"Butterfly in Amber" Book Review

Book Title: Butterfly in Amber
Series: Spotless #4
Author: Camilla Monk
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Book Blurb:
He's waiting for you...

Under a blanket of snow, surrounded by dark woods and a frozen sea, lies an ogre's castle. There lives a little princess, trapped in the maze of her own mind.
On a battlefield where the past meets the present stand a fairy godmother and a pirate, an old ice cream man and a knight in shining clean armor... 
The clock is ticking fast, and to pierce the ogre's secrets and defeat him, Island Chaptal will have to fight to remember...and stay alive.

Can the Lions and the Roomba cats be stopped before it's too late?

***

What a perfect ending to an amazing series! The only disappointment I really had was that the series is over. 

The fourth and final book in the Spotless series finds Island (who is still a virgin btw) isolated in a winter castle. Island is recovering from her injuries that occurred at the end of "Crystal Whisperer" and the biggest issue is her persisting amnesia. While her "father," doctor, and caretaker, Stiles, try to help Island fill in the blanks in her memory, she has the unsettling feeling that not everything is alright. After months inside the castle, Island is starting to feel stifled and her rebellion leads to some pretty scary consequences. Luckily, before the dastardly plan can be carried out, some returning cast members, including my favorite hit man, come to the rescue! The rest of the novel follows Island, March, and Island's real father trying to fix Island's memory and take down the bad guys. 

As with the previous books in the series, "Butterfly in Amber" features lots of action, cool weaponry, hilarious dialogue, and characters with heart. Readers will experience the full range of emotions. There will be no shortage of laughs or tears in this book! While the ending of the book isn't 100% happy, it is satisfying and Ms. Monk doesn't leave any threads dangling. Not to mention, many fans are sure to be happy that Island FINALLY has sex.

While I'm sad that one of my favorite series is now at an end, I look forward to whatever project Ms. Monk works on next. I suppose I'll have to bide my time waiting for her next book by re-reading the Spotless series!

*Full disclosure: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Hunted" Book Review

Title: Hunted
Series: Standalone
Author: Meagan Spooner
Stars: 5 out of 5
Blurb:
Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast? 

***

Hunted by Meagan Spooner just might be my new favorite YA retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." I am a huge fan of fairy tales and retellings but not every retelling is done well. Authors have to manage a tricky balance between using enough of the original and adding enough twists to make the story unique. In my opinion, Ms. Spooner handled the balance wonderfully.

One of the biggest changes in this retelling is that Yeva, aka Beauty, is not a delicate rose, but a fierce hunter who tracks the Beast and tries to kill him in order to avenge a loved one. Yeva's father used to be the best hunter in the land before moving to the village and becoming a businessman to appease his wife, who worried about him doing such a dangerous job. Yeva is the youngest of three sisters and when her family went to the old hunting cabin, Yeva's father would teach her to hunt in the forest. Now that Yeva is older, her father and sisters encourage her to act like a lady and take her place in society. But when a risky business venture fails and her family loses everything, they are forced to sell their possessions and move to the old hunting cabin in the winter. Yeva's father returns to hunting but he doesn't allow Yeva to join him, though she practices hunting anyway while her father is gone. One night, her father returns rambling madly about a beast in the forest that he must hunt and when he leaves and does not return, Yeva sets out to track him down and bring him home. Yeva soon learns that the beast her father spoke of really does exist and she is captured and held prisoner by Beast, who needs her to hunt a creature to break his curse.

There is so much to love about Hunted and I will begin with the characters. Yeva is close to her two sisters, Asenka and Lena, and I love how the author portrayed their caring relationship. The sisters look out for each other, and when Solmir, a man that Asenka is smitten with, proposes instead to Yeva, Asenka sets aside her own hurt to support Yeva's good match. When Yeva's father loses everything, the sisters work together to prepare for the journey and turn the old cabin into their new home. The relationship between Yeva and her father is done equally well. The depth of Yeva's love for her family is the basis for her reactions and actions later on in the story when she tries to find her father and is trapped by the beast. That brings me to the next most important character - Beast. Between each chapter from Yeva's point of view is a short passage from the Beast's point of view, which gives an interesting look at his perspective and inner struggle. As with the original story, Beauty does eventually fall for Beast, but she has to overcome her hate for him that stems from something worse than just holding her father prisoner and then taking her in exchange, as is the premise in most versions. I won't say, however, what exactly drives Beauty's hate and need for vengeance because I don't want to give any spoilers.  I like the way Spooner portrays Beauty's fluctuating emotions and guilt when she realizes her hate for the beast is waning. While Beast is struggling to overcome the beastly nature inside of him, Beauty is struggling with her feelings towards Beast.

Hunted is more than just its characters though, and the plot itself is just as worthy of praise. While the basics from the original are there - a beast under a curse and unable to speak of it, a beauty who must save the beast, and Beauty and the Beast finding their happily ever after - Spooner has added many new elements to make the story fresh and exciting. The biggest element, as I already mentioned,  is that Beauty is a hunter.  Another is that in this world, there are many other magical creatures, and beyond the normal forest where Yeva hunts is a magical forest where these creatures and Beast live. To break the curse, instead of Beauty needing to fall in love with the beast, she must hunt down one of these creatures, but Beast can't tell her what that creature is. The way Beauty has to break the curse is different because the reason for Beast's curse is different.This story is also different in that there are no invisible servants or servants turned into objects (sorry to anyone who was hoping for more talking candlesticks and clocks) to nudge Beauty towards loving Beast. The relationship that develops between them is due solely to their interactions with each other and not because of the influence of outside forces. Lastly, something that I really enjoyed was that at the end of the book, both Beauty and Beast realize they faced the same struggle all along, and they both learn the same lesson.

Of course, it would not matter if the story and the characters were amazing if the book was poorly written. Spooner makes the tale worth reading through in-depth world-building, vivid descriptions, complex characters, and well-crafted prose and dialogue.

Hunted is a book that I would highly recommend to YA readers as well as adults who enjoy fairy tale retellings.

"When the Dead Come A Knockin'" Book Review

Title: When the Dead Come A Knockin'
Series: The Veil Diaries #2
Author: B.L. Brunnemer
Stars: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Book Blurb:
My name is Alexis Delaney, and I’m your average 17-year-old girl. Except I’m a Necromancer. Which means I can see the dead, talk to them and help them move on. Well, I used to be able to. Someone has sealed the Veil. Now the dead are stuck here. And with the extra energy floating around town, the ghosts are getting stronger. 

