booknerdigans – Page 7 – Sincerely Karen Jo

Happiest Book birthday to The Tiger’s Watch by Julia Ember

and Bell of Eternity by Martina Boone!

The Tiger’s Watch

(Ashes of Gold #1)

Julia Ember

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5 ★ – MAGICAL AND THRILLING

PUBLISHED BY HARMONY INK PRESS AUGUST 22, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, FANTASY, GLBT, ROMANCE

PAGES: KINDLE 180

BUY AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD TASHI HAS SPENT THEIR LIFE TRAINING AS A INHABITOR, A SOLDIER WHO SPIES AND KILLS USING A BONDED ANIMAL. WHEN THE CAPITAL FALLS AFTER A BRUTAL SIEGE, TASHI FLEES TO A REMOTE MONASTERY TO HIDE. BUT THE INVADING ARMY TURNS THE MONASTERY INTO A HOSPITAL, AND TASHI CATCHES THE EYE OF XIAN, THE REGIMENT’S FEARLESS YOUNG COMMANDER.

TASHI SPIES ON XIAN’S EVERY MOVE. IN FRONT OF HIS MEN, XIAN SEEMS DANGEROUS, EVEN SADISTIC, BUT TASHI DISCOVERS A MORE VULNERABLE SIDE OF THE ENEMY COMMANDER—A SIDE THAT DRAWS THEM TO XIAN.

WHEN THEIR SPYING UNVEILS THAT EVERYTHING THEY’VE BEEN TAUGHT IS A LIE, TASHI FACES AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE: SAVE THEIR COUNTRY OR THE BOY THEY’RE GROWING TO LOVE. THOUGH TASHI GRAPPLES WITH THEIR DECISION, THEIR VOLATILE BONDED TIGER DOESN’T QUESTION HER ALLEGIANCES. KATALA SLAUGHTERS XIAN’S SOLDIERS, LEADING THE ENEMY TO HUNT HER. BUT AN INHABITOR’S BOND TO THEIR ANIMAL IS FOR LIFE—IF KATALA DIES, SO WILL TASHI.

The Tiger’s Watch may be short (not even 200 pages), but it’s full of intrigue, magic, adventure, and mystery. I love Ember’s vivid storytelling and this wonderful world she’s created. I seriously have so much love for this book and can’t recommend it enough. If you’re looking for a quick, fun, and entertaining fantasy novel, then you absolutely have to add this on your TBR… or you know just go grab a copy right now!!! Read my full review HERE.

Bell of Eternity

(Celtic Legends #2)

Martina Boone

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Published by Mayfair Publishing August 22, 2017

Genre(s): Romance, Magical Realism, Family

Pages: Ebook 336

Buy: Amazon

Love beyond time, an island castle in Cornwall, a cast of delightful characters, dangerous secrets, and a handsome kilt-wearing chef make the perfect recipe for new romance from the award-winning author of Compulsion and Lake of Destiny.

Emma Larsen put her life on hold after the accident that left her famous mother paralyzed and cost a man his life. For four long years, Treave Nancarrow, the deceased man’s son, has often been the only friend Emma had to lean on. But when he suddenly proposes marriage after her mother’s funeral, Emma can’t help being dismayed. She’s already trying to decide between transforming her home cooking hobby into a profession or going back to college. She can’t afford to jump from one commitment to another before she’s had a chance to find out what she really wants. Still, when Treave begs her to accompany him to a wedding at his family’s castle in Cornwall so he can show her how compatible they would be, how can she refuse?

She falls in love with the romantic Cornish coast, a world rich with legends, hauntings, and ancient superstitions—like the one about the ghostly bell that tolls only when a pair of lovers are destined to be together forever. When a tragedy rocks the small community and everyone pitches in to help, though, Treave seems like a different person—one Emma begins to fear. Then, too, there’s Brando MacLaren, the handsome, kilt-wearing Scotsman who shows her the possibility of a love she never dared believe in and makes her feel adventurous and alive. But Brando has his own healing to do. He also has a secret, one he’s keeping from her. Can Emma afford to trust him with her heart? Can she trust either one of the men? An ancient Cornish legend might help guide her choice between them—if she can find the courage to trust her instincts and believe in herself.

A timeless, modern romance set in a magical castle in Cornwall, filled with food, small town warmth, heart, and intrigue. Perfect for fans of Poldark, Nora Roberts, Susanna Kearsley, Sarah Addison Allen, Susan Wiggs, and Debbie Macomber

I’m more than halfway done and really enjoying Bell of Eternity. However, I’m not finding it as captivating as Lake of Destiny. You can read my review for that HERE. BUT, I have at least 45% left to go, so we will see. So far it’s been really good, but just not hitting all the feels just yet.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Sincerely Karen Jo

Vicarious

(Vicarious #1)

5 ★ – Intense, Twisted and Mind-blowing!

Published by Tor Teen August 16. 2016

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-fi, Thriller

Pages: Hardcover 336

Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, work as high-tech stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you—for a price.

When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter is devastated. She won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the digital recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

DAMN.. That was one intense and wickedly awesome ride!!! I binged this duology and LOVED every moment. I honestly don’t even know where to begin.! My mind is still reeling and I’m seriously having a hard time moving on…

Vicarious is haunting, riveting, and absolutely fantastic. Paula Stokes not only manages to keep you guessing and on the edge, but she also excels in creating complicated, but lovable characters. Winter, Gideon, Jesse…they’re damaged to some extent, but that’s what makes them so real for me. No one is perfect and we all have our own demons to fight.

Winter is such a wonderful heroine and my heart ached so much for her. She thinks she’s broken and undeserving of love and affection so she’s always guarded and slow to trust. What she doesn’t realize is just how strong she really is and that she’s capable of so much more than she believes. Despite living through some of the most horrific and traumatic life situations, Winter keeps on fighting for what she wants and challenges herself. She’s resilient, focused and determined. She’s so kickass and she doesn’t even know it.

Throughout Vicarious (and Ferocious too), my heart raced so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest. The plot is thrilling, action-packed and full of twist that will completely blow your mind! I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but Stokes surely knows how to keep you on your toes. The mystery, the secrets, the drama, the action, the slow burn romance (yes! there’s a little romance and it’s so sweet) had me flipping the pages way past my bed time. And that ending … WOW!!! That totally took me by surprise. Wish I could say more than that, but my lips are sealed. Just trust me, you’d want to experience everything for yourself.

As a fair warning, Vicarious does deal with a very sensitive issue that was quite difficult to read at times. Winter and her sister, Rose, experienced extremely horrible situations so there are many parts that are dark, heart-breaking, and just really sad. Stokes doesn’t shy away from showing you the worst and it does get ugly, but she does it in a way that is genuine and respectful.

I’m so utterly in LOVE with this series and I honestly can’t recommend it enough!

Sincerely Karen Jo