One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

 

"In January 1986, fifteen-year-old boy-genius Nick Hayes discovers he’s dying. And it isn’t even the strangest thing to happen to him that week.

Nick and his Dungeons & Dragons-playing friends are used to living in their imaginations. But when a new girl, Mia, joins the group and reality becomes weirder than the fantasy world they visit in their weekly games, none of them are prepared for what comes next. A strange—yet curiously familiar—man is following Nick, with abilities that just shouldn’t exist. And this man bears a cryptic message: Mia’s in grave danger, though she doesn’t know it yet. She needs Nick’s help—now.

He finds himself in a race against time to unravel an impossible mystery and save the girl. And all that stands in his way is a probably terminal disease, a knife-wielding maniac and the laws of physics.

Challenge accepted."

⭐️⭐️

Unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me. I have read several of Mark Lawrence's books in the past and I was very excited to read this one, especially because of the references to D&D. However, I found the pacing to be very slow and it was hard to keep myself interested in what was going on. I didn't really connect with the characters, except for Simon. I will absolutely read more Mark Lawrence books in the future, but I think I'll be skipping the rest of this series. *Thanks to Netgalley I received this book as a free ARC

Lost In Me by Lexi Ryan

Lost In Me

by Lexi Ryan

Lost In Me was a quick read with a whole lotta angst and drama.  I happen to love angst and drama, so that suits me fine.  This was soap-opera level drama, folks.  
The characters were interesting, but I feel as though they could have been fleshed out more.  I think the author refrained from adding too much backstory to keep the reader in suspense, but it did leave the characters feeling rather...flat.

This was a fun little romp and a good palate cleanser.  I wouldn't go out of my way to buy this book, but I did enjoy my time with it.

*I received a free copy of Lost In Me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Iron Wolves by Andy Remic

The Iron Wolves      

Andy Remic

Thirty years ago, the Iron Wolves held back mud-orc hordes at the Pass of Splintered Bones, and led a brutal charge that saw the sorcerer Morkagoth slain. This ended the War of Zakora, and made the Iron Wolves heroes.

Now, a new terror stalks the realm. In hushed whispers, it is claimed the Horse Lady, Orlana the Changer, has escaped from the Chaos Halls and is building an army, twisting horses, lions and bears into terrible, bloody hunters, summoning mud-orcs from then slime and heading north to Vagandrak where, it said, the noble King Yoon has gone insane...

After hearing a prophecy from a blind seer, aged General Dalgoran searches to reunite the heroes of old for what he believes will be the final battle. But as mud-orcs and twisted beasts tear through the land, Dalgoran discovers the Iron Wolves are no longer heroes of legend... Narnok is a violent whoremaster, Kiki a honey-leaf drug peddler, and Prince Zastarte a drinker, a gambler, amoral and decadent: now he likes to hear people scream as they burn...

United in hate, the Iron Wolves travel to the Pass of Splintered Bones; and as half a million mud-orcs gather, General Dalgoran realises his grave error. Together, the Iron Wolves hold a terrible secret which has tortured them for three decades. Now, they only wish to be human again...

*Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a free copy for review*

I've had the Iron Wolves on my Netgalley shelf for an embarrassingly long time, my friends.  Every time I began reading it something else would come along to distract me.  It's just not a book that captured my attention for long periods at a time.

In places the writing style was very good, but I just couldn't bring myself to care overly much what happened to the characters.

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

A List of Cages

by Robin Roe

When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he's got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn't easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can't complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian--the foster brother he hasn't seen in five years.

Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He's still kind hearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what's really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives.

I finished this book at two in the morning because after reading the first few pages I just could not put it down.

At times touching, at times devastating, A List Of Cages is the type of book that will make you feel every emotion.  It can be difficult to read at times because of the heavy subject matter but the ending is worth it.

I loved the writing style and am amazed that this is a debut.  Robin Roe is definitely an author to keep an eye out for.


*I received a free copy for review via Netgalley*

Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall

Waiting for the Flood 

by Alexis Hall

People come as well as go.

Twelve years ago, Edwin Tully came to Oxford and fell in love with a boy named Marius. He was brilliant. An artist. It was going to be forever.

Two years ago, it ended.

Now Edwin lives alone in the house they used to share. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to a build a future from the fragments of the past.

Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwin’s quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons, but he offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again.

