A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I love this author.... I know I know, Sarah J. Maas has been around for awhile and A Court of Thorns and Roses is not her debut novel. But it was for me.

This book is so well written with a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it has just made me so happy. Although I would not consider it YA.

She doesn't just describe the setting she makes you feel the setting. Sarah Maas has the skill that allows all of your senses to activate. Your smell, your taste, the shiver down your spine are all participating in this experience.

****Small Spoiler****
Now the story-the plot itself..... it was enjoyable. It was well thought out and the character development is strong and it leaves you hanging for sure. It doesn't start out with a love triangle, which hooked me because as many f you know I am so over that trope.
But by the end of the book, you're wondering.......really really wondering what if....oh man.....is she......do I like him more.......what is she thinking.......who is he?? Complete with a deep throat growl that makes your husband look at you like you are such a geek.

(Note to Hubby: After 10 years honey, I'm pretty sure my geek traits shouldn't surprise you).

I want this book on my shelf, but I will resist the urge book buying gives me until the series is complete.
I will resist
I will resist
I will resist......

Not to mention the Book cover is stunning.

The Keeper's Light; Legend of The Keepers Vol. 1

It's coming. I am so happy and nervous and excited and really just feeling that it is about freaking time.
I have been slaving over this book, hiding away in libraries, closets and under bed covers. I have been rejected more times than I can count. I have had bites, with requested changes made, only to be rejected again.

I am taking the bulls by the horn people!! I am taking charge of my dreams!! And no one will stop me.

I would like to introduce the release date for my first novel.    

             The Keeper's Light
             The Legends of The Keepers Vol. 1

                January 26th 2016

The ability to choose is a powerful thing. With every choice made The Light of Wills grows more radiant, protecting the sanctity of choice. Elizabeth's parents had been The Keepers of that power. They were the protectors of individual will, until a clandestine enemy discovered a way to corrupt it. Her parents bestowed The Light of Wills, a weight heavier than the world, into her newborn heart years ago. With a fight ahead, facing an already victorious foe, Elizabeth must learn of her heritage. Against unprecedented tempests, she must learn what it means to be a Keeper.



Kindle edition is now available for pre-order

The Keeper's Light Legend of The Keepers Vol. 1

The Book of Mormon

This is not a book I found in Young Adult section of the library. It is a book that has been with me, by my bed side, in my backpack, and now on my phone for years and years.

This weekend is the semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and so I have felt impressed to express my deepest love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I can not do it without the Book of Mormon.

Many people do not understand what the Book of Mormon is. So many feel that it is an impostor to the Holy Bible. It is not. They compliment each other. They are both the Word of God. They both come from His prophets.

The best way I know how to explain is this.

God is truly and literally our Heavenly FATHER. We are His literal sons and daughters.

In times of old, His children were scattered across the earth. The Holy Bible tells us of His children in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions. It tells of the prophets of old and the trials they faced. It tells of Christ's redeeming love. It tells us to repent and turn to Christ. The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the only way to return to our Father's presence in Heaven.

The Book of Mormon tells us the same. Only the setting is different. It tells of God's children on the American Continent. You see, God, our Heavenly Father loves All of his children. He needed a way to teach and show all His children about His Son, Jesus Christ. To teach us all about His Atonement.

And so He called Prophets, and missionaries and disciples to bring forth the gospel on the American continents, just as He did in the Bible. And why wouldn't He? We are all his children, the Holy Bible teaches us that. Would He not want the same salvation for us all?

In the Holy Bible, in the book of John Chapter 10 verses 14-16 Jesus Christ's speaks saying,

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Other sheep? Not of this fold? Them also He must bring?

In the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi chapter 9 verses 1-20 (and I will summarize because of length)

1 And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land saying.

(The voice tells of many great destruction in the land, and then the voice says)

12 And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and abominations.
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.


Jesus Christ came and visited His sheep on the Americas. He has offered His Atonement to all men. No matter their region or setting or background, because He loves us all. He has taken upon the sins of the world. The sins of entire world from the beginning of time to the very last person who will be born on the earth. He has felt and experienced your pain. Our Savior Jesus Christ has bled from every pore. He has experienced your grief, your depression, your inadequacies, your guilt. He has experienced your love and your joys and your wonder. He is the way. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are witnesses to that truth.


Nehpi 25:26

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Dear friends, I feel so strongly to tell you about the Book of Mormon. The words are true. The message is Truth. Never has a book done more for the Children of God. I promise you, if you desire the truth, the Book of Mormon will open your heart to a love so pure it will burn deep in your bones.
I know, somehow through the Holy Ghost, I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. The joy and peace it brings me is unmeasurable.

