Review: "The Merciless" by Danielle Vega

Synopsis:

 

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.

Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .

In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

 

If I were to summarize this book in one word, I would say...disturbing. Yeah that's then word alright: DISTURBING! I only discovered this book through a friend of mine, and I'm not sure whether I am glad or not that I have read this. This is surely one of those books that you probably won't guess the ending, as you won't know what the hell is going on. Trust me, I had some good guesses myself, and even I only was sort of right. I'm still not sure what I just read. All I do know is, the entire time I was saying "sweet buttery Jesus"!
 

As I was saying, I saw this book at Barnes & Noble and I thought the book, not just the cover, were creative. It's made to resemble an actual bible. Eerie, right?
 

The story was okay: it was basically Mean Girls meets Saved (for those of you that have seen those movies). Everything gets real interesting towards the middle of the book. (Spoiler Alert: If you have a weak stomach, Do Not read this book). I was seriously scared and had to pray to God after finishing this book. There are some serious revelations at the end of the book (pun intended), and you will not see them coming.

 

The characters were okay as well, or at least some of them. I didn't like Sofia at all. I'm just not a fan of weak-willed people in books. I feel like, if you know its wrong, speak up. She was annoying because while she's laying the victim card, she was also subconsciously instigating some of the conflict. Brooklyn  was like a mixture of Miley Cyrus and Janis Ian (Mean Girls) so basically picture that. Riley on the other hand, was like Pennsatucky (Orange is the New Black). Riley is a few tacos short of a combination: she is a straight up psychopath.

 

It's not the most original premise, but it does deliver good thrills and terror to all you adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers. Just beware...it's not for the faint hearted. Also, there better be a sequel especially with that ending; but alas, I am sure this is a stand alone novel.

 

279 pages

Published June 12th 2014 by Razorbill

 

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔

 

Recommend?   Worth a read...if you dare (muah ha ha)

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Review: "Dark Sacrifice" (Dark Paradise #2) by Angie Sandro

Synopsis:

 

A GIFT AND A CURSE

Mala LaCroix sees dead people—really. After using her psychic gifts to catch a killer, she's locked in a psych ward and must strike a deal with the devil to secure her release. Apprenticed to a dark arts practitioner, Mala vows to free herself and save her loved ones from danger. But she doesn't know who to turn to when her crush on Landry Prince turns into something more serious.

A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

Landry has sacrificed everything to protect Mala. A near-death experience changes him forever, and now he, too, possesses supernatural powers he doesn't understand. Mala and Landry must band together to defeat the dark forces—both human and otherworldly—who would use their abilities for evil. Even as they fall for each other, they must prepare to battle for their very souls . . .

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

I have been impatiently waiting for the sequel to Dark Paradise for months now, and I finally had the chance to read it the other day. You all have no idea how eager I was to be immersed into the world Sandro has created once again, especially after the cliffhanger (that should be illegal) from the last book.
 

This book picks up where the last one ended, thankfully. On a side note, I dislike sequels that do a time skip from the previous book ending. Back to the story: honestly this book is better than the first, in my opinion. The story is progressing nicely, and has that certain "creep" factor that Sandro seems to pull of effortlessly. The reader soon discovers that the problems from the last book are far from over in book two. The situations the characters found themselves in were very grave.
 

Speaking of characters, there are some new ones introduced. Not to mention, the characters we know from the previous novel have matured a bit (thankfully). I'm glad to see Mala act her age and not her shoe size. Her back and forth indecisiveness was grating on my nerves, and I'm also glad she gave Landry another chance. Oh Landry...(swoon). I love him  so much. His protectiveness of Mala was sweet and it's good to see him taking responsibility for his less-than-stellar choices in the past. The overall togetherness of the two was amazing! I did indeed like their "special" scene (wink wink), as well as how they finally started working together like a team and admitted their feelings to each other. Enough with the mushy love stuff! Aunt Magnolia is so...wicked! I. Loved. It. She scares me, but I just love her character and her no nonsense attitude (she reminds me of my grandma).
 

So I'm really trying to not give too much of the plot away, but I didn't see that ending coming! And what is going on with Landry? I wonder what's going to happen next, and when Mala is going to turn into a bada** modern version of Marie Laveau? I'm still waiting and the anticipation for book 3 is killing me (in the most sweetest of ways).