As the two men grow closer in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin learns he can’t protect himself from everything—and sometimes he doesn't need to try. 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a free copy for review.

This book, my friends, is a gem. 

I can tell you honestly that there wasn't a damn thing wrong with this book.  Except maybe that I would have loved for it to be twice as long. 

It's a good thing I'm not the author then, because part of the perfection of this book is that it is short and sweet.

The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith

The Shadow Revolution

by Clay Griffith

They are the realm’s last, best defense against supernatural evil. But they’re going to need a lot more silver.

As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield.

After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane—but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined. 

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a free copy for review!

If you like fantasy and steampunk, then you are going to want to read this book.  I read it in the midst of a book-slump and it pulled me right out of that funk. 
If you like badass characters and some good old fashioned swashbuckling (with the added interest of romance of course), then you will probably love this. 
It had everything I usually look for in a book: great characters with complex personalities, adventure, fighting, and romance.  Added on top of that was a setting that felt as though you could immerse yourself in.

The Irresistible Miss Peppiwell by Stacy Reid

The Irresistible Miss Peppiwell 

   by Stacy Reid

   With a longing for adventure, the last thing Phillipa Pippiwell wants is to marry. After a painful betrayal by a man she trusted, she is wary when she unwittingly catches the attention of roguishly handsome - and sinfully tempting - Lord Anthony Thornton. Forbidden desires she secretly yearns for threaten to crumble her icy facade and reveal a past scandal best kept buried.

Dissatisfied with his empty life, Lord Anthony seeks a deep and lasting connection... and finds himself intrigued by the Ice Maiden of the haute monde. Undaunted by Phillipa's aloof nature and her distaste for the idea of matrimony, he sets out to thaw the bewitching beauty by enticing her with adventures of the most sensual type. But he, too, hides a scandalous secret... and if it's discovered it could rip them apart. 

This was a great book with wonderful characters and so much romantic tension between the Hero and the Heroine.
I loved Phillipa's fierce desire to remain independent and Lord Anthony's understanding and commitment to help her.
If you love historical romances, you'll love this one!

*I received a free copy for review via Netgalley*

The Haunted Pub by Melanie Tushmore

The Haunted Pub

by Melanie Tushmore

Suffering from depression, and going through a rough time because of it, Fizz's misery culminates in his parents throwing him out, leaving him with two bags, twenty pounds, and nowhere to go. Desperate, he calls his brother, who takes him to The Queen Anne's Revenge, where Fizz winds up living in a room that hasn't had a human habitant for more years than anyone can actually count—a room that seems to already have an occupant…

The Haunted Pub was a very well-written, intriguing story about a group of friends and co-workers who are living in a haunted pub.

I loved each of the characters and thought that the author made them complex and realistic.

At times scary, at times romantic, The Haunted Pub has everything a reader could possible want in a book.

  

I received a free copy for review via Netgalley.

Every Time with a Highlander by Gwyn Cready

Every Time with a Highlander

by Gwyn Cready

She can work her magic on any man...

In a quest to bring peace to her beloved Scottish borderlands, fortune-teller and spy Undine Douglas agrees to marry a savage English colonel. Desperate to delay the wedding long enough to undermine the army's plans, Undine casts a spell to summon help and unexpectedly finds herself under the imperious gaze of the handsome and talented Michael Kent, twenty-first century British theater director.

But in this production, he commands the action...

Though he abandoned acting years ago, Michael will play whatever part it takes to guard Undine's safety—he's used to managing London's egocentric actors and high-handed patrons, after all. But not even Shakespeare could have foreseen the sparks that fly when the colonel's plans force Undine and Michael into the roles of their lifetimes.

This was one of those books that you just know you'll love from the first chapter.  I didn't realize that it was the third in a series and I was missing out on some prior knowledge, but I went ahead and read it anyway without feeling like I was lost. 

Both main characters were well-written and relatable.  Michael was especially fun to read about because his skill as an actor led him into several very tricky situations that we're never sure if he's going to get out of.  He was also honorable and so very funny.  I wish the book was twice as long, really.

Undine is the type of fierce woman that we all love to read about but her friendships and love for people kept her from being a rigid ice-queen. 

The author also did a fantastic job of creating a villain that had depth and emotion instead of being a cardboard cutout.  Well done!

I'd absolutely recommend this book for anyone who loves historical romances, time travel, and actors who are just too good at their craft.

