REVIEW
Rebirth by C.G. Sins

Rating: 4/5 

Lilitu grew up in a world of darkness. All she knows is the damp, cold cell she has lived in all her life. Like all humans in Moriyah, she is only kept alive as livestock. Her purpose in life is to be drained of her blood in order to feed the now dominant race of Moriyah; the Vampires. After twenty years of imprisonment, and several attempts to escape; Lilitu has given up on her dreams of finding a new life. She now spends her days alongside her only friend, Victoria, imagining what kind of magical world lies beyond the human center.

 By a strange twist of fate, Lilitu crosses paths with Strigoi; the King of the Vampires. This chance meeting leads her on a dangerous journey into the world outside her cell. 

Rebirth is the first book in the Vampire Lilitu trilogy. It also happens to be the first book published by the author, C.G. Sins and I have to say, she's off to a great start!

The novel is fast paced from start to finish. There's hardly a dull moment. I finished the book in one sitting. The author did a great job of keeping the story on track and not getting caught up in the side stories.

The story takes place in Moriyah. Sins develops a new world throughout  the story filled with magical beings and mysterious lands. Vampires, werewolves, fairies, Rebirth has it all. She makes it sound like a beautifully dangerous place to be and I'm entranced. The creatures in her book are told/talked about in a way that seems as if they could be real, even if you know they don't exist.

The main character, Lilitu, is a bad ass head strong female who is willed by her desire to live and to over come the vampires that have taken over. She keeps her feelings on lock and thinks with her head, a trait I admire.

The reason I gave Rebirth only four stars is because even though I enjoyed the story that exists, I wanted more from it. I wish the story was longer. Maybe had more happen while Lilitu was locked in the human center or at the castle with Strigoi. However, since it's only the first book I'm hoping any unanswered questions will be covered in the next two books.

Rebirth leaves us with a bit of a cliff hanger. Leaving us to anticipate the stories to come.

Overall, the story is a fun, twist filled read that will keep you hooked even after you've set the book down. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys fantasy and action books.

Links to purchase:
Amazon
C.G. Sins website

REVIEW:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Rating: 5/5

All the Bright Places follows two characters, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch. They both find themselves on top of the bell tower at their school contemplating death and kind of "save" each other. They then become partners on a school project that requires them to see different wonders of their state. The novel focuses on their adventures as they discover each other and battle their inner thoughts.

The novel deals with serious issues such as bipolar, loss of a love one, depression and suicide. It portrays these illnesses in an extremely realistic way, it doesn't glorify or romanticize them. It's blunt. It's powerful. It's heart breaking.

However, the story also had humor and romance. It had me laughing and smiling like a goon on one page and crying my eyes out on the next.

That's the best part. All the Bright Places makes you feel. It makes you think. It's raw and brilliant and I'm completely in love with it. I will recommend this novel to anyone and everyone because it quickly became one of my favorite books of all time.

I read this book in less than a day, I could not put it down. So bravo Jennifer Niven. You, my dear, are an excellent author.

Another reason I love this book is that it takes place in the state that I live in, Indiana. So I felt a connection to it. I know these places they visit. And while I've never been to any of them I've always wanted to. I grew up hating Indiana. The only thing I wanted was to get out of this state, this book changed that. While I still am desperate to leave and see the world, I now appreciate the beauty this state brings to the world. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this novel, do you agree or disagree? If you haven't read it yet, I recommend that you pick it up sometime.

REVIEW
The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner

So for this trilogy I decided to do the review over all three of them in one post. Simply to make it easier on me! Lol I will put no spoilers in the review.

Rating: 4/5

The Maze Runner trilogy follows a group of teens that were put into a maze with all of their memories wiped. They can remember basic things like what a tree is and how to talk however, they don't remember names, faces, or their life before entering the maze. All they remember when they wake up is their name. The maze is called the Glade and is made up of all teen boys. They must find a way to survive but also try to find a way out of the maze. When Thomas is put in the maze everything changes. The next day a girl is put in, Theresa. All hell breaks loose after that and the "Gladers" try harder than ever to find a way out of the maze.