 

352 pages

Published August 12th 2014 by Forever Yours
 

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔🔔
 

Recommend?    Most Definitely
  

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Forever Yours Publishing)

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Review: "The Frozen Dead" (Commandant Martin Servaz #1) by Bernard Minier

Synopsis:

The first victim is a horse: its headless body hangs suspended from the edge of a frozen cliff.
On the same day as the gruesome discovery, a young psychiatrist starts her first job at a secure asylum for the criminally insane, just a few miles away.
Commandant Servaz, a Toulouse city cop, can't believe he has been called out over the death of an animal. But there is something disturbing about this crime that he cannot ignore.
Then DNA from one of the most notorious inmates of the asylum is found on the corpse... and a few days later the first murder takes place.
In this snowbound valley, deep in the Pyrenees, a dark story of madness and revenge is unfolding. It will take all of Servaz's
skill to solve it.
*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

I am pleased to say that this was a great psychological, mystery thriller! It's not everyday that you come across a book that keeps you guessing until the end. With its twists and turns, this novel gave me heart palpitations and left me unable to guess the final outcome of the plot.

The POV shifts between two characters: Commandant Servaz and Dr. Diane Berg. It's kind of funny because I kept wondering when the two would finally cross paths; it seemed to take forever. Anyways, I suppose one character was supposed to give the reader eyes into the Institute, and the other into the investigation. Later on the book, it almost felt like Diane was kind of an irrelevant character, by the way. All the characters seemed to be raw and uncut-- it was very refreshing to read characters without the pretenses.

Please note that this story is not for the fainthearted. It will not only "touch" on psychology and touchy subjects such as rape and abuse, it will reach the depths of your mind and (pardon my French, lol) mind-fuck you. Having to read the perverted ways of people, especially the criminally insane, made me want to scrub myself clean and click my heels three times to go home. If you want to stay away from this book, I don't blame you...ignorance is bliss after all.

Favorite Quotes:

"If there's one thing we do learn in this job," he said, "it is that people are rarely what they seem. And that everyone has something to hide." - Servaz

"What if, for example, you have the choice at an election between three candidates: the first one is half paralyzed by polio, suffers from high blood pressure and anemia and numerous other serious illnesses, has been known to lie, consults an astrologist, cheats on his wife, is a chain-smoker and drinks too many martinis; the second one is obese, has already lost three elections, is going through a depression and has had two heart attacks, smokes cigars and in the evening glugs champagne, port, brandy and whiskey before taking two sleeping tablets; and the third one is a decorated war hero who respects women, loves  animals, might drink a beer from time to time and doesn't 't smoke. Which one would you choose?"

Servaz grinned.

"I suppose you expect me to say the third on?"

"Well done, you've just rejected Roosevelt and Churchill and elected Adolf Hitler. You see, things are never what they seem."

496 pages

Published August 12th 2014 by Minotaur Books

Rating:  🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔

Recommend?  I highly recommend!

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Review: "Welcome To The Dark House" (Dark House #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Synopsis:

What’s your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

I've been waiting to get my hands on this book for what seems like forever. Just a FYI, my nickname since childhood was Goosebumps, hence the appeal of this story for me. Originally I thought this was a stand alone novel, but it actually has a sequel, much to my amazement.

While I was reading, this I was camping out in the woods at night. Suffice it to say I was getting a little creeped out every time I heard a twig snap, which only added to the horror ambiance of this book.  There was a decent amount of suspense, albeit towards the middle of the book. The first half was okay; some parts were interesting, others were kind of a drag. I appreciated the fusion of R.L Stine meets the Real World in the beginning; but the characters were exactly like I would have seen in the latter and not in a good way.

Cliché, cliché, cliché. Basically the description of each character. You have: the scary, timid girl #1; cute, weird girl who hurts herself #2; random girl who leaves early #3; sweet, artistic guy #1; and the love triangle between: cute rocker guy #2; pretty, insensitive tease of a girl #4; and gothic jerk guy #3. All of these characters were your average, cookie cutter, watered down characters in the YA genre. I didn't like any of them and only tuned into the book to see who would die first. Shockingly it wasn't the black person LOL.

