Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 159

Book Review & RELEASE DAY BLITZ: RoseBlood by A.G. Howard

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard Blurb: Rune, whose voice has been compared to that of an angel, has a mysterious affliction linked to her talent that leaves her sick and drained at the end of every performance. Convinced creative direction will cure her, her mother ships her off to a French boarding school for the arts, rumored to have a haunted past.
Shortly after arriving at RoseBlood conservatory, Rune starts to believe something otherworldly is indeed afoot. The mystery boy she’s seen frequenting the graveyard beside the opera house doesn’t have any classes at the school, and vanishes almost as quickly as he appears. When Rune begins to develop a secret friendship with the elusive Thorn, who dresses in clothing straight out of the 19th century, she realizes that in his presence she feels cured. Thorn may be falling for Rune, but the phantom haunting RoseBlood wants her for a very specific and dangerous purpose. As their love continues to grow, Thorn is faced with an impossible choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or save her and face the wrath of the phantom, the only father he’s ever known.
My Review: I received an e-ARC of RoseBlood in exchange for an honest review.
17-year-old Rune Germain is being shipped off to a prestigious music conservatory in Paris to get over her "stage fright" at the suggestion of her grandmother - who tried to kill her - and her aunt - who she has never met, not even when her father died.
RoseBlood Academy is housed within the renovated opera house that inspired the famous  "The Phantom of the Opera." Rune already doesn't want to attend RoseBlood. To be surrounded by the very music that drives her to the compulsion to sing until she gets sick is her worst nightmare, but then to find out she's going to be housed in the historic opera house that inspired the novel? Horrifying! Who wouldn't want to go to school there?


When Rune thinks she sees the phantom as the limo pulls up to RoseBlood her mother brushes it off as her imagination. Soon that's the least of her worries as she crashes into auditions for the school production and is forced to sing out the lead role, completely overshadowing the top prospect before she faints into the hottest guy in school's arms. Rune can't help it, once she gets a song stuck in her head sooner or later she must perform it... like musical purging. Try telling that to the mean girl who's spotlight she stole.
19-year-old Etalon "Thorn" did not intend for Rune to see him, especially in his unmasked state. Rune is at the school for one purpose, to give her voice toward Thorn's father's dark purpose. Thorn's "father" is the Phantom and he's never forgotten his lost love, Christine. He will go to any length to regain a piece of Christine again.
When a trick brings Rune and Thorn face-to-face Thorn realizes Rune is his "flamme jumelle," his twin flame. To Rune, Thorn is the guy who's been playing to her in her dreams since she was seven. From this one not-so-accidental encounter their bond strengthens and Thorn helps Rune to not fear the music anymore. But the Phantom still wants Rune for his horrible plot - and he'll do anything to get her!

As Thorn begins to fall in love with Rune will he choose to save her from the Phantom's plot? Even if that means turning his back on the only father he's ever known? As Rune settles into her new life she realizes that not everything is as it seems, but how does her family's history intertwine with the Phantom? How does her mysterious maestro fit in with everything? What is he hiding beneath his mask? Is their growing love real? Or is he buttering her up for some evil end? Can she unravel the mystery before it is too late?
RoseBlood is an intriguing retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, with a slight touch of Frankenstein added into the mix. Filled with reincarnation, separated soul mates, incubuses/succubuses, and unusual animals all set in a dark, historical background where secret passageways and double-sided mirrors are the norm, RoseBlood will slowly draw you into its' web and keep you enthralled until the very end.
I found the story a bit slow at first, and there was a lot of description and the characters were in their head a lot, versus more dialogue but when the story does pick up you don't want to put it down. From Thorn's tragic past to his joining with the phantom and working toward his purpose and Rune's story leading up to their first meeting you fall in love with the characters. My favorite of the secondary characters was definitely Diable, even if he was a cat - he was an awesome cat!
RoseBlood haunted my dreams and I loved every minute of it! This is a must read for fans of the Phantom of the Opera and people that are new to the story alike, as well as anyone that loves retellings.My rating: 4.90 of 5 Stars
RoseBlood is available today, Tuesday, January 10, 2017,  from Amulet Books and ABRAMS Kids! Pick up your copy in eBook or Hardcover today:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Book Depository | Goodreads

RELEASE DAY BLITZ:


As you can tell from my review I am so excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G. Howard releases today and that I get to share the news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to check out all the details below.
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:
Title: ROSEBLOODAuthor: A.G. HowardPub. Date: January 10, 2017Publisher: Amulet BooksPages: 432Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBookFind it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads
In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.
At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.





