Feb 28, 2017

Mini Review--Order of the Wicked by Danielle Paige

This digital original novella is the seventh installment in the series’ prequel arc, and reveals how some members of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked came to be.

Dorothy Gale’s armies killed Lanadel’s entire family, and she’s determined to seek revenge. She sets off to find the elusive, secretive group known as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. They’re rumored to be training their own army to defeat Dorothy. But when she finds them, Lanadel soon learns that she’s seriously underprepared both in fighting skills, as well as magical abilities, and she has to prove herself in order to join the Order and become one of them.







I picked up the next Dorothy Must Die novella on a whim, Danielle Paige’s Order of the Wicked is the seventh installment in the nine part prequel story of how things got so crazy in Oz when Dorothy came back. It’s been a loooong time since I’ve been in this world, I still need to read Yellow Brick War! So I wasn’t too familiar with our leading characters.

Lanadel has just joined the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked after having her family, as well as her entire village, massacred by Dorothy’s minions. She wants revenge and she believes that by joining the crusade against Dorothy with the other witches that she might find it. But she learns it’s not as easy of a task as she initially thought.

The training is grueling, with Nox as her trainer she’s worked until she’s black and blue. A few of her other initiates aren’t as welcoming either. The only bright spot for Lanadel is Melindra. But it seems Melindra’s heart is already spoken for. It’s in a very short amount of time that Lanadel’s eyes are opened by the things she sees and learns and is questioning her own choices. It’s a messy sort because she doesn’t really have any regrets.

Things were pretty complicated in this one. Mostly because I couldn’t remember Lanadel, or if we even met her! I want to say we did, hence the reason why she has a novella of her own. But my lacking memory really put a damper on this one. I still enjoyed seeing this world of course and getting a little more background to what Oz turned into ever since Dorothy came back and before good ol’ Amy comes in. I really think it was my lack of memory that kept me from truly enjoying this one, but still, it was a fun read.



Overall Rating 2.5/5 stars 




 

Mini Review--The Ryu Morgue by Nicole Peeler

WARNING: These are SHORT STORIES written for established fans of the Jane True Series.

You know her, you love her, you wanted more of her…

Ryu Baobhan Sith, our favorite metrosexual bloodsucker, is suffering a crisis of confidence. First Jane dumps him, and now he’s let a human get under his skin. To top it off, the human in question, Maeve Henderson, wants absolutely nothing to do with him. They must each get over their personal prejudices, however, when they’re sent to the infamously dangerous Gold Court of San Francisco on a diplomatic mission. Confronted with both a mysterious magic that is killing humans and a partner who refuses to trust him, Ryu fears he’s met his match not only as an Investigator, but also as a man. 



Dusting off the books from my Kindle, I decided to give The Ryu Morgue by Nicole Peeler a spin! It's been years since I finished the Jane True series, so I was excited to visit Ryu again! Ryu was Jane's ex who she broke up with for reasons. See Ryu now on a case with a human woman who basically hates all of supernatural kind.

Don't let this cover fool you, I was actually expecting some smexy times or at least one time, but really we don't get any of that. Which is actually pretty fitting to the story once you start reading it! Ryu and Maeve are two complete opposites, let alone that Maeve pretty much hates all supes (for reasons we'll learn eventually) and yet Ryu can't help but feel an attraction to this woman. Though romance is so far off the menu in this one. They were sent to the Golden Court to get the Queens there to join the Initiative but before they will even consider the offer, they want Ryu and Maeve to solve a recent rash of murders. Humans have been dying in very disconcerting ways, and since they're still trying to keep humans in the dark about supernaturals as much as possible and to basically save other humans from being killed, Ryu and Maeve take the case.

They find out all the victims had one thing in common, a trip to Napa prior to their deaths. So naturally, the two head to Napa in disguise as a couple! Shenanigans and overall mystery solving ensue that lead to quite the ending! This was a rather quick little read and I really enjoyed coming back to this world! I remember always loving it because it was so funny, and action packed and usually involving a few romantic interludes as well! This one has all that, minus the romantic interludes but there is a good heaping dose of sexual tension between Maeve and Ryu! 

