The Girl Who Cried War (Of Fates & Fables Book 3) by Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd

 It is finally here! 

The epic conclusion to 

the Fates and Fables series is live!

 If you loved 

The Girl Who Cried Werewolf,

and have read and loved

The Girl Who Cried Captive, 

this is the book you've been waiting for! 

This is the final book in this great series!

  The Girl Who Cried War  

by 

Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd

Synopsis 

Romy’s no stranger to a good old fashioned Instawar, but fighting behind her phone’s screen is a far cry from the real thing.

Sure, Romy may have accidentally on purpose inserted herself in the middle of a werewolf war. And yeah, she’s kinda being hunted by an insane werebro with an axe to grind, but Romy isn’t going to let that stop her from living her best life.

But first she’s going to have to fight for it.

With graduation looming, Romy will be put to the test both in and out of the classroom, but as the final strands of this tangled web comes together, the biggest thing Romy will have to learn is to share the weight of war with the people she considers family.

As the end draws near, they’ll all be forced to decide just how far they’re willing to go to get their happily ever after.

Review

Okay, seriously, even though I threatened to either wreck my kindle or go and hunt down the authors to get the next book like yesterday when the first book finished with a cliffhanger only to go through the same again when the second book ended on another cliffhanger - at least not as big as the last one, I would suffer through all of this again for this series.

These books are simply amazing and this third book, what a firework of humor and action once again. I loved the characters, the storyline and everything in between. This book was another nail-biting, teeth-gritting, obscenities-shouting laugh-out-loud story that kept me glued to my reader from the first page to the very last. And when it was over - well, GIVE ME MORE!!!

I really loved this book. It is a fitting conclusion to a wonderful series that I will definitely read again and again because of its originality, its sassiness, and its wit. I can't wait to see what this amazing author duo will come up with next!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺 

The Girl Who Cried Captive by Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd #TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

  The Girl Who Cried Captive 

by 

Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd  

#TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

 Romy thought that being kidnapped by a pack of douchebag werewolves was the worst thing that could happen to her. Turns out she's the worst thing that could've happened to them.

Romy isn't going to let a little something like getting kidnapped get her down. She's determined to turn the tables on her captors. Using her wits and somewhat questionable charm, Romy uses her time in captivity to learn her captors secrets.

But the secrets she discovers still hold her captive. Can she find a way to save more than herself? Or will the secrets she learned hold her prisoner long after she’s escaped?



Okay, this is not a drill, this is a real problem - how do I rate this book if the first one was already five stars and this one is just ...wow!? I can't rate it higher than five stars but if I could, I definitely would!  As much as I already loved The Girl Who Cried Wolf, this sequel simply blew me away.

I loved the world-building, the story and the characters in the first book and this one, The Girl Who
Cried Captive has all of this and so much more.
I can't count the number of times that I burst out laughing, that I grunted something like, "Ha!" and "Yes!" or "Take that!", ranted and raged a bit and smiled indulgently. Somehow the story flows even better, the wit and the intensity are off the charts - oh, well, and the guys are not that bad either.

I started to read this book the moment it turned up on my kindle because...did you read the first one?!? Do you know where we left our heroine?!? Right. That's why.
Many action-filled fast-paced moments and emotional outbursts later, this book kept me glued to my reader till the very last page. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, I'm dying to find out what happens next!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺

Surgebound (Storm Rising Saga, #1) by Celeste Griffith and Ramona Carter #Surgebound

  Surgebound (Storm Rising Saga, #1) 

by 

Celeste Griffith and Ramona Carter

 *Synopsis*

They disappeared, and her power is rising. Noa is enjoying one last summer in her beachside hometown before leaving for college when a series of strange occurrences forces her to question everything she thinks she knows about herself, her family, and her future.

When her best friend instantly recovers from a near-fatal accident, the long-cold investigation into her family's disappearance is reopened, and a mysteriously alluring new family comes to town, Noa's surging power threatens to consume her. When a captivating stranger begins pursuing Noa, she wonders if his feelings are real – or stem from something potentially more dangerous. As Noa struggles to untangle the increasingly strange occurrences around her and control her rising power, she realizes that her safety – and the safety of those she loves – may be in more danger than she ever imagined.
Secrets don't stay submerged forever.

 *Review*

 
On the whole, I enjoyed reading this debut novel that left me waiting impatiently for the next book in this series. It took me some time to get into it, though once I was hooked, I didn't put the book down till the end.