About A.G. Howard
A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.
When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.
Ends on January 17th at Midnight EST!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Off the Ice by Julie Cross

Today's cover reveal is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to read Off the Ice by Julie Cross this February! Check it out: 
Let us know what you think of the cover for Off the Ice by Julie Cross which releases February 28, 2017!This cover reveal is brought to you by Entangled TEEN & YA Books Central!About Off the Ice:

All is fair in love and hockey… Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again. Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie.When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he’s in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good. It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love. For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart.

Want to read more? Pre-order your copy of Off the Ice by Julie Cross today! Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon CA | Amazon UKAbout the Author:Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She's a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA. She's a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credibility's, Julie Cross is a committed--but not talented--long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

Book Review: Paper Princess by Erin Watt

Paper Princess (Royals #1) by Erin Watt Blurb: From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor―a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.
My Review: Seventeen-year-old Ella Harper has not had an easy life. She started stripping at fifteen to pay her dying mother's medical bills and now she strips to keep a roof over her head while still attending high school. But everything changes when Callum Royal shows up at Ella's school and announces that since both of her parents are dead and as her father's (the man she never met) best friend, he is her legal guardian.
     Ella tries to run but Callum quickly locates her in a strip club where she's trying to earn a little fast cash. He makes her an offer: come live with him and his five sons and he'll give her $10,000 each month that she stays plus more after she graduates.
      Reluctantly Ella goes with him to his mansion on the Atlantic coast. Upon arrival it is clear that Callum's sons are not happy that she's going to be living with them - Especially second oldest son, Reed.
      As Ella tries to settle into her surreal new life the Royal house is filled with tension as the boys try to prove Ella is either sleeping with their dad or just after money. Ella tentatively becomes friends with Callum's girlfriend Brooke and Valerie, the cousin of her new school's resident mean girl, Jordan.
      The longer she stays the more the Royal boys realize she's not going anywhere and a truce is forged. The more time Ella spends with the gorgeous Reed, the more she wants him. But does he want her too?
       As they grow closer Ella finds herself falling for Reed. But what dark secrets is he hiding? Do they have a future or will Reed torpedo their budding relationship and break Ella in the process?
    Paper Princess was an amazing read! I found it nearly impossible to put down from the first page. Paper Princess reminded me slightly of a mash-up between Megan Mead's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian and the movie Cruel Intentions. Ella is tough as nails on the outside but on the inside, she just wants normalcy and to be accepted. I loved all of the Royal boys, especially Easton. I wasn't sure I would like Reed but underneath his angry exterior is an amazing, caring guy.
      The ending completely shocked and broke me and I NEED to read the next book pronto! As a whole Paper Princess is a perfectly written tale of a poor girl with a dark past being thrust into a vastly different life than she's ever experienced before. This book made me laugh at times but more importantly it made me FEEL. I loved every minute of this fast-paced read and I can't wait to see what's next for Ella and the Royal family.
My Rating:5 of 5 Stars

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #56

2017 is already off to a mostly great year for me reading-wise. I devoured Paper Princess by Erin Watt earlier this week (review to come on Friday) and this "WIR"-Wednesday I'm starting...
The Architect of Song (Haunted Hearts Legacy #1) by A.G. Howard Blurb: A lady imprisoned by deafness, an architect imprisoned by his past, and a ghost imprisoned within the petals of a flower - intertwine in this love story that transcends life and death. 
For most of her life, Juliet Emerline has subsisted - isolated by deafness - making hats in the solitude of her home. Now, she's at risk to lose her sanctuary to Lord Nicolas Thornton, a mysterious and eccentric architect with designs on her humble estate. When she secretly witnesses him raging beside a grave, Juliet investigates, finding the name "Hawk" on the headstone and an unusual flower at the base. The moment Juliet touches the petals, a young English nobleman appears in ghostly form, singing a song only her deaf ears can hear. The ghost remembers nothing of his identity or death, other than the one name that haunts his afterlife: Thornton. 
To avenge her ghostly companion and save her estate, Juliet pushes aside her fear of society and travels to Lord Thornton's secluded holiday resort, posing as a hat maker in one of his boutiques. There, she finds herself questioning who to trust: the architect of flesh and bones who can relate to her through romantic gestures, heartfelt notes, and sensual touches ... or the specter who serenades her with beautiful songs and ardent words, touching her mind and soul like no other man ever can. As sinister truths behind Lord Thornton's interest in her estate and his tie to Hawk come to light, Juliet is lured into a web of secrets. But it's too late for escape, and the tragic love taking seed in her heart will alter her silent world forever. 
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I first heard of this book last summer when Wendy Higgins and AG Howard both released their self-published debut NA novels (Unknown for Wendy Higgins and of course The Architect of Song for AG Howard). At the time I hadn't read anything by AG Howard, then later in the fall I read and loved Splintered and an ARC of RoseBlood, so I decided to add this one to my TBR list. Luckily for me, I received The Architect of Song for Christmas and I've been dying to jump into it. I'm not that far in yet but already I can tell this is a book I'm really going to like. 