It’s been two months since I came to Spring Mountain to live with Uncle Rory. And the guys, my five best friends, have done everything they can to help since. Things for once were almost normal, my issues with the dead had become routine. Until they all found girlfriends. Now I’m back to hiding everything again. With ghosts leaving their haunting grounds at will, new people asking questions and trying to build my link to the Veil, I don’t know how the hell I’m going to pull this one off. But it can’t get that bad, right?

***

When the Dead Come A Knockin', the second book in The Veil Diaries series by B.L. Brunnemer, starts up just as school is ending for winter vacation. It might be vacation time, but Lexie can't catch a break. The ghosts are impatient to cross and Lexie pushes herself even harder to open the Veil when she finds that a certain ghost with a connection to the guys is stuck. There's a big heap of relationship drama adding to her stress on top of all the ghost problems. The guys all have girlfriends now and not all the girlfriends are happy with how close Lexie is to the guys. And the guys aren't the only ones in a new relationship; things heat up between Lexie and Dylan (who was introduced in book 1). There's trouble in paradise though as jealousy and secrets start breaking up couples. As if that's not enough to keep you interested, there are hints of a mysterious secret admirer that will probably have a larger roll in the third book. 

The strength of this series is in the main characters. Lexie and the guys are well-rounded characters with their own unique flaws and strengths. I love reading about the group dynamics and interactions. In this book, Lexie learns more about the guys, particularly about the painful parts of their pasts. Lexie supports the guys and helps them deal with their own issues just as much as they help her. The way Brunnemer describes the characters and writes the dialogue really helps them come to life on the page.

Another thing Brunnemer does well is writing vivid descriptions. In this book, Lexie finally accesses her center and she starts the process of opening the Veil. The author paints a clear picture of what the Veil looks like and I was easily able to imagine this new place and how Lexie's actions affected the ghostly realm. Characters are also described in detail, though sometimes the descriptions were almost excessively detailed. 

When the Dead Come A Knockin' is much longer than the first book (over 400 pages!) but the story moves quickly and I hardly noticed the time passing. The book is well paced and there are plenty of scenes with fun and laughter interspersed among the moments of drama, danger, and struggle. The book ends on a melancholy note, but the epilogue and two chapters from the guys' (Asher and Miles) points of view lifts the tone a bit and hints that the platonic friends-only dynamic between Lexie and all the guys might start changing in book 3. 

While there were many things I liked about this novel, there were still some issues that detracted from my reading experience. To begin, there were still the same issues with paragraphs, punctuation, and grammar that I saw in the first book. There is an improvement in paragraph organization in this book compared to the first, but some paragraphs were still too lengthy and dialogue sometimes gets lost in the paragraphs. There were also some inconsistencies in the story, like it being Thursday at the beginning of a chapter and then one paragraph later, Lexie is waking up on Saturday, or Lexie being so surprised that the guys can see a ghost at one point when it is not the first time it has happened (they saw the really evil ghost when she haunted them in Miles' living room in book 1). 

Additionally, there is the issue of Lexie's coffee consumption, which goes to the extreme at one point in this book and results in the guys pinning her down to try and make her nap (a scene which seemed too excessive and not well justified, in my opinion). As I pointed out in my review of the first book, Lexie's coffee addiction goes well beyond the safe and healthy limits. There are several times where she easily drinks enough coffee to give a grown man a caffeine overdose. 

Lastly, I was not a fan of how the guys' girlfriends are portrayed. With the exception of one, they all hate Lexie and act really nasty. While the main characters are well developed, the side characters either end up falling in the pro-Lexie camp and are really nice and great or in the anti-Lexie camp and are horribly mean and petty. I wish there was a little more development of the side characters so that they could be as interesting as Lexie and the guys. 

Even though When the Dead Come A Knockin' needs some more editing, it is still worth reading. It's an interesting story with engaging characters and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the following book in the series. 
 

"Falling for Them" Book Review

Title: Falling for Them
Series: Standalone Anthology
Authors: See Below
Stars: 4 out of 5 (overall)
Book Blurb:
Indulge in 10 all-new reverse harem stories from New York Times, USA Today, and bestselling authors, as well as up-and-coming indie authors. This collection of modern, paranormal, and sci-fi romances is sure to satisfy every palate. Whether you love to turn up the heat with a spicy romance, or savor a sweet love story, Falling for Them has it all. On sale for a limited time, all proceeds will go to charity. Help us make a difference for the new year by doing what you love…meeting our guys.

***

Special Note: On February 16th, Falling for Them will no longer be available for purchase. The royalties will be tallied, and the authors will send their donation to St Jude Children's Hospital. Many of the authors will be releasing their stories as standalone books, so the stories will still be available, just not as a collection. So, if you want to get all of these stories in one book, hurry and order your copy of Falling for Them now!

***

Falling for Them is an anthology featuring 10 reverse harem original stories and 2 reverse harem novel samples. The stories are NA so the romance and sex scenes can get pretty explicit. I found some of the works included in the anthology more enjoyable than others, but overall this was a very entertaining anthology and it's great that the proceeds go to charity. It's difficult to review this book as a whole, so I've written mini reviews for each story instead below in the order that they appear in the book.

4.5 stars: Raising the Stakes - Autumn Reed & Julia Clarke
I really liked Emma, the main character, whose journalism background came in handy as she investigated the three swoon-worthy love interests who suspiciously all start pursuing her the same night when she meets them at a trendy club in Vegas. The story is well-written and well-paced. It was instant attraction between Emma and the guys, but the relationships took more work, which I appreciated. I also appreciated that, while this story was short, it was complete; no cliff hanger ending here! But I wouldn't mind seeing more of Emma, Cole, Nicholas, and Shane should the authors choose to write another story! ;) 

3.5 stars: Meeting Them - Rebecca Royce
This story is set in the Wings of Artemis world but you don't need to have read any of the other books to understand this story (I should know...I haven't read any of the other Wings of Artemis books but I'm thinking I will now!). Paloma has had a pretty rough life - she was sent to a convent as a teen where she faced endless abuse - but it hasn't broken her. One day, Clay McQueen comes to warn the Sisters that they are in danger, but they send him away and as he's leaving he is almost killed by a falling rock, but Paloma saves him. Soon after, the worst happens and the convent is blown up but Paloma escapes and finds refuge with Clay and his brothers, Thomas, Quinn, and Keith. But the McQueen brothers are hiding a dangerous secret. This was another complete story, but set up for a sequel. One thing I found disappointing was that while Paloma was strong in that she never let circumstances keep her down, she was too passive and the guys were always riding in to save the day. 

