A Most Scandalous Proposl by Ashlyn Macnamara

Book Description:
In Ashlyn Macnamara’s stunning romance debut—perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries—two childhood friends in Regency England discover love with the most unlikely of partners: each other.
After watching her beloved sister Sophia pine over the ton’s Golden Boy for years, Miss Julia St. Claire has foresworn love and put herself firmly on the shelf. Unfortunately, her social-climbing mother and debt-ridden father have other ideas, and jump at the chance to marry Julia off to the newly-named Earl of Clivesden…the man of Sophia’s dreams.
Since resigning his Cavalry commission, Benedict Revelstoke has spent his time in London avoiding the marriage mart. But when he discovers that the Earl of Clivesden has set Julia in his sights, Benedict tries to protect his childhood best friend from the man’s advances—only to discover more than friendship driving his desire to defend her. He surprises them both with the force of his feelings, but when she refuses him and her father announces her betrothal, he fears he’s lost her forever—until Julia approaches him with a shocking scheme that will ruin her for all respectable society…
…and lead them into an exquisite world of forbidden pleasures.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book.  The ton is exactly the place where Mrs. St. Claire wants her daughters to be.  Neither has made a match yet and have turned down multiple offers of marriage.  Sophia has been entranced with a man that every woman in the ton has wanted (and several of them have had) for the past five years.  Julia has a best friend in Benedict and is none too happy when the object of her sister's affections turns his sights on her.  Both sisters do plenty to get the tongues wagging all across the ton and perhaps just find their perfect matches after all.
I loved that this book wasn't simply focused on one couple.  Sure it was about a love triangle of sorts, but not just one!  There was plenty of scandal.  I'm not sure which of the gentlemen was my favorite, though I truly did fall for Benedict.  He was so strong and determined.  The same could be said for Highgate.  I completely didn't like Clivesden and his friend.  I also wasn't overly fond of Mr. St. Claire, but that was exactly what the author wanted.  It is a great story about sisters and their love, bot for each other and for the men in their lives.
I rate this a 4/5.  If you love historical romance and waltzing around with the people of the ton, Ashlyn Macnamara has a book here that you will love!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Night of the Hunter by R.A. Salvatore

Book Description:

R.A. Salvatore’s New York Times best-selling saga continues as dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden returns to Gauntlgrym with old friends by his side once again, as they seek to rescue Bruenor’s loyal shield dwarf-turned-vampire. But not only do Drizzt and his allies face a perilous journey through the Underdark and the dangers of the undead that lie within, but they must cross through a colony of drow, who would like nothing better than to see Drizzt Do’Urden dead.

My Thoughts:

This was a great Salvatore book.  It is a part of the dark elf books but the start of another section of them.  Drizzt is back and he and his allies are set for a rescue mission.  There is danger on all sides but Drizzt and his allies forge ahead.  It doesn't matter what stands in their way, they will conquer it.
I have really liked Drizzt in all of Salvatore's books and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.  It didn't disappoint.  We were back in the land of the elves, dwarfs and all manner of other creatures!  There was plenty of action.  Everyone has a back story and Salvatore does a great job of weaving old and new together.  Just great story and can't wait for more (I gotta stop now before I give away any spoilers!).
I rate this a 5/5.  That is for those who know the back story, if you aren't familiar with this series, I would suggest starting at the beginning but this is a seriously good book in the series!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Missing Royal by Konstanz Silverbow

Book Description:
One princess destroyed the world. One princess must save it. 

When Shanice was little, she wished to be a princess. Now as a teenager, she just wishes she fit in. But Shanice doesn't feel like she belongs—she never has.

When her parents tell her she is the last known princess from another world, it all makes sense—a world full of magic in place of technology, one where she is more than just royalty. She is their last chance to stop the one who is bent on destroying it: Mendina. 

But she can't do it alone. First, she must find the other missing royals. In her quest, Shanice will be forced to choose between the course prophecy set for her and the one that leads to the man who possesses her heart.

