Review: See How They Run by Ally Carter

Series: Embassy Row Book #2

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 320

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Gift

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Inside every secret, there's a world of trouble. Get ready for the second book in this new series of global proportions--from master of intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Grace's past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

The twists get twistier and the turns get even more shocking in the second thrilling installment of Embassy Row.

Review

I thought there wasn't a way for this to get any crazier. And then like 10 things happened. I should probably just give up trying to guess what will happen next.

It was nice to get to know new characters. And get more development on some from the previous book.

This story is very high-stakes. Ally Carter books usually are, but this feels even more so. Like I am truly concerned for all of these characters. It would make such an interesting moving.

I'm excited to read the next one and see how this story ends. And I totally keep thinking one of the Gallagher Girls are going to show up.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: The Chosen By J.R. Ward

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Book #15

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, convicted of treason against the Blind King, is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds, he accepts his soldier’s fate, his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his: the Chosen Layla.

Layla alone knows the truth that will save Xcor’s life. But revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything Layla holds dear—even her role of mother to her precious young. Torn between love and loyalty, she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love. Yet even if Xcor is somehow granted a reprieve, he and Layla would have to confront a graver challenge: bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war, desolation, and death.
As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell, and the identity of a new deity is revealed, nothing is certain or safe in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, not even true love . . . or destinies that have long seemed set in stone.

Review

I have so many thoughts. And this may come across as a lot of complaints, but I did really enjoy this.

Also: spoilers.

I'm going to talk about what happened throughout the book.

You've been warned.

Coming in I wasn't particularly invested in Xcor and Layla. I don't dislike their story like Sola and Assail, but I've never cared. But now I do. I was hooked and couldn't put this down because I needed to know what happened to them. I just couldn't believe they would ever be able to have a happily ever after.

Then, there were the other storylines/POVs. I couldn't stand the Throe chapters. They were like torture to read and I just skimmed them. I'm cautiously intrigued by the Trez/Terese thing. I want Trez to be happy, but it feels fast to move on. And whether she's Selena reincarnated or not I don't see how it won't be awkward.

And Quihnn was such a douche. I have always been a Blay/Quihnn supporter, but his behavior was too much. The way he spoke to Layla and Blay was pretty unforgivable. And then he just moped about Blay standing up to him. Honestly, I'm not sued I'll ever be able to look at him the same way again. I don't hate him, but I am disappointed in him.

Finally, we have this bullshit with V. I thought we had moved past this. If he cheats on Jane I may be done with this series. They were one of my favorite couples and I can't watch to end.

I have very little interest in the next book because Sola and Assail=😝. But I will read reviews to see what happens to Trez, Jane, and V. If I'm happy with what I see I'll pick it up.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: The Proposal by Meg Cabot

Series: The Mediator Book 6.5

Format: Ebook

Rating: 3 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Romance, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

The last place Suze Simon expects to find herself during Valentine’s Day is a cemetery. But that’s what happens when you’re a mediator – cursed with the “gift” of communicating with the dead.

That’s how Suze has ended up at the graves of a pair of NCDPs - Non-Compliant Deceased Persons – whose drama didn’t end with death. It’s Suze’s job to make sure they move on—for good.

But the NCDPs aren’t the only ones with problems. The reason Suze is spending her Valentine’s Day with the undead instead of her boyfriend, Jesse, is because he’s having so much trouble adjusting to life after death . . . not surprising, considering the fact that he used to be an NCDP himself, and now his girlfriend busts his former kind for a living, while he tries to cure his kind of what used to ail him.

Can Suze use her mediating skills to propose a mutual resolution, and bring all these young lovers together - including Jesse and herself - especially on the night Saint Valentine declared sacred to romance?

Or will she end up alone—and possibly undead—herself?

Review

This was a cute little novella and it definitely got me excited to read Remembrance. It was nice to see Suze a little more grown up. And it is always a pleasure to see Jesse. Suze's voice had the same humor-although there was a little more sex under it. I hope that continues as their relationship grows/evolves.

The ghost story line felt a little thrown together. This was especially so at the end. It was like Ms. Cabot realized this was a novella instead of a full-length book so everything had to be tied up real fast.

But I'm still glad I read it, because these are fun characters.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Series: Snow Like Ashes Book #1

Format: eBook

Rating: 3 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. The Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been searching for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild their kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter’s future king—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of half of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself—only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics, and to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Review

This book was disappointing. It was pretty predictable and I had trouble connecting with the characters. Even when I did start getting invested, I didn't feel the need to constantly read.

The world was interesting. I like the idea of kingdoms based on seasons and want to know more about the characters and cultures of each kingdom.

Now, I can't believe I'm saying this, but the romance was too much. It's fine that it exists, but it was overwhelming. And there was some insta-love feelings which is rarely good. I just think the story would've been stronger with less focus on love and romance.

I may or may not finish this series. I don't really feel the need to, so maybe if I do ever get the urge.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Top 10 Tuesday: Books I Liked but Can't Remember

Top 10 Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish. It is now run my That Artsy Reader Girl. 

This is an interesting topic, because this has actually been happening to me a lot lately.

Especially if I read a book in one sitting. It's like I go too fast so my brain can't contain everything. And if I've only read it once than that's a definite train to forgetville. I do actually plan on re-reading some of these soon.

Here's the list:

The Iron King

Fire

All-American Girl

Cinder

Goose Girl

Bloodlines

The Viscount Who Loved Me

My Life Next Door

Northanger Abbey

She Tempts the Duke

Are there any books you forget even though you liked them?

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Blood Fury by J.R. Ward

Series: Black Dagger Legacy Book #3

Format: eBook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre:Paranormal Romance, Vampires

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

A vampire aristocrat of the Glymera, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family’s traditions. And he thought he’d found his perfect match in Paradise—until she fell in love with someone else. When his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another.

Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody—and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love.

As the two grapple with Novo’s past and Peyton’s present, another couple must contend with an erotic connection that is unparalleled—and potentially scandalous.

Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love . . . and cost Saxton everything?

Review

I'm so glad I was able to get this from Overdrive so quickly. It was my favorite book in this spin-off series. Both romances and all four POVs were well-developed and engaging.

Going in I actually knew very little about this book. I definitely didn't know about Ruhn and Saxton so that was a nice surprise. I'm glad Saxton finally got his HEA. And Ruhn was so different from the alpha males Ms. Ward normally writes. It's great to read someone more calm and simple. I mean simple in a nice way.

Of course the romances were fast, but it works well here unlike some of the others in these two series. I wanted both couples and to be happy and I would get that anxious feeling in my stomach when things would go badly for them.

Novo especially got to me. Her story made me cry a little. And I loved reading her growth and grieving process.

This reminded me again why I like the BDB books/world. J.R. Ward still has that magic.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Defying the Nazis: The Sharps War by Artemis Joukowsky

Stand Alone

Format: Audio Book

Rating: 3 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: Beacon Press/Tantor Media

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

In 1939, the Reverend Waitstill Sharp, a young Unitarian minister, and his wife, Martha, a social worker, accepted a mission from the American Unitarian Association: they were to leave their home and young children in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and travel to Prague, Czechoslovakia, to help address the mounting refugee crisis. Seventeen ministers had been asked to undertake this mission and had declined; Rev. Sharp was the first to accept the call for volunteers in Europe.
Armed with only $40,000, Waitstill and Martha quickly learned the art of spy craft and undertook dangerous rescue and relief missions across war-torn Europe, saving refugees, political dissidents, and Jews on the eve of World War II. After narrowly avoiding the Gestapo themselves, the Sharps returned to Europe in 1940 as representatives of the newly formed Unitarian Service Committee and continued their relief efforts in Vichy France.
A fascinating portrait of resistance as told through the story of one courageous couple, Defying the Nazis offers a rare glimpse at high-stakes international relief efforts during WWII and tells the remarkable true story of a couple whose faith and commitment to social justice inspired them to risk their lives to save countless others.

Review

This was an interesting story. It blended the Sharps personal and "professional" life very well. And it was eye-opening. Now, I don't read a lot about the Nazis and World War II, but I've been exposed to a decent amount through school.

But it does show me that through all the horror there were people helping. I had never heard of the Sharps before, but they did a brave and admirable thing. Anyone who helped someone escape the Germans/Nazis should be remembered.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Series: Embassy Row Book #1

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 310

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

Review

Ally Carter's books are just so fun to read. And they just have a different feel than any other YA I've ever read.

This book was fast-paced and engaging. And there was a mystery throughout this one which helped keep me going. It was helped by the fact that I couldn't decide if Grace was a reliable narrator or not. It added a nice extra layer to the story.

I'm glad I already own this whole series so I don't have to wait to read them. I want to know what happens to Grace and her friends. I do really like that Ally Carter will flush out her books with good side characters/friends.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Series: The Hathaways Book #5

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 332

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: St. Martin's

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted... and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man—just to avoid spinsterhood?
Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix's friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul—and it's becoming clear that Christopher won't come back as the same man. When Beatrix learns of Pru's disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru's letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep... and when Christopher comes home, he's determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix's innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love—and a passion that can't be denied.

Review

Pretty sure this is the first time I've re-read this and it was better than I remembered. Or my likes have changed. Or both. But it was still my least favorite book in this series. The rest did get 5 stars though so it was a pretty high bar.

Beatrix is awesome. She's unique in an already unique family. I love her positive outlook on people and life. And her relationship with animals is just so cute.

Christopher is a good character. And he's dealing with some PTSD from war which I love reading about. Does it make me a bad person to like that?

The romance is nice. I really love that they really get to know each other through letters. That is one of my favorite storytelling devices. And it's nice to read about them dealing with his PTSD as a couple. Love is great but it doesn't just heal all of lifes' problems.

This is a great story with great characters. It was a nice conclusion to the Hathaways series. I'm glad I took the time to reread these.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #3

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 336

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Christmas Gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports/hockey romance

Publisher: Berkley Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Review

It should come as no surprise that I loved this because I'm obsessed with Sarina Bowen. I read like 20 minutes on my lunch at work and then the rest was one sitting on my couch. My cat really appreciated just being able to sit on my lap for 3 hours.

Lauren was a real treat. Over the course of the series, she has gone from random bitchy girl to great character. It's a nice reminder not to judge people by how they appear. Mike was cute and I liked seeing him with his daughter. He's a little too impulsive for me, but that's personal preference.

As an aside, I want to talk about Mike's daughter and her manny. Their names are Elsa and Hans. I see what you did Ms. Bowen. Although, I did keep thinking of Hans from The Mighty Ducks.

The romance was well developed and pretty emotional. My eyes definitely teared up especially for Lauren. This is a reunited lovers story which is one of my favorite tropes. I would have liked a little more talking before jumping back into bed, but it wasn't a huge issue.

It was also nice to see a little friendship growing between all the ladies of these books. I hope that continues into the next one.

Speaking of, it better come out in February. I need Nate and Becca's story!!! There isn't a cover on Goodreads yet, so I'm a little nervous it will get pushed back.

Thanks for reading!

Holly