I received a free copy for review from the publisher via Netgalley.

Mad About the Hatter by Dakota Chase

Mad About the Hatter

by Dakota Chase

This isn’t his sister’s Wonderland….Henry never believed his older sister, Alice’s, fantastic tales about the world down the rabbit hole. When he’s whisked away to the bizarre land, his best chance for escape is to ally himself with the person called the Mad Hatter. Hatter—an odd but strangely attractive fellow—just wants to avoid execution. If that means delivering “Boy Alice” to the Queen of Hearts at her Red Castle, Hatter will do what he has to do to stay alive. It doesn’t matter if Henry and Hatter find each other intolerable. They’re stuck with each other.

Along their journey, Henry and Hatter must confront what they’ve always accepted as truth. As dislike grows into tolerance and something like friendship, the young men see the chance for a closer relationship. But Wonderland is a dangerous place, and first they have to get away with their lives. 

I had quite a lot of expectations of this book.  How could I not, when it's set in Wonderland?  The beginning absolutely lived up to all expectations.  I loved the description of the Red Queen and her Guard and Hatter was wily and funny, just like I had hoped. 

Once the story moved on, however, I found that I was enjoying it less and less.  I didn't like Henry's character and I thought he was a jerk and undeserving of Hatter.  Henry spent his entire life not believing his sister's story of Wonderland (which is fine) and acted like an asshole to her when she wouldn't change her story (which is not fine).  Imagine, if you will, that Henry's theory was correct and Alice was kidnapped and went through some terrible trauma.  Would you really demand that this person tell you everything they went through in excruciating detail, and then hate them and blame all of life's problems on them if they refuse?  Not cool, Henry.  Not cool.

I felt as though the author spent more time on descriptions of Wonderland than she did with her characters.  Sure, some of the places were interesting (like Drawrof), but some were just downright silly and made me roll my eyes at the overeager writing.
 
If only the author had made the characters more complex and interesting!  Hatter certainly should have been more than the one-dimensional character we were stuck with.


I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Only Option by Megan Derr

The Only Option

by Megan Derr

A desperate dragon. A lonely necromancer. A marriage neither wants.

When he is summoned to the royal castle, Rochus anticipates nothing more than a particularly difficult assignment. The bothersome journey is almost made worthwhile when he is propositioned by a young, beautiful dragon, Tilo, who seems untroubled by the fact that Rochus is a necromancer.

When Rochus arrives at the castle he is ordered to marry the very same dragon he spent the night with. Though Rochus would rather sign papers and return home, he is helpless against Tilo's pleas for help, even if it means spending more time around a man he is desperately drawn to but who doesn’t seem to want him. 

It's no secret that I love Megan Derr's books.  I recommend them to friends whenever possible.  Have you read Tournament of Losers yet?  No??  Well go read it!  What about The Lost Gods series?   Read that one too.

The Only Option brings us back to Derr's fantasy world where different beings (Necromancers, Dragons, Queen's Hands, etc) co-exist in relative peace.  Rochus is forced into a marriage because Tilo needs help to save his lands and so far his pleas have gone unanswered.  When in need, force a necromancer to become your husband to secure his magical assistance.  Derr 101. 

I loved Rochus and his insecurities only made him more endearing.  He doesn't believe anyone would fall for a 43 year old necromancer with pale skin and blue teeth.  Little does he know...

Tilo's character was interesting and I've always had a soft spot for dragons.  He was a bit annoying at times because he's quick to pout or cry.  But I guess that's what happens when you're a 20 year old dragon trying to save a kingdom on your own. 

Everything about this book was great.  I loved the magical/ghost companions and the sweet interactions between Rochus and Tilo.  The age disparity just made it that much more precious. 

Here's another to add to the list of Megan Derr books I'll be recommending!

I received a free ebook copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tremaine's True Love by Grace Burrowes

Tremaine's True Love

by Grace Burrowes

Tremaine St. Michael is firmly in trade and seeks only to negotiate the sale of some fancy sheep with the Earl of Haddonfield. The earl’s sister, Lady Nita, is pragmatic, hard-working, and selfless, though Tremaine senses she’s also tired of her charitable obligations and envious of her siblings’ marital bliss. Tremaine, having been raised among shepherds, can spot another lonely soul, no matter how easily she fools her own family. Neither Tremaine nor Nita is looking for love, but love comes looking for them.

