Three Blind Dates is the first in a new series by the fabulous Meghan Quinn. I love Meghan's books, and Three Blinds Dates is right up there as one ofThree Blind Dates is the first in a new series by the fabulous Meghan Quinn. I love Meghan's books, and Three Blinds Dates is right up there as one of my favorites. This book was so, so good you guys. It is quoted as a a modern twist on You've Got Mail which combined dating apps and blind dates, and I ate all of it up. I seriously loved this book. It had sass, romance and plenty of heart. not to mention it will keep you guessing until the very end. It is the first book in the Dating by Numbers series, and I already know the whole series is going to be a big favorite of mine.
Three Blind Dates is kind of a hard book to review without ruining the magic. But I will try my best anyway. In Three Blind Dates we follow our main character Noley as she searches for love. She joins this new dating restaurant in town, which has a really cool premise by the way. The restaurant is basically a really romantic place to have the perfect first blind date. They pair the restaurant up with an app where you anonymously create a profile and matchmakers match you up with your perfect blind dates. And then they handle all the details and feedback and help you find your perfect partner.
Noley gets set up on...wait for itttttttt.........three blind dates throughout the course of the story. I know, who could have guessed?? And the guys are all so different from each other. I actually really loved that. They each spoke to a different aspect of Noley's personality. Honestly, I can see why she was paired up with each one. Noley dubs these guys The Suit, The Rebel and The Jock. I am going to be 100% real with you. As soon as the Suit turned up and they had their first date, I was done for. No way did I think any of the other guys were going to measure up. But I also really ended up liking the Jock, so there goes that theory.
I loved the way Meghan Quinn played this story out. She made the whole thing feel really natural and exciting. I felt like I was going on these dates with Noley, and I was pushed back into the nerves and the excitement of it all. I really loved the experience this book provided. It was a fun read. At the end of the book, Noley does end up with one of the guys but I really liked that Meghan kept us guessing until the end. And what I like even more is that the other two guys are each going to get their own story! Yes! Bring them on, and then bring on stories about their failed dates, and then stories about their failed dates, etc. You get where I am going with this. I love this idea and I want so much more in this series!!!
Bottom line: If you have not read a Meghan Quinn romance, you are really missing out. Her stories are excellent and Three Blind Dates is one of my favorites....more
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions is the first **You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions is the first book in the adult romantic comedy series called Contract Killers by Erin Lyon. I loved this book. As soon as I read the title, I knew I was going to love this book. (The title still cracks me up.) I love you, Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions (hereinafter "I Love You") (see, I can be lawyer funny too...) is set in a world where the concept of marriage has turned into a series of seven year contracts. At the end of your contract term, you and your partner can choose whether or not to re-sign for another term of years. How romantic, right? This book is marketed as, "27 Dresses meets Bridget Jones’s Diary for the millennial set", which I think is spot on. I really really enjoyed every moment of this book. In fact, when I got to the last page, I kept trying to turn for more. I need more!
I'm really hoping that the contract killers series is going to be several books long, focusing on lots of different "contract killers" or men that only go after women that have signed a contract with another man. But I know it will be at least two books long because our main character's story is not finished yet. I am dying to find out what is going to happen with Kate. I really like her. When we first meet her, she is pretty happy with the way her life has turned out. Until her jerk of a partner decides that he is not going to re-up their contract. Kate's journey is just so darn relate able. Whether it is on the newly single level, or on the trying to find a job/career level, something about Kate and this book will have you nodding along. I loved getting to know Kate. We would be great friends!
I completely adored Adam. I didn't think I was going to love him right away, but he totally won me over. I am so excited that we get to see another book and I am hoping for tons of Adam in it. This book left off at a killer cliffhanger, and I am itching to get my hands on the second book in the series. I think I love you is the perfect novel for fans of witty romances with tons of humor and lots of heart. This book needs to be made into a movie. The whole time I was reading I Love You, I was seeing it unfold on the big screen in my mind. I can't wait to read more from Erin Lyon because she totally sold me on this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Last Namsara is the first book in the young adult fantasy Iskari series by Kristen Ciccarelli. I loved this book so, so much. I listened to it on The Last Namsara is the first book in the young adult fantasy Iskari series by Kristen Ciccarelli. I loved this book so, so much. I listened to it on audiobook and I highly recommend the audio book of this series. The narrators voice is so wonderful and I felt like she brought the old tales in the story to life. The Last Namsara is a must read for fans of fantasy, romance and dragons. I loved this book and I am super duper excited to continue on in this world, because I need to know what is going to happen next. This series is a set of companion novels that each follow different main characters but they events are all set sequentially, meaning each book takes place after the events of the previous book, so you follow the same main storyline for the events of the world, which is pretty cool. I love seeing companion novels in a fantasy setting, because I feel like the majority of companion novels I read are set in the contemporary world.
