I never saw this one coming!

Hello to everyone one! 

I got engaged and am currently planning a wedding! 
Because of this I'll be taking a break until after the wedding. 
I'll see y'all in October! 

Happy Reading!

Cana

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Description :

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series. 


Review:

Until I Die by Amy Plum

5 out 5

Okay, so I loved the first book, so I jump right into the second book... Nothing new there for me :-). First off, I do like that teh 2nd book starts just a few weeks after the 1st book ends. No second guessing or trying to figure out what has happened, if things have changed or if something else might have happened...

Kate isn't my favorite character a lot of times in this book. I feel that Kate is being selfish. Her desire to keep Vincent from fulfilling his revenant calling feels wrong. And the fact that if he doesn't succeed, she would leave him irritates me. Thank goodness she finally realzies this, and changes the bargain with Vincent.

I think it is very good and very fun that Kate is learning defence and battle form with the revenants. I mean, fencing is cool, but battleaxe and quarterstaffs are so much cooler than regular weapons.

I love that Vincent wants Kate to be happy on her own. Not because of him and their relationship, but to be content on her own as a person. That doesn't happen often in YA books, and I can't help but cheer for Vincent being so wise. Then again, he should be wise, considering his age.

So, now enters some new characters... Violette & Arthur give me the heebee jeebees. I don't know what to expect from them. But what surprised me most was that Georgia was right about them! Who would have thought that the most irresponsible character had the two newest characters pegged from the start!

I loved the concept of the guerisseurs who can possibly help Kate and Vincent. And Gwenhael is so cute and helpful. Bran kinda creeps me out, but that was quickly fixed. I hated to hear what the Numa did to Gwenhael... Did she have time to gift her son? Will her son be the Victor-Seer?　

Finally, there is an answer from one of my questions fromt he first book! Pappy knows about the numa and revenants! Not as amazing as I thought, but it just proves what a smart and investigative man he is. And because he knows, he tries to do the right thing, but in the end he pushes too far... Which just leads to Kate and Vincent sneaking behind his back. Never a good thing.

Poor Jules! How Kate can't figure out that he loves her, is beyond me. I mean, it is so obvious!

The slipping of information from revenant to Numa is creepy. Who would do such a thing?I have my guessed (which in the end, I discovered I was right),it is just sad that there is a spy. 

Wow! Gaspard & Jean-Baptiste! Never would have seen that one coming if Vincent hadn't told Kate. 

So, I had a hard time with Kate's Numa-vision. It wasn't really brought up or mentioned until almost the end of this book. Which I think is poor writing as this feels like an important part of the next book. 

Oh, how the end was hopeful and heartbreaking. I just couldn't believe it! What will happen next? Argh! 

Oh, and on a side note, there were more hints about the prophecy that makes me think that Vincent isn't the champion... Hmm.

Overal, this is a very good book. I'm looking forward to reading the last book of this trilogy. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Words that Bind by Ash Krafton

Now, here at the Place of Reads, we have a love for all books and authors. But for me (Cana), I absolutely love Ash Krafton's work.  If you haven't read any of her books, then you really need to.  And here is a brand new book that you could/should/must read!  You will be able to see my review,  look at yesterday's post! 

Synopsis:

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult to stay away from him. Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love.

The Lovely Author:


Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding Hearts was published in 2012 as part of a three-book urban fantasy series The Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press). An urban fantasy novella, Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her latest book, Words That Bind, won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the Spark” 2013 competition; it is also available through Wild Rose Press as an October 2014 release. Krafton also writes New Adult speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors. In addition to novel-length fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance Writers of America, and Pikes Peak Writers. Krafton is also a staff blogger for the Query Tracker Blog.