I don't want to spoil anything so that's all I'll say about the series for now, however, that pretty much just covers the first book so definitley check out the series if you want to know more.

I loved this trilogy. I picked up the series because I'm obsessed with the movies. I was super surprised to see that the movies were drastically different from the books and yet I really enjoyed both versions.

There were parts of the series that I found to be pretty dragging which is why I only gave the series four stars however, overall I really loved this world. It's an end of the world type of series, which I don't usually enjoy so I was shocked at how much I love The Maze Runner.

The story keeps you on your toes and throws so many curve balls at you that my head was spinning. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I loved. In the second book a slight love triangle begins and it's quite interesting how I kept switching sides of which girl I was rooting for to end up with Thomas.

While there are some things I didn't like that happened (some deaths of some great characters) all the good and bad added so much more to the story that I ended up being extremely happy with the ending.

Let me know if you've read this trilogy and what  you thought! And who you wanted Thomas to be with :) You can find me on here or @ncreads on Instagram.



 

REVIEW: Life and Death (Twilight Re-imagined) by Stephanie Myer

Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined is an additional, non-canon reimagining of Twilight. The book was written and published by Stephenie Meyer in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Twilight franchise. The story is set in an independent, parallel universe in which the most significant difference is that the genders, names and roles of the main characters have been reversed, with only a few exceptions.
The story follows essentially the same plotline as Twilight, but with necessary adjustments and slight changes to the story, dialogue, backgrounds, and personalities of the characters to accommodate the switched gender roles. Life and Death also features an alternate ending from the original plotline. 

I was really excited to read Life and Death since I was a hardcore Twihard. However, I was a little put off at the idea of another Twilight novel as I feel that the series should be left alone.

Towards the beginning I got caught up in who was who. Every time a character was discussed I was trying to figure out who they were in the original novel plus I was trying to notice every little detail that was changed. About a third of the way through the book I realized that doing so was making it extremely hard to enjoy the story so after that I tried to just enjoy the novel as an individual and not as a Twilight rewrite.

After that I actually enjoyed most of the novel. There are parts that I found to be awkward. It's probably just me stuck in society's gender roles but there were scenes that I found weird/unrealistic with the new genders.

I loved that Stephanie changed the ending! I won't spoil it for those that have not yet read it however, I will state that I enjoyed seeing how Twilight would have ended if it had been a standalone.

Overall I would recommend Life and Death to anyone that loved the original Twilight as it provides a new, fresh take on our beloved novel.

Tell me in the comments or on my book Instagram (@ncreads) what you thought of Life and Death if you've read it! I'd love to discuss and hear your opinions.

My rating will be based on Life and Death by itself as if it has nothing to do with Twilight.
Rating:  3.5/5

Link to purchase:
Amazon

REVIEW: Leaving Amarillo by Caisey Quinn
Publication date: March 17, 2015

Dixie Lark hasn’t had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the greats—Johnny and June, Waylon, and Hank. Her grandfather’s fiddle changed Dixie’s life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart and inspiring a daring dream.

Ten years later, Dixie and her brother Dallas are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, Leaving Amarillo. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.

Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her-a promise he swore he’d always keep . . . a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band.

Leaving Amarillo is such a quick and fun read. It holds your attention throughout the entire novel.

The chemistry between Dixie and Gavin is amazing. You can just feel the tension between the two of them and it drags you into their little world.

Without giving much away I will state that the back stories of all three main characters is just tragic. As I was reading their stories I wanted to reach out and hug them all. Caisey Quinn did an amazing job making you feel what the characters felt.

I can't wait to find out more about Gavin and his mother in the next novel. I wanted to punch her right in the kisser, she's was so frustrating.

THE ENDING, UGH. I can not wait to get my hands on the rest of Dixie and Gavin's story.