In The Last Namsara we meet our fantastic main character, Asha, who is the daughter of the King and who is the kingdom's dragon slayer, or Iskari. Asha is kind of an outcast because she is the world sees her as the cause of a dragon attack on her village when she was young. Dragons play a huge role in The Last Namsara and I found them to be completely fascinating to learn about. There are so many secrets to unweave in this story, so I will only tell you the basics and let you discover the magic in all of the details of The Last Namsara for yourself. Dragons are attracted to people telling the old stories. Because of this, speaking the old stories out loud is forbidden. (for many reasons, but the most common is because it will attract dragons.) Asha tells the old stories to draw the dragons to her so she can kill them. Through the book there is an event set in motion that requires Asha to hunt down the oldest dragon of them all and bring his head to the king. And that is where our story really gets going.
Kristen Ciccarelli does a wonderful job bringing the dragons, the stories, the characters, and the ancient folklore surrounding each to vivid, vibrant life. I was captivated by this story whole heartedly. I fell in love with every aspect of this story. I love hearing the old stories, I loved learning about the dragons, and the politics and of course the characters and the romance. The romance won my heart completely. I am so in love with the main characters from this story that I am sad to them move into the background in the next book. The next book is going to feature Roa and I have to be completely honest, I am not sure how I feel about that because she was not my favorite secondary character from The Last Namsara. But I am so in love with the story and Kristen's writing that I need to continue on to find out what is going to happen next in this magical world. I hope there are plenty more dragons and romance. And I am super curious to see if my opinion of Roa will change in the next book.
Bottom line: The Last Namsara is one of my favorite reads of 2020! Fantasy lovers do not want to miss out on this fantastic book. I loved it so much!...more
An Enchantment of Ravens is a young adult standalone fae fantasy by Ma**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
An Enchantment of Ravens is a young adult standalone fae fantasy by Margaret Rogerson. I used to love books about the fae, but I haven't read a really good fae-centered book in a long time. So I was super excited when I started to see great early reviews of An Enchantment of Ravens. And when a few of my favorite bookstagrammers said it was one of their favorite reads of the year, I knew I had to read this one ASAP. And I was so not disappointed. An Enchantment of Ravens is a magical story, with beautiful writing. This is a book that instantly swept me away. I seriously loved this story.
In an Enchantment of Ravens we meet Isobel, a talented portrait artist in a town bordering the Fae world/forest. Whimsy is such an interesting town because of their proximity to the fair folk. Throughout the town's history, Fae come into town to buy items that are crafted. I'm not sure if this is a unique trait to Mrs. Rogerson's fae, but in this world fae cannot craft anything. In fact, engaging in any amount of crafting will kill a fae. That was such an interesting concept to me. So, the fae are absolutely ravenous for anything crafted. They cannot get enough of it. Isobel draws portraits of the fae, and in exchange she asks for various enchantments to help her family. I love how smart and perceptive Isobel is. She is a marvelous heroine on this faerie adventure.
Near the start of the story we meet Rook, the autumn prince. Rook is a fascinating character. I have such a crush on him and isobel. They juxtaposed themselves so nicely. I loved their romance, I loved their bickering. Honestly, I loved everything about the two of them. I really liked a lot of the secondary characters too. The fae that we found in the spring court were all very interesting. I am itching for a sequel or a companion novel because this book was simply too short. I need more! I would be happy to see the next book have a different character focus, like the spring prince!, but I am dying to see more Isobel and Rook.
Bottom line: Whether you are a fan of fae stories or not, you need to check out An Enchantment of Ravens. It is a beautiful fantasy tale that has enchanting prose and has a wonderfully romantic romance. I was totally swept up in the story and writing of An Enchantment of Ravens. This book is really lovely. It is a favorite new release of mine in 2017. And one of my favorite reads of the year! I cannot wait for more from Margaret Rogerson.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**You all know by now that I am the biggest fan of Penny Reid. And of th**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**You all know by now that I am the biggest fan of Penny Reid. And of the Winston brothers. As soon as I read Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid, and I was introduced to the 6 Winston Brothers, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to read their stories. And then I read Truth or Beard, and I loved that even more. And then I read Beard Science, and I loved that the most of all!! There is not a Penny Reid book that I don't love. And what I love even more is her writing. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Her books are always witty, gripping and so, so, much fun to read.
Beard in Mind is the fourth book in the Winston Brothers series. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order because they are all pure magic, and you will want to experience every minute of them. Trust me on that. Beard in Mind is Beau's story. And I have been waiting for Beau's story for a long time. Ever since I met him and his twin brother Duane, I have been intrigued by how different the two of them are. And I have wanted to get to know Beau better. That was honestly my favorite part of Beard in Mind. We really got to dive into Beau's head and see what makes him who he is. At the end of Cletus' story, I wasn't too sure about Shelly. She is an odd duck, that is for sure. So I was cautiously optimistic when I started Beard in Mind. And I have to say, Shelly really won me over. We certainly get to see why she is the way she is, and I really applaud Penny Reid on her thorough depiction of OCD with Shelly. It was really interesting for me to delve into some of her serious compulsions, thoughts and behaviors.
