Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 160

Book Review: The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia Blurb: Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad―an undercover cop. She transfers to public school in the Downs, where fistfights in the halls don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.
Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him…and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?
My Review: After seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux's boyfriend Noah is beaten to death outside a club, Frankie's life spirals out of control. Earning a DUI after getting wasted at Noah's lacrosse coach's memorial for Noah, Frankie's socialite mother and stepfather and her undercover cop father decide it is for the best if Frankie goes to live with her father in the Downs.
The Downs are a completely different world than the upscale neighborhood Frankie grew up in but she plans to stay under the radar - go to school then her community service and come home. She doesn't want to let anyone in, not even her best friends Lex and Abel. All she wants is to fill in the gaps in her memory and remember who killed Noah.
On Frankie's first day at her new public high school, she spies sexy, confident Marco. Their chemistry is instantaneous and soon Frankie is wrapped up in Marco's world and making a new friend in Cruz, a tough street racer who Frankie bonds with. But not everything in Marco's life is pleasant - and Marco's dangerous hidden life may destroy the little bit of stability Frankie is gaining in her life and put her in the crosshairs of a psychotic killer.
Will Frankie and Marco's love be enough to overcome it all? Do a cop's daughter and a bad boy really have any chance at a future?
I really liked The Lovely Reckless, it's sexy and addicting. It's a really fast-paced, light, easy read and I devoured the whole book in about 24 hours.
Marco is a swoon-worthy book boyfriend that readers will love and Frankie's journey from a broken girl to a girl getting a handle on who she is and what she wants is truly beautiful. The storyline is thrilling and packed with enough obstacles and drama for Marco and Frankie that a reader will want to keep reading and the secondary characters compliment the main characters well.
A few minor things irked me about The Lovely Reckless, just a couple grammatical issues that an editor should have caught and a question about a character - who is Ava? She pops up toward the end as Cruz's sister but the only one of Cruz's sisters named toward the beginning of the book is Teresa. Also, I'm a little unconvinced that after so short a time it was really "love" between Marco and Frankie. To me, it felt more like lust until the ending.
Overall, I did really like the book; it reminded me of a cross between Katie McGarry's Crash Into You and Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry.
My Rating:4 of 5 Stars

"Book Mail" Thursday #7

Christmas came early and I got book mail on Tuesday! 
Just An Illusion - Side A by D. Kelly
As I mentioned last week, I won a signed paperback copy of Just An Illusion - Side A by D. Kelly through a Facebook giveaway and I was excited to get it in Tuesday's mail. The print copy is even more gorgeous than I thought it would be. I loved Just An Illusion - Side A and I can't wait for the B-Side to come out later this winter! 
Waiting On: I broke down and ordered the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition of RoseBlood (because when you preorder RoseBlood you can get a free Thorn postcard signed by AG Howard! More details here)
And I also added three books to my Apollycon 2017 Virtual Signing order... The Affiliate by K.A. Linde
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (US Cover)
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Do you want to get signed copies of books by some of your favorite authors? Shop the Apollycon 2017 Virtual Signing! More info can be found here.
Neither of the orders I've mentioned will come to me until after the new year (April for the Apollycon order to be exact) so it might be a little while before you see another Book Mail Thursday post from me! 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #54

I breezed my way through The Lovely Reckless and started an ARC I have to finish by January 3rd. This week I'm reading...
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.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: Freeks is one of my most anticipated reads of Winter 2017 and I've been dying to get into it. I got the ARC from a blogger friend of mine and my fingers have been itching to read it. Since the book isn't released yet and this isn't my official review, I won't give away any of the details but I can tell you that I am really enjoying Freeks so far. 

COVER REVEAL & TEASER TUESDAY: DARK GODDESS BY AMALIE HOWARD

I am honored to reveal the cover of DARK GODDESS by Amalie Howard, the second book in the Alpha Goddess Series. Isn't it stunning...

DARK GODDESS  by Amalie HowardHardcover, 384 pagesExpected publication: July 4th, 2017 by Sky Pony Press

After an epic struggle that unseated the Asura Lord of Death and placed Serjana Caelum’s best friend, Kyle, on his throne, the Mortal Realm is peaceful and the balance between good and evil—which Sera is sworn to protect—has been restored.

But signs of a new threat to the world of men quickly begin to appear: A scourge of demons descends on the Mortal Realm, and Sera is beside herself trying to locate their source. She sends word to the gods for help, and their answer comes in the form of Kira, the living incarnation of Kali, goddess of destruction.

Stunning and dangerous, Kira plans to protect the heavens at all cost, even if it means destroying the entire Mortal Realm. Soon Sera and Kyle find themselves fighting not just the demon plague, but Kira and her twin. But when an even more sinister threat arises—putting not just the human world but all planes of existence in jeopardy—they must all learn to work together or lose everything they sacrificed so much to save.

