Book review: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

I give this book 4.5 ⭐️

This is book #1 in companion like novels. Brigid Kemmerer is going to be at the Origin event in Austin this November. I picked this book up because it was 1.99 on kindle and I haven’t read anything from her since her elemental studs books. 🔥 💧

I was really surprised by how much I liked this book. I usually am a total fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal girl but I was bored while my students tested and decided to give it a go and couldn’t stop.

Juliet’s mother has passed away and to help her grieve and still be connected to her lost mother, she starts writing letters to her and leaving them on the grave.

Declan made a mistake one night and is paying the consequences. He is mowing the lawns in a cemetery for community service. One day while working his hours, he comes across a grave and what stops him isn’t just the coincidence of a date but a letter sitting in front of the grave stone.

These two start crossing paths via letter and at school. I loved both characters. I grieved with Juliet and I had such strong feels for Declan and all he had to deal with.

You also meet Rev and I loved Rev. (book 2 is about Rev) Rev was definitely a broken moral compass. Rev has his own scars and heartbreaking past.

Look, bottom line… if you want something to make you cry and route for two people to heal and help each other heal…. this is definitely the book to do it.

“Every moment is meaningful”

Book Review: Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne

I gave this book 3.75 stars, but my GR I gave a 4. I always round up. ☺️

This book is a classical retelling of Jane Eyre… kind of lol

The human race is forced to space due to an ice age and years later we meet our MC, Stella Ainsley is an orphan who is shipped off the the ship Stalwart. Stella is a teacher and an engineer tech while aboard this ship, but is wanting so much more. She is hired by the ship the Rochester to be a governess for the young Jessa. There you meet Hugo and his crew and everything seems too good to be true. There is something else going on but you’ll need to read to find out.

This next part will be kind of spoilerly!!!

I really enjoyed Stella. She was down to earth 🌏 (lol) and strong. I wasn’t too found of Hugo, but he was ok… didn’t mind me some Jon. Sorry, the good guy always ends up alone.

So there is this unknown “haunting” aboard the Rochester you learn about quick and that’s what really got my attention! Space… something creepy… romance!? I’m sold.

I’m partly disappointed because that creepy haunting of sorts was short lived. BUT there is more to the story and once I got over I wasn’t going to be creeped out any longer, I enjoyed the rest of the conflict.

This book is worth the read and I can’t wait to get Alexa Donne to sign my book at the TTBF in October!!

Book Review: Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake

I gave this book 5 stars!!!!

This is book has two novellas in it: The Young Queens and The Oracle Queen. This book is considered 0.5 of the series. Book 1 and 2 are out now and book 3 coming out 9/4.

The Young Queens just gives you a bit more back story to the girls growing up. It follows them to about 13. It was ok.

What really helped me give this book 5 stars was the second novella, The Oracle Queen. This story is about the Oracle Queen Elsabet. There is a song that people sing about her and they play her as a queen who went mad and killed multiple families tied to the crown. Apparently she had a vision and it drove her mad to wipe them out…. but in this story you find out what really happened.

It has left me mad and sad for Queen Elsabet. And I want revenge for her and I hope she gets it somehow 500 years later with these new queens. (That thought only makes sense if you’ve read book 2 because after reading her story… I hope… I’ll stop lol) spoilers!!!!

Read the books!

Book Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

This is book 1 of 10. Book 10 comes out August 28th so I’m working hard to finish!!

I gave this book 5 stars. I started reading it and then decided to do audio. I am really glad I made that decision. The narrator is really good and really captures the cocky, smart ass mouth of the MC Kate Daniels.

This book follows Kate, a mercenary detective of sorts on the hunt for the killer of her guardian. You are introduced quickly to this paranormal world she lives in with vampires (but not the vampires we are all used to), humans, shifters and magic people of all kinds.

I loved these authors (they are a husband and wife team) take on these paranormal creatures we are overly used to and the world they have put them in.