I welcome any questions you may have. I only ask you to respect my faith. It is in the very fiber of my being as I am sure your beliefs are.

The Eternity Key by Bree Despain

Into The Dark Book 2

This was not the original book I was going to review. But when my puppy ate The Healer's Apprentice and I had to pay for it- well I needed to move on for a bit. Luckily this book became available. 

I read Book 1, The Shadow Prince about a year ago. I remember it being very enjoyable and have been waiting for the release of The Eternity Key for sometime. 

The Library took its time getting it in, but once I inquired about it, they had it to me within in two weeks. 

Since it had been so long since I had read the first book, it took me a few chapters for my memory to refresh. As soon as it did, I couldn't put the book down. 

Daphne thinks she is an ordinary girl, although her father happens to be a rock star. When he comes back into her life, offering tuition to one of the best music schools there is, she can't turn him down. 

Unfortunately, Olympus Hills is not what it seems to be. Neither is Daphne.

Haden Lord is not just the good looking, rich and mysterious new guy in school, he's an Underlord. An Underlord on a mission and Daphne happens to be his target. 

I love the way the author writes mythology as if it is fact. It is as if the legends are repeating themselves and the reader has a front row seat. 

I did like the story. The plot was very well developed and the writing flows beautifully. Bree Despain's first series The Dark Divine never sat well with me. The characters in those books were a tad whiny and I struggled with the cheesiness. 

This series was not that. Bree Despain has grown as an author and has developed a style that I found refreshing. 

If you are looking for an all night read, this one's it. My only reservation I had about it, is the love stories in Greek mythology never seem to end well. I fear that this tale is heading down the same path.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This was a good book. 

Thank goodness.
I haven't really been hitting jackpots in the spellbinding stories lately.

These Broken Stars is well written with high definition imagery. (well-if you could write high definition, this would qualify)
The description of not only their location but what the characters were feeling and experiencing was riveting. And the love story was just the right amount of mushy, nothing over the top or cheesy. I felt their pain with them, which may sound weird, but that is what makes a good book for me. When I feel worried for a character. When my heart is hurting because their heart is hurting.

I got that with this book.

Tarver and Lilac are star crossed lovers. Lilac comes from the richest family in the galaxy and Tarver is a soldier, no where near her station. But fate, or something else......has different plans.
When their ship crashes, after being ripped out of hyperspace, they are the only survivors, stuck on a deserted planet. Or so they think.

Book Two is already on hold and I can't wait to start it,

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Book 3 of Under the Never Sky 

I know, I know, I've said it already. I love this story.

Normally, and I mean more often than not, sequels/trilogies/series are ruined by the final installment. 

They can feel rushed, as if the author is tired of their characters and feel the need to kick them out of the house on their eighteenth birthday. Or sadly, they rely too heavily on shock value, writing a plot/character twist that rips the reader's heart out as if it meant nothing to them. I hate shock value endings, but I loathe them more when the shock has no purpose to the story. It is a question I ask myself a lot when I finish a book. 

Why? Why did it end this way? Or why did the hero do that? If I can't find the why, I feel incomplete, lacking and let down.

Into the Still Blue is NOT one of those books. 

The story unfolds perfectly, laying it out for you with a bird's eye view. You experience the growth and progress with the characters. You feel their pain and their earnest. 

I don't want to say that Rossi wrapped the story up in a neat little bow, because she didn't. There were jolts and uncertainties the entire time. The ending was satisfying without being a happy ever after. 

I am still thinking about it. I will be for a long time I suspect.

This series will find a place of honor on my shelves and someday soon, when my daughter is old enough for this genre, I will encourage her to read it. I will probably read it with her.....again and again. 

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Book Two of Under the Never Sky series

I am very impressed with this story line. Most who know me are aware that I am not a fan of dystopian novels. This is the exception, and a beautiful one. I said it in my last post and I will say it again. I love Veronica Rossi's way with words. I found myself repeating certain phrases out loud because I found them so full-filling (my husband was concerned). 

I unfortunately did not read this book. I prefer to read than to listen to books, but we took a family trip and reading in the car is not my forte, nor my stomach's. So I was lucky enough to download it onto my phone from my library's Overdrive App, (love, by the way) and I listened to it for most of the road-trip.

Aria and Perry are now faced with a new goal and a new destination. They need to find a way to the Still Blue.

Perry has become blood lord over the Tides, his childhood tribe, and their location near the coast is no longer safe. (no where is safe) The Aether is becoming more volatile. The storms are plaguing the world more frequently and for longer periods of time. Perry needs to find the Still Blue and take his tribe there in order to survive. (If it exists)

Aria is confronted with an ultimatum by the dweller leaders. If she ever wants to get Talon back (Perry's nephew) she has to find the location of the Still Blue. 

