Mini Review: A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story by A.J. York

A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story by A.J. York

Release Date: November 27, 2015
Publisher:  Nova Sky Books
Format: ebook, 31 pages
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Source: Author 
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
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Upstairs in the Anderson’s attic there is chatter coming from the Christmas, Easter and Halloween boxes. Someone new has arrived. Tallulah the Christmas Fairy wakes to find herself attached to the top of a tree. She soon makes friends and has a magical first Christmas. Once the festivities are over, Tallulah finds herself in the attic with the other decorations from Easter and Halloween. Each year they watch the seasons change as they wait excitedly for their turn to go downstairs. Until one day new boxes appear and then the unthinkable happens. A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story is a magical and uplifting tale for the whole family.

This is a story about a Christmas fairy named Tallulah. Tallulah was created by an older couple and sold to a family to be put on top of a Christmas tree. The special thing about Tallulah is that she is alive! Soon she figures out that not only is she alive, but so are all the other Christmas, and other holiday, decorations. She makes new friends and figures out what she is for and what Christmas is all about.

Tallulah is around to be on top of the tree with all her friends for years. She watches the family she has come to know grow up and move on to be with their own families. Until one day when Christmas didn’t seem to come for the decorations. So the decorations took it into their own hands to make the holiday.

This was such a quick and cute Christmas story. I have read a couple other stories by this author and enjoyed both of those as well so I was more than happy to read and review this book when the author asked. If you have children, or like to read children’s books yourself, then I highly recommend checking out A.J’s books. 

*This was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy, #2
Release Date: April 30^th 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback
Pages: 372
Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Source: My Collection
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

I really love this trilogy so far. It has blown way past my expectations. Which is awesome. It has been a while since I have wanted to pick one book up right after the other. The day after I finished reading the first book I went out and bought this one at full price! If you know me, then you know this is not the norm.

For those of you who did not go immediately on to the second book then there is something at the beginning that will be quiet helpful. There is a chart of the Auras and what all the colors are and what they mean. Then at the end of the book, which also happens in the first book, there is a list of all the Dukes and their sons, and what their jobs are.

The book starts off about six months after the last one ended. Anna has turned into a party girl, trying to show the demons that she is working like she is supposed to. Although she always feels bad for the people she persuades to do things. She hasn’t seen or heard from Kaidan since he left with his band to go to LA. Her friends Jay and Veronica have officially become a couple after making up for what happened at the New Year’s Eve party.

The book is broken up into seasons, starting with June the summer before senior year, then continues on to fall, winter, etc. Anna’s father sends her and her friend Kope to different assignments, recruiting people for “the good side”. They travel to many different places. There is a lot of sexual tension going on during their times together and one pretty big shocker. Because of their travels together we are introduced to some new characters. We also get to see Ginger and Marna from the first book again. I really like those girls and the relationship they have as sisters.

Kaidan is mentioned numerous times in the book but doesn’t actually show up until about half way through. This of course made their first encounter so much better. There is a lot of growing done between the two of them in this book.  There is one particular scene between the two of them that I have read more than once. Definitely written perfectly!

If you have read the first book then I highly recommend continuing on with the trilogy. It’s so worth it. I read this book in one day no problem. Can’t wait to buy the third book!

My Rating:

Review: Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1) by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy, #1
Release Date: May 1^st 2012
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Format: Paperback
Pages: 453
Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal, Fantasy
Source: My Collection
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

I will start off the review by saying that I both read the book and listened to the audiobook. I did not like the audiobook. It was definitely convient for my 3 ½ hour trip but the person reading it wasn’t really that good and didn’t really show much emotion through the characters. This was even worse with the male characters. So I just wanted to through that out there. The rest of the book will be based on the story and not the audiobook.

The main character is a southern girl named Anna Whit. She is a very nice girl, but she is very different from other people her age. She has enhanced senses, along with a sixth sense of being able to feel people’s emotions and see their auras. She can also remember back to the day of her birth and even her time in the womb. This is because Anna is half demon, half angel. She is being raised by an adoptive mother named Patti. Anna’s mother died during childbirth and her father is in jail for drug related activity.

Anna’s best friend is a boy named Jay. It was a major plus that Jay was in no way a love interest to Anna. This was made known right away. Jay is  musician who is obsessed with a band called Lacivious. The drummer of Lacivious is a half demon boy named Kaidan and Anna is instantly attracted to him. Kaidan is way more than anything Anna could have bargained for. Things really start to change for Anna when she has to take a cross country drive with him. Anna learns things about her life from both Patti and Kaidan and she knows that her life will never be the same. Her attraction to Kaidan, as a offspring of the demon of lust, doesn’t make it any easier.

I enjoyed all of the characters in the book but I would say that Patti and Kaidan were my favorite so far. Kaidan is frustrating because of some of the decisions he is forced to make regarding Anna. The one downfall to the story and the reason I bumped the rating down to a 4 instead of a 5 star, is because Anna is so bland. *The lady reading the audiobook did not help this situation at all.* The writing however flows nicely, and I read it pretty quickly considering it is over 400 pages. There is also a wrap up of all the Dukes and their children and what sins they are in control of. This could definitely be helpful if you get confused.

At the end of the book I really wanted to pick up the second book. So I did! If you are into demons and angels then I think you will enjoy this book. I am not a fan of the whole vampire or werewolf craze; even wizards are not that big on my radar. Angels and demons are fine with me though. So if you have similar taste as me then you should try this book out!

My Rating:

Review: Snitch (Bea Catcher Chronicles, #2) by Olivia Samms

Snitch by Olivia Samms

Series: Bea Catcher Chronicles, #2
Release Date: April 1^st 2014
Publisher:  Skyscape
Format: eArc
Pages: 246
Genre: Young Adult – mystery, fantasy, paranormal
Source: NetGalley
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

Secrets. Lies. They smother. But the truth—sometimes the truth is worse. It kills. Leaves blood on your hands.

As the days count down to her eighteenth birthday, Bea feels trapped. Trapped by her dark past, by her parents’ expectations, even by her own dreams for the future. The road ahead is unclear, blurred with secrets and lies.

The only constant, sure thing in her life is Sergeant Dan Daniels. He’s faced with a gang-related murder case and asks Bea to use her “skill” to see and then draw the truth out of the suspect...literally. But when she does, it leaves her with more unanswered questions. And then another teen is shot—clinging for his life.

Time is running out. Can Bea find the killer before someone else gets hurt?

*This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Bea is only days away from turning 18. Ever since she convinced Willa, her now best friend, to turn in the serial killer that beat and raped her, she has been secretly working with the sheriff to solve some small cases. A new case has come up, involving a lot of weed and a dead 17 year old. The Sergeant thinks that the kid that has confessed to the killing is innocent and knows things that he isn’t saying. The sergeant asks Bea to draw what she sees from him.

Bea is starting to feel lonely. Her best friend Chris has been accepted to the college of his dreams and Willa is dating a bully that just happens to be Bea’s next door neighbor. Bea’s parents are also having problems of their own. Bea makes some mistakes interfering in her parent’s problems and she is just ready to leave and get some space of her own.

I love the relationship between the sergeant and Bea. Since there is an age difference they are obviously not allowed to be together. When the two of them are interacting it is probably my favorite parts. I found myself rooting for the Sergeant even though Bea has a boyfriend who is super friendly. I did feel sort of bad for him. She was sort of leading him on by not telling him her true feelings for him.

As with the first book, Bea has placed herself right in the middle of a murder case by trying to solve things without telling people. She has a tendency to put herself in the mist of drama with no regard to her own safety. Sometimes I wish she would think about what she was doing before just jumping into things.

The writing is nice and it is a pretty fast paced book so I didn’t have any problems reading it. I never found myself getting bored or wanting to put down the book. Because I enjoyed the first one, and it is a pretty short read, I knew this would be the perfect book to pick up to get over a reading slump.

