Verity by Colleen Hoover ~ #BookReview

 

Title: Verity 

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Hoover Ink, Inc.  

Publication date: December 7, 2018 

Source: Borrowed 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover. 

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Verity is the first book I've ever read by Colleen Hoover, and definitely won't be the last. She draws you in with her writing to where you forget you're reading--you're just that invested in the story. I've been meaning to read her books for a long time and think this thriller was a fun and wild one to start out with!   

Verity's husband, Jeremy, hires a writer, Lowen, to finish writing a popular series by his wife, who was in an accident and can't complete the series. Jeremy also invites Lowen to stay at the house with him and Verity and gives her complete access to Verity's office for research on the series.

Almost immediately Lowen comes across an unfinished autobiography Verity was writing. What Lowen reads in that manuscript is so disturbing, she immediately begins wondering if she should show it to Jeremy. Knowing that Lowen has begun falling for Jeremy, I wasn't one hundred percent sure that she had the purest of intentions; however, the confessions were pretty shocking, and I found myself leaning towards telling Jeremy.  

As if this all wasn't creepy enough, the scare factor was increased by events unfolding in a way that I couldn't tell if what Lowen was seeing and experiencing were real or not. I've said this many times and will keep saying it--I love not being sure about whether a narrator is reliable or not!  

The only reason I rated this book four stars instead of five was that I didn't like Lowen falling for Jeremy. I thought it was predictable and a bit sudden. 

Bottom line--this book was a roller coaster, the kind that goes zero to sixty in five seconds. From the first page, you are LAUNCHED into the story. I flew through the book and was brought out of a major reading slump I previously was struggling to get out of. Things that happen in Verity are played with to where you can't tell if you're imagining things or not, and I love an author's ability to do that.   

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Donnie Darko Girl! 

Fire and Cinder (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #6) by Christina Bauer ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Fire and Cinder 

Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #6 

Author: Christina Bauer

Publisher: Monster House Books   

Publication date: February 23, 2021

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kobo | IndieBound

Synopsis

Meet the Magicorum: modern folks who are supernaturally locked into fairy tale life templates. For eighteen-year-old Elle, that role is Cinderella. Meanwhile, Agatha is her evil stepsister. Things go downhill from there…

Cinderella On The Run

Elle—never call her Cinderella—has found the love of her life in Alec Le Charme, the prince of a jewelry dynasty. But when Alec gets spirited away, Elle must ditch her Manhattan home for the perilous Faerie Lands. To save Alec, Elle must also swap her glass slippers for a flying carpet. But will switching templates from Cinderella to Aladdin snap Elle’s sanity?

Whatever. Bring on the straight jacket. Elle is one Cinderella who’s determined to save her prince, no matter what.

Evil Stepsister or Elf Queen?

Agatha always accepted her role as Elle’s evil stepsister. Then her life template changes from nasty sibling to evil elf queen. Agatha has one thought on that score. Thanks but no thanks. Agatha refuses the regal life, even though stepping away from her crown means ignoring her lifelong attraction to the elf prince, Jacoby.

Then everything changes. Agatha discovers that Elle’s life is at risk… and the only way to save her Cinderella is by teaming up with Jacoby. Trouble is, that’s a lot of togetherness. Working with Jacoby could easily end in disaster, not only for Agatha’s heart, but also for Elle and Alec’s lives.

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum

Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance

1. Wolves and Roses

2. Moonlight and Midtown

3. Shifters and Glyphs

4. Slippers and Thieves

5. Bandits and Ball Gowns

6. Fire and Cinder

7. Fairies and Frosting

8. Towers and Tithes

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Fire and Cinder, the sixth entry in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series, took me on another roller coaster ride filled with new discoveries that advanced the plot. Every new piece of info that was revealed was exciting, and I couldn't wait to see what the characters would have to face next.    

Like the last book, Fire and Cinder is also told from four perspectives--those of Elle, Alec, Jacoby, and Agatha. Before I dove into this one, I reread the fifth book, Bandits and Ball Gowns, which took me no time at all. I fall into these books so easily, and I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything that happened previously before I read this current installment.  