I liked the hero and the heroine but for a long time, I wasn't completely sure who the male main character was. Alright, it was rather obvious on the one hand but on the other hand, it didn't really fit. I would have loved some more chemistry and, all circumstances considered, I would have loved to know deep down that these two belong together because they just click and not because of someone else's manipulations.

In some parts, the story seemed a bit rushed and also a bit confusing and sometimes I just wanted to kick our heroine a bit for not realizing...well...things.
Despite that, this fast-paced and action-packed book was a great read and I can't wait to read more about Noa and her friends!

★★★★

Demon Deception by Melissa Haag

 Demon Deception by Melissa Haag

Blurb:

Cassie Feld’s world is falling apart. Grieving from the loss of her husband and youngest child, she lives in fear of losing her remaining daughter. She knows she can't protect her alone. There’s a solution, as terrifying and as heartbreaking as she finds it, that will ensure she never has to suffer such a devastating loss again. She needs to sleep with one of the dark fey who rose with the hellhounds. More than that, she needs to become his. She has to give him the one thing she isn’t sure she can. Her heart.


Cassie must figure out a way to set aside her grief long enough to get the deed done. After all, what wouldn’t a mother do to protect her child? Even risk falling in love again.


Oh My ..wow. This book was so amazing! I so felt with Cassie and.....well. And. And who? Find out for yourself!

Every mother can imagine what it must be like to not know whether your child is still alive while still fearing for the safety of your other child each and every day. When a solution presents itself that is as terrifying as the one that seems to be her only option...  Not an easy choice but if you fear for your child, everything is possible. Maybe it is even possible to learn to love again and to lose your fear of the unknown. I loved to see Cassie find love and to start to trust again and I loved to see her overcome not just that fear of the unknown but also her fear of falling in love again.
When she left with some of the fey to search for her son and her husband, I felt with her when they were attacked and had to learn that the Infected were getting more dangerous, I cried with Cassie and I laughed with her and the others when things were finally, finally looking up.

This book drew me in from the first page on and I didn't put it down till the end. Once again the story was unique and completely different from the other stories in this series. Even though every book tells the story of some of the survivors, every books tells its own story.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I also enjoyed everything that I read about Mya and Dray or Eden and Ghua and their life now very much and I laughed so hard because, well, Ghua being Ghua, right? Just remember  - his....collection...?

By the way, if you haven't read the other books yet - read them. Now. And then come back and read this one. Even though this can be read as a standalone, it is much more fun to read when you know more about this world and the people you meet!

Once again an amazing book and a briliant sequel - and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series! I can't wait!

★★★★★

In Harmony by Emma Scott #inharmony

  In Harmony by Emma Scott

Blurb:

At seventeen, Willow Holloway’s life was torn apart. The happy, driven girl is gone, and she is left wracked by post-traumatic stress her body remembers even if she does not. When her father suddenly uproots the family from their posh penthouse in New York City to the tiny town of Harmony, Indiana, Willow becomes more untethered and lost under the weight of her secret. On a whim, she auditions for a part in the community theater’s production of Hamlet and unexpectedly wins the role of Ophelia—the girl who is undone by madness, and her love of Hamlet… 

Isaac Pierce is from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ The town bad boy. Girls pine for his attention and guys are in awe of him. That he’s an acting prodigy only adds to his charisma. Isaac utterly disappears into his characters; the stage is the only place he feels safe from his own traumatic home life. He wants nothing more than to escape to Broadway or Hollywood, and leave Harmony behind for good. 

No one can play Hamlet but Isaac, and when the director pairs him with Willow in acting class, they clash again and again—neither willing to open their hearts to anyone. But clashing leads to breaking, breaking leads to the spilling of terrible secrets, and soon Isaac and Willow find Shakespeare’s words mirroring their lives. When they are cruelly torn apart, neither know how this play will end—with madness and heartache? Or healing, love, and the discovery of who they are truly meant to be. 
In Harmony is a standalone YOUNG ADULT/NEW ADULT love story, and is intended for readers 18 and up. PLEASE NOTE, this book contains sensitive material such as physical abuse, and the aftermath of sexual assault.  Reader discretion is advised.


Oh my .... I don't know how many hankies I needed but...this book? It was amazing! Those characters are simply wonderful. Flawed, hurt, strong and wonderfully imperfect.

