Saturday, August 25, 2018

Week 34 Review: The Truth Lies Here

From Goodreads:
In small town Michigan, Penny, an aspiring journalist, teams up with the nerdy boy-next-door and the town's star quarterback to find her conspiracy theorist father after he goes missing and several other townspeople turn up dead in the woods.

The deeper she digs, the weirder things start to get. Townspeople repeat the same phrases—verbatim. Men in black suits stroll around Main Street. Chunks of her memory go missing. Pretty soon, Penny's research leads her to the long-ago meteorite crash in Bone Lake's woods, and she's going to have to reconsider her definition of "real" if she wants answers. . . 

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book so much! I loved the mystery, and I loved the characters, of how Penny was the skeptic and Dex is the believer, and they mentioned that they were like the X-Files lead characters, which was so fun to read!

Penny used to believe in all of this, and she used to believe in her dad. But when her dad was going to pretend a bear was Big Foot or something, she stopped. And that's understandable, but it was still sad, the breakdown of their relationship. But coming back home for the summer, to write a article that'll get her into the college she wants to go to, yeah, that's kinda a big deal!

A big part of this book was looking back at the past. Because the breakdown of her parents marriage, it didn't start a year before they got divorced, but much earlier. Given that it's why she and one of her friends became enemies, basically, yeah, it was kinda important to her!

I really enjoyed how it all came together! All the weird stuff, all the different clues, it all came together in a pretty intense ending! Loved how it all worked out, and that while things aren't perfect, they're all healing from the various wounds, physical and emotional!

This book was so awesome, it was so great to read!

Author: Lindsey Klingele
Read: August 21st, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2018 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: August 21st 2018
5/5 Hearts
4/5 Books
4/5/5 Stars

Week 34 Review: The Wrong Highlander

From Goodreads:
A laird's daughter kidnaps a Highlander—and loses her heart… in New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands' new historical romance

Lady Evina Maclean has heard much about Rory Buchanan's skill as a healer. What she hasn't heard is how good the brawny Highlander looks bathing in a waterfall. But Evina can't afford the distraction, for her ailing father urgently needs care. Only when she's rendered Buchanan unconscious and dragged him back to her family's castle does the truth emerge—it's not Rory she's kidnapped but his brother Conran.

Other ladies try to ensnare Conran with flattery. Evina hits him over the head with the hilt of her sword to save her kin—and Conran likes the spirited redhead all the more for it. He's learned enough from his brother to heal Evina's father, but there are other dangers swirling around the Maclean clan. And while the beautiful, independent lady has sworn not to marry, this wrong Highlander may be just the right man for her.

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book so much! I just love this series, and yeah, the whole thing of mistaken identity, yeah, that was just hilarious, and I couldn't wait to read it! It's so great to read about this family with their members meeting their person and falling in love. Just so sweet and full of adventure!

Conran is kinda the jack-of-all-trades of the Buchanan brothers, he's helped them out with their various interests and responsibilities, from being laird, the sheep, the horses, and the healing. Which when he's mistaken as his brother, Rory, he is able to help heal the patient.

One thing that I found hilarious, is that they commented on how tumultuous all of their courtships have been. That they're attracted to people who also seem to attract murderers. They also commented that they're learning from each search, because they keep having to look for said murderers!

I had kinda read the end before I got to far into the book, so I knew who the bad guy was. And when they were discussing how he had certain knowledge, I'm like, "here's why" but it wasn't until he was revealed that they found out how he knew. Ah, the pleasures of mystery novels!

This book was so fantastic, just an amazing read!

Author: Lynsay Sands
Series: Highlander Brides #7
Read: August 20th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Historical Fiction 2018 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Avon
Expected Publication: January 29th 2019
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 34 Review: Fall

From Goodreads:
Playtime's over. 

With the Brotherhood and certain witches gunning for Nava, people are taking bets on who will kill her first.

