Evading The Dark

Book Review

Title: Evading the Dark

Author: E.M. Rinaldi

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: April 11, 2016

Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Stalk the Author: Twitter, Website, FB, Instagram

Buy Me! Amazon 

Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

High school sucks. It doesn’t matter who you ask; jock, cheerleader, computer nerd, or band geek, they will all say the same thing: It’s a nightmare. But Casey is still wondering how she got the short end of the stick. Just a Sophomore at the prestigious Luthos Academy for Magical Beings, Casey already knows more about heartache and fear than any almost-sixteen-year-old should. Orphaned and left to be raised by the Academy, she spends her days training to become a Guardian, but that dream is looking dimmer with every day that passes.Unlike the wand-waving heroines in all her favorite books, Witches in her world don’t cast spells, they are born wielding the power of nature: water, fire, earth, or air; powers Casey never developed. She’ll be lucky if they even allow her to take her final exams.

She is top of her training class, but that doesn’t keep her from being looked down upon by every other being at her school. All Casey wants is to be given a chance, instead she finds the only life she’s ever known targeted by an unfathomable evil. Thrust into the center of an age-old prophecy, a war is coming with Casey at the reins.

Will relying on her hard earned training be enough for her to make it out alive?

My Thoughts:

I was sent an Ecopy by the author in exchange for an honest review.

When E.M. Rinaldi contacted me to ask me if I wanted to review her book, after reading the synopsis I just couldn't reply fast enough. I love fantasy books especially if they have witches in them and this book did not disappoint, I was hooked from the first page all the way to the end; I just can't believe this is a debut novel it was so well written. 

I loved that the Witches in this book don't cast spells, but control water, fire, earth, or air instead it’s a breather from your typical witch. Casey was such an amazing and strong character I loved everything about her. She kicked ass and didn't take crap from anyone and I love that in a female character. This book is really well paced and I loved it wasn't too slow or too fast and just kept you interested and turning the pages. One thing that was very well done was the romance there is just enough, it doesn’t take over the story at all and I loved that the author took the time to build the relationship and did not make it insta-love.  I absolutely loved everything about this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next one, especially after the ending and twist Rinaldi hit me with; I NEED to know what happens next! If you're in the mood of witches, faes, vampires and tons of action, look no further this book is it and I highly recommend it. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

The Star-Touched Queen

Book Review!

Title: The Star-Touched Queen

Author: Roshani Chokshi

Rating: 

Date Published: April 26, 2016

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre: Fantasy YA
Page Count: 342

Stalk the Author: Website, Twitter

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, Kobo, BAM!, Book Depository
Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

My Thoughts:

This book was PHENOMENAL!! Just the writing alone blew me away, I'm still in awe of the authors beautiful writing and in shock that this is her debut novel. I want, no I need more of this beautiful story and this magnificent characters; I refuse to believe that it is a 

standalone. 

Maya has been born with a cursed horoscope; a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, because of this she is feared by everyone in the Kingdom even by her father the Raja himself. When her father decides to arrange a wedding for Maya for political convenience her world comes crashing down, but none the less Maya becomes Queen of Akaran and the wife of mysterious Amar.

Gosh, I absolutely adored this book, I just couldn't get enough; the world building was so beautifully done and I really enjoyed how the author brought mythology and Indian folklore together, she did it so brilliantly. Maya is such a strong character and goes through a lot of development as the book progresses, with that said, I did find her a little naive and irritating through the middle of the book I just wanted to go in there and shake her around until she came into her senses. Amar, is one of the reasons I didn't give this book five stars and not because I didn't like him, but because I wanted so much more of him and his backstory and I feel the author didn't seem to give enough of him; I absolutely loved Amar the way he treated Maya had me swooning all over the place, I really hope we get a novella about him. This book hit me with a twist towards the very end that I did not see coming and that made me sit in the edge of my seat until the very end. Overall this book in my opinion is a masterpiece that everyone should pick up!   

Favorite Quote from Book!
"I make this bond to you in blood not flowers. Come with me and you shall be my empress with the moon for your throne and constellations to wear on your hair. Come with me and I promise you that we will always be equals."

