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Forever Princeton Charming
Forever Princeton Charming
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I finished Losing Princeton Charming, I had to immediately start reading this book. Losing left me with such a cliff hanger, I had to see what was going to happen next.

Forever Princeton Charming starts with Charlie being in the hospital after a car accident. She thinks her best friend may have something to do with the accident, but that can't be right. Together she and Spencer are determined to find out who could of tried to hurt Charlie and why. They have had so much backlash against their relationship already, this last thing is just the icing on the cake.

Thank you to C.M. Seabrook and Frankie Love for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series from start to finish. These last two books had me crying and laughing.

Trying to maintain a relationship when it seems the whole world against you is next to impossible. But when you love someone, you try your best to defeat the odds and go for what you want. Charlie and Spencer are no exception. Their families don't want them together, their friends don't want them together and society dictates that because they come from two different socioeconomic classes they shouldn't be together. You can't help who you fall in love with and who is going to make you the best version of yourself no matter what life throws at you.

I think Charlie and Spencer did what they had to do in order to be together. Forget the haters and naysayers. If you like a romance series with ups and downs and twists and turns, I suggest you go and pick up the Princeton Charming series right away. These books are sure to leave you with all kinds of emotions.
  
Murder in the Reading Room
Murder in the Reading Room
Ellery Adams | 2019 | Mystery, Romance, Thriller
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Storyline (1 more)
Characters
Not Long Enough (0 more)
How Far Would You Go For The Truth
Jane goes on a search to the Biltmore Estate to find Edward and discovers far more than she thought she knew about her own past. Now she must discover what she really wants for her future and her family she has created for herself and her sons. When enemies from the past and the present collide Jane must decide if the secrets of the library should be open for the world to see and read. As more of the story of the Templars and Guardians becomes unwound Jane discovers that everyone is keeping secrets from her both friends and foes that make her want to take a stand and change the rules of what has always been at Storyton Hall.

“Your Stories are their stories' said Uncle Abysius” By Jove, I think I like it.”
 
Mrs. Adams takes us beyond Storyton Hall to the walls of the Biltmore Estate. She outdoes herself again. As a long time Ellery Adams fan she blew me away with this story-line and how she evolved the characters in this five Book Retreat Series. I must say this is my favorite book of the series. I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a who done it, thriller, bibliophile or even a little romance it has all of those and a little history too. It is really worth your time to pick up the book and take a trip to Storyton Hall even if only for an hour at a time to escape to a place where books are protected and cherished and the characters will make you feel like you are coming home.
  
The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green | 2012 | Children
10
8.2 (185 Ratings)
Book Rating
Made me cry! Beautiful story.
The Fault in our Stars is an international bestseller by an award winning author John Green. This is John Green’s most loved and heartbreaking story yet which will be hard to beat! If you have not heard about The Fault in our Stars, where have you been hiding? Age does not matter with this five star beautifully written, heart warming, must read story! Do not wait to read this book, bump it up your pile or BUY IT NOW! I will forever praise and highly recommend this book to you all.

I could not put this book down until I had finished it (I was in another world while reading this book). As most of you will know this story has been adapted into a film and if you are a book worm like me, the book has to be read first! I cannot compare this book to the film as I have STILL not managed to watch the film yet! This is the perfect book for you all but specifically for those who enjoy the young adult, drama, death, romance and contemporary genre’s. This has to be on of my favourite books ever by John Green which led me to reading all his other books, I did find The Fault in our Stars a very emotional read so be warned!

This is Hazel’s story, Hazel has terminal cancer and will not expect what is about to happen… When Augustus walks into her life Hazel’s story will be completely re-written. Will they fall in love? Will Augustus show Hazel how beautiful life really is? That is for you to find out not if, but WHEN you read this outstanding story, trust me it will not let you down and will stick in your heart and mind forever! Enjoy, try not to cry!
  
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Kaz (232 KP) rated The Night Circus in Books

May 16, 2019  
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.1 (106 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful Descriptions (0 more)
A Slightly Rushed Ending (0 more)
When I started reading -The Night Circus-, Erin Morgenstein's writing got my attention, from the very first paragraph:

'The Circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.'

This sense of mystery and intrigue is the thing I liked the most about 'The Night Circus', along with the vivid and beautiful descriptions throughout the book.

I'm not usually the type of reader who enjoys a lot of descriptive prose, but the way in which Morgenstein describes the circus and its inhabitants was sensual, magical and totally swept me away with the story.