Cletus is still my favorite, but I did really love Beau as well. I am not sure that anyone can top Cletus in my mind, but I can't wait to see Billy's story and see if that is true or not. ( I have a feeling if any of the brothers can knock Cletus off the pedestal Jennifer and I have him on, it would be Billy. But I don't know. My love for Cletus does run pretty deep.)
I have said it before and I will say it again- Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them. Winston Brothers, we are suited. I'll take any of them. But really....Cletus is all mine! Move over banana cake queen.
Note: This is the third book in a series that must be read in order. If**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Note: This is the third book in a series that must be read in order. If you are new to the Stranje House series, check out my review of book one, A School for Unusual Girls HERE and my review of book two, HERE ---------------
Refuge for Masterminds is the third book in the Stanje House series by Kathleen Baldwin. I absolutely loved, the first book in the series, A School for Unusual Girls, and the second book, Exile for Dreamers. Each of the books is told from one of the five Stranje House girls point of views. Book one was Georgie, book two is Tess and book three is Jane. The series follows a single timeline and the events of the books take place one right after another, so the series must be read in order. But from each book we get to see the next set of events unfold from a different perspective. It is brilliantly done.
Refuge for Masterminds is Jane's story. As soon as I found out each of the books was going to be written from a different girl's perspective, I was itching for Jane's story. I love a good mastermind, and Jane was intriguing to me right from the very start. As soon as she told Georgie was sent to Stranje House because she was too profitable, I knew there were many secrets lurking beneath her surface. And we get to see so many of them come to light throughout this third installment in the Stranje House series. I am completely in love with these books. Each one builds on the last one, and they all flow seamlessly, while still each having their own distinct voices and perspectives. With each novel, I get to know the girls a little better.
The Stranje House series is quickly turning into one of my favorites. I love that it blends different genres effortlessly. It is part historical fiction/alternate history, party magic, and part secret spy school. I have never read another book quite like it. In Refuge for Masterminds, we are still smack dab in the middle of a whole lot of danger, and speaking of the danger, I have no idea how Kathleen Baldwin does it, but the plot just keeps becoming more and more fascinating for me. Now we are securely in the alternate history realm, but I am so fascinated by the way everything is unfolding. We also get to explore a new love interest in Refuge for Masterminds, with Jane and Alexander. I really liked the romance in this one. Jane and Alexander were another perfect pairing, in my opinion. I love all of the different personalities that we get to know, in both the ladies and the gentlemen.
I can't wait to learn more about Maya, and Sera in each of their stories. They are each so fascinating in their own regard. So different, and valuable in their own way. I love watching them all work together. There are plenty more adventure and danger for the final two girls to get into. I am hoping that this series is longer than five novels. I am ready for more, more, more. Katleen Baldwin does a fantastic job making them accessible and easy to follow, all the while creating a world and characters that are unputdownable. I am in love with the Stranje House novels. Seriously, in love.
Overall, Refuge for Masterminds is a brilliant addition to the Stranje House series. This is a series for readers and lovers of all different genres. I think everyone should read this series. There will be something in between these pages that you will fall in love with, I'm sure of it. Book three, A Refuge for Masterminds is Lady Jane's story- our resident mastermind herself. I am so pumped for the book. I have been absolutely loving it. I know I am going to be so sad when it is over because I will have to wait until next year for the fourth book. Kathleen Baldwin has not let me down yet. I am in love with this series!
Note: This is the second book in a series that must be read in order. I**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Note: This is the second book in a series that must be read in order. If you are new to the Stranje House series, check out my review of book one, A School for Unusual Girls HERE ---------------
Exile for Dreamers is the second book in the Stanje House series by Kathleen Baldwin. I absolutely loved, the first book in the series, A School for Unusual Girls, and this book was even better than the first book. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Georgie and Lord Wyatt, but I really really adore the setup of this series. Each of the books is told from one of the five Stranje House girls point of views. Book one was Georgie, book two is Tess and book three will be Jane. I just love that idea. The series follows a single timeline and the events of the books take place one right after another, so the series must be read in order. But from each book we get to see the next set of events unfold from a different perspective. It is brilliantly done.