Rating: 4/5

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble

REVIEW: Confess by Colleen Hoover
Publication date: March 10, 2015

At age twenty-one, Auburn Reed has already lost everything important to her. In her fight to rebuild her shattered life, she has her goals in sight and there is no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping a major secret from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

To save their relationship, all Owen needs to do is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin.

As an art lover I have to start by discussing the actual art in this novel. It's AMAZING! After finishing the book I instantly looked up the artist. My two favorite things, reading and art combined! How awesome and such a fantastic idea as it just added to the book in such a great way.


The idea itself of people leaving their confessions for Owen to paint is so cool and unique. I love it, such a unique idea.

There's this huge twist in the book, which I won't reveal, that actually shocked me. I wasn't expecting it at all and I thought Colleen did a fantastic job keeping the reader on their toes.

This novel is heartbreaking, frustrating, and utterly amazing. It makes you feel something which is my number one must have in a book.

Once again, Colleen Hoover blew my mind with her fantastic writing.

Rating: 5/5

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble

REVIEW: Tidal Wave, book two in the Tide series by K. Dicke
Publication date: September 30, 2015

Dark days. Long nights. Dead eyes.

Ever since Kris’s battle with Devon, a victory that should have brought her and the Chosen peace, she’s been on the run.

Kris has left the beach, and all the painful memories associated with it behind.  She’s traded in cut-offs for leather and given up her surfboard for lead guitar in a speed metal band.  She’s hell-bent on revenge against those who wronged her and left her powerless.  But she’s running out of time, her body and mind deteriorating with each passing day.

She may be the only one who can end dark tyranny.  Can she do it while she still has the strength to overcome her enemies, or will she only uncover secrets that wash her away in a tidal wave of misery?

I'm excited to say that I received a physical copy of an  ARC for Tidal Wave to review. My first physical ARC (I've had Ebook ARCS before)! I was so looking forward to reading it after reading Spring Tide a few months back. If you have not read Spring Tide, I recommend that you check it out.

The book started out kind of confusing. Spring Tide ended with such a cliff hanger and Tidal Wave just jumps right back into story mode. About a fourth of the way through the book though everything becomes clear. I'm pretty sure my confusion stemmed from the fact that Kris was a totally different person (which is explained and actually adds to the story a little bit in). Kris's alter ego was a bit to take in at first but after a bit you warm up to it and it makes  a lot of sense why the author chose to do it like that.

Something that I want to bring up that I usually don't talk about in a review is the description used in the book. Dicke did an amazing job bringing this vivid world to life. I caught myself at times just blown away by the amazing descriptions throughout the book that make the story come to life, as if you were standing on the beach with Kris.

Now, let's talk about Jericho. Ahh, I am so rooting for him and Kris to end up together forever! I really want things to workout for them. I love their relationship and the way the Chosen world just comes to life. Dicke has created such an amazing world and I love it!

My feelings seriously got played with in this novel. I swear, I felt every emotion in this book. From joy to utter heartbreak, it all hits you like a brick wall which is exactly what a good novel should do.

Now, I don't want to put any spoilers in this review so I'm going to stop there. However, there is so much that goes on in this novel that I just NEED to discuss it with a fellow reader. So please check out the Tide series then come discuss with me! I'd love to hear your thoughts either on this blog or on my book Instagram @ncreads

Rating: 4/5 stars. 

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble


You can keep up to date with the author at
 http://tideseries.com/

It's time... Book Boyfriend Monday!

Jase Garrett 
(My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick)



Why did I not have an awesome neighbor like the Garretts? They have to be the coolest family ever which leads me to Jase... Hello, he's from the coolest family ever! There's one reason that he makes the Book Boyfriend Monday list. 

Another reason is that he's totally sweet and loves animals. I am a huge animal lover so this is a big bonus for me. Just imagine, if you lived with him you could literally have any animal you wanted and he'd be totally down for it! Awesome!