While we're on the topic of clichés, the only one not in this book is the aforementioned "black person always dies first" and the "black person is scared and runs away from danger".  The "scary, bad guy" of the story is an evil Christmas elf. Really? REALLY? Why is it that the "big scary dude" is always in some ridiculous outfit?: i.e. Chucky, Scream, Leprechaun. It really doesn't;'t get more ridiculously cliché than an elf. Then you have the token love story that manages to be in almost every scary movie. I'll let you guess as to who it is.

Anyways, back to the characters. Their decisions  had me shaking my head.  Especially Natalie, who should have listened to her brother; I bet she feels really stupid now. I did like that Frankie called out Shayla on her "fakeness", it was one of the best scenes in my opinion. Shayla was the most irritating, after Garth of course (I was glad he got the axe... no pun intended).

If I were those kids, I would have never told my worst nightmare, or at the very least pulled a double all-nighter so the Nightmare Elf wouldn't have wormed its way into my nightmares. On a serious note, I thought that it was going to be all make believe at the very end like Inception; it's all in your head. The ending was even better than that.

368 pages

Published July 22nd 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔  

Recommend?   It's a decent book as long as you don't mind the clichés.

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Review: "The Bodies We Wear" (The Bodies We Wear #1) by Jeyn Roberts

Synopsis:

A streetwise girl trains to take on a gang of drug dealers and avenge her best friend’s death in this thriller for fans of Scott Westerfeld and Robin Wasserman.

People say when you take Heam, your body momentarily dies and you catch a glimpse of heaven. Faye was only eleven when dealers forced Heam on her and her best friend, Christian. But Faye didn’t glimpse heaven—she saw hell. And Christian died.

Now Faye spends her days hiding her secret from the kids at school, and her nights training to take revenge on the men who destroyed her life and murdered her best friend. But life never goes the way we think it will. When a mysterious young man named Chael appears, Faye's plan suddenly gets a lot more complicated. Chael seems to know everything about her, including her past. But too many secrets start tearing her world apart: trouble at school, with the police, and with the people she thought might be her friends. Even Gazer, her guardian, fears she's become too obsessed with vengeance. Love and death. Will Faye overcome her desires, or will her quest for revenge consume her?

(*summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

 

My Review:

 

When first reading the premise, I had envisioned a Kill Bill-esque, teenage book. I love a good, old testament story, where the protagonist is a total alpha female! Unfortunately this book wasn't as good as I had hoped.

 

The story just dragged on and on; the only thing that kept me from putting the book down was the anticipation of the "revenge" part of the plot actually jumpstarting. Every single time Faye mentioned revenge and killing, I kept thinking "put up or shut up!" All I seemed to be reading was either: a) Faye was training; b) Faye was at school; or c) Faye was interacting with Gazer or Chael. Those were basically the main scenarios throughout the story.

 

Speaking of Chael, every time I heard this name, I thought of Chael Sonnen LOL. He seemed like a nice guy who really cared about Faye; the situation of how he was able to take possession of another body was a bit freaky though. Also, I find it amusing that I was able to guess who he really was before Faye. Strange, seeing as she is supposed to notice every minute detail and recognize familiarity- I mean, she is a supposed "assassin". Faye was an okay but average character. I didn't really feel any particular way about her. Although at times, I did admire her bravery and pride. I did enjoy, albeit more than I should have, how she could kick some butt! I would have to say that Gazer was my favorite character; he was realistic about wanting revenge and just seemed like someone I would want to be my dad.

 

While reading, it was unfortunate to learn of how they, the fictional characters, treat Heam users. I did feel like it was an injustice, almost like the whole civil rights issue but not as worse. There's a romance element to the story between Chael and Faye, which felt unnecessary. It basically felt forced and threw the story off track. Maybe I will see the whole point of the romance aspect by the next book. It also seemed to me that every scene Chael and Faye shared, the former was trying to talk the latter out of killing. It makes me wonder if the author was trying to bait those interested in revenge/killing stories, and the talk about forgiveness in a "I'm shaking my finger at you reproachfully, while reprimanding you on your behavior" way.

 

Never the less, I still generally liked that there was a lesson to learn about the power of forgiveness, and I am glad Faye finally learned it. I was pleased that, for the most part, things worked out for Faye. I can't this book was exceptional, but it wasn't horrible either.