The problem;

Only one person seems to know what the coordinates are for the Still Blue. Sable, the Horns tribe's blood lord and a manipulating, ruthless, psychopath.  The odds of striking a deal with Sable are against Aria, Perry and their friends.

I want to hug this book, this series, tightly and never let go. 

Again, Book One, Under the Never Sky , is on sale through Amazon Kindle.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

I read this book about a month ago, before I started this little endeavor, and I loved it. I find myself thinking about it all of the time. Under the Never Sky is book one of three.

Aria is a dweller. Living in a pod with an entire population of dwellers, protected from the outside world; a world that has started to burn. The Aether storms, ( I picture a bright, blue and white, never ending lightning tornadoes) have destroyed most of the world. The dwellers have never really concerned themselves with the outsiders, viewing them as Savages.

An injustice has Aria banished from her pod, Reverie.  Her mother, a scientist was stationed at a different pod before her banishment and Aria sets out looking for her. The outside is brutal and dangerous for her and she struggles to survive.  When she meets an outsider name Perry, she is torn between disgust of him and needing him to survive.

Perry is in search of his nephew who has been kidnapped by the dwellers. He battles between helping Aria because of her connection to the dwellers and his hatred towards her origins.
The alliance starts out rocky, and contentious, pulling you in.

When they come upon a cannibalistic tribe, Perry saves Aria's life and kills the blood lord of the tribe. With the Aether chasing them, the harsh nature of the world and now an entire tribe hunting them, they have no choice but to work together to survive.

The imagery is vivid. Veronica Rossi has a beautiful way with words. You learn the description of a scene or a character without ever leaving the story. Magnificent.

I love this book. I love this series. My next two posts will be Through the Never Night and Into the Still Blue, but I wanted to get this post up because Book one is now on sale on Amazon for your Kindle.


Enjoy.

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Book Three of The Ruby Red Trilogy

Don't worry....NO spoilers.

I love this series. I really do. It is now on my wish list for my book shelf and it will be displayed with pride. 

There was one part towards the end that I felt could have been written better. I felt like it glazed over a big reveal without much emotion. It needed more oomph.

But it was easily overshadowed by all the excitement and discovery. 

The entire series was very well thought out and I loved the little twist at the end. It was the obvious solution but I didn't think of it because I was so caught up in everything else, which was fantastic. 

I will be reading these books again. The escape the imagery affords is easily the highlight of the book. Traveling to different periods of time, the costumes, the society and balls are all incredibly enjoyable. The love story between Gwen and Gideon is wrought with drama and angst as any teenage affection should be. And the danger with each journey back through time is heart jumping. 

The entire structure of the series is well developed and satisfying. 

This is one for the collection.

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

 Book 2 of the Ruby Red Trilogy

It's too early. Especially when you spend your sleep-time reading. 

I finished the book in one day- well less than one day. It was pretty dang good, but I have a few qualms now that I've read every page. 

The book keeps you going. There is so much mystery related to the secret behind the secret that you can't help be engrossed with the story. Gwen knows very little about the secret society she has just inherited, which means we as readers know very little as well. And I have no issue with that other than this is the second book and I would have liked a little more revealed than what was given. 

I wanted something discovered, where I would be like holy crap. It really only happened once (I muttered a little holy crap that no one heard) and it was towards the beginning of the middle giving me false hope that more was going to be discovered by our extremely patient heroine.

I mean really, she has the patience of a seasoned mother. Don't get me wrong, she has her break downs and who can blame her. Everyone treats her like she's a stupid little girl, but she has her break downs in private or with her best friend. 

Half the things this secret society is having her do, while having little regard for her or her feelings would have made me flip them the finger and say screw you. And anyone who knows me knows that I don't do those things even when provoked. 

So there was that. 

The author also introduced another villain, or possible villain, I am not sure because like I said above; little has been revealed.

So far, overall, I do like both books a lot. But I am telling you, this third book better blow my mind because the buildup for the secret behind the secret might very well be a stalagmite. (Which are very impressive, I might add.)

This was obviously an all night reader, no dog ears here. 

 I still think the series might end up on my shelf. We'll see how anti-climatic the third one is to be sure though,

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

A Time Travel Novel....I love it already.

Gwen grew up knowing that she was part of a very special kind of family. Apparently, every generation a child is born with a certain gene that allows them to travel through time. The catch, her entire family thought it would be her cousin, Charlotte.

Nope, not even close. Gwen has it. She is the time traveler.