Overall a quick fun and quirky kind of read! I can't wait to (eventually) check out the other short stories from this world! A must read for all Jane True fans!


Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars




Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker


Here are the rules: 

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE 
4. Name the title, author, etc.


"Tilting his head to one side, Webb's expression darkened. 'I may have underestimated you, Teach.'

'I'm sure you won't make that mistake again.'" p 147*


*Quote comes from the ARC, therefore it and its page number are not final.










TITLE: Blacksouls
AUTHOR: Nicole Castroman 
PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse
GENRE: Historical YA Fiction
RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2017




Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.



This week's topic is: FREEBIE: Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition!


*in no particular order


10. ELIZABETH RICHARDS--I really enjoyed this series! A sort of futuristic setting with humans and vampires trying to live together but it has a past like feel. And of course there's a lot going against said couple. Sadly it doesn't look like Elizabeth has written anything since this trilogy came to an end!
9. DEMITRIA LUNETTA--I still need to read the last book of this duology! But I really enjoyed this one! It was post apocalyptic and creepy! I know she also has another new book coming out this year that I'm keeping an eye on!
8. ALETHEA KONTIS--I need to get caught up in this series/world! It's fairy tales retold, but it a most interesting way because they're still in essence fairy tales! There are 7 sisters and initially there was to be a book for each of them but I think it stalled at three, but with these other 2 books I still need to read that I think are of the same world!


7. ERIN KELLISON--Erin's books initially started out as a sort of fairy tale retelling for adults! It was quite fascinating! She's since indie published a variety of titles, but I still feel like she's under appreciated in a sense! I highly recommend her early books if you love fairy tale retellings! They're not straight up retellings, but sort of inspired by fairy tales sort of story!
6. CARA LYNN SHULTZ--I was devastated when things seem to fall apart and put an end to The Dark World just as it got started! It was a fascinating book with a girl who could see ghosts and whose best friend was one! It was extraordinary but it sadly seems it will never come back.
5. STACEY JAY--I still need to read quite a few of her back titles, but I really enjoyed the one I read Princess of Thorns! She seems to have a few retelling sort of read and it sadly seems she's not writing anymore either.


4. ALYSSA ROSE IVY--maybe not as under appreciated as I might think, but I loooove Alyssa's books! I really don't see them around enough for my liking! It's Paranormal New Adult! A genre that is sorely lacking in the NA world I think! LOL!
3. DAWN METCALF--this is a really enjoyable series so far! I'm a bit behind in it again! LOL! But I don't really see these around all that much either!
2. JANA OLIVER--demons!! A YA series involving demons!! It's sooo good! And better yet, it ain't over yet!!


1. MARIANNE CURLEY--I adore Marianne's books! They were my favorite reads in my teen years! I probably read Old Magic at least 7 times! Possibly more! It's among my most favorite reads ever! And her other series The Guardians of Time series was really good, and best yet, is she's reviving the series!!! SOOOO excited!!








Feb 27, 2017

Discussion Challenge: Happy Endings vs Realistic Ones

I decided to try out another discussion post and needing an idea I looked to the helpful list from Feed Your Fiction Addiction! And I saw that one that really had me pausing and that was:

Happy Endings vs Realistic Ones

And basically which one do you prefer? And I started thinking, there were quite a few books that I really really liked and they ended in a more realistic way and I thought about how that truly was the best fit. Sometimes there may be "happy" tendencies to the ending, but it's a bittersweet kind of ending. There were so many different emotions running through me for some of them! Happiness was sometimes involved, but there was also tears. Many, many tears!