I hated to read about Willow's experience, I felt (and fought) with her when she met Isaac and the sparks started to fly and enjoyed every moment that brought the two of them together. Reading about the hypocrisy of the ones from the right side of the track, the "better ones", I was furious and shocked and when their actions tear Willow and Isaac apart...well, let's just say that my vocabulary may not have been very refined...

This book is intense and emotional and even though I needed a bunch of handkerchiefs, I enjoyed every single page of it!

★★★★★

 

 

Buried Alive by Stacey Marie Brown

  Buried Alive by Stacey Marie Brown

Blurb:

Nine years after a tragic accident, Hannah “Brennley” Evans has returned home to the snowy mountains of Whistler, Canada. This is the very place that destroyed her, where her whole world ended, and the reason she now goes by Hannah Jennings.
Struggling with his own tragic past, Rhys Axton, an infamous sexy snowboarding champion, wants nothing more than to be the next Olympic hopeful. Sex, snowboarding, and working out are all he cares about, which helps shut off the demons that haunt him and the family who rejected him.
The moment Hannah walks into his room, he knows something is different about her. Drawn to her, he can’t seem to stay away from the mysterious, guarded girl. They are two heartbroken souls who both understand the darkness.
Little does he know she lives in lies and carries secrets that will bring his universe to its knees and secrets that will bury them both alive.
 

Intense doesn't cover it.
This book is intense - and so much more. First, I must admit that I had already several books by the author on my reader but never started to read them - a fact that I will definitely change as soon as possible. This book came out, I read good things about it and knowing that I'd get the chance to meet the author at a signing event next month, I just had to read it - even though I was a bit worried at the beginning because, well, honestly? The title summed up my worst nightmare and I wasn't sure how literally it was meant and how much and... Considering the fact that I will definitely read this book and others by her again, you might have guessed that it was not a problem.

Hannah Jennings, our heroine, has to deal with the reminders of a very traumatizing accident. Coming back to the place where it all took place was rather an act of desperation than of courage but when she realizes that she will have to face even more than her own fears and memories, things become really hard. And when against all odds and definitely against better knowledge she must realize that there is only one person who can finally make her feel again.

Rhys on the other hand, has his own way to deal with his issues. Having also lived through loss and neglect, he definitely has some serious issues but when he meets Hannah, he feels as if he could let loose...only to find that her past is a part of his own.
With their own issues running wild, the people around them trying to tear them apart and the media always trying to get the next story no matter who gets hurt in the process, those two have some hard times to push through but in the end, it might be worth all this heartbreak and those tears. It might....

Intense and beautiful, this is a story that you don't forget easily. This is a story about moving on and confronting your past, a story about starting to live again and to allowing yourself to be happy and it is also the wonderful love story of two people who help each other heal. It also touches some other important subjects that will make you think and ...well, I won't go into detail here because I think that that might lead to some spoilers.
Let me just say that this is an amazing book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

 

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

 

Because of Him by Terri E. Laine - audiobook -

***

First of all, I must apologize. It's been a very long time now since I have posted my last review but life and the stupid internet or rather a lack of internet due to technical problems (old cables and such annoying things) interfered. But I am back now, my internet is back and ....the reviews are back!

***

 Because of Him by Terri E. Laine

read by 

  Jason Clarke and‎ Erin Mallon

 

 ***

Blurb:

Past and present intertwine with light and dark to tell a story ...Because of Him

Something inside me fiercely craves normal.
Sheltered all my life and taught to be afraid, I want to be bold, fearless.
Up until now I've kept myself and my heart safe.
Tade Astor, a guy so hot he steals my breath away, jeopardizes it all.

He isn't the kind of guy to give up on what he wants—me.
He’s determined to prove my safe world is missing something—him.
Even though he may not be the cocky guy I assumed him to be...
He’s definitely not the guy I should give my heart to.
But each time I see him, he becomes harder to resist.
I want to be brave and give him a chance... though it might come back to haunt me.

At the heart of Because of Him is a love story. But due to certain sensitive topics, it might not be suitable for all readers. 


I got this book as an audiobook from the author with a warning that it might not be easy to listen to for some people because due to some sensitive topics it might trigger reactions. Okay, I didn't think that that would be a problem because even though some things are really hard to read and some books I would never read because I find them too hard to stomach, on the whole, I don't have a problem with such topics. That's what I thought at least.
I had definitely underestimated the effect of an intense and well-done narration versus reading myself. Listening to a good narration, you have fewer chances of blocking unwanted images and emotions than when you are reading the text yourself.

