Spark of Shadows by Rachel Madbury

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Spark of Shadows by Rachel Madbury

Title: Spark of Shadows
Author: Rachel Madbury
Series: The Sevens #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Dates read: 6th – 13th April 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: ARC, eBook, Novella
Publisher: Rachel Madbury
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: I have to meet with the man on watch.

Synopsis

True love never forgets.

Demons are coming for Cora Gardner. A witch like her sisters, and all the women of her line before her, her existence is threatened not only by mortals who fear what they don’t understand, but by those who live in the shadows and thrive on the darkness.

But when a warrior is summoned to be her guard she’d almost prefer to meet her fate.

Liam Wolfe is not just any warrior, he’s a Seven, created by the covens to protect the most powerful among them. He and his team are the hard edge that keep the violence at bay, so the witches of the world can hold the earth in her balance.

But demons aren’t the only ones drawn to Cora. Despite an animosity from her he cannot comprehend, Liam finds his oath as a Seven tested in the face of temptation. And as evil approaches, secrets are revealed – a truth which threatens everything he’s ever known.

Their past holds the power to reshape his world, but only if he can protect the woman who holds the key.

Thoughts

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

It took me a little bit more to get into this than Splintered Stars. Probably because I had this horrible feeling all throughout the novella that Liam and Cora’s story was going to end in tragedy. After all, their love isn’t mentioned in Splintered Stars, so I felt it was an apt assumption. And whilst I like suspense, I don’t love that constant feeling of tragedy.

Yet, without any spoilers, I did actually love this romance. Its definitely about long lost lovers being reunited. Finding your way back to the one you love and want and just… being with one another. I can’t imagine spending eleven years without the one that I love, but I like the idea that we’d find our way back to one another eventually.

Although I didn’t like this novella prequel quite as much as the first novel in this series, I still seriously enjoyed it. And it just makes me itch all that much more for the second book, which I believe is due to come out soon… now I just have to exercise patience and maturity… two things which aren’t quite my strengths.

<- More Rachel MadburySplintered Stars ->

Image source: Goodreads

Love Hard by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Love Hard (Hard Play, #3) by Nalini Singh

Title: Love Hard
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Hard Play #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sport
Dates read: 9th – 13th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Nalini Singh
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: “Do I look like I was born yesterday?”

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series…

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And II especially II no Julity Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends – and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend. 88 Straitlaced jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

Thoughts

From the blurb, I was expecting Jacob’s backstory to be far more painful and tragic. And it was quite sad and horrible. But nowhere near what I was expecting. I mean, teenage parent and the death of the love of his life is really sad. But he didn’t dwell on it but found a way to move on with his life. Something that I think is really awesome and important – he found a way to live his life and be happy in the moment.

All throughout this story, Esme just stole the show. She is just too damn cute and, although she isn’t the one the romance is about. I just wanted to give her a huge hug! She’s just a constant, adorable little show stealer. One that makes you grin and want to hug her through the pages of the book. The fact that Jacob is such a wonderful father just makes him an even more dreamy male lead…

Jules was such a great lead female (as is all of Singh’s female leads). Her friendship requirement to a relationship is such a great point. One that I think we all need to make in our own lives and relationships. After all, my partner is my best friend, and it’s the laughter and friendship that bring everything together.

This was another beautiful Singh story. One that uses all of her usual enjoyment and happiness. One that also reminds us that we always should look forward and embrace the future. And the potential for future happiness. It’s such a great journey. One that draws you all that much further into the Esra brothers’ world and makes you believe in true love again and again.

<- Rebel HardMore Nalini Singh ->

Image source: Goodreads

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Shadow and Bone : Leigh Bardugo : 9780805094596

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1, Grishaverse #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Magic, Young adult
Dates read: 4th – 5th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He didn’t say a word to me, and as the hours and days wore on, I started to worry that I’d somehow offended him.

Synopsis

SOLDIER. SUMMONER. SAINT.

Orphaned and expdnable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first rek across the Shadow Fold – a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dromant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of roaylty and intrigue, as she trains with the Grisha – her country’s magical military elite – and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she lvoes and the very future of a nation.

