Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis

A Brief Summary:  Nothing is more important to Liddi Jantzen than her brothers, so when they are betrayed she will risk everything to save them. Not being able to speak and being transported to another world might make that slightly more complicated. With the help of Tiav can she managed to save her brothers?

My Review:
I loved this retelling of The Wild Swans. It being a lesser known fairy tale gives a lot more wiggle room to add an individual spin to it, also, it hasn't been retold a thousand times *cough* Cinderella *cough cough*.

This book defiantly had slower sections, after-all its hard to have a lot of conversations when one character can't speak. Nonetheless I fell in love with the characters. Liddi is quick-witted, but frustrated at being unable to communicate whereas Tiav is kind and patient but gets frustrated at not being able to understand Liddi.

Another tough point was all the technical speak. Although Liddi is a tech wiz, I am not. So there were portions that I just felt lost as to what was going on.

All in all it was a good story that I'm glad I had a chance to read. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of alternate fairy-tales.

I received this book courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

A Brief Summary:
Joyeaux has been a hunter since she was a young girl. Now she must travel to Apex City to join the best hunters and help protect the Cits. What she is yet to realize things are worse then she's been lead to believe. More and more Othersiders have been attacking and when a terrible price is paid Joyeaux decides to do something drastic to try and sway the status quo.
My Review:

Absolutely loved this book. It's gripping with a ton of action, magic, and complex relationships. I fell in love with Joyeaux, she's incredibly talented and intelligent. Granted she is almost too perfect, I personally enjoyed her but she may not be everyone's cup of tea.

This book also has a tendency to info-dump, if you can get past the first quarter of the book you get a lot more action I promise. While I personally prefer to get a lot of world-building background in the first book of a series, I'm aware some people find it tedious. That being said the world is incredibly well built. You have a semi-detailed history and a solid understanding of what's changed since the Diseray.

This had better be the beginning of a series I have too many unanswered questions for it not to be. I would recommend this to everyone. Aside from a risk of information overloading, it's a solid book that I hope will develop into a great series.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion  in exchange for my free and honest review.

Children of the Comet by Daniel Moffitt

A Brief Summary: 
Billions of years after all life on Earth is eradicated and it's inhabitants scattered to the stars, life is thriving on the comets. Enter Torris a young man who's about to take his climb, the rite to become a man in his village. While on his climb he sets events in motion that he never could have foreseen.

My Review:

I really enjoyed the variety of characters in the book. From the comet dwelling natives to the space travelers all of them are diverse and really help carry the story along. Some of them are a little flat, but the majority are quite dynamic.

I will admit there were times that I got confused by what was going on. This is mainly due to the fact that time jumps in random increments, making it hard to know when exactly things are happening. Also until later in the book there are two distinct story lines that don't seem related. With that aside I truly enjoyed the story. The description of life on the comets was particularly fascinating.

A good, easy read with plenty of suspense, and a touch of action. I highly recommend this for fans of the science-fiction genre, and also for sci-fi newbies.  

I received this book compliments of NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

A Brief Summary:
A Bollywood star who's been ruining from her past for the last ten years, but now her cousin is getting married and she will be forced to confront it. Rita hasn't been home in ten years, after she made the decision to honor one promise and break the other. When her decisions come to light, will she be able to back to the life she made for herself, or will everything change?
My Summary:

I really liked Rita, she's sweet and tries extremely hard to do the right thing, however hard it may be. She's loyal to her family and never quite got over her first love. Vikram, Rita's first love, is honest, dependable and can definitely hold a grudge. He's also incredibly smart and loves kids. Pretty much an ideal leading man.

The relationship between Rita and Vikram, develops quickly but believably due to their history together. Also their relationship with the side characters are well developed and really helped tie the story together.

I really liked how you got a feel for Indian-American culture and some of the their traditions. I grew up in a tiny primarily Caucasian town, so I haven't really had a chance to experience other cultures. This book gives great, easy to follow, descriptions of  the culture.