He's also pretty funny. Throughout the novel he repeatedly made me chuckle. He's very witty and quick on his feet. 

Speaking of being quick on his feet, he's athletic! 

Name a quality you want in a guy and Jase probably hits it. The only thing he's missing is tattoos but hey, bare skins pretty hot too.  

Some quotes from/about Jase:
-  “But here’s the truth: In movies, it’s never half so lovely as it is here and now with Jase.”
-  "He pulls on my lower lip gently with his teeth, then fits his mouth to mine. First so careful, and then so deep and deliberate, that I can't think of anything at all but his smooth back under my hands. My fingers travel to the springy-soft texture of his hair, and I lose myself in the movement of his lips and his tongue. I'm so glad I'm still alive to feel all those things.”

It's time for...
Book Boyfriend Monday!

 Augustus Waters
(The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)




Let's be honest, we all adore Augustus "Gus" Waters. Even if you didn't enjoy the book I bet there's a part of you that secretly liked Gus.

Augustus is described as a tall, fit, blue eyed, mahogany haired guy with a prosthetic leg. He's an ex- basketball player with osteosarcoma cancer.

One of the things I find interesting about Gus is his outlook on life. The poor kid is dying and yet he's still super  real and happy. He has this thing for symbols/metaphors which is really cool. The most common metaphor he uses is the infamous cigarette he carries in his mouth but doesn't actually smoke.

He's also super caring. He stayed with his ex-girlfriend Caroline until she passed even though she was extremely sour and nicknamed him "Stumpy." But he felt bad for her, as she was dying of brain cancer.

His goal throughout the book is to make Hazel happy and that's just too dang sweet. From helping her meet her favorite author to being there for her through her sickness even as he was "lit up" with cancer himself.

[SPOILER] In the end Augustus "Gus" Waters passes away in one of the saddest book deaths. I definitely didn't see it coming until late in the book and I bawled my eyes out as we saw him progressively get sicker until the end.

Some quotes from/about Augustus:
-  “I'll fight it. I'll fight it for you. Don't you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I'm okay. I'll find a way to hang around and annoy you for a long time.”
-  “I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.” 
- “I fear oblivion,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I fear it like the proverbial blind man who’s afraid of the dark.”
“Too soon,” Isaac said, cracking a smile.
“Was that insensitive?” Augustus asked. “I can be pretty blind to other people’s feelings.” 
-  “If you don't live a life in service of a greater good, you've gotta at least die a death in service of a greater good, you know? And I fear that I won't get either a life or a death that means anything.” 
-  “its a metephor, see: you put the killing thing right between your teeth but you dont give it the power to do its killing.” 
 

( I know it's a day late but I was busy yesterday so here's...)

Book Boyfriend Monday!

Rule Archer
(Rule, Marked Men series by Jay Crownover)




If you have not read the Marked Men series then I suggest you do because I promise, every boy in this series will eventually make it to Book Boyfriend Monday!

I love Rule freakin' Archer. He's literally my bad boy dream.

Rule is a 23 year old tattooed bad ass living life the way he desires with no care as to what other people think. And he deserves some respect for being him when growing up everybody wanted to change him. Even his own parents didn't approve of who he was, his mother pretty much did all but disown the poor boy.

While Rule is out living his life he's also battling the grief and guilt of his twin brother, Remy's death. Lots of people blamed him for the death and that, obviously, took a toll on Rule. He goes around drinking his life away sleeping with any and every girl that looks his way- which is a lot of girls because who wouldn't look his way? He's hot.

Rule makes a living as a professional and very successful tattoo artist. He's pretty much the definition of "young and rebellious."

Through all that though Rule is a great brother/friend. He's very protective of the ones he loves and that comes through loud and clear throughout the entire series.

Rule's love for Shaw is so intense and passionate it's crazy. I fell in love with the way they love each other. Once Rule accepts that he wants to be with Shaw he doesn't let anything stop him. He thoroughly consumes her. Who doesn't want a love that's strong enough to pass any limitations?