2.5 stars: Finding Nora - Ripley Proserpina 
Nora is another unlucky character with a difficult life. This story has a very interesting premise. Nora was substitute teaching when one of her past foster brothers comes to the school and starts shooting, then kills himself. Nora saves her students but is injured and then becomes a major suspect. Though she was eventually cleared, she was vilified and now can't find anyone willing to hire her and many people are scared or suspicious of her though she was a victim. Luckily, she's got a great group of supportive guys in her life and it was great seeing the group's dynamics. I was frustrated though, because I felt like I was starting the story halfway in. Turns out, there is a first book where we see the shooting happen and how the guys come into her life, so maybe it's better to read that first. Nora was also in a really sketchy study and everything about it gave me bad vibes but Nora didn't seem as cautious or skeeved out as she should be. This story also didn't feel complete; I felt left hanging at the end which was disappointing. 

4.5 Stars: The Four Clever Brothers - Amy Sumida
This was a fun story written in the style of a fairy tale. Adelysia is a princess of a small kingdom kidnapped by a dragon prince. I was frustrated at first because she doesn't put up a fight at all in the beginning, instead she figures she would have been married off to someone eventually with no choice so why put up a fight against this guy even though he repulses her? She does redeem herself and grow more of a backbone thank goodness, but after the four clever brothers use their magical mermaid gifts to save her from the dragons. The relationships between Adelysia and the brothers is great, but I also really liked the relationship between her and her parents. This was also a cliff-hanger free, complete story.

4 Stars: House of Glass - Lyn Forester
This was an interesting, futuristic story featuring Caitlyn Lonette, aka Sparks, who races disc-bikes against the wishes of her Councilman father. He sends her to the Academia for Planetary Alliance to follow in his footsteps, and the day she arrives at the school, she meets Blaze, Vice, and Rush, who turn out to be her biggest competitors from the disc-bike races. The guys' dynamics is great and Sparks fits in well, and quickly. The world is intriguing and though their is enough world-building for readers to understand the story and what's going on, I am curious to know more. While this is a complete story, the ending wasn't entirely satisfying for me and even though Sparks knew the guys before they interact at school, they were competitors that she didn't interact with outside of the races so I'm not entirely sold by how quickly the romance develops between them all at the school. Still, I was very entertained by the story and I look forward to reading the next Poisoned Houses story. 

3.5 Stars: Another Move - RM Walker
This book started out great, but ended on a cliff-hanger, which is a big pet peeve of mine. Lily's mom is an artist so they are constantly moving so her mom can find new inspiration and complete commissions. Also complicating matters is that Lily has seizures. This time, Lily's mom has a long-term painting project so Lily has a chance to put down some roots and make friends. Lily quickly captures the attention of Joshua, Jacob, Matt, and Nate and they pull her into their tight-knit group. There is plenty of intrigue as the guys have a secret, Lily's seizures may be more than they seem, and a mysterious man has sinister intentions towards Lily. All of this exciting stuff is revealed, however, near the very end and the resolution doesn't come until the next story. I've got a lot of questions about some of the information revealed that I feel could have been explained better or more in depth, but hopefully I will get some answers when the next installment is released.

2.5 stars: Precursor - AJ Anders
This story had a lot of promise but failed in the execution. There were many editing errors and I found the world-building lacking. The story is set in the United States and Evie lives in an anti-Surmata (the Surmata are some kind of paranormal beings) resistance camp, which her cruel father leads. Evie hates the camp and doesn't believe in the resistance and is biding her time until she turns 18 and can escape. Her best friend, Max, is a half-Surmata spying on the camp. Through Max, she meets other Surmata but an encounter with a demon planned by her father and Dominic, a leader in the camp who wants her, causes her to lose all memory of her Surmata friends. The story ends with a disappointing cliff-hanger. I was really interested in the story, but was distracted by errors in the writing and found myself with too many questions. 

2.5 Stars: Ellie's Bears - G.E. Kelly
This story features Ellie and the three shape-shifting bears she befriended as a toddler and comes to love as men. While the premise was very interesting, this was another story that didn't meet the mark for me. The writing and dialogue didn't always flow well and I found Ellie annoying at times. One good note is that the story is complete and doesn't have a cliff-hanger!

3 Stars: One Greedy Fool - AS Oren
This story also features the paranormal, which I enjoyed. Sincerity, or Hope as she prefers, is another strong character making the best of some tough circumstances. At the beginning of the story we learn that she is homeless and interning for a P.I. because she'd like to become a P.I. herself and find her parents. Soon she gets a night shift working at a prison guarding none other than the seven deadly sins. Talk about interesting! I appreciate how strong Hope is and how she doesn't mope around and feel sorry for herself and act passively, instead she works to change things. The story is also really original. Still, I had a lot of questions revolving around this world that the author created and was confused about many things. There were also some editing/formatting issues that I found distracting. 

4 Stars: Favored - C.L. Stone
This story seems to be set in an Asian alternate world with magical elements. The old emperor died and there is a big selection process being held in the Immortal City to pick who will be advisers to the new emperor. Mizuki, the main character, is eligible to go and try for the position. With the help of Ryuu, an old classmate and another candidate, Mrs. Satsu, her sponsor, and Sota, her escort, Mizuki travels to the Immortal City and prepares for the selection process. I liked the characters, the world, and the elements of intrigue. This story, of all of the stories in the anthology, is the lightest on romance. This story is complete and ends with the conclusion of the selection process, but is set up for another story. I personally would like to know what happens next!

Love is Not Lost by ikki Bolvair and Charcoal Tears by Jane Washington are sample chapters from already published books. Because they are only samples and not full stories, I am not reviewing them in this post.

Full disclosure: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

"Six of Hearts" Book Review

Title: Six of Hearts
Series: Book 1 of Hearts
Author: L.H. Cosway
Stars: 5 out of 5
Book Blurb:
Step right up and meet Jay Fields: Illusionist. Mentalist. Trickster.

I think in triangles. You think in straight lines.
I show you a table and make you believe it’s a chair.
Smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand, misdirection. I trick and deceive.
But most of all, I put on a good show.
The world thinks I killed a man, but I didn't. Bear with me. It’s all a part of the plan.
Revenge is what I want. I want it for me and I want it for her.
I want it for all six of us.