This was a wonderful book, it touches on mental health issues and the fear that you'll inherit the illness, family bonds, and, of course love. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books

Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash

A Brief Summary:
Clutch always wanted to win the International poker series, and when he got close he lost and died. Enter Telly Martin a down on his luck poker newbie. Desperate to win the Series Telly meets Clutch's ghost, and they unwillingly partner up. Will Telly's luck turn around? Will Clutch finally win the series? Read and find out.
My Review:
This is a really quick, easy read with bonus points if you like poker. The prologue tells of Clutch's last's game alive, then the first chapter introduces you to Telly. After that the book moves quickly, developing a partnership and straining other relationships.

This book switches prospective between Telly, Clutch, and a few assorted people in there lives. From the assorted my favorite was Telly's fiancee Gretchen. She's sweet and lovable, but is in a bad position at work.

Of the two main characters I preferred Telly. He's the nice guy that just wants to do what's best for everyone. Clutch on the other hand is well... a narcissist, he cares more for himself and the game than anyone else.

All in all a good book that I'd be happy to recommend.

I received this book compliments of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

We Never Asked For Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A Brief Summary:
What is a mother? Someone who gives birth to you, someone who nurtures and takes care of you. Well for most of her children's lives Letty Espinosa was just someone who gave birth to them, while they were raised by their grandparents. So when they decide to return to Mexico and leave Letty to take care of her children, she's terrified. Will she be able to handle being a full time mother for the first time in her life or will she crack under the pressure?

My Review: 

Told from the view of Letty and her son Alex, giving you a fuller understanding of their life. Letty is preoccupied with making sure they have food in their stomachs and a chance to her kids to have a better life. Alex, however, is focused on his first love and finding out about his father. While Alex and Letty butt heads they really try to develop a better relationship.

Along with their family struggles Alex worries about Yesmina, his love. She's a little smaller than most girls in his class, and is also undocumented. Their young love is idealistic, sweet, and very realistic.

Letty also has her own dilemma about love, her first love and Alex's father comes back but she's also starting to fall for a guy at work.

This book deals with some hard topics. I know a lot of people who have little sympathy for people they think have abandoned their responsibilities and even less for undocumented immigrants. This book brings their struggles to light in a powerful way. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing- Ballatine in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

A Brief Summary:
A healer of the haunted is Dr. Grace Blades. A psychiatrist that specializes in working with people who have gone through traumatic experiences. With the perfect blend of knowledge and empathy, she can relate as few others can, for she has gone through her own share of traumatic experiences. Now when present and past collide in the most shocking and terrifying ways will Grace be able survive?

My Review: 

I really liked this book. It's filled with twists and turns keeping you in suspense the entire book. Personally, I absolutely loved Grace. She is brilliant but still feels relateable. I also enjoyed how you get to watch Grace grow up concurrently with the story, about every other chapter, it gives you a good feel of how Grace became the person she is.

The silent antagonist also had a traumatic beginning to his life but the choice he made were very different. It's an interesting dynamic, I'd love to know more about his young adult years but oh well.

The flashbacks to Grace's childhood are where we see most of the action occurring. In the present most of her battle is mental, planning and preparing with little real action.

This book was exceptionally well written, once you pick it up you're not going to want to put it down. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for my free and honest review.

Among the Ten Thousand by Julia Pierpont

A Brief Summary:
Family's look perfect from the outside, but what happens when you take a closer look? Join the Stanley's as their world come crumbling down as Jack's secret is revealed.
My Review:

This book takes a very real view of a family falling apart. How a partners infidelity revealed can cause a tenuous relationship to crumble, it was remarkably well done.

You get to see everything unfold from the entire family's perspectives. How it affects the woman who was betrayed, the father who made a mistake, the eleven year-old daughter, the son about to be come a man, you see everything.

They books layout was an interesting choice, jumping around in the timeline, with the futures of the family being told in the middle, and the end of the book taking place in the middle of the timeline. It shows a certain inevitability to events that take place, that no matter what, they'll end up in the same place.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House publishing in exchange for my free and honest review.

Those Girls by Laura Saft

A Brief Summary:
Every school has those girls, you know the ones pretty, popular, and seem to have it all together. What you don't know is those girls have just as many if not more problems than the rest of us.