     Without a backward glance, she closed her eyes and jumped into the midst of the blue-black pool, the sticky fluid sucking her body down to its depths like some kind of ravenous beast. As it devoured her, Sera’s mind emptied of all thought…and of all memory as she plummeted into the space where love would be nothing but weakness. She’d learned that the hard way. She stripped away all emotion, all empathy.
     It was time to become the monster.

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BOOK ONE IN THE SERIES: ALPHA GODDESS



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AMALIE HOWARD grew up in Trinidad & Tobago where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees, and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks, and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

An aspiring writer from a young age, Amalie’s poem “The Candle,” written at age twelve, was published by the University of Warwick press. At fifteen, she was  a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Award (a global youth writing competition). A Colby College graduate, she completed dual Honors Theses in both French and International Studies, and graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. At Colby, she was cited for her research contribution to Raffael Scheck’s article, “German Conservatism and Female Political Activism in the Early Weimar Republic,” and his subsequent book, Mothers of the Nation. She also received a distinction in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (A-levels) as well as a postgraduate certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, account executive, and global channel sales director for a Fortune 500 company.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, SLJ, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist and a silver Moonbeam award winner. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Find Amalie Howard: Website † Twitter † Facebook † Instagram





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Book Review: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas Blurb: The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
My Review: It's time for Assassin-Queen Aelin Galathynius to begin her quest to regain her throne, but the Lords of Terrasen are unwilling to let go of the past and Aelin's history as Adarlan's assassin and recognize her as the true Queen of Terrasen. 
When an imminent attack on Rifthold by the Ironteeth witches is uncovered, Aelin sends Rowan to save Dorian and bring him to Skull's Bay while Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra set off to take back Ilium from Erawan's stolen Ardarlan forces. There her ancestor Brannon commands that she search out a lock. Pushing it aside she and her allies sail to join Rowan and Dorian in Skull's Bay where Aelin hopes to call in some debts and build up her army against Erawan. But why is the lock so important? And what does Aelin's destiny have to do with the lock?
Meanwhile,  Elide Lochan is lost within the Oakwald forest and being stalked by monstrous creatures from Morath called ilken. She must find her Queen and she's been charged with delivering a stone to someone unknown to her named Celaena Sardothian. When she's on the brink of being captured by the ilken she is saved by a Fae warrior, Lorcan. Together they tentatively forge a promise that Lorcan will take her to Terrasen under his protection as long as she tells him everything she knows of Morath. But while being hunted by the ilken and hiding amongst a traveling carnival will their search for Aelin truly take them to Terrasen? Or will their path take them somewhere else entirely? Will they be betrayed and captured before they ever reach Aelin? And is it possible that after centuries alone, the heartless warrior's heart may finally be softening towards someone?
When Manon Blackbeak kills one of Iskra Yellowlegs's Thirteen and saves Dorian Havillard from slaughter she's essentially signed her death warrant in the eyes of the Matrons. Will she or her Thirteen escape their punishment? What will happen when the secret of her heritage is revealed? 
As Aelin and her allies converge on Skull's Bay and beyond, new allies will be made, strengths will be put to the test, and new dangers will arise. Will Aelin and her court make it through unscathed? Or will everything go terribly awry? 
Empire of Storms, the fifth installment of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series is a high-risk, heart-pounding adventure. I haven't read the first four books (except for the first 30 pages of Throne of Glass) and initially it took me a few chapters to piece everything together, but even not reading the first books I easily became engrossed in the story. Empire of Storms is a massive book and it took me ages to get through but I loved every minute of it. 
Once again Sarah J. Maas has created a world full danger and intrigue with enough unique characters to fall in love with. Throughout reading Empire of Storms, I got caught up in all the different relationships forming - from Lysandra and Aedion to Manon and Dorian to Elide and Lorcan and even the meeting of Aedion and his father and they all tugged at my heartstrings just as much as Aelin's quest and Aelin's relationship with Rowan did. Maas's excellent writing kept me turning pages, dying to find out what dangers laid ahead and how each character would make it through - if they would make it through. I have to admit, of all the sexy male character in this series, I think Lorcan might be my favorite, though. 
The ending of this book completely blew me away and I can't wait to see what's going to happen in book 6. This book is a must read for fans of the series, but prepare yourself for the heart-stopping ending! 
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Last Minute Bookish Gift Ideas for The Bookworm In Your Life

With only 8 and a half shopping days left until Christmas, hopefully, you've already started your Christmas shopping. In case you haven't here are some last minute bookish gift ideas for the book lover in your life...
Book Themed Candles from A Court of Candles $16.00 I just ordered myself some of these awesome candles and I can't wait to get them! With inspiration from Harry Potter, the ACOTAR series, the Throne of Glass Series, Percy Jackson, Gilmore Girls, Six of Crows and Once Upon A Time these 100% Soy Candles are a perfect gift choice!Bonus: Get 30% off your order all through the month of December using coupon code: DECEMBER30 
Book Inspired Soaps, Bookmarks, and Lip Balms from BehindthePagesStore.com

I've seen these book inspired lip balms a lot on Instagram and they look so awesome. They're fairly inexpensive and would make great stocking stuffers! The downside? The shop/owner is located in Australia, so I'm not sure you would get your order by Christmas. It's worth a try, though!