Not to mention that the shambles of her relationship have just been thrust into the spotlight for a mission to take down one of the deadliest demons she's faced yet. A demon who'll force her and Rohan to confront their own inner demons once and for all.

Nava heads to Los Angeles to make her bold play–on all fronts–but can she stop her foes before they destroy her for good? 

And who else will have to die?

Go big or go home, baby.

My Review:
Oh, wow, I loved reading this book! It was so fantastic, and so much happened, it was just incredible to read! I loved how much all of these characters have grown, but their journey isn't quite over yet, there's still one full length book left!

Poor Nava! After the events of the last book, yeah, she and Rohan weren't in a good spot. Neither were her brother and Kane. Both relationships have gone through the wringer, and yeah, I think both hit a turning point, which was really great to read!

There were a few things going on in this book. There was the new demon in L.A., there was the corrupt Brotherhood members, and then there was the rogue witch. So it was a lot to juggle, and was so great to read!

That ending was just out of this world! It just kept happening, more and more, and yeah, then it was over and it was just an evil cliffhanger ending! It brought in basically every important group, where control of the situation was like Davy Jones' heart in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, going back and forth, being struggled over! Which was so great to read, but then it wasn't resolved! I need more!

Loved this book so much, and I can't wait for the final one!

Author: Deborah Wilde
Series: Nava Katz #5
Read: August 19th, 2018
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book!
Publisher: Te Da Media
Published: August 15th, 2018
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 34 Review: Gamescape: Overview

From Goodreads:
The planet is dying. Centuries of abuse have damaged the earth beyond repair, and now all the authorities can do is polish the surface, make the landscape look pretty to hide the disease within. Two prominent yet mysterious businessmen couldn't fix it, either, but they did something even better. Together, they invented Chimera, the most complex and immersive virtual reality video game the world has ever known. The Cubes in which Chimera is played quickly became a fixture of this landscape: part distraction, part hospital, and almost wholly responsible for holding up the failing world economy.

Miguel Anderson is also dying. He isn’t the only one who plays the game–everybody does–but Miguel has more reason than most: When players leave their Cubes for the day, the upgrades and enhancements they've earned for their virtual characters leave with them. New lungs to breathe poisoned air, skin that won’t burn under the sun are great and everything… but Miguel, born as broken as the earth, needs a new heart–and soon–if he wants any hope of surviving just a little longer.

Then the two Gamerunners announce a competition, with greater rewards and faster progression than ever before, and Miguel thinks his prayers have been answered. All he needs to do is get picked to lead a team, play the game he's spent years getting good at, and ask for his prize when he wins. Simple, really.

At first, things seem to go according to plan. Mostly, anyway. Inside his Cube, with his new team–including his best friend–at his back, Miguel begins his quest. He plays recklessly, even dangerously, for someone whose most vital organ could give up at any moment, but his desperation makes him play better than ever. The eyes of the world are on him, watching through status updates and live feeds, betting on his chances. With greater rewards, though, come greater risks, and the Gamerunners seem to delight at surprising the competitors at every turn. As he ventures deeper into a world that blends the virtual and the real to an unsettling degree, Miguel begins to wonder just why the game was invented at all, and whether its stakes could be even higher than life and death.

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book so much! A lot of it was playing the game, but there was a portion of it in the real world. Which is good, given that Miguel at the end doesn't want to play anymore. A lot goes on, and it was pretty intense to read!

Mig isn't healthy. There's something with his heart that means he's weaker then everybody else, and means that he has 5 years or less left to live, if he doesn't get a replacement heart. So he's really focused on the game, where he can earn it. And then a new aspect of the plan starts rolling out, giving him a new opportunity much sooner. Because as it turns out, he needs it.

I enjoyed the game, I think it was obsessed over a little too much, a distraction given that the world was basically ending, but the different challenges and puzzles faced were very interesting! They had to be clever and inventive, and that was really great to read!

That ending, oh, wow, so much was discovered, and it changes the course of what's going to happen next! I'm so excited to see where things are going to go from there! I mean, that everybody was sorted into good and evil, yeah, that's pretty mind-blowing idea, at least, while you're still alive!

