Finale is a story about the meaning of love and how that meaning changes for each of the characters in this story. Tella’s love for Legend is tested by her confusing feelings for Jacks and Scarlett’s love for Julian is never wavering but her definition of love changes when she uncovers some truths about her past. Both of their journeys are tested but eventually love conquers all, and in this novel you can’t take that statement literally.
Stephanie Garber continues with the beautiful prose from the first two novels. Each word is imbued with ribbons of color which seems appropriate to the theme of love that runs through this story. At times though her lyrical style seems to distract rather than draw attention to, and I’ll admit my mind wandered a bit. I found myself scanning back through the pages wondering what had happened since I last tuned in. I still enjoyed the story, but it took a really long time for it to reach a conclusion.
Tella and Legend continued their tale of unrequited love. If an immortal feels the emotions of love it turns them human and Legend fights his fears through most of their storyline. I found Jacks’ emotions the more interesting of the two men, since he gave into his obsession and seemed to turn Tella’s head with his feelings, even though those feelings were rather unhealthy.
Scarlett’s story with Julian remained unchanged, however her character grew a lot more than Tella’s did in this conclusion. She learned a lot about why she could see the color of other people’s emotions and how she dealt with that knowledge uncovered strengths that she previously hadn’t really shown. I cared a lot more for the resolution of her story than I did for her sister’s which seemed a lot more shallow a tale.
Finale was my least favorite book in the series, but part of that was that the newness had dulled slightly. Some new characters (the Fates) were introduced and time was spent allowing us to get to know a few of these characters so that it helped build more of an impact to the conclusion of the story. The end felt a little too pat for all of that prior build up, but I did feel like I got the conclusion that I wanted for these characters and I was left feeling pretty satisfied. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I feel like I just did my March wrap up, the days are just flying by too fast. April was a solid month for reading. I finished 17 books, including a few audiobooks and feel like I’m making progress on my stack of ARC’s. Do you ever feel like you’ve overcommitted yourself? Me too! I hate it when my favorite authors all have books coming out on the same day. Yet, I love it at the same time. It’s a love hate thing. LOL. Anyhow, here is what you missed if you haven’t been keeping track of The Reading Chick!
GREAT APRIL READS!
Pretty Face (London Celebrities #2) by Lucy Parker
I blew through the rest of this series in the month of April, but this book was my favorite!
“I think I wrote on Goodreads that I am now obsessed with Lucy Parker novels. I really am. Her stories could so easily be fluffy romances, but they aren’t! They are well written, her characters are rock solid and the build up in the romance is riveting to read. Her dialog isn’t too shabby either, it’s actually really fun!”
Full Tilt by Emma Scott
I actually read this book a couple months ago but had to clear my thoughts before writing the review. It was soo good, yet emotionally wrenching.
“I have never read a novel by Emma Scott, but after reading Full Tilt I know I will definitely be looking through her backlog for my next fix. Full Tilt was heavy, dark, desperate, uplifting, sad, and joyous. By the third chapter I was all in and I think I must’ve gone through a box of Kleenex while rooting for this couple to overcome the odds.”
Love Hacked (Knitting in the City series #3) by Penny Reid
Every time I read a book in this series I say, THIS is my favorite! I definitely chanted that mantra after reading Love Hacked.
“Needless to say, I loved this novel. I had picked it up so many times and put it down. I’m not sure why and am kicking myself for not enjoying their story before now. However, sometimes those novels that surprise you with their strength and your emotional impact to them are read when you need to read them. This was the perfect time for me.”
BLOGGER TO BLOGGER SERIES
We all met a few interesting bloggers this month on my series Blogger to Blogger. If you haven’t had a chance to read their interviews, please check them out!
I am mulling over putting my Blogger to Blogger series on hiatus. If you would like to be featured, please contact me and let me know, and I’ll fit your blog in before I take a break.
THIS CHICKS SUNDAY COMMENTARY
Part of the reason I want to take a break from Blogger to Blogger is to spend more time coming up with topics for my Sunday discussion posts. I’ll admit, with a full time job it’s hard to find the energy, but I want to do better. Here are my posts from last month. If you missed any please click the links below to check them out.
OH, Boy! I know I mentioned above that I’m backed up a little bit on my ARC’s. As you can see from this NetGalley snapshot, there are several releases that are all on the same day! Usually I try to space them out, but either I wasn’t paying attention or was overcome with greed at the thought of reading all of these great novels. I have read Romanov already (review to come this week!), but need to start on Finale to stay on track.
THEN you have the books on my Kindle that I’ve purchased, like Kristen Ashley’s FREE and Slow Burn, and my library books that are about to expire like Daisy Jones and the Six, and well, you get the problem!
On top of that my sister and I are going to the Booklovers Con in New Orleans 5/15-5/19! Woo-Hoo! Expect to see a daily post from me regarding all of the authors I will see and the fun activities to be had! I’m excited about that trip, but conventions don’t leave a lot of time for reading. LOL. Oh well, c’est la vie!
May looks to be a much more exciting month than April, and I can’t wait to read ALL of these books! LOL. (yeah right!)
Are you sitting on a big pile of ARC’s too? Give me a shout in the comments section and let me know I’m not the only one in this boat!
Until next Sunday, (or Wednesday, Tuesday or Saturday…)
Anna Fagan’s mother was possessed and killed by a demon when she was a child. Her father never recovered from the loss and buried himself in his work, the exorcism of ghosts from haunted relics. Anna’s home life is definitely not the norm, but when she see’s people from school going off the deep end she starts to wonder if there’s not something going wrong in her hometown. When her own thoughts start to become murderous, she shies away from her best friends Freddy and Dor and tries to salvage the scraps of her sanity. What she doesn’t realize is that her friends lives are also getting blacker and by the time she realizes it, she’s almost too late to save them.
Anna’s home life was a wreck. Her father was not just a ghost hunter, but he was also a hoarder. His things a labyrinth that blocked light and created an even more creepy atmosphere for the setting of this story. Known as the “Goblin girl” at school because of her dad’s job, Anna struggles to overcome that stigma and her feelings of shame. It’s only because of her best friends support that she had any light in her day. It’s when she becomes fixated on a boy at school and her fixation starts to turn unhealthy that I got an inkling that I might become uncomfortable with the direction this novel was headed.
I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but I kept looking for those moments of light in this story where I’d finally get to start rooting for Anna. There was just so much going on, and all of it was pretty dark and depressing. Anna does realize the town has been taken over by an evil demon and she does overcome all odds to save the day, but that only happens near the end of the book. On my wait for that to happen we see her father advance further into depression and hoardom (is that a word?), her friends become suicidal, and the bully at school turn into being bullied (by Anna!). Not to disrespect this author because I could see the work she put into it, but it really just wasn’t for me.
I am a huge fan of urban fantasy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc. and I went into this with my eyes wide open, hoping for the best. If there had been a few more kernels of light or humor I think my feelings would have been different. I will say that I do believe every book has it’s reader and I just wasn’t a good fit for The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter. If you like creepy fantasy-type novels The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter may be the right fit for you, so please give it a try.
❤️❤️❣️
I received a free ARC of this novel through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!
Opinions from around the Blogosphere
“The thing I loved most about this narrative was the supernatural lore. It was interesting and compelling, and unlike anything I’ve ever read before…. It was a rollercoaster ride of thrills, chills, and despair, and I loved every second!” UnabridgedBren
Happy Monday everyone! I ran across this post on Book Date and liked the idea of sharing what I’m currently reading, so here goes!
JUST FINISHED
In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1) by Katie Ruggle
First Sentence: “I’m headed to the park,” Molly said as she let the screen door slam behind her.
JUST STARTED
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
First Sentence Read: My blood is my crime.
I’ll admit, I’m a huge fan of Katie Ruggle. Her new novel came out last month and I had pre-purchased it and it got lost on my kindle. It’s a really cute romance, this time the leads are all sisters which I love!
Another topic I love is the Russian revolution. Did Anastasia really die? It’s always a fabulous fantasy and to mix magic into the tale? Perfection! I can’t wait to immerse myself in it.
Don’t you love starting a new book? It’s better than starting a new work week! What are you reading this fine Monday?
Claire O’Connor’s back in Juniper Falls because of an all hands on deck family emergency. Helping get her family’s restaurant and sports bar back on solid footing after her father’s stroke is more important than being at school. Tate Tanley was her best friend’s little brother and when she catches sight of him she wonders where that little boy that she shared a secret with the night before she went to school went. Now he’s the goalie of their high school hockey team and all grown up and that secret brings them back together.
I recently read the third book in this series, On Thin Ice, when I got an ARC through NetGalley and was rewarded by reading a really good story! I immediately went to my local library to take a look at the other books in the series. Off the Ice is the first and it also didn’t disappoint. These characters are dealing with so much more than a high school romance. The stories are packed with emotional plots and Off the Ice’s is another doozy.
There were so many things I liked about Clair and Tate. Even though Claire always dreamed of a life outside of her small town of Juniper Falls, her family was the most important thing in her life and she dropped following her dreams to come home and help out when her father grew ill. I did struggle a little bit with her waffling over whether she should give Tate a chance but then we’d have lost a little bit of the tension that kept the story moving forward. Tate was a fabulous character. He was dealing with a dud of a father, pressure as the new goalie on the team, and a recent break up with his long time girlfriend. He was singleminded in his pursuit of both Claire and his game that you couldn’t help but admire how he was dealing with all of this pressure. I really liked how he helped Claire see her future both at school but also with him. They were well matched.
I love contemporary novels with a hint of romance that revolve around sports. Especially if they are actually playing the game! This novel had quite a bit of hockey being played which made it even more enjoyable to me. If that’s not your thing, I think you’ll really appreciate how these characters grow and become each others anchor through some of the crappy things that are happening in their lives. Either way, it’s a book to enjoy and I’ll be reaching for the second in the series next. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spring is here, the flowers are blooming and even though today was 50° and I am wearing a sweater you can tell by the smiles on everyone’s faces that winter is over. Unless you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, then Winter is Coming. I couldn’t resist, sorry!
For those of us who celebrate this time of year for religious reasons, may you have a blessed holiday!
For those of us who are looking forward to seeing what kind of candy is in our Easter baskets… what number from the graphic below is your favorite Easter candy? Feel free to share your favorite from your own country if these aren’t familiar!
I am a Cadbury mini eggs gal myself!
May your Easter basket be filled with the blessings of your season, and chocolate! Happy Easter from the Reading Chick!
Come Find Me is the story of two teens, Kennedy Jones and Nolan Chandler. Both of them have lived through terrible tragedies and in their own way are searching for answers. Kennedy by continuing her brothers search in space and Nolan on his radio frequency. One day they both notice an anomaly in that radio frequency and through an online blog find each other. They live only a few miles apart, could there be another answer for what has happened in both of their lives?
Megan Miranda hit all of the right buttons with Come Find Me. Kennedy and Nolan were both very easy to relate to, their tragedies were both eerie- although in different ways, and their discoveries led the reader through every emotion. A recipe for an un-putdownable novel!
I don’t want to spoil the mystery at all, but let’s just say that even though they found each other through tragic circumstances, as they investigated this strange frequency and other clues came to light their characters were able to lean on each other and grow stronger together. I loved how they had faith in each other and leaned on the other for strength. As the story reached the conclusion, both resolutions were tragic and yet it didn’t split them apart, that tragedy helped them be each other’s strength. An unusual concept in a teen novel and one I’d like to see explored more.
Even though I just said “teen novel” this didn’t read like it was written for that age group. Other than the fact that one of them didn’t drive, their thoughts and problems were very adult. It was almost as if two kids were swapped in for an adult storyline. Maybe that’s why I could relate to these characters so well? I don’t know, but I was totally enmeshed and enjoyed this novel thoroughly. If you like psychological mystery/thrillers, no matter your age, you need to give Come Find Me a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by it’s depth and emotional impact.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Opinions from around the Blogosphere
“I’ve always enjoyed all of Miranda’s novels and will certainly read anything she puts out for us readers. Those who love the YA thriller genre should surely pick this one up – don’t let the slow beginning deter you. The build up of these characters resonate.” Jessicamap Reviews
“I loved that there was a supernatural element to the story. Though it is a realistic thriller, there is the suggestion that something extraterrestrial or supernatural is happening there. ” Jill’s Book Blog
As a book blogger it’s hard not to pay attention to the blogosphere drumroll of upcoming book releases. We all have our favorites authors and certainly whenever one of those authors releases a book I am ALL OVER IT. There are a few books that have May’19 release dates and I am eagerly rubbing my hands in anticipation…
We all have genre’s that we favor but I think a couple of these title’s may be on your own most anticipated list. If they aren’t? Well, sorry if I’ve added another book to your TBR!
MY MOST ANTICIPATED MAY’19 BOOKS ARE….
5) The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: May14, 2019
Genre: Romance
Synopsis:
For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.
Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion . . . she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.
Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.
Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is . . . Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.
With Christina Lauren’s “uniquely hilarious and touching voice” (Entertainment Weekly), The Unhoneymooners is a romance for anyone who has ever felt unlucky in love.
DEB’S THOUGHTS: I haven’t read a Christina Lauren novel in a few years, but this enemies to lovers tropes is one of my favorites! This is why it’s #5 and a must read for me.
4) Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Filescomes a new science fiction epic . . .
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch . . .
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder An alien warrior with anger-management issues A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem–that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline cases, and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
NOBODY PANIC.
DEB’S THOUGHTS: I LOVED the Illuminae Files and want to see if Kaufman and Kristoff can repeat that amazing energy and excitement. Who’s going to join me?
3) The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient #2) by Helen Hoang
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Romance
Synopsis:
From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart…
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.
With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.
DEB’S THOUGHTS: I’ll admit to having mixed feelings for the Kiss Quotient. I didn’t love it, but am curious to see how Helen Hoang will handle the follow up.
Welcome, welcome to Finale, the third and final book in Stephanie Garber’s #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series!
A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.
It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.
Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end.
DEB’S THOUGHTS: I love the magical world of Caraval and am curious if this author can keep this magic flowing through the Finale.
#1 Storm Cursed (Mercy Thompson #11) by Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
In this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves…
My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.
And a coyote shapeshifter.
And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.
Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.
The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.
But we are pack, and we have given our word.
We will die to keep it.
DEB’S THOUGHTS: Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite (in a very long list of favorites!) urban fantasy heroines. Her character growth over the lifetime of this series has been huge and her challenges just keep getting bigger. This is the next book I’m starting (yes, I got an ARC!) and I can’t wait to read how she will overcome her next challenge!
You’ll note my conundrum. Four out of five of my top releases for May fall on the same date! I know which one I’m starting first, but the rest are up for grabs.
Have you read any of these books yet? Gotten and ARC and want to help a girl out? Let me know what you thought!
Birdie Lindberg is a quirky eighteen year old, by day aspiring private detective and by night front desk clerk at an old historic hotel. Home schooled and raised by her grandparents on an island off the coast of Seattle she has led a pretty sheltered life. One night after a job interview she meets Daniel Aoki, aspiring magician and overall nice guy at her favorite diner. Their instant connection turns into a flirtation that ends as a tryst in the back seat of his car. Horribly embarassed, Birdie runs off hoping to never see him again. Little does she know that she would soon be working the night shift alongside Daniel, and that they’d investigate a mystery that would bring them close once again.
I loved the quirkiness of this novel! Our heroine, Birdie is sweet, but also socially awkward yet her innocence and naiveté are so charming the reader can’t help but be drawn to her. She is the first character I can recall reading who has narcolepsy and it’s fascinating to read how she deals with that secret. Daniel is also adorably quirky with his magic tricks and wry smile giving us clues that all may not be as they appear on his surface. They have an old world feeling that fits right in with the Sam Spade type mystery they are trying to solve. As a side note the other characters in this book were just as charming and added to the overall feel of the story.
Hidden beneath their colorful exterior are some serious subjects. Birdie’s secret narcolepsy is one, but Daniel also has his own dark background. The reveal is quite a pivotal scene in the book and I don’t want to spoil the story but just as in the land of OZ there is a lot hidden behind that magic curtain and not all of it is fun and games. I love how this author led up to the conflict really making the reader care for this characters yet didn’t lose any of the curiosity’s that make the book so special.
I loved Starry Eyes, also by Jenn Bennett, and somehow missed reading Alex, Approximately when it came out. After reading Serious Moonlight I’ve reminded myself why I love Jenn Bennett’s books and will be fixing that error asap! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I received a free copy of the ARC through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!
Opinions from around the Blogosphere
“There truly is something a little magic about this book. It just glows and I loved every minute of it. From the all-too-real confusion and embarrassment Birdie feels as she navigates her relationship with Daniel, to the hilarious moments between family (Birdie’s aunt and grandfather are amazing and I loved Daniel’s family). And can I just say that card trick Daniel does???? Whew. Be still my beating heart.” Madison’s Library
“Overall, I enjoyed Serious Moonlight. While there were a lot of heavier topics to deal with, at it’s heart it was a cute contemporary romance that I shipped. I really liked Birdie and Daniel together. There were many cute moments between them, including one of the coolest first date experiences I’ve ever heard of. I think fans of more serious YA contemporaries will enjoy it.” Stephanie’s Book Reviews
The Reading Chick 
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