Book Inspired Items from Evie Seo's Society6 Shop
I love Evie Seo's designs, inspired by many popular books and the range of products you can get each design on is large - from laptop cases to shower curtains to clocks and bedding, there's a gift for everyone. 

Bonus: Today there is a sitewide sale - 15% off plus free worldwide shipping. Order today to receive your items by Christmas! 

T-Shirts, Totes, and Scarves Printed With Entire Books from Lithographs
These awesome designs are printed with the entire text of the novels they're inspired by. From classic to more modern literature, there's something for everyone! Downside: These items take time to make, so you probably won't get your item by Christmas.

A Gift Subscription from OwlCrate
Does someone in your life love YA books? Then give them the gift of an OwlCrate subscription! Every month they'll receive a themed box with a new YA hardcover novel and 3-5 bookish items to tie into the theme. 
Bonus: Get 10% using the code: CITY10 (someone I follow on Instagram is an OwlCrate Rep, this is her code for anyone to use!)

The Old Standbys: Gift Cards or Books 

Can't decide what to get your book lover for Christmas? Bookstore gift cards and books always make great gifts! Feel out your book lover, see what new books they're excited to read. Afraid you'll buy them something they won't like or have already purchased? Go for the gift card and put a smile on your book lover's face! 

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So there you have it, a few different ideas for what to get your book love for Christmas! What are some of your favorite bookish gifts? 

"Book Mail" Thursday #6

I finally have new book mail to share with you! Over the past week I've received two awesome pieces of book mail, so this "Book Mail" Thursday I'm showing off... 
ARCs of Freeks by Amanda Hocking and RoseBlood by AG Howard!!!
I've already read an eARC of RoseBlood and I loved it; you'll get to read my review on January 10th, but I haven't read Freeks yet and I'm eager to read it after I finish reading The Lovely Reckless. 
Waiting On: I won a signed paperback copy of D. Kelly's Just An Illusion - Side A, so I'm waiting for that to arrive - hopefully soon! 
What I Want to Splurge On / Christmas is Coming! Christmas is just around the corner and this year I actually asked for specific books. Here's what I'm hoping for under the tree this year...
Since it's almost Christmas there really isn't anything pressing I want to splurge on right now. I might add a couple books to my Apollycon 2017 Virtual Signing order and over the next couple months I might get myself a physical copy of Ever the Hunted and the Barnes and Noble exclusive version of RoseBlood or maybe even a signed copy of one of Jennifer Crusie's books from her new online shop, but right now I don't have any pressing book needs. 
What books are you hoping for under the tree? Do you have any cool book mail you want to talk about? Are you waiting on any books? 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #53

I'm finally finishing up Empire of Storms so tonight on this "WIR"-Wednesday I'm going to be starting...
The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia Blurb:
Seventeen year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad―an undercover cop. She transfers to public school in the Downs, where fistfights in the halls don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.
Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him…and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I've wanted to read this book for a long time and I must confess... I really need a break from the fantasy genre. I've read entirely too much of it these past couple months. I haven't started reading yet so I can't give any opinions at this time.

INTO THE LIGHT RELEASE DAY & A Note About the Book

It's finally here! INTO THE LIGHT is available worldwide today! Thank you to everyone that has preordered a copy of INTO THE LIGHT and everyone that grabbed a copy today! I hope you love it as much as you loved OUT OF DARKNESS. 
Before I get to where you can buy INTO THE LIGHT if you haven't already gotten a copy I'd like to share a special note with you about how different it was for me to write INTO THE LIGHT compared to OUT OF DARKNESS...
Hey, Readers!        Today is the release date of what I think of as probably the most emotional book I've written to date. What I mean by that is out of all the books I've written so far, this one I had to reach inside myself and let myself bleed, so to speak. I'm talking about two specific sections of INTO THE LIGHT.
  
        Both scenes (without spoiling anything) are a peek into two of the main characters backgrounds, and I wanted to show that though the dark things from their past shaped them into who they are today, there can still be good things on the horizon. 

       Overall, I think young love like in my first two novels is hopeful and innocent whereas Out of Darkness and its trilogy shows a more mature, jaded love for Lizette where not everything is easy and sometimes happily ever after takes time. 