Book Review: Freeks by Amanda Hocking

Freeks by Amanda Hocking
[image error] Blurb:
Mara has become used to the extraordinary. Roaming from place to place with Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Carnival, she longs for an ordinary life where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future.


She gets her chance when the struggling sideshow sets up camp in the small town of Caudry, and she meets a gorgeous local guy named Gabe. But before long, Mara realizes there’s a dark presence lurking in the town that’s threatening the lives of her friends. She has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she had in order to save everyone she cares about―and change the future forever.

My Review:
Mara and her mother arrive in Caudry, Louisiana with their caravan of sideshow freaks in dire straights. The carnival is flat broke and a good turn out in Caudry is their only hope. But they're not just any carnival or any sideshow, no, Gideon Davorin's Traveling Carnival is a safe haven for people with supernatural abilities.

On Mara's first night in Caudry, she meets a handsome townie, Gabe, but she senses there's something dangerous about him. That doesn't stop her from enjoying his company and getting closer to him over the next few days.

Meanwhile, it quickly becomes clear that there is something wrong with Caudry. Within days of arriving the supernatural members of the carnival begin noticing a change in their powers, one of their own goes missing, several of their well-practiced acts go awry, and something stalks them at night.

What is the real reason the carnival was lured to Caudry? What is waiting in the darkness, waiting poised for the right moment to attack? An animal? Or something more sinister? As more of Mara's friends come under attack she may have to step into her mother's clairvoyant footsteps if they have any chance of defeating their invisible assailant. But what is at the heart of the mysterious attacks? And what secrets is Gabe hiding? Could they be tied to the nightly beastly visits?

I enjoyed reading Freeks, filled with paranormal beings, romance, mystery, and a touch of folklore. Mara was a strong character just looking to be accepted after a lifetime of being judged a "freak" and Gabe was a sexy, sometimes too intense (in my opinion) love interest for Mara - but considering the book encompassed a 10-day long span their romance had to develop quickly to fit in with the story.

Three things didn't make sense for me:
      1. Why is the book set in 1987? There was no clear reason for it to be set then and I fear for a YA audience some of the 80s references might not be understood.
       2. The part of the blurb that says: 'She has seven days to take control over a power she didn't know she had in order to save everyone she cares about'  - I felt was misleading because the power she has is sort of hinted at but not really confirmed until the last 40-50 pages and even then it isn't really her power that she uses in the end. So really Mara is still pretty much a normal girl in a paranormal world.
       3. Some of what I assume were 'big surprise' plot twists I could spot a mile away, but that could just be me.

Overall, I really liked Freeks, I found the plotline and story unique and engaging and I loved all of the characters - they all shine and make the book work as a whole. It comes down to this:
    1. Would I reread this or recommend it to a friend? Yes!
    2. If for some reason the author expanded on this world and made it into a series, would I read the next book? Probably.
    3. Did I enjoy the author's writing enough to try some of her other books? Definitely!
    4. Was this book everything I expected it to be? Yes and no, but it was still a really good read.

My Rating:

4.25 of 5 Stars

Freeks is available today, Tuesday, January 3, 2017, from St. Martin's Griffin. Grab a copy today:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Book Depository | IndieBound | Google Play Books | Add to Goodreads

BIG New Year's Eve Book Blog (2016 Round-up)

If there were a book theme to 2016, it would be the year of Fantasy. This year I discovered and fell in love with so many fantasy books that it's dominated my TBR shelf, my what I'm reading posts, and my life.  I read so many books this year that it was hard to narrow it down to my "top" favorites.
My Top 15 Favorite Books of 2016: Note: Not all of these books have released as of post date
15. Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper This book was one of my favorite indie books of the year. I'd picked it up free on my Kindle and fell in love with the story from the first page. The author gives a really unique spin on reincarnation and soul mates. 










14. Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young I'd read about this book from a book blogger and decided to pick it up earlier this year. This spooky book about a hotel where you can stay for the night... or forever was an amazing read! 
Now I just want to pick up a paperback copy with the new cover and title "Hotel for the Lost."










13. Grace by Leanne Rathbone For a debut book by a new author, this book completely blew me away. You wouldn't believe this was Leanne's first published novel. I just hope she continues the series. Fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen Series and Wendy Higgins's Sweet Series will love this book where good and bad flips.











12. Under the Lights by Abbi Glines This might be one of my favorite Abbi Glines novels ever! This one just really spoke to me and I loved everything about it.














11. The House by Christina Lauren I just have one thing to say to you: The house is ALIVE! This book was my creepy obsession at the beginning of 2016!














10. Awaken by Skye Malone I fell in love with Skye Malone's books over the summer, so this really encompasses her whole Awakened Fate Series. Skye is now one of my go-to authors. 













9. The Obsession by Nora Roberts This is my favorite Nora Roberts book since Carolina Moon.















8. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco This book was really unique, from the way the story was told to the story itself. I won't say anything more... just check this book out when it comes out in March!













7. And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich I didn't like The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich but this book was AMAZING! Just wow, it kept me up all night finishing it! 












6. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas I hadn't read the first 4 books in this series but this one was amazing! Just the fact that I could jump in at book five and understand what was going on is a credit to the author.













5. RoseBlood by AG Howard This was an amazing retelling of the Phantom of the Opera. This is a book you should definitely check out in January!














4. Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill This book was one of my favorite fantasy reads of 2016! Already I'm dying to read the next book in the series!














3. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee I wasn't sure I would like this book but it was fantastic. It truly is like a futuristic Gossip Girl and the Tower and all of the futuristic gadgets were so inventive. 











2. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas *Sighs* RHYSAND. Enough said. I loved this even more than ACOTAR and I can't wait for A Court of Wings and Ruin to come out in May!














1. The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins Wendy Higgins's first attempt at High Fantasy was perfect. There wasn't a thing about it I didn't love and I can't wait for The Great Pursuit to come out to see how everything will end. 














Authors I Discovered and Love in 2016: Christina Lauren (Co-Authors [Christina Lauren is the pen name of two female authors] of The House)Suzanne Young (Author of Hotel Ruby)Sarah J. Maas (Author of the Throne of Glass and ACOTAR series)AG Howard (Author of the Splintered Series, RoseBlood, and The Architect of Song)Skye Malone (Author of The Awakened Fate Series)Katharine McGee (Author of The Thousandth Floor)Erin Summerill (Author of Ever the Hunted)Amanda Hocking (Author of Freeks)Anna Banks (Author of Nemesis)D. Kelly (Author of Just An Illusion - Side A)Zoey Derrick (Author of the 69 Bottles Series)Sabrina Ramoth (Author of Curse of the Bruel Coven)Karen Amanda Hooper (Author of the Kindrily Series)Brynn Chapman (Author of The Requiem Red)Leanne Rathbone (Author of Grace)Jamie Shaw (Author of the Mayhem Series)Sandra Brown (Author of many books including Low Pressure)Rin Chupeco (Author of The Bone Witch)
That's it for 2016! I read a ton of amazing books in 2016, and it was so hard to narrow it down to just my top 15 favorites. What were some of your favorite books that you read in 2016? Did one of my novels make the list? Let me know in the comments!
Happy New Year! See you in 2017!

