Synopsis: A sensible young nobleman, Leaf Watson, and his sister, Willow Oak, live a rustic medieval life rich in traditions and chivalry. Sealed inside an experimental biodome since infancy, they have been groomed by The Code to build a sustainable community devoid of Outsider interference. They are unwitting pioneers on a path toward confined interplanetary homesteading. Life within their walled garden is predictable and peaceful until the unthinkable happens. With his dying breath, Leaf and Willow’s noble father bequeaths a family secret, placing an invisible crown of power on Leaf’s head. Grief-stricken and afraid for their lives, the siblings defy their upbringing by connecting with Fillion Nichols, a punk hacker who, unbeknownst to them, is linked to their lives in shocking ways. Their encounter launches Fillion into a battle with his turbulent past as he urgently decodes the many secrets that bind them together, a necessity for each to survive. Youth cultures clash when the high technology of the Anime Tech Movement collides with the Middle Ages in a quest for truth, unfolding a story rich in mystery, betrayal and love.
Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book from Story Cartel in return for an honest review.**The book started out a little slow, and I didn't think I was going to enjoy it. Fortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong. Leaf and Willow keep talking about "the secret" their father shared with them just before he died, but it takes quite a while before the reader is let in on that secret. Once that happens, things from the beginning of the book make more sense.The book is very well written, even as it goes back and forth between the Medieval speech of the New Eden group and the technologically heavy speech of those on the outside. The characters are well defined, and their relationships are complicated at times, yet realistic always. The plot is intriguing, and I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment
Synopsis: You've read it as a biblical tale of courage. Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story. She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice. He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart. Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history. The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue and romance.
Thoughts: I love the Biblical story of Esther...her courage is inspirational, and her love for her people is heart-rending. I was looking forward to listening to this audiobook, but I was genuinely disappointed in it.The author was so focused on writing a love story between Esther and her king that she let the story drift away from what is written in the Bible. If it had been a purely fictional story about two other people, I would probably have enjoyed it a great deal.
What I read last week:
1) The Boleyn Reckoning, by Laura Andersen (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
2) Hotel Apocalypse, Volume I, by Bennett Gavrish (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
3) Inevitable, by Jonathan Nace (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
4) Star Cursed, by Jessica Spotswood
5) In The Age Of Love And Chocolate, Gabrielle Zevin
6) Three Little Lies, by Melissa Wolff (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
What I listened to last week:
1) Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls #2), Maggie Stiefvater
2) Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls #3), Maggie Stiefvater
What I'm currently reading:
1) Trailer Trash With A Girl's Name, by Stacey Roberts (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
2) Copycat Killing, by Sofie Kelly
3) Legacy, by Jesikah Sundin (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
4) Defending Jacob, by William Landay
What I'm currently listening to:
1) The Reluctant Queen (The Love Story Of Esther), by Joan Wolf
What I plan to read this week:
1) Assaulted Pretzel (An Amish Mystery #2), by Laura Bradford
2) Hotel Apocalypse, Volume II, by Bennett Gavrish (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
3) Blood Psychics, by Lindsay Edmunds (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
4) Handcuffs and High Heels (Ruby Wisdom Mystery #1), by J.M. Edwards (for review on Goodreads/Amazon)
What I plan to listen to this week:
1) How To Raise Your Adult Children: Because Big Kids Have Even Bigger Problems, by Gail Parent
2) A Brew To A Kill (Coffeehouse Mystery #11), by Cleo Coyle
Synopsis: In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.
Thoughts: I have to say I was very pleased with the ending of this series. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was just the right ending, I think. In spite of Sam and Grace being the main characters, the relationship between Isabelle and Cole was the one that really had my interest in this particular book. I hated saying goodbye to all these characters, and would enjoy another visit to their lives sometime in the future.
Synopsis: It is the summer of 2012. The sky is blue, the ocean is crisp, and six young women are missing, including Madison Porter. At the disappearance of her best friend, Amber Swanson falls into a spiral of destruction. She smokes, drinks and gets caught stealing. Her parents don't know what to do with her, so she is sent to live with her half-sister, Rebecca, in Virginia. Ethan Hunter lives by the saying 'blood is thicker than water'; even when his mother up and left him. At sixteen, he's torn between holding on to the only family he has left and forging his own path for the future. He secretly plans his escape from his small, southern town. The two lives collide and, as Amber puts the pieces of her best friend's disappearance together, she and Ethan are thrown into a whirlwind of secrets, deceit, and murder.
Thoughts: I received a copy of this book from story cartel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions which follow are entirely my own.
This book starts off seeming like your typical "teens try to find missing friend" story, and with the exception of a few weird occurrences here and there, it stays that way through most of the book. When the final twist hits, though, it REALLY hits. I'm still in shock over it, and can't stop sitting here shaking my head. Very well written, and a total page turner.
Synopsis: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.
Thoughts: Wow...just WOW! The first book was amazing, and this one was even better, which I didn't think would be possible. Now we know which Cahill sister is the prophecied oracle--and it wasn't who I was expecting! Things are really heated up by the end, with that one last twist thrown in to make it positively gut-wrenching.
Cate continues to be strong and trying to protect everyone from everything. Maura is power hungry and starving for affection--and nothing short of a bitch. Tess is kind and compassionate and just plain adorable.I can't wait to see how it all wraps up in book three!!
Synopsis: In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
Thoughts: I have to say that I liked this book better than Shiver. There was just more to it...more action, more interpersonal stuff, more growth in the characters. While it does get off to a slow start, once it picks up it never slows back down. And even though it's fairly obvious where it's going to end, it's still more emotional than an obvious ending can sometimes be. I'm just glad that I can go right into Forever, instead of having to wait for it!
