Review: The Restorer

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new series. Definitely good enough to continue, although I may not go the audio route next time. The narrator kind of drove me nuts--I felt like the accent was forced.

A lot of the book spent time establishing the characters and their backstory, as you would expect. There is foundation built, but questions still remain for future books. We get to understand Amelia. A bit less about Devlin, but since it isn't from his point of view you would expect that. We were left hanging about the two of them, just a taste to get you to pick up the next book in series. I'm ok with that.

I have to admit a couple of the plot twists took me by surprise, but I was listening to the audio so sometimes I miss details in that format. A good dose of paranormal, and a moderate amount of romance. 3 stars.

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Review: The Siren

The Siren by Kiera Cass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't realize this was her first novel. I went in wanting The Selection and was left disappointed. If you go in knowing this was her first unpublished novel, I think you will enjoy it more.

The story is ok. Sirens. Fantasy. Mythology. All interesting things. But the characters are not fleshed out enough for me, and it felt like a first attempt too often. Which is unfair, because it was her first attempt. The dialogue was off somehow. Amateurish and it pulled me away from the story. But the part that really bugged me was Akinli's name. The spelling, the oddness of it. Every time I saw his name my brain made me stop and sound it out to remind me how to say it. Hey, weird names do that to me. I feel like she would have made a different choice now that her writing has matured, but maybe not.

The story was fine and there is the HEA you would expect. 2.5 stars.

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Review: First Lord's Fury

First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

And we come to the end of our epic journey with Tavi and the rest of Alera. It was a wild ride, and I'm sad once again that it is over. Don't worry, Tavi, I'll be back again in a few months to take the trip with you all over again.

If you are reading this review and you haven't read the other books in the series, stop here. Seriously. Go pick up a copy of Furies of Calderon and grow up with Tavi. If, however, you are done with the series, you can keep reading my thoughts. This book is long and full of details. You are going to learn more about the Canim, not enough about the Icemen, and way too much about the Vord Queen, who I find tedious. I mean, I get that she is the ultimate big bad, but I find her annoying.You get the ending you want for most of the characters, and are left wanting more for others. Just like life, I suppose.

Romance, action, survival, politics, and war. Jim Butcher, can we be best friends? My favorite series of all time. 4 stars for this book and the series overall.

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Review: Small Favor

Small Favor by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Harry, Harry, Harry. You will never change, and that's why I love you so much. More sass. More monsters. And more coins floating around Chicago, harassing Murph and Harry. Luckily they have the knights and wardens to help them fight evil.

Marcone is trouble, and Mab calls on Harry to bail him out. He reluctantly helps his frenemy, because he just can't resist the siren's call of trouble. He gathers his band of merry men and women, and they quest on to save the good people of Chicago. And Ivy. And Marcone. Harry makes some missteps and bad decisions, puts everyone in danger, and barely saves the day, as usual. And he gets his ass kicked as many times as you would expect. But what's that I smell around the corner? Could it be romance? Nah, I feel like Butcher is messing with us. Guess we will see in book 11.

You should try these books on audio. So good! Just like you would think Harry would sound. 3.5 stars.

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Review: Changeless

Changeless by Gail Carriger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lord and Lady Maccon continue their odd life of paranormal bliss. But something is causing the pack to stop changing, and it isn't Alexia for a change. More sass, more bickering, and suddenly Alexia is off to Scotland in a dirigible to track down her husband at his ancestral home.

We get the expected steampunk elements tied neatly to the paranormal. Good stuff! Danger, deception, and plot twists abound. And we get a surprise ending that will get you to move book 3 up your TBR list, so well played, Carriger, well played. 3.5 stars because I didn't love it quite as much as book 1, but still very enjoyable.

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Review: Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2. More Celaena. More intrigue. Twists, turns, deception. Good stuff. This series is great on audio.

Celaena is now the King's Champion. She continues to kick ass, yet be her own person. She can't seem to get her shit together on the romance front, but I'll give her a pass because she led a messed up life during her formative years. She's a good person, but flawed, and I love her. Oh, and speaking of love...Chaol. Ah, Chaol. You are my book boyfriend. You are 100% better than Dorian (stay over there in the friend zone, please, because you will find a perfectly good princess to fall in love with later, I'm sure). You love Celaena, even with her rough edges. You guys are a great match, which I'm sure means there will be love triangles galore in the next few books. I can handle it as long as you get your HEA. I love me a good HEA. I'm a sap. Shut up.

4 stars. Almost scared to start book 3 and ruin my happiness.

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Review: Highlander's Bride

Highlander's Bride by Lexy Timms
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Nothing remarkable here. The story winds around, not making a ton of sense, but the MCs hit it off sexually and get well acquainted VERY quickly. Barely any time travel and no explanations, but I'm not interested enough to continue the series to find out. Lame. Insta-love and lots of historical tropes in this one. 2 stars.

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Review: Named of the Dragon

Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I typically love Susanna Kearsley, but this one fell a bit flat for me. Maybe it's because I listened to it on audio. I just didn't get pulled into the story like I usually do.

I didn't like the characters. Any of them. They were all bad people, self-absorbed, ridiculous, and a bit vapid. The cheesy ending was actually what nudged it from 2.5 stars back to 3, because you know I am a sucker for that HEA.