My Writing, Bookish, and Publishing Goals for 2017

2016 was a seriously busy year for me. I published the first two books in the Eternals Trilogy, wrote book 3 of the Eternals Trilogy, a novelette to go with the Eternals Trilogy, and a standalone YA High Fantasy novel - not to mention turning this blog into a full-fledged book blog where I blog 2-3 times a week, reading at least 74 books - including quite a few ARCs, and getting into #bookstagram on Instagram. 
With the exhaustion of this past year behind me and no sign of slowing down, what do I have in store for 2017?
Publishing:
1.) Publish Through the Fog (Eternals Trilogy  #3) and Eternal Fire (An Eternals Trilogy Novelette) I finished writing Through the Fog and Eternal Fire over the summer and I'm preparing to get the publishing process for both started after the first of the year. I'm planning - if all goes according to plan - to publish Through the Fog and Eternal Fire together either at the end of June or beginning of July 2017!
2.) Figure out which course of publishing I want to pursue for my YA High Fantasy novel and begin the process.I haven't decided whether I want to try to submit this book to a traditional or small press, seek out a literary agent to help me find a publisher, or self-publish this project. Ideally, I really believe this could be the book that changes everything for my writing career and I want it to find a broad audience so I haven't decided which route would be best yet. After the first of the year, I'm planning to sit down, make a few pro/con lists and see what happens from there. Either way, you probably won't see this book available until at least early 2018. 
Writing:
3. Pick A Writing Project (or a couple) and See What I Accomplish in the next 12 months.I'm not sure which writing project idea to pursue next, but I'm going to look over the ideas I have and see what I feel like working on. I'd like to write at least 2 full-length novels in 2017.Possible projects:-A collection of short stories that occur in the Eternals Trilogy world pre-Out of Darkness.-A classic novel retelling with an unusual twist.-A vampire romance set in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the 1960s.- An upper YA paranormal romance set in Nashville. 
4. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2017 and actually attend some of the write-ins.This year's NaNoWriMo was a huge success for me and I can't wait to see what I come up with next November! I couldn't make it to any of the write-ins for my region due to my schedule and the weather but I'm hoping next year I'll be able to attend a few! 
Bookish:
5. Read at least 30 books in 2017.I like to set the bar low so I can exceed my goal. 30 books is an easily doable goal. 
6. Expand my blog viewership/subscribers/readership to 2,500 to 3,000 views per month.Right now between 1,500 to 2,000 of you amazing readers view my blog every month. I am beyond grateful to everyone that stops by! Let's keep growing in 2017!
7. Take better #bookstagram photos and gain more followers.I've just really gotten into the #bookstagram community on Instagram the past few months and I'd love to try out some new props and see what shots I can come up with in 2017. I've met some amazing people that inspire me every day through the community! 

"Book Mail" Thursday #8

I broke my no-buying-new-books rule already and splurged on a few discounted ebooks and I have a couple new books to read this "Book Mail" Thursday thanks to Christmas last weekend...
Paper Princess by Erin Watt and The Architect of Song by AG Howard Despite being a tight year for my grandmother and I this Christmas I got two of the books from my Christmas wishlist this year! I love AG Howard and I can't wait to read The Architect of Song and Paper Princess sounds really great too! 
eBook Splurges: Want to know one of my favorite things about holidays? Authors and Publishers sometimes put discounts on their books. These are some eBooks that I got on HUGE discount this past week because of the Christmas holiday! Intercepted by J.Q. Anderson Discount: 100% off on Christmas Day - FREE!
Unknown by Wendy HigginsDiscount: On Sale Christmas Week for $1.99!
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi MeadowsDiscount: On Sale 12/27/2016 for $1.99!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta SepetysDiscount: On Sale 12/27/2016 for $1.99!
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn HamiltonDiscount: On Sale 12/27/2016 for $1.99
Books I Want to Splurge on In the Future: As a book addict, I'm always thinking about my next book purchase. These are two I want to get in the next couple months...
Ever the Hunted (physical copy, I had an eARC) by Erin Summerill
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Signed Copy)
***What books did you get for Christmas? Have you indulged in any holiday eBook sales? 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #55