Excerpt:

“So. You’ve destroyed a stereotype for me. A genie who lives in a library. Different.” “When in Rome, no?” He stirred his cup before setting down the spoon with a light clink against the saucer. “Or, I suppose it is more accurate to say when in human form. When I am Burns, I prefer here.” “Human form.” It didn’t sound right. Who said things like that, and meant it? “Can you change into anything you want? Any shape at all?” He stretched out his legs and cocked his head, sliding his gaze up and away. “I suppose I could. I’m getting old and set in my ways. There’s this…” He swept his hands down the line of his body. Her eyes were unable to keep from following, not even when he lingered over his midsection. Even lounging, his shirt was tightly tucked into his beltline. No belly fat there. He tilted his head and gave her an upper-teeth smile, nibbling gently at his lower lip. “And apparently this form is pleasing to the eye, so I wear it often. But there are others. Tiger, a favorite. Savage and regal and the colors of flames in the night. Fearsome to behold, but very useful when dealing with physical conditions in which a human form may be outmatched. Plus, I can lash my tail.” His voice took a teasing, conspirator’s tone. “I love my tail. You’d love it too, if you saw it.” She trained her eyes firmly upon his. No way would she give him the pleasure of checking out his tail.

AUTHORGRAPH

So why don't you go and buy the book!

WILD ROSE PRESS | BOOKSTRAND

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Happy Reading!

Cana

Review: Words that Bind by Ash Krafton

Description :

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult.

Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love. 


Review:

Words That  Bind  by Ash Krafton 

5 out of 5

For those of you who don't know, I love reading Ash Krafton's books!  To me they are the perfect anytime and anywhere reads.  So when I found out from Ms. Krafton that a new book was coming out, I was extremely excited... Like, jump up and down like a little girl excited. And then I got the book and devoured it like a 5 year old left alone with cake.... 
So what did I like?  Everything about this book was perfect, but let me explain why.
Tam, our social worker and lead character, is a great heroine.  I mean, she is strong, she is caring, and she is truthful by fault.  But, she wasn't the easiest character to like.  Now, once you did find out the wonderful reasons to like her, you just couldn't stop.  There were times her flip-floppy emotions as she learned to feel (read the book to understand this, people!), but I would imagine that it would be the same for me or anyone else in that same situation.  Now my one big question is, why in the world was she spellbound to not feel?  I mean, was that just a side effect?

Burns is my favorite man-candy, book boyfriend.... All fire, fury, and fun rolled into the amazing man/djinn/tiger/whirlwind... Hmmmm....  I think it was awesome that this is one of the few times I've read a book with a djinn in it.  I mean, I loved it, and would love to see more djinn in books.  Especially if Ms. Krafton writes them the way she wrote Burns.  

Sahir set off my villain radar the moment he entered the book.  How could Tam NOT see or sense trouble from him?  I mean it was so OBVIOUS!  So glad he got what was coming to him.

Now, I read a lot of paranormal romances, they are my genre of choice.  With that being said, I would like to say that this book has the most beautiful, intoxicating, and tasteful love scenes that I have ever read.  I mean, these scenes are what every girl and every grown woman hope and dream to get to one day experience.  Sigh!  And, what happens afterwards was just plot shocking!  I had to re-read it in hopes of seeing some form of salvation for the troubles coming for Tam & Burns.

Oh, the end almost killed me.  I mean, I held my breath thinking it was all over.  And then, lo and behold, Ms. Krafton saves the day by having Burns do the unexpected.  I loved it!

Overall, this is an amazing, awesome book, and you HAVE to read it.  I highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Audio Review: I'm Dreaming of An Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

 

 

Description:

 

It's Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi's first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It's taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi's safety.

Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow. And then there's the small matter of the handsome, frustrating vampire who keeps appearing in Gigi's peripheral vision, then disappearing before she can talk to him.

Can the Scanlon sisters negotiate romantic problems, vampire politics, and Christmas cookie disasters and enjoy a relatively normal holiday?

 

 

Review:

I'm Dreaming of An Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

4 out of 5



 

 

Ok, so I loved this short story.  8 chapters of fun, plus a bonus chapter of recipes!

 

I love Gigi, she is wonderfully snarky, just like most of the other women in Half-moon Hollow.  And I love how she is so quick on her feet.