When Tremaine St. Michael travels to the Earl of Haddonfield's estate to barter over the price of some sheep, he never expects to fall in love.  He has some bad experiences that have left him shy of love and matrimony.

Lady Nita has given up on love altogether and instead spends her days tending to the sick and infirm in the local village.  She does it because she believes it is her duty, and because the local doctor is a quack that cannot be relied upon. 

What follows is a very sweet story about two people who are shocked to find that they understand one another better than their respective families do.  I loved the interaction between them and I thought that having a gentle, honorable hero was very refreshing after reading so many romances with rakes and scoundrels. 

Of course, it wouldn't be a Grace Burrowes story without a large cast of characters, a bit of angst, and a snake in the grass.  And let me just say that Ms. Burrowes' handling of Nita's brother George was perfect!

I'd recommend this to anyone who loves bluestockings and very intelligent heroines, heroines who succeed at male-dominated professions, and heroes who are true gentlemen. 

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Hate F*@k: Part One by Ainsley Booth

Hate F*@k: Part One

Ainsley Booth

Warning: This is just the start. This doesn't end well. And it's going to get much worse before it ever gets better.

Cole:
I push her buttons. I want to push them in the good way. Dirty, up-against-the-wall, my-hand-in-her-pants kind of way.
But that’s not possible, because I’m dark and she’s light, and we both know it.
So I push her buttons in the bad way, making her hate me.

Hailey:
If a genie granted me three wishes, I’d ask for Cole Parker to never look at me again, that I’d forget the dark promise in his eyes, and that just once, before he vanished from my life completely, that he’d push me up against a wall and fuck me.
Then I’d go wash my mouth out with soap.

The title of this book put me off at first.  It's a terrible title, really.  But when I saw it come up in a friend's Goodreads feed and she raved about how good the book was I knew that I had to request it from Netgalley.  And after reading the novella I immediately bought the entire book on Amazon because I had to know what happened!

Right away I was sucked into the story and the lives of the characters.  I liked Hailey immediately and Cole...well, Cole is delicious. 

This novella was amazing and very hot.  I usually skip "those scenes" because I get bored but Ms. Booth writes like a boss. 

I highly recommend this book to all romance/erotica readers.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle

Hold Your Breath

 by Katie Ruggle

In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...

As the captain of Field County's ice rescue dive team, Callum Cook is driven to perfection. But when he meets new diver Louise "Lou" Sparks, all that hard-won order is obliterated in an instant. Lou is a hurricane. A walking disaster. And with her, he's never felt more alive...even if keeping her safe may just kill him.

Lou's new to the Rockies, intent on escaping her controlling ex, and she's determined to make it on her own terms...no matter how tempting Callum may be. But when a routine training exercise unearths a body, Lou and Callum find themselves thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence Lou-and prove that not even her new Search and Rescue family can keep her safe forever. 

I just loved this book.  Absolutely couldn't get enough of it. 

Lou and Callum are so different in every way but somehow they made one of the best couples I've run across in romance novels.  Lou is funny, bright, and a bit of a mess.  Callum is a tough, grouchy man who has an almost obsessive need to have things perfect and control any situation.  Their interactions had me laughing my ass off. 

The story is set in the Colorado Rockies where Lou is a new member of the local dive team.  She finds (or rather, kicks) a dead body during a training exercise and the first mystery is discovered.  There is also the small matter of her stalker.... 

I don't want to give too much away so I'll leave it at that, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, or anyone who wants a good laugh. 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a free copy for review.  I appreciate it!

A Year Less Three Days by Alyx J. Shaw, Mychael Black

A Year Less Three Days

by Alyx J. Shaw, Mychael Black

Only love will save them…if it can survive the pits of the damned.

When Lias’s wife was kidnapped, all his skills as a woodsman couldn’t save her—or himself. Captured, sold repeatedly to different masters, Lias endures abuse, torture, and worse. By the time his latest master buys him, Lias is little more than an animal.

He is a creature of rage and hate, antagonizing his master at every turn, lashing out at his boundaries, waiting and watching for a chance to escape and return to his children—or die trying.

At times, Necromis, a knight of the Order of the White Bear, would like nothing more than to oblige his aggravating new charge, but one thing stays his deadly hand. Lias is his last hope. Long ago, Necromis made a deal with a demon named Bonecracker to gain fame, wealth, and respect.

But the day of reckoning is coming, and there’s only one way out of this bargain—capture the heart of a broken slave, or Necromis’s soul will forever belong to Bonecracker.

It's hard to know just how to rate this book.  It began so well that I had convinced myself that the rest of the book was going to continue to be just as amazing.  I was disappointed when the characters seemed to suddenly change their personalities and I was at a loss.  I preferred their original personalities, which had more depth and feeling.

Plot-wise the book was pretty good.  I liked the curse aspect and I enjoyed the slave/master parts of the story.  I just wish that the characters had continued with the same strength.

I've decided to rate this book as a solid three stars.  It was a good book and quite interesting, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good M/M fantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy to review.

Blood and Clockwork by Katey Hawthorne

Blood and Clockwork

by Katey Hawthorne

Alistair Click set out to lay to rest the superstitious fears about the Mad Prince's clockwork tower. If that meant he might bring the ghost city of Avalonia back to economic life, connecting the western kingdoms once again, so much the better. So what if no adventurer who'd entered the tower in the last century of desolation had ever re-emerged? They didn't have his skill and wit. He could do better.

The tower turns out to be far more than Alistair expected, however. Not only are there clockwork puzzles to open every door, but one of them drops a boy from a strange world into his lap–figuratively speaking, if only just. Marco Murphy was just gaming in his New Jersey apartment, and now he's stuck in what feels like a never ending LARP nightmare.

The deeper they delve into the Mad Prince's tower, the darker the secrets they uncover. They're not entirely sure they'll ever be able to get out again, either. It'll take all Marco's charm and Alistair's cleverness, plus the strange bond growing between them, to get them out together… and alive.

This was a very descriptive novella set in a tower where most everything in each of the vast rooms is made up of clockwork.  I enjoyed the visuals, but after a while I began to get bored when nothing interesting happened.

Marco was a great character.  I loved his humor and his use of the modern-day Earth phrases that confused Alistair.  He pretty much saved the book for me.

One thing I loved was that Alistair was an asexual character.  That is very uncommon in books, especially in romance.  I thought that was pretty brave of the author.  After all...sex sells, right?

I would have rated this book higher if there was some sort of action or purpose to it all.  It was mostly a story about two characters exploring a strange tower and getting to know each other.  Not quite enough "meat" for my taste.

 

I received a free Kindle copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Primal Force by D.D. Ayres

Primal Force

by D.D. Ayres

  Passion is always worth fighting for…

Jori Garrison trains dogs for Warrior Wolf Pack, which provides service animals for disabled veterans. Four years ago, she was wrongly convicted of a crime—thanks to her no-good ex-fiancé. Now she just wants to live her life in peace with her beloved dogs. No men, no complications. But it’s hard to play it cool when a lethally hot male is on her tail—and the attraction is fierce, mutual, and dangerous…

PRIMAL FORCE

Lauray "Law" Batisse is a Military Police veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan. Haunted by the loss of his K-9 partner in combat, he’s reluctant to accept a service dog named Samantha into his life. But once he meets her trainer—the gorgeous Jori Garrison—he can’t fight his primal instincts. And neither can Jori. This sexy alpha male might be the only man strong enough to unleash her desires. And when unseen enemies start hunting them down, he and his new K-9 partner might be her only hope… to survive.

I just love this series.  Each one is so well-written and researched, with interesting characters who are very believable.

The author obviously does a lot of research and it shows when she writes about training dogs or military/law enforcement K-9 work.  It has the effect of drawing the reader even more into the story.  The dogs themselves are complex characters.  Sam even gets her own scenes in this book!

There aren't many books out there with characters who have PTSD, and even less have characters with disabilities.  D.D. Ayres doesn't shy away from having a character with not only PTSD but also an amputated leg.  His character is written with compassion and respect.  He is strong and capable, and I wish more characters were written like him.  Ok, so he is a bit of an asshole in the beginning, but he has his reasons. 

This series is amazing and I wish more people knew about it.  I'd recommend it to anyone who likes romantic suspense with hot military men, and also for those who love dogs.  

I received a free ebook copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

A History of Glitter and Blood

by Hannah Moskowitz

Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.
But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.

This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love. 

Oh friends...There are so many mixed reviews of this book!  It seems as though everyone either loved it or hated it.  They either understood it or ended up lost in a cloud of confusion.  I suppose that's to be expected.  It is a Hannah Moskowitz book, after all. 