My Review:
This book brings me right back to high school. The girls that seem perfect from the outside, I was never one of them personally but I knew a few of them.

Of the three girls my favorite was Alex. She is the most down to earth/ relateable of the girls interested in music and the boy next door. Alex's main vice is smoking weed. Mollie is my second favorite desperate for love and for her boyfriends approval and admiration. Her boyfriend, however is someone I don't love, he's borderline sociopathic.

Veronica I really didn't like, probably because I had a hard time empathizing with her. She is desperate for love, that's just not me. She does a lot of crap without remorse most of the time, I really don't her behavior or attitude.

I'd definitely read a sequel, if only to figure out what happens next in these girls lives.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

A Brief Summary:
We all know the story of Aladdin, but what if Jafar got the lamp first? Becoming the Sultan, ruler of Agrabah and the most powerful sorcerer in the world are just his first two wishes. It can't get any worse then that, or can it?



My Review: 
I absolutely love fairy-tale remakes, seeing new takes on an old story. This particular twist follows Disney's version of Aladdin, until the moment Jafar gets a hold of the lamp and with it Genie's powers. Meaning up to that point a good chunk of the dialogue is the same as in the movie. This may bug some of you, but for me it made sense given the premise of this new series.

One thing that surprised me was how dark the fate of some classic character was. While I prefer not to give spoilers I will say one or more characters don't make it to the end of the book.

My favorite addition to the classic story is Genie's back story. In the movie, Genie don't really get much of a history, A Whole New World gives him one, a very nice touch in my opinion.

This book is set to release on September 1st and it's definitely one to look out for.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Scream by Stacey R. Campbell

A Brief Summary: 
One more year at Lakeside. One more year with Alex and Izzy, until everything changes. Or that's how it's supposed to go, but when Alex sees something that he shouldn't see a chain of events that will change everything.  

My Review: 
I really love this series. One thing that I particularly love is that each book is very much self contained. There are characters that are in every book but the protagonist changes between them.

This particular book focuses on Halle. Getting embroiled in a mystery innocently then pursuing it when her boyfriend gets punished for something he didn't do. I really enjoy her almost black and white sense of right and wrong. Being willing to defend Alex through everything even when it gets scary and dangerous, brave but kind of stupid.

Alex and Halle's relationship isn't very a mature relationship, but I feel it's not supposed to be. After all it's their first relationship, it isn't perfect but it doesn't have to be and that makes it very fitting.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. I also happen to be part of the Street Team for this book so I will be shamelessly promoting it as the release date nears.

Fleeting Visions by Rene Natan

A Brief Summary: On a cold snowy night a dangerous chain of events that bring three lives together for better or worse. There is Louis Saura a young man who was dragged into a prostitution ring due to debt, Jocelyn a pharmacist who was in the wrong time and Detective Stevenson the person who's trying to put all the pieces together. Add in illegal immigration, underage prostitution and one very dangerous kingpin and you've got a recipe for a story that keeps surprising you at every turn.

My Review:
This book is an incredible read. You switch POV's constantly so you get a true feel of what's going on. You get into the head of nearly every one from Louis our protagonist to Camlio our antagonist. This lets us understand the characters motivations and makes the book just that much more realistic.

There's also a lot of interweaving story-lines, that are masterfully done. Smaller plots woven throughout the main story that keep everything moving and help keep the reader interested.

This book deals with the kidnapping of minors and underage prostitution. There is nothing explicit but if that's a subject you're uncomfortable with I'd suggest not reading this book.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

By The River by Jae Carvel

A Brief Summary:
From a city girl, to a ranchers wife Sarah Ann's life has drastically change. Follow her and her family through the new challenges and adventures that they face.

My Review:

I love how the characters in this book come alive. You really get to know Sarah Ann. Why she is as stern as she is, why she has her priority's and things like that. You also get to know some of her kids, and a bit about Thomas.

