Under Different Stars Review

Happy Monday Readers!

  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and is ready to start another week! Today I wanted to review a book that I recently read and loved. Under Different Stars by Amy Bartol had me laughing, crying, and on the edge of my seat to see what happened next. I could't put this book down that I actually finished it in a couple of days, because it is that good!

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home.

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go.

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own.

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?"

Kricket just wants to make it on her own until her 18th birthday, so she can be free to live her life without having to worry about case workers. She wants to be able to settle down and find a home to call her own. However, when she is on her way home one morning from work, she discovers that her identity has been compromised and people are after her. She has to figure out how to hide from the two groups that are trying to grab her to take her to her rightful home, and another group who wants to take her home to answer for her crimes. When she is taken by one of the groups lead by Trey, she is taken on one wild adventure that will have her guessing everything she knew about her family and everything she knew about herself. Can Kricket learn to trust Trey or will she be betrayed and have to save herself like she always does?

Kricket is a strong female character, who has survived so much that she doesn't know who she can trust, and knows that she has to protect herself at all costs. She doesn't take any crap off of anyone, and some of the things she says and does will have you laughing and crying. Amy brings the reader into an imaginative futuristic world, that you will believe you are experiencing Kricket's journey and emotions right along with her. Trey is a complicated character, however along the journey you get to understand why he acts the way he does, and somewhere along the line you start to fall in love with him a little. If you like adventure, romance, strong female characters, and a story line that will leave you guessing until the very end, then this book is for you!

Happy journey under the stars my friends!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

The Frog Prince Review

Hey guys it's Friday!

 I figured that I would finish the week off with a retelling of a classic fairy tale. The Frog Prince by Jenni James is a wonderful retake of the classic Frog Prince that we have all came to know and love. This book gives the reader an interesting twist on how a prince turned himself into a frog, in order to discover who his betrothed really is.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "A prince disguises himself to find true love—

Prince Nolan has had enough of Princess Blythe—the woman to whom he has been betrothed since infancy—and her simpering letters. Does the princess truly not have a brain in her head? Never before has he communicated with someone who seemed so childish and spoiled. It was time he met her for himself, to decide if he could actually follow through with this marriage. But to do it right, she must not see how handsome he is. He needs a disguise—something that would show him her true nature.

Nolan asks an old herb woman to transform him into a creature that is disgusting to any female—a frog. The spell will last thirty days unless the princess does the impossible and kisses him. Now the true test begins. Will Blythe prove to be as monstrously annoying as he believes she is, or will he learn to see past his judgments and find a loving princess waiting for him?"

Prince Nolan decides that he wants to meet the woman he married to see what exactly he is getting himself into. He decides that he needs to be turned into a frog, because it would give him the advantage to see just how Princess Blythe really is. When he gets turned into a frog and finds the Princess, he realizes that he got more than he bargained for, and is willing to see it to the end. Will Prince Nolan get his happily ever after or will he be forced to remain a frog forever?

This story had me laughing, and honestly gave me a new appreciation for The Frog Prince story in general. You will fall in love with Prince Nolan, and you get to see inside Princess Blythe's soul where you will be able to make your own judgement. Jenni takes the reader into a wonderful world and makes this fairy tale perfect for a newer generation. If you love fairy tale retellings, this is one retelling that you won't want to miss.

Go kiss a frog readers (only in your imagination through, don't really kiss a frog)!



Image taken from the Goodreads website!

The Secret Daughter of the Tsar: A Novel of the Romanovs Review

Happy Monday Readers!

 So today I will be reviewing a book that had me mesmerized and captivated until the very end. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar: A Novel of the Romanovs by the amazing Jennifer Laam. This book was the best book I have read in 2019 so far, plus I have always been obsessed with the story of the Romanovs, which lead me to getting this book in the first place.