One of the main grievances I've read is that some people think the author forgot to edit out notes written to herself about what she was writing.  That is, in fact, not true.  The story is told from the point of view of a character who is writing a story about a girl, a group of friends, and the events that happened to them during the war between the gnomes and the tightropers.  It is the first draft of the character's narrative so there are some notes to himself and mistakes that he points out.  Still odd, but completely intentional and it will make sense toward the end. 

Hannah Moskowitz writes with a lyrical style that may be very different to most readers.  It can be confusing if you dwell on it too much.  My advice is to relax and not try to force the meaning to come.  When you get down to it, it's pretty simple.  It's a story about war, unrequited love, and above all, friendship.  It is about the sacrifices we make for those we love.

The main character is sixteen but I honestly don't think that this should be classified as YA.  Do most YA novels nowadays deal with prostitution and cannibalism?  Gosh, I hope not. (Ok, who am I kidding?  I'd totally read those)

Everything about this book was great, from the unreliable narrator to the lyrical writing and the dark subject matter.

I'd recommend it to those who don't mind having their mind stretched a bit.

I received a free ebook copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vampires Never Cry Wolf by Sara Humphreys

Vampires Never Cry Wolf

by Sara Humphreys

Sadie Pemberton is the DJ at the hottest vampire club in New York City, and she loves her freedom almost as much as she hates werewolves. She has no desire to tie herself to anyone for eternity—even the deliciously sexy Killian Bane—werewolf prince and heir apparent who has been sent to patrol the city.

But Sadie bears the mark of the moon—the mark that Killian has been looking for, the mark that's meant to reveal his perfect mate. How can the fates be so cruel? Even more importantly, how is he ever going to change her mind?


This is the first book I've read by Sara Humphreys and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed.  The writing style was great and I loved the humor/snark that the characters exhibited.  The pacing kept me on my toes and I never felt as though the story lagged. 
Vampires and werewolves are very mistrustful of each other and that is something our main characters had to struggle with throughout the book.   No one ever said love was easy! 

This is a great book for lovers of paranormal romance and anyone who likes vampires and werewolves. 

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for sending me a copy to review

The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

The House of the Four Winds

by Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

The tiny nation of Swansgaard is a lovely place with abundant natural resources, including the royal family, which has been blessed with twelve daughters and a son. As this boisterous baker's dozen approaches adulthood, the king and queen lovingly tell their daughters, "You must make your own fortune, for we cannot enrich you without impoverishing our people or leaving our lands defenseless, and that we will not do."

Happily, the princesses of Swansgaard are eager to meet this challenge, for they yearn for adventures both near and far from home.

Clarice, an expert swordswoman, is the first to depart. Disguising herself as Clarence, she signs on for a voyage to the New World. The captain is vile and blackhearted, and the crew soon mutinies. Clarice becomes first mate - and finds her heart captured by the new captain, Dominick, who is, to his own surprise, increasingly attracted to Clarence.

Now outlaws, Dominick and his crew turn to piracy - though their hearts are not entirely in it. They soon run afoul of the Pirate Council, who orders them to retrieve the Heart of Light. All who have searched for this great treasure have vanished, with neither ships nor crews ever seen again and no sign of their fates ever discovered.

But none before have carried with them the sorceress Shamal, who stakes a claim of her own on Dominick's heart.

Adventure, romance, magic, swashbuckling and pirates....this book has it all!  I am a huge Mercedes Lackey fan and have been since I was an awkward, friendless teen who spent all of my free time with a nose in a book.  Mercedes Lackey has never let me down. 

The House Of The Four Winds begins like a traditional fairy tale but turns aside to become a pure adventure story.  Clarice is an intelligent woman who uses her wits and her skill to make her way in the world.  She ends up as a passenger on a ship where nothing is as it seems and it's hard to know who to trust.  
Like most of Mercedes Lackey's books, there are many interesting characters and they are all very likeable.  Well...the ones who are meant to be! 
I have always loved the trope of a woman disguising herself as a man to gain the same opportunities and respect that men have.  Something about it gets my imagination going.  I thought that it was very well-written and believable in this case.  This is the beginning of a new series that I am very excited to continue.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, adventure, and kick-ass heroines. 

I was sent a free copy in exchange for an honest review