Natsume's Book of Friends Volume 1 by Yuki Midorikawa

A Brief Summary: Natsume can see yokai, spirits, his grandmother could two. She tricked them into giving her their names, binding them to her with her Book of Friends. Now Natsume is giving the names back, and protecting the book from the yokai that want it.


My Review:
I really enjoy this series. It is very episodic because it was originally featured in magazines, so the beginning of each chapter is very similar in case you encountered it partway through. Personally my favorite character is Nyanko-Sensei. He's extremely snarky, acts like he doesn't care, and is extremely powerful although he doesn't show it often. This makes him a good foil to Natsume who is very kind and willing to go out of his to help the yokai.

This manga has a very strong Japanese influence, no surprise there, I just mean it gets a little weird sometimes. Things that are normal there are sometimes quite unusual to us in the western world.

Personally I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more of the series.

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.

First Sight Re-Launch Tour!!!!

About First Sight

Maddy Smith writes for a trendy website in Washington DC, has two fabulous best friends, and her own apartment. When a girl’s night out ends with her locking eyes with the handsome stranger across the room, the last thing she expects is for him to show up at her office on Monday morning.

Travis Emerson, her attractive and single new colleague, just moved to town. Although an immediate friendship between Maddy and Travis forms, she soon finds herself wishing for something more. After a misunderstanding between them occurs, not only is her hope for a relationship ruined, but their friendship is in jeopardy as well. Is any chance that Maddy had with Travis over? Or could he possibly be what she’s been looking for all along?

Follow Maddy and Travis on a series of adventures that will quickly have you cheering them on. First date jitters? Not when you’ve been in love since First Sight!

About Laura Donohue

Laura Donohue is a graduate of George Mason University. She spent ten years working as a technical writer and editor before publishing her first novel. She lives in Washington DC with her husband and daughter.

Contact Laura Donohue

Website: www.lovechicklit.blogspot.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LoveChickLit?pnref=story

Twitter: @lovechicklit

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1Kud3Ad

Publishing/Marketing Contact
Kathy Marks
Book Marketing Manager
Booktrope Publishing
kathy.marks@booktrope.com

About Booktrope

Booktrope is a new type of publishing company, founded in 2011 in Seattle, WA. Committed to the creation of quality books and to our unique marketing methods, we’re pioneering a book development process called team publishing. Learn more at www.booktrope.com.

My Review:
A wonderful story about the sort of relationship we wish would happen to all of of. An instant connection, a solid friendship and the chance for something more. I loved both of the main characters. They're easy to connect to and root for and their relationship progresses extremely realistically.

Short and beautifully sweet, a love story for all to enjoy!

Giveaway!!!!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58fc50c33/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="58fc50c33" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_mi2of99v">a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Silence by Stacey R. Campbell

A Brief Summary:
Silence follows Blakely Henry as she tries to find her birth-father, something that most kids who are adopted try to do at one point or another in their lives. Blakely has a slight advantage over most, she's a queen so strings can be pulled and information can be found much quicker. Will this adventure end well, you're just going to have to read and see.

My Review:
This is a great short story. Seeing as it's a novella it's a very fast read, and in my opinion a very sweet one. It's set the summer after the events of Whisper, and brings back Blakely the protagonist of Hush.

Silence answers the question of what happened to Blakely's father. We knew he had been banished from Tamura when Blakely was conceived, but nothing more. So it was nice to learn a bit about where she came from.

I really enjoyed getting to read about Blakely again to see how she's changed from the first book. Also getting to see her interact with her family was a treat that wasn't really in the other books.

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

Omni by Andrea Murray

A Brief Summary:
In a caste system there are people who are loved and adored the artists, the healers, the intelligent ones, and then there are the ones that do the work that no one else wants to do, the drudges. In Omni, you only associate with people inside of your caste, or stratum as it's called. However when a drudge saves an extremely popular artist, things begin to change. Pierce, the drudge, is given a choice of his stratum instead of waiting for the test on his 18th birthday. However choices don't come without consequences, and whatever he chooses could destroy those he cares about.

My Review:
I loved, loved this book. The fact that is was based on the story of Paris and Helen of Troy. That there is an incredibly complex history, wonderfully crafted world, and complex characters. All of my big potential pet peeves were exceptionally well taken care of.

Pierce is my hands-down favorite characters. He's driven, he's a good guy, he's willing to defend someone he's never met, he's considerate, and he cares about his friend. I know I'm gushing, but he's so well written that I just can't help it. I also really enjoy his relationship with Harmony, it slow physically but goes deeper romantically, emotionally, quite quickly.

All in all it's a really good book and I can't wait to read the next one in the story.

Don't forget to check my last post to get in on a giveaway about Omni!

Free To Be Me Blog Hop

Today's theme is free to be me. All of the bloggers participating were asked to pick a book that describes who we are as readers, and what our freedom to read means to us.

I picked Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I picked this book because I've always felt a kinship with Maggie the protagonist.  She's a major bookworm, and never travels without a book, and I love that about her.

Inkheart is about Maggie discovering that her father can read things in and out of books. His ability is the reason her mother disappeared when Maggie was a child, she was read into the book Inkheart. When she was read in, other characters came out. After this life shaking discovery she discovers she has inherited his ability and she has to save him from the villain her father released so long ago.

This book, this series is spellbinding. You have incredibly vibrant characters, with gorgeous settings, and a wonderful, hate-able villain. I personally adore a good villain, a book is ruined without one. 

  

Organized by Good Tales Book Tours

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to keep the hop going and check out the rest of these lovely bloggers!