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

"I've made more hateful," he argues back. "All I wanted to do was give you confidence. Help you grow stronger so you'd be prepared if you were attacked again. Until you can let go of that hate, only then will you be ready." - Gazer

 

368 pages

Expected publication: September 23rd 2014 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔

Recommend:   It was okay. Possibly would recommend.

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Review: "Mortal Danger" (Immortal Game #1) by Ann Aguirre

 

Synopsis:

 

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

When I initially read the synopsis, I was stoked for what had to be greatness. I am and always have been for an good, old testament revenge story. Despite my heady fascination with the premise, the book was just "okay". Don't get me wrong, the first half was really addicting; the second half not so much.

 

I have to say that the cover for this book was just delicious and edgy. I almost want it as a tattoo. Anyways, can I just say how lucky Edie, the protagonist, is to be getting a second chance at life pending her three wishes? Add to that, her "genie in a bottle" is the sexy Kian. Where was my fairy Godmother when I was that depressed? Okay maybe "lucky" isn't the right word, as nothing in life is without a price. I know that from experience, and Edie really should have known better.

Her wishes were just ridiculous, with maybe the exception of her first wish...maybe. For someone so smart, you would think she would consider every aspect of a decision before making it, or be logical when it came to who to trust and how people were getting murdered. Oh no...that is just too like right. If she's so smart, she should have wished for more wishes; Kian never said that was forbidden LOL. At the very least she should have wished for superpowers to combat the bad guys!

Edie was an alright character, but her wishy-washy tendencies were aggravating to read. Especially her saying she hopes so-and-so dies, and then she's shocked that their dead. Really now? Did you not think your words have power now? I don't know why she didn't figure it out after the first murder. I more or less favored Kian. He seemed to be the most interesting character in the entire book because of his past.

The best part was the suspense. Every time a character was murdered though, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop to reveal who was next. There was a lot of death in this book and not everyone who died deserved it. On another note, I always thought that the infinity sign was good luck in Asian culture? I guess not. The big reveal of who was controlling this "wish" game was not what I was expecting. I can't say for sure if that's a good or bad thing, yet. I'll just have to wait and see until the next book.

Favorite Quote:

"You know it's true. People who just got their money always act the worst about it. They wants so badly to be accepted by the blue bloods, to hang out with the right crowd-" -Davina

384 pages

Published August 5th 2014 by Feiwel & Friends

 

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?         It's okay. Maybe worth a read

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Review: "The Lazarus Prophecy" by F.G. Cottam

Synopsis:

Prime Suspect meets The Da Vinci Code in this original, suspenseful thriller.
There is a killer loose on the streets of London, one that evades security cameras, is not held by locks, and savagely mutilates his victims. When the murderer switches from unknown prostitutes to Julie Longmuir, a beautiful actress at the height of her success, no woman feels safe.

As the press begin to draw uncomfortable comparisons with Jack the Ripper, Jane Sullivan, heading up the police investigation, grudgingly has to agree. But the religious writing, scrawled on the wall in Julie Longmuir’s blood, is outside Jane’s area of expertise. Roping in Jacob Prior, a disillusioned theologian, they attempt to pick apart the demonic delusions of this Ripper copycat. They must act quickly, as events are spiraling out of control, and Jane is next on the killer’s list.

Jane will be tested beyond the limits of standard police work, as the esoteric insinuates itself into the investigation. For events are linked to the clandestine Priory in the Pyrenees, the home of a secret Christian sect that pre-dates the Knights Templar. Jane and Jacob are faced with a deeper mystery than they had ever dreamed of; are they simply dealing with a psychopath, or is this something bigger, is this The End of Days?*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

 

The Lazarus Prophecy proves to be a thrilling ride for the reader. It features the Jack the Ripper legend with a supernatural twist, and is multi POV. I kept having heart palpitations and thinking who was next to be killed, every time the POV changed to a brand new character.

As a detective murder-mystery, discovering the clues was pretty fun; in a non-morbid way. The tie in with the Catholic priests and the new Ripper killings was out of this world. I definitely didn't see it coming.

 

I liked the chemistry between Jacob and Jane; the banter was very playful and engaging. All throughout the story, I wasn't sure how the author was going to wrap it all up nice and neat; this is a demon they are dealing with after all, and this is not the show Supernatural. However the book ended pretty good. I really enjoyed it.