Some quotes from/ about Rule:

- “I think it’s genetically impossible not to be kind of in love with him when you come equipped with a vagina. It’s just something about all that angsty, moody swagger he has that makes you want to cuddle him up and make him feel better.”
- “You have to promise not to bail on me when I get lost, Shaw. You have to promise to just wait it out until I can find my way back. I need to know you’re at the end of the tunnel when everything goes black.” 
-  “You’ve never wanted to be easy to love Rule and you make damn sure that nobody can ever forget it.”
- “I wasn’t the type that got jealous, I mean I lived my entire life not being as good as my twin, so I couldn’t understand the murderous rage that was suddenly flowing through me, the sudden need to claim something, to announce to the world that she was mine...”

So I will be starting a new page on the blog where every Monday will now be... BOOK BOYFRIEND MONDAY! Every Monday I will profile a different book boy that is swoon-worthy. What better way to start off the week than with a hot book boyfriend? I'm going to start it off with...

Travis Maddox
  (Beautiful Disaster/Walking Disaster/ Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire)





Oh, Mr. Maddox. Every girl's bad boy dream is wrapped up in this boy. Tattoos, dimples, muscles, violence, obsessive love... ahh, yes.

Travis is fit, covered in tattoos and has a dimple. I must admit, tattoos and dimples will make me fall for any man. He has brown hair and eyes.

Not only is he hot though, he's smart! Throughout the stories he flies through his classes with ease.
He's a HOT, SMART, BAD BOY. Hello perfection.

Travis is also very witty and sarcastic, which I love. His obsessiveness can get a little over whelming sometimes but at the end of the day his love for Abby is absolutely breathtaking. While I myself would never want to be with an obsessive control freak, I do find Mr. Maddox to be super attractive.

He's also very insecure. He puts himself down a lot, saying that he's not worthy of Abby's love and all you want to do in those moments is hug him.

Some quotes from/about Travis:

-  “The way I feel about you . . . it’s crazy.”
“You got the crazy part right,” she snapped, pulling away from me.
“I practiced this in my head the whole time we were on the bike, so just hear me out.”
“Travis—”
“I know we’re fucked-up, all right? I’m impulsive and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then you need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don’t deserve you . . . but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than I’ve loved anyone or anything, ever. When you’re around, I don’t need booze or money or the fighting or the one-night stands . . . all I need is you. You’re all I think about. You’re all I dream about. You’re all I want.” 
 - “I was in love with her; couldn’t imagine my life without her in it; but at the same time, I wanted her to have better.” 
- “It’s dangerous to need someone that much. You’re trying to save him, and he’s hoping you can. You two are a disaster.”

Travis is the perfect start for my Book Boyfriend Monday.

What do you think of this sensitive, bad boy? Leave your thoughts in the comments and feel free to suggest characters you'd like to see featured!

REVIEW: Heaven and Earth: Three Sisters Island book two by Nora Roberts
Publication date: January 1, 2001

Ripley Todd just wants to live a quiet, peaceful kind of life. Her job as a sheriff’s deputy keeps her busy and happy, and she has no trouble finding men when she wants them—which, lately, isn’t all that often. She’s perfectly content, except for one thing: she has special powers that both frighten and confuse her—and though she tries hard to hide them, she can’t get them under control.

Distraction soon arrives in the handsome form of MacAllister Booke—a researcher who’s come to investigate the rumors of witchcraft that haunt Three Sisters Island. Right from the start, he knows there’s something extraordinary about Ripley Todd. It’s not just her blazing green eyes and her sultry smile. There’s something else. Something he can detect, but she’ll never admit. Fascinated by her struggle with her amazing abilities, he becomes determined to help her accept who she is—and find the courage to open her heart.