 

Who is this mysterious man who seems to pretty much be stalking Gigi?  I mean, he sounds delicious… And I personally would love to know more about him.

 

Collin’s vision of the future sounds grim, but I wonder if it might change, especially now with this mysterious guy in Gigi’s life… Hmmm

 

Nothing like a family Christmas to make life more…. Interesting.  Yes, that is the word I’ll use to describe family and holidays.  And the antics of the “made it myself” family of vampires, werewolves, and humans is hilarious… I love the laughing at them. 

 

Ophelia and her sister are some of the creepiest characters that I’ve ever met, but I love how they made such a point to hang out with the Scanlons and friends…

 

Dick with his hamster ball…. LOL, that was wonderful and classic! 

 

Overall, this is a cute and quick read (listening) book.  I highly recommend reading this, especially if you want to hear what Jane says… “Pocket Vampire”…. LOL!

Happy Reading!


Cana

A Word from Ash Krafton.

So my wonderful followers, I'm technically am still on vacation... Yes, the wedding was great (and thank God, it's over).  Yes, I'm prepping all sorts of Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts and goodies... And Yes, I'm looking forward to coming back in full swing at the first of the year!   But this is SO important for Ash Krafton and her amazing Demimonde series.  So instead of tell you about it myself, I'm going to let Ms. Krafton do so.  

Dear Beautiful Book Buddy,

The Demimonde series is getting a baby sister 😊

TALES OF THE DEMIMONDE was released yesterday on Kindle…http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OS8JW9A It's a collection of short works based on BLEEDING HEARTS, BLOOD RUSH, AND WOLF'S BANE.

And I'm writing to you for your help. Best part, it's totally easy!

I recently started my first Thunderclap campaign. http://thndr.it/11b96iC Thunderclap is a program that allows people to join forces and send out a single unified message on a pre-determined date. It's a big voice that helps to get a message noticed.

In order for the message to go out, a campaign must enlist the aid of at least 100 supporters... or else it doesn't go through.

We are at about a third of the minimum support needed, so if you haven't joined, I ask you to consider helping.
THE MESSAGE:
On November 30, my new ebook will be going Kindle free. I'd love you to join this campaign to spread the word... you'll be offering a free urban fantasy book to your readers when you do.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Stop by http://thndr.it/11b96iC to donate a Tweet, a FB status, and even a Tumbler post (each one will count as a separate supporter to my 100 count goal!) It'll help make a big noise and I'd truly appreciate it!


(And if anyone would like a copy before the free date, just send me the email you want me to use and I'll gift you a copy.)


Thanks, sweeties… luv you all.


Cheers, Ash

A Vacation: Family Weddings Can Be Interesting

To all the readers of Place of Reads, we will be on a vacation for the month of October 1st through January 1st.  My sister is getting married, my mom is finally moving out of my house, and I am having a job change all in the month of October.  Then there are the holidays.  

We will be returning in in the first full week of January!  We look forward to talking about books through the year, come January!  Until that time, keep reading, keep finding new books, and have fun doing it.  

Happy Reading!

Cana

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Description:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Review:

Die for Me by Amy Plum

5 out 5

Now, let's take a moment before I review this book to talk about the cover.  I mean, LOOK AT IT!  It is gorgeous.  Like a frameable piece of art.  And I love that!  And it actually appears to be relevant to the actual story!  Way to go Publishing company!  

So, the prologue had me scared!  I hate angel books!  Especially YA angel books... They are so bleh for me.  So when I read the book, and discovered that they are revenants (which just means one who comes back, but they aren't exactly angels or zombies... Definitely not vampires), I breathed a sigh of relief.  So glad it wasn't another angel book!

Wow!  we see grief in a lot of books all the time.  But this time I think this is one of the first books where the character's grief reminds me of my own grief when I lost someone.  And that was hard to read at first.  But it did help me understand the character better, as well, in a way, heal myself from my own grief.  And that was a nice surprise.  And kudos to the author for showing us a healthy grieving process.  Because, Kate's grieving process didn't put herself at risk or other people around her at risk.  