 

Favorite Quote:

"Since I won't have the pleasure of doing so myself, please extend my farewells to Madame Reynard"

"Go to hell" - Jacob

Expected publication: September 9th 2014 by Bloomsbury

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?  Yes Please

 

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Bloomsbury Publishing)

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Review: "The Crow: Pestilence" by Drew Moss

Synopsis:

 

Juarez, Mexico. A young boxer, Salvador, refuses to take a fall, but has no problem taking a vicious drug gang's pay-off. When they take their lethal revenge on Salvador and his family, he returns as THE CROW, in search of vengeance... and forgiveness.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

I was wondering if this graphic novel was in relation to the late Brandon Lee's movie The Crow. I did some digging and I was correct.

I have not seen the movie, nor read the original comics, but I did find this one to be decent. The cover art is what attracted my attention as per usual. I'm still trying to understand what Salvador was thinking in the first place, but other than that it is a decent revenge story.

There's a lot of gore in a Kill Bill fashion, not Saw. I am always a fan of "an eye for an eye".

 

80 pages

Expected publication: September 30th 2014 by IDW Publishing

 

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔

 

Recommend?  Some lifelong fans of The Crow may or may not like this

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and IDW Publishing)

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Review: "Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer" by Van Jensen & Dusty Higgins

Synopsis:

This puppet may not be a real boy... but he just might be a real hero! When bloodthirsty monsters invade Pinocchio's hometown and kill his father, Geppetto, Pinocchio discovers a new benefit to his magical nose: telling lies produces a never-ending supply of wooden stakes to combat the vampire hordes! Will Pinocchio be able to defeat these horrors, avenge his father, and save his friends? Now, for the first time, the complete trilogy is collected together in a single deluxe softcover edition. Jensen (Green Lantern Corps) and Higgins (Knights of the Living Dead) present a captivating blend of comedy, horror, romance, and adventure, rooted in the original Italian novel, but brought - as if by magic - to new life.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

This is probably the best graphic novel I have read. It's the perfect blend of humor, action, adventure, paranormal and the classic tale we all know. The premise is quite ingenious; I'm surprised no one thought of it.

 

I laughed so hard when reading this. The humor is just too good, but not "stupid funny", thankfully. All the characters were great-even the bad ones. I like that all the characters were more realistic. The whole book had a Buffy, Vampire Slayer vibe going on. If they don't put this graphic novel up on the big screen, I will be tremendously disappointed.

 

528 pages

Published June 24th 2014 by Top Shelf Productions

 

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?  Great for a laugh or two.

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Top Shelf Productions)

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Review: "The Unforgivable Fix: A Justice Novel" by T.E. Woods

Synopsis:

 

The killer won’t come for you, you fool. He’ll come for me.

Detective Mort Grant of the Seattle PD has finally decided to sell. The home where he and his late wife raised two kids feels too large and too full of old memories. His son is married and raising a family of his own, and despite desperate efforts to find her, Mort has lost touch with his wayward daughter. That is, until the day she walks back into her childhood home and begs for his help.

For the last four years, Allie Grant has been the lover—and confidante, confessor, and counselor—of one of the world’s most powerful and deadly men. But a sudden, rash move has put Allie in the crosshairs of a ruthless Russian crime lord. Mort knows of only one place where Allie will be safe: with The Fixer.

As a hired desperado, The Fixer has killed twenty-three people—and Mort was complicit in her escape from the law. She has built an impregnable house, stocked it with state-of-the-art gear, armed it to the teeth, and locked herself away from the world. But even The Fixer may not be able to get justice for Allie when real evil comes knocking.*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

 

This book blew my expectations out of the water. I figured it would just be one huge "every character has drama" book.  Amazingly, it was like some rated M for mature Superman book. The female lead, Lydia, is successful psychiatrist by day; The Fixer by night (dun dun duunnn).

Story is pretty fast paced- maybe not with action, but the story itself is engrossing.  I had a hard time putting the book down (thankfully) as I was really interested on how "The Fixer" was going to teach the baddies a lesson in who's the MAN..ahem, WOMAN!