But before Ripley and Mac can dream of what lies in the future, they must confront the pain of the past. For Three Sisters shelters centuries of secrets—and a legacy of danger that plagues them still…

So far, I adore this trilogy. The dynamics of how the three sisters live in a cycle is very intriguing. Plus, the characters are super relatable. Even though Ripley, Nell and Mia are witches they still have very human lives/feelings. That makes it very simple to understand their feelings, from boy problems to ex-bestie problems, we've all been through it.

Now to the romance part! I adore Mac and Ripley together! Some of the scenes between these two had me tearing up. And the shocking part is, they wouldn't even be sad scenes! Mac was just so understanding and sweet. Who doesn't love a hot nerd though?

And finally, the magic. I love that the Three Sisters trilogy is based from the Salem witch trials. The trilogy brings a fun (at times) new aspect to the trials. (For those of you that aren't knowledgeable about the Salem witch trials they are, sadly, a real event in our history.)

All that said, I do find the books predictable. I can't say much here that won't spoil the story but I will say that I knew how the book would end way before it actually did.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Link to purchase:
Amazon: Heaven and Earth   

REVIEW: We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
Publication date: March 24, 2015

Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.

They always say that high school is the best time of your life.
Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.
Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.

So when I saw this book I instantly fell in love with the cover and bought it mainly for that reason (I know, I know, "don't judge a book by its cover" but I love this cover!) I then went home and looked up reviews and the majority of them were not very good. However, I read it anyway, as I like to make my own opinion, and I am SO glad I did.

I love how Wallach showed multiple ways that people would respond to the end of the world, from acting like nothing is wrong to freaking out- it's all in this book. I also enjoyed the switching of P.O.V.'s Each character brought something new to the story. The bonds between friends (old and new) were tested throughtout the entire story. It really makes you wonder how you'd react if the end of the world was near.

[MAJOR SPOILER IN THIS COMING PARAGRAPH, PLEASE SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU DON'T WANT A HUGE SPOILER]
I think my heart stalled when Peter died. I never saw that one coming! I was frustrated to the max, but, as a reader I understand what it adds to the story so, someday, I will forgive Wallach for that one.

Now, I don't want to give anything else away so I'll just say this:
This ending made me so mad and yet it was so perfect at the exact same time and I may have shed a tear or two.

I rate this novel 4/5 stars.

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon: We All Looked Up

REVIEW: The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari
Publication date: April 28, 2015

Detectives Byrne and Balzano return to the streets of Philadelphia to put an end to a macabre succession of murders.

A quiet Philadelphia suburb. A woman cycles past a train depot with her young daughter. There she finds a murdered girl posed on a newly painted bench. Beside her is a formal invitation to a tea dance in a week’s time.

Seven days later, two more young victims are discovered in an abandoned house, posed on painted swings. At the scene is an identical invitation. This time, though, there is something extra waiting for Detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano: a delicate porcelain doll.

It’s a message. And a threat. With the killers at large, Detectives Byrne and Balzano have just seven more days to find the link between the murders before another innocent child is snatched from the streets. 

I found this novel to be very intriguing. Throughout the entire story the reader is piecing clues together to try to solve the murders along with Officer Brynes. The author did a great job at making the reader feel involved with story.

The dynamics of Annabelle and Mr. Marseille's relationship is so complex and mysterious that [SPOILER] I found myself, at times, rooting for them to get away- which I found to be really odd because, hello, they're serial killers! 

The only reason that I am not giving "The Doll Maker" five stars is because of the ending. It really leaves you open mouthed wondering "Is that really it?!" However, I'm sure that Montanari wanted to leave the readers like that as the ending is a great surprise.

I rate "The Doll Maker" 4.5/5 stars.

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon: The Doll Maker

REVIEW: The Lie by C. L. Taylor
Publication date: April 23, 2015

I know your name’s not really Jane Hughes . . .
Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She’s happier than she’s ever been but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

Five years earlier Jane and her then best friends went on holiday but what should have been the trip of a lifetime rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of the women.

Jane has tried to put the past behind her but someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed Jane and everything she loves . . .