Exile for Dreamers is Tess' story. Tess is such an interesting character. I was super intrigued by her in the first book, and I grew to totally love her in this book. Her story with Lord Ravencross was excellent. Not to mention her ability is really fascinating. Not only her dreaming ability but also her connection with animals. She is a multifaceted character that I was eager to keep learning more about as the book progressed. And I was totally surprised with the direction things took with one of the characters. (view spoiler)[With Daneska. The former student that betrayed the girls. (And that is all the detail you will get on this one...even in the spoilers.) :p (hide spoiler)]
The Stranje House series is quickly turning into one of my favorites. I love that it blends different genres seamlessly. It is part historical fiction/alternate history, party magic, and part secret spy school. I have never read another book quite like it. I should note that in the historical aspect, at the end of the last book we took a departure from actual historical events. I thought Kathleen Bladwin did an excellent job explaining the what and the why in her afterword, which I would encourage everyone to read. The Stranje House novels are more of an alternate version of history, where just shifting one event in Napoleon's time could have resulted in a very different turn of events. It is so much fun to explore this possibility. (Can you tell I love history!?) But even non-history majors can easily enjoy these novels. Katleen Baldwin does a fantastic job making them accessible and easy to follow, all the while creating a world and characters that are unputdownable. I am in love with the Stranje House novels. Seriously, in love.
I can't wait to learn more about Jane, Maya, and Sera in each of their stories. I am almost positive that each of the girls will get their own story, and I could not be more thrilled about that. They are each so fascinating in their own regard. So different, and valuable in their own way. I love watching them all work together. They have each other's backs and they don't hesitate to jump in after another girl to help out. (Sometimes literally jumping into something)
Overall, Exile for Dreamers was a FANTASTIC follow up to the Stranje House series. This is a series for readers and lovers of all different genres. I think everyone should read this series. There will be something in between these pages that you will fall in love with, I'm sure of it. Book three, A Refuge for Masterminds is Lady Jane's story- our resident mastermind herself. I am so pumped for the book. I have been absolutely loving it. I know I am going to be so sad when it is over because I will have to wait until next year for the fourth book. Kathleen Baldwin has not let me down yet. I am in love with this series!
A School for Unusual Girls is the first book in the Stanje House serie**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
A School for Unusual Girls is the first book in the Stanje House series by Kathleen Baldwin. This book, and really all three books, were such a big surprise for me. I completely love them! In my post of Riders by Veronica Rossi, I spoke about about much I enjoy binge reading books one right after another, so I decided to do it again with the Stranje House series. And I freakin’ loved it!
A School for Unusual Girls is such a different, in the best way, novel! It is part historical fiction, party magic, and part secret spy school. I have never read another book quite like it. One of the coolest parts of the book, is that you don’t really know what direction it is going to go in. Everything is so mysterious. You learn more and more as secrets are reveals and parts of the plot unfold.
At the Stranje School, there are a group of five completely special and diverse girls. I loved learning about each of the girls. They are all so different, and I am sure we are going to learn more about each of them in turn as the books so on. Georgie is the last girl to arrive at the Stranje school and she has no idea what is in store for her. Georgie loves science and chemistry in particular. She is trying to come up with the formula for an invisible ink. Her parents send her away to a reform school to try and mold her into a proper young lady, but really they send her somewhere so much cooler. Georgie, and the other girls’ adventures are just beginning and I was a captive audience from the very first page until the last. I was riveted. I loved getting to know Tess, Sera, Georgie, Jane and Maya. They are all so different and cool in their own way, and I loved seeing them all work together.
And I haven’t even spoken about the love interest. The romance in A School for Unusual Girls was great. It was slow burn and molded seemlessly into the plot of the story. Sebastian is so swoon worthy. I loved seeing him work with Georgie on her ink, and the historical elements of the story were an awesome addition. The book takes place right after Napolean was exiled to Elba (which we all know didn’t work out so well.) I loved reading about the history aspects in the book, because I knew what actually happened. It was fun to see these side events fit into history. Overall, A School for Unusual Girls was a FANTASTIC start to the Stranje House series. I can already tell it is going to be a favorite of mine. I am loving book 2 and and going to read book 3 immediately after! Book 2- Exile for Dreamers is Tess’ story, which is awesome! I love the set up for this series. If you have not read A School for Unusual Girls, you need to!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty is a young adult fantasy. It is the f**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty is a young adult fantasy. It is the first book in the Traitor's Trilogy, and it is one of my favorite reads of 2017! By far. I freakin' loved this book. I wanted to re-read it immediately after I finished it. It actually took me 4 days to read because I kept forcing myself to stop because I didn't want it to be over. I need the second book ASAP. (I have re-written this review twice now, because every time I look at it, it feels super gushy. But I'm not toning it down any further because I want to share my excitement for this book. I seriously loved it so much!)
The Traitor's Kiss is the story of Sage Fowler, a young lady who ends up as a matchmaker's apprentice/secret spy when she doesn't wish to be wed herself. The book is told in multiple perspectives, including Sage's, and some of the soldiers they encounter. Sage accompanies the matchmaker for her country along with lots of young ladies who wish to be matched at a grand event, where people from all countries come to be matched. The story develops on their journey to the event.