She doesn't remember me, but she’s the reason for everything. She’ll be my prize at the end of all this–if I can hold onto my willpower, that is. Maybe I’ll slip up a little, have a taste, just a small one.

So go ahead and pick a card. Come inside and see the show. Look at my hands, look so closely that you can’t see what’s happening while you’re so focused on looking. I’ll be destroying your world from right here in the spotlight.

You’ll never see me coming until it’s too late.

I've only got one heart, and after I've pulled off my grand deception I’ll hand it right to her.

So, sit back, relax, and let my girl tell you our story. You’re in for one hell of a ride.

***

Who doesn't love a good magic show? L.H. Cosway's book Six of Hearts was a performance in and of itself. The blurb is from the perspective of Jay Fields, illusionist extraordinaire, but the book is written from the perspective of Matilda, the heroine of the story.

Matilda is a great character who hasn't had the easiest life. As a child, masked men broke into her home, killing her mother, injuring her father, and leaving her with a scar that she's self-conscious of. Now, she's a secretary for her father's legal practice and in her free time she sews dresses that she sells online. Matilda is caring, kind, and I think it's awesome that she sews (I wish I could), but she's also lacking in self-confidence and we get to see her grow a bit during the book. Though I would  have loved to be in Jay's head during the novel, it was fun to be an audience member and see the magic and big finale as a spectator alongside Matilda.

Jay is a multi-faceted and magnetic love interest. He's charming, tenacious, very intelligent, kind, and a talented performer. He inserts himself into Matilda and her father's lives with some mysterious agenda. While he's a stranger to Matilda, a very attractive one at that, she grows to trust and care for him, despite his secrets. And Jay helps Matilda to come out of her shell. There are some great scenes between Jay and Matilda that are fun, sweet, and sometimes hilarious, like when he accompanies her to a conference for women to help them with dating. Jay is a good guy who sometimes does some sketchy, not-so-good things to accomplish an impressive goal (which I won't say anything about in the interest of not giving away spoilers). While Matilda is trying to unravel his mystery and is falling further for Jay, so are readers.

The plot centers around Jay's grand deception and we see how Matilda and her father are pulled into his plan. As the story progresses, Matilda starts to piece together clues and while she is concerned, she trusts Jay when he asks her to wait to find out what's going on. I like that Matilda isn't totally oblivious but figures out that there's more going on than what Jay is saying on the surface. I myself, was much further ahead of Matilda in figuring out the big surprise, but I wasn't disappointed because how everything came together in the conclusion was still surprising.

Not only were the characters and plot of this story interesting, the book was also well-written. The pacing was quick, but not so fast as to leave readers behind and the writing flowed nicely. I found the dialogue to be realistic and there were some good, quotable lines.

Overall I really enjoyed this story (enough to read it two times!) and I will probably be re-reading it again in the future. If you love illusions, mystery, and romance, then this story is definitely for you.

"Karmic Justice" Book Review

Title: Karmic Justice
Series: Child of Fate #2
Author: Katherine Davis
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Book Blurb:
Kismet and her Guardians have settled into the Academy for a comfortable few weeks and all the First Years are looking forward to their First Patrol. The Summer Solstice is only a few days away and the Academy is buzzing with the arrival of foreign dignitaries and representatives from across the globe as they prepare for the annual High Council. But Kismet’s Guardians aren’t as excited as she is, and their meddling will trigger a series of events that send their Child of Fate on a whirlwind adventure…alone. 

Kismet is forced to find a way to survive away from Reif, Liam, Mason, and Jax while they juggle the political nightmare of vampires, fae, shifters, mers, and humans gathered in one place to decide how to handle the catastrophic Collapse looming over them all. 

Find out Kismet’s destiny in this second installment of the Child of Fate series as she discovers new people, places, and magic. Enjoy the mad scrambling of her four handsome Guardians as they fight to find some way to save their Scholar and their world.

***

Karmic Justice is the second book in the Child of Fate series and it picks up where the first book left off.

I have to say, I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first. In the first book I was frustrated by how passive Kismet was and how she let everyone push her around. I understand that in her life she had little to no agency so she was accustomed to it, but I wanted to see her start standing up for herself. I got to see that in this book. 

Kismet and the guys have their first assignment, and it's not what Kismet wanted because the guys decided on a new plan without her. Fed up with being kept out of the loop and feeling like an outsider in a group that she should be the center of, she tells off the guys. On the first day, Kismet also ends up separated from the guys as she deals with the growing threat of shifter madness and trouble with the rifts and the guys figure out evolving politics at the Academy. 

I'm glad that Kismet finally grows a pair of ovaries and stands up for herself. She also comes to realize that she is in a position of authority and has the capacity to do things on her own. The guys also come to their senses and realize that putting Kismet at a distance won't help and that they need to recognize her strength just as much as she did.

In book 2 I got a lot of my questions answered that were left unresolved in book 1. More information is given about Fate and the Collapse and Kismet's role in it all, which helped resolve a lot of confusion I had felt when reading the first book. 

Unfortunately, while I enjoyed this book more than the first, I still had some issues with it. This book jumps in right where the last one left off, which in itself isn't bad but it had been a while since the first book and I felt myself struggling to remember the keys players and their roles. There is a lot of complex political maneuvering going on and it would have been helpful to have some reminders here and there about the characters and their motivations and connections to help make sense of what was going on. Even after the big showdown, I was still a bit confused about who was on what side. 

I was also disappointed when one of the characters I had liked died. I understand it was necessary for someone to die in order to bring in the new character, but why this character? Why not someone else? I think I will have a hard time getting over it unless a really good reason for this specific chartacter's death is given in book 3. I'm also wondering how this new character will fit in with the group when the group was finally starting to figure out their dynamics. 

Lastly, I caught a few typos and there were some spots where it felt like there was too much description given of a scene and other times where not enough was given to help me clearly picture what was happening. 

Overall, it was a good book and I will probably read the next one to see what happens next. The book doesn't end on a cliff hanger but it definitely ends with a lot to be resolved.

"Trying To Live With The Dead" Book Review

Title: Trying To Live With The Dead
Series: The Veil Diaries #1
Author: B.L. Brunnemer
Stars: 3 out of 5
Book Blurb:
Hi, I’m Alexis Delaney. I’m your average 17 year old girl. Except I can see the dead. And talk to the dead. And push them away and, well, help them move on. So..okay, I’m not your average 17 year old girl. For years I’ve been struggling to survive the souls still roaming around. The shitheads always seem to find me. Moving from town to town every few months never helped either. More dead just always find me. But things are changing for me now. I’m moving in with my uncle Rory and cousin Tara. I’m finally going to be able to do normal teenage stuff I’ve been missing out on. Right? 