Soooo... if certain topics could be a problem, you might want to read it first instead of listening or - the trigger warning is real, the book deals with some really hard stuff. The author kept the fine balance between telling enough to get the horror of the things done to the young girl across and keeping it vague enough that the situation and the images weren't overwhelming.  It's a very fine line but without ever belittling the horror and the pain of everything that happens and that is done to her, Terri E. Laine succeeds at writing a story that is captivating and beautiful while still showing this very dark part of the human nature and the pain and the suffering of those who are caught in it.

Right, this book was absolutely intense, like - standing in front of your supermarket, listening on and on and finally going in with red, puffy eyes and such intense. It wasn't even the hard parts that really made me cry but the beautiful and wonderful parts in between. Tade's awakening love for Reagan, Reagan, spreading her wings, defying her mother (Oh. my. ....that was really hard. You get why her mother reacts that way, at least, you think you get it and you probably do so but nevertheless, this is so hard and I was so proud when Reagan pushed and fought to rid herself of her mother's fears and worries), daring to love and to trust. Nothing is easy for them because their history isn't easy and there are always those around them that interfere and make things even harder but I love how they fight for their love and how they stand together.
Reagan frees herself and Tade, well, I think you can see him grow and become more mature. He was never a bad guy (just a wild one) but loving Reagan makes him realize what really counts and well, just read it  - or listen to it.

The story is amazing, beautiful and, yes, I have to repeat it, intense and the audiobook is really well done. A wonderful narration that makes you feel and dread and hope even more.
As I ordered the print book the moment I finished the audiobook, I think it is safe to say that I can definitely recommend this book and I am really looking forward to the next books in this series. Gavin's story is already out and will find its way on my reader very soon....and next year, well, I am so very much looking forward to that one!

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

(Sur)real by Melissa Haag

 (Sur)real by Melissa Haag

 Blurb:

My sisters hate their gifts, but they don’t know how lucky they are. They have a home and family. I have nothing. But, I am Courage, and I know my purpose. I exist for one reason only: to complete the Judgement.

Olivia is blind, yet sees. And what she sees, she keeps to herself. Her father conspires for control while Olivia does her own plotting with forces that only she understands. Now, time is running out, and choices that will impact the world must be made.


We've been with the Judgements and the wolves in their lives now for a long time and now, this book is the final book in this amazing series, this is the end of our journey, this is the book where the Judgement will be made. This is the time when Hope, Prosperity, Wisdom, Strength, Peace, and Courage come together to change the future of our world.

Well, this book definitely did change my world. It's not just intense but also one of those books that you should never ever read in public because it'll leave you crying, sobbing, tentatively smiling, hoping...and sobbing once again.
A rollercoaster of emotions, knuckle-biting, kindle-throwing, hanky-crunching action from the beginning straight to the end that kept me glued to the pages.

This book and its characters stayed with me long after the last page had been read. The fate of so many of them ..well, there are some things that happened, let's just say that it'll take me even more time till I'll even start to forgive the author, IF I ever forgive her...

Gripping, intense, emotional - a worthy finale to an amazing series!

★★★★★

Blocked by L.P. Dover

Blocked by L.P. Dover 

Blurb:

He’s got every reason to be cocky . . . until a female cuts him down to size.
 
I’m Dallas Easton, the best goaltender in the league. I make a damn good living playing hockey, and with women falling at my feet wherever I go, why not enjoy it? I get whatever I want, whenever I want—that is, until I come across the one player who gets the best of me on the ice.
 
When I try to pummel the dude, all hell breaks loose. Imagine my surprise when the helmet comes off to reveal a woman underneath. And not just any woman, but the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. Callie Davis is the complete opposite of the puck bunnies I usually go for, a good girl with sick moves and a selfless streak a mile wide. I need to make amends, but she dodges me at every turn. It doesn’t help that Callie’s brother hates my guts, or that my agent thinks she’s bad for my career.
 
But I could care less what they think. I can’t let our little run-in on the ice be the end of our story. Because when I set my sights on something, I won’t rest until I score.


Wow, I loved the story even though I was very often tempted to kick Dallas' behind.
I get it that hockey is tough and aggressive and so on, really, but seriously, this guy has some problems - and he'd do well with some anger management classes. Apart from his aggressive behavior, I loved to see him fight for Callie's love.