It is really hard to explain the magic that is The Traitor's Kiss. I loved the mystery of it all. I loved Sage and I really, really loved Ash. The romance is incredibly swoon-worthy and epic. The characters are dynamic and excellent, the world building is rich and detailed and really well done, and I even loved all the military lingo and strategy that played into the storyline. I thought Erin Beaty did a great job of making all of the military tactics/strategy not only accessible and easy to understand, but also super interesting.
I have so much more to say about character specifics, but I will save them for later because I don't want to spoil anyone, but I would love to chat about this book with anyone and everyone so comment below if you have read it!!
Bottom line: if you love YA fantasies that have excellent world building, great political and military intrigue and an epic-ly awesome romance, The Traitor's Kiss is sure to be a favorite of yours. It certainly is a favorite of mine. The Traitor's Kiss is one of my favorite reads of 2017. I am dying for more!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** Air and Ash is the first book in the Tides series by author Alex Lidel**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** Air and Ash is the first book in the Tides series by author Alex Lidell. The Tides series is an epic high fantasy adventure that takes place on the high seas! Umm, yes please!! I was already kicking myself for passing an early review of Daughter of the Pirate King and I have been kicking myself ever since. I was not going to miss out on all the swashbuckling fun in another highly anticipated pirate adventure. And Air and Ash did not disappoint. I absolutely loved this adventure. I loved everything about it! I loved the characters and I really really loved the world building that Alex Lidell created. Trust me, Air and Ash is a book you do not want to miss.
I absolutely loved our heroine, Nile. Yes, she is a princess, but she is kick ass! Seriously, She does not turn away from hard work or unfavorable odds. I loved her determination. Nile does not have it easy, but she always faces what is thrown at her head on. It is hardnot to admire the heck out of her. And even harder not to root for her. She is one of my new favorite characters. I can't wait to see more of her adventures.
And that isn't even talking about the magic in the world. Holy cow, the magic was something else entirely! I totally was not expecting it all. But everything worked so seamlessly together. The world building in Air and Ash was truly something magnificent. Alex Lidell is crazy relented. I am totally loving this series. I need to get my hands on the second book ASAP. And I didn't even scratch the surface on the number of things I loved about this book. I don't give five stars out lightly, but Air and Ash earned every bit of five stars. Don't even get me started on Domenic or the romance. Both are excellent. I want Domenic all to myself. but I am going to let you discover all of that for yourself.
Bottom line: If you can't get enough epic fantasy, like me, this is a series you need to read. Plain and simple. Air and Ash is a fantastic first novel to what is going to be a favorite YA fantasy of mine. I can already tell. I love the characters, I love where the romance is going, I love the world and the magic. All of it works for me. Alex Lidell has a winner on her hands here. I can't wait for more. I need to grab the prequel and book 2 ASAP! Air and Ash is one of my favorite reads of 2017....hands down!
My Thoughts Checkmate: This is Dangerous is the fifth book in the Check**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
My Thoughts Checkmate: This is Dangerous is the fifth book in the Checkmate series and the first book in the duet about Logan and Kayla. The checkmate series is by the fantastic writing duo known as Kennedy Fox. No one seems to know the identity of this mysterious author duo, but I am offering a reward of endless sprinkle donuts if someone can tell me who they are. I promise, I am very good at keeping a secret. ;) ;) I read, and totally LOVED loved loved all of the Checkmate stories. Books 1 and 2 are Viola and Travis' story, and books 3 and 4 are Drew and Courtney's story, and books 5 and 6 are Logan and Kayla's story. You can read any one of the duets first, but they are all so wonderful, you are going to want to read them all! So if you are new to the series, I recommend reading them all in order.
This is Dangerous was a fantastic read, but it will leave you right on the edge of your seat at the end. Kennedy Fox is well known for their killer cliff hangers, and I have to say this one surprised me. I thought I knew where it was going to go, but then it took a crazy left turn. I am so anxious to get my hands on the next book. I feel like I say this all the time, but I think Kayla and Logan are my favorite couple yet. I just love the two of them. Kayla is seriously the nicest person ever. I love her love of dogs. Watching her rescue Herman secured her place in my favorite human beings list for my book friends. And Logan is always coming to her rescue like the knight that he is. I heart the heck out of them.
One of my favorite things about Kennedy Fox is that they write couples that you root for so hard. They are all swoonworthy, and they are all great together. I will say we don't see a ton of Travis and Viola in this book. They make some appearances, but we do see more of Courtney. I want to see even more of Courtney and Drew in the next book. I love the two of them so much. Honestly, my only complaint with this book was that it wasn't long enough. I also didn't love that the hot vet just kind of disappeared from the story line (I might be the only one campaigning to see more of him in the next book, but I think that would be fun. Plus, I genuinely like him. I wouldn't mind him getting his own duet!)
