Books Read-2017 – Page 3 – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ Cinderella, Necromancer

Posted on September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 by Cindy

About the book:

Cinderella, Necromancer
Author: F.M. Boughan
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Month9Books

Darkness can only be controlled by those with the darkest of hearts.

Ellison lost her mother at an early age. Now, sixteen, her father has found love again. He’s happy and doesn’t quite notice that Ellison does not get along with his new wife or her vicious daughters.

When Ellison discovers a necromantic tome while traveling the secret passages of her father’s mansion, she wonders if it could be the key to her eventual freedom.

Until then, she must master her dark new power, even as her stepmother makes her a servant in her own home. And when her younger brother falls incurably ill, Ellison will do anything to ease his pain, including falling prey to her stepmother’s and stepsisters’ every whim and fancy.

Stumbling into a chance meeting with Prince William during a secret visit to her mother’s grave feels like a trick of fate when her stepmother refuses to allow Ellison to attend a palace festival where she might see him once more.

But what if Ellison could see the kind and handsome prince again? What if she could attend the festival? What if she could have everything she’s ever wanted and deserved by conjuring spirits to take revenge on her cruel stepmother? And what if she actually liked watching her stepmother suffer?

As Ellison’s power grows, she loses control over the evil spirits meant to do her bidding. And as they begin to exert their own power over Ellison, it becomes harder to tell whether it is she or her stepmother who is the true monster.

CINDERELLA NECROMANCER is CINDER meets ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and was inspired by a real medieval grimoire of necromancy from 15th-century Germany

Before getting into my review I just have to thank Chapter by Chapter for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour and to Month9Books for sending me a ebook for my honest and sincere review.

When I was a little girl I loved the classic Cinderella story and that was my most read Disney book I owned. To this day its still one of my favorite classic fairytales that I never get tired of.

Fast forward to Cinderella, Necromancer which just happens to be a retelling of Cinderella. Its set in a whole different world from the original but still has the feeling its taken places during the same time period as the original and its much more darker and evil then the original.

We grew up with the sweet and innocent Cinderella who just wanted to live happily ever after, after the passing of her parents and to get away from the evil stepmother and sisters and in the classic she does just that but fast forward to this one and Ella is a bad ass girl who doesn’t listen to anyone. Yes she still is determined to get away and live happily ever after with her brother away from her step family but it seems like she is more set on revenge then anything else.

F.M Boughan did a fantastic job with the retelling of Cinderella and what was nice was that she added a little brother to the storyline and the evil stepmother and sisters were just as awful as the original version. The other thing that was different in this version is instead of the Godmother there is evil spirits who aren’t exactly doing good.

This was a really quick read and I read it almost in one sitting. I was sucked into the story line from the first page and had a hard time to put the book down.

I should mention that this is a debut novel and I can’t wait to read future books by F.M. Boughan.

Review/ Body Parts by Jessica Kapp

Posted on September 8, 2017September 6, 2017 by Cindy

Body Parts by Jessica Kapp
Published by Diversion Publishing on August 15th 2017
Pages: 294
Goodreads

People would kill for her body.
Raised in an elite foster center off the California coast, sixteen-year-old Tabitha’s been sculpted into a world-class athlete. Her trainers have told her she’ll need to be in top physical condition to be matched with a loving family, even though personal health has taken a backseat outside the training facility. While Tabitha swims laps and shaves seconds off her mile time, hoping to find a permanent home, the rest of the community takes pills produced by pharmaceutical giant PharmPerfect to erase their wrinkles, grow hair, and develop superhuman strength.
When Tabitha’s finally paired, instead of being taken to meet her new parents, she wakes up immobile on a hospital bed. Moments before she’s sliced open, a group of renegade teenagers rescues her, and she learns the real reason for her perfect health: PharmPerfect is using her foster program as a replacement factory for their pill-addicted clients’ failing organs. And her friends from the center, the only family she’s ever known, are next in line to be harvested.
Determined to save them, Tabitha joins forces with her rescuers, led by moody and mysterious Gavin Stiles. As they race to infiltrate the hospital and uncover the rest of PharmPerfect’s secrets, though, Tabitha finds herself with more questions than answers. Will trusting the enigmatic group of rebels lead her back to the slaughterhouse?