Oh the suspense of who/what Vincent is.  While Kate tries to figure it out, you are too.  Too many clues without any conclusive answer until Kate finds Vincent.  And when you finally find out what he is, you kinda feel like you would have never thought about that.  I found that very refreshing.  

So, the ONE thing I didn't like was how Kate kept calling the revenants monsters.  They weren't monsters to me.  And they really shouldn't have been called that.  I preferred to call them immortals if I wasn't going to call them revenants.  

Georgia seems to be a neat character.  The big sister who does all those cool things, but still makes time for her little sister.  But she makes poor decisions and gets herself into dangerous situations unknowingly.  Not the best role model and that was a bit disappointing.  

So, I did like that the revenants did have a few "gifts".  The calming touch, being able to be volant, and the ability to possess a body is kinda cool tricks.  I think it was also cool that as a volant, they would/could nave premonitions to save people.  That seemed like a great thing to save people. 

I absolutely LOVED Charlotte!  The perfect mix of girlie and tomboy.  Plus, since she is the only girl in the immediate revenant club at the house, it definitely helps us get a different perspective about being a revenant.  Plus, I think that it helps Kate; I think she really needs a girl friend, a spunky sidekick, and someone other than her sister to count on.  

So, it did make me wonder about Papy.  What does he know about the Numa and the Revenants?  And what might he be hiding?  I think I'm only curious because he did really seem to perk up at the word "numa".  

I love Jules a lot.  The artist-warrior who is a flirt was just a plain great character.  I definitely would have enjoyed more time with him.  Can't wait to see him in the next book. 

Oh, the stupidity of youth.  Kate was happy and then caused strife because of her fears.  And poor Vincent.  Through it all, he tried to respect her even though it hurt him.  Thank goodness that stupidity didn't last long at all.  

Lucien is pretty much the mortal (or is it the immortal) enemy of Vincent and the other revenants.  He isn't seen much, let alone heard of until halfway through the book.  yet even then we don't know that he is the villain of the book until almost the end of the book.  For me, that part of the story was really unnecessary.  I think that since he wasn't really necessary for the first part of the story, then he wasn't really necessary at all.  

I loved what Vincent said to Kate when they finally made up, how he didn't want to rush, how as much as he wanted to get to the "main event", he wanted to take his time getting to know Kate.  No rushing.  That made me feel warm and fuzzy!

Poor Charles!  The burden he carries as a revenant is harder for him than most.  I hate that he felt that the numa were his only option to end it.  I'm glad that he made it, though we might not see him much for a while.  

Wow!  What a battle!  Lucien, Volant Vincent and Kate battling for survival .  The whole thing kept me on the edge of my seat.  I didn't know how it would end, but I couldn't wait to see victor.  

The birthday celebration for Kate's 17th birthday was amazing, beautiful, and completely unbelievable.  But I think that is what happens when you date a man from WWII.  Still, the whole thing was beautiful, and I love it.  

Overall, this was a beautiful novel.  I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Throw Back Thursday and an Upcoming Book!

BOUND TO BE UP ALL NIGHT WITH

THROW BACK THURSDAY’S BOUND BY NIGHT!

Book I of The MoonBound Clan Vampire series

“Bound by Night was a fantastic start to this very promising new series…

a very tasty treat from a must be read author.  Happy reading everybody…you’re bound to love it.”

—Night Owl Reviews for Bound by Night

“The exceptionally entertaining Ione kicks off a sexy new vampire series…

Ione does what she does best: deliver paranormal romance with a sexy and dangerous bite!”

—RT Book Reviews ****HOT Review for Bound by Night

PREORDER CHAINED BY NIGHT

AND SAVOR YOUR TASTY TREAT ON 9/30!

Book II of The MoonBound Clan Vampires series

“Ione’s second MoonBound Vampires paranormal deftly uses a mixture of complex rivalries, primal violence, and sex to portray a society in which frequent vampire enslavement provokes a civil-rights dispute…Ione’s characters are relatable and sympathetic both because of and despite their id-drenched setting, and Ione’s flavor of vampirism produces a fascinating mixture of authoritarianism, atavism, and compassionate humanity that works on multiple levels.”