-SandraTheBookWorm

Emotions

Book Review

Title: Emotions

Author: Arnulfo Cantarero

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: May 15, 2013

Genre: YA Sci-Fi 

Stalk the Author: Twitter, FB, Instagram, Webiste

Buy Me! Amazon

Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Jason Ariaz is not your average 22 year old. He has been genetically and cybernatically enhanced but that’s only the beginning. He is an emotionless extraterrestrial born to human parents and living among us. Both him and his implanted thinking computer were damaged on landing and must go through life as less than what they really are. The purpose of their mission: to gain permanent emotions from the more primitive society that is Earth. If he is successful, he will be the first of his species to do so in nearly 200,000 years.

Hope lies in the fact that he is capable of emotional episodes and he has been able to forge true friendships. However, he does have the chance of completing his mission if he can truly care for Ariel, the closest human in his life. But he better know his heart soon. Their lives are in danger of ending tonight, unless he can recover what his species has lost.

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered how it would be if we couldn't feel emotions. Our main character Jason doesn't have to wonder, because since the day he was born he has not been able to feel anything.  Jason as we learn in the beginning of the book is an emotionless extraterrestrial who was born to human parents after himself and his companion a computer he has implanted within himself were damaged on the way to Earth; all that Jason and computer recall is that their mission is to gain emotions, if he does he will be the first in his species to have permanent emotions in two hundred thousand years.

This is my first sci-fi read and I have to say I really enjoyed it and I felt that the romance was very minimal in this book, which is very rare in a YA book s. I really enjoyed the concept of the story and thought the author executed it very well. It's hard to imagine not being able to feel anything, but Arnulfo made sure the main characters was unmoved no matter what happened, there was some moments in the book that I just wanted to smack Jason in hopes he would have an emotional episode, yes there is some-times and places where Jason can have an emotional episode which is basically a taste of a certain emotion, but it doesn't last very long. I really liked all the characters in this book! I really enjoyed seeing their progress from teens to young adults and see all the character development they go through. There was only one thing that made give this book four stars instead of five and that was that at moments I felt that there was a big timeline jump from one scene to another and it left me a little confused, but no, this did not stop me from enjoying the book as a whole; with that said I have to say this book has a little of everything sci-fi, adventure, action, humor, romance and many other things. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new sci-fi read with a very unique premise.  Also I really liked the ending it left me wondering what is going to come next. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Bookish: Adult Coloring Book

Book Review & Happy Release Day!

Title: Bookish: Adult Coloring Book

Author: Martha Sweeney

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Publisher: WWN Publishing Group 

Stalk Author: FB, Website, Twitter, Instagram

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, BAM!

Buy a Signed Copy  

My Thoughts:

When I saw that Martha was releasing a coloring book made especially for book lovers, I could not get it in my hands fast enough. So when she told me she would be sending me an ARC I was beyond excited and was literally stalking my mailman every day. When it finally made it into my hands I immediately fell in love the flower designs and bookish sayings in every page are perfect and made me want to sit and color all of them at once. Besides the awesome designs Martha also included some bookish activities like some crossword puzzles, a page where you can write down the names of all your book boyfriends and many other things. I have several coloring books and I have to say that this one is my favorite! I just love all the bookish things in it. If you are looking for a coloring book and have yet to decide on one, I highly recommend this one it's just perfect for bookworms! 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Anna's Way (The Ditch Lane Diaries #2)

Book Review

Title: Anna's Way

Author:  D.F. Jones

Rating: ★★★★★

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

Publisher: Jones Media

Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Page Count: 296

Stalk Author: FB, Twitter, Instagram, 

Buy Me! Amazon

Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

The Ditch Lane Diaries continues with Anna's Way. 

Anna the healer, Ruby the dreamer, and Sandy the soul reader are The Wards of Campbell Ridge. 