The end of 2016 is just around the corner and I'm finishing the year off right with an old favorite. I did try one other book this week so I'll touch a little on both this "WIR"-Wednesday...
The One (Selection Series #3) by Kiera Cass Blurb: Entering the Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she arrived at the palace, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think of it so far: Well, honestly The One became a DNF. I had it sitting on my shelf since August because if you remember, I loved The Selection so I ran out to buy books two and three right away. Halfway through The Elite (Book 2), I stopped liking either the storyline or the series as a whole. A lot of it had to do with Maxon. The character started acting in a way that I just didn't like. Even so, I had The One still sitting on my TBR shelf and I thought since it was a fairly short book I'd breeze through it so I could get to the reread book I usually read around New Year's Eve. I got about four chapters in and I just couldn't continue. I just felt so bad for America. I skimmed through the rest of the book and I know the major plot point things that happen in this book but I just didn't have any interest in finishing the book. I know a lot of people loved the series, but it just didn't sit well with me after the halfway point of book 2.
Now I'm on to my New Year's reread book...
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore Blurb: Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems. She also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect her family, who are all practicing witches, but to protect any hope of ever having a normal life herself.   Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that: good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone else in the house with them--and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door.   It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back.   This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down.
Why I Chose This Book / Previous Review: The first time I read this book was around New Year's Eve, so every year I've made it a tradition to reread it again around New Year's Eve. I love Rosemary Clement-Moore as an author and Texas Gothic is my favorite book by her.
Review from last year:
Amy Goodnight always tries to project that she is the normal one in her family of witches. She and her sister Phin are spending the summer at their Aunt's ranch while she is away on vacation. Things start going awry when someone discovers a set of remains on the neighbor's land and Amy's sister wants to try out her new invention the "Kirlianometer"* (I can't remember the exact name) and Amy finds herself bound to a ghost that seems to want to freeze her to death. To make matters worse Amy can never seem to act normal around her sexy but grumpy neighbor Ben. I love this book (I know I've said that already); as usual Rosemary Clement-Moore has the ability of making witty, hilarious, relatable characters. 
This book is for teens and anyone that loves a good story. I've read this book at least 5 or 6 times and I keep coming back. If you're a fan of Rosemary Clement-Moore and if you like her Maggie Quinn series or the Splendor Falls, then you will enjoy this book! Haven't read anything by this author before? Give her a try! She's wonderful and her writing style is sort of similar to Meg Cabot, plus her writing is full of humor.

Book Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill Series: Clash of the Kingdoms, Book 1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: December 27, 2016 Blurb: Seventeen-year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, a legendary bounty hunter—that is, until her father is murdered. The alleged killer is none other than Cohen Mackay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart.       She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a force to be reckoned with.
My Review: When seventeen-year-old Britta Flannery is caught poaching on the king's land and hauled in by the king's guards a deal is offered to her by the High Lord, Jamis: she will escape the noose and be able to hold onto her home in exchange for helping the king's guard track and capture the man that killed her father. 
The catch? According to the king's guard and the high lord, Britta's father's killer is none other than Cohen Mackay - her father's apprentice and the boy she loves. Britta is beside herself. It cannot be true and yet the evidence and the innate way Britta has always been able to tell when someone is telling the truth or a lie says that it is true. Cohen is the killer. 
She agrees to go along with three of the king's guards - the harsh but fair Captain Omar, the friendly mammoth of a man Leif, and the lewd, nasty Tomas. Tracking Cohen turns out to be an easy task - almost too easy. Could he know that Britta would come after him and be leaving her bread crumbs? 
When Britta does finally catch up to Cohen everything changes. It's immediately apparent to Britta that Cohen has been set up. As she and Cohen band together and cross the border into the country of Shaerdan - Malam's enemy whom they are on the brink of war with - to search for a woman named Enat they soon learn that not everything is as it appears. 
Who is Enat? What secrets does she hold about Britta's parents and even Britta herself? Will Cohen and Britta find out who the real murderer is? Or will Cohen be executed for a crime he did not commit? 
I loved Ever the Hunted. I haven't been this in love with a fantasy novel since finishing Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury. Fans of SJM and other fantasy authors/novels will gobble this up, unable to put it down until the last cliffhanging page. 
I thought the pacing was good, keeping me wanting to see what was going to happen next and the writing and storyline were perfect. I loved the romantic tension between Cohen and Britta as Britta tried to unravel the reasons Cohen left  so abruptly, whether she can trust him, and if they could possibly have a future. 
I did find a few things predictable, like Enat's relationship to Britta's family and Lord Jamis's secret, but overall the book was filled with enough action that those things were easily overlooked. 
The ending leads me to think a potential love triangle is brewing in the world of Britta and Cohen and I'm eager to see if the impending war can be stopped and who Britta's father's murder's accomplice is which leaves me eager to read book two. 
Overall, I think this book is amazing and I loved disappearing into Britta's world.
My Rating:5 of 5 Stars
Ever the Hunted is available today from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Grab your copy today!Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Add to Goodreads