If you are a follower of my blog you will know that this is usually my type of book but after reading the synopsis of it I knew that I really wanted to read this debut book.

Thanks to Chapter By Chapter blog tour for allowing me to be a part of the book tour and sending an eArc of the book so that I could read it for my review. Yes I did receive a copy of the book for my honest and sincere review.

Jessica Kapp did a fantastic job and I would never have thought that this was a debut novel because it was beautiful written and not once did I think that this was a sci-fi/dystopian read. The characters were fantastic and I loved Tabitha the main character.

From the start of the book I was hooked and intrigued and quite honestly I read it in one sitting. It was a roller coaster of emotions and I even cried at the end of the book and its been awhile since a book has done that to me. So if you plan on reading this just make sure to have some tissue on hand.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the book was how the pacing went and I have to say it flowed just perfectly. It was literally like riding a roller coaster building up and the crashing and over and over again. It was enough to hook you in and keep reading.

Tabitha, the main character has always thought that her parents died in an accident and she was sent to an elite kind of orphanage just waiting to be adopted. She has no memory of that day so she never had anything to question until the day she is told she is going to be adopted. She has never questioned as to why they are to be kept healthy and active. To her it’s just the normal.

Until one day that changes it all and what Tabitha thought she knew really wasn’t the truth. On the way to meet her “adoptive family” she is actually drugged and brought to the hospital and thankfully with some help she is kidnapped by Gavin and his friends who tell Tabitha what is really going on and they are determined to stop this from happening to another person especially to her friends.

I really enjoyed this book and to this day I am still thinking about it and I still gush over it to anyone who will listen without giving up to much information.

I look forward to reading more of Jessica’s books in the future.

Review/ Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief by Rosie Somers

Posted on August 18, 2017August 16, 2017 by Cindy

Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief by Rosie Somers
Format: eARC
Published by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush) on August 8th, 2017
Goodreads

Most sixteen-year-olds shouldn't know where museums keep their rarest jewels (the basement) and they really shouldn't know that vans make the worst getaway cars. But for Marisol Flores, a life of jewel thievery is a birthright handed down from generation to generation, even if she didn't ask for it. So when a rival thief targets Mari and her mother, Mari's more than happy to flee to the anonymity of bustling New York City.
Blending in is a dream come true for Mari, but keeping her former thieving ways a secret gets way more complicated when handsome Will Campbell sets his sights on her. She can't help but like his terrible puns and charming grin...but when her past catches up with her, it's not only her life-and her anonymity-that's at stake.
Will could be the next target.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I am once again super thankful to YA Reads for allowing me to be a part of another blog tour for another great book. Thanks to Entangled Publishing for sending me a ecopy of the book to read and review for the tour.

This was another quick and fun read and perfect for this time of the year. The perfect summer read.

I have to say the only thing I was disappointed in was the title because I was expecting this to be like a diary of all Marisol’s jewel heists but in reality its not. So for me that was a little bit of a let down but none the less I still really enjoyed the book. That is a quick on sitting read.

Marisol and her mother are professional jewel thieves but after their last heist that nearly got them caught they have decided to move to NYC and their rival. They want to live a normal life.

The book opens up with them stealing jewels from a museum in France and then being interrupt by their rival thankfully they are able to escape with the jewels and their lives intact.

Marisol and her mother are now living in the hustle and bustle of NYC and Marisol is set to begin her first day of school. This will be her sixth school in three years and she is only 16 years old. She is hoping that she will just blend in and not draw attention to herself but that doesn’t last long when she draws the attention of the good looking Will. This is all new to her because she has never had friends.

I have to say that I loved Marisol because as nervous and awkward that she was she went out there and embraced the friendship with Will and joining a club to make friends. I loved that as close as her and Will were getting that she didn’t let him define the relationship and she did what she wanted.