*Okay, so it might be hard for me to get my opinion across without spoilers so when there's a possible spoiler in a paragraph I'll put [SPOILER] before the start of the paragraph and you can choose to read or skip the paragraph*

I expected this novel to be mysterious and suspenseful, however, I did not expect it to be as creepy as it tuned out to be! Every page was a new twist, some expected and some not. C. L. Taylor did a great job at keeping the reader on their toes throughout the entire novel!

The girls went on the trip, originally, to help "save" Al but it turns out, they all needed a little saving. The Lie showed just how toxic holding your feelings in can be.

[SPOILERS] I was blown away by how quickly Daisy turned on Emma once they got to the "resort." The bonds of friendship and jealousy were excellently played between the four girls. How quickly rumors and things taken out of context can turn the world against you is so true and Taylor showed it brilliantly with the dynamic foursome of Daisy, Emma, Al and Leanne.

The flashbacks between Jane and her life as Emma were done in a way that leaves you gasping for more from both sides. They were placed in all the right places to make you feel Jane's fear of the truth coming out. 

I can't really discuss the resort without giving anything away so I'll just say this, if you like to be on the edge of your seat anxiously waiting for the next page, read this novel.

I rate The Lie 4/5 stars. 

REVIEW: Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.
Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.
One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

Wow. Where the Road Takes me is one of my favorite reads of 2015 so far!

Chloe is an exceptional character and plays a great female lead. I was blown away by her past and how it shaped her life in present day. And Blake, amazing. Blake's character went against all stereotypes of the "rich jock" that most novels play on. There were times that I wasn't happy with his characer, ahem, the cheating. Even though Hannah knew about it I don't approve of cheating- ever. But Chloe and Blake had such great chemistry and an amazing dynamic relationship.

I finished this novel hours ago and am just now getting to write the review because of the emotional turmoil it put me through. I can't really say why, since that'd be a pretty important spoiler, but lets just say... shit gets deep, real deep.

I absolutely recommend this book and hope that you'll give it a chance as I promise you it will leave you in a "red letter" kind of day... want to know what that means? Better go read it ;)

I rate this book 5/5 stars.

Link to purchase:
Amazon: Where the Road Takes Me

REVIEW: Waiting for April by Jaime Loren

April Fletcher has died nineteen times... but she doesn't know it.

As far as April is concerned, she's just a normal seventeen-year-old, looking forward to spending spring break with her friends and going to college in the fall. April doesn't know she has never lived past her eighteenth birthday, nor does she realize that Scott Parker, her best friend, is actually her childhood sweetheart and fiancé from her very first life.

For nineteen-year-old Scott Parker, spending quality time with his soul mate has proved difficult ever since her tragic death in 1729. Since then he has lost her an additional eighteen times—each of her deaths more devastating than the last, and each of her births wiping the slate of her memory clean. Unable to save her but unwilling to give up, Scott has to hide the fact he's immortal—and will be until April confesses her love again.

But this time, things have changed. April has denied her feelings for him, is dating someone else, and with her eighteenth birthday fast approaching, their friendship is falling to pieces. Fearing their souls are irrevocably drifting apart, Scott must race against the clock to win her heart and save her life.

I love many books but there aren't many that truly leave me wordless...

Waiting for April did just that. With it being Jaime Loren's first novel I expected this read to be average. But, Waiting for April is the complete oposite!

I was pulled in by page one as Loren leads the readers in with confusion as to why Scott's freaking out about April being "late to open her curtains" and leaves you in a state of suspense through the entire novel.

The chemistry between April and Scott was magnificent. From their humor to both of their pig headedness, their relationship had me jealous. 

There are so many twists and so much action that I could not put this novel down! 

The ending leaves you with such shock that I, literally, stared at the last page after I'd finished reading for at least three minutes. I was so flabbergasted, I couldn't even form a full thought except that, Loren better give me more! So I googled it and found this quote by the author,

           "I’m so excited to announce that Momentum have recently acquired two more books in this series, making it a trilogy! Yay! There’s also a lot of room within the story to expand with novellas, so I have a feeling I’ll be living in Scott and April’s world for a while to come."