Thoughts

I can seriously understand why this series, and this story in particular is so damn popular. I knew that I’d probably love it from the fact that I have loved all of the short stories which Bardugo has written. But I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy this. I mean… wow. It is an amazing, unforgettable journey and I can’t wait to read more of this series! hopefully before the Netflix series comes out…

Alina is a lovely and soulful lead character. I honestly fell in love with her from the very beginning. There is something about her loyalty and strength that makes you love her from the first page. And the fact that she will do anything for the boy that she loves… that just makes it all so much sweeter and cuter. Particularly when you discover the depths she’s actually gone to for him…

I seriously can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series – not just he trilogy, but the whole Grishaverse. Alina and Mal may have found a way to escape the first obstacle. But there are so many more to come. And the Darkling doesn’t seem like the kind of villain that is going to be easy to escape – he is kind of terrifying if I’m being completely honest.

I love that this is most definitely a friends to lovers romance. Particularly since you can see Alina’s loyalty and love from the very beginning. Boys are stupid and tend to take a little bit longer, but that tie is there from the very beginning. I can’t wait to see how this all grows and blossoms throughout the series. Everything about writing this review and reading the story just make me want to pick up the next novel in this series!!!

All in all this is an amazing story. One that has pulled me into the Grishaverse reality completely. I can’t wait to read more of the series. And then, hopefully, when I’ve finished, dive into the Netflix show too…

<- More Leigh BardugoSiege and Storm ->

Image source: Bookdepository

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Punching the Air :HarperCollins Australia

Title: Punching the Air
Author: Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Poetry, Race
Dates read: 4th – 5th April 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2020
5th sentence, 74th page: To take my mind off things for a little while, I said

Synopsis

The story that I thought
was my life
didn’t start on the day
I was born

Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighbourhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white.

The story that I think
will be my life
starts today

Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

Thoughts

This is a powerful and poignant story. It is intense, impossible to look away from and the kind of tale that will honestly make you cry. There is no other way to describe it – you will have so many of the feelings that you probably won’t know what to do. Or at least, that’s how I felt when I was reading this.

I didn’t realise that this was a poetry collection when I first bought it. In fact, I was completely thrown by this fact when I first opened the novel. I was expecting prose. Which honestly ended up being amazing. There is something about poetry that feels so much more emotional to me and reading this tale through poems… it tied itself to my heart strings just that much quicker and tighter.

My heart spent the entire time that I was reading this novel just breaking. Not only because of the amazing emotions that are put forth by this story, but also just the story itself. It is based on true events to a degree, partially written by one of the boys that it happened to… how could your heart not slightly start to break while reading this?

For those who don’t know, Yusef Salaam was one of the “When They See Us” boys, and it is his emotion that I think lent an extra layer of pain and wow to this story. It’s his words that make me want to reach through the pages of the novel and just give the poor boy a gigantic hug.

This is a raw and powerful story. And one that is honestly truly horrifying. Even if it is one of my favourite recent reads.

<- PrideA is for Ayiti ->

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Zeroes | Book by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Title: Zeroes
Author: Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti
Series: Zeroes #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Science fiction, Superheroes, Young adult
Dates read: 21st February – 5th April 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: All those training missions, shepherding crowds around a shopping center while listening to Glorious Leader’s orders in their earbuds.

Synopsis

DON’T CALL THEM HEROES

But these six Californian teens have powers that set them apart. They can do stuff ordinary people can’t.

Take Ethan, a.k.a. Scam. He’s got a voice inside him that’ll say whatever you want to hear, whether it’s true or not. Which is handy, except when it isn’t – like when the voice starts gabbing in the middle of a bank robbery and lands him in deep. The only people who can help are teh other Zeroes, who aren’t exactly best friends these days.

Enter Nate, a.k.a. Bellwether, the group’s “glorious leader”. After Scam’s SOS, he pulls the scattered Zeroes back together. But when the rescue blows up in their faces, the Zeroes find themselves propelled into whirlwind encounters with ever more dangerous criminals across the city. And at the heart of the chaos they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it or let it loose as she pleases.

Filled with high-stakes action and drama, Zeroes unites three power-house authors for the opening instalment of a thrilling new series.