I’m not sure if there is going to be a third book because this book has a pretty open ending but I would love to see what happens next. Especially with what happened at the end, there are many possibilities. I recommend picking this series up if it sounds interesting to you! This is definitely a pretty unknown series, as I haven’t heard anyone talk about it. I read the first one for review also so if you would like to read my review for it, check that out HERE! I would love to own physical copies of both of these books!

My Rating:

Excerpt of Bleak Devotion by Gemma Drazin

Bleak Devotion by Gemma Drazin

Release Date: March 31st 2014
Genre: Young Adult – Futuristic Dark Fantasy
Author: Website | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
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Jessica doesn't know how long it's been, only that it seems like forever since she's allowed her feelings to show. Ever since they attacked her city. Monsters which appear human but are void of any expression, and seem bent on destroying all signs of sentiment in others. Their lethal blades shred anyone who shows even the slightest emotion.

After her only remaining friend is killed, Jessica flees the city hoping to find a place where emotions aren't fatal. A place to grieve those she lost and live out her meager existence. When she discovers the world of the emotionless creatures isn't what she believes, the love it leads her to may also be the path to her own death.

{Excerpt}

Jessica clamped her teeth together and took a deep breath. “I can stay calm if he can.”

Zach shook his head. “I don't think—”

“Let her speak with me.” A deep male voice resonated through the crowded hallway.

Throwing on an emotionless mask, Jessica slowly shifted her body toward the voice. A tall male, whom she could only assume was the monster they called Blade, had managed to sneak down the stairs and stood mere inches from her. If she reached out, she would be able to touch him. The thought disturbed her and she struggled to maintain her composure.

The only thing she wanted to do was run screaming at this monster who had ruined her life. Every emotion that she'd been forced to hold in since the invasion begged to be launched at him. Grief. Torture. Outrage. Terror. All of it, she wanted him to feel. She wanted the rage to coat him inside and out, no matter what it would do to him.

{About Gemma Drazin}

Gemma Drazin is the author of short stories and Young Adult Fantasies, sometimes mixing in a love story. She has a great love for cute shoes and can often be found outside with a book and a treat. When she’s not reading or writing she can be found enjoying time with her husband and children.

{Giveaway}

10 ebook copies of Bleak Devotion

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Fates by Lanie Bross (28 Days of Reviews #9)

Fates by Lanie Bross

Series: Fates, #1
Release Date: February 11th 2014
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Format: ebook
Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Author: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Armentrout, Julie Kagawa, Rachel Vincent, and Sarah J. Maas, and for girls who love all things pretty, romantic and inspirational.

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people's fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she is falling all over again--this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die. In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

Corinthe is an exciled fate from the world of Pyralis Terra. She has been sent to Humana also known as Earth to become an Executor. Executors are supposed to make sure people’s fates unfold as they are supposed to. She is involved in many deaths but also happy things like births, chance meetings, and people reuniting. She has been in Humana for 10 years for a mistake she made in her home world. She is the only Fate to be banished.

She has a guardian named Miranda who came to her rescue when Corinthe was first banished to Earth. Miranda tells Corinthe that in order to return home all she has to do is kill Lucas Kaller. Corinthe has never had to actually kill anyone, so she starts to have doubts. Miranda also is not as nice of person as Corinthe thinks she is.

Lucas Kaller is the other point of view that we get. He lives in a more rundown neighborhood with his sister and drunk father. His sister is a 16 year old who is into drinking and drugs and she reminds Luc very much of his mother. Luc takes most of the responsibility of taking care of the apartment and his sister because since his mother left, his father hasn’t really cared. Luc has a chance meeting with Corinthe after a car accident and starting from there, their fates are intertwined.

This book wasn’t too bad over all, the writing wasn’t the best thing I have ever read. The would randomly talk about different groups of people, such as “the Tribunal” and “the Messanger”, but they weren’t ever really explained who they were. You could eventually figure it out but a straight up explanation would have been nice. I was also very confused when it came to Luc’s mother. Sometimes they were talk about her leaving and even had a back story explaining it, but a couple times it is mentioned that she died. I never really figured out what happened with that.

The ending is definitely a bit of a cliffhanger. I liked the wrap up of his father coming back into the picture and I would like to see what happens with Corinthe and her caregiver. So even though it wasn’t my favorite book I would still like to pick up the second book. This is unlike anything I have ever read so it still managed to keep my attention.

My Rating:

*This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Wishlist Wednesday #79

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper Blog where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wish-list for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wish-list and onto our wonderful shelves.

Almost Dead by Rebecca A. Rogers

Series: Dead,#1
Release Date: September 15th 2013
Publisher: Createspace
Format: Paperback
Pages: 246
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy, Paranormal
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Flora Mackey is not exactly thrilled to wake up from a car accident and find out she’s a ghost. Making this lifelike hell even worse is being trapped with her arch enemy and collision partner, Laney Tipps. The two normally couldn’t get along if their lives depended on it, but now they have no choice.

After recovering from the initial shock of seeing their lifeless bodies—and that they can’t escape each other—Flora and Laney have to find a way out of the twisted, gray realm. But they quickly learn that the farther they stray from their motionless corpses, the weaker they become. Luckily Sara, a spirit guide, shows up to help. Sara informs them they’ll have to wait for someone in their city to die so they can take their place in the land of the living.

What’s scarier than waiting in purgatory? Time. If Flora and Laney don’t return to the physical world and leave clues for their families that they’re still alive, they’ll never be found. Which sucks, because once their bodies give out, their souls will be permanently stuck in the afterlife.

I’m not sure where I first saw this book but it sounds really good. There are good ratings on Goodreads and nobody I follow has read or reviewed it so I am pretty much going blind into this one. This is also a duology which I love. 

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

2B Tuesday #68

Where I highlight a book from my endless to-be-read list. Those books need love too!

What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire

Release Date: September 11th 2007
Publisher:Candlewick Press
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Genre: Young Adult/Children’s - Fantasy
Author: Website | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

From the author of the best-selling WICKED, a transporting tale-within-a-tale about the strange world of skibbereen — aka tooth fairies — and the universal need to believe.

A terrible storm is raging, and ten-year-old Dinah is huddled by candlelight with her brother, sister, and Cousin Gage, who is telling a very unusual tale. It’s the story of What-the-Dickens, a newly hatched orphan creature who finds he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity, and a penchant for getting into trouble. One day he happens upon a feisty girl skibberee who is working as an Agent of Change — trading coins for teeth — and learns that there is a dutiful tribe of skibbereen (call them tooth fairies) to which he hopes to belong. As his tale of discovery unfolds, however, both What-the-Dickens and Dinah come to see that the world is both richer and less sure than they ever imagined.

I found this book on the clearance shelf at Half Price Books. I only paid $1 for it. How can I pass up a $1 hardcover about a rogue tooth fairy?! Not gonna happen. I don’t know anything about this book except for what the synopsis says. I haven’t heard anyone talk about it but I will definitely read this eventually.  

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

Wishlist Wednesday #76

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper Blog where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wish-list for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wish-list and onto our wonderful shelves.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Series: Miss Peregrine, #2
Release Date: January 14th 2014
Publisher: Quirk Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy, Paranormal
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

In 1940 after the first book ends, Jacob and his new Welsh island friends flee to London, the Peculiar capital of the world. Caul, a dangerous madman, is Miss Peregrine’s brother, and can steal Peculiar abilities for himself. The Peculiars must fight for survival, again.

I can’t believe I haven’t talked about this book yet. The first Miss Peregrine’s book is what got me into Young Adult books. I judged the book by its cover and I am so glad that I did. It’s being next week and I can’t wait!! I have been waiting so long!

Are you going to read this book? What are your thoughts?