Everything I learned about Agatha was further expanded on in this book, and she was firmly rooted in the middle of the action along with Jacoby. One of my favorite parts was that the fairy tale templates these characters are kind of forced to live out can change, and I thought that was creative and well thought out. The new characters both from the last book and this one were welcome additions, and I even liked a couple of the characters on the "bad side."    

The only reason I've rated this four stars instead of five was again how easily the battle against the "big bad" was won. Also some of the chapters were very short. I don't mind short chapters, but some of these were only a page to a page-and-a-half.

Overall, I devour my way through this series, and I can't wait to read the next book!     

 

Check out my reviews of three earlier books in this series: 

click here for my thoughts on Wolves and Roses (#1)

click here to read about Slippers and Thieves (#4)

click here to read my review for Bandits and Ball Gowns (#5)  

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Donnie Darko Girl! 

Bandits and Ball Gowns (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #5) by Christina Bauer ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Bandits and Ball Gowns

Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #5 

Author: Christina Bauer  

Publisher: Monster House Books  

Publication date: November 10, 2020

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kobo | IndieBound

Synopsis

One Prince Finds True Love ... And Risks It All

Elle Cynder has fallen hard for Alec, the 'prince' of Le Charme Jewelers. Time for some happily in their ever after, right?

Not so much.

While the new couple shares joyful moments--and sizzling kisses--serious trouble is brewing. Elle's evil stepmother, Marchesa, schemes with none other than Alec's twisted father, Legend. Their plan? Destroy Elle and Alec, along with everything the young lovers hold dear, including Bry, Knox, and Wilhelm.

Another Royal Freezes His Heart ... But For How Long?

As a prince of the dark fae, Jacoby focuses on one goal: avoid assassination. Marrying Elle would certainly aid in that cause, considering how she's both a Cinderella life template and a powerful fae warden. Even better, Jacoby doesn't truly love Elle. In court life, deep romantic attachments only mean certain death.

Then Jacoby notices Elle's youngest stepsister, Agatha.

For the first time in his life, Jacoby's cold heart warms with true affection. The elven prince struggles to ignore his feelings, but it might be a losing battle. And what would the prince's newfound emotions mean for Elle and Alec? Could Jacoby really stand by and watch another's true love be destroyed?

Buckle up for a wild ride as Cinderella's time-honored story gets some all-new twists.

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum Series

A series of modern fairy tales with sass, action and romance

1. Wolves and Roses

2. Moonlight and Midtown

3. Shifters and Glyphs

4. Slippers and Thieves

5. Bandits and Ball Gowns

6. Fire and Cinder

7. Fairies and Frosting

8. Towers and Tithes 

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Bandits and Ball Gowns led me to realize I will read anything and everything by Christina Bauer. This series is so fun with the retelling of different fairy tales, and BaBG is no exception. 

Elle and Alec are back again, and this time the story expands to include the points-of-view of Elle's sister, Agatha, and Jacoby, the elf who kept popping up in Elle's life in the last book. I liked how they were added to the action. 

Up until this point, Agatha was mostly in the background, so it was good to see her character develop. She wasn't someone I thought would become more involved, so it was a good surprise. Jacoby sometimes annoyed me in the previous book, but he ended up growing on me. There's more to these two characters than you might think.

My favorite Agatha quote: 

"How empty you must feel...to need to fill yourself up on my pain."

My favorite Jacoby quote: 

"Mother always said that she'd rather drink poison than fall in love. Both cause your death, yet only poison allows you to set the time and place."

BaBG has added illustrations of some of the characters and settings, and I loved their addition except for Alec. I think I just pictured him differently, but the other characters, including a couple of new ones, were done beautifully. And the scenes! They were stunning.  

I did initially rate this book three out of five stars, but as I wrote this review, I realized how much I love this book and changed it to four stars. It isn't quite a five-star read for me because I think some parts were a little rushed, especially towards the end.  

I highly recommend reading book #4, Slippers and Thieves, before diving into BaBG. Books #4, #5, and #6 are kind of like their own trilogy and go together. This series makes me so happy, and I get into these books so quickly and deeply.    

While you're here, check out my reviews for two previous books in this series: click here for my thoughts on Wolves and Roses (#1) and click here to read about Slippers and Thieves (#4). 

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Donnie Darko Girl! 