Well, if this one bitch of a ghost could leave me alone on campus that would be great. Especially since I haven’t told my new friends about my abilities. Can you believe this? Five good looking guys practically adopt me on my first day of school, and I still think they’re a bit nuts for it. Now if I can only just keep my life with the dead from mixing with my normal life everything would be great. Yeah...I don’t see that happening either. But I’m going to give it a shot. Who knows? It might work. 

***

I'm a big fan of ghost stories so I was excited to start reading "Trying To Live With The Dead." To be honest, I I read the book a second time before writing this review because I was feeling conflicted and not sure how to rate it. There's a lot of great things about this book but several drawbacks too, which kept me from giving more than 3 stars.

As I mentioned before, this book features ghosts - and not all of them are friendly like Casper. I think Brunnemer does an excellent job describing the ghosts and how Alexis' abilities to see and communicate with the dead work. She actually feels the pain the ghosts feel and see their memories, which is pretty painful and gruesome considering how bad a lot of the ghosts' deaths are. If you're squeamish, then be forewarned that there are a several not-so-pretty descriptions in the story, though none are too horrifying or gross. 

Alexis, who is called Lexie by a lot of the characters (though the guys all have a nickname for her), is a kick-butt girl. She doesn't take crap from anybody and knows how to put bullies in their place. She's a strong character and is also loyal with a big heart, but she's not perfect, which would be unrealistic. She's got her flaws, including a quick temper and major stubbornness. She's had a tough life with her dad dying when she was young and an abusive mom with an alcohol and drug problem, leading her to stay with her Uncle Rory (who is awesome btw). Lexie also curses A LOT; it's not a flaw so much as another warning to readers who might be off-put by strong language. 

The guys are another big part of this story. There's Isaac, the goofball who does MMA fighting, and his twin brother Ethan, who is in a band and has all the ladies texting him constantly. Next, there's Asher with his boy-next-door good looks who plays football but whose real passion is cooking. Zeke is the intimidating guy of the bunch who works at an auto-shop and has his own anger-management issues. Lastly, there's sweet Miles who is super smart but has issues talking with people, especially girls. He's a bit confusing though because despite his social awkwardness he also points out when others are being rude and talks about social cues and dynamics like a psychologist. Each guy is distinct and the relationships among them and between them and Lexie are well-developed. Lexie has a lot of issues with all the ghost stuff going on and the trouble from her past, but the story doesn't just revolve around the guys taking care of her. She helps them just as much and it's nice to see how they all support each other. 

This story is categorized in the Reverse Harem genre (meaning one girl in a relationship with multiple guys), but there's pretty much zero romance in this first book. In fact, the guys are interested in other girls and Lexie finds her own guy who she flirts with. Any affection shown is on the friend level. There's no insta-love here! It's nice to see that the author isn't rushing the romance and is instead building a foundation of friendship and trust first. I'm assuming feelings might start developing in the next book, but we'll see. 

Now that I've gotten through all things to love about this book, I've come to the harder part of talking about the flaws. The story and the characters are amazing, but I wasn't able to enjoy the book fully due to formatting, punctuation, and grammar errors, along with a few other issues. The book (in both Nook and Kindle formats as far as I can tell) isn't formatted very well, mainly in regards to paragraphs. There are some paragraphs, like the very first one that are HUGE chunks of texts while others are chopped up into smaller paragraphs in ways that don't make sense. Dialogue also tends to get lost in bigger paragraphs and I found myself re-reading some lines to figure out who was speaking. There are also a lot of sentences with missing or incorrect punctuation and grammar mistakes like your vs. you're. 

Additionally, I found myself unconvinced by the descriptions of Lexie's injuries and the treatment for her injuries. Lexie arrives at her uncle's house with severe bruising on her back due to dear old mom and the pain is mentioned frequently and icing her back each night for physical therapy comes up as an issue with the guys one night. I bruise easily and have some experience with serious bruises - I was in a dirtbike crash and actually bruised the muscle in my thigh when I flipped over the bike and the handle bar nailed me. I had a limp for several days but by the end of the week I was walking almost normally and the pain was pretty much gone and the color very faded. Bruises normally don't take much time to heal and the pain should fade pretty quickly unless there's a worse issue like a sprain or damage to a muscle or something like that. I don't know who long the delay is between when Lexie got the bruises and she goes to live with her uncle, though it didn't seem like that long, but when I started counting days in the book she was in significant pain for at least three days and after seven days was still icing. Her injuries and the treatment as described weren't realistic and seemed exaggerated solely to create additional tension. 

I found myself concerned too about how much coffee Lexie drinks. A high schooler drinking coffee is not unusual considering a lot of teens and adults drink coffee, and the fact that she doesn't get much sleep because of ghosts. As a person who doesn't drink coffee, I didn't think too much of it at first but I know that too much caffeine can be dangerous so I Googled how much coffee is too much. Turns out there's such a think as overdosing on caffeine and that for most people, you can overdose drinking five cups of coffee in a day, depending on the tolerance to caffeine a person has built up and their BMI. Lexie is described as being small and she frequently has two-three cups a day with extra espresso shots, so even without her other health problems related to ghosts, drinking that much coffee puts her at risk for other serious health issues. Even if she did drink that much, there should be more concern from at least her uncle or her friends about it.

Overall, I really did like reading the story, but I would have enjoyed it more if the aforementioned issues weren't present. The frustrating thing is that they wouldn't have been issues if more editing and research had been done before publishing. I'm definitely going to read the next book and I hope that readers who are interested in the story will still give it a chance despite the flaws.

"Water Lily" Book Review

Title: Water Lily
Series: Standalone
Author: Crystal Packard
Stars: 4 out of 5
Book Blurb:
A fantasy adventure filled with magic, true love, and fate…

Seventeen-year-old Lily Harris is pretty sure she's going crazy. Weird things are happening.Scary things. A demented owl taunts her daylight hours, and her nights are filled with frightening dreams. On top of that, the two people Lily can count on in this world are gone. 

Her best friend is dead, and now Lily's grandmother, Meme is missing.