The author also gives a rich and vivid environment. She includes so many details

My only complaint is I wish that the time jumps were either more smooth or made more obvious with a heading. It got a tiny bit confusing trying to figure out when somethings were happening. Other then that I loved this book.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

By The River Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: By The River
Author: Jae Carvel
Publication Date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Booktrope

With three young children at her side, Sarah Ann arrives in the beautiful upper John Day Valley in 1869, a young widow whose husband had disappeared in an Indian raid on their way west. In 1870, she marries Thomas Martin and begins her life as a rancher’s wife.

She and Thomas are successful, hardworking pioneers who love their land and take seriously the job of rearing and educating their nine children. On her one trip back to New York to visit her mother, Sarah Ann discovers she has been living a lie.

The truth liberates her from the reserved stoic nature she has portrayed toward others during her first forty years. The last quarter of the century becomes a backdrop for a modern woman of subtle influence. Experiencing a new self-worth, Sarah Ann shares her ideas and wisdom with her family and community while never disclosing her secret.

Goodreads | Amazon

Author Bio:

Jae Carvel’s work is inspired by the many stories of her ancestors who all came to Eastern Oregon as pioneers. She is retired from teaching junior high. She and her husband have four children, six grandchildren and one great granddaughter, making them a typically busy family, laughingly known as ‘retired.’ Jae travels, gardens, golfs and writes novels.

  Author Links:

Goodreads | Website | Facebook

Guest Post by Jae Carvel!!!

“Keeper of Stories”

My house is full of “story keepers”. They are metal file cabinets, desk drawers, and cardboard boxes. They are filled with old pictures which no one labeled, yellowed newspaper clippings, invitations to weddings and graduations, ancestor charts, and best of all letters written a hundred years ago. The stories I keep are in my head. When I read a letter written by a great, great aunt I imagine what her life must have been. My imagination becomes the story I keep. I then become a keeper of stories and the novel begins.

The stories in my mind will never go away until they are written down. I love the historical novel as reader and writer and expect to share the fun with you.

GIVEAWAY
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This tour was organized by Good Tales Book Tours.

The Legend of the Light Keeper by Kelly Hall

A Brief Summary:
Moving to the middle of nowhere when you're a teenager is never fun, add in blending two families and a spectral light and things can't help but get interesting. The light that so many come to see only a few can truly understand. Lilly is one of those few, and she, Talon and they're new friends need to figure out what happened that causes the light.

My Review:

• I really enjoyed this book. Lilly is a wonderful protagonist that goes after what she wants. Be it love or information that she needs,  she won't stop until she has it.

Another thing I enjoyed was the dynamic between Lilly and her mom's boyfriend. It's a bit tentative but then again he's the first real father figure she's ever had. 

I also really liked her and Talon's relationship. It progresses very naturally and it's extremely easy to root for them despite their circumstances.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale

A Brief Summary:
What if Rome had never fallen? What if they had conquered all of Europe and set their eyes on the land beyond the ocean? Gaius Marcellinius and his legions were sent to explore, annex, and find gold in this new land. However the natives fighting skills were woefully underestimated and the Fighting 33 falls. Now Gaius must find a place in this new world. But will the advances he wishes to make help or harm his new kinsmen?

My Review:
My first foray into military fiction, and I loved it. The battles were more tactically explained, then descriptions of gore which I appreciated. You really get inside the mind of a Roman solider. The natives also have a multitude of tricks up their sleeves.

I also enjoy the inter-tribal relationships particularity the rivalry between the Cahokia *Gaius's adopted tribe* and the Iroqua . It's one of the main reasons for Gaius's continued survival, as the war chief thinks that he can help them win the Mourning War.

I also like the changes that are wrought by Roman technology, weapons for the most part. The way that the battles are fought between the natives have been drastically changed because of it.

As with any book that's historically based I look for accuracy and research, and this book delivers. Painstakingly researched, and beautifully portrayed, giving life to a city where the history has been forgotten. Granted a few technologies were added to the natives stash were created by the author but they fit in wonderfully.

I hope there will be more books in this universe, maybe with a native narrating next time. Either way I hope for more from this extremely talented author.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Moon Tells Secrets by Savanna Wells

A Brief Summary:
For most of her son's life all Raine has done is run. But what she's running from is about to catch them and now it might be time to make a stand.