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Review: Becoming Alpha

Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pretty decent start to a new series. I am going to choose to ignore the insta-love in this case because a) you knew it was coming from the book blurb, b) it's young adult, and it goes with the territory, and c) it worked in a really weird way.

Tessa has a strange condition, and her parents somehow roll with it. Ok. Cool parents, I guess. Turns out she's a witch. Witches and werewolves don't mix, until they do. Then it becomes Hogwarts for wolves and peculiar children, and we are off to the races. With angsty love, because what is high school without it.

Strife, battles, and good vs. evil. Good enough to read book 2 to see where it's going.

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Review: Thicker Than Blood

Thicker Than Blood by Madeline Sheehan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I must be weird. I have never had a friendship like these two. Always holding hands, and embracing, and kissing each other "hard" on the lips. It makes me think I haven't had a true friend. Their depth of commitment to each other made the story not ring true for me. Or maybe I'm a robot.

I know, I know. It's a zombie book. It's the apocalypse. No one knows because we haven't been there. But the strangeness of the relationship kept pulling me out of the story. I don't think I would have reacted like either of them at any step of the story.

Anyway, I wanted to love you but I think you are just ok. It's not you, it's me. 2 1/2 stars.

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Review: Romeo Alpha, Book 1

Romeo Alpha, Book 1 by Darla Dunbar
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Imagine you are just told you had a long-lost relative who left you a mansion. Do you:
a) ask more questions and go see the house
b) tell yourself it's too much to deal with and wait until tomorrow to find out more

If you choose B, this book is for you. If you choose A, I have saved you 90 minutes of your life. Put this book down and move on. This heroine is too stupid to live. 1 star.

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Review: Forever

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We reach the end of our wolves of Mercy Falls saga, and not a moment too soon. Things are mostly tied up in a bow at the end.

It somehow became less about Grace and Sam, and more about Cole and Isabel. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it felt like the author decided the side characters were more interesting than the main ones. But overall it was a fine young adult paranormal series, which is what it was meant to be. Three stars.

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Review: The Donor, Parts 1-3

The Donor, Parts 1-3 by Nikki Rae
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Really interesting premise. I don't want to say much beyond the book blurb.

It made me think of what lengths I would go to for my family, and what decisions I would make in certain situations. I could have done with more explanation around Jonah's situation (it wasn't what I expected), and more at the ending, but overall, enjoyable.

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Review: The First Days

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book was not good. I mean, it started out ok, then fell apart like paper in a rainstorm.

I really thought it would be my jam. Survival, zombies, and what should have been kick-ass heroines. Alas, it was not.

I wanted to love you, book, I really did. It's probably not you based on the other glowing reviews, it's me.

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Review: Obsidian (Lux #1)

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great book! This was a happy surprise. Both main characters were pretty great. I was prepared to hate them both, but somehow it all worked.

First of all, Daemon Black. Yes, he's a jerk. He's bossy, he's hot/cold, and you should hate him. But somehow he is this swoon-worthy book boyfriend. You know you shouldn't fall for the bad boy, but you do. Katy does, too. Against her better efforts. Girl, no judgment here. Guess we both have a thing for sexy aliens.

I'm in for book 2. Because I'm secretly a 16-year-old girl at heart.

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Review: Bear's Gold (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales #1)

Bear's Gold by Yvette Hines

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've never read an erotic shifter romance. Very new genre for me. It was pretty ok.

Riley gets into a car accident while fleeing her creepy, terrible ex. She's rescued by Theo, who is a hot were-bear with two cute twin were-bear boys. And he lives in Den County (get it, Den?) with an entire community of were-bears.

It was fun, a little cheesy, and had my favorite kind of ending: HEA.




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Review: Rise (Tempting Tales #2)

Rise by Keira Andrews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

M/M erotic version of Jack and the Beanstalk, in case you were wondering. That should tell you all you need to know to determine if this book is for you.

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Review: UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Cute start to the series. I'll read the next one.

I see a lot of the reviews say the typos were terrible. Thank god I listened to this on audio, because nothing pulls me out of a book faster than poor editing. Mina is clumsy and unpopular at her high school. She has a crush on the popular rich guy. She reminds me of Mia from the Princess Diaries. In fact, now that I think about it, her best friend reminds me of Lily, and the whole book is similar in a lot of ways. So if you liked the Princess Diaries, you will probably like this book too.

Anyway, standard high school young adult paranormal. Three stars.



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Review: Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Soulless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I loved this book. I can't believe I waited so long to read it. It's one of my new favorite series. I think the steampunk kept me away, but it was subtle enough to forget and fall in love with the characters.

Alexia is my favorite type of MC. She's strong, and sassy, but not too perfect. In fact, her acknowledgment of her flaws adds to her charm. Same for Lord Maccon--my new book boyfriend. Strong, brash, bossy, and a little overbearing. Hey, what can I say? I have a type. The two of them make the perfect point-counterpoint.

The plot is good, the romance is good, the action is good, the setting is good. I just love everything about it! Read it. Enjoy it. You know you want to!



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Review: Bird Box

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow. Let me unscrew my mind for a minute. I still don't have a clue what was happening in this book.

If you like creepy psychological horror/mystery/dystopia, you should give this book a try. I refuse to tell you beyond what you can get from the book description, because you should go in blind (see what I did there?)

Just do it. But don't read the part in the bar at night. Or read it and don't cry to me later. You've been warned.



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