Lily retreats to her grandmother's home, hoping to find clues to her disappearance. Lily discovers more than she bargained for. Meme has been keeping secrets, lots of secrets–the biggest one being the painted mural on her bedroom wall. It's of a beautiful lake, nestled deep in a night forest. When Lily touches the painting, she is transported into another world. She's in Westmoorland. And she's not alone. The man that haunts Lily's dreams is there, warm and real . . . and familiar.

Lily's journey through Westmoorland brings her closer to finding Meme, but also to lasting friendships, to true love, and to powers within herself she never knew existed.

The truth of Meme's past and the secrets she's been hiding could destroy everything in Lily's future, including the greatest love she has ever known…

***

I tend to be one of those people who looks at the cover, blurb, and other reviews before I decide to read a book. The cover doesn't matter so much but if the blurb doesn't sound interesting or if there are too few good reviews, I won't read the book. I found Water Lily when browsing through Amazon and was drawn in by the cover. The blurb is interesting too, but there weren't many reviews to read. I decided to take a chance since it was on Kindle Unlimited and I'm glad I did! 

Lily is going to visit her grandmother Meme during the summer for two months before the start of her senior year of high school. She loves her grandmother, but has a challenging relationship with her mom who is very controlling and verbally abusive. Lily is sweet, caring, and has a strong artistic talent, like her artistic grandmother, but she's not perfect. She's struggling due to the death of her best friend and the pressure from her mom to be who her mom thinks she should be. At the beginning of the book, we see Lily wilt in the face of her mother's harsh criticism and she doesn't stand up for herself. 

When Lily arrives at her grandmother's house she soon discovers that her grandmother is not on a hippy retreat for three days like she thought, but is actually missing. At night when the mural her grandmother painted in the bedroom comes to life, Lily discovers a new world and sets out, determined to find and bring back Meme. In this alternate earth, Lily discovers new friends, love, and her own extraordinary abilities. Lily learns that she's braver than she knew as well. Whether Lily and Meme are reunited is up to you to find out! 

This book was entertaining, well-paced, featured a twist that I was not expecting! I didn't give five stars because there some things I wanted to see further developed or better resolved - like Lily's decision at the end of the book and the fact that Lily doesn't really think about her mom at the end; this woman who had such a huge impact on her life (though not positive) is just forgotten rather than addressed in some way to bring closure. While Westmoorland is pretty well described, there didn't seem to be that many differences in language. I would have thought that they'd have different phrases and slang just as the clothing and other aspects were different, but there was no noticeable difference beyond them having a different language that Lily magically understands. 

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy YA. 

The Stardust Series Book Reviews

Hello! For this post I am reviewing all four of the currently published books in the Stardust Series (Phoenix, Draco, Pyxis, and Chamaeleon) by Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke! This is in preparation for an exclusive author interview with them that I will be posting soon.

Title: Phoenix
Series: Book 1 of Stardust
Authors: Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke
Stars: 2.5 out of 5
Book Blurb: (from Goodreads.com)
The Stardust Series follows the story of Haley Jones and six dangerously appealing guys—Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson. 

All Haley Jones wants for her eighteenth birthday is answers. Thanks to an overprotective dad and a secluded existence in the Sierra Nevada wilderness, Haley has never experienced a typical life. Her dad claims there’s a good reason for their isolation, but he refuses to tell her why, delaying her questions with the promise of answers when she turns eighteen. That day has finally arrived, but the explanation raises more questions than answers. And when Haley wishes for the chance to explore the world, she finds that the old adage rings true—be careful what you wish for. 

***

I started reading Phoenix due to the vague but very intriguing blurb. Why do Haley and her dad live alone in the wilderness? What are they hiding from? Are they in the witness protection program? I had to find out.

The book begins on the day of Haley's 18th birthday and readers find out along with Haley that she and her father are in hiding from a dangerous criminal. The danger soon becomes very real when Haley returns home from a hike and finds her home on fire and her father missing. Haley then finds herself in the care of six mysterious and attractive guys who work for a company called Zenith doing... well, we don't actually know.

For those hoping for the action and excitement of the introduction to continue, like I was, you will be disappointed. After Haley moves to Santa Cruz, California with the guys, the action takes a back-seat and the focus turns to Haley finding her place with the guys and learning to trust them, though I have to say I think they earned her trust a little too quickly. While Haley is in hiding and staying safe with the guys, the guys try to find her father and see the reason for Haley's home being attacked. Haley, however, isn't involved much in the search. The book focuses more on character and relationship development than on an action-packed plot.

I liked Haley and found her to be an interesting main character. She's intelligent, loves to read and play board games, knows self-defense, and knows how to make the best of difficult situations. The guys are also an interesting group. There's Jackson, the serious leader; Liam, the wealthy flirt who is the opposite to Jackson; the brothers Knox and Theo, one who is former who is very protective and works on cars, the latter who is friendly and fashion-savvy;  Ethan, the M&M loving playboy; and Chase, the sweet, youngest member of the group. Each character is distinct and has a clear voice, which is helpful since otherwise it could get difficult trying to keep everyone straight.

The book wraps up neatly but doesn't close the story; it's clearly set up for the next book in the series. An epilogue from Jackson's perspective teases what is to come. While I wasn't as impressed with the book as I hoped to be, I still enjoyed it and will give the next book in the series a chance.

Title: Draco
Series: Book 2 of Stardust
Authors: Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke
Stars: 3 out of 5
Book Blurb: (from Goodreads.com)
It’s been two weeks since Haley Jones turned eighteen and her life was turned upside down. While searching for her dad, Haley is adjusting to life in Santa Cruz with a new job and friends. Surrounded by six dangerously appealing guys, she’s still trying to figure out just who Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson are and what they do. From a twenty-first birthday party to a swanky costume gala, Haley discovers just how difficult it can be to fit in and that maybe it’s okay to stand out.

***

In Draco, Haley gets a job at Zenith doing secretarial work. It's nothing as exciting as what the guys seem to do (though we still don't know what it is that they do because it's top secret). She gets a fake identity and back story so she can have a new start in Santa Cruz, though she has to be careful around her nosy co-worker, Melissa. 

Haley and the guys also grow closer, though she's not a big fan of Jackson yet and Liam's flirting makes her uncomfortable. Her friendship with the guys (and hints of more than friendly feelings) are still the main focus rather than the mystery and danger surrounding Haley's father and his past. Rather, the background danger serves as the reason for Haley to stay safe with the guys. As Haley comes to care for the guys, she faces a couple conundrums. First of all, do they like her too or they just being the kind, awesome guys they are? And secondly, if they do, what will she do and who will she choose?

