Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 146
July 15, 2017
#BookTag Saturday: The To Be Read Tag
This week for #BookTag Saturday we're tackling my TBR shelf. No easy feat because every time I start to make progress they just pile back up again! Are you ready to explore with me? Book tag originally from: A Perfection Called Books.
How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I keep them separate from my other books so I know what I haven't read yet.
Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?
I only consider books on my TBR shelf to be TBR, so print. I have a bunch of books on my Kindle to read... eventually (but they're not a priority).
How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
ARCs come first in order of their release dates then just whatever I feel like reading.
A Book That's Been On Your TBR List The Longest
Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver, I've owned the book since 2012 and wasn't into fantasy at the time so I back burner-ed it. Now I don't have the first two books in the trilogy so I have to try to track those down first!
A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR
Because You Love To Hate Me - When I saw this book I knew I had to have it!
A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because Of Its Beautiful Cover
The Graces by Laura Eve - this book is beautiful even under the dust jacket!
A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading
I plan to read them all - otherwise I wasted my money buying them. If they end up DNF then at least I tried.
An Unpublished Book On Your TBR That You’re Excited For
Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones. I need more of The Goblin King!!!
A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - Soon I Promise!
A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You
Another book that's been on my TBR list too long!
A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To Read
The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins - I put it off to read ACOWAR but I want to get to it this fall!
How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?
12
How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I keep them separate from my other books so I know what I haven't read yet.
Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?
I only consider books on my TBR shelf to be TBR, so print. I have a bunch of books on my Kindle to read... eventually (but they're not a priority).
How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
ARCs come first in order of their release dates then just whatever I feel like reading.
A Book That's Been On Your TBR List The Longest
Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver, I've owned the book since 2012 and wasn't into fantasy at the time so I back burner-ed it. Now I don't have the first two books in the trilogy so I have to try to track those down first!
A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR
Because You Love To Hate Me - When I saw this book I knew I had to have it!
A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because Of Its Beautiful Cover
The Graces by Laura Eve - this book is beautiful even under the dust jacket!
A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading
I plan to read them all - otherwise I wasted my money buying them. If they end up DNF then at least I tried.
An Unpublished Book On Your TBR That You’re Excited For
Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones. I need more of The Goblin King!!!
A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - Soon I Promise!
A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You
Another book that's been on my TBR list too long!
A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To Read
The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins - I put it off to read ACOWAR but I want to get to it this fall!
How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?
12
July 14, 2017
Book Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera
Ruined (Ruined #1) by Amy Tintera
Blurb:
Amy Tintera’s YA fantasy trilogy blends the romance of Kiera Cass’s Selection series and the epic stakes of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war; her parents were killed and her sister was kidnapped. Even though Em is only a useless Ruined—completely lacking any magic—she is determined to get revenge.
Her plan is simple: She will infiltrate the enemy’s kingdom, posing as the crown prince’s betrothed. She will lead an ambush. She will kill the king and everything he holds dear, including his son.
The closer Em gets to the prince, though, the more she questions her mission. Her rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
My Review: I picked this book up a few months ago because a blogger friend of mine was raving about how great it was and I was really excited to read it.
Ruined begins with the reader being introduced to the main character Emelina (called Em) and her two associates as they kill a princess and her guards. Why? Because the princess killed Em's father and she's to marry the son of the king that killed Em's mom (the Queen of her homeland - Ruina) and kidnapped her younger sister Olivia. Em plans to assume the princess's identity, marry the prince, and destroy the kingdom from the inside.
I know, I know - we can all see where this is heading. Em will arrive at the palace acting like a heartless bada$$ who is solely out for revenge until she begins to fall for the prince and then tries to stop the domino effect chain of events that she's set in motion.
To be completely honest, I was loving the story until about 2/3 of the way through. Em was sassy and I loved her and Cas dancing around each other, both desperately trying to deny that they were falling for each other. Iria and the warriors kind of reminded me of Vikings, which was cool. The story had just enough danger as you waited to see if Em's true identity and that of her associates would be uncovered.