Stick around -- lots more 

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The Push by Ashley Audrain ~ #bookreview #psychologicalthriller

 

Title: The Push  

Author:  Ashley Audrain 

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books    

Publication date: January 5, 2021

Source: Purchased 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.

Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had.

But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter–she doesn’t behave like most children do.

Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well.

Then their son Sam is born–and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she’d always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth.

The Push is a tour de force you will read in a sitting, an utterly immersive novel that will challenge everything you think you know about motherhood, about what we owe our children, and what it feels like when women are not believed. 

My Rating: 5 / 5 stars 

I'm so glad I happened to see The Push at a bookstore I was at with my daughter. The cover and title of the book stopped me in my tracks, especially that cover, which is designed to evoke an inkblot you'd see in a Rorschach test. I hadn't heard of this book before, but the synopsis indicated this was a book I was likely going to love. 

First of all, I love unreliable narrators where you don't know if their perspective is what's really happening or not, and that was how I felt about Blythe. Was there something "wrong" with Violet, or was there something wrong with her mother? As for Blythe's husband, Fox, he was either being rational or refusing to see what's happening. The book had me back and forth so many times!    

There were times I could see where Blythe was coming from, but I still wondered about this character. I had to know what was going to happen next. I will say I liked her more than Fox though. I don't know what exactly it was about him, although I suppose it was likely his flippant attitude about his wife's concerns that drove me crazy.

The Push was definitely a five star read for me! It was a nonstop thrill ride that kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could, and after I finished it, I had to take a deep breath and process what I just read. I love books that give me that reaction.  

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Donnie Darko Girl! 

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The Bully by K.J. Kwon ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: The Bully--A Paranormal Thriller   

Author: K.J. Kwon  

Publisher: KJ Books   

Publication date: April 15, 2021

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon 

Synopsis

Since the day I declined my boss' sexual advance, all hell has broken loose.

She has abused me with impossible assignments during our work day and haunts me as a vicious spirit at night.

I am losing my mind. I am constantly seeing my boss transforming into a vicious spirit.

Desperate to set myself free, I pay her a visit with a final plan...but even my extreme measure doesn’t provide a way out..

Maybe there is a world of demons hidden just beneath the surface of everyday life.

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars 

The Bully immediately lured me in with its synopsis. My favorite kind of horror involves demons, so if a novel, movie, or TV show has them in it, I'm there in a flash. They are by far the scariest supernatural beings to me. 

This story takes us to South Korea where the main character has just found a new job in the city and thinks he's landed the job of his dreams. But his life quickly becomes a nightmare when his female boss begins making unwanted sexual advances toward him. 

After rejecting her, his boss sets out to destroy his life, and I wondered if there would be anything left of him to continue working. She's so successful in her quest to torture him, it leaves him wondering if she's literally from hell. I know I got whiplash from how she'd praise him one minute, then tear him down the next, psychologically tormenting him. 

The Bully has an intriguing idea at its core. I liked being unsure of what was real and what wasn't. The ability to write that way is something I've always envied because it takes skill to be subtle. This is a short read, and I recommend reading it in one sitting if you can because then you get the full effect of the situation escalating out-of-control and the desperation, panic, and terror of the main character. 

When I finished reading, I became torn on what to rate this. While the idea was a good one, I wanted more of the supernatural but not necessarily a longer book. I'm having a hard time articulating exactly what it was that led to my three-star rating. I'm trusting the gut feeling I have on this one. 

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Blood & Ink by Stephen Davies ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Blood & Ink 

Author: Stephen Davies

Publisher: Charlesbridge 

Publication date: September 19, 2017

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

Part thriller, part love story, this contemporary YA novel is based on true-to-life events in Mali in 2012 and centers around the power of individuals to take a stand against terrorism.

Kadi is the 15-year-old daughter of a librarian in modern-day Timbuktu. Ali is the son of shepherds and has been conscripted by the Defenders of Faith, an arm of Al Qaeda. When these two teens meet, it's hate at first sight.

Forced together by a series of tumultuous events, their feelings slowly but persistently turn into something more, causing Kadi to let her guard down and Ali to discover her family's secret hiding place for the manuscripts her family is tasked with safeguarding.  Kadi undertakes a dangerous operation to smuggle the manuscripts out of the city, while Ali and his military commander are soon in pursuit.  Ali's loyalties will never be more in question than when Kadi's life is in danger.