Both of them are very honest in their reactions and I really like the fact that they don't play games. Dallas makes mistakes but once he has decided on a course, he stays true to it. Reading about his interactions with kids and, of course, with Callie, goes a long way to redeem him in my eyes. The chemistry between the Callie and Dallas is great, you can feel that she falls for him - even though it's the last thing she really wants.
You see, it's not just that he behaves like a neanderthal when she meets him, nope, that just tops it off but the fact that her brother hates him, well, that doesn't make it easy for him to win her and convince her that he could be the one.
Will he be stubborn and persistent enough to get Callie to go on a date with him?

I laughed a lot and I liked the characters on the whole but I must admit that Dallas' behavior, blowing up the way he does as often as he does, left me a bit at a loss because I wouldn't want any friend of mine date someone that volatile. Dallas and Callie together are very sweet and I don't think that he would hurt her but...well.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm definitely looking forward to the other books in the series.

★★★★

Moon Kissed (Mirror Lake Wolves #1) by Jennifer Snyder

 Moon Kissed by Jennifer Snyder

Blurb:

Something sinister lurks in the Mirror Lake woods…

Life is different for those living in the Mirror Lake Trailer Park, especially where Mina Ryan is concerned. She’s been waiting years for her werewolf gene to trigger, and the clock is ticking. If she isn’t Moon Kissed soon, Mina runs the risk of becoming an outsider to more than just the townspeople of Mirror Lake. Unless her werewolf gene triggers in the coming months, Mina will become an outsider within her pack as well.

It’s almost an unthinkable fate, one Mina finds herself needing to be distracted from. And who better to distract her than Alec Thomas, a charming Southern cutie…who happens to be human? Alec isn’t the only one who’s captured her attention, though. The handsome Alpha’s son, Eli Vargas, has his eye on her as well, much to the pack’s approval.

Bigger issues for Mina arise when she learns one of her pack members has gone missing and that she might know something about their disappearance. There’s only one person Mina can turn to for help. Too bad she has a hard time trusting herself when she’s around him…

As the mystery grows while two men vie for Mina’s attention and the next full moon looms closer, it’s all Mina can do to keep her head and heart in check.

Book One in the anticipated Mirror Lake Wolves Series.
New Adult/Mature Young Adult.



Oookay, I was a bit shocked when the book ended because seriously, that was waaaaaay too early. I mean, we were right in the middle of ....well, of... everything. Even though I was a bit irritated that Mina and Eli didn't share the information they had with their alpha as it was crucial information that might save someone's life.

Apart from that I really enjoyed this book. It was imaginative and a great read. I liked the hero and heroine a lot and I was worried about Mina and Eli when they tried to investigate certain things as that definitely places them right in the middle - not of nowhere but of danger. Or rather Danger, with a capital D.

Mina and Eli are sweet together and you can feel some chemistry there despite the fact that Mina still tries to resist the attraction. her interactions with the humans make her aware that not only their pack's secret is in danger but also the members of her pack.
Still waiting to be Moon Kissed, she eagerly anticipates the day of the full moon, where her grandma will prepare her again the delicious salvia...okay, I'm kidding. Her grandma will prepare those leaves but let's just say that "eagerly" does not exactly describe her feelings when it comes to the ....salvia leaves. As long as there is still hope that she will be Moon Kissed though, the salvia leaves will be waiting for her....

Interesting characters and a great, well-written story ... well, I really enjoyed reading this book and I simply have to know what happens next so I'll definitely have to read the next books in this series!

★★★★

Guarding Eden (Midway #1) by Cameo Renae

Guarding Eden by Cameo Renae

Blurb:

***The Midway Novels are spin-offs of the Hidden Wings Series, but each book can be read as a standalone.***

Tucked away at an upscale, private boarding school in Brindle Hollow, Washington, seventeen-year-old Eden East comes face to face with a hideous creature on her walk back to her dorm. Shaken to her core, she's left questioning the world around her, and soon finds herself entering a friendship with a hot, new student named Alexander.

Little does she know, Alex is a Guardian Angel, sent from Midway to protect her from those dangerous creatures—known as Darkling—lurking in the forest outside Brindle Hall. It isn’t long before Alex learns this is no ordinary assignment. Eden’s existence holds a secret; something hidden from even herself.

Eden is thrust into a world where Fallen angels and creatures of the Underworld will stop at nothing to catch her. With Alex at her side and a little help from some of his old friends, they form a formidable front against the enemy.

Hopefully, it’s not too little, too late. 