Anna discovers that she has a guardian angel named Ralph. He is a part of the elite warrior angels that has been sent to train The Wards of Campbell Ridge against the forces of darkness. Ralph teaches Anna how to use her divine healing power while she learns as much as she can about modern medicine. As Anna’s power grows stronger so does her drive to become a doctor. Anna receives a full ride out of state scholarship for medical school, but she is in love with Jerry. 

Will Anna pursue her divine calling at the risk of losing true love? 

My Thoughts:

I was sent a copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I loved, loved Anna's story! I couldn't get enough of it; Jones had her hooks on me since the beginning of the book until the very end. Anna and her friends Sandy, Ruby and Jerry all have powers that are later going to help them in a war. Anna has the power of healing and the longer she uses her powers to heal the stronger the pull to go to medical school becomes. when she receives a letter from an out of state school saying that she has been approved for a full scholarship, she has to make a tough decision, leave her one true love Jerry behind and follow her dream or put her dreams aside and start a life with Jerry. The character development in this book was very well written I really enjoyed reading how Anna came to understand her powers and grow stronger all with the help of her Guardian Angel Ralph, which by the way I adored. That is another thing that made me love this book all the Angels and Demons! I'm a sucker for books that talk about angels it’s just such a fascinating topic for me and I feel the way Jones wrote her Angels and Demons really gave them a personality and made me connect with them. I had a love and hate relationship with Mr. Jerry at one point I wanted smack him upside the head and ask him what the hell was going through that head of his. Before I end this review I just really want to say that I love the friendship this characters have they really and truly love each other and would do anything to protect their friends. I loved every second of this book and can’t wait to read the next one! If you haven't picked this series up and are in the look for a romance with some paranormal, look no further this is it. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Uncovering Hope

Book Review

Title: Uncovering Hope

Author: Kacey Shea

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: March 22, 2016

Page Count: 260

Genre: Adult Romance

Stalk Author: Website, FB, Insta, Twitter

Buy Me! Amazon

Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Carly Reynolds doesn’t have much faith in men. She no longer trusts her heart to lead—not after doing her so wrong. Raising her sons alone, Carly must learn to stand on her own. But she’s stronger now, wiser, and determined to move forward. 

Derek Taylor, the sexy tatted drummer for Three Ugly Guys, doesn’t have much time for women, except to hook up and get off. He’d rather focus on writing music and living the career he’s always dreamed. Fate may have other plans. 

Dr. Garrett Brooks is the talk of Children’s Hospital. As the new surgical resident, he is young, charming, and attractive. He takes an immediate interest in Carly but his demanding work schedule and her single mom status don’t leave much opportunity for dating.

Between love interests, two boys to raise, and a full time nursing job, Carly’s ability to stand strong is put to the test. And when strange things start to transpire Carly must face the reality that her past has come back to haunt. Can the woman she’s become dare to hope for love again? And which man will win her heart?

Uncovering Hope is the third and final book in the Uncovering Love series. This book can be read as a standalone. This book contains mature themes and is intended for adult audiences.

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I've read the first two books in this companion novel series and I loved them, but I do have to say that this one is my favorite! I love Kacey's writing and I can't get enough of it. Carly is a single busy mom working the night shift in her nursing job; She has no faith in men since the father of her children did her wrong and left her to care for their children by-herself.  Derek is part of a rock band and has no time to be in a relationship that is until he meets Carly and can't get her off his mind. Meanwhile the dreamy doctor that has all the hospital buzzing has taken an interest in Carly and she sees him as the safe and maybe right choice for her and her children. 

Gosh, this book took me on emotional roller-coaster I was laughing one chapter, crying the next and at some points it even had me on the edge of my seat. I love how Kacey brings all the characters together from each book, I really enjoy knowing what they’re up to and to see them interact. This book is so much more than just your typical romance, this story is so heart wrenching and warming, I loved it; I also really enjoyed that the characters stories overpowers the steamy scenes, that's just one of the many things I love of her writing. The characters are so well developed and I love every single one of them; Derek puts up this player front, but gosh, I loved him from the very beginning, I love his sense of humor and the way he's so straight forward, he's just one big teddy bear that I want to squish. Now the Doctor that’s a whole other story, I just don’t like him very much and I will leave you to find out why. I enjoyed every second of this novel and I'm sad to see this series end! If you have yet to pick any of these books up, I highly recommend them. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you pick up the first two books. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Water's Wrath

Book Review

Title: Water's Wrath

Author: Elise Kova

Rating: ★★★★★

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Page Count: 350

Genre: YA Fantasy

Author: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Buy Me! amazon, B&N, Book Depository
Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Librarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.