This was a fun listen. It was funny and I liked the suspense of who done it! Lots of stuff to follow along with but the authors do a good job trying to make this complex world easier to understand.

My Upcoming Event Schedule

The title makes me sound super busy or famous… to me at at least lol 🤷🏽‍♀️

There are so many events coming up and I. Can’t. Wait. I thought I’d share for my Texas friends, if I have any on here 😂😂

LETS DO THIS! Click on the pics for links to info on signing.

August 28th

Ilona Andrews Frisco Barnes and Noble

These authors (husband and wife team) are new to me. Recommended to me by a friend. I am currently listening to book one of the Kate Daniels series and am really enjoying it! The narrator does well with the MC cocky, smart mouth, kick ass attitude. Not sure how many I’ll get through before the 28th, but I think I’m going to continue with listening to them!

September 5th

Kendare Blake, Sarah Raasch, and Katharine McGee

This is book 3 in the Three Dark Crowns series! I really like this series. Some people can’t get past book 1, but I liked it. I don’t mind the slow world building sometimes. This story is very interesting and I’m sticking with it! I’ll be reading the novella compilation Queens of Fennbirn before this event.

My favorite sister…. Arsinoe!!!

This is book 1 of Sarah Raasch’s new series. Lots of hype about this one! I will admit that I have only read book 1 of the Snow Like Ashes series, SO I want to finish that series before this event!

I can’t wait for another series of pirates and adventure!

This is book 3 in The Thousandth Floor series. I have not read any of these. Every time I am at HPB, I pick it up and then I end up putting it back… because I will spend too much. Maybe I’ll try reading book 1 before this event? If I have time.

I have heard some mixed reviews about this series… anyone have thoughts?

October 6th

Texas Teen Book Festival in Austin! So many authors and I can’t wait! I am super excited about meeting Kiersten White! Loved her And I Darken series, so good!

In case you want to know who else will be there….

https://texasteenbookfestival.org/ttbf-author-lineup-2018/

October 26-28

Texas Book Festival

I have been to this event for the past 2 years and it’s such a fun get away! There are always several authors I’m excited about but they don’t post the author lineup until September or so… 😦 so the wait is painful!

I typically drive down on a Friday and come home on Sunday. It’s a lot of fun and walking! And spending lots of money!

November 3

The Origin Event!!! Tons of authors at this one too…. a huge highlight… SARAH J MAAS. But let’s not get too excited. This event is not on her events page and when she posts about her Catwoman and KOA tours she stresses the word ONLY when she says these are the *ONLY* US tours. So I have this tiny bit of soul crushing feeling that she won’t be going anymore… lol bought a VIP ticket for her. Idk we will see!

So that’s it as of right now! I can’t wait for all of these! I’ll try and post some pictures and talk a little about each one after I go!!!!

I know there are more awesome books being released this fall and I’m hoping more authors will make a stop near me!

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Lantern’s Ember by Colleen Houck

I received this eARC from netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s like steampunk Halloween town meets Stardust.

Jack is a lantern who is tasked with guarding one of many bridges into the other world, or as I like to call it, Halloween town with a twist. He is watching over this bridge that sits near a town that has a young witch named Ember.

Ember has a pull to this otherworld and as much as Jack tries to sway her from entering, she gets in with the help of a vampire named Deverell.

Jack is now tasked with trying to get to Ember before all those bad guys find her. That is where it felt like Stardust to me… there’s someone that everyone wants for themselves or is trying to help her.

I’d give this book 4/5 stars. I loved all the characters and how action packed it was. I LOVED that it had a the Halloween spin on it with the way the otherworld designed and all the creatures living inside of it.

Book Review: Pacifica by Kristen Simmons

3.5 ⭐️ or maybe 3.75. I listened to this on audible. Narrator was ok…… I don’t think she got the tone right at times. But 🤷🏽‍♀️

This is a stand alone. I picked this book up because she is an author who will be at the Austin Origin event in November. I have known about it for awhile but Origin event made me pick it up sooner.