Before you get too upset over that little spoiler, it is an obvious one. I mean, why would the book be about Gwen if her cousin was prancing through time having all the fun.

At first, the story was slow. I was dying for some more time-traveling. Some more action. This book is part of a trilogy (most are these days) and if I hadn't already planned to read all the library books I would not have continued with it. At least not at first.

The last few chapters were loaded with intriguing information and revelations that made my mouth literally fall open. No really it did, without my permission I might add. It was not an attractive look, but it was so worth it.

I didn't see it at first, but the detail in this mysterious plot is quite compelling and now I need it solved. Like now. Sadly I can't make it back to the library until tomorrow.

The writing style is clean for the most part. There was only a couple times I had to reread a sentence or a paragraph to see if I understood it right. The flow from one sequence to the next stalled sometimes.
I didn't like when Gwen had to get back to her normal life, it was boring compared to her new found ability. Her best friend Lesley was fun, but again, she didn't really fit into the flow like I had expected.

This was definitely a dog-ear book. I could put it down and it didn't keep me up late.....But I believe it might deserve a place on my bookshelf. The rest of the serious will make that decision for me.

Until my next adventure......Love Your Books.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

         This is not my normal book. The entire book, was a boy and girl trying (and sometimes failing) to get together. I liked it, it was a fun read. It was well written, witty and full of teenage angst. Who doesn't love that kind of tension.

         But.......Where's the beef? There wasn't really a pull to get me to turn the pages. But I did. Eventually. There is still that little girl in me that wants to see two lovely people get together.

         Anna is sent to Paris her Senior year of high school. Away from friends and even family. (This is like taking the feet of a teenager right from under them as they are accepting the homecoming queen crown.) So of course Anna is devastated.
     
        She meets St. Claire. The boy. The cute, everybody loves boy, in her new school. It starts out as budding friendship. Mixed signals, current girlfriends and heart wrenching realities make this the relationship you can't help but cheer for.
        There weren't any heart pounding, nail biting scenes, which I kind of crave. But like I said, a fun quick read.
        It won't find a place in my bookshelf but I would recommend it if you have a long lay-over.

Overall I'd give it a dog ear. Good enough to mark your spot, but definitely can put it down to make dinner.

Oh crap- dinner.

An Insane but Exciting Goal

I don’t know why. I really don’t, but for some reason I have this desire to read every book in the teen section of my library. Every book, from the A’s to the Z’s. Whether or not it interests me, I am going to check it out and at least give the book 100 pages to grab me. I may or may not go in order. We will see.  Of course for organizational purposes, it makes sense to start in A and go from there, but a lot of the things I do, do not make sense. So why start now. 

Maybe it is because I am trying to shake up my norm. Or maybe I am looking for the next thought or idea that really stays with me, changes me. Or maybe I’m crazy. Let’s not kid ourselves, I am a little loony. The fam would attest to that.

Now, I love the library. It is one of my favorite places to be. I have been known to get lost in there, staring at the possibilities. New worlds, new people, thrilling plots, spaceships, cowboys, unicorns, (looking at you John Green. Who doesn’t like unicorns? Apparently John Green) superheroes, love stories, heartbreak. I could go on, but you get the idea.

 Books are the deserving heroes of entertainment. Books are better than video games, sorry gamers. I love you all, I do, but inside the pages of a book is where it’s at. So yeah, I’m going to read. A Lot.

My library has a pretty good selection. (You like how I said MY library. It actually belongs to the people of Hancock County, but a girl can dream.) I imagine reading every book from A to Z in their young adult section will take me a couple years. Maybe longer.

 I have three children, who thankfully, read a ton too. But they also, pee on the floor, write on walls, break furniture and need to be fed on occasion, so there’s that. Apparently that’s my job. Clean up pee, scrub walls, repair chairs MacGyver style and feed the little cookie monsters. Oh but the best part, is they need an ocean amount of hugs and kissed. That’s my job too. I get paid in slobbery kisses, and if I didn’t have an unbearable craving for food or if slobbery kisses could buy food, I’d be content cleaning up pee, just for the thank you kiss.

But like I said I am loony. So here is the deal.

 I will at least give a book 100 pages to do its thing. Capture my attention, draw me in, intrigue me…whatever. If I am not inclined to finish the book after those 100 pages, I will tell you why.

When I do finish a book, I’ll review it here. And I do not sugar coat my opinions. I know, it can be a problem, which I am working on but I will not work on it here. If I like a book you’ll know. If I hate a book you’ll know. And if I love a book, I will shout it through the screen and recommend it to everyone I talk to.

And I will take recommendations. If my library has it, I'll read it.

This is going to be fun!!!!