Review: #splintered series

A G Howard’s Spintered Series left me in feels for days!

A beautiful link to the original classic story of Alice in Wonderland. We follow the story of Aly, a direct descendant from Alice Liddell who was the little girl who first fell down the rabbit hole. She is forever a part of Wonderland’s story; it’s past, it’s present… and if all goes according to one Moth’s plans, its future as well.

Aly's mother is in a mental instituation, for speaking to bugs and who knows what else. When Aly starts to do it too, everything goes a little crazy. Jeb, her best friend, tries to help keep her grounded... but when the man from her dreams comes into her reality, she needs to test her wings. Wonderland is in danger, and only Aly can help save it. 

Aly’s story is one of love, of loss, of tragedy, of family, of unrequited love… of bugs… of chaos, and madness and the beloved characters that we thought we knew.  There are so many things going on all at once but it is done so beautifully that you cannot help but be in awe.

It does have a twisted side, and it is definitely not the Disney version we all have come to know, but Howard paints us a stunning setting with these deep characters that you just want to reach through the 

book and hug. Hard. Forever.

I’ll admit that my eyes worked their magic first. I could not get the covers out of my head… and finally, I picked up the first two books (Splintered and Unhinged). Then waited in agony for the third to come 

out in paperback.

That’s when I found there was a fourth!

I caved on Untamed and bought the hardcover. This is a collection of short stories to wrap up the series nicely. I read the third (Ensnared) and Untamed in one sitting, back to back… and then proceeded to sit there and cry for about an hour. I then had to go find my husband because I needed a hug.

#teamjeb for life! 

The writing is wonderful, the story is tragic yet magical... you are drawn in from the first sentence, and you will not be able to put them down. 5/5 all around! I will be falling down this rabbit hole often. 

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs


While people say you eat with your eyes, this is true for books too. At first glance, I did not want to pick this one up. I am a wimp, I'll admit it - no shame here - but there were enough friends telling me how amazing this story is that I had to check it out myself.
Happy to report, they were right.

I could not put it down, and it was read in one sitting on a Friday night (thank goodness because I stayed up late watching Disney movies to give me happy thoughts before going to sleep!). The author draws you in with his unique characters, and mysterious opening.

With the assistance of real photos Riggs has collected over time, and borrowed from friends, he creates a wonderful and alluring world of those who live with what are called "particularities". These range, of course, based off the photos. We have an invisible boy, a girl who can create fire in her hands, a girl who defies gravity... and so many more.

Miss Peregrine is one of the caretakers. She happens to run the home where Abe, the grandfather of our main character Jacob, lived as a boy.  When Jacob returns to the home to find out the truth about all the stories Abe told him, he learns more about himself that he ever thought possible.

A wonderful, creepy and magical story unfolds before your eyes. While this particular reader skipped over most of the photos (I am still having nightmares with the ones I did look at), the world Riggs creates is one I cannot wait to return too.

5/5 stars!

Review: Rivers of Zadaa (Pendragon #6)

Rivers of Zadaa

*Spoilers


Another trip in the flume, another war to stop.

This book takes place on Loor's home territory of Zadaa. Tensions have been running high with the two tribes, and now that the land is in a drought, things have gotten worse.

After the tragedy on Eelong, Bobby is shaken up when he first steps onto Zadaa. He feels grateful that Loor is with him, but he knows he needs to work through everything that happened when he left Eelong. Luckily, he has his journals for that.

While Bobby, Loor and Loor's friends help figure out Saint Dane's plan for the territory, deal with the the brink of a war, invites Adler over from Denduron to help train Bobby on how to fight, and try not to melt in the heat of the desert ....

Mark and Courtney are dealing with their own issues. Courtney Chetwynde has always been at the top. After their should-have-been victory on Eelong, which turned into a disaster, Courtney feels like a failure. That, plus the stress of no longer being the best in soccer (which has always been her sport!) she cannot handle it anymore.  She needs a break.  Trusting Mark to watch over the journals completely, Courtney goes off to a special school to get away from it all and find some control over her life again.

Since no one knows who she is, she doesn't feel the need to hide anything about herself. She meets some new friends, meets a cute boy, and takes some fun courses. Little does she know Saint Dane has plans for Second Earth that include her... and he's never to far away.

Since Courtney is gone, Mark is left to his own vices. He gets involved with a science based after school group and makes a friend in the most unlikely of people ...

Can Bobby and the gang figure out a way to stop the feuding tribes from war?  Is Courtney strong enough to handle Saint Dane on her own?  Will Mark's new friend prove trustworthy?

Grab a snigger and jump in the flume so the most shocking book to date!

Hobbey Ho!

Review: How not to fall

 Emily Foster
How not to fall

I just happen to be browsing in store... and I spotted this cover. It caught my eye (it's pretty hot, after all) so I picked it up and read the back.  Seemed like a typical romance book so I thought, why not? I like this stuff...

Low and behold, I was blown away by just how amazing it actually is! Just breathtaking ...

Annie and Charles' story is a one filled with humor, passion (oh my the stamina), wit, and romance.  I could not put it down, nor could I stop laughing. (or googling - some of these medical terms were confusing!)

Told from Annie's perspective, she has had a major crush on her EA for the past 2 year.  So, she figures... why not? Let's see if he is up for a sexual relationship.

So she asks him.

and he says no.

Ouch, right?  Apparently, he's too ethical. Having that teacher/student kind of relationship puts a damper on things....

Annie is graduating in 2 weeks though. She has a month of free time before going off to Med school, so why can't the two have a little summer fling?

This, Charles agrees too. After all, he's been fantasizing about her for the past year as well.

The two set off on a month long sexual adventure that leaves the reader wanting to flip the page faster than you can read it!

5/5 stars all around. Wittingly charming, romantic and utterly hilarious as Annie's perspective on the world and her sarcasm is just right on point. Can two people just have a fling? No strings attached? and remain friends afterwards?

Yes, it's smutty but it's not lame or corny. You can connect with these two. You can feel the heat coming off the pages. You can see Charles climbing the wall in front of you... (and my, what a view it is)

This reader is not going to be calmly patient while waiting for the next one "How not to let go" !

Review: Fallen Hearts (Casteel #3)

Fallen Hearts
V. C Andrews
Casteel Series #3

*Spoilers*


As Logan's bride, Heaven is trying to find where her place is in the world. Overcoming the Casteel scum reputation is difficult, but she is determined. Tony has other plans for her and Logan though.

He has decided to open up a toy factory in the Willies, with a special collection of mini's created by the people from Winnerrow. Logan is to run the factory. Leaving his family business, Logan jumps at the chance to be Tony's right-hand man. Heaven is cautious.

As always, lingering in the background is Fanny. Causing problem after problem, she phones up Heaven one day to give her world shattering news: She is pregnant.... by Logan.

As if Heaven does not have enough to deal with, Pa and his new wife are killed in a tragic accident. Now the fate of their son Drake is up in the air and Heaven will do anything to make sure she does right by him.

Fate may not be on her side though.

Full of surprises, heartache, twists and turns, Fallen Hearts has your attention from the very first page. Is Fanny telling the truth? What is Tony's intentions with keeping Logan so close? Are Rye Whiskey's ghosts back?  Will Heaven ever be free to live happily?  This one will have you glued to the pages until the very end.

5/5 stars!

Review: Black Water (Pendragon #5)

Black Water 

D.J MacHale 

*Spoilers 

Another territory, another paradise…. With a twist.  In Black Water, the normal Traveler issues aren’t the only issues Bobby had to deal with now.

The Traveler on Eelong: 

a) doesn’t know she’s a traveler, 

b) doesn’t believe in the Traveler business.  

And 

c) She’s a Cat.   A jungle cat to be exact, named Kasha. 

Eelong is unlike anywhere Bobby has ever seen.... but this time, being Human is his number one problem. 

This book is the beginning to the end if you will. Things happen that will sets off a chain of events that Bobby must get his head around in order to prepare himself for the inevitable battle between him and Saint Dane. 

We see a lot more of Mark and Courtney in this one, which is fun. The two are just as involved in the story as the travelers as Bobby's acoloytes (keeper of the journals, support system, etc).

With the Travelers, their acoloytes, the population of Eelong and the powers of Halla the gang yet again must figure out what the turning point for this territory is, what Saint Dane's role is, and see if they can stop the territory from being tipped into chaos. 

This story has a lot going on as we have Mark and Courtney being more active in the story. It gets a little confusing with timelines, but MacHale does tie in everything beautifully. Another nail-biter as you travel through the flume again and again making sure Bobby gets what he needs to overcome the fact that yes, he's a human (aka a gar in Eelong speak), while trying to convince Kasha that this is her destiny, and trying to communicate with a species that does not speak. 

Hobbey Ho,