Here are some examples. You may have already read these or know about their endings, especially for Allegiant. I won't get into any of them. But I will just say that I did enjoy all of these endings but at the same time I was very, very emotional for all of them! Now with Ignite Me it was more a feel of being upset about a few loose-ends but still I was generally fond of the ending. The other two I knew the endings were right, they fit the story so entirely. But yet, I was still an emotional wreck for them! I am still pretty excited to read the short little story We Can Be Mended, and I still need to read Four for that matter, perhaps that one could help aid in some closure!

But when it comes down to it I'm a fan of the ending that fits the story! True, I am generally happier if the ending itself is happy. But if it's one that's a mix of me being an emotional wreck but still feeling a bit of contentedness than I can be okay with that! I still don't feel like I've truly gotten over Strange and Ever After, but the ending was right. Even if I am still an emotional wreck over it!

What about you guys? What kind of endings do you like? Happy? Realistic? A blend of both?





 

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.


Last Week I Read:

 A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (5 stars)
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman (4 stars)


Currently Reading:

Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman (ARC)


What I Plan to Read this Week:

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton


Other Posts of Interest:





Feb 26, 2017

Stacking the Shelves

This weekly meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!



A mostly tame week in the bookish world! I only bought 1 book and received one I ordered from last week! And then I was approved for 2 on Netgalley, but only 1 was available for "downloading/reviewing" so I am still confused as to why I was approved for an unavailable title. I've tweeted to Netgalley and the publisher but I guess Thursdays and Fridays are busy for them because I didn't receive an answer. I tweeted to the author and she contacted the publisher to look into it, so hopefully that will yield some results because I really wanted to read this one! And I only just learned the release date has been changed from March to July! So crazy!

Reignited by Colleen Houck--and because I am just so weird, I had to but it paperback because I really love this series!
Dead Girls Society by Michelle Krys--it was already on sale and after the use of a coupon I got this hardcover for under $8!


For review, that I actually received and was able to download (LOL!) I received:

Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman (ARC)


THANK YOU Simon Pulse & Netgalley!





Feb 23, 2017

Follow Friday

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

 

The Rules:
  • The goal is to increase blog followers, make friends and have something to post.
  • You create your own post using the post prompt.
  • You leave your link and thumbnail in the linky list that links back to your post prompt.
  • Once you have your post up and linked, visit other posts and tell them hi. The point is to FOLLOW them not just comment.
  • If you see a post that just hit it to the moon, or just want to show appreciation to a fellow blogger friend, like their name on the linky list to show some appreciation.
  • The person with the most likes gets chosen as the next Feature (you can be chosen every 90 days unless we are in need of features)
  • It is required that if you participate that you have to follow the FEATURE. It is a big no-no to participate and ignore the feature. They are the special snowflake in this little blizzard.
  • As a participant it is up to your discretion on how you want people to follow. Please post RSS, GFC etc if you have a follow of choice.

Specific RULES:

  • Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
  • Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
  • If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed FOLLOW as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
  • Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
  • If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers


This week's prompt is: What are Your Favorite Humorous Books?


MY ANSWER: Immediately the first thing that comes to mind is the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones!

Charley is without a doubt one of the funniest heroines I've ever come across!! I sooo need to get caught up in this series! I'm 4 books behind now!! EEP!!

And all right, I admit that I laughed A LOT in this one too:

Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout aka DAEMON'S BOOK! Yes I know there's a good mix of love and not love for this series. I am definitely a lover! LOL! Daemon cracks me up! And basically reading a book that was from his point of view for the first 3 books which were primarily Katy's point of view was just hilarious!! I loved being in that boy's head, but man there were times I still wanted to smack him! LOL!





Review--Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.


Nicole Castroman’s Blackhearts was pure magic! For me, this read was definitely charting new waters for me. As it’s more of a historical fiction novel. No magic, no paranormal, no fantasy…the only thing that drew my eye to this was the fact that it’s a pirate story! An origin one at that! I don’t really know much about Blackbeard, other than what Pirates of the Caribbean has taught me, and let’s face it I haven’t seen that particular movie (for it was the last one without Orlando, right?) in years. But yay for a new one coming out this year!