Yeah, this book was so fantastic, and I can't wait for the next book!

Author: Emma Trevayne
Series: The Nova Project #1
Read: August 18th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2018 Dystopia Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book!
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: September 13th 2016
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, August 24, 2018

Book Blogger Hop #46, August 24th

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: Where do you post your reviews besides your blog? Please list them all so perhaps we can find some new sites. (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

Well, I do a short review on Goodreads, and I'll post ARC reviews to Edelweiss or NetGalley. Then my blog posts are posted onto my Facebook page and on my Twitter feed. And I try to post review tour books on Amazon. And that's about it. What about you guys? Happy reading!

I would love to follow back, please leave a post-specific link for me to visit!

The Reward Challenge Update #362, August 24th

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 Gamescape: Overworld which counts 4 times as a 2018 Dystopia Book, Edelweiss Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, Fall which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, The Wrong Highlander which counts 5 times as a Edelweiss Book, Historical Fiction 2018 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book, The Truth Lies Here which counts 3 times as a Edelweiss Book and a SAC 2018 Book, Escape from Asylum which counts 4 times as a Historical Fiction 2018 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book, Asylum which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, The Scarlets which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, Sanctum which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, The Bone Artists which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, Catacomb which counts 3 times as a Edelweiss Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book, The Warden which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book.

So I have 31 counts which translates to $15.50 this week! I'll use it to buy books!

First Lines Friday #380, August 24th

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!

"You guys are not even going to believe this, Dan typed, shaking his head at the computer screen. A 'memory manipulation expert'? Is that even a real thing? Anyway, just watch the video, and let me know what you think! His cursor hovered over that last line-it sounded so desperate. But whatever, Dan was starting to get desperate here." -Sanctum by Madeleine Roux

Ok, I know this is a horror book, but yeah, this opening is pretty creepy! Can't wait to read more!

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Random Reads #352, August 23rd

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 2869 which turned out to be Endurance by Ann Aguirre! It's been on my TBR pile since September 1st, 2012, and I added it because I love her writing! Happy reading!

Third Sentence Thursday #367, August 23rd

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!


Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!
1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)
4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!

"One dynamite subtitle was not going to keep him from flunking out." - The Scarlets by Madeline Roux, page 19.

Yeah, that's true. So how to get more is the question!

What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Will the Time Come #377, August 23rd

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

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once? 

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control. 

Why the time hasn't come yet...
I don't know, but since the movie has come out, well, yeah, hopefully I'll be reading it soon! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #380, August 22nd

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Lionheart by Thea Harrison
Expected Publication: October 8th, 2018
From Goodreads:
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the final story in her spellbinding Moonshadow trilogy…

King Oberon reigned over his Dark Court in Lyonesse for centuries, until an assassination attempt laid him low. Now he lies unconscious in his snow-bound palace, while his Power battles the enchantment that threatens to end his life.

A skilled trauma surgeon and magic-user, Dr. Kathryn Shaw reigns at the top of her profession in New York. Then comes a challenge she can’t resist—she is asked to cure the uncureable. Just getting close enough to try healing Oberon is a dangerous proposition. When she does reach him, he awakens too soon.

Roused from darkness by Kathryn’s presence, Oberon confronts the beautiful stranger who claims she wants to save his life. But the enchantment has frozen his emotions. How can he learn to trust her when he can’t feel anything?

Oberon’s desire is icy, devoid of all tenderness. Not only must Kathryn match wits with him, she must also fight her reaction to his touch, because there is so much more at stake than her own endangered heart.

For the Dark Court faces its most deadly peril yet. Its ancient enemy Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, is obsessed with its annihilation, and Oberon must be brought to remember his loyalty and affection for his people.

Because if he won’t fight for them, Lyonesse itself may very well be destroyed…

Consumed by J.R. Ward
Expected Publication: October 9th, 2018
From Goodreads:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series comes a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Ann Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed...

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.

Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse fire changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn't believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again--until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.

Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the county, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.

From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.

Dagger and Coin by Kathy MacMillan
Expected Publication: October 9th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Soraya Gamo was meant to be queen of Qilara, until an Arnath slave rebellion destroyed the monarchy and the capital city. Now, improbably, she sits on the new Ruling Council beside her former enemies, finally holding the political power she always wanted - but over a nation in ruins. As she works to rebuild Qilara, she can, at last, use what everyone once told her to hide: her brain.

But not everyone is ready to accept the new equality that the Ruling Council has decreed between the Arnathim and Qilarites. So when a slave ship arrives in the city, full of Arnathim captured before Qilara fell—the civil unrest that has been bubbling since the rebellion erupts.

Forced to confront her own prejudices, Soraya struggles to gain the trust of the Arnath people she once disregarded and establish peace in what has become chaos. With the threat of attacks high, Gelti, a former guard captain, trains Soraya in self-defense. As the two grow close, tension within the city ramps up, with danger, betrayal, and deception meeting Soraya everywhere she turns. Friends become foes, adversaries become companions, and the clashing of classes threatens to unravel all the good Soraya has been trying to do. Can Soraya, raised to be a proper Qilarite lady, learn to be a true leader? Or will the sins of her past forever haunt the footsteps of her future? 

The Healer by Donna Freitas
Expected Publication: October 9th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Marlena Oliveira has—mysteriously, miraculously—been given the power to heal all kinds of ailments. People around the world believe she is a saint. But her power comes at a price: she can’t go to school, she can’t have friends her own age, and she certainly can’t date.

Then she meets Finn, a boy who makes her want to fall in love. For the first time, she begins to doubt whether her gift is worth all that she must give up to keep it. 

Some 3 awesome books coming out! Really excited for them! What about you guys? Happy reading!

WWW Wednesday #384, August 22nd

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme!

I'm currently reading Asylum, and yeah, it's dark and creepy! Really enjoying it!
I read The Truth Lies Here, and yeah, it was such a great book, I loved the mystery! So great to read!
I'm going to be reading the first novella in The Asylum Novellas, and I can't wait, because I'm enjoying the first book!

What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Teaser Tuesday #384, August 21st

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Today's teaser comes from The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele, page 215.

"Shanahan again mumbled something I couldn't make out."

Ok, that sounds very suspicious! I want to know more! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, August 20, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #376, August 20th

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 #375
Teaser Tuesday #383
WWW Wednesday #383
WOW #379
Will the Time Come #376
Third Sentence Thursday #366
Random Reads #351
First Lines Friday #379
The Reward Challenge Update #361
Book Blogger Hop #45
How Well I Stuck to It #213
Wrote that Review Update #210

Week 33 Reviews:
Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind Of) Liked Me
A Spark of White Fire
The Raging Ones
Wild Hunger
Damsel
The Prince
Tsumiku and the Enslaved Fox
The Traitor Prince
OK, so I got 22 posts in 7 days, which was a pretty fantastic week! Lots of amazing books read! Though still having on and off problems with both migraines and stomach being unsettled, which isn't fun. I got through it, so onto another week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Access Restricted, The Blood Spell, The Darkest Star, Gamescape: Overworld, Hidden Pieces, The Truth Lies Here, and The Wrong Highlander.

In this gripping sequel to All Rights Reserved, Speth Jime must risk everything to save the people she loves…or lose them to the corrupt system that's keeping everyone apart.On the day she went silent, Speth never meant for anyone to follow her lead – or to start a rebellion of Silents. But after taking down the tyrant Silas Rog and freeing the city from his grasp, everyone is looking to Speth for answers she doesn't have. All she wants is to find her parents, who are shackled to a lifetime of servitude in exchange for a debt they can never repay. But how can Speth leave her friends to fend for themselves when she's the reason their city is in chaos?When the government threatens to restore the WiFi and take back the city, Speth is forced to flee with a ragtag group of friends by her side. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey outside the dome they've lived in their entire lives, in search of a better future. Along the way, Speth will discover the shattering truth about their world…and the role she'll need to play to save it.
Blue de la Cour has her life planned: hide the magic in her blood and continue trying to turn metal into gold so she can help her city's homeless. But when her father is murdered and a cruel but powerful woman claims custody of Blue and her property, one wrong move could expose her—and doom her once and for all. The only one who can help? The boy she's loathed since childhood: Prince Kellan.

