Tag: reading

This Chick Read: This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab

Kate Harker wants to be the daughter she thinks her father has always wanted. The problem is that her father is essentially a mob boss, ruling one half of Verity whose citizens pay tribute for his protection. Kate has only ever wanted her father to “see” her, and she thinks the only way to make that happen is if she becomes like him. August Flynn lives on the other side of the wall in Verity, where his family rules. His family keeps the citizens on their side safe by getting rid of the bad guys. Needless to say, these two families are at cross purposes and may be coming closer to a war to take control of the entire city.

Victoria Schwab creates a really unique world where monsters are the outcome of violence. August is a creation made out of violence. He becomes alive during the violent chaos of a school shooting, and has lived for the past few years fighting against his nature. He is one of the monsters, but only wants to be a normal human being. Kate is a normal human being who is trying to catch her fathers attention by becoming a monster. Their meeting is strife with conflict. Will Kate use August to become what she thinks her father wants? Will August use Kate to become more of the monster he’s trying to avoid becoming?

Once I got into this new world the pace of the book flowed really well.  I will admit that the first few chapters were kind of confusing and I put this book down several times before reading another review where it was given five stars. I picked it up again and decided to give it one last shot. It only took me about 10 more pages to get immersed in the story line, overcoming any confusion I’d had. Maybe I was in the right frame of mind to understand monsters?

This Savage Song is a different take on the classic Romeo and Juliet theme. Boy and girl from opposing families, meet and end up being able to rely on only each other. How does this change their families dynamics? Well, I won’t tell you! You’re going to have to read this one to find out. I will say that it took a surprising direction and I didn’t expect the outcome. ❤❤❤❤

This Savage Song

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Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe A Chick Who Reads All Rights Reserved

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This Chick Read: Vision in Silver (Others #3) by Anne Bishop

Spoilers ahead!

At the end of the previous book, Simon and other terre indigene had destroyed most of the  compounds holding the cassandra sangue and those young prophets went to live among the Intuit villages. Vision in Silver starts with Meg trying to figure out how to manage the cuts she craves, so she can pass that knowledge along to the other girls. If she cuts without feeling those pins and needles will she be able to hold off the need for cutting for a few weeks? The cassandra sangue are prophets, and with those cuts they see visions that, if spoken, deliver a euphoria very similar to sexual orgasms. That euphoria is very addictive, and most prophets live short lives because of that need. Meg’s prophecy, when she cuts,  tells of a war that is to come between a dangerous faction called the HFL or Humans First And Last and the terre indigene and their more scarier Elders.

Vision in Silver is that third novel that spends time setting the stage for future conflicts. A lot of the book explores the hatred that humans feel for the Others. A hatred that shows parallels to what is going on in America in politics. Since this book was published in 2015 I know that the author couldn’t have known that her Nicholas Scratch diatribes would mirror the obscenities spewing out of our own presidents mouth. I couldn’t help envisioning the orange blonde swipe of hair and fake tan on my own vision of Nicholas Scratch. Those parallels made it even easier for me to root for the indigenous natives of Thasia, Meg, and the Lakeside residents that were their human pack. 

Meg, as the pathfinder for the other cassandra sangue girls rescued in the previous books, is trying to live as long as possible between cuts. Simon, her werewolf boyfriend, looks worriedly after her, trying to protect her, but not knowing how to go about doing that. He and the other residents of the Lakeside Courtyard seem to have made a pact to keep her from cutting, but as the HFL ramps up their efforts, Meg is feeling those pins and needles and needs to cut to make sure her friends stay safe. Unfortunately, in this novel, her prophecies won’t save everyone. Those deaths are the first step towards the Elders making a decision to eliminate humans and reclaiming all of their land.

This series has quickly become one of my favorite urban fantasy worlds to live in and I wish it could go on forever. Unfortunately, there are only two books left in the series. However, I will be re-reading these over and over again to visit with some of my favorite characters.

❤❤❤❤❣


Buy it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo!

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe A Chick Who Reads All Rights Reserved

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Laini Taylor Book Signing for Strange the Dreamer #Sundayblogshare

Laini Taylor
Authors Sharon Cameron (left) and Laini Taylor (right)

Laini Taylor, author of the the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, had a book signing at my local bookstore, Parnassus Books. For an hour before she signed her newest book, Strange the Dreamer, she and fellow author Sharon Cameron asked and answered questions.  I was excited to see Sharon Cameron, who I’d forgotten would be at this signing. She is the author of one of my favorite young adult books from last year, The Forgetting. If you haven’t read that book, I highly recommend it!  You can read my review of The Forgetting, here.  I think she was supposed to be the moderator for Laini’s book signing, but she ended up answering some questions, as well as asking a few. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Laini Taylor Book Signing for Strange the Dreamer #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chick Read: Dancing in the Rain by Kelly Jamieson