Back to the topic on hand! While this is an origin story about Blackbeard, I was a bit more upset that there weren’t pirates really in the story. But in a way, it makes sense. Edward “Teach” Drummond wasn’t born a pirate. If anything he was born a boy of privilege who longed for something more. He went away for a year to sail on his father ship and when he comes home, there’s an unexpected surprise waiting for him. Anne was a delight! She’s our leading lady and cohort of the novel. She’s hit hard times after the deaths of her parents and since she’s basically only half white, she’s looked down upon. She is a maid in the Drummond household and her first introduction to Teach was quite memorable, though Teach would say otherwise!

The two don’t really hit it off right away, but then they begin spending more time together and soon a friendship is formed because they both realize they’re a lot like the other one. If only Teach wasn’t engaged to be married to an upper-class halfwit. And yeah, his bride to be, Patience, is no winning lady. I really enjoyed the gradual relationship growth between Teach and Anne. It wasn’t a direct hate to love, it was a nice slower paced kind. And I think that’s what makes it more heartwarming.

Amidst this budding relationship we still have a little bit going on, for soon Teach is accused of piracy and this is a time when all pirates are sent to the gallows. Then we have the fact that Anne has been taking a few items from around the house in order to buy her way onto a ship to possibly visit the West Indies where her mother came from before she was sold into slavery. But life changes fast for Anne when her identity comes to light in the Drummond household. And there are still more secrets going around!

Blackhearts is definitely a different kind of read. Not even touching on the pirate origin story, but it’s different because of other things too. For one the pacing is rather slow, I’ll admit, but at the same time you hardly seem to notice. The plot may move slow, but the character development is truly spot on. We’re seeing two different people who started out hating one another begin to grow closer and fall slowly in love. And then naturally, disaster strikes again and again! We all initially thought this might be a standalone that ends with a terrible cliffhanger, but we now know that it’s a trilogy! Initially I thought it was a duology, but apparently there’s going to be another one after Blacksouls! Which totally has me wondering what might be happening!

The course is set for the next novel, I won’t tell you what that is of course, but it’s a cliffhanger so you can pretty much imagine we need to get ourselves back on level ground. Where the next adventure might take us is unclear. I would like to think there might be a better sense of adventure in the next one. This one was good, but the story itself was a little lacking for me. But again I will say the characters more than make up for it! I felt such a range of emotions too! The fact that our characters are of two different races in their given time period which is set in 1697, you pretty much know that wasn’t a good time for peace, also presents its own tension. Let alone the fact that Teach’s father is an ass.

As I said, a lot of emotions going on with me when reading this one! And the ending, god I don’t know how all you people who read this when it came out have managed to survive for this long! It was quite the gut puncher! I am so glad I can immediately turn to Blacksouls! But I do fear for the worst with that ending too. I thought I heard it too ended with a scream-worthy cliffhanger! Eegads I’m in trouble! Lol! I shall be sure to let you all know how I will fare when I get around to reviewing the sequel!

Blackhearts is a must read for any pirate loving fan! True, we aren’t hanging out with the Pirates of the Caribbean in this one, but we’re meeting a most famed pirate in his early days of youth. That can be an exciting thing in and of itself!

 

Overall Rating 4/5 stars 



 

Random Thursday

This month was randomly selected to be the month I solely use Disney Facts Revealed: Answers to Fans' Curious Questions by Dave Smith as my Random Thursday fodder! LOL! So let's continue on!

(image borrowed from YouTube)
Apparently one fan believed that Pecos Bill was very reminiscent of Will Rogers, who was a humorist. They had the same look to them, but Dave claims that wasn't anything intentional.


(image borrowed from Wikipedia)
The last movie to be fully hand-drawn was Winnie the Pooh in 2011! 

Honestly thought it would've been an older movie than that! LOL!