The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom. But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Nowhere is safe, and Vhalla must tread carefully or else she’ll fall into the waiting arms of her greatest foe. Or former lover.

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for and honest review. 

WOW! Just WOW! I thought the last book had broken me, this one destroyed me! This series is going to kill me! I'm so terrified to see what’s coming in book five, but at the same time I can't wait to have it in my hands and devour it in one sitting just like I did with this one. Elise has quickly become one of my favorite authors and to be completely honest I would read her grocery list. I was a mess since page one! Just reading those first few sentences took me back to the ending in Earth's End and to a certain Crowned Prince who was become my greatest obsession, I can’t get enough of him or the other characters in this series. Vhalla's strength and courage will never stop amazing me, she has overcome so many things that I don't see anyone else coming out from, with the same strength she has. I was so glad to get more of Jax, he is such an amazing character and I love him to pieces he makes me laugh so much and I thank him for it. Elise hit me with a twist that has left me numb and I don't know how will overcome; I have to say this is the book that has hurt me the most, but I don't mind I LOVED every second of it! I LOVE this series and I want to thank my good friend Cassandra a million times for introducing me to it! All I have left to say is that if you haven’t picked this series up PLEASE, Please do it won’t disappoint. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

My reaction after finishing Water's Wrath. I think Loki's face is on point. 

Just Breathe

Book Review

Title: Just Breathe 

Author: Martha Sweeney 

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: February 16, 2016

Publisher: Kralik Consultants 

Genre: Adult Romance

Page Count: 418

Stalk Author: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Buy Me! B&N, Amazon

Synopsis:

There’s an irresistibly sexy man in my life who came out of nowhere and somehow has stuck to me.  I’m not complaining — I just never saw my life happening like this.  My life has changed completely from almost a year ago — something I vowed would never happen, and yet, it has.  I’ve broken my rules, all of them because of him. 

Our relationship is forced out into the public — something I'm not sure I'm ready for at all. There are many things that make me uncomfortable, mainly because I've never had a boyfriend before. Certain things arise in my life, complicating it even more, testing me in so many ways all while having to face the demons of my past.

What do you say to someone who says they love you when you still don't understand your own emotions?

Will Emma break through life's obstacles and allow herself to love and be loved?

This book is not a standalone and is meant to be read after reading the first and second books (Breathe In & Breathe Out) of the Just Breathe series.

Please note: There are sexually explicit scenes F/M and F/F/M

My Thoughts:

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

This was a great ending to an amazing trilogy! Just Breathe begins right where Breathe Out left off and boy, I’m glad it did since Martha left us with a huge cliff hanger in the ending of the last book. I loved how everything came together for all the characters I have grown to love. I will always love Martha's writing it is so detailed that I feel that if I ever went to Pasadena, CA I would run into Joe and Emma and all of their family and believe me I wouldn't mind running into Joe; that man is amazing and the way he treats Emma is just so perfect, the man is just perfect and everyone deserves to find their Joe Covelli. Emma went through a lot of character development in this book and I really enjoyed it; she has opened up so much and has come such a long way since we met her in Breathe In. The twist that Martha hit me with was absolute perfection it made my heart warm and I was so happy to see the story take the direction it did. The only thing that did bother me a little was how much Joe's and Emma's families were involved in their relationship it was just too overwhelming at times and if I were them I would have told them to just let us breathe a little, other than that this trilogy was a great romance with some steamy scenes that will NOT disappoint. If you have yet to pick this trilogy up and are looking for a good romance look no further. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Earth's End

Book Review

Title: Earth's End

Author: Elise Kova
Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: February 11, 2016