My Thoughts:
This was a great book!  Shanice doesn't fit in.  She is mocked and disliked at school.  Pranks are vicious and even the teachers pity her.  Her only friend is her riding instructor whom she races on horseback daily.  She also hears voices in her head and is afraid they will send her to an institution if they ever find out.  Her parents are great, a bit anti-electronic but loving.  Her world is changed when her parents reveal the truth about her origins and she learns of her mission.
I absolutely loved this book.  The story line was great and flowed.  The characters were engaging and I couldn't put it down.  Shanice was living a fantasy that most little girls have, to be a princess.  Only problem is, nothing is working like it should.  She and the love of her life aren't seeing eye to eye.  She has a quest that she isn't sure how to fulfill.  Her new home is full of things that she doesn't understand.  BUT she is determined to do her best at everything and to fulfill her destiny!
I rate this a 5/5.  I completely enjoyed this and can't wait to read more

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the onions stated above are 100% mine.

Taken by Choice by Jessica Frances

Book Description:
They failed. They have been taken by P.A.G.E. again and this time Stan and Martha are prepared for them. They’ve made it impossible to escape. They have no choice but to stay in line and behave.

New friendships are made, relationships are put to the test and answers about their abilities are revealed.

Is it possible that they can still take down P.A.G.E. but this time trying from within?

Or will the choices they make endanger the future they were tasked with protecting?

Only time will tell. Unfortunately, it might mean having to give up everything for the chance of ending this once and for all.


My Thoughts:
I couldn't wait for this book to come out.  The group has been taken by PAGE again and not given the same treatment they were the first time.  The friendships are there, and the relationships but there are new people involved.  Stan and Martha are there but so are soldiers that think they are serving their country.  Not to mention some people some of them hoped to never see again!
I was torn in this book.  I was thrilled to see the couple back together and with their friends.  I was scared for the ones that weren't present and what was going to happen/happening with them.  The element of the new friends and enemies was good and I was surprised by a couple of the twists.  Overall I was thrilled with the way the story line went.  I wanted some things to happen that didn't and didn't want some things to happen that did, but the author really did a great job with this series.
I rate this a 5/5.  You need to read the whole Taken series so this one makes sense but it completes the trilogy perfectly.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via My Reading Addiction).  I received this boo in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

Book Description:
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen's cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits--and starting to fear she doesn't have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen. Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior--on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he's getting from Eden Christiansen isn't making things any easier. But when Owen's carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

My Thoughts:
Wow.  Eden doesn't see herself as ever doing anything important or really memorable.  She thinks she is there to be a cheerleader for everyone else.  Writing obituaries, she wants to be a reporter but is stuck writing obits.  She has siblings to cheer for though, including her brother the hockey player.  On the other side, Jace is a hockey player with a name and a reputation.  The two of them are thrown together and maybe it is fate, or something more.
This book is not just a simple meeting and falling in love book.  Two people do meet and there is a story there, but it is much deeper than simple romance.  The author does a great job with her characters, the grow and change throughout the book.  Everyone is who they are, but there is always something more.  This book will literally bring you to tears and then have you cheering on these characters.
This one is a 5/5.  It was a lot deeper book than I was expecting, but in a good way!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via litfuse).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Soul Control by C. Elizabeth

Book Description:
Young Adult Paranormal Romance of love, loss and reconnection.

“Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.”

Words of truth for seventeen-year-old Saydi Gardiner upon discovering her ancestry. But if she has doubts, further confirmation is forthcoming and it comes in the form of a wickedly gorgeous Nathanael Braxton, when he steals her heart and cuddles into her soul – the last place the boy should be.

Nineteen-year-old Nathanael’s unrelenting good looks aren’t the only thing that make him dangerous – and he knows it! However, his caring human self struggles with a loyalty – a loyalty that binds him to the hunt for the soul that will give his family the power they seek. There’s only one problem: When he finds her, Nathanael falls in love with his prey – Saydi.