(image borrowed from Disney Wiki)
Apparently there was a rumor that Snow White's prince was named Ferdinand, but Dave claims that this was just a rumor. It is rumored to have come about when Shirley Temple presented Walt with the honorary Academy Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She called Walt, "the daddy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey Mouse, Ferdinand, and all the others." The Ferdinand that she was referring to was actually a bull cartoon from 1938 which also won an Academy Award.





Feb 22, 2017

Review--A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world torn apart.







So after nearly a year of waiting, I’ve finally read A Court of Mist and Fury by the ever talented Sarah J. Maas. And now I can finally say I GET IT! Lol!! There was soooo much to this story! We’re looking at 624 pages! By far the longest book I’ve read in a good long while. This is Harry Potter length people! Granted these days it’s not so much of a stretch for a book to surpass that length. All I can say it was 624 pages of incredibleness!

You would think that with amazing-ness that was A Court of Thorns and Roses that it would be hard to beat it! I mean, there was sooo much to love about that story! And then Feyre’s transformation into a fey herself was shocking and amazing! And it’s just a few months later that our story truly begins with Feyre and Tamlin and their togetherness. Though it seems calling it a “happily ever after” ending is far from the truth. Tamlin kind of does a 180 on us (that’s the right number, right? Math was so not my subject! LOL!). He becomes very protective of Feyre, almost too protective. And it is slowing killing Feyre in the worst way. It’s about at this time that good ol’ Rhysand shows up claiming it’s time for Feyre to fulfill her bargain with him and spend a week with him in his palace.

Despite Tamlin’s protests and rants, Feyre goes along with Rhys because it was a made deal. This is when we slowly start to see Rhys’ true character. And I definitely mean start, because our eyes will really be opened further along. And even then WOWZERS! It’s not long before Feyre finds herself too smothered by Tamlin that she wants to stay with Rhys permanently, for with him there’s freedom and choices.

And soon after that, a quest is set forth for Feyre and her new friends. War is looming with the King of Hybern. They must find the magical Cauldron and destroy it before the king uses its power to break the wall between Pyrthia and the Mortal Lands. The wall that has protected Feyre’s family and sits on their land, for years. And so the quest begins to search for the two halves of a magical book that can destroy said Cauldron.

While I am trying to shortchange you on this epic quest and all it contains, it’s because I am trying not to give away too much! But that’s the gist of the plot anyway! And it was so enthralling! This was one read that I didn’t mind taking days to read. If only I didn’t have to work while I read it! Hence the reason why I attempted to save it for that holiday weekend! LOL!

Now onto the romance section of things. I admit I was a Tamlin girl in the first book. I liked Rhys, we didn’t know him much and I almost wondered at the time if this was the beginning of a love triangle. And it’s not. Not really, anyway. True Feyre is caught between two fae men, she’s with one and then she’s not. Tamlin really does a number on everyone, Feyre, us readers…it’s remarkable that change. Or perhaps it wasn’t really a change at all. But I can say, this love entanglement was done well. By the time Feyre is leaving him to go live elsewhere, which, yeah, it’s with Rhys because he was her salvation, you were rooting for her to do so, all within the first 100 pages. The actual romance between her and Rhys takes a long while to come. There’s general flirting and innuendos between them, a few sparks tossed here and there, and by the time it’s the real deal I was already swooning from it all! LOL!

And can I just say, WOW! The romance in this one was HOT! OMG. I am still amazed that we can call this YA. Truthfully, I thought I heard it was NA. Because hot damn is this book hot! My face was burning red more than once when I read this! Thankfully, those particular moments were read when I was out of public eye! LOL! But man, this one made me swoon really hard!!

The ending was quite epic as well! Not only was it an explosive kind of ending it was also pretty chilling in some sense! I had been expecting a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers, one to leave me in agony and instead the one I got wasn’t as dreadful as I anticipated! This is when it pays to always think the worst, because you can be happily surprised when you realize how wrong you were! There were many shocking surprises along the way of this ending and I cannot wait to see how they all turn out in the next book! 