—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW August 25^th

“Ione has created a fascinating vampire world steeped in Native American traditions and lore and developed a path to happiness for Hunter and Aylin that is fraught with potent and poignant internal and external conflicts. The action-packed plot and creative worldbuilding keep us enthralled; the romance and sexual tension keep us emotionally invested.”

—Kirkus Reviews August 28^th online, Sept. 15^th print

“Major talent Ione is back with the second installment in her gritty new MoonBound Clan Vampire series, where vampires live under the threat of enslavement and torture by humans.  Ione’s vampire world is made up of sometimes warring clans who fight against each other as well as humans.  Uniting the clans may be the vampires’ best hope for survival in the upcoming war with humans.  With so much at stake, these excellent character relationships are fraught with intense and conflicting emotions.  Hang on tight, as this is one exciting and dangerous world!”

—Romantic Times ****1/2 HOT

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

Description:

Having endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell, Kane wants nothing to do with his beautiful rescuer, Josephina Aisling. The half-Fae female threatens to awaken the demon of Disaster inside him—a beast he’s determined to kill, no matter the price. 

Josephina is hunted by a brutal enemy—her royal family—and Kane is her only source of protection. He’s also the only male to ever set her aflame, and even he succumbs to the heat. But as they navigate the treacherous world of the Fae, they are forced to make a choice: live apart…or die together.

Review:

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

5 out of 5

This book starts out so dark.  The trauma that Kane has experienced was horrible.  The fact that he keeps having flashbacks makes it so much worse.  PTSD is such a bitch, especially when you've finally met the person you want to be with.  

I think meeting the fae was very interesting.  Their love of the Lords of the Underworld almost rivals my friends and my love for them!  LOL!  Only Ms. Showalter would give her fans a competition with other fictional characters for their love of her main fictional characters!  But beyond that, the rules, the statuses, the blood slaves, and the royalty of the fae are a far cry from what we would call normal.  The conniving backstabbing, the blatant flirting, and the rules of conduct will keep you guessing who to trust.  

OMGoodness!  Lazarus... The pairing rod... Cameo... Speechlessness!  But I do hope that a lot of good stuff will come from and with these shockers!

Leopold is such an ass.  But I do wonder why?  And when it is revealed why the king doesn't like him and why he feels so obsessed with Josephina explains a lot of his behavior.  And it makes me feel sorry for him.  

What the heck is Disaster's problem?  Argh!  I mean, all the other demons generally deal with the other women, why can't he?  Stupid demon!

Poor Torin!  Torturing himself with an hour a day for 24 days with this unnamed girl is beyond necessary.  I don't think he is being fair to himself, and then the worst can happen, and he freaks out.  I really can't wait to see what happens with his book, because I hope all of it works out.  

Josephina (aka Tink, which is what I prefer to call her) is kinda a cool character.  She has a Cinderella story, if Cinderella were spunky and half fae.  I did love the transformation of her character, it was absolutely beautiful.  

I will say the whole Queen thing was a shock.... Plus, what happens to White & the Rainbow Rejects was a shock too.  Kind of scary really, and it definitely added a twist to the story.  

Poor Gilly.  Her determination to be like the Lords and their ladies, her love for William, and her craving to be loved back is going to get her hurt.  But whether that will benefit her or not is yet to be seen.  I do hope it all works out.  

Poor, poor Kane.  I know I keep saying that, but it's true.  His desire to kill Disaster no matter the cost to himself is heartbreaking.  I did love how he would do anything for Tink.  And how he showed her how wonderful and beautiful she is, that made me smile.  

My only problem with this book was how quick after Hell that Kane got over his PTSD issues.  That didn't feel right.  

Awesome twist in the end.  So didn't see that coming.  Loved it!  