Logan and Kayla will have you swooning hard, right from the very start. They are already friends, and Kayla has made it known that she wishes they were more, but Logan has always held back. I really liked the progression of their story. I felt like they grew closer and closer a the various events kept bringing them into each other's lives. I tried so hard to figure out where Kennedy started and stopped and where Fox picked up, but I couldn't tell. Not once. This is one seemless author duo people. I can't get enough of them. They make romances that I want to binge read and they write characters that I want to be friends with. And I can't ask for much more than that!
If you are a character driven reader who loves sexy romances that will have you addicted faster than you even realize, you need to read the Checkmate series. This is one you will want to binge read...trust me. Kennedy Fox has this knack for writing the best characters that have the best chemistry. Everyone needs to be reading the Checkmate series. Everyone. It is one of my favorites. Logan and Kayla are giving Drew and Courtney a run for their money. I didn't think it would be possible but this is a series that keeps getting better for me! I can't wait to see what this author duo has in store for us next.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Roar is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, called the S**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Roar is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, called the Stormheart series by author Cora Carmack. Roar honestly blew me away. I loved it so much, and what I loved the most about it was that I don't feel like the story took the most conventional plot path. It continued to surprise me and that was pretty magical. I have read Cora's new adult novels in the past and I love her Rusk University books, so I was super excited to see that she was venturing into the young adult fantasy realm. YA fantasies are quickly becoming my very favorite type of books to read. (I do still love a good contemporary romance though...but mostly in the new adult age group.) I thought Cora Carmack slayed this genre. She is such a talented author, and with Roar she has quickly climbed the ranks as an auto-read author for me. I loved Roar that much.
Roar is a difficult book for me to explain in a short review because there is so much going on in the Stormheart world. In this world, members of nobility have powers which enable them the ability to fight certain types of storms. The more storms you can defeat, the more powerful you are. They channel their ability through the use of various stormhearts, which are crystals captured from the heart of a storm. Aurora is the princess of one of the biggest countries in the region. Her mother, is a very powerful Stormling, but Aurora doesn't have any powers at all. Without giving too much away, Rora decides in order to be the princess her kingdom deserves she needs to go out and join a storm hunters crew to gain some stormhearts. I don't want to tell you any more than that because the progression of this story was really wonderful. It was mysterious and riveting. I loved finding out a little more about the storms and the characters as we went on the journey. I still have tons of questions and lot's of things I need to know more about in the next book, but Roar was such a satisfying first read for me.
I really loved everything about the book. I loved Rora, or Roar as she calls herself with the hunters. She is brave, fiercely independent, and really really honorable. The whole cast of characters was a lot of fun, and I am dying to know more about all of them...but especially Cassius, Locke and Sly. I think they all have many more layers to peel back. And I can't wait until we can get to know all of their secrets. The romance in Roar was just as awesome as I was hoping. Cora Carmack writes excellent romances, and I was hoping that would carry over to Roar. And it totally did!
Bottom line: If you love YA fantasies with a fantastic romance throughout, lots of adventure and a brilliantly magical world where storms take on a life of their own, you will LOVE Roar. (It is thundering and lightning behind me as I write this review, and I think it is their storms way of showing it's approval. Cora, you have the storms on your side!) Roar is a fantasy fantasy debut from Cora, and I am dying to get my hands on the next installment ASAP.
Checkmate: This is Reckless is the third book in the Checkmate series and the first book in the duet about drew & Courtney. The checkmate series is byCheckmate: This is Reckless is the third book in the Checkmate series and the first book in the duet about drew & Courtney. The checkmate series is by the fantastic writing duo known as Kennedy Fox. No one seems to know the identity of this mysterious author duo, but I am offering a reward of endless cookies if someone can tell me who they are. I promise, I am very good at keeping a secret. 😉 😉 I read, and totally LOVED loved loved Checkmate: This is War, book one in the series. Books 1 and 2 are Viola and Travis’ story, and books 3 and 4 are Drew and Courtney’s story. You can read either one of the duets first, but they are all so wonderful, you are going to want to read them all!
Checkmate: This is Reckless is the start of Drew and Courtney’s story. If you read the first books, you have already met Drew and Courtney. Drew is Travis’ best friend and Viola’s brother. And Courtney is Viola’s best friend and she works for Travis. Courtney and Drew live together, and they have for a while. But it hasn’t ever been an issue because they are best buds. Drew sees Courtney as one of the guys and Courtney keeps her crush for Drew under wraps…until the night of Travis and Viola’s wedding. And then the fun really starts.