If A Court of Mist and Fury was phenomenal than I suspect A Court of Wings and Ruin will be nothing short of EPIC!! A Court of Mist and Fury totally blew past all my expectations and kept me gripping the pages well past it’s end! I was entranced and enchanted from the near start and I cannot wait to see what Sarah will continue to do with this world! May cannot come soon enough!

 

Overall Rating 5/5 stars 


BONUS MATERIAL

I ended up borrowing a Target edition of A Court and Mist and Fury purely to read the extra story Sarah J. Maas wrote. And I must say, Wings and Embers was totally worth it! The short little story is merely a moment, a conversation, if you will, between Cassian and Nesta! For the short time these two spent together or near each other in the book, I was already in love with the idea of them! Nesta is so feisty and fierce and then you have Cassian who’s also a bit hotheaded and cocky, the two were meant to butt heads with one another!

We get glimpses from both Cassian and Nesta’s points of view which really just added to the enjoyment! We could tell nearly right away that Cassian was attracted to Nesta in some way and it’s not just for her looks. But getting to know what Nesta feels was a total surprise!

Their conversation involves a lot of bantering, teasing, taunting, you name it. But yet you get to see some further depths of their characters. Nesta isn’t as cold hearted as we’re led to believe and Cassian has more heart to him then he usually lets on. And just wow! Seriously wasn’t long enough! This scene was meant to take place somewhere in the midst of things, so it was kind of nice to see what was happening elsewhere while our star-crossed lovers were busy!

A fantastically awesome little read! If you ever stumbled upon it at Target, I highly recommend picking it up!

 

Overall Rating 5/5 stars 


 




Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.


A decadent spring break getaway on an exotic beach becomes a terrifying survival story when six Miami teens are kidnapped and ransomed.

Maddie is beyond done with her cousin Genesis’s entitled and shallow entourage. Genesis is so over Miami’s predictable social scene with its velvet ropes, petty power plays, and backstabbing boyfriends.

While Maddie craves family time for spring break, Genesis seeks novelty—like a last-minute getaway to an untouched beach in Colombia. And when Genesis wants something, it happens.

But paradise has its price. Dragged from their tents under the cover of dark, Genesis, Maddie, and their friends are kidnapped and held for ransom deep inside the jungle—with no diva left behind. It all feels so random to everyone except Genesis. She knows they were targeted for a reason. And that reason is her.

Now, as the hours count down, only one thing’s for certain: If the Miami hostages can’t set aside their personal problems, no one will make it out alive.
 
 


I LOOOOOOOVE Rachel's books! I've been a fan of hers since I first read Stray! I remember it like was yesterday strolling through my beloved Borders and stumbling upon her book on the endcap of the romance section. I picked it up because the cover drew my eye, but I was super hesitant to read it because it was in romance. I had been burned before by buying a book from the romance section thinking it wouldn't be that "romancey" and it ended up being about sex in every other chapter. It was too much for me, I didn't mind a sex scene or two, but I didn't want in all throughout the story, which this one was! But I noticed that Kim Harrison AND Kelley Armstrong both quoted on the cover and I loved their books, so I trusted their judgment! LOL! This was before blogging, so I didn't know what other judgment to trust! And naturally, I ADORED the book and have been a fan of Rachel ever since! She's AUTO BUY people! :D

So sorry for that long winded paragraph too! LOL!

TITLE: 100 Hours
AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent
PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books
GENRE: Thriller YA
RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2017


Nicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant sequel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Blackbeard.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life, but he believes it worth the risk in order to save his crew from the attacking Spanish ships.

Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying hands.

Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love, loyalty and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have ever imagined.


I first believe this series to be a duology, and right away I thought it would be better to wait and binge it. Well, I've since learned that it will be a trilogy. And I don't think I can wait another full year to start this series, so I will likely binge the first two, and then scream in agony when it ends with a likely cliffhanger! LOL!

TITLE: Blacksouls
PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse
GENRE: Historic Fiction YA
RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2017