Overall, this is such an amazing & perfect read!  I highly recommend this book and this series!
Happy Reading!

Cana

The One by Kiera Cass

Description:

THE SELECTION changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. Now, only one will claim Prince Maxon’s heart…

For the four girls who remain at the palace, the friendships they’ve formed, rivalries they’ve struggled with and dangers they’ve faced have bound them to each other for the rest of their lives.

Now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown – or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realises just how much she stands to lose – and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

The breathtaking finale to THE SELECTION trilogy will make you swoon!

Review:

The One by Kiera Cass

5 out of 5

So, I know I'm a little late getting to this book, but I'm so glad I got to it!  

What an opening!  Between rebels & the attempted seduction, you are going to keep guessing about this book and what is going to happen next!

A lot of interesting revelations in this book.  August and Georgia were very informative and revealing about the Northern rebels.  I wondered what else they will reveal, that could potentially be used in a spin off series?  Hmmm.

Gosh, I really despised the King.  His plotting and his controlling ways are suffocating.  And I can't stand it.  I didn't like what happens to him in the end, but I think it was needed to ensure what happens.  

I hadn't liked Celeste through out the series, but I will say that now that I understand why she did what she did mad her more likable.  Plus, she became so much cooler after that, especially with America.  

The Convicting is a horrible tradition.  A way to silence dissenters and give the appearance of justice.  I really loved the risk and sacrifice that America gave to give mercy instead of cold and unjust justice.  

It broke my heart about America's dad.  He was such a wonderful man.  And even with the loss, America showed her strength.  The way she put Kota in his place was fantastic.  And the letter her dad wrote to her was fantastic.  It really revealed a lot.  

OMGoodness!  Shalom is... was... a rebel... A Northern rebel.  I can't imagine what he has shared, what he has done, and what secrets he has kept.  

Oh dear... There was that moment when Kota called America out about Asen that I wasn't sure what to expect.  But when Maxon actually found out, and how he found out, that broke my heart.  

The amount of changes in the last few chapters will keep your your head spinning.  You really don't know what will happen until the very end, and I loved that!

I knew it!  You can verify it in my review of The Guard, I knew that Aspen should go after Lucy!  And Lucy truly deserved Aspen, her own knight in shining armour.  

I think the best line in the whole series was this: "This isn't happily ever after.  It's so much more than that."  I think it is perfect.

I feel so bad for all the losses after the Southern rebel invasion.  And the waiting period to find out who was lost was agonizing.  

Overall, this was an amazing, awesome, perfect book.  I loved how it ended the trilogy, but I'm so sorry to see it end.  If you haven't read this series, you really need to!

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard by Kiera Cass

Description:

Two novellas set in the world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Timesbestselling Selection series are now available in print for the first time.The Prince and The Guard both offer captivating views into the hearts and minds of the two men fighting to win America Singer's love. This collection also features exclusive bonus content, including a sneak peek at The One, the eagerly anticipated third novel in the Selection series.

Before America arrived at the palace to compete in the Selection, there was another girl in Prince Maxon's life. The Prince opens the week before the Selection begins and follows Maxon through the first day of the competition.

Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed that he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard. In The Guard, readers get an inside look at Aspen's life within the palace walls—and the truth about a guard's world that America will never know.

Review:

The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard by Kiera Cass

4 out of 5

If you would like to see the reviews of the 2 short stories in this book, please look at the previous book review posts.  For this review, I'm reviewing everything else in this book, which is also author's notes, playlists, and tons of other extras.  

I loved to finally get to see the family trees and to get the author's notes with them.  Getting an explanation on top of knowing why things happened as they did helped to add depth and get a better understanding of a lot of characters.  The fact that a lot of last names were changed during the installation of the caste system is so horrible.  

I loved reading the list of the caste system.  I have been trying to keep it all straight in my head, but it definitely helped to now have a list.  

I loved reading the Q & A with Kiera Cass.  She seems like such a friendly person.  I couldn't help but like her even more after reading the Q & A.

The only reason that this compilation doesn't get a 5 star rating is because there is No Map!  I need a map, please!  Since a lot of areas got renamed after Illea was created, it would be nice to know exactly what areas we are talking about.  

Overall, this is a great compilation of stuff.  For all fans of the Selection series, I hihgly recommend this book.  And for those who haven't gotten sucked into this beautiful world, y'all better get on it!

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Guard by Kiera Cass

Description:

Before America Singer met Prince Maxon . . . 
Before she entered the Selection . . . 
She was in love with a boy named Aspen Leger.

Review:

The Guard by Kiera Cass

4 out of 5

I have never really liked Aspen.  So, I delayed as much as I could reading this novella.  Now I will say that by the end, I didn't dislike Aspen as much as I did before, but I still don't like him.  

I liked that Aspen isn't such an ass, like I had originally though.  He wants to protect those he loves, which in his mind means pushing them away a lot.  I don't like it, but it makes him more understandable.

Oooh... More secrets.  Between the King's Office and the Mail room, many secrets are being shared and destroyed.  I wonder what else we'll learn in The One.

Oh how I wish that Aspen would go after Lucy.  I think they would make such a cute couple, especially since he seems to make her calm, to ease her nerves.  

I think my biggest problem with this story is how blind Aspen is, how whiny he is, and how judgmental he is about Maxon, especially when he is doing a lot of similar things. 

Overall, this was a good story.  I definitely recommend this novella.  
Happy Reading!

Cana

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm 30 years old today!   

And here's to another year of books, love and fun!

Happy Reading!

Cana

Happy Doctor Who Premiere Day!

Yay!  It's Doctor Who Premiere day!  Yay!

If you are as much of a Doctor Who fan as I am, you have been waiting for this since Christmas!  9 months is a long time to wait.  

So, I hope all of you have a good Saturday, and if you haven't watched Doctor Who, you really need to give it a shot!

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Prince by Kiera Cass

Description:

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Review:

The Prince by Kiera Cass

4 out of 5

So, I'm not normally a huge fan of short stories & novellas, primarily because they leave me wanting more.  Yet, I will admit I have been dying to read this short story just so I can get a better grasp on Maxon.  And let me tell you that this was so worth it!

Daphne, the Princess of France, might only be a blip in this story, but she definitely makes an impression.  I think that she definitely knew how to play on Maxon's insecurities and since he had hurt her, she was definitely aiming for the heart to hurt him.  

I had already felt bad for Maxon before this book, but this feeling just increased.  His father has made him feel so insecure about a lot of things.  He hasn't gotten a lot of interaction with people his own age, and to suddenly (though knowingly) be thrust into a situation where he is surrounded by 35 girls all vying for him, it can be more than overwhelming.  It can be absolutely dangerous.  

I loved getting to see Queen Amberly through her son.  She is always so encouraging, no matter what the results are.  I love that.  

I did love the bonus "Exclusive Extended Ending".  Some secrets were hinted at, and how/why Maxon decided to keep America in the Selection.  I think this was a perfect extension to this little novella.

I wish there had been a bit more of this story.  Maybe a bit more before his birthday, to see what was normal before the Selection.

Overall, this is a wonderfully quick read.  I think it is a great prequel to the Selection series, a great refresher before reading The One, and just a plain good read.  I definitely recommend this novella!


Happy Reading!

Cana

The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

Description:

Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive, but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he thought was forever beyond his reach until now. 

Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet in Paris's arms, the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up.

Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally or tear them apart?

Review:

The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

5 out of 5

Yay!  The book we had all been waiting for!  Yes, I know I'm 2 years late, but I've been waiting since Paris lost Sienna.  And let me tell you, I wasn't as disappointed as I was expecting.

On a side note to the publishing company about book covers:  Please, for the love of Pete, please, please, please actually try to get the art department descriptions of what the characters look like.  Don't put a violet-eyed, exotic looking woman on the cover when in the book she is a hazel-eyed, average looking woman.  Come on!  Get with it!