Kellan Renard, crown prince of Balavata, is walking a thin line between political success and devastating violence. Newly returned from boarding school, he must find a bride among the kingdom's head families and announce his betrothal—but escalating tension among the families makes the search nearly impossible. He's surprised to discover that the one person who makes him feel like he can breathe is Blue, the girl who once ruined all his best adventures.

When mysterious forces lead to disappearances throughout Balavata, Blue and Kellan must work together to find the truth. What they discover will lead them to the darkest reaches of the kingdom, and to the most painful moments of their pasts. When romance is forbidden and evil is rising, can Blue save those she loves, even if it costs her everything?
In the world of the Lux, secrets thrive, lies shatter, and love is undeniable.

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout brings her trademark drama and intrigue to this new series with a girl caught up in a world she doesn't understand, secrets long buried, a betrayal that could tear her life apart...and Armentrout's most swoonworthy book boyfriend yet.

Seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher knows firsthand the devastating consequences of humanity's war with the aliens. When she's caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...
The planet is dying. Centuries of abuse have damaged the earth beyond repair, and now all the authorities can do is polish the surface, make the landscape look pretty to hide the disease within. Two prominent yet mysterious businessmen couldn't fix it, either, but they did something even better. Together, they invented Chimera, the most complex and immersive virtual reality video game the world has ever known. The Cubes in which Chimera is played quickly became a fixture of this landscape: part distraction, part hospital, and almost wholly responsible for holding up the failing world economy.

Miguel Anderson is also dying. He isn’t the only one who plays the game–everybody does–but Miguel has more reason than most: When players leave their Cubes for the day, the upgrades and enhancements they've earned for their virtual characters leave with them. New lungs to breathe poisoned air, skin that won’t burn under the sun are great and everything… but Miguel, born as broken as the earth, needs a new heart–and soon–if he wants any hope of surviving just a little longer.

Then the two Gamerunners announce a competition, with greater rewards and faster progression than ever before, and Miguel thinks his prayers have been answered. All he needs to do is get picked to lead a team, play the game he's spent years getting good at, and ask for his prize when he wins. Simple, really.

At first, things seem to go according to plan. Mostly, anyway. Inside his Cube, with his new team–including his best friend–at his back, Miguel begins his quest. He plays recklessly, even dangerously, for someone whose most vital organ could give up at any moment, but his desperation makes him play better than ever. The eyes of the world are on him, watching through status updates and live feeds, betting on his chances. With greater rewards, though, come greater risks, and the Gamerunners seem to delight at surprising the competitors at every turn. As he ventures deeper into a world that blends the virtual and the real to an unsettling degree, Miguel begins to wonder just why the game was invented at all, and whether its stakes could be even higher than life and death.
Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past. Bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy. Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, too, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Embry thinks she'll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk. Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry's life is safe. And their last move...is murder.
In small town Michigan, Penny, an aspiring journalist, teams up with the nerdy boy-next-door and the town's star quarterback to find her conspiracy theorist father after he goes missing and several other townspeople turn up dead in the woods.

The deeper she digs, the weirder things start to get. Townspeople repeat the same phrases—verbatim. Men in black suits stroll around Main Street. Chunks of her memory go missing. Pretty soon, Penny's research leads her to the long-ago meteorite crash in Bone Lake's woods, and she's going to have to reconsider her definition of "real" if she wants answers. . .
A laird's daughter kidnaps a Highlander—and loses her heart… in New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands' new historical romance

Lady Evina Maclean has heard much about Rory Buchanan's skill as a healer. What she hasn't heard is how good the brawny Highlander looks bathing in a waterfall. But Evina can't afford the distraction, for her ailing father urgently needs care. Only when she's rendered Buchanan unconscious and dragged him back to her family's castle does the truth emerge—it's not Rory she's kidnapped but his brother Conran.

