Kol knows is hunting at the foot of the Great Ice with his brothers. But food is becoming scarce, and without another clan to align with, Kol, his family, and their entire group are facing an uncertain future.

Traveling from the south, Mya and her family arrive at Kol’s camp with a trail of hurt and loss behind them, and hope for a new beginning. When Kol meets Mya, her strength, independence, and beauty instantly captivate him, igniting a desire for much more than survival.

Then on a hunt, Kol makes a grave mistake that jeopardizes the relationship that he and Mya have only just started to build. Mya was guarded to begin with—and for good reason—but no apology or gesture is enough for her to forgive him. Soon after, another clan arrives on their shores. And when Mya spots Lo, a daughter of this new clan, her anger intensifies, adding to the already simmering tension between families. After befriending Lo, Kol learns of a dark history between Lo and Mya that is rooted in the tangle of their pasts.

When violence erupts, Kol is forced to choose between fighting alongside Mya or trusting Lo’s claims. And when things quickly turn deadly, it becomes clear that this was a war that one of them had been planning all along.
"I know what it is to want something so badly, you feel like your cells aren’t properly bonded together without it.  I also know what it’s like to get that something. And honestly, I’m still not sure which is worse..."

Ari Logan is battling to win her war against depression and the dark night she hurt herself on purpose. It’s not easy: her best friend is drifting away, her mom’s emotionally checked out, and she spends her days playing caregiver to her handful of a half-sister, Danielle. But it’s summer, and anything is possible...

That’s when Camden Armstrong steps onto the beach of Ari’s local swimming lake.

At first, Ari quietly longs for Camden from afar, seeing in him everything she wants to be. When the two discover a true connection the following summer, Ari lets herself fall not just for the quirky and self-assured Camden but also his friends, tumbling into their world of independence, adventure, and shared sci-fi fandom. As Ari’s romantic dreams come true, she must unlock the mysteries of the very real and troubled boy behind her infatuation, while also struggling with her own demons, obligations, and loyalties.

From the award-winning author of "The Beginning of After" and "You Look Different in Real Life," "What Happens Now" is a touching, insightful novel about learning to heal, learning to love, and what happens when fantasy becomes reality.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Last Light: Review

From Goodreads:
Lucy Guardino has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst for the FBI. But after a violent predator targets her family and she's injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe.

What is she now that she's no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims. Lucy fears she's traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs.

Her fears appear justified when she's partnered with TK O'Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home in the US, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that's more than cold, it s already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine-years.

But who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband, leaving her young son permanently impaired? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation? What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried?

My Review:
It was really awesome to read this book! I only just binge read the Lucy Guardino FBI thriller series, and then to read this book, was really amazing! I enjoyed it so much, and yeah, Lucy and her world has changed, and this was the start of a new chapter for her!

Things are very different in this book, she's no longer an FBI agent, instead she works for a private firm dealing with cold cases. And since they are cold, they don't scream "solve me, solve me, solve me or something really bad is going to happen" because they haven't been solved, and nothing apparently bad has happened. But they still deserved to be solved!

Killing a young family, all but a young child, is pretty horrible. I mean, who can kill a baby? Of all the crimes against kids, babies are the highest of the high of awful crimes. They are defenceless and innocent. So it was really great to solve their case!

This book was really fantastic and enjoyable, and I loved it, and I can't wait to read more of this series, and I can't wait to see where it goes!

Author: C.J. Lyons
Series: Beacon Hills #1
Read: April 24th, 2016
Source: Novel Publicity Review Tour Copy
Reason Why: Sounded great, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2016 Book!
Publisher: Edgy Books
Published: May 3rd 2016
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars
Bio:
Pediatric ER doctor turned New York Times bestselling thriller writer CJ Lyons has been a storyteller all her life—something that landed her in many time-outs as a kid. She writes her Thrillers with Heart for the same reason that she became a doctor: because she believes we all have the power to change our world.

In the ER she witnessed many acts of courage by her patients and their families, learning that heroes truly are born every day. When not writing, she can be found walking the beaches near her Lowcountry home, listening to the voices in her head and plotting new and devious ways to create mayhem for her characters.

To learn more about her Thrillers with Heart go to www.CJLyons.net

Connect with CJ on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Week 17 Reviews: Snake Skin, Blood Stained, Kill Zone, After Shock




WARNING: the Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers are NOT for the faint of heart! They depict adult situations, realistic violence with consequences, and delve deep into the darkness of the human heart and mind.

Just your average Pittsburgh soccer mom, baking brownies and carrying a loaded forty-caliber Glock...

Lucille Teresa Guardino. A woman of many identities. Lucille to her doting mother, Lulu to her devoted husband, Mom to her pre-teen daughter, Lucy to her friends, LT to her co-workers, and Supervisory Special Agent Guardino to the criminals she captures for the FBI's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement squad.

A loving mom and wife, dutiful daughter, consummate professional, and kick-ass federal agent, Lucy is living the perfect life.

Until the day she comes up against a predator more vicious and cunning than any she's ever tackled before, one who forces Lucy to choose between the life of the young victim she is fighting to save and her own daughter's....and Lucy's dream life is shattered.

From Goodreads:
Just your average Pittsburgh soccer mom, baking brownies and carrying a loaded forty-caliber Glock…

Until recently Supervisory Special Agent Lucy Guardino was a shining star in the FBI’s roster. But after killing a man and disobeying orders, Lucy's been sidelined, chained to her desk. When a mysterious letter arrives hinting that, thanks to Lucy, the wrong man was blamed for a string of serial rapes, kidnappings, and killings four years ago, Lucy jumps at the chance to re-open the case–despite orders to leave well enough alone.

Her unofficial investigation takes her back to the small town that thrust her into the spotlight four years ago when she saved the killer's last victims–before the killer took his own life and the life of one final victim, a mother who left a ten year old son and loving husband behind. What Lucy doesn't know is that what happened four years ago was all a lie, fueled by sacrifice and betrayal, designed to shield the real killer.

With the lives of her family, a group of innocent children, and the future of one desperate boy at risk, Lucy races to stop an innocent from killing and a killer from butchering more innocents. 

From Goodreads:
Lucy's back! In a story ripped from the headlines, the violence is the worst she's ever seen, the stakes are higher than ever, and then...things get personal.

It's a vicious, horrific crime: the brutal killing of a teenaged girl. When Pittsburgh detectives call FBI Supervisory Special Agent Lucy Guardino to the scene, their focus is on who and why? 

Was it the girl's Afghan father striving to regain his honor after she became too Westernized? Her Jewish boyfriend? Someone from Afghanistan settling an old grudge? Or one of the many drug cartels the father helped the DEA bring down seeking revenge?

Former Marine Sergeant Andre Stone has been home a month, but he has yet to leave the safe haven of his grandmother's house--other than to go to his appointments at the VA's burn clinic. Andre's disfiguring physical scars are the least of his worries. The emotional wounds of seeing his men massacred in a DEA raid gone horribly wrong have left him a walking dead man, numb to anything.

All he can think about is revenge. On Rashid Raziq, the man behind the raid. When Andre is offered a chance at vengeance, the only question left is: How far will he go to get it?


The answers seem clear when Pittsburgh becomes engulfed in flames as a violent narcoterrorist turns the city into a kill zone...But in the dark of night, surrounded by men intent on destroying the truth, Lucy and Andre both learn that secrets hide in shadows.

From Goodreads:
As head of the FBI's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Squad, Agent Lucy Guardino has made a name for herself bringing the lowest of lowlifes to justice. Rapists, serial killers, pedophiles? She's faced them all down with her signature grit and determination. But today is different. Because the man who has taken her prisoner has promised Lucy three things: that before this day is over, she will be dead; that someone in her family will also die; and that he always wins. Trapped inside her worst nightmare, Lucy faces a ruthless killer as he plays Russian roulette with the lives of those she loves. Wounded and unarmed, how can Lucy defeat a psychopath who doesn't play by any rules? After Shock is a heart-pounding, lightning-paced thrill ride that will leave listeners breathless as they root for the ultimate superheroine next door.


My Review:
It was just so great to read these books! Lucy was such a great character to read about! I loved watching her solve these mysteries, and the mysteries were so interesting to read about too! Just so great to read!

One big part of this series is who Lucy is. She's an FBI agent, a wife, a mother. and those things come into conflict with each other with demands on her time, energy and emotions. She works through things, sometimes stumbling, but yeah, that was a great journey to read about!

Gah, it was hard to read Snake Skin, thought, what with the snakes! I really hate snakes, they are my fear. So yeah, it was great that she didn't get bitten, but sad that the kids had died because they had before this series started.

I really enjoyed these mysteries, the high paced kidnapping, the closed cold case that isn't closed or cold anymore, and the mob incidents that are actually dialled down from real life. Which is rather scary if you think about it!

Loved reading these books, they were so awesome, and I can't wait to read more!

Author: C.J. Lyons
Series: Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers #1, 2, 3, 3.5,
Read: April 22nd, 22nd, 22nd, 22nd, 2016
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: I got the first book in the spin off series for a Review Tour, and I had to read these books first! And they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2016 Books!
Publisher: Smashwords Edition, Legacy Books, Thomas & Mercer
Published: December 17th 2010, February 16th 2011, August 28th 2012, January 7th 2014

Snake Skin:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars









Blood Stained:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars









Kill Zone:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars









After Shock:
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4.5/5 Stars








Friday, April 22, 2016

First Lines Friday #249, April 22nd

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!

"She stroked the tip of her thumbnail against her tongue, testing. Not sharp enough. Yet. Nibbling the edge, enjoying the crunch of keratin against enamel, Ashley propped both elbows on the table and hunched forward. Other than the old guy behind the counter giving her an oogly-woogly pervert stare, the Tastee Treet was empty." -Snake Skin by C.J. Lyons

Yeah, this is a bit of a creepy opening, and cover, and title! I need to read more! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

C.J. Lyons Author Page

The Story: I saw one of her hospital books at the library, read it, enjoyed it, back in 2011. Fast forward to now, and I got the chance to be the part of the Last Light review tour, so I have to read the Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller series!

Website

Series: Lucy Guardino FBI ThrillerBeacon HillsAngel's of Mercy.

Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller: Snake Skin and her sitemy reviewBlood Stained and her sitemy reviewKill Zone and her sitemy reviewAfter Shock and her sitemy reviewHard Fall and her site, my reviewBad Break and her site, my review.

Beacon Hills (Spin of Series of *Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller*): Last Light and her site, my review.

Angel's of Mercy: Lifelines and her site, my review, Warning Signs and her site, my review, Urgent Care and her site, my review, Critical Condition and her site, my review.

Stand Alone's: Broken and her site, my review, Watched and her site, my review,