Will was the same way and he let Marisol do what she wanted and never forced her to do something she didn’t want to do. I think in a lot of relationships people are too quick to give up things for their partner. Yes we are in a relationship but we still need our friends and our own hobbies.

As the story progresses you see the slow building of the relationship between Marisol and Will. It was so cute to read it. I think I like these kinds of story lines more when its slow then when its all rushed and feels rushed.

So back to the story. Out of the blue Marisol’s uncle appears and at first they don’t think anything of it uncle Marisol realizes she is being followed and Will gets kidnapped. Will this expose who Marisol and her mother are to Will? Can she save Will from danger?

I would love for there to be another book because even though things ended neat and tidy there is still so much more to be told from these characters such as Will’s back ground? Who else was involved in Marisol’s family with heists? What happens to their arch rival?

Review/ Love In The Friend Zone by Molly E. Lee

Posted on August 15, 2017August 15, 2017 by Cindy

Love in the Friend Zone by Molly E. Lee
Published by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush) on August 14th 2017
Goodreads

The only thing worse than not being able to tell your best friend you’re head over heels in love with him? Having to smile and nod when he enlists your help to ensnare the girl of his dreams.
Braylen didn’t even want to go to Lennon Pryor’s epic graduation-night party, but when Fynn begs her to be his “wingwoman,” she can’t deny him. Talking up her BFF—how he’s magic behind a camera, with a killer sense of humor and eyelashes that frame the most gorgeous blue eyes in the history of forever—is easy. Supporting his efforts to woo someone so completely wrong for him? Not so much.
Fynn knows that grad night is his last shot before leaving for college to find true love. And thanks to Bray, he gets his chance with the beautiful Katy Evans. But over the course of the coolest party of their high school careers, he starts to see that perhaps what he really wants has been in front of him all along. Bray’s been his best friend since kindergarten, though, and he’d rather have her in his life as a friend than not at all.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one epic party, complete with every high-schoolers-gone-bad shenanigan, and two best friends whose sexual chemistry is off the charts…if only they’d succumb to it.

Thanks to YA ReadsBlog Tour for allowing me to be on this blog tour. I really enjoyed the book it was a quick and fun read that I pretty much devoured in one sitting or laying in bed. Its been awhile since I stayed up reading late at night.

Molly E. Lee is a new to me author and I am so happy I was able to read this book and I am looking forward to picking up her other series Love on the Edge as well as the next book in the Grad Night series called Love Between Enemies because this book is about Zoey and Gordon (these two characters were in Love in the Friend Zone) and Molly left us in a cliff hanger and I am curious to what exactly Zoey has planned in her quest for revenge.

Back to Love in the Friend Zone. I loved reading this book. Its the perfect summer read book and I think any young adult would love to read this and perhaps anyone older as well. I was team Braylen the whole time.

Braylen and Fynn have been best friends since kindergarten and they both know they have each others backs through thick and thin. The only thing is Braylen is in love with Fynn and has been since day one but Fynn doesn’t know it. Or does he feel the same way?

They kissed once but each swore it would never happen again and Braylen has grown to accept that and would rather have him in her life as a friend if nothing else. Which I can totally relate to even though it kills you inside.

Love in the Friend Zone takes place over the course of one night and that is grad night. Fynn is dragging Braylen to their friend Lennon’s place for a party (who just happens to be in the band Braylen loves) and wants her to be his wingman to get Katy’s attention. Katy has been the dream girl for Fynn. Braylen will do anything for Fynn even if his happiness comes before hers even though its killing her inside.

Fynn knows that this is probably the only chance he will get with Katy and is thrilled when his plan works. Over the course of the night Braylen has been warned by her friend Zoey that she has until midnight to tell Fynn exactly how she feels otherwise she will tell him. Braylen tries several times to tell him but every time Katy ruins it. Then she meets Randy who knows the way to a man is making him jealous and I think that was sort of the tipping point for Fynn but will he realize that what he really wants has been right in front of him the whole time?

Will Braylen finally tell Fynn exactly how she feels before midnight? Or will someone else do it for her?