The book description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "A compelling alternate history of the Romanov family in which a secret fifth daughter—smuggled out of Russia before the revolution—continues the royal lineage to dramatic consequences

In her riveting debut novel, The Secret Daughter of the Tsar, Jennifer Laam seamlessly braids together the stories of three women: Veronica, Lena, and Charlotte. Veronica is an aspiring historian living in present-day Los Angeles when she meets a mysterious man who may be heir to the Russian throne. As she sets about investigating the legitimacy of his claim through a winding path of romance and deception, the ghosts of her own past begin to haunt her. Lena, a servant in the imperial Russian court of 1902, is approached by the desperate Empress Alexandra. After conceiving four daughters, the Empress is determined to sire a son and believes Lena can help her. Once elevated to the Romanov's treacherous inner circle, Lena finds herself under the watchful eye of the meddling Dowager Empress Marie. Charlotte, a former ballerina living in World War II occupied Paris, receives a surprise visit from a German officer. Determined to protect her son from the Nazis, Charlotte escapes the city, but not before learning that the officer's interest in her stems from his longstanding obsession with the fate of the Russian monarchy. Then as Veronica's passion intensifies, and her search for the true heir to the throne takes a dangerous turn, the reader learns just how these three vastly different women are connected. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar is thrilling from its first intense moments until its final, unexpected conclusion."

I know a lot of people are hesitant about reading books that are told from multiple characters point of view, however the way Jennifer transports the reader over different timelines is so seamless that the story just keeps flowing together, and all of the empty spaces are filled in perfectly. The story starts with Lena who's timeline is the same as the Romanovs, Charlotte is after the tragedy of the Romanovs, and Veronica's is present time. These three women are each special and strong in their own right, and their stories play a bigger role in the novel. I'm trying not to say too much about this book, because I don't want to give anything away, because trust me when the bomb is dropped, you won't see it coming until the moment Jennifer wants you to. Let's just say when I read it, I was screaming in the bathtub.

This story made me laugh, cry, and think about the possibility of this being true. The tragedy of the Romanovs was horrible, but Jennifer provides the reader with a historical fiction novel, that does not romanticize or disrespect the tragedy in any sort of form. If you love stories that make you get lost in time, with mystery, suspense, and just love history, you need to read this amazing book!

Have an amazing journey into the lives of the Romanovs my friends!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

The Iron Butterfly Review

Happy Fri-yay!

 We have made it to Friday, and I have to work tomorrow, but oh well. Today I am reviewing The Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn. This is another book where the main character is in a difficult situation, and has to find the strength to survive a world where someone wants her as an experiment.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai.

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive."

Thalia just wants to live her life, and doesn't want to become a test subject. She decides that she needs to escape and she needs help to do it. When she finds two guys to help her, she never expects to find love and a twisting journey along the way. Will she be able to hide from the evil cult or will they catch up with her and put her through unimaginable torture?

This novel takes the reader into a world of wonder and intrigue. You will be rooting for her to end up with one person, and than changing your mind in the mist of it. I couldn't put this book down, because I had to know what happened next. I am happy to admit this is one book I stayed up late to finish, and was so happy that it is part of a trilogy. Once I finished this one, I had to buy book two just to continue the journey with characters that I had come to know and love!

Happy Trails Readers!



Image taken from Goodreads website.

Winterspell Review

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

 With Christmas being right around the corner I wanted to review a book that put me in the Christmas spirit. Winterspell by Claire Legrand is a retelling of the Nutcracker, and what a story it is. I honestly knew very little about the Nutcracker before I read this book, and I haven't even seen the ballet of it, although I have always wanted to. Even with going in not knowing a lot about the story, this story paints a clear and descriptive picture of what the Nutcracker is about.

The description was taken from the Goodreads  website:

 "The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince…but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums.

New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor’s ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother’s murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.

Her home is destroyed, her father abducted—by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they’re to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets—and a need she can’t define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won’t leave Cane unscathed—if she leaves at all.

Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear."

Clara's world is thrown through a loop on Christmas Eve when her home is destroyed and her father is taken. Clara doesn't know what to do, until she learns about the world of Cane. Clara must journey into the unknown if she wants to save her father and the life she has always known. Clara must put aside her fears and find the strength within herself to save the world of Cane and save Nicholas, who she must trust with her life. If she can get Nicholas back on a throne that is rightfully his, than she can return with her father to her own world. Will Clara be able to save her father or will her fears overcome her that she succumbs to them and is trapped in the world of Cane forever?

Claire is such an amazing storyteller, that she brings the reader into a dark retelling of the Nutcracker, and spins the most beautiful story of a heroine who must find her true self. She gives life to all of her characters, and with her storytelling, the reader doesn't have to know anything about the Nutcracker prior to reading the story. This is one story that everyone who loves adventure, mystery, and characters going on a journey to find out who they really are, cannot miss!