Wow, simply wow! I just wanted to take a sneak peek ....and then, suddenly, I turned the last page. The next thing I did, I downloaded another book by Cameo Renae and I am so looking forward to reading it!

"Guarding Eden" sounded rather interesting and a bit unusual and I just thought that it might make a nice change. Then I started reading and it captivated me right from the start. I loved the amazing characters as well as the great story, I felt and suffered and feared with our hero and our heroine and I hoped, oh, how I hoped that everything would turn out well!
The one or the other tear, some giggling, some nail-biting and other emotional outbursts later, I just can tell that this book is simply amazing.
I absolutely loved the well-constructed story, it was well-written as well and the whole of it just kept me glued to my reader.
When Eden East meets Alexander West, she does already know that something is changing and that there are things going on that are definitely not easy to understand but the weeks to come - well, that is a whole different story and she soon learns that her whole world has been turned upside down.
Okay, when Alex learns that his name is now West - ha, ha, how fitting, considering Eden's last name - he is a bit annoyed at first but he will soon be so much more annoyed when he realizes that this girl, his new assignment, is the one to make him come close to risk everything he believes in, everything he lives for and that his life will never be the same ...
Alright, maybe Eden's encounter with a Darkling, that prompted Alexander's assignment, was a certain indication that things were changing but when the Fallen turned up, well..... Things just got worse, right?

I enjoyed reading about all these wonderful characters, even the minor characters were well developed and very lovable, it as so much fun to read about them and to spend time with them. When I read the last page, I loved this perfect ending but I was also a bit lost because I hadn't wanted it to end, yet. Well, I guess, I'll just have to watch out for the nextbook in this series and spend my time catching up on the author's other book, now.

★★★★★

 

 

 

Jilted (Love Hurts #2) by Sawyer Bennett

                                                  Jilted by Sawyer Bennett

Blurb:

Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.

Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be. 

I loved this book and didn't put it down once I had started reading.
When I started reading, I was furious when I read about Eden's cheating fiancé and then, to top it all off, this husband...well. "Spitting mad" might also be a fitting description.

What I really loved about this book though, was the way the characters interacted. Sure, there was a typical misunderstanding resulting in people hating others but once it became clear that it had been a misunderstanding, everything was alright. No maybes about it, just simple acceptance and things were alright.

And I loved that both, the heroine and the hero had moved on. They had been very much in love, still are, obviously but it is a mature love now and it was one even when they were still young and life happened and drew them apart. Somehow this makes you realize even more, how much those two belong together.

Oookay, right, maybe you don't realize that right at the beginning because there might be a time or two when there are some rather interesting decorations on the lawn and the drive but, well, nobody said that love was perfect, right? Some, let's say minor disagreements and such are totally in order when so much time has passed and things happened and - well.

I really enjoyed this story with its wonderful and complex characters. I already read many books by Sawyer Bennett and I must admit that I didn't even read the blurb, I just knew that I wanted to read this book - and I wasn't disappointed.
This is another wonderful story by an amazing author that I can definitely recommend.

★★★★★

Audiobook: Haven by Karen Lynch

Haven is finally available on Audible!

Haven is an amazing book that is set right after the end of  Warrior and Rogue, the last books in the Relentless series.

That is to say - it was already amazing as a book, a brilliant five-star read, and now it is available on Audible, narrated by Caitlin Greer and Zachary Webber
who did such a wonderful job with the first books in the series. Caitlin Greer is the narrator of Relentless, Refuge and Rogue, still my all-time-favorite audiobooks and Zachary Webber is the narrator or Warrior, also a part of this all-time-favorite audiobooks team. 

So - just imagine what might happen when you take an amazing book and two brilliant narrators and turn this into an audiobook? 
Right. That's exactly what happened - you get a fantastic audio book that draws you in and lets you feel as if it was the first time that you've ever read (or  -in this case - heard) this story. The narration is absolutely great. You get the feeling but it never feels forced or over the top just, well, right. Perfect. 

Judge for yourself, aren't they simply amazing? 

>>> https://soundcloud.com/audible/haven-karen-lynch <<<

If you would like to learn more about this audiobook, 
the book itself, the narrators or the author, you are in for a treat: 

Due to circumstances, the podcast has been rescheduled, 
I'll let you know, when it'll take place!

 

This book sounds good?

Check it out!

 

 

 

Storm Unleashed by Ednah Walters is out!