I fell in love with both Braylen and Fynn and could totally relate to Braylen. Its hard to love your best friend and them not know it and then finding the courage to tell them when you have peer pressure behind you.

I loved that this was a slow progression and that it didn’t all happen at once and that other things were happening in the story line as well. Everything just blended so well the storyline, the characters and the writing.

I will definitely be checking out the other books Molly has written.

Review: The Third Kiss by Kat Colmer

Posted on August 11, 2017August 11, 2017 by Cindy

The Third Kiss (Love’s Mortal Coil #1)
by Kat Colmer
Publication Date: August 7, 2017
pages: 380
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Love curses don’t exist. At least that’s what Jonas, master of the meaningless hookup, tells himself when a letter warns him he’s an Eros Guardian cursed to endure a test of true love or forever be alone. His levelheaded longtime friend Cora figures it’s a revenge prank by an ex. The way Jonas stamps each girlfriend with a weeklong use-by date, it serves him right.

But when an impulsive kiss between the two friends reveals potential for more, Cora becomes the target of the Groth Maar: demons sent to wipe out the Eros Guardian line. And suddenly the curse becomes dangerously real.

Breaking the curse means Jonas’s biggest challenge yet. Failure guarantees Cora’s death. But success may cost him his own life…and the loss of his carefully guarded heart to the one girl far too sensible to fall for him.

I was graciously provided with a ebook of The Third Kiss for the purpose of this review and for my participation in the blog tour for the book.

This is the first book in the series and its a debut Young Adult Paranormal Romance.

I love being able to take part in book tours because it allows you to discover hidden little gems that you might not normally hear about and this was the case. I have to admit I never heard of this book before being asked if I wanted to be on the tour and I am so happy that I joined it.

The Third Kiss is part romance, part contemporary and a little bit fantasy. This was the perfect summer read as it was light and quick to read. Once I started to read it I must admit that I had a hard time turning off my kindle at night because I just wanted to continue reading it.

The Third Kiss is based around Jonas and Cora. Cora has been in the USA for a year following her parent’s unexpected divorce but she has come back to Australia to celebrate her friends (Beth and Jonas) 18th birthday. She is both excited and nervous to be home because just before she left for the USA something happened between her and Jonas. They both don’t know how to proceed without there being some awkwardness. Jonas is a bit of a player who can’t settle down with one girl. I think deep down they both actually like each other more then friends and I kept hoping that they would throw caution to the wind and go for it. Do they you will have to read to find that out?

The night of the 18th party Jonas receives a very message and it states that he only has three chances to kiss his true love and if he fails he will be alone forever. Jonas thinks its just someone playing a joke on him. As things begin to happen Jonas begins to think differently will he act upon this or ignore it?

I have to say that I loved both Jonas and Cora. I thought they were the perfect couple if something should happen and its scary once you cross over from friends to something more. Its a risk you have to take and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

I love how the book moved along. There was no lagging in the story and it all went well together and I never once felt lost. There is action and a little romance. I loved that this romance was sweet and it felt like you were right there with the characters experiencing it.

I finished this book a little while ago before writing my review and I am still sitting here thinking about them. To me that is a sign of a really good book and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Hopefully very soon.

Review: The Way it Hurts by Patty Blount

Posted on July 31, 2017July 29, 2017 by Cindy

The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on August 1st 2017
Pages: 352
Goodreads

There may be two sides to every story, but sometimes there's only one way to set things right...
Music is Elijah's life. His band plays loud and hard, and he'll do anything to get them a big break. He needs that success to help take care of his sister, who has special needs. So he'd rather be practicing when his friends drag him to a musical in the next town...until the lead starts to sing.
Kristen dreams of a career on stage like her grandmother's. She knows she needs an edge to get into a competitive theater program―and being the star in her high school musical isn't going to cut it. The applause and the attention only encourage her to work harder.
Elijah can't take his eyes off of Kristen's performance, and his swooning face is captured on camera and posted with an out-of-context comment. It goes viral. Suddenly, Elijah and Kristen are in a new spotlight as the online backlash spins out of control. And the consequences are bigger than they both could have ever imagined because these threats don't stay online...they follow them into real life.