I'm also not a fan of romance in novels. Most of the romantic writing I have ever read, has either been slushy, boarding on nauseating, or devoid of any chemistry whatsoever. However, the romantic elements within this novel were passionate and believable.

The characters within this novel were believable too, even though most of them were rather quirky. The atmosphere within this novel reminds me of those mysterious classics such as 'Around the World in 80 days' or 'The Invisible Man', not so much in the way of plot, but in essence. There is a old fashioned quality to 'The Night Circus' which I thought was endearing and also, a refreshing change from more modern stories.

The only observation I could make about this novel, is that I felt that the conclusion to the novel was slightly rushed. Although, maybe I felt this because I didn't want to 'The Night Circus' to end.

If you enjoy a story with magic, beautiful description and a plot which unfolds slowly, then this is the novel for you.

I already can't wait to re-read 'The Night Circus'.

My Rating: *****
  
Out of the Pocket
Out of the Pocket
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
For over a century, the town of Green Beach has frightened its children with the tragic legend of Joshua Thorne. He’s the reason it not only locks its doors at night but nails its windows shut. Steeped in romance and revenge, his is the kind of story Angela Ironwright lives for.
When the specter of Joshua appears to her, insisting she’s the only one who can help him piece together the fragments of his own murder, she follows him without a second thought into a place he calls the Pocket, a beautiful hidden world of jumbled memory and imagination. But the Pocket holds more than magic and mystery. Before long, its other reclusive inhabitants begin to call out to Angela, warning her not to trust Joshua and begging for her help to escape his dark power.
Angela’s sure there must be some misunderstanding, and she’s determined to set it straight. Otherwise, finding justice will mean betraying the only boy who’s ever liked her.
Smart and genre-savvy, Out of the Pocket is a dark, honest, subversive take on the modern paranormal love story.

The plot is about a girl named Angela who doesn't have a great life in reality being ignored or ridiculed by others gets pulled into a fantasy where she falls in love and goes through perilous adventures.
Very good characters with a good story line. The characters are real with strangeness thrown in.
Love all the twist and turns.
You find yourself very surprised in a good way by this book.
This was my first from this author and I look forward to more.

I received a free copy via AXP Authors but this is my own honest voluntary review.
  
Geekerella (Once Upon a Con #1)
Geekerella (Once Upon a Con #1)
Ashley Poston | 2017 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.8 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Geekerella is a modern day retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. Our protagonist is Ella and the most important thing in her life is fandom, specifically her love of Starfleet. It was a show that she watched on re-runs with her dad and fell in love with. Her father even started a convention called Excelsicon because of his love of Starfleet. After her mother died when she was a small child, it was just Ella and her dad. Unfortunately, her father got remarried and later died in a car accident leaving Ella with her step-mother and two step-sisters. They didn’t understand her love of the sci-fi cult hit and treated her more like a servant than a sister.

Geekerella is a cute contemporary novel that will speak to your fandom loving heart. Even if you’re not super into sci-fi, comics, comic con, cosplay or those types of things, I think you will enjoy the classic human experience portrayed in this book. The Cinderella retelling aspect of the story was the least relevant to my reading experience. I personally enjoyed the development of friendly and romantic relationships, the geeking out over fandoms and the personal growth seen in this novel.

The main characters are likable and relatable, despite the fact that one of them is famous. He alternates between wanting to be normal, or down to earth, and succumbing to the intoxicating appeal of being famous. Even though you generally know the bones of the story if you’re familiar with Cinderella, the story itself doesn’t feel incredibly formulaic and can surprise you at times.

Highly recommended to young adult/teen fan of contemporary books, teen romance, nerd/geekdom, comic con, cosplay, fairytale retellings and simple, cute reads.
  
I didn’t pay too much attention that this was a novella until I started reading it. It may be a short story, but it was packed full of heat and emotion. At first, I thought this would be one of those novels where the protagonists are pig-headed and constantly misinterpreting each other, but was pleasantly surprised by when that wasn’t the case. Of course there was a misunderstanding, one that stemmed from childish selfishness, but I was pleased to read how the characters handled it and how they grew as people.

There was little plotline to the story, but I feel that for this story, it was just right. There didn’t need to be some grand adventure for the characters. I did feel, however, that the story just cut off at the end. There was no cliffhanger but it still felt unresolved. I would have liked another chapter or at least an epilogue to see how things truly turned out instead of the reading assuming.