       I loved growing with these characters and laying the groundwork for the finale of the Eternals Trilogy, Through the Fog - which will be coming out next summer. As always, I hope you enjoy reading Into the Light as much as I enjoyed writing it! 

        Happy Reading! 
         
              XO,
        
                   Taylor

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Buy INTO THE LIGHT
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Into the Light Teaser

Into the Light Blog Series Part III of IV: INTO THE LIGHT Teaser Since I didn't want to give away who Lizette is going to pick I picked this scene, which is one of my favorites in Into the Light. Lizette and Arianthe are hanging out at a club, but where? Who is Jaxson Harris and why does he buy the girls drinks? Why is Keiran's brother Finn so upset that Arianthe is at the club? For those answers you'll have to wait until December 13th, in the meantime check out the teaser...
We laugh about nothing in particular as we enter the club and weave between the bodies moving to the steady beat of the music. Once we reach the center of the dance floor we throw our hands up and get lost in the rhythm and the sea of people. 
It doesn’t take long for Arianthe to get scooped up and spun around by a tanned skinned college guy just on the cusp of making a drunken fool of himself. They dance together for three songs while I give myself over to the music. Sometimes I danced with a partner, sometimes without. As long as they kept their hands where they were supposed to I didn’t mind.
“This is so much fun,” Arianthe yells over the music as we weave our way to the bar.
“I’m glad we could do this,” I agree as we elbow our way to the counter.
“What should we order?” Arianthe asks as she eyes up the bartender; a Cajun guy with long dirty brown dreadlocks.
Glancing at him I shrug, “I doubt he’ll serve us anything other than soda.”
The bartender finishes taking an order from someone at the other end of the bar and mixes two pink cocktails. Sensing our gazes on him he looks up at us and starts carrying over the drinks. “Ladies, these are compliments of the gentleman at the end of the bar.”
“Thank you,” I tell the bartender as Arianthe squeals and peers down the bar to locate our mysterious benefactor. When I follow her gaze I instantly lock eyes with Jaxson Harris. He lifts his glass in greeting and motions for us to join him.
“Ohmigod, he is so hot!” Arianthe exclaims as we walk over to talk to him.
“Hello ladies,” Jaxson lays on the charm as we reach where he’s leaning against the bar. He straightens the jacket of his light pinstripe suit. 
“Jaxson,” I reply in greeting. “This is my friend Arianthe. Arianthe, this is Jaxson Harris. He plays for the Saints.”
“That is so cool,” Arianthe gushes. “I love basketball.”
Jaxson winces as I correct Arianthe, “The Saints are a football team.”
“I knew that,” Arianthe says.
Jaxson clears his throat, “so where is your little boyfriend tonight Lizette?”
“At home playing video games with the guys,” I explain as I sip the fruity pink drink Jaxson ordered.
Jaxson sputters his own drink in surprise, “let me get this straight; he let his sexy as hell girlfriend go out alone for a night on the town while he sits at home playing video games with a bunch of stinky guys? What is wrong with that boy?”
I snort, “We just needed a night apart. We’re together all the time otherwise.”
“Well, when you finally decide to give him the boot you know where to find me.” Jaxson winks suggestively.
“That’s okay, I know how your dates typically end up,” I reply tartly. 
Jaxson flashes his incisors, “I only bite when asked.”
Beside me, Arianthe giggles mindlessly.
“Arianthe!” A voice calls out sharply. The three of us whip our heads in the direction of the interruption just in time to see Finn barreling his way through the crowded club. “What are you doing in here? You’re much too young to be in a place like this, especially wearing something like that.”
“We’re just having a girl’s night out,” I explain.
“Yeah,” Arianthe glares up at him as she tugs on the hem of the short blue tube dress she’s wearing. “Where is your girlfriend?”
“That’s not your concern,” Finn returns her glare. “I’m taking you two home right now.”
“Oh come on,” Arianthe protests.
I look at Jaxson apologetically, “it is getting late and I have to work tomorrow.”
“No worries. I’ll see you around Lizette. Nice to meet you Arianthe,” Jaxson says, dipping the tip of his black fedora at us.
Finn quickly ushers us out of the club and we walk back to where we parked Wes’s car. Finn angrily grabs the keys out of Arianthe’s hand and insists on driving us home.
I can feel the anger brewing and simmering between them by the time we pull into my driveway. 
Yawning I stretch in the back seat. “I’ll let you guys talk. I’m going up to bed, I’m beat.”
“Goodnight Lizette,” Finn manages to mumble through clenched teeth as he fights to keep control of his rage. 
I hurry into the house without a backward glance.
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PREORDER INTO THE LIGHT (Eternals Trilogy #2) Today!  Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Add on Goodreads Into the Light arrives December 13, 2016!