Thoughts

This book is an absolute chunkster. Which is why I have kept putting it off for ages. I just find books that are this big to be kind of intimidating at times. Plus, there’s the fact that sometimes I tend to get distracted and bored halfway through these monster tales. Yet, in spite of all of my concerns… I just couldn’t put this down! It was an amazing chunkster, one that I seriously and thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved the flickering of points of view throughout this story. It is most definitely a difficult tactic in stories – but these three authors have managed to give each and every one of the six superheroes a wonderfully unique voice. The fact that it also gives you these great views into their lives and the different ways in which they see one another… it was a brilliant journey. And, unlike many other stories I’ve read that flicker between points of view, I wasn’t more or less attached to each of the characters. This is wonderfully unique and had me grinning throughout.

The whole storyline and characterization of the Zeroes reminded me a lot of Umbrella Academy. There was that great feeling of dysfunction and coming together in a pseudo family. Although, being that this is a young adult story, it felt a heck of a lot less dark than the comic / Netflix series. I love stories of dysfunctional family units, they tend to feel all that much more humorous. Which left me grinning and smiling as I journeyed through the Zeroes reuniting and finding more depths to their powers.

This novel partners teenage angst with dysfunction and superpowers. I mean, really, what on earth could go wrong there? Turns out, everything and anything. Which then makes me want to pick up Swarms straight away… it’s surely just going to get better from here on out.

<- More Scott WesterfeldSwarm ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Her Perfect Mate (X-Ops, #1) by Paige Tyler

Title: Her Perfect Mate
Author: Paige Tyler
Series: X-Ops #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 28th March – 3rd April 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: “Yeah?” Clayne snorted.

Synopsis

HE’S A HIGH-OCTANE
SPECIAL OPS PRO
When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is pulled from an op in Afghanistan, he is surprised to discover he’s been hand-picked for a special assignment with the Department of Covert Operations (DCO), a secret division he’s never heard of. Terrorists are kidnapping biologists and he and his partner have to stop them. But his new partner is a beautiful, sexy womn who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly – never mind take down a terrorist.

SHE’S NOT YOUR AVERAGE
COVERT OPERATIVE
Ivy Halliwell is no kitten. She’s a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. She’s worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who’ve underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she’s partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up…

Thoughts

This was a very fast-paced and high-octane romance. It was enjoyable, intriguing and quite intense. Not just for the great love story that is in place, but also for the multitude of action-packed adventures and moments that fill the pages. I was expecting this from the series name and the prequel, Her Secret Agent. But it was still far more intense than I had expected.

There were lots of hints at the political and social turmoil that is probably going to characterise this series in Her Secret Agent. But Her Perfect Mate does this so much better. There are so many moments of intensity and horrible feelings throughout. In fact, it feels a lot like this was the opening battle in a war to come. After all, this is beginning of an eight-book series, and there is so much potential moving forwards… I can’t wait to see how this evolves.

There is nothing I like better than a romance in which two characters bring their past issues to the table. And then figure out a way to accept them and work around them. Instead of pretending that no one has baggage, the baggage is all out there. In the case of this story, I love how Landon meets Ivy and just takes her hostility in his stride. His easy acceptance and ability to just roll with whatever she throws at him is kind of beautiful and most definitely sweet. It makes it all that much more meaningful when they both succumb to their feelings.

I love all of the characters in this novel, and I’m really hoping that some of the future novels feature more of Landon’s unit. They are such a great, humorous, and loyal group, so I desperately want to see more of them. It was impossible not to fall in love with this story and I can’t wait to buy more of this series and see where Tyler’s fantastic world building and romances take me!

<- Her Secret AgentHer Lone Wolf ->

Image source: Goodreads

Moonlight Serenade

Challenges

Duration: 1st May – 31st May 2021
Number of books: 7
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Moonlight Serenade

Duration: May 1 – 31

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count

M

1. May is a month known for change. Listen to an audio book released in May of any year or where the MC has a big change in their life – Primal Heat by Sherri L. King, Lorie O’Clare, Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh
2. The Empire State Building opened on May 1, 1931. Listen to an audio book with a tall building on the cover
3. Cinco de Mayo is the 5th of May and celebrates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French in 1862. Listen to a book published on the 5th of any month/year. – Edge of the Moon by Rebecca York (5th August 2003)
4. Mother’s Day is celebrated in the month of May. Listen to an audio book where the MC is a mother or a strong female character you would like to be your mother. – This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
5. Back in the day in Europe, May was celebrated with a Maypole.
A long pole with flowers, garland and strips of fabric attached to it. Listen to an audio book set in Europe or with flowers on the cover – A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
6. Memorial Day is also celebrated in May. Listen to an audio book that has a military or warrior character that died. – A Man in a Kilt by Sandy Blair

BONUS: May’s Full Moon is the Flower Moon and will occur on May 26th this year. It will be a super moon and coincides with a Lunar Eclipse. Listen to a book with a moon on the cover.