My Thoughts:
This was pretty good.  Saydi is a 'typical teenager', her father died when she was young but that isn't that unusual.  She has her friends, they hang out, she likes boys, just a typical teenage existence.  Everything changes when a family with triplet boys comes to town.  They are all three hot but Nathanael is who catches Saydi's eye!  She finds out a lot about herself that she never knew and learns about Nthanael.  The relationship between the two isn't what anyone expected.
The author did  a good job with the plot.  Saydi (good), Nathanael (evil) only neither are totally good or evil.  Some things just out right didn't make sense to me, but they weren't 'bad'.  The author's writing style is addictive and you will flip through the pages quickly to see where the story leads next.  I will read more of this author's work and have no doubt they will only get better!
I rate this a 3.5/5.  It was a good, fairly typical YA book.

Thank you to the publisher/author for the review copy of this book (via Pump Up Your Book).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Prophecy by S.P. Cervantes

Book Description:

Ava Fox has spent the past year acclimating to her new life as a wizard of Shadow Hill. Over the past year, her connection with Dalton has only grown stronger. They share a bond she has never known and can't explain. 
The danger is still there, even after the Sabatino coven was defeated, and Ava's future is anything but sure. Her powerful relationship with Dalton continues to make others wonder about the Prophecy, and their place in it. Time and again Ava's loyalty and strength will be put to the test as she fights for those she loves. There are many more secrets of Shadow Hill that will be revealed in The Prophecy.

My Thoughts:

I couldn't wait for this book.  A year after Always & Forever, Ava and her twin Hannah have saved everyone and grown at least partially accustom to their lives as wizards.  Ava and Dalton are together and strong.  There is still a  threat out there and though Ava hasn't seen Patrick in months, they still have a strong bond.  There will be tests for Ava on several levels throughout.  

I loved coming back to these characters.  Ava and Dalton are such a strong couple, but with the element of Patrick, the triangle is complete.  I love both guys.  Dalton is steadfast in his love and commitment to Ava.  Patrick is her best friend, former boyfriend and shows that he will always love and protect her.  Ava, I could have smacked her over her confusion over the two of them.  I did really enjoy Hannah and Aiden!  

I rate this a 5/5.  I would recommend reading the first one in the series but this one is just as good!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via Reading Addiction Tours).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Cover Reveal! Complication by K.A. Salidas!!!

Book Description:

Narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Magistrate, Mira travels west, toward the coast. With three weakened human fugitives accompanying her, she searches for the mythical land of Sanctuary.

After encountering a pack of wolf shifters, headed by the charismatic—and brazen—Stryker, Mira learns that Sanctuary is real after all.  Caldera Grove: home of the Otherkin. Hidden in the mouth of a dormant volcano, it has protected its residents from humans since the early days following the great cataclysm. For Mira— a vampire— Caldera Grove is a land of peace; an escape from the relentless persecution of the humans who once enslaved her, and an end to the daily struggle and bloodshed of being a gladiator.

For the humans accompanying her, Caldera Grove means death. Humans, greedy and untrustworthy creatures, are destroyed before they can penetrate its borders.

To plead her case for entry into Caldera, Mira must abandon her companions, albeit temporarily, and follow Stryker into the heart of the city. What she finds within Caldera Grove presents her with an unenviable decision between her own desires for freedom and peace, or honor and the human companions who risked it all for her.

Sins of the Fallen

Book Description:
When seventeen-year-old Maximillion Taylor and his best friend, Jones go to a house party, he doesn't expect to get kidnapped—much less by a succubus—and she's not the only one on the hunt. Thrown into a world of angels and demons, where nothing and no one is what they seem, Max ventures to find his true identity and learn to fight the demons who pursue him. When his origin is revealed, it's a race against the clock for a battle that will determine whether he can protect the ones he loves or succumb to his true nature. Through lies, betrayal, love and pain, Max must prepare to face the demons before it is too late…

My Thoughts:
This was a good book.  Max's life completely changes the night of the party.  He and his best friend go to a party, and Max gets kidnapped...by a succubus.  Life as Max knew it was no longer.  He was now in a world, not who he always thought he was, and surrounded by people who aren't who he thought THEY were.  As he learns more about himself, he has to face the demons and fight them.
I really enjoyed how the story started out with Max!  Overall, the author did a really good job with the characters.  Written from Max's perspective, we 'think like a boy' and it was dead on!  He does stupid things, falls in love, is attracted to the bad girl, and all sorts of stuff that really happens to teenage boys.  That being said, it was a paranormal book and I loved the angel/demon elements.  This is book one in the series and I expect the next book to be just as good!
I rate this a 4/5.  It was a good YA book and I am ready to read more.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book(via reading addiction tours).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Martyr's Fire by Sigmund Brouwer

Book Description:
Will this dangerous quest lead the outcast Orphan King toward an ancient secret—or to certain destruction?

Posing as a beggar, Thomas escapes Magnus after fifteen men, who are calling themselves the Priests of the Holy Grail, arrive and take control of the castle through wondrous acts and apparent miracles. With the help of his longtime friend Gervaise, Thomas sets out on a journey that leads him to the ancient Holy Land. Unaware that Katherine and Hawkwood are watching over him, Thomas is tested in his beliefs and comes face to face with the ancient power that the Merlins and Druids have long been searching for.

Enter the world of Merlin’s Immortals, where ancient secrets and evil conspiracies take you on a breathless adventure of discovery, intrigue, and hidden knowledge.


My Thoughts:
This book is the third by this author in the Merlin's Immortals series.  Thomas escapes Magnus and is on a quest.  With his kingdom being invaded, he fled and is in search of answers.  There are assumptions, Druids, misunderstandings and friends throughout the story.  Thomas must make decisions and his search isn't an easy one.
I really enjoy this author's writing style.  The challenges that Thomas faces are to strengthen his character and it works great.  The chapters are short and the book is an easy, quick read.  I like the medieval times setting and all the characters.  I did have issues with how repetitive certain things were in the book, but at the same time, I can understand how that works for the young adults to a point.
I rate this a 3/5.  It was a good third in the series just not up to the standards of the other two.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.  

Run With The Wolves

Book Description:
"It is the fifteenth century, and three kingdoms are caught up in the dire conflicts of their time. As the possibility of a peaceful resolution provides hope that a decade-long war will finally end, no one realizes that dark forces are waiting to invoke chaos as a full moon rises.
On a farm nestled beneath the Euralene Mountains along the western border of Medinia, young Willie works for the Smythes as a serf. One moonlit evening when the Smythes are gone to a neighbouring village, Willie hears the terrified cries of animals in the pastures. When he goes to investigate, he discovers that this wolf pack attack is like no other. Badly injured during the raid, he survives—but now he is afflicted by the full-moon madness that will soon transform him into one of the wolf creatures he dreads. With his life seemingly warped forever, Willie must face the prospect of a lifelong descent into horror.
In a time of witchcraft, superstitious folk lore, and fear-some creatures roaming the night, Willie struggles with an uncertain destiny and must seek help from the one man he holds most responsible for the dark fate that awaits him during the next full moon cycle."

My Thoughts:
This was an intriguing book.  There are three kingdoms.  Two of them have made plans to make peace and end their feud.  The third believes that would be the end of their kingdom.  Peace cannot happen!  Willie works for a family and wants to go with them when they go into the village but instead is left home to guard the house and livestock.  The pack of wolves that descend and change his life forever aren't just normal wolves.  Being infected, Willie begins a new life with a whole new set of rules.
The author has a new refreshing idea with this one.  It isn't your typical werewolf novel but instead a historical, intricate book.  In building the world in which the story takes place, there are times when it becomes tedious and you want to skim over to get back to the 'action' or actual story line.  That being said, this is the first in a series and the details are important to a degree.  Characters were well described and I really do like the possibilities of where the story can go from here and will definitely read more in the series.This was a 3/5 for me.  I see the potential for the series but the building of the 'new world' was tedious.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via pumpupyourbook).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine. 

The Thief by Stephanie Landsem

Book Description:
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Abandoned by the God she once loved, her only recourse is to depend upon Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, to keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and the landlord satisfied. 