I freakin’ loved Drew and Courtney. They are hilarious together. And they are even better once Drew gets his head out of his you know what and starts seeing Courtney differently. Kennedy Fox have this knack for writing the best characters that have the best chemistry. Seriously, Drew and Courtney are explosive. I loved their friends to more story. I loved that they always had each other’s backs and they always supported one another.
But I will warn you about this. This is only book one of their story…and it ends on a cliffhanger. The bad news is…it is a doozy of a cliffhanger. The good news is, the second part of their story- This is Effortless, is out tomorrow! So you can binge read both parts of their story. Which is exactly what you are going to want to do. I have a theory that Kennedy Fox have laced the pages of their book with some kind of addictive property because I can’t get enough of these books. Seriously, I can’t read them fast enough, and when I am done, I kind of twitch until I can get my hands on the next installment. Everyone needs to be reading the Checkmate series. Everyone. It is one of my favorites. I think I like Drew and Courtney even more than Travis and Viola.
Checkmate: This is Reckless is the fourth book in the Checkmate series and the second book in the duet about drew & Courtney. The checkmate series is by the fantastic writing duo known as Kennedy Fox. No one seems to know the identity of this mysterious author duo, but I am offering a reward of endless cookies if someone can tell me who they are. I promise, I am very good at keeping a secret. ;) ;) I read, and totally LOVED loved loved Checkmate: This is War, book one in the series. Books 1 and 2 are Viola and Travis' story, and books 3 and 4 are Drew and Courtney's story. You can read either one of the duets first, but they are all so wonderful, you are going to want to read them all! So if you are new to the series, I recommend reading them all in order.
But you must read book 3, This is Reckless before you read book 4. This is Effortless is the continuation of Drew and Courtney's story, and I have to say they are my favorite! I can't see any couple topping them. But I also thought that about Travis and Viola, so who knows what the next couple's duet will bring. This is Effortless picks up right where This is Reckless left off. And though I am going to try my very best not to let any spoilers out in this review, I do have to express how deep my hatred for Mia runs. She is seriously bat poo crazy! I will never, ever understand what Drew saw in her.
But everything that I loved from This is Reckless was right there in This is Effortless. I love Drewtney so so much! They are great as friends and great as more. I love how supportive they are of one another. Plus Drew has the whole smoldering thing down pat and Courtney is just so much fun. I want to hang out with her! (or just take her place completely so I can have Drew. Either way...) Drew and Courtney do face their share of bumps and detours in this book, but they are the kind of couple that are meant to be together, so I was never too worried. You can feel their connection deep down inside, they really are soulmates. I love them so much and I was so so satisfied with their story. If you are a character driven reader who loves sexy romances that will have you addicted faster than you even realize, you need to read the Checkmate series. This is one you will want to binge read...trust me. Kennedy Fox has this knack for writing the best characters that have the best chemistry.
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I have a theory that I shared in my last review- Kennedy Fox has laced the pages of their books with some kind of addictive property because I can't get enough of them. Seriously, I can't read them fast enough, and when I am done, I kind of twitch until I can get my hands on the next installment. Everyone needs to be reading the Checkmate series. Everyone. It is one of my favorites. I think I like Drew and Courtney even more than Travis and Viola. I can't wait to see what this author duo has in store for us next. I'm already going through a withdrawal from lack of Fox.
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Don't Kiss the Messenger is a the first book in the young adult contem**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Don't Kiss the Messenger is a the first book in the young adult contemporary series, called Edgelake High School by Katie Ray. Katie Ray is actually a new name for YA author Katie Kacvinsky (who wrote the books- First Comes Love, Second Chance, Finally Forever, Awaken, Middle Ground, and Still Point). I have never read any of Katie's books, but I have to say I absolutely LOVED Don't Kiss the Messenger. I can't wait for the next book in the Edgelake High series. Don't Kiss the Messenger is a retelling of the classic tale of Cyrano de Bergerac. I can't even tell you how much I loved this version of the story.
Our main character, and this tale's Cyrano is a young lady named CeCe. Cece was in a very bad car accident and has really significant facial scarring from reconstructive surgeries. CeCe is a school superstar student. She is brilliant but she is also a really excellent student athlete. I loved how well rounded CeCe is. She is a really hard worker and I admired that about her. Plus, she is super sweet and honestly, she is a great friend. I loved watching her hit it off with Emmett, the new transfer student. Emmett and CeCe have a really great friendship that I thought developed very naturally. I believed it and their feelings 100%. This is what I wish all YA romances grew out of. Katie Ray did an excellent job showing their chemistry and their bonding. I love Emmett and CeCe!!
But, Emmett falls for the other new transfer student, and CeCe's volleyball teammate- Bryn. Bryn is beautiful and really sweet, but I found myself wishing she were not so one dimensional and superficial. I kept wanting to see a glimpse of more from her. Don't get me wrong, she is a sweet girl...but I was kind of with CeCe, I have no idea how Emmett fell for it for one second. One conversation with Bryn and you know everything about her. I am very ready to be proven wrong about her. I have a feeling that the next book is going to be about her and I can't wait! I have an inkling as to who is going to be her romantic interest and I am really excited for their story.