Enjoy this dark Nutcracker retelling adventure my friends!



The image was taken from the Goodreads website.

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride Review

Happy Friday Fun Day!

  So today is an amazing day, because I am graduating with my Bachelor's degree today! So I wanted to review a funny romance story that deals with supernatural beings. The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter is a laugh out loud romance story that you will want to read again and again.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn't know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.
Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets..."

When Delaney witness's her boss murder someone, she knows that if she wants to live than she needs to get out of town and disappear fast. Her chance comes when she sees a file about a man who is looking for a bride. She assumes the identity of the woman that was picked out and makes her way to Nocturne Falls. When she gets there she is surrounded by Halloween, and pulls up to a mansion to meet her groom. As she gets to know Hugh, she discovers that not everything is as it seems, and that there is something going on in the town of Nocturne Falls. Can she accept the truth of what Hugh really is or will the truth be too much for her to take?

This story is told from two points of view, Delaney's and Hugh's. You will laugh, and be on the edge of your seat until the very end. This is one book you won't want to put down, and you will fall in love with all the characters. Good thing this is part of a book series, so that you are able to see other characters stories!

Go fall in love with a sexy vampire my friends!

The Juliet Club Review

Hello!

 We have reached the middle of the week, and I wanted to share one of my favorite YA books with you. The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper, takes the reader one a wild journey full of love and laughter. It is set in Verona, Italy and is a summer camp for Shakespeare lovers.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Kate Sanderson inherited her good sense from her mother, a disciplined law professor, and her admiration for the Bard from her father, a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she gets dumped, out of the blue, for the Practically Perfect Ashley Lawson, she vows never to fall in love again. From now on she will control her own destiny, and every decision she makes will be highly reasoned and rational. She thinks Shakespeare would have approved.

So when she is accepted to a summer Shakespeare symposium in Verona, Italy, Kate sees it as the ideal way to get over her heartbreak once and for all. She'll lose herself in her studies, explore ancient architecture, and eat plenty of pasta and gelato. (Plus, she'll be getting college credit for it—another goal accomplished!) But can even completely logical Kate resist the romance of living in a beautiful villa in the city where those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet met and died for each other? Especially when the other Shakespeare Scholars—in particular Giacomo, with his tousled brown hair, expressive dark eyes, and charming ways—try hard to break her protective shell?

"In fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . . ""

Kate Sanderson is your average American teen, who knows Shakespeare like the back of her hand due to her father. When her boyfriend dumps her for another girl, her heart is broken and she decides never to fall in love again. When she gets accepted to go to Verona, Italy she decides that she will get lost in the world of Shakespeare and forget all about her troubles. However when she gets there she finds that the students want to play a trick on her and Giacomo. So they decide to turn the tables on the students, and go along with their plan. However along the way Kate discovers things about herself, learns to let go, and wonders if you can truly escape from love.

This is one story that will make the reader dive into the Shakespeare world with Kate. You will laugh, get angry, and root for her to figure out just exactly what she wants. You can also relate to Kate's character, especially if you have ever been dumped in High School for another girl. This is one adventure that Shakespeare would be proud of, and any lover of Shakespeare needs to read. Don't let this amazing story pass you by.

Go on an adventure in Verona and find yourself lost in the story readers!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

Branded Review

We made it to Friday everyone!

 Today I am going to be reviewing a YA book called Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki. This is a dystopian novel set in the future where criminals are punished in a certain way.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Constant darkness.

Brutal and savage violence.

Excruciating pain.

Every day is a fight for survival.

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story."

Lexi has been accused of a crime she didn't commit, and now she much be punished for it. When she gets thrown into the hole she is assigned a special guard, and gets a job at the hospital. She sees how people look at her brand, and sees how they are treated. There are a couple of times that Lexi gets in to trouble, and her guard has to watch out for her. Along the way she will realize the truth about the Commander and the truth about the hole. But will she find out the truth in time to save herself or will she be too late?

This is a very powerful story about one girl's journey to find herself and to prove her innocence. The authors draw you into the story, and make you feel exactly what Lexi is feeling. What I really loved about this book is Lexi starts out as a damsel in distress, but she finds her strength, and starts to stand up for herself. It's a book about a harsh future where you have to fight to survive, and there is a little love thrown into the mix along the way. This is one adventure you won't want to miss.

Journey into the future fellow readers!



