Review: Torn by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Torn

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: A Wicked Saga

Genre: New Adult Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: 299 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same. 

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her. 

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him? 

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself. 



My Review:

Rating:

Caution: May Contain Spoilers!

Here we have yet another excellent book by Jennifer L. Armentrout!!

First, I must say that the covers for this series are absolutely gorgeous. The covers are captivating and promise an amazing story hiding behind the cover. Looking forward to showcasing this series on my ever growing bookcase.

Jennifer L. Armentrout, is a phenomenal author! My bookshelf is filled with her books and I look forward to her new book releases. She is amazing at developing worlds you feel a part of and characters you fall in love with. She does an amazing job transporting you to New Orleans, the night life and the daily hotspots, like Cafe Du Monde. For someone that has visited New Orleans and loved the city it is nice to read a book that really captures the cities beauty. I feel like I have been transported back to this beautiful city while reading this series.

In Torn, we start off right where Wicked left off, Ivy discovers the shocking truth behind her origins. She's the halfling everyone is looking for and not only does she know, but the Prince of the fae has discovered the truth as well. You could really feel Ivy's pain and her deep struggle with the truth. Does she tell Ren? Will Ren turn her over to the Order? What about the Prince?

Of course, Ivy can't hide from the Prince forever. Nor can she keep this secret from Ren. The Prince gets his hands of Ivy as well as Ren and they find themselves in quite the pickle. I love their relationship, Ren and Ivy would do anything for each other. Even though Ivy is unsure of Ren's feelings now that he knows the truth, she sacrifices herself in order to save him. 

While her stay with the Prince we find out that Ivy is more than she seems. We discover that halflings can feed off humans just like the fae. Ivy struggles through the Prince's compulsion, but can't fight to stop the feedings. Through the length of this book Ivy stuggles with who she is. And you can truly feel that struggle throughout this book. 

I loved Ren and Ivy's reunion!! They had such a sweet moment, when they both came to terms with their relationship and love for one another. 

I can't wait for Brave!! I am ready to find out what the future has in story for Ivy, Ren and Tink. Can't forget Tink!! :)

Published by: K

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by: Michelle Hodkin

The Retribution of Mara Dyer

By: Michelle Hodkin

Series: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Series

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Length: 470 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.

Retribution has arrived.

My Review:

Rating:

This was an absolutely captivating thrill ride! I loved this series from the very beginning. Michelle Hodkin is a phenomenal author and really makes you feel for the characters. I can't thank my best friend enough for introducing me to this series. It has been on my to-read list for over a year and I finally picked up the first book after she surprised me with the entire series. And I am so glad that I finally read these books. 

While book two, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, was not my favorite book in this series. I had a hard time getting into the story and truly it could only be because at the time I was in a bit of a reading funk. But this book was a phenomenal final chapter to an already great series. 

Michelle Hodkin is an amazing writer, she really knows how to develop an amazing and surprising storyline. I had no idea the twists and turns that Mara, Noah and gang were going to go through. I was not prepared for Jamie and Stella to be gifted as well, but I liked getting to know these secondary characters better. It was nice to see Mara interact with someone other than Noah and her brother David. (Even though I enjoyed them both.)

I loved the paranormal twist to this series. When I first started the series I really thought it was just a young adult romance, but I was pleasantly surprised when the paranormal aspect was introduced tuowards the end of book one, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. And that David, Noah's father played such a strong role in the outcome of these teenagers lives. 

I enjoyed the flashbacks or genetic memories that Mara experienced. I liked getting to know her grandmother's world and experiencing the life that ultimately lead to Mara's destiny. That was another pleasant surprise. 

This was a remarkable series, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending to an already amazing trilogy. I look forward to reading Michelle Hodkin's future books, she is an amazing author. Very thankful for such a happy ending for everyone involved. If you have not read this series yet, I highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed. 

Published by: K

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by: Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer

By: Michelle Hodkins

Series: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Paranormal

Length: 456 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 

She's wrong.

My Review:

Rating:

Absolutely amazing!! 

Michelle Hodkin is a phenomenal author. She really knows how to capture an audience's attention and keep them craving more. This series is a definite page-turner. The world that Michelle develops is extraordinary, powered teenagers and corrupt psychologists. What more could one ask for? This is one book that keeps you guessing and wanting more. Second guessing what is real and what's not. After a while you begin to wonder yourself about the new arrivals.

After The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer we pick right up after her outburst at the police station. Seriously who predicted Jude was still alive? I know I didn't see that coming. And it turns out the rest of her family didn't believe her either. So shortly after the book begins Mara is struck with an ultimatum. Going to a medical facility away from family and Noah or participate in Horizon's Outpatient Program. 

Obviously, she chose the outpatient program. Who wouldn't? However, not all of the patients at Horizon's are "normal." As the story continues we learn not only more about Mara and her family history but also about those at Horizon's. Turns out Noah and Mara may not be alone in this after all.

However, just when Mara is starting to get trust back from her family an unexpected and unwelcome guest arrives. Only to send Mara into a downward spiral. Looks like Mara's stay at Horizon's is going to turn bit more permanent than she had wanted. Lucky, she has Noah and Jamie. Yep, he's back!! 

I can't wait to start reading the final book in this series. Why do these teens have these powers? Are their families connected somehow? I can't wait to see where book three takes us.

Published by: K

AFTER CHRISTMAS BOOK HAUL!!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. This year we were gifted with several new books to add to our bookshelves. We will have more books to add to our Christmas Book Tree next year!!