My Review:
I really liked this book. Primarily how it ties it's supernatural element, the skin-walkers, in with the history of the Navajo. It's nice to have a book that tries to get their history right. I also enjoyed how the relationship between Raine and Cade develops. Starting out as a desperately needed friendship then veering into something more.

Davey was another character I really liked. He's trying so hard to grow up, to be strong enough to face what threatens them, but he's still a kid. You see him changing and getting stronger, getting smarter. He's ready to face what he must, even if it means never being normal, or having a normal child.

I also really enjoyed the story. It's not your cookie-cutter shifter novel. It's a tale of growing up, of fear, and of moving on in your life after a devastating loss.

This book is set to be published on March 24, 2015. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for my free and honest review.

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

A Brief Summary:
Joe O'Brien has been a Boston police officer, devoted husband and father for most of his adult life. Now he's been a major curve ball. A diagnosis of Huntington's Disease, a lethal nerodegenerative disorder. Along with him having this disorder his four children have a fifty-fifty shot of developing the disorder. Join Joe and his family as they face this terrifying disease.

My Review:
Before reading this book my understanding of Huntington's was limited to how it was portrayed on T.V., specifically on House M.D. Meaning I didn't understand but now I have a general understanding of what it is, and what it does. It's a brutal disease, attacking you both physically and mentally claiming your life in the end, it's also a dominant trait. Meaning if you have it your kids have a fifty-fifty chance of being handed a death sentence.

That's a lot to take in. I really like seeing how Kate Joe's youngest child handled the possibility of having HD. Mostly because that's how I'd react. I'd want to know, but I'd be terrified. She wavers back and forth on her decision. Unsure if she wants to start a life with this hanging over her.

Joe's transformation throughout the book is heartbreaking, and heartwarming at the same time. He displays remarkable courage in the face of his disease. His disease progresses at an alarming rate, a year after the diagnosis he seems to be going downhill quickly.

I absolutely loved t his book but the ending was so frustrating!!! It is a major, emotionally charged cliffhanger that will most likely never be resolved!

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Figaro Murders by Laura Lebow

A Brief Summary: 
Lorenzo De Ponte made a modest living as the court poet in Vienna. When he made an impulsive agreement, one that would cause him no end of hassle. This agreement, to help find his barber's birth parents, would embroiled him in a murder that he must help solve. All while working on The Marriage of Figaro with Mozart.

My Review:
Murder, betrayal, intrigue, unrequited love The Murder of Figaro has it all. This book originally caught my eye because a couple of my friends performed a duet from The Marriage of Figaro for solo and ensemble when we were in high school. I fell in love with that duet then, and with rose tinted glasses picked up the book. I enjoyed the book just as much.

Choosing to focus on the librettist (libretto writer, libretto being the singers copy) rather than the more famous composer (wrote the musical score) Mozart was, in my opinion, a great choice. He's lesser known so it gives you more wiggle room when writing a fictional story. Also the author so kindly provided some details from his real life, and about his operas in the author's note.

The characters that the author created for seamlessly into De Ponte's life. While the characters with real life counterparts stayed true.

I enjoy how all of the plot lines got resolved, from the premiere of Figaro, to the murder, and even finding the barber's parents. It's all interwoven and plays out beautifully, while subtly hinting that there maybe a sequel on the horizon.

This book is set to release on March 31st 2015.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe

A Brief Summary:
Pretending to be a courtesan is something no gently bred lady would ever consider. However when it comes down to it Julia decided she would rather play the part then be sent to debtors prison or be propositioned by a perfectly loathsome man. Now Julia is of to Venice to seduce her husband, conceive an heir and try not to lose her heart in the process.

My Review:
I have a deep seeded fondness for a good historical romance and this is a great one. I adore Julia she remains sweet and good natured despite dire circumstances. She also has a fiery personality that makes her the perfect compliment for her rake of a husband.

The only part I didn't love was how long it took Nick to get his head out of his ass and apologize. However it made his courting phase really rather cute especially since it's a side he doesn't show often.

Another character that I grew quite fond of is Simon. He's one of  Nick's oldest friends and considers Julia a sister. I'm excited to see just what is in store for him in the next installment of this series.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.