I have to begin by saying I have always heard amazing things about Patty Blount’s and I have to admit that I have never read any despite the fact I have Send, TMI and Some Boys sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. So when I heard she had a new book coming out called The Way it Hurts I figured now would be the time that I should finally review one, so thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this book.

Going into The Way it Hurts I had no expectations and having to worry did this book compare to her previous ones because this is a brand new author for me and I have to say after reading this I will definitely be picking up those books from my TBR to read in the next month or so.

The Way it Hurts has two main characters Kristen and Eli. They are both high school students but attend different high schools. Kristen is a theatre girl who sings, dances and acts. She is hoping to get accepted into a theatre program but she gets rejected and isn’t happy about that. Eli (Elijah) is the lead singer and bass player for the band Ride Out. They play heavy metal music.

Being that this is 2017 Eli, has the band online and their group page drives heavy criticism about their music and one of their critiques is Kristen and she is a no holds barred girl but no one really knows its her and she has no idea who is replying back to her.

Kristen is performing in her high school’s muscial version of Cats and Eli hears her sings and he wants her for the band amongst strong criticism from his band. Eli things that this is the thing they need to bring them to the next level to get them where they need to finally be after years of hard work. For Kristen she things this would be the perfect thing to add to her resume and give her the edge that she needs to stand out.

The one thing that Kristen doesn’t realize is that being a part of this will come at a price, can she handle it? Finally the band is getting recognized but with the raise of popularity Kristen is being singled out and getting creepy and threatening messages on social media. It was one thing being online but now its starting to creep into her real life.

I have mixed feelings about Eli he is that bad boy rocker who has the reputation of being a player. I didn’t really like that side of him because thats just not my thing but the thing that I loved of Eli was his love for his sister who has autism. You can truly see he cares about her and wants to look after her. This is the reason he wants the band to become big so that he can have her at home with all the special help she needs.

As for Kristen I have to say that I was on the fence with her as well. I liked that she was a tell it like it is but I found her to be a little judgemental about things. I for one don’t think she should have gotten all the hate on social media but I think in this day and age its so easy for someone to be hateful to a person when they don’t have to be face to face with them. Its easy to be a meany or a bully behind the screen. No one realizes how words can truly affect a person.

I have to say I applaud Patty for touching on this topic and writing about it. Social media can be such a double standard for both men and women and its a shame.

This was a great read and I highly recommend it.

Review/ The Queen is Coming to Tea

Posted on July 22, 2017November 30, 2017 by Cindy

Title: The Queen is Coming to Tea
Author: Linda Ravin Lodding
Illustrator: Constranze von Kitzing
Pub Date: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

About the book:
Can Ellie and her furry friends get everything ready in time for tea with the Queen?

One day there was a knock at Ellie’s door. There stood the Queen’s Footman.

“A message from Her Royal Highness.” He offered Ellie a note on a silver tray.

May I please come for tea?

Sincerely yours,
The Queen Herself

When Ellie finds out the Queen is coming to tea, she snaps to attention! With her best friend, Langley the Elephant, Ellie travels to Paris, China, Italy, and New York to make sure they have everything they need for tea with the Queen. But will the Queen patiently wait? And what exactly will be waiting for the Queen?

Its hard when your child is getting older and picture books are no longer of interest but I admit I still take the time to flip through them when I see one that interests me.

I was happy when Sourcebooks Jabberwonky asked if I would like to be a book tour for this and they graciously provided me with a copy of the book to read for my review today.

Its a super cute book with bright and colorful illustrations and I think little girls would be attracted to the book.

The book begins with a knock on Ellie’s door asking if the “Queen” could come for tea. Ellie is excited and quickly begins to prepare for the “Queen’s” arrival. She only wants the best for the Queen so she flies to Paris for a cake, Italy for lemons, China for tea and New York City for a dress. Along the way she picks up friends to come back with her.

I loved the imagination Ellie had because the Queen turns out to be her mother and they are sitting together and having a tea party.

This was such a fun and cute read.