And then it was and the story began to unravel for me. It seemed like most of the last 100 or so pages of Ruined could have been wrapped up in half that amount. It was so drawn out - the waiting for the rest of the warriors to arrive and Em to save her sister. It also feels like the romance between Cas and Em was just rushed into that section. One minute Cas was angry with Em for lying (and acting pathetic because he thought she didn't like him) then the next they're practically throwing down right then and there (kissing).
Cas's parents and his cousin were excellent villains - I hated them instantly, but at the same time I also disliked Em's sister. I can definitely see her growing into a huge threat in the next book.
Overall, I liked this book, but I do believe the story lost something when everything became so rushed when Cas and his parents discovered Em's true identity and then the rest was like wading through molasses - painfully slow. I fear that when lined up with a bunch of other fantasy novels I wouldn't be able to distinguish it from the rest.
One other thing, I noticed a few typos and inconsistencies in this book. At one point, in the beginning, Cas refers to Em as herself when he doesn't know her name is Em - he's supposed to think she's Mary, remember? Someone should have caught that kind of thing, right?
Would I pick up the next book? I might look at it at the library and flip to the end, but I'm not sure I'd spend money on book 2.
My Rating:3.5 of 5 Stars!★★★1/2
Blurb:
Amy Tintera’s YA fantasy trilogy blends the romance of Kiera Cass’s Selection series and the epic stakes of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war; her parents were killed and her sister was kidnapped. Even though Em is only a useless Ruined—completely lacking any magic—she is determined to get revenge.
Her plan is simple: She will infiltrate the enemy’s kingdom, posing as the crown prince’s betrothed. She will lead an ambush. She will kill the king and everything he holds dear, including his son.
The closer Em gets to the prince, though, the more she questions her mission. Her rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
My Review: I picked this book up a few months ago because a blogger friend of mine was raving about how great it was and I was really excited to read it.
Ruined begins with the reader being introduced to the main character Emelina (called Em) and her two associates as they kill a princess and her guards. Why? Because the princess killed Em's father and she's to marry the son of the king that killed Em's mom (the Queen of her homeland - Ruina) and kidnapped her younger sister Olivia. Em plans to assume the princess's identity, marry the prince, and destroy the kingdom from the inside.
I know, I know - we can all see where this is heading. Em will arrive at the palace acting like a heartless bada$$ who is solely out for revenge until she begins to fall for the prince and then tries to stop the domino effect chain of events that she's set in motion.
To be completely honest, I was loving the story until about 2/3 of the way through. Em was sassy and I loved her and Cas dancing around each other, both desperately trying to deny that they were falling for each other. Iria and the warriors kind of reminded me of Vikings, which was cool. The story had just enough danger as you waited to see if Em's true identity and that of her associates would be uncovered.
And then it was and the story began to unravel for me. It seemed like most of the last 100 or so pages of Ruined could have been wrapped up in half that amount. It was so drawn out - the waiting for the rest of the warriors to arrive and Em to save her sister. It also feels like the romance between Cas and Em was just rushed into that section. One minute Cas was angry with Em for lying (and acting pathetic because he thought she didn't like him) then the next they're practically throwing down right then and there (kissing).
Cas's parents and his cousin were excellent villains - I hated them instantly, but at the same time I also disliked Em's sister. I can definitely see her growing into a huge threat in the next book.
Overall, I liked this book, but I do believe the story lost something when everything became so rushed when Cas and his parents discovered Em's true identity and then the rest was like wading through molasses - painfully slow. I fear that when lined up with a bunch of other fantasy novels I wouldn't be able to distinguish it from the rest.
One other thing, I noticed a few typos and inconsistencies in this book. At one point, in the beginning, Cas refers to Em as herself when he doesn't know her name is Em - he's supposed to think she's Mary, remember? Someone should have caught that kind of thing, right?
Would I pick up the next book? I might look at it at the library and flip to the end, but I'm not sure I'd spend money on book 2.
My Rating:3.5 of 5 Stars!★★★1/2
July 13, 2017
#BookMail Thursday #28
I broke my book ban for the sake of Prime Day and some other great deals this week...
Amazon Preorder & Prime Day Purchases: - Because You Love to Hate Me
Not only does this book have a gorgeous cover but I was drawn to the idea of a collection of stories about villains. I was going to wait for the release date before buying but I ended up preordering it last weekend so it would arrive on the release date.