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

There isn't anything better than learning. When I find out something I didn't know before by reading a book, I start looking further into the subject. When that book has action and a plot with interesting characters, it's even better. Blood & Ink is that type of book, which is based on real-life events that transpired in Mali in 2012.

Immediately when the two main characters meet, there is mistrust and a strong disliking, but Kadi and Ali go back and forth between understanding each other and feeling betrayed by the other. 

The crux of the novel is that Ali has joined a movement in Islam called the Defenders of Faith, who are set on taking over Kadi's town and instituting strict laws because they view the people of the town as "godless." Differences between different sects of the Islamic faith are highlighted in this book, and I was left wanting to know more.  

I wasn't sure if I was going to like Blood & Ink, but it's motivated me to learn about what happened in Mali in 2012 as well as learn about the different sects in Islam and how they're similar and different to each other.  

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) * 

   

Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Echoes Between Us  

Author: Katie McGarry 

Publisher: Tor Teen  

Publication date: January 14, 2020

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.

Veronica sees ghosts—more specifically, her mother’s ghost, thanks to the blinding migraines that consume her whole life and keep Veronica on the fringes. But the haunting afterimages make her wonder if there is something more going on….

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but this All-American is hiding an adrenaline addiction that could kill him. Drawn to each other after a chance meeting, can they help each other battle the demons that haunt their every step or will they push their luck too far and risk losing it all...including their lives? 

My Rating: 5 / 5 stars 

First of all, look at that cover! Echoes Between Us has an absolutely gorgeous cover, which drew me in along with the title. The synopsis, mostly that Veronica can see her mother's ghost (among others), super intrigued me and ensured I'd want to read Veronica and Sawyer's story.  

Veronica has AWFUL migraines that can become debilitating without much warning. The good news is that her dad is amazing and warm and supportive. You don't get that too often in YA. Veronica also has close friends who seem like they'd be cool to know and were also supportive. I adored them.   

Sawyer is an adrenaline junkie and engages in dangerous behavior (the kind that could get him killed), which was an interesting mix with Veronica's severe issues with migraines and the belief she has nothing to live for. A dangerous combination in some ways.  

Veronica is a good person yet also flawed, and I absolutely loved her no matter what. Plus I know what it's like to feel that way. Each and every character was natural and real; McGarry has done a fantastic job of breathing life into them. 

I loved the paranormal elements. This story hit me like a punch to the gut--a story that resonated with me loudly and shattered my heart. I lost my mom to cancer when I was a teen, and I'd give anything to see her again. 

Echoes Between Us is a novel I will always remember and will definitely be reading more than once. Books like this don't come along everyday! There are scenes that I can picture clearly even months later. I'm stoked to read Only a Breath Apart because it has some of the same characters from this book. I hope you guys love it as much as I do. 

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) *  

The Button by Ellen Allen ~ #bookreview #dystopian

 

Title: The Button  

Author: Ellen Allen  

Publisher: BookBaby  

Publication date: July 2, 2020

Source: From the author for review 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo 

Synopsis

A global catastrophe...an airborne disease...a small group of survivors...a new set of rules. 

For the fledgling community which emerges, self-sufficiency is vital, but daily life is a grind without electricity. 

Particularly for First Borns, who are forced to stay at home, forced to tend house and forced to press a button every 90 minutes. No exceptions. 

But for one girl, it's time to say no.   

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars 

The synopsis for Ellen Allen's The Button gave me chills! Especially the last line: "But for one girl, it's time to say no." And I'm like, damn straight it is! Screw the system!! 

I agreed to review this because the synopsis was so intriguing, and I did know going in that it was gonna be a short read, so I tried to prepare myself, but it still felt way too short. There wasn't enough time allowed for more world building. Further character development would've really made this story pop. 

This story could easily be transformed into a full length novel -- there's a lot of fantastic out-of-this-world creative ideas here that could be opened up. I know I'd definitely read it. 

Back in 2014, I read Allen's novel, The Sham, and it was amazing!! She can definitely write, there's no question about it. Click here if you'd like to read my review of her debut novel, The Sham. I can't wait to see what she writes next. I'm definitely reading everything and anything Allen writes, that's for sure!

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) *