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Genre: YA Fantasy

Page Count: 350

Stalk the Author: Twitter, FB, Instagram,

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Synopsis:

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

My Thoughts:

Those of you who read Fire Falling know exactly why I was dying to get my hands on the third book in the Air Awakens series, but I'm so glad I waited until the release for the fourth book was in the horizon.  This book broke me like no book has ever broken me before, I would find myself crying out of nowhere at the most random times and I don't even care or mind. Elise has done it again she has written such a masterpiece and has made me fall even deeper for the amazing characters she has created. Vhalla has grown so much since we first met her she keeps her composure so well when I would be raging and going ballistic at a certain someone, I also love how much Aldrik and her relationship has grown I love the way they speak to each other and how she gets on to him at times. We're also introduced to s0me new characters one of them being Mr. Jax oh, how I freaking love that man, he  is something else he had me laughing at the most random times and through many tears. I never knew how much I missed this world until I was back in it, the way Elise writes just sucks you in and you don't want to stop until you're on the last page. This book brought me so much joy and sorrow at the same time I just want to pretend that I never read that ending that broke my heart into a million pieces, but I would not have it any other way. I can't wait to read Waters Wrath and see where Elise will take us from here. If you are reading this and haven't picked this series up yet PLEASE do it's so GOOD and deserves so much more hype than what it gets. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Twice Upon A Time

Book Review

Title: Twice Upon A Time

Author: Hope Irving

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: October 31st, 2015

Page Count: 365

Genre: Paranormal

Connect with Author: Website, FB, Twitter

Buy Me! Amazon, B&N, 

Add me on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Once upon a time, there was the wandering soul of Morgann, an 8th century Irish calligrapher-monk longing to be reunited with his soul mate. Deirdre was his forbidden love, a witch with whom he wrote a coveted book.

Under her spell, the souls of the star-crossed lovers travel from bodies to bodies until they find each other. Eventually.
That became his quest: unearth her new body and trigger her memory, for she is clueless about whom she once was. Unfortunately their story didn't get a chance to become a fairy tale yet it still turned out as a famous urban legend referred as The Black Angel Book. 


Twice upon a time, not so long ago, there was me, rational and devastated Rose. I needed to get a grip, said my French mum after my year of numbness due to a painful break-up that led me to cut my wrist daily, to feel something, anything.

So she sent me off to the free-spirited village of Provincetown, Massachusetts, to spend the summer with my American relatives. And just like that, I wasn’t myself any longer. Because someone pulled me out of the darkness and bewitched me, somehow.

I couldn’t wait to jump his bones… but why was he holding back?
He couldn’t wait to welcome me into his world… but was I ready to question my convictions and acknowledge that my self-inflicted cuts were now healing in record time?

How could I have imagined he was longing for his own unorthodox fairytale to come true? Frantically.

My Thoughts:

I was sent an Ecopy by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rose is staying in Provincetown, MA with her American family leaving France behind to try and get over a terrible breakup. A breakup that has led her to harming herself just to be sure that she can still feel even if that feeling is pain. While on P-Town Rose enlists in Calligraphy classes it is there where she falls for one of her teachers. Morgann's soul has been jumping from body to body since Deidre was killed and she cast a spell where their souls will travel until they find each other and Morgann thinks he has finally found Deidre; there is only one catch the spell Deidre left her clueless to who she really is and he must find a way to trigger her memory.

I really enjoyed this story! I felt myself clicking with all the quickly characters especially the man carrying Morgann's soul, as I read through the book I just wanted to read more and more of him. Rose goes through some great character development and I love to see how she went from being hurt to really enjoying her vacation. The novel did seem a little too slow in the beginning because the first half of the book is mostly getting to know both main characters, but once I got to the middle I couldn't put it down, I just kept wanting more and more! Hope hit me with several twist I was not expecting and I can’t wait to see where the story goes after some major decisions were made. Overall I was able to get past the slow start and really did enjoy this book and one other thing I need more of Virgil please, you'll know who he is when you read the book. 

-SandraTheBookWorm