There is no release date on the second or third novels yet.

If you'd like to purchase this novel (it's only available in Kindle edition) then here's a link:

Amazon: Waiting for April 

I give this novel 5/5 stars.

50 States Book Challenge (2015)

 So this was an idea that I came up with awhile ago on my bookstagram (@ncreads). I am aware that there are similar ideas, I didn't intend to copy anyone.

All you do is throughout 2015 you read a book for each state in the US. The novel has to be set in the state but it doesn't have to focus on the state.

For example: I used American Sniper by Chris Kyle for Texas even though the novel takes place, for the most part, over seas as he's at war. But he's located in Texas so I believe that it should count.

You can only use books that you read THIS year! No cheating and using previous books (unless you reread one).

If you decide to participate with me comment on this post and let me know!

If you have Instagram you can use the tag #50statesbookchallenge to keep track of your progress and follow mine.

I've added pictures of my list. As you can see I've only read five books that take place in the United States but I have a whole year to finish!

Let me know what you think!

REVIEW: Spring Tide by K. Dicke
Publication date: March 15, 2015

“She’s here. I feel her.”
“Who’s here?”
“The one who’s mine.”
To the dismay of her family, Kris Edwards postpones college, despite a full-ride scholarship, and moves to the beach. She has a crazy feeling there’s something she has to find to figure out her life, and it’s at the coast.
She’s pretty sure that something isn’t Jericho, the too-hot surfer with amazing blue eyes. He’s way out of her league. And is that an actual electric spark that happens every time she touches him? She doesn’t have time for him—not with two jobs, a boozer neighbor, and her best friend’s stalker on the scene. Not to mention the weird black mist over the water or outside her workplace that no one seems to notice but her.
But there’s more to Jericho than Kris realizes, and she can’t blow him off so easily. He’s in tune with the magic of the tides, and only he knows of the evil that’s washed ashore and is coming for her. The closer Kris gets to him the more danger she’s in. But he can’t let her be—he’s been waiting years for her.
With Jericho by her side, Kris might find what she’s looking for. Or she might lose everything.

I read Spring Tide in on sitting, the novel had me that enthralled.

The (human) characters were very well written and I felt as though I could relate to all of them at one point or the other. Kris' friends added great humor to the story.

Kris herself was a great character! She was very witty and I honestly felt as if I knew her. She suffers from panic- like attacks and cleans to over come them which I feel is a very realistic situation given her past. The attacks weren't randomly thrown in either, each one came at a point as to move the story and add to it, not take away from the main plot line.

K. Dicke does an amazing job at keeping the readers on their toes throughout the entire novel. I felt as if each scene had a point and there weren't any clear "filler" scenes. Dicke keeps the suspense without it getting to the point of being too much.

I look forward to reading the sequel, Tidal Wave once it's released.

Rating: 4/5 stars. 

REVIEW: Southern Perfection by Casey Peeler

Life is full of choices: good, bad, and ones you can’t control.

Raegan strives to be perfect in every way. Varsity cheerleader, honor student, and proud granddaughter of Dover Lowery. By day, Raegan is an over-achieving high school student, but at three o’clock, her real work begins.

What happens when appearances are not what they seem? Will Raegan be able to hold on to her life as she knows it, or will she be left all alone? 

 All of these questions are answered with one night, one song, one story, and one boy.

Honestly, I expected this novel to be some ditsy, light hearted teen romance. Boy, was I surprised! Southern Perfection is a shoutout to the bond of family and the strength of love through the good and the bad.

There were some parts, mainly with Raegan and Em, that I thought were a little too cheesy but I still enjoyed this read and towards the end I had tears running down my face. Peeler did an amazing job of making the characters seem real and I felt every emotion that Raegan felt. 

This was the first I have read by Casey Peeler but I'll definitely be purchasing more from her in the future.

I rate this book 4/5 stars.