On My Shelf: Take It Like A Vamp by: Candace Havens

On My Shelf is a feature I started here on the blog and I'm sure there are a ton of similar ones out there, but basically I just wanted to start spotlighting some of the MANY backlist titles I have accumulated on my shelf and kindle. The idea is to spotlight an older book I have on my massive TBR. I also thought it would be a fun way to discuss these books with my fellow bloggers, get some of your thoughts and figure out which ones I need to read ASAP and which ones can wait a bit more. And if you want to join in too, I would love to see what is on your shelf! Just leave me a link in the comments.

I completely forgot I had this book. I stumbled across it while I was scrolling through my kindle app and then I had to feature it because that title. I can 100% guarantee I bought it solely for the title. Obviously I then forgot about it. I'm kinda curious again though because well the title is funny and I do love vampires. 

So tell me. Have you read it? Did you love it? Hate it? Was it meh?

Book Review: Bright Smoke Cold Fire by: Rosamund Hodge

Release Date: September 27, 2016
from Balzer + Bray
Goodreads | Amazon

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose.
Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.

The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.

Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.

Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting..."

My Thoughts:

My heart has been ripped from my chest. This book hurt in the best way possible. This is a great Romeo and Juliet retelling and I was lost in the story. The world has so many moving pieces and every single character is multi-layered. Rosamund Hodge and her retellings just seem to work for me.

I’m going to talk about the world before I get into the characters because I have a lot to say when it comes to the characters. So I’ll get to that in a minute. But first the world. This world has so many moving pieces and layers that makes it so easy to get lost in. There are many different kinds of magic and it all clearly comes with a price. And along with the magic, the world is going to crap. Everything outside the city has fallen apart and magic is all that keeps them safe. It’s a crazy premise. Oh and did I mention the zombies? Yeah there are zombies. Love me some zombies so I really loved that aspect.

Now to the characters. Should probably start with Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is probably my favorite. Mostly because he has a tendency to be melodramatic and rash. He is everything you know about Romeo but exaggerated and I kinda love it. He wallows and wears his emotions on his sleeve and all of that made him my favorite. I also adored Juliet and my heart broke for her. I won’t say much for spoilers, but her life isn't easy and I hate what she has dealt with. I love her strength and determination and I love how much of a badass she is. Then we have Paris who I also loved and I loved his determination and desire to do what is right. Runajo is probably the character I struggled most with. At the base of it all, I really liked her and admired her, but sometimes she made me shake my head. The best thing about all of these characters is that nothing about them is black and white. They are all different shades of grey. They all make mistakes and make bad choices but none of them are bad. I love the different layers to the characters and it’s what makes them so easy to like and root for.

Bright Smoke Cold Fire is a great retelling and the ending tore my heart out. Waiting for the next book is going to destroy me, but I truly cannot wait to see where this story goes next.

Waiting On Wednesday #200: Wintersong by: S. Jae-Jones

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine. 
It spotlilghts upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

Add To Goodreads

"Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world." 

It's. A. Labyrinth. Retelling. LABYRINTH RETELLING. I need this book so so so much. 

Wintersong will be released on February 7, 2017.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Here are ten books I am hoping to read this fall!

Book Review: The Reader (Sea Of Ink And Gold #1) by: Traci Chee

Release Date: September 13, 2016
from Putnam
Goodreads | Amazon

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"Once there was, and one day there will be. This is the beginning of every story.

Sefia lives her life on the run. After her father is viciously murdered, she flees to the forest with her aunt Nin, the only person left she can trust. They survive in the wilderness together, hunting and stealing what they need, forever looking over their shoulders for new threats. But when Nin is kidnapped, Sefia is suddenly on her own, with no way to know who’s taken Nin or where she is. Her only clue is a strange rectangular object that once belonged to her father left behind, something she comes to realize is a book.

Though reading is unheard of in Sefia’s world, she slowly learnes, unearthing the book’s closely guarded secrets, which may be the key to Nin’s disappearance and discovering what really happened the day her father was killed. With no time to lose, and the unexpected help of swashbuckling pirates and an enigmatic stranger, Sefia sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue her aunt, using the book as her guide. In the end, she discovers what the book had been trying to tell her all along: Nothing is as it seems, and the end of her story is only the beginning."

My Thoughts:

The Reader is so different from any book I’ve ever read. This is a book with layers and a ton of moving pieces. You have to really pay attention to every detail, but this book is well worth your undivided attention. I was so engrossed in the story and the characters. I read and re-read and made sure I absorbed every single detail.

Our main heroine Sefia is one that is easy to root for. She is a great character with layers and flaws and I adored her. She is strong and determined and so smart. She fights for what she wants and doesn’t give up despite seemingly insurmountable odds. And Archer. Oh how I loved Archer. He is such a fantastic character. I loved the relationship between Archer and Sefia and that they tackled everything together. I loved how with everything they did it together and that they always had one another. First and foremost it’s a beautiful friendship. Then we have who is probably my favorite character, Captain Reed. Yepp we get pirates too! I love me some pirates. I needed more Captain Reed and should we get a sequel I will beg and pray and crawl over hot coals for more Reed.