This was a good thriller full of unpredictable twists and turns and some serious revelations.  The characters grew on me, especially the ones I had taken an immediate disliking to in the beginning. I liked learning about what makes Lydia "tick" so to speak; and I don't mean the clock in her office at work! (Okay maybe that wasn't that funny).

At first Lydia seems cold and rigid, but you then see she has been hurt badly before psychologically, mentally and emotionally.  I love the cool mask of indifference she often displays; it's so fetch! Detective Mort is a major fool, I concluded.  Not only is he blind to his daughter's trickery and manipulation, he has the nerve to be upset with Lydia- which pissed me off. Detective Bauer is positively sizzling with his charm and rugged looks. Lydia better watch out before she becomes a chocolate chomper (someone who only dates black men). 

P.S: It's a shame about that stepfather allegedly abusing his stepdaughter. It reminds me of a certain wealthy man (cough cough S.C Johnson).

Expected publication: October 14th 2014 by Alibi

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?  Yes.

 

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Alibi Publishing)

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Review: "Stitching Snow" by R.C. Lewis

Synopsis:

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

This was unbelievable, in a great way.  It's like a futuristic-fantasy reimagining of the well-known fairytale Snow White.  I had high hopes for this book when I first read the synopsis, and I am pleased to say that they were exceeded. 

First off, can I just say how awesome this version of Snow White is?  She's a no-holds-barred, kick ass, strong female! Not the "I'm waiting on my Prince Charming to rescue me because I'm so feeble" version in the Disney fairytale.  I loved her wit and courage, as well as her resourcefulness.  Dane was an asshat at first,  but he changed my opinion of him, later.  The evil queen was evil as always, maybe even doubly so.  The king, well...I don't even want to get into that one.  I applaud the author on the amazingly written characters.

 

The twists in the story were fantastic, and the shocking revelations kept me flabberghasted.  It had me sad in certain parts, reminding me of real fairytales; not the Disney ones, where everyone is happy-go-lucky and gets their happily-ever-afters. No. The original ones by the brothers Grimm, which weren't so happy and reminded you of the bad parts of life.  Great book all around! I loved it.

336 pages

Expected publication: October 14th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

Rating:  🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

 

Recommend?  Yes. It's a great book.

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Review: "Midnight Thief" (Midnight Thief #1) by Livia Blackburne

Synopsis:

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.

But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.
When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

When I first heard about this book, I was so ecstatic;  it had everything I wanted to read about. Thieves? Check. Assassins? Check? Kick ass heroine with a love interest? Check and check.

 

The high expectations I had just weren't met in this book.  Don't get me wrong, it is an imaginative medieval-fantasy that attracted my attention in the first place; "It's so Assassin's Creed," was my first thought.  Except the game is a quite bit better written than this, because Assassin's Creed can do no wrong in my eyes.  However I was definitely engrossed in this book, as I was rapidly flipping the pages to find out what happens next.

 

The action was probably my favorite part besides the whole assassin/thief theme.  I'm glad the female lead could hold her own in a fight. Kyra seemed to be a little naive (maybe because of her age) and kind of flighty at times.  Sometimes Kyra even confused me as to which side she was really on.  Tristam was just, bland.  He was missing a certain "je ne sais quoi".  He was just uninteresting to me. I hope in the future books he develops a personality; he's like the Tin Man. The POV shifts in first person between Tristam and Kyra. 

 

I wasn't expecting the whole supernatural element to the story.  It was kind of out of left field, but it didn't exactly ruin it for me.  The ending was unsatisfactory to me only because it left me with unanswered questions like: Who are Kyra's parents? Will we see the shapeshifters again? etc. But then I realized that this is a series so....yeah.  I'm going to give the author the benefit of the doubt because it is the first book.  It's not easy finding the right rhythm in the first book of any series.  I'll tune in for the next book to see how it goes. I hope it gets better.

368 pages

Published July 8th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

My Rating:  🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?  It's worth a read, I suppose

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Review: "Left Turn at Paradise: A Rare Book Mystery" (Antiquarian Book Mystery #2) by Thomas Shawyer

Synopsis:

Michael Bevan is barely scraping by with his used bookstore and rare book collection when he discovers a timeworn journal that may change everything. Dating back to 1768, the tattered diary appears to be a chronicle kept during the first of legendary seafarer Captain James Cook’s three epic voyages through the Pacific islands. If it’s as valuable as Mike thinks it is, its sale may just bring enough to keep his faltering used bookstore afloat for another year.

