Top Ten Book Trailers of 2017

I love a good book trailer!  There is nothing better than a mini movie to introduce a book or series to readers.  Here are a few of my favorites from 2017!

Windwitch

Wayfarer

Roar

Gilded Cage

Serafina and the Splintered Heart

 

Violet Grenade

Everless

One Dark Throne

Dividing Eden

Lady Helen

Review: Magical Compass (Supernatural Prison Story #2)

Author Jaymin Eve

Format e-book

Print Length 324 pages

Publisher Self

Published November 17, 2017

Tyson Compass, as one of the famed Compass quads, is not a wizard used to living with regrets. Except for one: Grace Carter. 

Grace is a healer witch he rejected many years ago. After completely disappearing from his life, she has returned, and turned his world upside down. The attraction between them flares strongly, but she has not forgotten or forgiven his callous rebuff when they were teens. 

Tyson does everything he can to prove he will never hurt her again, and just when he thinks there might be a chance for them, she has to leave again. She makes him promise not to follow her - a promise he honors for as long as he can. But after almost two months with no word, he’s done waiting. He’s going to find his girl. 

With a little help from his brothers, he tracks her down, only to find Grace betrayed by her family ... tortured ... hurt. His rage knows no bounds. He will do everything he can to bring her family to justice, to find out why they turned on her. 

By unlocking these secrets, though, he will discover that Grace is so much more than just a healer witch. She holds a secret that could save the world of Faerie. Or destroy it. 

Magical Compass is a spinoff set within the Supernatural Prison World. It's full length at 90,000 words, and is standalone with HEA. You do not need to read the Supernatural Prison trilogy first, but it will help your understanding of this world if you do. 

My Opinion

This is the second book in the spin-off of the original Supernatural Prison series. I recommend reading the first series before starting the spin-off. Yes, you can read it as a stand alone book but why would you want to?

Grace was noticeably absent in Broken Compass, a fact that the other characters mention, and Tyson tries to avoid. Yet, fans knew something was up and a few of us got angrier and angrier at Tyson for not chasing her down. Apparently, Tyson was getting as impatient as the readers were and decided enough was enough. He was going to chase after his gal. Which is where Magical Compass starts off.

Grace has been the voice of reason since she was brought into this magical world. Her family, her glue yet something is not right. Her family is not who they seem, and they do unspeakable things. Things that change who she is and has her questioning who she will become. She is not the same Grace that wanted a relationship with Tyson all those years ago. His rejection of her in the past will be a barrier that may be unsurpassable.

Tyson knows he was a jerk, he realizes that he has a lot to make up for. He tries to be understanding, he tries to be noble, he tries to be a partner and he fails miserably on all but the last. I hated his treatment of Grace in the original series- he had a lot to atone for.

The world building is again on point, this is something that the author does rather well. Vivid description of Faire, the lands meadows and those that inhabit it will captivate the reader. Not only does she do a great job with world building but character development is also a strength of the author. Each emotional rollercoaster the main characters are on is bound to have your tummy doing backflips. If I had been wearing my pearls I would have clutched them a few times, which is a testament to all the feels this book brings with it.

Seriously, I cannot say this enough, this is one of the best series I have read in this genre. The author pays close attention to character development, world building and relationship building. The emotional rollercoaster that the reader goes on- fast, furious, steady- sets the stage for one heck of a book hangover. The only question is when will the next one be released.

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote The Stupid Asshole of the Year award was definitely mine.

Other People

Jessa- Braxton’s mate

Jake- Tyson’s brother, faire

Max- Tyson’s brother, vampire

Braxton- Tyson’s brother, shifter

Swoon Thursday (52) Magical Compass

The fabulous girls over at The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.

What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. 

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound.A Bound created this super HOT meme.

“You, Grace Carter, mean more to me than any other supernatural in the world. My brothers are my family, but you are my everything. I will leave Jacob here if that’s the best option for us to get help, for me to save you. I’ll come back for him, of course, but you’re my number one priority.”