And just another quick reminder for those of you 

who are waiting anxiously for the release of the amazing

Storm Unleashed by Ednah Walters

 

Level Me Up (Gamer Boy #1) by Lauren Helms

  Level Me Up  by Lauren Helms

Blurb:

The last thing Morgan Lawson is looking for when attending Comic-Con is love. But even prior to exchanging first words, Morgan is drawn to Dex, a drop-dead sexy gamer boy who lives and breathes video games. Before she realizes it, Morgan finds herself caught up in all things Dex.

Dex Roberts knows from the moment he first sees Morgan, he wants more. He falls hard and fast but isn’t surprised when his job as a professional video gamer takes a toll on their relationship.

Once Morgan decides what truly makes her happy, there’s no time to waste. But without warning, life threatens to destroy what both Morgan and Dex want most... each other.


On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book but I wasn't sure for a long time whether it would be four or three stars. Despite the story being well-plotted and interesting, it was easy to put the book away for some time due to the moderate tempo of the book and the hero's lengthy inner dialogues at the beginning of the book.

It all seems to happen rather slowly and even though I liked the hero and the heroine a lot, I didn't really get emotionally involved that much. Considering the fact that our heroine and our hero, as in Morgan and Dex, have some really hard times to pass and things in the book get rather emotional more than once that is unusual for me.
Apart from that though, I liked the story and the characters, I loved to see Morgan have her "I carried a watermelon-moment" when she met Dex for the first time and I loved the interaction between the characters. Due to the interesting characters whom I would love to have as friends as well, as they are a really great lot. It's nice to see them care for each other and kick each other when some "inspiration" is needed.
Morgan's emotional baggage is not easy to digest when worst comes to worst but they are understandable when you know her story and I love to see her friends help her realize that she should try to leave that behind and to trust more.
Dex is sweet, even when he messes things up because, well, he is a guy, right, it's really not his fault that he makes a mess of all this emotional stuff.

In the end, I found that I was looking forward to hearing more about the other members of the team in future books, so that's why I decided to give the book four stars despite those points that I mentioned.

★★★★

Train Wreck by Elise Faber

  Train Wreck by Elise Faber

Blurb:

train wreck
noun

1. A chaotic or disastrous situation.
2. An utter catastrophe or mess.
3. A devastating calamity or source of trouble.
4. Pepper O’Brien.

As the daughter of a famed film producer, Pepper O’Brien is Hollywood royalty.

Also, her life sucks.

Because, unfortunately for her, the old adage is true: money can’t buy everything—including grace, true love, or the ability to not screw up every single opportunity her life has brought her.

After her latest disaster, Pepper moves across the country to start over but, as usual, her life has other plans, namely in the form of Derek Cashette, her former teenage crush and now ridiculously handsome friend of her older brother.

Derek is determined to salvage the train wreck of her life and Pepper’s determined not to let him. Her life is her problem and, dammit, why can’t she be her own hero?

But sometimes fate has other plans. Or maybe it’s hormones. Especially when her rescuer comes with a killer smile, a chest Thor would be jealous of, and a butt that any girl just wants to—


I really really loved this book! Aaaaaand I really really hated Pepper's family. Argh. Okay, let's get back to the nice part, the book. And the story about Pepper and Derek because those two are so sweet together, you just have to love them!

I also loved how the author took situations that seemed to be underlining Pepper's history of being a train wreck and with Derek looking at those situations now from a distance, he sees something else and understands her and her family's dynamic a bit better. Of course, that doesn't stop him from doing stupid things and messing things up but he is determined and kind and...well. Maybe he'll end up with an HEA, who knows, right?

As a reader, you get the way Pepper's sees herself and the way others look at her (and, alright, sometimes they are right but - are they really always right? Truly?) but you can also see Pepper taking control when it is needed, Pepper acting capably and confidently. Sometimes she is the one picking up the pieces (or the shards) who turns a bad situation into a success - or some shards and some pieces of driftwood into a thing of beauty. 

Looking closer you get the chance to see that she's indeed more than just chaotic or just a mess. She is even more than just the daughter of a famous producer. And so it is time for Derek to once again make his inner hero dust off his super suit and...well, do what superheroes do who fall in love with an amazing young woman:
Fight for her and her happiness!

The more I thought about this book, the more I loved how well constructed this story is. Add some really amazing characters, some villains that you'd love to feed to the sharks (symbolically speaking, of course) and you get a really wonderful story that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

★★★★★

 

 

Storm Revealed: Phantom Islanders Part II by Ednah Walters

Those of you who have read Storm already, 

will love to hear that the story continues - NOW!