This book is about a girl named Marin, the poor pirate girl, and Ross, the presidents son. The story takes place in the far future where the earth went through some kind of ice age/natural disaster.

The story starts out by Ross dragging his friend Adam, the Vice Presidents son, down to some riots because he’s bored. Things go nuts from there. The story takes place over like 3-4 days.

I didn’t care too much for all the boat talk, the descriptiveness of the sailing. Just boring to me. But I liked Marin and Ross. I enjoyed listening to the story unravel and learning more about Marin and her previous life.

Their world is corrupt and I didn’t mind all the politics. It was an interesting listen!

🌊 🚣 🐳

Book Review: Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

The final book in the trilogy. I gave this book 4.5 stars.

This book follows Lada and Radu through Lada’s rule as Prince of Wallachia and her struggle to maintain this position.

Every book in this series is ruthless!! So much death and politics… I loved every second of it. This is not your typical YA and I enjoyed it so much for that. Loved the flash forwards at the end too. I needed closure.

I was semi uninterested in Radu in book 1, but began to really enjoy reading his POV. His growth in this series was a favorite part for me.

Great series if you’re looking for something different.

My Very First WWW…W

So saw this WWW Wednesday on another page and it totally interested me. Definitely something fun to look back on each month to see what was going in with me!

So you do…

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you will read next?

And because I’d like to look back on this for myself….

What is an anticipated insert month here release?

So as they say…. let’s jump right in!

What are you currently reading?

I am currently listening to this on audible. It is going ok. I don’t know if I’m not finding myself fully invested because right now I am in total brainstorming mode for my own novel. I am listening to music more to fuel that idea fire 💡 🔥

But when I do listen to it, I’m not too invested. I catch myself wondering off. The world the characters live in is very interesting and I don’t hate the main characters. I will finish eventually because the author will be at the Origin Event in November. So maybe I’ll buy the book if I like it and have her sign it!

THE FINAL BOOK!!!!! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!

Can you tell how much I like this book? This is the final book in the trilogy and it’s just as good as the previous books. This series is told in 2 POVs. Lada and her brother Radu. The action never stops and I like how ruthless, harsh, and crazy Lada is. Can’t wait to finish this!!

What did you recently finish reading?

This is book 2 out of 4. I read book 1 Stalking Jack the Ripper last year some time and have this sitting on my bookshelf for some time. Not sure why it took me so long to finally pick up and read. I really enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the gruesomeness of this book. And probably one of the first in a while where I’m never annoyed by the two main characters. I love their banter and their relationship together. Can’t wait for number 3!!

This book!!! This series!!! This is my new favorite series! Move over SJM, yes I said it lol

I love all of these books. Each book better than the last! I just can’t even form words about this book. It made me laugh, cry, cheer, cry some more, and the occasional sigh of relief. Lol short lived.

Helene!!!! Blood Shrike!!!!

What do you think you’ll read next?

I am behind on this series, as in super behind haven’t even started it. 😆

But I have heard LOTS of great things about this series and have wanted to start it for so long. Now I need to hurry because Mary E Pearson is coming to Texas in August!!! I need to hurry!!

My last and final category.

What is an anticipated August release?

I picked August since July is almost over

I really like the author and her other series, so I have high hopes!!!

Thanks for sticking through. I look forward to Looking back on this and seeing what I was doing with my reading self. NIGHT future me.

Book Review: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

I gave this book 5⭐️This is book 2/4. I like to call these books companion novels of sorts. Book 1 is Stalking Jack the Ripper and that concluded and set you up for book 2. Same for this one. But you do need to read in order. I really enjoyed SJTR and am not sure why it took so long for me to start HPD 🧛‍♂️ but I loved this book! Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell venture onto a forensic school in Romania and well… people start dying. This book is goring, suspenseful, and even funny. I love the banter between Audrey Rose and Thomas. I actually caught myself laughing out loud and one part even cringing from the descriptive paragraph. One word 🕷Great book. Can not wait for Escaping From Houdini which comes out in September.