Magical Compass Kindle Location 1384

Tyson has a lot to make up for, having rejected Grace in the past. Sometimes, a relationship cannot come back that. Here is hoping that Grace can forgive him.

Waiting on Wednesday (52) Heart on Fire

Hey y'all, thanks so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

The riveting conclusion to the Kingmaker Chronicles, available January 2018!

Who is Catalia Fisa?
With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.

Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother, and taking a final, terrifying step--reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.

What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger...we hope.

Why am I waiting?

This is the last book in this fantastic series. I cannot wait to see Cat stick it to her momma who is completely evil and yeah I just don’t like her.

Teaser Tuesday (52) Seduction

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“We’re not your friends, so you have to pick a different word. Maybe…boyfr-“

“Princesses,” I inserted.

“Not where he was heading with that,” Yael inserted blandly. “But go ahead and explain.”

“If I have to run after you five, recusing you all the time- that makes you the princesses in the story.

Seduction Kindle Location 3045

Only Willa can go up against the five Abcurses brothers and not get hurt. Only Willa would dare to call them Princesses to their faces.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

 May you spend today with the ones you love, may your home be filled with laughter and cheer, and may your TBR pile be a little higher at the end of the day!

Review: Wild Invitation (Psy-Changeling 0.5, 4.5, 9.5, 10.5)

Author Nalini Singh

Format e-book

Print Length 339 pages

Publisher Berkley Sensation

Published March 5, 2013

In Beat of Temptation , innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?

In Stroke of Enticement , a wary young teacher, skeptical about love, arouses the man—and the animal—in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true. 

Plus 2 NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED NOVELLAS

In Declaration of Courtship , Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” 

In Texture of Intimacy , SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys—and unexpected challenges—of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence. 

My Opinion

If you are in need of a Psy-Changeling fix this is the collection of you. It has two of my favorite side couples as individual main characters Tamsyn and Nate as well as Lara and Walker. So when it showed up in my suggested reading feed, I one-clicked without a thought. Then I promptly changed into pjs, got a cup of tea and sat down to read once more again the world of shifters and psy.

Beat of Temptation

The Beat of Temptation is Tamsyn’s and Nate’s story. Sometimes finding your mate an early age is not a good thing. Because Nate realize that Tamsyn is his mate early on, he puts limits on their relationship. Limits that she is about to push in hopes of a happily ever after. This is one of my favorite couples in this world and it was fabulous finding out how they got together. I love that I got to know them first and then discover their story.

Stroke of Enticement

Finally- Holy cow, this one is between a human and a changeling. I think this is the “first” regular person or human in the series to find love with a changeling. Watching Zach trying to manage the mating bond with a human was fun. This the most entertaining portion being the dinner party at her mom’s house. Almost as entertaining as Zach’s conversation with Mercy. Anne and Zach’s story is sweet with just the right amount of spice. I enjoyed how Annie’s insecurities with relationships in general played into her relationship with Zack. It was nice to see a mated bond not be confident in the outcome of the relationship.

Declaration of Courtship

If you are a lover of opposites attracts troupes than this is the one for you! Grace is happy being a submissive wolf in the SnowDancers pack, she likes her place in the hierarchy. Which is why she is so shocked that a dominate male, Cooper would be interested in her. Submissive Grace, dominate Cooper and cue the sparks that are going to fly. I really liked this story, it brought all the warm fuzzies with it.

Texture of Intimacy

I have been so invested in this side couple that when I realized that there was a novella coming out about them I jumped up and down. I was so excited, and it does not disappoint. Yes, we already know they are mated but does that mean their story ends? No! I wanted to know how their mating goes. Walker is very Silent, Lara not so much which made for an interesting look into their mateship.

I enjoyed each and everyone of these novellas. It allowed me to continue my love of the Psy-Changeling series. Recommended for anyone who like the full length books.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “You’re in my blood, in my heart, in my soul."

Review: Her Book Boyfriend (The Awkward Duckling #1)

Author K.R. Grace

Format e-book

Print Length 144 pages

Publisher Self

Published August 25, 2017

She believes the secret to love is in the tropes of her favorite romance novels. He’s the best friend prepared to prove her wrong.

Then comes the bet.

If she can’t land a boyfriend for prom by recreating the ten popular tropes in her favorite romance author’s books, she has to go to the prom with her.

The glitch?

They’ve been close their entire lives. He’s the rock god and school legend, while she’s the brainy sidekick who does all his dirty breakups. Thus, finding a guy who doesn’t think they’re already an item is going to be a lot harder than she thinks.

Will she land the book boyfriend of her dreams? Or will she be forced to go to prom with her best friend.

The truth is in the pages.

My Opinion

Prom is right around the corner and Macey needs a date. One that she is mildly attracted to, and who can help her street cred. Being a bookworm, and on track to be in the top 10% of your class tends to make her less attracted than other people at school. Well, that and the fact that her bestie is the “Man” on campus. So much so that there are a lot of people that think she is “secretly” dating him. So what is a gal to do but come up with an action plan –Wendi Cooper’s Guide to Catching a Man. 

Macey is an interesting character who often acts like a freshman in high school instead of a senior. She claims to be interested in several different guys and follows her list to try to entrap on of them into taking her to prom. She is often judgmental (especially of the people Cam hooks up with) and at times is annoying.

Cam the “Man” is suppose to be the dumb jock to Macey’s sweetheart nerd. Instead, he is the gentle bestie who just wants to protect his gal. Often misunderstood, it is a wonder to me how his life could be falling apart and yet he never once tells his best friend.

There are a lot of stereotypes in this book: the computer nerd, the foreign student, the closet kid. This takes away from the story, almost as if the author is trying to be too inclusive. This inclusion could be misconstrued as “–ism” for all of those involved.

A quick read for those looking for a friends to lover kinda book, added bonus that it has a list within it. Try not to take it too serious or else the –isms may get to you.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “You deserve someone who will take you out, make you laugh, and return you home feeling like you’re the most cherished person in the world.” 

Other People

Reese- gal bestie to Macey, gymnastic superstar

Morgan- anima loving gal drummer in the band

Wen- foreign exchange student

Swoon Thursday (51) Love In the Friend Zone

The fabulous girls over at The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.

What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. 

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound.A Bound created this super HOT meme.

“You don’t know how your laugh makes my heart swell in my chest and yet makes room for me to breathe air I didn’t know I was missing. You don’t know how it feels when I’m forced to watch a new episode of The Walking Dead without you- it’s the worse because I can’t appreciate the show without your non-stop running commentary.”

Love In the Friend Zone Kindle Location 1988

You gotta give it to Fynn when he decides on something he goes for it whole heartedly. How could Braylen resist this?

Waiting on Wednesday (51) Between the Blade and Heart

Hey y'all, thanks so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Valkyries have one great responsibility: to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos.

Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.

Why am I waiting?

Umm….Valkyries, new series, and the world being at stake.  I am so there!

Teaser Tuesday (51) The Night Human Hunter

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“And the one assigned to keep your butt safe. Which let me tell you, is harder than it looks. I have a job to do, but father here has been constantly worried your mother would get you killed.”

The Night Human Hunter Kindle Location 2155

Poor Beck, his little brother has been keeping him on his toes. Hopefully, now Jax will be a little less reckless.

Where have I been?

A lot of you may have been wondering where I have been since August. I had no intention of taking a blog break or a reading break for that matter. I have been working on this blog for seven years, and have never taken a month long sabbatical much less four months long one. I feel I owe you an explanation.

At the beginning of August, I became really ill. Passing it off as being seven months pregnant with my fifth child, I pushed myself to go to work and to be a mommy to the little ones. Unfortunately, that was about all that I could do. I went to work, came home did the chores and slept. It wasn’t until after the baby was born that we realized that our blood types were incompatible. Her delivery was a bit on the dramatic side and after being in the NICU for a while, we were finally able to come home. 

Autumn Everly 

The kids have adapted rather nicely to their little sister and we are adjusting to our new norm. Seven weeks later and I finally opened a book. So the posts should start becoming regular again. Thanks for being so understanding and patient.