We hope all our fellow bookworms got the books they were dying to get their hands on!! 

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***This year's Christmas Book Tree***

(Look's like this is going to be a new Christmas tradition)

Now let's get to this year's Christmas Book Haul!!

Christmas Gift From Mia at M&EMReads:

Everything Everything by: Nicola Yoon

Crash into You by: Katie McGarry

Chloe's Christmas Book Haul:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by: J.K. Rowling

(The Illustrated version)

Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy by: Cassandra Clare

My Christmas Book Haul:

Two by Two by: Nicholas Sparks

United by: Melissa Landers

The Kiss of Deception by: Mary E. Pearson

The Chemist by: Stephanie Meyer

Apollyon by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sentinel by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Every Last Breath by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Wait for You by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Wild Crush by: Simone Elkeles

What books did ya'll get for Christmas this year?

Published by: K&C

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by: Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

By: Michelle Hodkin

Series: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Series

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal, Romance

Length: 456 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 

She's wrong.



My Review:

Rating:

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

This book was absolutely amazing!! I devoured it from the very beginning. Even though this is my first Michelle Hodkin book I found her to be a magnificent author, she has definitely made it to my list of favorite authors. She has done a remarkable job developing this odd, crazy world that Mara has found herself a part of. 

This book has been on my to-read list for a very long time. However, it was never really on the top of that list until my best friend read it and fell in love with the series. She was nice enough to buy the entire series for me, just so I could read the series and share in her joy of such a remarkable book. And I have to say she did not disappoint (Not that I would very doubt her lol).

I liked Mara's character from the very beginning, she had such a strong personality that really drew me to her character. I just had to know what really happened to Mara while in the Asylum and why she survived when no one else did. As I started the book I truly thought she was losing her mind, so when the paranormal twist came in towards the end I was completely caught off guard. I can't wait to see what kind of paranormal abilities Noah and Mara possess. 

“Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real.” 

I truly did not expect Mara to have anything to do with anyone's death, at least not until the end. I was just has baffled as she was as to why these people were dying. So when we find out that she and Noah possess very Yin and Yang powers, I was shocked and couldn't wait to see where they came from and why them. Looks like I have to wait until the next book to discover more about these powers the both possess. 

“Today, tonight, tommorrow, forever. I was made for you” 

Noah and Mara are the cutest! I loved watching their relationship grow, and slowly dissolve towards the end, as Mara began to embrace her new power. I look forward to seeing if they can get their relationship back to where it was or have a stronger bond with their shared abilities. 

I look forward to reading book two, especially since it has been sitting on my nightstand for the past couple nights. Being such a busy past couple days I haven't had the opportunity to start it yet. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for Mara and Noah. And why is Jude still alive? Does he have a power all his own?

By: K

Review: Deity by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Series: The Covenant Series

Length: 330 pages

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Paranormal 

Synopsis From Goodreads:

History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time.

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate... 



My Review:

Rating:

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!

Let's be honest I love all of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books! She is an amazing author and I love her writing style. She really knows how to develop fun characters, people you can't help but fall in love with. I never want to put her books down and I'm always finding it hard not to read a page here and there while at work.

“That simple act stole my breath, my heart. But even as he pulled away, I realized that he couldn't steal something he already had.”

It made me hapy to see Aiden and Alex find their way back to each other. They are the cutest couple I have read in a while. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for them, especially after that cliffhanger ending. I had a feel she would be connected to Seth and lose herself in the process, however I still was not prepared for it. 

Now while I love Seth in The Return series, I am not his biggest fan right now. I had a feeling he was keeping secrets from Alex! And the way Lucian has him wrapped around his finger. Seth has truly become power hungry. As for Lucian, I didn't trusted him from the beginning, he always seemed like he was up too something. Turns out my instincts were right on point!!

I truly enjoy reading JLA's books and can't wait to get my hands on the last two books in this series! I know what I'll be asking for this Christmas! 


Published by: K

Review: The Heir by: Kiera Cass

The Heir

By: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection Series

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Dystopian

Length: 342 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads: 

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought. 

My Review:

Rating:

Kiera Cass is a phenomenal author. I love her writing style and the way she brings such a magnificent world to life. I enjoyed this story, however not as much as I loved Maxon and America's story. It was nice to see them all grown up with children of their own. When I saw that there was a continuation to this remarkable series I couldn't wait to start reading it. However, I found myself to be a bit disappointed.

"I'm Eadlyn Schreave, and no one in the world is as powerful as me."

I found Eadlyn to be selfish, rude and very egotistical. I found her to be very annoying. She was closed off and determined to sabotage the Selection process by making the men hate her or fear her enough to leave. However, as the story continues her plans only backfire and her country begins to wonder her true motives behind the Selection. 

“You can be brave and still be feminine. You can lead and still love flowers. Most importantly, you can be queen and still be a bride.” 

While Eadlyn went on several dates, I never really felt her connect with anyone other than maybe Kile. This book lacked much of the romance that was found in the previous books. Every time I started a new chapter I was waiting for a heart-stopping romance to begin brewing with Eadlyn and one of the Selected. I know who I hope she picks, but I have a feeling based off of some spoilers I accidentally stumbled upon that she does not pick my favorite.

The cliff-hanger was heartbreaking! How could Kiera Cass do this to us? I felt like the ending was abrupt, yet it added something that the story was lacking. 

I still plan on reading The Crown, only because I want to see what becomes of America and Maxon. I had high hopes for this book, especially after the amazing writing in the first three books. Maybe this last book will redeem this lack-luster story. 

Published by: K