- Because of Lila by Abbi Glines
I was waiting for Because You Love to Hate Me to come in the mail Tuesday and decided I needed a break from fantasy so I decided to read a sample of Because of Lila (I planned to get a paperback copy if Abbi Glines is going to be part of ApollyCon's 2018 Virtual Signing). Turns out, I couldn't stop reading so I one-clicked and spent the whole day reading it. I don't regret a thing. Only that it's finished.
Amazon Preorder & Prime Day Purchases: - Because You Love to Hate Me
Not only does this book have a gorgeous cover but I was drawn to the idea of a collection of stories about villains. I was going to wait for the release date before buying but I ended up preordering it last weekend so it would arrive on the release date. - Because of Lila by Abbi Glines
I was waiting for Because You Love to Hate Me to come in the mail Tuesday and decided I needed a break from fantasy so I decided to read a sample of Because of Lila (I planned to get a paperback copy if Abbi Glines is going to be part of ApollyCon's 2018 Virtual Signing). Turns out, I couldn't stop reading so I one-clicked and spent the whole day reading it. I don't regret a thing. Only that it's finished.
July 12, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #83
Technically I was going to start this week's "WIR"-Wednesday book yesterday, but Because of Lila by Abbi Glines came out and I couldn't wait to start it! It gave me the much-needed break I needed from fantasy so I could start this book today...
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Blurb:
A New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. This breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder.
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess, and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
Why I Chose This Book: I saw this book at the library months ago and decided to order it from this year's ApollyCon Virtual Signing. I love fairytale retellings and this one sounds really interesting. I'm hoping that since I took a short break from fantasy and read a completely different genre that I'll be able to get into this book and stick with it. So many fantasy novels have fallen flat for me in the last couple weeks but I have heard good things about this book. Let's just hope they ring true for me.
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Blurb:
A New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. This breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder. Lorelai Diederich, crown princess, and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
Why I Chose This Book: I saw this book at the library months ago and decided to order it from this year's ApollyCon Virtual Signing. I love fairytale retellings and this one sounds really interesting. I'm hoping that since I took a short break from fantasy and read a completely different genre that I'll be able to get into this book and stick with it. So many fantasy novels have fallen flat for me in the last couple weeks but I have heard good things about this book. Let's just hope they ring true for me.
July 11, 2017
July 9, 2017
Bookworm Problems: Book Slumps
So far my July reading looks like this..."#bookwormproblems: when you've read a book so amazing you get into a book slump when you try to read something else. #amreading"
— Taylor Fenner (@TaylorFenner) July 3, 2017
Basically, I'll find one book that I breeze through and really like then when I finish it and want to move on to the next book on my TBR shelf I encounter a problem.
Either: a) I can't get into the book at all, not even past the first page.orb) I get maybe 40-50 pages in and the book isn't as good as it was expecting it to be so I don't see myself enjoying it enough to finish so I DNF it.
Skimming through the book doesn't help, reading ahead doesn't help, damn - reading the ending doesn't even help. I've finished one book of the four I've started reading this month (but I plan to finish the one I'm reading now so the ratio is about even). So short of going crazy, how do I get past a book slump?
Confession: I really don't have a method to my madness.
I finished up June reading:
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco. I had won this ARC, but before I ever even entered for it I read an excerpt of the first chapter on, I believe, Entertainment Weekly's website and was immediately grabbed by the story. Then I started reading:
Which I ended up setting aside because I didn't like it as much as the first book. Thinking I would love this book as much as I did the first book, I didn't read an excerpt before requesting. My mistake. I might pick it back up, the book doesn't come out until December so I definitely have time, or I might read 50 or so pages a month until I finish. I got to about page 70 before I got stuck.After setting that aside I grabbed:
Which I couldn't put down. I admit, the writing and story were a little strange but it kept my interest until the very end. I hadn't read an excerpt of this book, but I had liked another book by this writing duo and thankfully it paid off.Feeling optimistic I grabbed:
For some reason, this book didn't even appeal to me. I couldn't even get past the second page. I'd bought it months ago at HPB and since I was rushed by my shopping companions I didn't get much of a chance to flip through it before I bought it. Mistake #2.One of my bookstagram friends raves about this book, so I gave it a try...