Night Spawn Bingo May 2021

Challenges

Duration: 1st May – 31st May 2021
Number of books: 9
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
 
description

Welcome to Night Spawn BINGO. Each month a new BINGO game will be posted with new tasks to complete. Get three in a row (Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal) to receive your Vampire Heart.

Rules:
Complete three tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

Top Row:

Character who has Fangs~ Jacob’s Faith by Lora Leigh
Title beginning with any letter in DRACULA~ Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker
Character uses a Stake, Holy Water, Garlic, or Crucifix ~

Middle Row:

MC is a Vampire Hunter/Huntress~ 
Blood on the Cover ~ 
MPG of Vampire ~ Bloodcircle by P.N. Elrod

Bottom Row:

Character can not walk in Sunlight~ 
With a Master Vampire ~ 
Bat(s) on Cover ~

description

Funko Vamps May 2021

Challenges

Duration: 1st May – 31st May 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Funko Vamps
Collect a Funko Vamp each month by completing at least 2 tasks from a set of 6.
A new set of tasks with a new Funko Vamp will be posted each month.

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

description

Read a book with an evil character – Tanner’s Scheme by Lora Leigh
Read a book with vampires – Bloodcirclbe by P.N. Elrod
Read a book that has been made into a comic/movie/tv show
Read a book with ghosts – A Man in a Kilt by Sandy Blair
Read a book with tagged fantasy
Read a book during the day – The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

May Monthly Challenge 2021

Challenges

Duration: 1st May – 31st May 2021
Number of books: 10
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description

 

Duration:
Starts: May 1
Ends: May 31

How It Works
Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.

Levels:
Transitional – 2 books
Fledgling – 4 books
Vampire – 6 books
Master – 8 books
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books

Black Eyed Susan

The Black Eyed Susan represents justice. These flowers can also stand for encouragement and motivation.
Read a book …
1. With a character who works in the justice system (Police Officer, Lawyer, Judge, Military) OR
2. Where a character gives advice or comfort to another.
Aiden’s Charity by Lora Leigh

Calla lilies represent magnificence and beauty. They also can symbolize purity and innocence and are often used in wedding bouquets.
Read a book…
1. With a colorful or artistic cover OR
2. Where a wedding takes place.
This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps

Pink Carnation

A pink carnation stands for the love of a mother or woman
Read a book…
1. With a mother in the story OR
2. Tagged Family
A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

Daffodil

Daffodils symbolize chivalry and regard. They can also represent rebirth, eternal life, and new beginnings. Daffodils may also represent unrequited love.
Read a book…
1. With an Immortal character OR
2. Where a character is starting over in a new town/city
Bloodcircle by P.N. Elrod

Daisy

A daisy represents purity and innocence and conveys a loyal love.
Read a book…
1. Read a book with children in the storyline OR
2. With a flower on the cover or in the title

Delphinium

Delphinium represents big-heartedness, lightness, fun, and levity.
Read a book…
1. Tagged humor OR
2. With a character who is sarcastic/witty
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Gladiolus

These beautiful flowers represent the strength of character, faithfulness, and honor.
Read a book…
1. With a character you would describe as honorable OR
2. With an author whose first or last initial is found in GLADIOLUS
Jacob’s Faith by Lora Leigh

Rose

Red roses are an expression of love, longing, and desire.
Read a book…
1. Tagged Romance or Erotica OR
2. With red, pink, yellow, white, or black on the cover
Tanner’s Scheme by Lora Leigh

Poppy

Poppies are a symbol of sleep, peace, and death.
Read a book…
1. With a secondary character who dies in the story OR
2. With a character that represents Death (Example: Grim Reaper)
Edge of the Moon by Rebecca York

Snapdragon

Snapdragon flowers represent strength and graciousness.
Read a book…
1. Read a book with a physically strong character OR
2. With a title beginning with any letter in SNAPDRAGON
Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair