Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Title: To Kill a Kingdom
Author: Alexandra Christo
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Feiwel & Friends (March 6, 2018)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4 Stars


Book Description:
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.


The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

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To Kill a Kingdom is a deliciously dark atmospheric read that will have you captivated from the very first haunting chapter.

Set in a world of sea life, danger, deceit and treachery, this debut novel is sure to capture your attention and give you an unsuspected thrill ride as you dive both below the waters and on land in this tale riddled with both classic lore and a new darker take on sirens, mermaids, and the great unknown. 

Riddled with complex characters, witty banter and characters with depth, this is a tale that will surely suck you in and have you wanting to sail the seven seas right along with it. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Review: Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Title: Burn Bright
Author: Patricia Briggs
Series: Book Five in the Alpha & Omega Series
Published By: Berkley (Ace) (March 6, 2018)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!


Book Description:
Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham face a threat like no other--one that lurks too close to home...

They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek, Montana. Close enough to the Marrok's pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.


With their Alpha out of the country, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf--but can't stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills--his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker--to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witchborn...

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Oh how I have missed Charles and Anna!

I love this series and the very fact that it coincides with my beloved Mercy Thompson series just makes it all the better. 

I loved being immersed back into this world and more importantly getting to see Charles and Anna together again. The bond and relationship they have it amazing and the love and understanding between them even more so. I love that they make each other stronger and while they want to protect each other, they also don't smother or hold the other one back from being the best they can be. It truly is one of my most favorite relationships in the genre and I adore them.

The mystery in this was intriguing and again, I loved that it kind of went hand in hand with what is happening in her Mercy Thompson series without it feeling like it is the same story or the same exact drama. It's a separate situation with a mystery that is all tied together and I love it. It was so fascinating and so much fun. 

Getting to learn  more about the wildings and their purpose and place in the pack was even more entertaining than I imagined it would be. I loved seeing Asil step up and help out so much. He really is one of my favorite misfit characters. 

Truly a wonderful story full of rich history, not only about the werewolves but about magic and Charles people, and just so much more. I truly loved it all, right up to the satisfying and thrilling end and was not ready for it to be over. I can't wait for the next book, I'm so ready for it!

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Giveaway: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

I adore anything Patricia Briggs writes, lets be honest, her series stand out, from the wonderful characters to the plot driven storylines, they are ones that get noticed and hook readers from the very first page.

In celebration of her latest book, Burn Bright coming out I have a fabulous giveaway for you courtesy of Ace Books. If you haven't tried this series yet, now if your chance. It is fabulous and you won't regret it! 

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs

Publication Date: August 1st 2008

Publisher: Ace Books

294 Pages

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD

Book Description:

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

About the Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

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Review: Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone

Title: Zero Day
Author: Ezekiel Boone
Series: Book Three in the Hatching Series
Published By: Atria (February 27, 2018)
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic/Horror
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!



Book Description:
In the thrilling, nerve-wracking finale of Ezekiel Boone’s “hair-raising” (Parade) Hatching series, the United States goes to war against the queen spiders that threaten to overtake the human race forever.

The world is on the brink of apocalypse. Zero Day has come.

The only thing more terrifying than millions of spiders is the realization that those spiders work as one. But among the government, there is dissent: do we try to kill all of the spiders, or do we gamble on Professor Guyer’s theory that we need to kill only the queens?


For President Stephanie Pilgrim, it’s an easy answer. She’s gone as far as she can—more than two dozen American cities hit with tactical nukes, the country torn asunder—and the only answer is to believe in Professor Guyer. Unfortunately, Ben Broussard and the military men who follow him don’t agree, and Pilgrim, Guyer, and the loyal members of the government have to flee, leaving the question: what’s more dangerous, the spiders or ourselves?