Other ladies try to ensnare Conran with flattery. Evina hits him over the head with the hilt of her sword to save her kin—and Conran likes the spirited redhead all the more for it. He's learned enough from his brother to heal Evina's father, but there are other dangers swirling around the Maclean clan. And while the beautiful, independent lady has sworn not to marry, this wrong Highlander may be just the right man for her.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Wrote that Review Update #210, August 19th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
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 Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind Of) Liked Me, A Spark of White Fire, The Raging Ones, Wild Hunger, Damsel, The Prince, Tsumiku and the Enslaved Fox, The Traitor Prince, Diamond Fire, The Improbable Theory of Zak and Ana, so I have 10 of 10 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 #213, August 19th

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 34 Review:
Access Restricted by Gregory Scott Katsoulis, The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine, The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Gamescape: Overworld by Emma Trevayne, Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes, The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele, The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Tour Books: NA.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: 1. Check.

Edelweiss: 6. Check.

Meme Books: NA.

Rereads: NA.

New Books: NA.

Yeah, there's a ton of amazing books in this week, and I can't wait to read them! So excited!

Week 33:
Consumed by J.R. Ward, Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter, The Prince by Jennifer L. Armentrout, A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna, Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison, This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada, Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill

vs.

Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind Of) Liked Me by Andrea Portes, A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna, The Raging Ones by Krista & Becca Ritchie, Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill, Damsel Elana K. Arnold, The Prince by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Tsumiku and the Enslaved Fox by Forthright, The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine, Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews, The Improbable Theory of Zak and Ana by Brian Katcher

Yeah, I'm happy with this week, I read a few of what I wanted to read, and then a bunch of other books, some that I've been meaning to for a while, but one or two I just had to read it now! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Week 33 Review: The Improbable Theory of Ana & Zak

From Goodreads:
The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is Stonewall Book Award-winning author Brian Katcher's hilarious he said/she said romance about two teens recovering from heartbreak and discovering themselves on an out-of-this-world accidental first date.

It all begins when Ana Watson's little brother, Clayton, secretly ditches the quiz bowl semifinals to go to the Washingcon sci-fi convention on what should have been a normal, résumé-building school trip.

If slacker Zak Duquette hadn't talked up the geek fan fest so much, maybe Clayton wouldn't have broken nearly every school rule or jeopardized Ana's last shot at freedom from her uptight parents.

Now, teaming up with Duquette is the only way for Ana to chase down Clayton in the sea of orcs, zombies, bikini-clad princesses, Trekkies, and Smurfs. After all, one does not simply walk into Washingcon.

But in spite of Zak's devil-may-care attitude, he has his own reasons for being as lost as Ana-and Ana may have more in common with him than she thinks. Ana and Zak certainly don't expect the long crazy night, which begins as a nerdfighter manhunt, to transform into so much more…

My Review:
Oh, wow, this book was a lot of fun to read! There were so many adventures at the con, and it was just hilarious to read! Sure, there were some serious moments, but yeah, as a whole, this book was pretty epic and hilarious!

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ana and Zak, she's the over-achiever, and he's the sci fi nerd, and yeah, they shouldn't fit, the whole improbable theory and all, but they were thrown together, and had all these intense experiences, yeah, it was so great to watch them come together!

I felt bad for Ana, with her parents kicking her sister out for getting pregnant, and feeling like she can't make a mistake or else the same thing will happen to her,  yeah, that's a pretty stressful situation! I really liked how it resolved, though!

So much happened in this book. From the quiz bowl to her brother running away, the different events they kept going to to find her brother, yeah, they had some pretty epic adventures! And a lot went wrong, and they were just trying to keep things from falling apart any further, it was just so great to read! Loved how everything worked out!