Image taken from Goodreads website.

Juliet: A Review

Happy Wednesday!

 My favorite play by William Shakespeare has and always will be Romeo and Juliet. So today, I am going to be reviewing Juliet by Anne Fortier. I remember the day I picked up this book, I was walking around the bookstore looking for my next adventure when the title jumped out at me. I flipped the book around and the second I read the description, I knew that I had to have this book. It has now became one of my favorites that I have read over and over!

The description comes from the Goodreads website:

 "When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told that it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families immortalized in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?"

Julie's orderly world is turned upside down when her aunt passes away, and she is left with a huge mystery on her hands. She decides to travel to Siena, Italy to figure out what her mother left for her in a safety-deposit box, what she doesn't expect is to be thrown into a historical rabbit hole, where the story she grew to love is actually a reality. Along the way she meets characters, who have a huge part to play in the outcome, and that will help her get down to the truth of the story of the real Romeo and Juliet. Along the way she will have to learn to leave her comfort zone, and do things that she normally wouldn't do. Will she be able to find Romeo to save her or is he just a fictional character?

I absolutely loved the way Anne brings the reader into both the past and the present by telling the story from Julie's and Giulietta's points of view. Her take on Romeo and Juliet is so beautiful and gives Shakespeare's characters a new way to live in the modern world. Anne captures the essence of Shakespeare's writing while at the same time putting a new and interesting twist on the tale that we have all come to know. You will see characters and scenes in this book that give a whole new meaning to the scenes from the play. This is a must read for fans of William Shakespeare, and who love the story of the star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet.

Fall in love with a pair of star crossed lovers all over again!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

Sky In The Deep Review

Hey Guys!

  Today I am going to be reviewing Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. This novel is about one girl's revenge against the people who took her brother, and her journey to discover the truth.

The description came from Goodreads website:

 "Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating."

Eelyn isn't your normal seventeen year old, she is a warrior who isn't afraid to takes someones life to protect her own, and her family. When in the midst of battle, she sees her brother fighting on the side of the enemy, Eelyn knows that she needs to get down to the bottom of what is going on. She sets out on a journey by herself to bring her brother back home. They hold her captive in enemy territory, until one day the village is attacked, and she knows in order for them to survive she has to bring the clans together. Along the way, she will find truth, understanding, love, and justice.

What I really loved about Eelyn is that she is a fierce warrior, who can save herself, and doesn't rely on a man to save her. We need to see strong female characters, who are so life like that we can identify with them and see the strength within ourselves. The descriptive words in this book will make the scenes come to life in the readers minds and you will feel like you are experiencing everything right along with Eelyn. I will warn all readers, there are some descriptive scenes in this book with violence, and gore, but it isn't overdone and actually makes the story that more interesting.

Good journey my friends!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

Tiger Lily Review

Hello Dearies!

 So I have loved the movie Peter Pan ever since I was a child, and if you have seen the movie than you will recognize the name of this book. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson brings the readers back to Neverland, for an all new adventure with the character of Tiger Lily. Jodi introduces you to another side of Neverland while introducing you to a character that stories about Peter Pan mention, but with this one you get to deep dive into just who exactly Tiger Lily is.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair...

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up."

Tiger Lily is in love with the mysterious boy who doesn't want to grow up, and since he is her first love, all she wants to do is be with him. Tiger Lily goes on a journey that will make her follow her heart, and find herself in the process. Jodi takes the secondary character of Tiger Lily, and gives her a new life. While reading this book, you get to see Tiger Lily in her own element, and she is given her voice. When I read this book I remember thinking that Tiger Lily is one strong woman, who will do anything for love, however in the end she finds who she is meant to truly be. This is a must read for anyone who wants to live in Neverland, and learn more about the amazing character of Tiger Lily.

Safe travels to Neverland my fellow lost readers!

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe Review

Hey Guys!

 Today I am going to review The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James. This book will take you into outer space, and one one wild ride. While reading this book you get to experience one girls loneliness as she lives among the stars in a spaceship. This story will get you in the mindset of asking yourself, could you really survive living on a spaceship in outer space for your entire life?

The description was taken from Goodreads:

 "A surprising and gripping sci-fi thriller with a killer twist

The daughter of two astronauts, Romy Silvers is no stranger to life in space. But she never knew how isolating the universe could be until her parents’ tragic deaths left her alone on the Infinity, a spaceship speeding away from Earth.