L. A. Starkey's Blog

This Wacky Mommy Reads

Books and Bastille

Glorious Panic

Lexical Creations

Mythical Books

Books and Faith

Matina's Bookcase

Dreams Come True Through Reading

A Novel Kind of Bliss

Lovely Paranormal Books

The Northern Witch Books

Once Upon A Wish

Kitty's Book Spot!

British Bookworm Blog

Insomniac Bookworms

Snoopy Doo's Book Reviews

Eden's Wish by M. Tara Crowl

A Brief Summary:
There are rules for everything, including having a genie. You know the drill, no wishing for more wishes, no changing the past, and wording is everything. However being a genie has it's own rules, no leaving the lamp except for granting, you're until you've filled your wish quota of 999 wishes, after that you get a wish of your own and are able to leave the lamp for good. Most genies are more then happy with this arrangement but Eden longs to live in the real world. So when she finds a chance to escape the lamp she takes it. However her masters haven't told her everything that's going on outside the lamp. In particular a century's old feud surrounding the lamp and it's powers. Will Eden cast aside the people who have cared for her since she was born in exchange for her freedom and in turn put unlimited power in wrong hands?

My Review:
I really loved this book. Eden is such cute heroine. She's extremely book smart but because of her unusual upbringing she's quite naive. Throughout the book she struggles to accept who and what she is, making this a charming growing up tale with a magical twist.

I also really liked the villain of the book Sylvana, and the entire power struggle surrounding the lamp. The loyalists vs. Sylvana's crew, both extremely powerful in their own right.

I'd really like to learn more about the alumni of the lamp and Eden's relationships with the mortals she meets. In other words I'd love a sequel. I could very easily see this blossoming into a series series.

This book is scheduled to be published on September 1st so be sure to look out for it!

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion 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.

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

A Brief Summary: 
Running away from a stepmother that wants to kill you is completely understandable. However, when you're the heir apparent things get a little more complicated. Meet Essie, aka Snow, she has lived most of her life on Thundra a cold mining planet. Where she spends her days stitching her drones, and fighting to earn credits. Once Dane crashes on her planet her simple life is gone, now she has to decide if she's going to face her heritage or run and hide again.

My Review:
I loved this book! A brand new take on Snow White. No longer purely a damsel in distress, Essie can fight, code, and just generally take care of herself. I also enjoyed the take on prince charming. A once one dimensional character is now a fully fleshed man that you can really root for.

The fact the the mining drones were a call back to the dwarves was adorable. I particularly liked Dimwit, the call back to Dopey. Dimwit tries to be helpful but has a tendency to muddle things up. He's a super sweet comic relief character.

All in all I loved this book. It pays homage to the original, while managing to develop a story all it's own. The characters are dynamic and unique. Best of all no damsel in distress! She can handle her self beautifully and it's wonderful!

Say Something Series by Brandy Jellum

A Brief Summary:
Both have dark pasts that are coming back to haunt them. But secrets don't make friends, and they can make relationships impossible. Will Reid and Lisa be able to conquer their demons and work toward the future.

My Review:
Personally I liked If I Say Yes better. Characters that I'd grown fond of changed in If I Say No in a way I wasn't really fond of. That being said both books were really good. I just preferred Lisa in book one. Reid however was more humanized in the sequel. You get to see his dark side, instead of the Mr. Perfect he's portrayed as in the first book.

I enjoyed all of the different relationships in the series. They all have variances that make them believable, and easy to get invested in.

Thank you to Good Tales Book Tours for my chance to read this series. It's a great read. Don't forget to check out my last post for a chance at an awesome giveaway!!!!!

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.

The Warhol Incident by G.K. Parks

A Brief Summary:
Alexis's trip to Paris is supposed to be a simple secure and deliver job. However things get complicated when her ex-Interpol acquaintance is killed in a car bomb, and she gets a very strong suggestion to stop investigating. Add in a budding romance with a man she was once hired to protect and you get a fast paced emotionally charged novel that you just can't put down.

My Review: 
I really loved Alexis, she is a strong no nonsense character. Yes she has a tendency towards profanity, but I feel it helps define her she has been through hell and back, more then once so if she feels the need to cuss go right ahead.

Her relationship with Martin was another highlight for me. True the progression of it is extremely slow, but he's still technically her boss and she has issues letting people in. Her issues are due to the reason she left the OIO, and the fact that she doesn't want anyone to get injured or killed from being in her life. That being said I really like them as a pair, and I can't wait to see it develop in later books.

For the story itself, I love the fact that it keeps you guessing. Even once the main villain was revealed you still have surprises coming. I truly enjoyed this series and I hope to read more of the series soon.

This is technically the second book in a series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. There are references to the previous book, but not enough  to hinder understanding.

The Soul Keeper series box set by L.A. Starkey

A Brief Summary:
Two soul mates, one prophecy, and a whole lot of complications. Join Marcus and Nick as they try and understand the prophecy binding them and how to deal with sharing a soul mate. As Sam tries to understand the craziness of the world she's been thrown into.

My Review: 
I absolutely loved this series. It's fast paced with characters that you fall in love with. Sam is an incredibly strong willed girl who takes everything that happens pretty well. Only one major freak out in the entire series and you cant really blame her for it considering the circumstances.

Nick and Marcus are two sides of the same coin. I favored Nick, but I also really liked Marcus. They compliment each other extraordinarily well.

Also you get another perspective on most of the Greek Pantheon of Gods. Personally I loved how Hades was portrayed. I'd love to know more about him. Some of the Greek mythos was reworked but I really enjoyed it and it truly added to the story.

The first two books end in major emotionally charged cliffhangers so having the full box set is incredibly convenient.

This is a series that is defiantly worth a read! Don't forget to check out my last post to get in on a giveaway for the box set!!!! Click here to get in on this amazing opportunity!

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.