Then he meets a pair of London dealers with startling news: Adrian Hart and Penelope Wilkes claim to possess the journal of Cook’s second voyage. Is it possible a third diary exists? One which might detail Cook’s explosive final voyage—and his death at the hands of native
Hawaiians? Together, all three would be the holy grail of Pacific exploration. But before Mike can act, the two journals are stolen.

Chasing them down will sweep Michael, Adrian, and Penelope across the globe—past a dead body or two—and into a very sinister slice of paradise. High in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, in a remote and secretive Maori compound, a secret rests in the hands in of a man daring enough to rewrite history . . . and desperate enough to kill.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review

 

A fast paced, adventure with a hint of mystery this book proved to be.  It has some historical aspects to it; for example Captain James Cook and his voyages.

I've read about Captain Cook in passing during high school, so it was nice to brush up on some history. I also liked learning about little known facts about New Zealand.  I've never really known about the Maori beliefs, but it was pretty neat to read about it. The description of the war dance seems very apt, as I have witnessed it myself.

 

I'm not sure why there needed to be a love triangle with Tane, Pillow and Michael. It kind of made sense but then it didn't. I don't see how that was so important to the story. I could have personally done without.  The ending was interesting; I'm not sure I agree with it, but it was intriguing nonetheless. Not a bad read.

Expected publication: August 26th 2014 by Alibi

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔

 

Recommend?      Worth a read. Any adventure lovers will like this book.

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Alibi Publishing)

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Review: "Supernatural Enhancements" by Edgar Cantero

Synopsis:

When twentysomething A., the unexpected European relative of the Wells family, and his companion, Niamh, a mute teenage girl with shockingly dyed hair, inherit the beautiful but eerie estate of Axton House, deep in the woods of Point Bless, Virginia, it comes as a surprise to everyone—including A. himself. After all, he never even knew he had a "second cousin, twice removed" in America, much less that the eccentric gentleman had recently committed suicide by jumping out of the third floor bedroom window—at the same age and in the same way as his father had before him . . .

Together, A. and Niamh quickly come to feel as if they have inherited much more than just a rambling home and a cushy lifestyle. Axton House is haunted, they know it, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the secrets they slowly but surely uncover. Why all the suicides? What became of the Axton House butler who fled shortly after his master died?
What lurks in the garden maze and what does the basement vault keep? And what of the rumors in town about a mysterious gathering at Axton House on the night of the winter solstice?

Told vividly through a series of journal entries, scrawled notes, recovered security footage, letters to Aunt Liza, audio recordings, complicated ciphers, and even advertisements, Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure featuring classic horror elements with a Neil Gaiman-ish twist.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

 

This book was absolutely brilliant.  The story was fast paced and instantly ensnared me.  The build-up was amazing, and I found myself wanting to jump inside the book and interact with the characters when it came to clues.  Speaking of which, I have heard of encrypting letters during wars, but I never knew the types and how to do it.  It was quite fascinating to learn a little history about it and know how to encrypt and decrypt letters for future reference (you never know).  Trying to figure out the clues made me feel like Nancy Drew or one of the Hardy boys.

I could barely figure out what clue led to what. Usually I am very good at solving riddles or figuring out the clues before the characters do, but this book left me stumped.  I enjoyed the brain challenge. The dialogue was pretty interesting between Niamh and A.  I have never met a mute person, so it was interesting reading the communication between Niamh and other characters.

The red herring and twist at the end definitely got me; I really didn't see it coming, which is surprising to me.  The mystery element was the finest I have ever read. The saying that hindsight is always 20/20 is quite true in regards to this book, because looking back I can now piece together the clues to see how it all fit together; perhaps the characters can too.

368 pages

Expected publication: August 12th 2014 by Doubleday

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?     Yes! For Everyone!

(ARC courtesy of Doubleday Publishing and Net Galley)

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Review: "Devil's Game" (Reapers MC #3) by Joanna Wylde

Synopsis:

Liam "Hunter" Blake hates the Reapers MC. Born and raised a Devil's Jack, he knows his duty. He'll defend his club from their oldest enemies-the Reapers-using whatever weapons he can find. But why use force when the Reapers' president has a daughter who's alone and vulnerable? Hunter has wanted her from the minute he saw her, and now he has an excuse to take her.