 Storm Revealed: Phantom Islanders Part II 

by  

Ednah Walters 

Isn't this cover absolutely gorgeous?

Blurb:

Sassy heroine, a legend and a people in peril...

Supernatural creatures don’t roam the seas.
And female pirates do exist.

Lexi resigns herself to the primitive living and the strange customs of the islands but struggles with the fact that she will never see or help her brother again. As the people embrace her as Storm’s chosen mate, Lexi slowly begins to see the magic around her.
When she discovers the truth about Storm and his people, she finally understands why he abducted her and why he needs her to stay.

Just as her feelings start to change, someone obsessed with her strikes and threatens to destroy the island and its people. Left with no choice, Lexi makes the ultimate sacrifice.

This is Part II of a 3-Part Upper YA and New Adult Serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love

Reading Order:
Storm Part I: Released April 25th
Storm Revealed Part II coming May 30th
Storm Unleashed Part III coming June 27th

Alright - if you read this, I hope that you've already read the first part of this book because otherwise, I'm not sure that there won't be any spoilers. 

Soooo - if you haven't read it, start there.

You have read it? Fine. Go on, this review is for you!

We left Lexi waiting for Storm to return when she had finally accepted that she would never be able to go home.

Of course, that doesn't ease her mind when she worries about her little brother Tommy whose happiness and health depend on her and her ability to care for him. Despite worrying about him, she opens herself up to Storm and his people and when she finally fully understands the magic of the place and those around her she is intrigued. And - maybe a little bit more than that. Slowly a certain pesky (and sweet)(and gorgeous) captain gets under her skin and claims her heart. 

Will she be able to be happy here? 

I really loved this part of the story as well (and I hated Ednah again at the end of it because...well, because. Right? Who doesn't hate  cliffhangers no matter how well done they are?) and it was fun to see those two, Storm and Lexi, fight and fall in love. What does another former kidnapped woman say about her husband? There's something very romantic about a rough seaman turning into a giant teddy bear when he sees you [...] Well, the same can definitely be said about Storm. You feel his love for Lexi and even though she fights it, you can feel how much he means to Lexi as well. Their chemistry is amazing.

All in all, it is a fantastic story, funny, imaginative, intense and original with amazing characters - I love it. And I'm already counting the days till the release of part III.... 

★★★★★

Slumber by J L Weil

  Slumber by J L Weil 

Blurb:

There is no such thing as happily ever after. Everything Charlotte Winston thought she knew has been thrown out the window. From the moment she opens her eyes, the world she remembered ceases to exist, and in its place is a post-apocalyptic realm filled with unimaginable dangers. And one very smoking hot guy who has an uncanny ability to make her blood sing, then boil in a blink of an eye. Dash Darhk is everything her parents would hate. He's six feet and two inches of dark temptation and a killer smile, that's surely left a stream of broken hearts in his wake. But her parents are nowhere to be found. Charlotte is alone in this new world. Destroyed by a toxic mist, the land isn't the only thing altered, but the inhabitants as well. As Charlotte begins the hunt for her family, gifts she's never fathom awake inside her. And with the gifts come problems. Enormous ones. Charlotte is running out of options and places to hide. If she can't figure out who to trust-and fast-she will lose more than her heart. Fans of Hunger Games, The 100, and Divergent will fall in love with Slumber.

How many colors does a rainbow have - or what are you capable of once the mist has worked its magic?


Wow, I really enjoyed reading this book!
When I started to read the book, I put it down very soon because I just couldn't get into it. The next time I tried to read it - I didn't put it down till I had read the very last page.
Okay, there were times where I could have thrown my reader away because I was so furious and times were I was really, really upset but once I'd got into the story, it just kept me glued to the reader. Captivating and original and at the same time well written with a great story line - sounds good? Read it! It is that good!

When Charlotte wakes up "Snow White-stylish", everything is different. More than a hundred years have passed since the mist invaded the world and the world has changed - and not only the world, Charlotte herself is different. But, well, first of all, she has to survive traveling in this new world with Dash at her side, without getting her heart broken! Okay, that may not be the most important part, considering the fact that they are fighting to survive and are hunted by the Night Guard while searching for Charlotte's family but believe me, it might just turn out to be the most difficult part...

I loved the story and I loved that characters and I definitely can't wait to read the next book in the series! My first book by J.L. Weil but not my last one!

★★★★★