I read maybe two-three chapters but I absolutely *hated* the writing. The story itself didn't make a lot of sense, so frustrated that I'd bought another book without reading an excerpt on Amazon's "look inside" feature I dropped it in the DNF pile.Finally, feeling like I'd never find a book I liked again, I grabbed this book:
and broke my book slump (for now). I'm a little over 100 pages in and I'm loving the story so I think I'll stick with it. I'd read an excerpt of this book on Amazon before I ordered a signed copy from Book People (an Indie Bookstore in Texas which I highly recommend!) so I knew that I liked the beginning at least.***
The moral of this confusing trip through my recent reading endeavors? If you're on the fence about buying and/or reading a book because you're not sure if you're going to like it and you want to avoid a book slump you should do one of the following:
- Read an excerpt of the book. Amazon has the "look inside" feature for books that are already on sale. Even if you don't buy from them you can still usually read the first chapter. You may also be able to find an excerpt on blogs, entertainment websites like Entertainment Weekly or Publisher's Weekly, or even on the author's website (or maybe on Wattpad). This will give you a feel for how you'll like the book.
- If you still are on the fence (you like the excerpt but are still unsure if you'll like the whole book) see if your local library has a copy. That way you can still read the book and if you don't like it you won't feel bad about spending your hard-earned cash on a book you turn out to hate.
- Read reviews about the book. This doesn't always work for me because I tend to love books other people hate and hate books everyone raves about (see: The Raven Boys). If I decide to get a feel for the book by reading reviews about what people did or didn't like about a book, I usually go with the opposite of the consensus of people's opinions. If the majority of people loved it, I'll probably hate it so I don't waste my time. If the majority of people hated it, then I should probably grab a copy. (Like I said, this doesn't always work, but sometimes it helps when making a decision.)
***
So you've already bought a bunch of books and you're working your way through your TBR pile but nothing is appealing to you. How do you break out of your book slump?
- Switch up genres (Been reading a lot of one genre? Switch things up and read a book with a completely different genre. Example: getting sick of fantasy books letting you down? Switch to Sci-Fi or Contemporary.)
- Talk to a friend or loved one about what's not working for you with the book. They may be able to give you some insight into what might help you decide to keep reading or DNF the book. Just talking about it, in general, might help.
- Post about it on social media. Maybe send out a tweet that says: #bookwormproblems: is anyone else not feeling the relationship between x & y in "this book"? (or whatever is holding you back) - see what other people say. Maybe they picked up on the same things you did. Or maybe they can tell you that your slow read picks up and gets better.
- Take a break from reading. Maybe you've just been reading too much. (I know, I know - there is no such thing!) But maybe, in this case, there is. Set the book down and hang out with friends or watch a movie, maybe listen to some music. Then when you feel like reading again give the book another go.
***
Sometimes I feel the pressure to read at least one book a week to keep up with my "What I'm Reading" Wednesday blogs and I feel like I'm not reading fast enough if it's Tuesday night and I'm still reading the same book I was reading the previous Wednesday so I force myself to keep on with a book I'm not loving. This has caused more problems for me this year because a lot of my TBR books were purchased because someone recommended them to me. I've learned recently that I have very eclectic taste in books and I need to stop buying a book because a bookstagrammer in Omaha (or wherever) says "oooh, you have to read this book because you're going to love it!" - That approach doesn't always work out for me.
It's time to get back to buying books that look good to me, not someone else.
***Do you encounter any of these problems? How do you get through a book slump?
July 8, 2017
#BookTag Saturday: The Reading Habits Book Tag
This "Book Tag" Saturday I'm giving you insight into my personal reading habits with...
1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
I either read in bed or sitting in my chair in the living room.
2. Bookmark or a random piece of paper?
Bookmarks... usually
1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
I either read in bed or sitting in my chair in the living room.
2. Bookmark or a random piece of paper?
Bookmarks... usually
July 7, 2017
Countdown to Because of Lila by Abbi Glines
The second book in New York Times Best-Selling Author Abbi Glines's Rosemary Beach Meets Sea Breeze Series comes out in just 4 DAYS! Who else is excited?