OMGoodness!  More is revealed about Galen... And I also don't know how I feel about him going after Legion or how he gets her.  But I do find it interesting what potentially might happen.  

I loved when William threatened Zacharel about feeding him his liver, and his response is that it is too salty... Hilarious!  I think it didn't work as planned by William, but it definitely made for an entertaining bit of conversation in this book.

Oh, the babies!  Wow!  I personally wasn't expecting them to be so potentially evil and undeniably cute... And their names are definitely unique.  Not names I would have picked, but definitely unique.  

Viola & her (male) vampiric Tasmanian devil, Princess Fluffykins was hilarious! I could not resist laughing at her.  Even though she is a self-absorbed (thanks to her demon), she brought a light-heartedness to the story that we definitely needed.  And even with that, I wonder, will she get her own story where we find out what she has forced herself to forget?

Gosh, I! Hate! Cronus! &! Rhea! Their bloody bickering hurt so many people unnecessarily.   But, I must say that I was pleased with what happened to them.  I mean, it was definitely a surprise with what happened to them... I never saw it coming. 

I'm so curious about the Unspoken Ones... What are they going to do?  Who are they going after?  And will they ever be restrained again?

So what a big turn of events for Sienna.  I do wonder how this will effect the coming war.

So, I really want to now read the angel spin-off series!   I'm kind of excited to see what will happen to Zacharel.   

Overall, this was a good book, a great end to the overlying story arc of Sienna & Paris, and to finally get some resolutions.  For all the Lord of the Underworlds fans, this is a must read!  I highly recommend it!

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

Description:

It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her.

Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be...?

Review:

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

3.5 out of 5

I love how Lizzie Brown cusses.  It is quite a bit like listening to an angry child.  And when she finally does use a real, adult cuss word, I was kind of shocked.  It also made me giggle.

I think that Pirate is my favorite character of all time!  He is hyper-actively funny, absolutely adorable, extremely hungry, and surprisingly mouthy.  He definitely made me laugh the most, and he was really the most consistent character out of the whole book. 

The Panos was a very interesting piece of magic.  Just the way a single stone on a bracelet can become whatever you need it to be to protect yourself, I think it sounds really useful... Or, as Lizzie proved, it could be a giant pain in the ass.

I really think that all these problems occurred in this book because NO ONE was upfront with information or explaination... Granted, it did lead to a lot of hilarious moments.  I just wished that someone had sat everyone down and explained things earlier than they did, because even I, the reader, got pretty confused on the whys, whats, and hows of this story.

I did find that the switch stars really did sound like Frisbees of death... Though, when it really needed to work, I think it fell quite a bit short of its target.   

I really found Andrea to be an irritating bitch (tee-hee, just like Lizzie said!).  But otherwise, she really wasn't necessary to the story, except to irritate me.

Okay, so my biggest issue with this book is how Lizzie suddenly trusts Gertie so quickly, and as if she has had decades of emotional connection with her.  I mean, the dumpster speech is a great example of the bull that happened unbelievably.  Argh!  It doesn't make any sense!

So, Dimitri... What do I get to say about him... Hmmmm.  OMGoodness!  There is a Yummy Griffin Shifter Alert!  I can't help but love his alpha, I'm-going-to-protect-you-and-have-you-as-well attitude that he exudes.  Then again, he was a bit of an ass at times.  Like when he was refusing to explain things.  And it also didn't help that he was a liar on top of that... But I still loved him.

Vald, the mad scientist demon, was not what I was expecting.  Which is always a good thing when reading about a villain.  I like being surprised by the villain occasionally, and I definitely was with this.  

So between Gertie, Phoenix, and Lizzie's adoptive parents, I find it amazing that she turned out as well-adjusted as she did.  I mean, they are all crazy on different levels, and had the potential of making a psychopath.

Okay, the roadkill magic was just really gross!  And coming from this farm girl, that is saying something.

Overall, this is a cute book, though it could have been better.  I will try the next book to see if it does get better.  I recommend this book for a mindless read.  
Happy Reading!

Cana