Romy tries to make the best of her lonely situation, but with only brief messages from her therapist on Earth to keep her company, she can’t help but feel like something is missing. It seems like a dream come true when NASA alerts her that another ship, the Eternity, will be joining the Infinity.

Romy begins exchanging messages with J, the captain of the Eternity, and their friendship breathes new life into her world. But as the Eternity gets closer, Romy learns there’s more to J’s mission than she could have imagined. And suddenly, there are worse things than being alone…."

Romy was born in space, and has never stepped foot on Earth's surface. When her parents die, she is left a lone to fend for herself, and to take care of all the spaceship's maintenance needs. She does get messages from her therapist, however with the way messages travel from Earth to space it takes a little bit to get to her, which you will get to see throughout the story. When Romy finds out that NASA sent another spaceship to hook up with her she is thrilled, because it means she doesn't have to be alone. Communication starts between Romy and J, and through this communication you get to know the characters a little bit more. But is everything as it seems, that is what Romy will start to ask herself.

I don't want to give anything away from this amazing book, because I don't want to ruin the big bomb shell of an ending. This story takes the reader on a wild ride with twists, turns, mystery, suspense, and intrigue that will leave the reader guessing at the truth until the very end!

Enjoy the spaceship ride my fellow readers!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

The Lantern's Ember Review

Happy Halloween!

 So we have now arrived to my favorite holiday, Halloween, and I have been saving this review for today, because it is perfect. Today I will be reviewing The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck, and this is the perfect Halloween story. Colleen takes you into a world of how Halloween started and while reading this book you will start to see all the Halloween stories you are used to.

The description was taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare.

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos."

Ember is a witch that feels drawn to the Otherworld and she isn't sure why. Jack is a lantern, and has been watching over Ember ever since she was a child. Ember will do anything within her power to make it through the crossroad and into the Otherworld, even accept help from a Vampire. When Ember is brought into the Otherworld, Jack must leave his post and go chasing after her to try and bring her back home. While in the Otherworld, Ember meets creatures like Vampires, Demons, Witches, Werewolves, invisible men, Frankenstein, and even the boogieman makes an appearance. Colleen brings you into another world where creatures that we have only believed to be made up exist. She weaves a story that introduces how our favorite Halloween stories were created in a way, and all of her creatures make you think about one's you have heard before. This story will have you guessing until the end, and trust me when I say there is a twist that you never saw coming, and couldn't even begin to guess what it was until it his dropped on you like a bomb.

This book will get you in the Halloween spirit, even after all the ghouls have gone home for the night!

Trick or Treat with this fun delight my fellow ghouls and goblins!



Image taken from the Goodreads website.

Worlds of Ink and Shadow Review

Happy Friday Everyone!

 So today I am going to be reviewing World's of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley. This book takes the reader into the home of the Bronte children. You are introduced to all three sisters, Charlotte, Ann, and Emily, along with their brother, Branwell. The women are in the process of writing their stories, and not only do you get a glimpse into what their lives could be like, you also get thrown into this extraordinary world where their words come to life.

The description has been taken from the Goodreads website:

 "Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been close. After all, nothing can unite four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict, spartan upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go."

I don't know what to say about this story further from the description because I don't want to give anything away, however I am still going to try. The Bronte siblings create an imaginary world that they could escape to when they wanted to get away from their normal lives. The characters in this imaginary world have been given their own personalities, and dare we say the world is adapting. Not only does this story bring you into the world of the Bronte's but Lena has created an imaginary world that even the Bronte's would be proud of. Lena's descriptions of each character is mixed with fact and fiction, to bring an added degree of depth into this amazing story of siblings. Charlotte is one of the main characters in the story, but Lena doesn't take away the importance of Ann, Emily or Branwell. The reader gets to feel how much the siblings loved each other, loved writing, and how much they would do to keep their family together.

Here is a quote from the book, "True, it was Charlotte and Branwell who created these places, but they'd been happy to take their younger sisters. In those days,they crossed over by acting out a story, not by writing. All they needed were a few opening words. A door of light would open, one of them would make that mysterious hand gesture, and they would all go through".

And with that I am going to leave that there. If you are a fan of the Bronte's I would highly recommend you read this book so that you can dive into their world of imagination.

Happy Travels!



Image taken from Goodreads website.