Em has lived her entire life in the shadow of the Reapers. Her overprotective father, Picnic, is the club's president. The last time she had a boyfriend, Picnic shot him. Now the men in her life are far more interested in keeping her daddy happy than showing her a good time. Then she meets a handsome stranger-a man who isn't afraid to treat her like a real woman. One who isn't afraid of her father. His name is Liam, and he's The One.

Or so she thinks.
*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

 

My Review:

 

This is hands down my favorite in the series.  Em was definitely a kick-ass heroine. I’m not just saying this because she’s significantly better than the previous heroines (cough cough, Sophie and Marie) but she really is just amazing. She came off as passive and timid in the first two books, but she sure has one hell of a backbone once you get to know her.  Honestly, she has some of the funniest lines in the book. Liam was just smoldering. That’s the best I can describe him. He’s such a bad ass. He can be a dirty-talking a-hole, but what man isn’t?

The book starts off giving the reader a taste of both Liam’s and Em’s childhood, then flashes forward right before book two and the events that later followed. Em is still at it again with the losing-her-virginity thing (I just recently watched Clueless and I believe they call it “hymenally challenged”). Luckily she decides to set her sights on Liam, except he’s from a rival MC.  It’s all very Romeo + Juliet except with leather and motorcycles.

There wasn’t as much smut like in the other two books, but it was still good.  There was also a lot more action in this book and very nice character development. I was glad to see there weren’t too many ridiculous couple fights like in most stories. It is written in dual first person POV. Overall, a very steamy read.  

352 pages

Published June 3rd 2014 by Berkley Trade

Favorite Quote:

The fuck? What do you mean, you haven't had sex?"
"I mean I've Never. Had. Sex," she told me, spacing out her words carefully. "True story. You got a problem with that? Because you're looking at me like I've got herpes and that's not working for me."

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?           Defintely worth a read if you don't mind a little 

                                     raunchiness.

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Review: "The Tone Poet" by Mark Rickert

Synopsis:

When a family car accident leaves six-year-old Cameron Blake for dead, his body in engulfed by a light that sings extraordinary music. Once his heart beats again, the music fades and is gone. This is astral music, and it haunts Cameron for the rest of his life. As an adult, Cameron is a renowned composer, but he feels unsatisfied. He's spent his life trying to recapture those astral tones he heard at death's doorstep. Unable to grasp the elusive music, his latest commission has left him burned out and disillusioned. He meets Maestro Leonin Bloom who has the lofty aspirations to perform the musical expression of the creative universe and he needs Cameron's help. Cameron travels to Holloway where Bloom keeps his orchestra and a private concert hall. But something is unwittingly off in the small mountain town. A woman is missing, the nights are haunted by strange music, and Cameron is drawn into darkness rather than enlightenment.

*(summary courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review:

 

I knew this book was going to be something special based on the synopsis.  I was hooked from the first sentence, like an audience member hearing the first note in a song.  The story itself is likened to a riveting performance.

This is a multi-POV book and is really well done, I might add.  Sometimes it leaves a lot to be desired, (like a real connection to each character), but the author, Mark Rickert, executed it flawlessly. The characters were so amazingly written, that  I felt like I knew each character and encountered their experiences.

 

The writing was, unsurprisingly, nothing short of spectacular.  The imagery was very vivid, that I was left enthralled after the jaw-dropping first chapter.  Every moment and scene are like musical notes that lead you into the crescendo of the story, reminding the reader that there is no room for happily-ever-afters in this world.

Favorite Quotes:

 

"I mean, I'm not a religious guy, but if I were, I'd think we were fucking with things we shouldn't be fucking with." - Cameron

"We may both be Tone Poets, but we are not of the same keel. You heard Heaven; I heard Hell. That makes us different in my book." - Kalek

Expected publication: October 29th 2014 by Boutique of Quality Books

 

Rating: 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Recommend?    I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys mystery and

                             suspense with a dash of supernatural.

(ARC courtesy of Net Galley and BQB Publishing in exchange for an honest review)

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