*Amazon*B&N*

The Hatching series has been like an utterly terrifying, utterly fascinating horror show that plays out in a deliciously slow, deliciously tantalizing pace that will leave you jumping at shadows and turning the lights on before entering a room. Not looking for the usual two legged monsters but instead, the kind of the eight leg variety. The kind that bite and borrow and hide in dark places, ready to pounce and fall on you in a moments notice. The kind of nightmares.

The creepy crawlies that leave almost anyone screaming, with their heart trying to frantically gallop right out of their chest. This is a series that is worth every single moment of breathlessness it will leave you not to mention the sleepless nights with the light burning bright on and the covers pulled clear up to your chin. 

It has been a terrifying roller coaster of a ride from the very first page of the very first book and didn't let up until the very satisfying end.

Truly a masterpiece of suspense, horror, and terrifying what ifs. This is a series you don't want to miss out on. I've loved every deliciously dark and agonizing page. One that will truly not be forgotten. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Blog Tour Book Review: As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner

If there is one thing you know about me it is that I adore a good historical fiction novel. There is just something about learning about the past while being immersed in a good story that I can't resist. Which is why, I picked this up without hesitation. This time period has always been a favorite of mine and to learn more about it, in an unexpected setting was by far even better. 

I'm so excited to be a part of this tour and to be able to tell you more about this wonderfully written story. 

Title: As Bright as Heaven

Published By: Penguin Books (February 6, 2018)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description:

From the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life and A Bridge Across the Ocean comes a new novel set in Philadelphia during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which tells the story of a family reborn through loss and love.

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters—Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa—a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without—and what they are willing to do about it.

As Bright as Heaven is the compelling story of a mother and her daughters who find themselves in a harsh world not of their making, which will either crush their resolve to survive or purify it.

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About the Author:

Susan Meissner was born in San Diego, California, the second of three. She spent her childhood in just two houses.

Her first writings are a laughable collection of oddly worded poems and predictable stories she wrote when she was eight.

She attended Point Loma College in San Diego, and married her husband, Bob, who is now an associate pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, in 1980. When she is not working on a new novel, she is directing the small groups ministries at The Church at Rancho Bernardo. She also enjoy teaching workshops on writing and dream-following, spending time with my family, music, reading great books, and traveling.

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Beautifully poignant and beautifully written, As Bright As Heaven deals with one families trials and heartache during during a harsh time in American history.  One ripe with a war ending and a deadly disease on the cusp of infecting millions and leaving almost everyone affected by both.

Starting in 1918 and spanning the length of 8 years we get to meet the Brights who from the very first chapter are dealing with a loss no family should have to go through. 

This was a beautiful story told through the Bright women of what it means to survive, move on and to overcome the devastating heartache of not only death but of loss and despair. 

These four women, each with a unique voice, grow and become stronger as the story progresses and you can't help but admire how they tackle everything that stands in their way and their ability to still smile and most of all, love.

One fans of the time period and historical fans in general don't want to miss out on. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Review: More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: More Than We Can Tell
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Book Two in the Letters to the Lost Series (but acts as a stand alone)
Published By: Bloomsbury Children's (March 6, 2018)
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!


Book Description:
*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.


When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

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Last year Letters to the Lost was one of my top ten reads so it was pretty much a no brainer that More Than We Can Tell would be high on my priority list of must read books for 2018.

Throw in that this is Rev's story and yeah, I wasn't missing out on this for the world. 

Kemmerer has done as amazing job of sliding right into the YA Contemporary genre. Not only was this just as beautiful, just as emotional as it's predecessor but I think it even went a step further.

The feels people, they are real. 

I absolutely loved how beautiful this story ended up being. It wasn't your typical coming of age story, although it is that too. Instead this was one about not letting  other peoples choices become ours and not letting others past determine our future. 

About forgiving and letting go and moving on and becoming the best possible people we can under any circumstance. 

So much happens in this and so much was just..felt. By the characters, by me. I truly loved this predecessor to Letters of the Lost and anyone who enjoyed it, must read this one as well. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*