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure and is desperate to escape the accursed Judean province. Accepting a wager that will get him away from the aggravating Jews and their threats of revolt, he sets out to catch the thieves harassing the marketplace. 

When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Nissa hopes for freedom from her life of lies. But the supposed miracle brings only more misfortune, and Longinus, seeking to learn more about the mysterious healer, finds himself drawn instead to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures. 

Cedron, Longinus, and Nissa are unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As danger closes in on them from every side, they must decide if the love and redemption Jesus offers is true or just another false promise. How can the so-called Messiah save them from their shackles, when he cannot even save himself?

My Thoughts:
This was good.  It was an intriguing story on the last days of Christ.  Mouse is a thief.  He looks like a poor beggar, but is truly a remarkable thief.  Nissa has been abused her whole life and the only one who truly loves her is her blind brother.  When he is healed by Jesus, the miracle brings about a chain of events where Nissa and her brother struggling.  Along with that, Longinus is determined to catch the thieves!  All of this is happening in Jesus' last days on earth and everyone has a part to play.I was completely taken in with this story.  I mean, the basics of it we know from the Bible, but the author does a wonderful job of telling a story within the story.  The characters were well written and I was drawn to them.  I thought the story line flowed smoothly and though it is a story we know, the fictional part of it was woven through the 'real' part making it all too real.  The author did a great job of making you feel the emotion of the characters and I admit, you may cry!I rate this a 4/5.  I will be looking for more from this author!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via litfuse).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Book Description:
When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. ‘Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don’t turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you’ll be burying more family members.’ Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves.
Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

My Thoughts:
Terri Blackstock definitely knows how to write a page turner!  Juliet is the 'stable' sister of her family.  After a day of moving her sister, Juliet watches in horror as her husband is gunned down.  Her world is turned upside down!  Not only by her husband's murder but by the investigation that comes after.  She had believed that his murder was simply a random event but what if it wasn't and she and her children are in danger.
I think Juliet's protectiveness as a mother drew me completely in!  It would be beyond horrible to watch your husband be murdered but to find out there were HUGE secrets and lies would just be terrible.  The investigation by the police would be bad enough but being a PI, she and her sisters couldn't leave it simply to the police.  I didn't know who the bad guy was until the book was close to over and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
I rate this a 5/5.  It is the second is the series but can be easily read as a stand alone book.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via litfuse).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore

Book Description:
Officer Brinna Caruso has built a reputation at the precinct as the cop to call when a child goes missing. For Brinna, it's personal because she was once one of them. Brinna and her K-9 search and rescue dog, Hero, will stop at nothing to find a missing child, no matter the stakes.

Detective Jack O'Reilly isn't ready to return to his homicide duties after losing his wife to a drunk driver. He's on the downside of his career, and bent on revenge, when he's assigned as Brinna's partner. While on patrol, Jack struggles between his quest for personal justice and his responsibility to those around him, especially his partner.

Skeptical of Jack's motives, Brinna isn't sure she can rely on her new partner, whose reckless abandon endangers the safety of those around him. But when a man surfaces with an MO similar to the criminal who abducted Brinna twenty years earlier, Brinna and Jack must cast aside previous judgments and combine efforts to catch the kidnapper and finally allow Brinna the peace stolen from her as a child.

My Thoughts:
An enjoyable Christian Fiction book.  Brinna finds missing children.  That is her passion and it is completely personal for her.  Jack is her new partner who has issues of his own.  Being a K-9 handler, she is the one to call when a child goes missing and because of her own past, she knows what is at stake.  Unsure of her new partner, she is careful but when a case comes down that is similar to her own abduction, she and Jack must work together to find the child.
I enjoyed this writers style.  Brinna is a great female lead and I like how she and the other characters develop throughout the story.  I liked how the characters were flawed and none of them perfect, but struggling like we all do in many aspects of our lives.  Jack was a good guy and his back story was filled with issues as well.  Knowing who the bad guy wasn't what I expected, but there was still plenty of suspense and even a hint of romance.
I rate this a 4/5.  I will be looking for the next in this series!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review the opinions stated above are 100% mine.