★★★ More About the Book ★★★ Prim, proper, classic good girl, and her least favorite label – icy.Lila Kate Carter has heard them all. The last one, being the newest. She is not icy. She just doesn’t care for Cruz Kerrington and his spoiled, selfish, careless ways. That doesn’t make her icy, that makes him a jerk!
Tired of being labeled and doing what is expected of her, Lila Kate leaves Rosemary Beach, Florida ready for an adventure. Wanting to recreate herself, find a new path, and become something more.
Eli Hardy is tired of women who always act the same, do the same thing and expect the same thing. He’s ready to swear off women until he can get the rest of his life together.Two weeks into his no-women-rule he meets Lila. She’s so damn sweet and polite. Like she walked right out of an etiquette book. But he’d already been drunk before she walked in so there was a good chance she might not be as stunning and perfect as he thinks. He’s just too drunk to worry about that.
The next morning, he swears he can still smell her on his skin. He just can’t remember why or what happened after that third dance.
Their worlds are about to collide, and so are the secrets and lies.
★★★ PRE-ORDER TODAY ★★★Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tOndcHiBooks: http://apple.co/2rpgg0GNook: http://bit.ly/2sK7D3fSmashwords: http://bit.ly/2sbZti6Amazon: LIVE ON RELEASE DAY
★★★ More About the Book ★★★ Prim, proper, classic good girl, and her least favorite label – icy.Lila Kate Carter has heard them all. The last one, being the newest. She is not icy. She just doesn’t care for Cruz Kerrington and his spoiled, selfish, careless ways. That doesn’t make her icy, that makes him a jerk!
Tired of being labeled and doing what is expected of her, Lila Kate leaves Rosemary Beach, Florida ready for an adventure. Wanting to recreate herself, find a new path, and become something more.
Eli Hardy is tired of women who always act the same, do the same thing and expect the same thing. He’s ready to swear off women until he can get the rest of his life together.Two weeks into his no-women-rule he meets Lila. She’s so damn sweet and polite. Like she walked right out of an etiquette book. But he’d already been drunk before she walked in so there was a good chance she might not be as stunning and perfect as he thinks. He’s just too drunk to worry about that.
The next morning, he swears he can still smell her on his skin. He just can’t remember why or what happened after that third dance.
Their worlds are about to collide, and so are the secrets and lies.
★★★ PRE-ORDER TODAY ★★★Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tOndcHiBooks: http://apple.co/2rpgg0GNook: http://bit.ly/2sK7D3fSmashwords: http://bit.ly/2sbZti6Amazon: LIVE ON RELEASE DAY
July 6, 2017
#BookMail Thursday #27
This week the book mail I'm sharing with you really isn't my own (although I plan to read this book myself!). You see, my grandmother has trouble seeing small print in books due to her neuropathy and some other health issues so she discovered Doubleday Home Library where she can get Large Print copies of books. She ordered a Large Print edition of Come Sundown by Nora Roberts but she also ordered...
You Will Pay by Lisa Jackson
About "You Will Pay": In a fast-paced, brilliantly twisted novel of suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, the deadly secrets of a long-ago summer stir to life once more.
It starts as a prank—a way to blow off steam after a long summer at Camp Horseshoe. Among the teen counselors, tensions and hormones are running high. No wonder the others agree when Jo-Beth Chancellor suggests they scare Monica O’Neal a little . . . or a lot. Monica has it coming, and no one will really get hurt. What could go wrong?
Everything.
Twenty years later, Lucas Dalton, a senior detective with the sheriff’s department, is investigating the discovery of human remains in a cavern at what used to be Camp Horseshoe. Lucas knows the spot well. His father, a preacher, ran the camp, and Lucas worked there that infamous summer when two girls went missing. No one knows what happened to either of them, though with a dangerous convict on the loose, gossip was rife that they may have been kidnapped, or worse.
For Lucas, the case is personal—perhaps too much so. But it’s time to uncover the whole truth at last. That’s why seven former female counselors are coming back to the small Oregon town—among them, Bernadette Alsace, the woman Lucas has never forgotten. Each one knows something about that terrible night. Each promised not to tell. And as they reunite, a new horror unfolds. First come texts containing a personal memento and a simple, terrifying message: YOU WILL PAY. Then, the murders begin.