The author also wrote some erotic scenes. I like my historical erotic to be erotic and different from the usual scenes you find in historical romance. The scenes were tamer than I usually read, but fit with the theme and feel of the novel. In certain places, however, she would write in short staccato sentences. Sometimes this was distracting and took away from the heat of the scene. In one part, it was downright annoying because of the number of said sentences. They did not take away from the novel as a whole, however, and I often found myself swept away in the passion of the characters.

This was the first piece I have ever read from the author and I enjoyed enough to seek out her other works.
  
The Last Namsara (Iskari, #1)
The Last Namsara (Iskari, #1)
Kristen Ciccarelli | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Last Namsara is Kristen Ciccarelli's debut novel and I am in love. The world building was brilliantly done and laid a strong foundation for her story to grow and develop.

Asha is a dragon hunter and a feared Iksari who is strong and dedicated to her role in the kingdom. Despite the fact that her actions as a child called the dragons who burned her city, she fights every day to redeem herself from her past mistakes and make her father, the King, proud. It was nice to see the main character learns to value herself, even though she has grown up shamed and feared by the people. She overcomes her prejudices and the damage instilled upon her over the course of the novel.

Her transformative journey begins when a slave, Torwin is introduced to her life. He treats her like a normal person, just as she learns to treat him as one. He opens her eyes to the truth of the world and thaws her damaged heart, leading her to learn so much about the people in her kingdom and a better way to live.

There was also a well-written antagonist who was so controlling and cruel that you couldn't help but hate him. It was a nice juxtaposition to Torwin's character and helped push the plot along. For me, the romance was a secondary plot point and sometimes only slowed down the pacing. It wasn't the most important element of the story.

The world building, mythology and the dragons are what shone for me. I cannot wait to see more of this world. I listened to this via audiobook and the narrator, Pearl Mackie did a fantastic job. I loved the authenticity she brought to Asha's character and would highly recommend this audiobook.
  
The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare, #1)
The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare, #1)
Lauren DeStefano | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Glass Spare was a book that at times couldn't decide what it wanted to be. With its steampunk-esque technological innovations thrown in a typical fantasy kingdom setting, the world-building of the story just didn't quite mesh. I'm sure that some people will enjoy that melding, but it personally wasn't seamless enough for me not to detract from the plot. The storyline itself was interesting and the premise was unique. Similar Midas before her, Wil learns that her touch can turn living things into gemstone.

Wil, or Wilhemina, is the fourth child in her family and considered a spare, as she is not the heir to the throne. This status has influenced her thinking and perception of herself, so although she is a strong-willed person who is resourceful, she is also reckless with her life. Whereas Loom was the more intriguing character for me. I was interested to see his motivations and the development of his personality over the course of the book.

While I enjoyed the two main characters, the focus on the story was more on the will they/won't they romance rather than the premise that drew me in initially. I have a difficult time determining if this was insta-love or not, just because the main character wouldn't acknowledge it - yet they were inexplicably drawn together, she couldn't help but want to be near him even though she didn't trust him, etc. It just seemed like the love connection was formed pretty quickly, even if it wasn't explicitly described. 

Despite the book falling a little flat for me some of the time, it intrigued me enough that I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I was left with so many questions that I need to know the answer to and won't receive unless I continue the series.
  
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Kyera (8 KP) rated Crown of Midnight in Books

Feb 1, 2018  
Crown of Midnight
Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.1 (48 Ratings)
Book Rating
Crown of Midnight is the second book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. Please don't read this review unless you've read Throne of Glass because you will be spoiled.

Having won the title of King's Champion, Celaena must do the King's bidding or risk the lives of her friends. Despite having trained at the Assassin's Keep and being called Adarlaine's Assassin, Celaena is reluctant to kill the King's enemies and instead comes up with a plan. She spends the majority of the book embroiled in a plot to end the King's rule, as she tries to obtain information that she can give to the King with the hopes of shortening her contract as his Champion.

This book takes you on a much more emotional journey with romance, betrayal, an unexpected (and brutal) character death, and a big reveal in its final pages. The characters are developed more in this novel and we also learn more about their histories. It was nice to see the development so that the characters felt more like real people with unique events that shaped them as people.

While there is continued mention of places other than Adarlaine, the story does not journey beyond the capital and continue to world-build, yet. The author mainly focuses on weaving in plot points that will later be incredibly important to the story.

Overall, the writing feels a little more mature than her previous book which at times came across as juvenile. The story ends in such a way that you immediately need to read the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this series to young adult/teen readers who enjoy fantasy books.