While there isn't a lot of action, there is a little bit. Some progress is made in the search for Haley's dad. The guys, through Zenith, were hired to find Haley's dad and the guys have the opportunity at a charity gala to question the man who hired them and find out more. I was glad to see Haley push for a more active role and she gets to go on the mission to the gala, albeit as Liam's "date." And when Haley finds out the guys haven't been keeping her in the loop, she stands up to Jackson and demands to be told what's going on, which had me cheering. While I would have rather seen Haley doing more, I was glad to see some improvement in Haley being less passive and the way she stood up to Jackson has me hoping to see a more proactive Haley in the next book. 

Like the first book, Draco doesn't end on a cliff-hanger (thank goodness!) but there isn't full closure because it is set up to lead into the next book. Additionally, we get another epilogue chapter, this time featuring Jackson and Liam. It hints that the guys are feeling more than friendly towards Haley too, which could lead to tension in the group. 

Title: Pyxis
Series: Book 3 of Stardust
Authors: Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke
Stars: 4 out of 5
Book Blurb: (from Goodreads.com)
Haley Jones already thought her life was complicated, but after the events of the gala, she is in desperate need of direction—if only there was a compass for locating her missing dad or navigating relationships. Despite her efforts to gain independence and forge her own identity, she still feels adrift in her new life. And, when things heat up with Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson, Haley finds herself in uncharted territory, torn between attraction and frustration. When tensions rise within the group, will Haley be the one to pull the guys together or tear them apart?

***

Pyxis is the third book in the Stardust series and it picks up right where book two, Draco, left off. It had been a while since I finished reading the last book and it took me a little time to remember all the different characters -especially since Haley is balancing six(!) romantic interests. We also see the return of Haley's BFF, Jess.

We hadn't seen a lot of Jess in the previous two books. She was Haley's only friend when she lived isolated with her dad, but then Jess left for college. She is a hilarious person, and encourages the new and improved more confident, more outgoing Haley. Haley asks Jess for advice, especially when it comes to the guys, and her feelings for them. It's good that Haley has Jess for support and a friend besides one of the guys. 

With six different swoon-worthy guys in the picture, there's obviously going to be a lot of attention paid to the relationships between Haley and them. I appreciate how the authors have made each character unique. You can also tell that the guys all truly care for Haley. Better yet, the relationships between Haley and the guys are a two-way street and they help and support each other. Too many book relationships seem one sided, probably because we're only in one character's head, but it's not that way with this series. 

The romantic feelings between Haley and the guys are further developed in this book. Haley doesn't seem to be leaning towards one guy more than any of the others (though something dramatic happens with one of the guys near the end!), which could be setting up the story to fit in the "reverse harem" (RH) category. This would mean that Haley doesn't have to choose one of the guys, but that they will all be in a relationship with her. RH books aren't for everyone, so if the idea makes you uncomfortable, then you may not appreciate the next books in the series. It will be interesting to see how the authors go about setting it up.

Over the course of the series, Haley has shown a lot of growth, which readers are reminded of when her best friend humorously asks if she's been taken over by aliens. She's always been intelligent and strong, but she's stands up for herself more and is more confident and comfortable around the guys (except for moments of awkward romantic tension). As a girl who grew up homeschooled and pretty isolated, she's doing a fantastic job of adjusting to a lot of new situations. 

One minor critique I have is that she seems to be adjusting almost too well. Yes, she frets a lot about the guys and her feelings for them, but everything else hardly seems to come up on her radar. The guys will ask her how she's doing and if she wants to talk and it seems that in those moments she finally remembers that she still hasn't found her dad, there's a bad guy out to get him and possibly her too, and that her entire life was upended only a few months ago. 

The pacing of this book was generally good. I would say this book is definitely more character driven than plot driven, but there is more action this time than in Draco. In Pyxis a bad guy emerges and Haley is stuck between a rock and a hard place. There were some points where lots of time was passing (weeks or even months) and I was starting to get anxious for something else to happen beyond the relationship drama. Once I got to that point, however, it usually wasn't too long until a new development would arise and the action would pick up again. 

Overall, I would recommend that people who enjoyed the first two books in the series add the third book to their library as well. But be warned, Pyxis ends on a cliff-hanger (one of my pet-peeves). Book 4 won't be out until 2017, but you can read book 3.5 in the meantime! And book 3.5 resolves the cliff hanger. 

Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Title: Chamaeleon
Series: Book 3.5 of Stardust
Authors: Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke
Stars: 4 out of 5
Book Blurb: (from Goodreads.com)

Haley
“For the last seven months, my life practically revolved around 'my' guys—they kept me safe, made me laugh, and embraced me as one of their own. And, now, the unimaginable was happening. I was turning my back on the life I created with them. There would be no more duets with Chase, tickle fights with Theo, stargazing with Ethan, running with Knox, relaxing with Jackson, or cooking with Liam. In other words, I was walking away from the place—and the people—that had become my new home.”

Knox
“Theo opened his mouth like he was going to say something but then shut it again. The truth was, there was nothing left to say. We had to either compete for her heart or let her go, and both options were incomprehensible. Even if she chose me, could I live with the guilt of knowing I stole her away from my brother and best friends? And, if she chose someone else, would I ever get over her?”

***

Book 3 ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger and Chamaeleon picks up where Pyxis ended. 

What I find most exciting about Chamaeleon is that this book is not just from Haley's point of view, but from each of the guys' as well. If you've been wanting a sneak peak into Knox's or Jackson's or Liam's or Chase's or Theo's head, well here's your chance! The characters are what really make the Stardust series and in Chamaeleon we get to dive deeper into each character, their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. While having a book switch between so many perspectives could get really confusing, A & J have done a pretty good job of keeping the flow and minimizing confusion. It helps that there are date headers for each chapter to help readers navigate the timeline of events. 

From the beginning of the series the books have been about Haley and the guys, but now we get to see how Haley and the guys act without each other. I liked seeing independent Haley. She's smart and resourceful and while she misses the guys a lot, she sticks to her decision and makes the most of her situation. I also liked seeing how the guys deal with Haley's disappearance and because it's from the guys' pov, we get to see the dynamics of their team a lot more. 

I find myself enjoying each book in the series more than the last. I definitely recommend Chamaeleon for anyone who has enjoyed the previous books and is a fan of RH. A & J are on a roll and I look forward to reading book 4 in 2017! Hopefully we won't have to wait too long into next year for the release...

Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

"Crystal Whisperer" Book Review

Title: Crystal Whisperer
Series: Book 3 of Spotless Series
Author: Camilla Monk
Stars: 4.5 out of 5
Book Blurb:
Sweet Jesus, this is it! Or maybe not.

Perpetually foiled romance heroine Island Chaptal and reformed cleaning expert March —or is it Mr. November?— are enjoying a pleasant break in South-Africa, after brushing death in the inhospitable and platypus-infested mountains of Liechtenstein... 

That is, until a commercial flight disintegrates over the Atlantic, killing hundreds, and Island's supervillain dad makes the news as the mastermind behind the attack. Old Lion Dries is now on the run, and he calls upon his last ally —and favorite disciple— March.

From the streets of Venice to the turquoise waters of French Polynesia, March and Island embark on a deadly race against the clock to find out what secrets lie behind Dries’s downfall, and stop the mysterious “Crystal Whisperer” before it’s too late. This time, though, there might just be no winning against futuristic weapons, CIA agents, Roomba cats, (reluctantly) evil henchmen, and dads who won’t let you get your groove on, dammit! 

***

Camilla Monk has done it again! Book 3 of the Spotless series is just as action-packed, hilarious, and full of foiled romance as its predecessors. To read my reviews of the first two books, go HERE and HERE.

In this book, we follow Island, the quirky, intelligent, and still-a-virgin main character, along with her cleanliness obsessed, retired-cleaner boyfriend March as they try to figure out who framed Island's biological father for a terrible plane crash. I really enjoyed reading about Island and March and seeing their relationship progress, though their sexy times are constantly interrupted! Like any couple, they have their ups and downs, however I'm pretty sure most couples' downs don't include evil masterminds, dodging bullets, and kidnapping...

What I love about the author is that she does a fantastic job developing a full and interesting cast of main and side characters, including returners from the previous books and new characters. Each character has their own personalities and it never feels like I'm reading cardboard cut-outs on the page solely to fill a purpose for the plot. And speaking of the plot, it's quick paced, but not rushed or confusing. There's plenty of action and suspense but a few moments of calm here and there to catch your breath. 

As with the previous books, "Crystal Whisperer" managed to have me biting my nails in anticipation one moment and swiping away tears of laughter in the next. Of course, each chapter has its own super cheesy romance novel quote, there's fun dialogue, Island's hilarious thoughts/commentary, and my favorite, the return of the twitter bazooka - BOOM! 

The one thing that I dislike about this book is the cliff-hanger ending, so beware! We will have to wait for the next book (hopefully not too long) to get a resolution to the very dramatic conclusion.

*I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

"Beating Ruby" Book Review

Title: Beating Ruby
Series: Book 2 of Spotless series
Author: Camilla Monk
Stars: 5 out of 5
Blurb (from Goodreads.com):
Life hasn’t been quite the same for computer engineer Island Chaptal since March, an OCD-ridden professional killer, burst into her life to clean her bedroom and take her on a global chase for a legendary diamond. Sadly, the (hit) man doesn’t just break bones; he breaks hearts, too.

Since then, Island has found solace in Alex—the perfect boyfriend—and Ruby, a software project about to revolutionize online banking security…for the worse. When Island’s boss is found dead after allegedly using Ruby to steal a vast fortune, it’s up to her to clear his name and recover the money. Someone else wants answers, though, and this time, Island might be in over her head.

From New York to Zürich, it’s going to take the return of a cleaning expert, a mini-octopus, and Island’s wits to beat Ruby. All while deciding whether to trust a man who already jilted her, or one who may have his own deadly secrets…

***

Another enjoyable, laugh-until-you-cry read! I enjoyed Beating Ruby just as much as the first book. If you'd like to see my review of Spotless, Book 1 of the Spotless Series, you can find it HERE.

Poor Island just can't catch a break. This time trouble has found her at work, and now she has to work with her new boyfriend (who is more than he seems) and her not-really-an-ex March. As one might expect based on the first Spotless Series book, there's plenty of humor, action, romance gone awry to go around. 

The characters are unique, interesting, and well-developed. This goes for both the main characters and the side characters. Nobody is neglected! I love Island's humorous and witty inner dialogue. Even more, she's intelligent, strong, and doesn't let the guys have all the fun. And speaking of the guys, the show-downs between Alex and March are entertainment gold. March is a complex character and I fell more in love with him in this book. Alex can go crawl under a rock, and if you want to find out why, pick up a copy and read the book for yourself! 😉

If you enjoyed the first book in the series (and I don't see how anyone possibly couldn't), then you will definitely want to read Beating Ruby. It's a page-turner that won't let you go until the end, and until your stomach is cramping from laughing too much. 

"Demons at Deadnight" Book Review

Title: Demons at Deadnight
Series: Divinicus Nex Chronicles #1
Authors: A & E Kirk
Stars: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blurb (from Goodreads.com):
For seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey, survival is a lifestyle.

DEMONIC DESTINY
Aurora has the crappiest superpower on the planet. And it’s just unleashed a hit squad from hell. Demons are on the hunt, salivating to carve her carcass into confetti. ´

CHARISMATIC KILLERS
The Hex Boys—mysterious, hunky, and notorious for their trails of destruction—have the answers Aurora needs to survive. But their overload of deadly secrets and suspicious motives makes trusting them a potentially fatal move.

LETHAL ALLIES
The battle to save her family, herself, and stop demonic domination may cost Aurora everything worth living for, and force her to reveal her own dark secrets. But no worries. She needs the Hex Boys to pull this off, and, chances are, teaming up with these guys will get her killed anyway. 

***

I really enjoyed reading Demons at Deadnight. I was drawn in by the premise of this story and was not disappointed. A&E Kirk have written an interesting story supported by a fun cast of characters. 

The main character, Aurora is strong, brave, and clumsy. She has the unfortunate ability of seeing demons and when they come after her she's got no choice but to kick demon butt (usually on accident) and find out what's going on with the help of the Hex Boys. The Hex Boys are an amazing(ly hilarious) group of guys. They all have their own unique personalities and quirks, and the dynamics between them and with Aurora are great. 

This book features plenty of kick-butt action, laugh-out-loud one-liners, and a side of smoldering romantic tension. Thank goodness there is no love triangle in this book, which I think has become annoyingly common for YA novels. 

I will warn though that this book ends with a major cliff hanger (the reason for the .5 deduction), but luckily book 2 is already out!