It started years ago. But it will end here—as a web of lust, greed, and betrayal is untangled to reveal a killer waiting to enact the perfect revenge.***Prime Day is Coming Up!Since Amazon Prime Day is on Tuesday (July 11) I'm thinking of breaking my book ban and seeing if I can score some deals on books I've had on my Amazon Wishlist for a while. Do you plan on shopping Amazon for Prime Day?
You Will Pay by Lisa Jackson
About "You Will Pay": In a fast-paced, brilliantly twisted novel of suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, the deadly secrets of a long-ago summer stir to life once more.
It starts as a prank—a way to blow off steam after a long summer at Camp Horseshoe. Among the teen counselors, tensions and hormones are running high. No wonder the others agree when Jo-Beth Chancellor suggests they scare Monica O’Neal a little . . . or a lot. Monica has it coming, and no one will really get hurt. What could go wrong?
Everything.
Twenty years later, Lucas Dalton, a senior detective with the sheriff’s department, is investigating the discovery of human remains in a cavern at what used to be Camp Horseshoe. Lucas knows the spot well. His father, a preacher, ran the camp, and Lucas worked there that infamous summer when two girls went missing. No one knows what happened to either of them, though with a dangerous convict on the loose, gossip was rife that they may have been kidnapped, or worse.
For Lucas, the case is personal—perhaps too much so. But it’s time to uncover the whole truth at last. That’s why seven former female counselors are coming back to the small Oregon town—among them, Bernadette Alsace, the woman Lucas has never forgotten. Each one knows something about that terrible night. Each promised not to tell. And as they reunite, a new horror unfolds. First come texts containing a personal memento and a simple, terrifying message: YOU WILL PAY. Then, the murders begin.
It started years ago. But it will end here—as a web of lust, greed, and betrayal is untangled to reveal a killer waiting to enact the perfect revenge.***Prime Day is Coming Up!Since Amazon Prime Day is on Tuesday (July 11) I'm thinking of breaking my book ban and seeing if I can score some deals on books I've had on my Amazon Wishlist for a while. Do you plan on shopping Amazon for Prime Day?
July 5, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #82
This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm tackling a couple open books. I'm back to the audiobook of Caraval by Stephanie Garber and plodding my way through an ARC of Ever the Brave by Erin Summerill but my main read this "WIR"-Wednesday is...
The Valiant by Lesley Livingston
Blurb:
Princess. Captive. Gladiator. Always a Warrior.
Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king and the younger sister of the legendary fighter Sorcha. When Fallon was just a child, Sorcha was killed by the armies of Julius Caesar.
On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her place in her father's war band. She never gets the chance.
Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival.
Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, deadly fights in and out of the arena, and perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier and her sworn enemy.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I've been wanting to read this book for a while now and I've heard good things about it. I think the reason I waited so long was that I'd heard mixed reviews and was afraid to buy it in case I didn't like it. But I took the plunge a couple months ago and The Valiant has been sitting on my shelf for months I figured it was high time I gave it a try. So far I noticed that this book seems to have huge font (what is it, a 14-point font?) which should have made it a fairly quick read. I planned on starting this book yesterday but I decided to watch tv instead then last night when I began flipping through it doubt began to creep in. I'm not sure I like the story of it after all. I'm not sure I'm going to give this book a try or whether I'll just stick with Ever the Brave.
The Valiant by Lesley Livingston
Blurb:
Princess. Captive. Gladiator. Always a Warrior. Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king and the younger sister of the legendary fighter Sorcha. When Fallon was just a child, Sorcha was killed by the armies of Julius Caesar.
On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her place in her father's war band. She never gets the chance.
Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival.
Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, deadly fights in and out of the arena, and perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier and her sworn enemy.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I've been wanting to read this book for a while now and I've heard good things about it. I think the reason I waited so long was that I'd heard mixed reviews and was afraid to buy it in case I didn't like it. But I took the plunge a couple months ago and The Valiant has been sitting on my shelf for months I figured it was high time I gave it a try. So far I noticed that this book seems to have huge font (what is it, a 14-point font?) which should have made it a fairly quick read. I planned on starting this book yesterday but I decided to watch tv instead then last night when I began flipping through it doubt began to creep in. I'm not sure I like the story of it after all. I'm not sure I'm going to give this book a try or whether I'll just stick with Ever the Brave.