But now back to CeCe and Emmett. I loved watching their journey. I thought this was the perfect modern take on Cyrano de Bergerac. I laughed, I cried, I cheered when they finally got together. This book made me feel great. Plain and simple. And I loved that about it. I can't wait to read more from Katie Ray. This was a total hit with me. If you like really well written YA romances with awesome characters and a real, believable connection and slow build romance, Don't Kiss the Messenger is going to be a favorite of yours. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this gem.
Cindy Anstey has done it again! Love, Lies and Spies was one of my fav**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Cindy Anstey has done it again! Love, Lies and Spies was one of my favorite books of 2016. And now Duels and Deception is one of my favorite reads of 2017! I just love Cindy's books. Duels and Deception is a companion novel, set in the same time period as Love Lies and Spies. So while you do not need to read Love Lies and Spies to understand Duels and Deception, both of these books are seriously so good that you need to read both. Trust me on that one!
Duels and Deception is a young adult historical romance by Cindy Anstey. Young Adult historical is a genre that I don't read too much of...not because I don't enjoy it. When it is is well done, I love it. But I am super picky when it comes to the writing and world building in my historical books. And Cindy Anstey has the historical writing IT FACTOR in spades. I felt like I was reading a young adult Oscar Wilde. Cindy is my favorite YA historical author. If you haven't read it already, you need to read this book. It is hands, down, one of the best young adult historical romances I have ever read.
I loved the Regency wit and charm. Flirting in their flowery way just seems so much more fun to me. Duels and Deception is the story of Lydia and Robert. Lydia is delightfully headstrong and independent. I loved how she carried herself and how she was not afraid to speak her mind. And Robert is a stand up guy. Fans of good guys will swoon all over Robert. I know I did. Plus, Duels and Deception centers around an estate. And you all know how nerdy I am about estate planning. I can't say enough positive things about this book. Stick with it for the first 6 chapters and I promise you will be sucked in. From that point on, nothing could tear me away from this story. I am having the hardest time picking my favorite of these two books. (I think it might have been Love , Lies and Spies...but only by a hair. )
Just like the first book, Duels and Deception was wonderfully witty, and awesomely romantic in the way only a fantastic historical romance can be. Everything makes it feel more romantic; the flowery over the top language, the setting, the wit and charm of the period- all of it works for me. Cindy Anstey has a fan in me.
Bottom line: If you are a lover of historical fiction, read Duels and Deception. If you are new to the genre or a reluctant reader, read Duels and Deception. It is that simple. Just read this book. I think it is one of the best books of 2017. (read Love Lies and Spies too!) Cindy Antsey is quickly climbing the ranks as a favorite author for me. I have absolutely loved both of her novels!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** The Opposite of You is the first book in the adult contemporary romanc**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net** The Opposite of You is the first book in the adult contemporary romance Opposites Attract series by Rachel Higginson. I flippin' LOVED this book. It is about time I had a 5 star contemporary read and this one earned every bit of those 5 stars. It is so excellent that I want to pick it up and read it again...immediately. You know when you love a book so much you immediately want to read other books like it? Well, The Opposite of You did that to me. I am now craving a great fight/bantering dynamic, so leave me your best new adult/adult recs below.
The Opposite of You is told entirely from Vera's point of view. Vera is a trained culinary chef, a very talented one at that, but because of a troubled past she doesn't feel like she will ever be able to have her own kitchen. So she opens up Foodie the food truck to start her dream of doing upscale comfort food. I totally want Foodie to be real because seeing her weekly menu's made me seriously hungry! The catch is, she opens Foodie up right across the street from the fanciest restaurant in town, with the most famous chef in town- Killian.
To say that I loved the interactions between Killian and Vera would be a total understatement. They are both hard-as*'s and both totally hilarious with each other. Killian would send spies to order her food and sneak it back to him and then send her his notes tearing the food apart. And Vera would retaliate in awesome ways. They may be one of my favorite book couples of the year. Killian is totally book boyfriend list worthy. I just loved him! But together they are even more magical. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I really hope we get to see Killian and Vera in it some more. I have a feeling I know who one of the future couple is going to be. (view spoiler)[coughmollyandezracough (hide spoiler)]
Bottom line: If you like your contemporary romances full of banter, chemistry that sizzles off the page and beyond excellent pacing and writing, you need to read The Opposite of You. This is my first Rachel Higginson book, but it will not be my last. I couldn't put this book down. It was like a perma smile read for me. I loved it so much. And I need more! The Opposite of You is one of my favorite reads of 2017! Everyone needs to go out and buy this book today. Trust me. You will love it.
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