Drew was forced to retire from the NHL because of a bum knee. He’s wallowing in self pity, drinking a lot and wondering what he’s going to do with the rest of his life. One day he gets approached by a woman, Sarah, who says he is the father of her child from a one night stand they had in college. Even though he was skeptical, he sits down and talks to her and was surprised to learn that she isn’t out to rip him off, she has terminal cancer, and wants to give her daughter the chance to know her father. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Dancing in the Rain by Kelly Jamieson” →

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This Chicks Take Control of my TBR Challenge Final Count! #TakeControlTBR

The Challenge was to pare down my TBR list during he month of March. The books had to be published before 3/1/17, so no ARC’s! However, I did have some ARC review commitments and that did cut down on my count. Because of those commitments I only gave myself a goal of reading 12 books off my TBR. In one month? Easy peasy! Mixed in with ARC’s? Hmmm. Surprisingly, I still blew it away!  At the end of last week I only needed one book to hit my challenge goal. I read three! I’ll admit, one was an ARC but it was a re-release so I thought it counted as it was published in 2013.  Lol. All of these books were great. My review for Angelbound is out, and the other two will be soon. Continue reading “This Chicks Take Control of my TBR Challenge Final Count! #TakeControlTBR” →

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This Chick Read: Wreck of the Nebula Dream – The Sectors SF Romance series by Veronica Scott

Wreck of the Nebula Dream is the first in a series of science fiction romance novels. This book was recommended to me by my sister and she never steers me wrong! This was science fiction in that there were aliens and space ships, but it was not a technical NASA geo-physics type science fiction novel it was more Guardians of the Galaxy adventure. Very tongue in cheek, fun, adventurous and yes, romantic!

Captain Nick Jameson is on leave and has to take transport on the Nebula Dream, a new cruise ship that has all the luxuries that a military man really doesn’t give a damn about. However, to get from point A to point B, it’s not a shabby way to travel, and Nick sets in for 10 days in the lap of luxury. Mara Lyrae is on business, and even though she takes notice of Nick, she doesn’t have time for him. Until, just like with the Titanic, the ship strikes an asteroid field and the Love Boat turns into the Poseidon Adventure. Nick, with his skills in the military takes charge of a small group and tries to find a way off the ship. He does not leave Mara behind, of course!

This was a short novel, but really a lot of fun! Nick and Mara have great chemistry, and Mara is also no fainting lady in waiting. She has been trained in firearms and holds her own in dangerous situations. If you like sci-fi and a hint of romance (think pg-13, this is no bodice ripper!) you’ll also enjoy this novel. Check it out! ❤❤❤❤


Buy it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo!

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe A Chick Who Reads All Rights Reserved

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Exploring my local Library #Sundayblogshare

Last weekend I went to the Nashville Public Library in downtown Nashville to listen to the author Greg Iles speak, and to get his most recent book Mississippi Blood signed for my husband, who is a big fan. This was our first visit, and I have to say that I was really surprised at how gorgeous the library was! This is my second time living in Nashville, combined for a total of seven years so far and I’m somewhat ashamed that I’ve never been. I do have a library card though, so I’m not a complete heathen! (I just get ebooks online…)

We walked into this gorgeous lobby. If you look at the picture below, you’ll see a mezzanine on the second level. There was a fabulous photography exhibit about the hidden treasures in Nashville. Normal houses, churches, etc. where great history has been lived. A small red brick church which was the home of the Civil Rights Movement. A trailer park that Dolly Parton lived in with her uncle when she came to town to sing at the age of thirteen. Some serious and also charming stories went along with these photos, and I recognized a few places in my own neighborhood. It was fascinating!


As you walked up the stairway you see at the bottom of the first photo, these beautiful murals were painted on the wall showing Nashville’s history, from the Civil War until now. We peaked at the mural from our era and tried to find our own neighborhood.


Peaking out through one of the windows was a beautiful little courtyard, still bare from the cold weather, but I’m sure will be gorgeous when the tree’s leaf out and the flowers bloom.


This would be a wonderful spot to sit and read a book in the sun, wouldn’t it?  On the second floor opposite the gallery is the Civil Rights Room and a Study Hall, both absolutely beautiful with dark would and a warm atmosphere. You can see the state capital peeking through the window of the Civil Rights Room, which seems totally appropriate!


We spent a wonderful two hours exploring, including listening to Greg Iles speak in a beautiful auditorium. When we left, my husband and I looked at each other and agreed that we had found a hidden gem. 

Sometimes the best explorations are in your own backyard, aren’t they? Do you have a hidden gem in your own hometown? How did you find it? I’d love to hear about your adventure!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Pretty Fierce by Kieran Scott

Kaia had led a very unusual life. Her parents were hired assasins, taking her on jobs with them, until one day – the job hit back. Kaia escapes to live with her “grandparents” in South Carolina, where, for the first time, she leads the life she always wanted to have with her parents. A normal one. One day, ‘stranger danger’ hits town, and she realizes that her parents may not be dead. This book is mostly about her search for them.

I knew I was in for a crazy book when Kaia defends herself from a kidnapping by kicking butt, stepping on the guys neck, and pointing his own rifle down at his head. She’s trying to figure out if she’ll shoot or not, when her boyfriend Oliver walks through the door to pick her up for a movie, and catches her in the act. Does he run screaming from the room? Nope! He follows her into a car and makes a mad escape with her.  Ok, not very realistic, but it did keep the pace of the book from slowing down. 

I was exhausted from reading this book. It was all action, with only moments for reflection and reason. Kaia didn’t appeal to me very much, and instead I looked for Oliver’s POV to bring a little realism and sanity into the story line. Ok, yes, I understand what kind of book I was reading, but I just couldn’t really care if Kaia ever found her parents alive or dead, and that was the whole plot! I gave this book ❤❤❤ because it was well written and there weren’t too many holes in the plot. I would’ve liked it better if it was told entirely from Oliver’s POV. He was sweet, mixed with a bunch of teenage badass…

I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review, and yep, I was honest.


Buy it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo!

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe A Chick Who Reads All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

Blog Tour! This Chick Read: Angelbound by Christina Bauer #Giveaway

I have been looking forward to being a part of this Blog Tour because  I had previously purchased this book! I laughed to myself about not having read it yet, because it obviously  intrigued me because I had in essence, signed up for it twice! Now, we are celebrating its audio release and I want to talk a bit about how much I enjoyed the book.

Christina Bauer has created a fresh new world full of angels, demons, quasi demons, and other fascinating creatures. Our heroine Myla Lewis, is no wallflower. She is a quasi demon who is a fierce arena fighter, sending souls to hell. As Myla’s story unfolds and she learns more about who she really is, her character becomes three demonsional keeping her strength, but also developing tenderness and heart.

This novel has a classic good versus evil theme, and Myla continues that fight against evil  that her mother started, before she was born. I liked how that story arc came full circle and that Myla embraced who she was with humor and empathy without the usual teenage freak out. I liked her choices, her friendships, and the fact that family meant something to her, even while distracted by falling in love and fighting evil. ❤❤❤❣

Angelbound
Christina Bauer
(Angelbound Origins #1)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: December 30th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

*Now an audio book!*

Eighteen-year-old Myla Lewis is a girl who loves two things: kicking ass and kicking ass. She’s not your everyday quasi-demon, half-demon, and half-human, girl. For the past five years, Myla has lived for the days she gets to fight in Purgatory’s arena. When souls want a trial by combat for their right to enter heaven or hell, they go up against her, and she has not lost a battle yet.

But as she starts her senior year at Purgatory High, the arena fights are not enough to keep her spirits up anymore. When the demons start to act weird, even for demons, and the King of the Demons, Armageddon, shows up at Myla’s school, she knows that things are changing and it is not looking good for the quasi-demons. Myla starts to question everything, and does not like the answers she finds. What happened 17 years ago that turned the quasi-demons into slave labor? Why was her mom always so sad? And why won’t anyone tell her who her father is?

Things heat up when Myla meets Lincoln, the High Prince of the Thrax, a super sexy half-human and half-angel demon hunter. But what does a quasi-demon girl to do when she falls for a demon hunter? It’s a good thing that Myla is not afraid of breaking a few rules. With a love worth fighting for, Myla is going to shake up Purgatory.

Goodreads / Amazon / Audible / iTunes

Monster House Books is celebrating the launch of the audiobook version of the best seller Angelbound, both on iTunes & Audible! As a result, every launched book in the series is only $1.99, aka more than 50% off…And that includes Angelbound ACCA, which was only released a few months ago!

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Author Bio:

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. It is now available as an audiobook on Audible and iTunes.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

Stalk Christina on Social Media – She Loves It!

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn / Website

 

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Review Blitz! The Hard Truth about Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett #excerpt

FBHardTruthNowAvailable

I am so excited to be a part of the review tour for Sawyer Bennett’s novel The Hard Truth About Sunshine. This novel is not your typical contemporary romance. It’s a novel that deals with some hard truths, finding the courage to forgive, and falling in love. Please read the blurb and excerpt below, followed by my review.

 

The Hard Truth About Sunshine AMAZON

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.

Despite having narrowly escaped death’s clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It’s only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life. Continue reading “Review Blitz! The Hard Truth about Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett #excerpt” →

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