This book was so fantastic, and I enjoyed it so much! It was just such a great book!

Author: Brian Katcher
Read: August 17th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Fantastic looking, and it's a DAC Book, SAC 2018 Book, and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Published: May 19th 2015
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 33 Review: Diamond Fire

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.

My Review:
Wow, this novella was so amazing to read! I love this series so much, and I'm so glad that we're getting 3.5 more stories in this world! We did have the beginning in Nevada's head meeting Rogan's mom which was so fantastic, and then the rest of the book in Catalina's head, which was so interesting to read!

I really enjoyed being in Catalina's head, she's the middle sister, she hasn't had quite the responsibilities that Nevada had, but she has her own problems. We got to learn a bit about her powers, and I can't wait to explore that in the future books! And what with the wedding, there's a lot going on, and yeah, it was pretty chaotic and so much fun to read!

I think one of the most complicated things in this book besides the mystery, was figuring out Rogan's mom's side of the family. There were just so many family members, because said mom's siblings had grandchildren who were Catalina's age or so, so yeah, good thing there was a handy family tree!

The investigation into the missing heirloom, that was just so great to read! And all that it uncovered, yeah, that made for a really intense ending! Loved how everything was resolved! And one thread from the main series was finished, as well, that was was so great to read!

This book was absolutely amazing, and I can't wait for more!

Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #3.5, Catalina Baylor Trilogy #0.5, Nevada Baylor Trilogy #3.5
Read: August 17th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love their writing and this series, and it's as Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Expected Publication: November 6th 2018
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 33 Review: The Traitor Prince

From Goodreads:
Javan Najafai, crown prince of Akram, has spent the last ten years at an elite boarding school, far away from his kingdom. But his eagerly awaited return home is cut short when a mysterious imposter takes his place—and no one believes Javan is the true prince.

After barely escaping the imposter's assassins, Javan is thrown into Maqbara, the kingdom's most dangerous prison. The only way to gain an audience with the king — and reveal Javan's identity — is to fight in Maqbara's yearly tournament. But winning is much harder than acing competitions at school, and soon Javan finds himself beset not just by the terrifying creatures in the arena, but also a band of prisoners allied against him, and even the warden herself.

The only person who can help him is Sajda, who has been enslaved by Maqbara's warden since she was a child, and whose guarded demeanor and powerful right hook keep the prisoners in check. Working with Sajda might be the only way Javan can escape alive — but she has dangerous secrets.

Together, Javan and Sajda have to outwit the vicious warden, outfight the deadly creatures, and outlast the murderous prisoners intent on killing Javan. If they fail, they'll be trapped in Maqbara for good—and the secret Sajda's been hiding will bury them both. 

My Review:
Wow, I enjoyed reading this book so much! I've really enjoyed this series, but I was hesitant about this book, because imprisonment is one of my buttons, and the unfairness of it all with him being impersonated, well, yeah, it was slow going at first for me. But then I was hooked and had to keep reading!

I felt bad for Javan. His mother's dying wish was for him to have the top honors at school, and so he spend 10 years focusing on that, to the detriment of having friends and social outings. And knowing that once he was done that, he would then have to work for his kingdom as prince and future ruler. And then he's almost killed and all this happens, yeah, he hasn't had it easy!

Basically everything about the prison was corrupt. From the way that no evidence was given for so many of the prisoners, to how the warden had Sajda as a slave and taking care of the place, to the fights, yeah. it was pretty awful! Not a good situation to be in!

I enjoyed their relationship so much! She had more power, but they were both in pretty crappy situations. And she didn't really want anything to do with him at first. So yeah, they had an interesting dynamic from the start. And with that ending, yeah, they both put the other first, and that was so great to read, made for a wonderful ending!

Loved this book, and I can't wait to read more of this series!

Author: C.J. Redwine
Series: Ravenspire #3
Read: August 17th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2018 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: February 13th 2018
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars