Book Birthday

September 5, 2017September 28, 2017 karenjo46Leave a comment

Time to celebrate another Book Birthday for these amazing authors!

Summoner

S.D. Grimm

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PUBLISHED BY ENTANGLED TEEN SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL, ROMANCE

PAGES: EBOOK 320

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When Allie’s best friend dares their group to play a game in a cemetery—something she calls “witching”—Allie never expects what it might mean for her. When she plays, she doesn’t just find bodies, she summons their souls. But one soul wants more than Allie is willing to give.

And the boy next door could be the key to saving her.

Cody Burkhart. Straight from Montana, cowboy hat wearing, and smoking hot, he’s just the thing to help Allie become “normal” again after the death of her mother. And as her newly appointed Guardian, he’s also just the thing to help Allie ward off the vengeful spirit who’s after her soul. Except Cody has his own demons to slay that keep him closed off. But as the full moon approaches, so does their only chance to break the curse, and Cody will have to make the biggest sacrifice of all.

I planned on finishing this last weekend, but I was in Las Vegas and didn’t have much time to read. BUT, I’m 65% done as of right now so I’ll definitely finish this today. I’m really enjoying it. It’s dark, kind of scary, but so much fun. I should have my review for this sometime later this week since I’m part of the blog tour.

SummonerTour

Black Bird of the Gallows

Meg Kassel

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PUBLISHED BY ENTANGLED PUBLISHING SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, FANTASY, PARANORMAL

PAGES: HARDCOVER 300

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A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

I’m really excited to read this! After I finish Summoner today, I’m going to dive into this and hopefully finish in a day or so.

If There’s No Tomorrow

Jennifer L. Armentrout

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PUBLISHED BY HARLEQUIN TEEN SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, CONTEMPORARY, ROMANCE

PAGES: HARDCOVER 480

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Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She’s ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications, and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic–one of opportunities and chances.

Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything.

Now Lena isn’t looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian might never forgive her for what happened.

For what she let happen.

With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when she and her friends’ entire existences have been redefined? How can she move on when tomorrow isn’t even guaranteed?

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

(The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding #1)

Alexandra Bracken

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PUBLISHED BY DISNEY HYPERION SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): CHILDREN, MIDDLE GRADE, FANTASY

PAGES: HARDCOVER 362

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“I would say it’s a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness.”

Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history — that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper’s great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made — and then broke — a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn’t exactly the forgiving type.

The fiend has reawakened with one purpose — to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.

Little does Prosper know, the malefactor’s control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there’s a lot Alastor isn’t telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?

Click’d

Tamara Ireland Stone

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PUBLISHED BY DISNEY – HYPERION SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): MIDDLE-GRADE, CONTEMPORARY

PAGES: HARDCOVER 304

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Allie Navarro can’t wait to show her best friends the app she built at CodeGirls summer camp. CLICK’D pairs users based on common interests and sends them on a fun (and occasionally rule-breaking) scavenger hunt to find each other. And it’s a hit. By the second day of school, everyone is talking about CLICK’D.

Watching her app go viral is amazing. Leaderboards are filling up! Everyone’s making new friends. And with all the data Allie is collecting, she has an even better shot at beating her archenemy, Nathan, at the upcoming youth coding competition. But when Allie discovers a glitch that threatens to expose everyone’s secrets, she has to figure out how to make things right, even if that means sharing the computer lab with Nathan. Can Allie fix her app, stop it from doing any more damage, and win back the friends it hurt-all before she steps on stage to present CLICK’D to the judges?

New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone combines friendship, coding, and lots of popcorn in her fun and empowering middle-grade debut.

I really enjoyed this one! It’s heartwarming, beautifully written, engaging, and inspiring. Read my full review on Goodreads.

Cinderella Necromancer

F.M. Boughan

PUBLISHED BY MONTH9BOOKS SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, RETELLINGS, FANTASY

PAGES: PAPERBACK 324

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Cinderella, Necromancer is Chime meets Anna Dressed in Blood and was inspired by a real medieval grimoire of necromancy from 15th-century Germany.

Ellison lost her mother at an early age. But since then, her father has found love again. He’s happy and doesn’t quite notice that Ellison does not get along with his new wife or her mean daughters. When Ellison discovers a necromantic tome while traveling the secret passages of her father’s mansion, she wonders if it could be the key to her freedom. Until then, she must master her dark new power, even as her stepmother makes her a servant in her own home. And when her younger brother falls incurably ill, Ellison will do anything to ease his pain, including falling prey to her stepmother and stepsisters’ every whim and fancy.

Stumbling into a chance meeting of Prince William during a secret visit to her mother’s grave feels like a trick of fate when her stepmother refuses to allow Ellison to attend a palace festival. But what if Ellison could see the kind and handsome prince once more? What if she could attend the festival? What if she could have everything she ever wanted and deserved by conjuring spirits to take revenge on her cruel stepmother?

As Ellison’s power grows, she loses control over the evil spirits meant to do her bidding. And as they begin to exert their own power over Ellison, she will have to decide whether it is she or her stepmother who is the true monster.

This Body Won’t Break

(O-Negative #1)

Lea Mckee

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PUBLISHED BY AMAZON DIGITAL SERVICES SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, FANTASY, ROMANCE, SCI-FI, DYSTOPIA

PAGES: KINDLE EDITION 109 PAGES

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The truth doesn’t always set you free.

Orphaned as a child, Joanna has lived her entire life in the care of the New Terra Alliance. On the verge of turning eighteen, Joanna eagerly awaits her release into what remains of society.

It was a beautiful lie.

Joanna was never meant to leave. She is part of the August Harvest, slated to die before the month’s end. With a rogue soldier’s promise to find her a way out, Joanna dares to hope. But if the NTA finds out what she knows, it won’t only be her own life at stake, but the life of the handsome soldier who has vowed to set her free.

Fans of Divergent, The Darkest Minds, and The Handmaid’s Tale will love this dystopian story of twisted secrets, romance, and page-turning suspense.

Sincerely Karen Jo

August Wrap Up

September 1, 2017September 29, 2017 karenjo46Leave a comment

Hello lovelies and Happy first day of September. August went by so fast, but it was such an awesome reading month for me. I was able to read 14 books!!! It’s been so long since I’ve read more than 10 books in a month and it felt sooo GOOD! Now all I need is make a dent on my Netgalley #TBR. It probably doesn’t help that I keep requesting, but I’m going to really try not to this month but..but.. but.. there are just so many good books I want to read. Anyway, I ended up loving most of the books I read so without further ado, here are the books I got through in August.

To read my full review, just click the title of the book.

Mr. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith

★★ 3/4 – NOT BAD, BUT NOT AMAZING

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I don’t dislike this book, but it definitely did not work for me. I think that Mr. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith is a decent story with the potential to be amazing and is probably that to other readers, but it just felt dull for me. Maybe I just went into this expecting to feel something and when I didn’t, I ended up being so disappointed that I couldn’t relate to the characters and story anymore. There were some good things about this book and I did enjoy the humor and the relationships between the characters, but it just didn’t WOW me like I thought it would.

The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin

★★★★★ – FABULOUS AND FUN

OHMAHGOSH this book… I breezed through this one in less than 24 hours and absolutely loved every moment. The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin is such a heartwarming story about self-discovery, family, friendship, and love. It’s completely adorable, sweet, and just the perfect summer read that will leave a smile on your face.

Alienation (Starstruck #2) by S.E. Anderson (Beta Read)

★★★★★ – ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

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One of my favorite series ever!Beta read for Sarah and Alienation is absolutely fantastic. Full review to come. Read my review for Starstruck here and add Alienation on Goodreads.

The Crowns of Croswald (The Croswald Series #1) by D.E. Night

★★★★★ – MAGICAL AND MESMERIZING

The description of the world in this book is just amazing – breathtakingly rich and so detailed that I felt like I was in Croswald myself. I don’t want to give you more than that because you need to experience it for yourself… But even if I did, I just don’t think there are enough words to describe how beautiful the world is… Just know that Croswald is whimsical, fascinating and undeniably one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to.

Above the Sky (Above the Sky #1) by J.W. Lynne

★★★★★ – Brilliant and Thrilling

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I’m so happy Jen asked me to read her book and now I have a new series to rave about. The writing and world building is amazing. The characters are absolutely lovable. The plot is fast paced, full of action, and filled with a lot of twists and turns that will leaving you wanting more. Above the Sky is fantastic in so many ways and I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Vicarious (Vicarious #1) by Paula Stokes

★★★★★ – INTENSE, TWISTED AND MIND-BLOWING!

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. 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.

Ferocious (Vicarious #2) by Paula Stokes

★★★★★ – EXPLOSIVE ENDING

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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…Full review to come.

Starswept by Mary Fan

★★★★★ – BEAUTIFUL AND UNFORGETTABLE

Starswept is absolutely beautiful through and through. I mean the book itself is ridiculously gorgeous! The cover, the design, and the interior chapter spreads… I seriously don’t think I’ve ever seen such a pretty book. And you know the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” well you can just throw that out the window right now because Starswept is stunning and undeniably mesmerizing.

Her Book Boyfriend by K.R. Grace

★★★★ – SHORT BUT SUPER SWEET

I’ve never read anything by K.R. Grace before, but I enjoyed this one so much that I’m excited to check out her other books. The romance is super sweet and adorable. I definitely went to sleep with a dorky smile on my face. If you’re looking for a quick, fun and enjoyable story with witty and lovable characters, then definitely pick this up!

Bell of Eternity (Celtic Legends #2) by Martina Boone

★★★★ 1/2 – ABSOLUTELY HEARTWARMING

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I LOVE Lake of Destiny so I was super excited when Martina Boone sent me an ARC of Bell of Eternity. Brando had already charmed me in every possible way, so I couldn’t wait to get started on his book. I must admit…Lake of Destiny still takes the #1 spot in my heart… BUT Brando and Emma’s love story definitely made me swoon. With gorgeous writing, breathtaking setting, heartwarming storyline, sweet romance, lovable characters, intrigue and a bit of mystery, Bell of Eternity will take a piece of your heart. Celtic Legends is definitely one of my favorite series ever and I absolutely cannot wait to read what comes next. I’ll have a longer review later on.

Dirty Little Secret (Forbidden Desires #1) by Kendall Ryan

★★★★- IRRESISTIBLE AND SEXY

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Really enjoyed this one! Full review to come

No Ordinary Star (No Ordinary Star #1) M.C. Frank

★★★★★ – EXTRA ORDINARY!

This book is probably one of the shortest book I’ve read, but it’s definitely not lacking. It’s beautifully written – elegant, poetic, and affecting. I’m completely enthralled by this story and can’t wait to see what happens in the next two installments. I’m already missing Felix and Astra…Oh and I really hope the hint of “romance” becomes stronger because I’m totally shipping tin soldier and match girl.

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

★★★ – INTERESTING, BUT JUST OKAY

While this book didn’t quite work for me, I do think Miller has some great ideas and the potential to write an amazing sequel. I’m not too confident I can recommend this 100%, but just because I didn’t love it, doesn’t mean you won’t. Also, I’m still quite interested in reading the sequel because after that ending… well I just have to know what happens next.