I also loved how much this book focused on stories and what you leave behind. Me and my Hamilton crazed brain kept singing “who lives, who dies, who tells your story”. In many ways it's accurate to the book. In a world with no books or writing, the only way to leave behind something is to leave a story worth telling and the characters are very conscious of that and it drives their actions. I just love how taking away one seemingly small object changes a world in such drastic ways.

As I mentioned before, The Reader demands your undivided attention. If you are a reader willing to get lost in a book and look for clues and read between the lines then you will love this story. I adored picking it apart and finding the clues. And when I was right in my guessing I felt so rewarded.

All in all, The Reader is a unique read that any book lover can appreciate. The world building is fantastic and the characters are wonderful. The Reader is a debut that stands out.

Weekly Recap 9/25/2016

So first up this week, I grabbed Seeing Stars as a freebie. I just loved that cover and had to click. Next up I had some surprise mail in The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle, The Girl of a Lifetime, and Otherworld Chills. Thank you Scholastic, St Martins, and Penguin. I also got myself a UK edition of Empire of Storms because I need all editions of that series and those covers are awesome. And then last but not least I grabbed paperbacks of The Score and The Mistake because I needed the ab-licious covers before they switch over to the new redesigned covers. 

Goodreads Links:

Seeing Stars by: J. Sterling

The Secrets Of Hexbridge Castle by: Gabrielle Kent

The Gift Of A Lifetime by: Melissa Hill

Otherworld Chills by: Kelley Armstrong

Empire of Storms by: Sarah J. Maas

The Score by: Elle Kennedy

The Mistake by: Elle Kennedy

Recent Posts:

Release Day Blast: Levi's Blue by: M. Leighton (Review & Teasers)

Top Ten Tuesday: All About Audio

Waiting On Wednesday: Carve The Mark by: Veronica Roth

Mini Review: The Claiming by: Tara Sue Me

On My Shelf: The Unidentified Redhead by: Alice Clayton

On My Shelf: The Unidentified Redhead by: Alice Clayton

On My Shelf is a feature I started here on the blog and I'm sure there are a ton of similar ones out there, but basically I just wanted to start spotlighting some of the MANY backlist titles I have accumulated on my shelf and kindle. The idea is to spotlight an older book I have on my massive TBR. I also thought it would be a fun way to discuss these books with my fellow bloggers, get some of your thoughts and figure out which ones I need to read ASAP and which ones can wait a bit more. And if you want to join in too, I would love to see what is on your shelf! Just leave me a link in the comments.

I have heard wonderful things about this book and author but I have yet to make time for it. It sounds hysterical and I feel like I will love it, but we all know how it goes, so many books so little time. 

So tell me. Have you read it? Did you love it? Hate it? Was it meh?

Book Review: The Claiming (Submissive #8.5) by: Tara Sue Me

Release Date: September 20, 2016
from InterMix
Goodreads | Amazon

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"The New York Times bestselling author of the Submissive series returns to the story started in The
Master with a tantalizing new novella about passion, play, and possession...

Submitting is just the beginning...

Sasha Blake never thought her emotional wounds would heal—that they were a part of her just like her physical scars. But that was before Cole Johnson’s boundless love and overwhelmingly sexy control set her free, unleashing a confident side that she never knew she had. He’s more than just her Master; he’s her world. And she’ll do anything he asks...

Cole’s days of restless wandering are done—he’s found everything he needs in Sasha. Now, it’s time to make it official. When his childhood home in England goes up for sale, he realizes the old estate is the perfect place to claim Sasha as his own, and the ideal opportunity to show her just how much she means to him.

As Sasha, Cole, and their closest friends from their Partners in Play community descend on the British countryside for a titillating adult vacation, the submissives and Dominants alike will test their boundaries—and have an adventure none of them will ever forget..."

My Thoughts:

I’ve been reading this series for a while now and I’m always surprised by how it continues to deliver. This was a fun and steamy little novella that I devoured in a few short hours. It is a nice addition to the series and even though it is short it adds to the characters development and moves the overall story along.

It was so nice seeing how far Cole and Sasha have come. They started out so unlikely and they have become such a strong couple. Their chemistry is fantastic and it’s so great seeing them together. I also liked catching up with Abby and Nathaniel and Julie and Daniel again. This is such a great group of characters and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of them.

All in all, The Claiming was a really quick and fun read and is a nice little treat for fans of the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment now.

Waiting On Wednesday #199: Carve The Mark by: Veronica Roth

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine. 
It spotlilghts upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

Add To Goodreads

"On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not — their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.


Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuve, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive — no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive — or to destroy one another. " 

I love this cover and cannot wait for a new series from Roth!

Carve The Mark will be released on January 17, 2017.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: All About Audio

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Today is all about audio, so I decided to feature ten books I want to listen to on audio. Some are re-reads and some would be first time reads.

Release Day Blast: Levi's Blue by: M. Leighton (Review & Teasers)

Are you ready to #unzip #LevisBlue?

Levi's Blue by M. Leighton is LIVE!

From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, M. Leighton, comes a brand new super sexy standalone that is guaranteed to make you sweat and make you swoon.

Four beautiful days. Three steamy nights. One breathtaking love.
Levi Michelson. He wanted four dates. Four opportunities to prove I could trust him. Four chances to change my mind about him.
I agreed.
Probably not my smartest decision. He was everything I knew to avoid—gorgeous, charming, sexy as hell—but I couldn’t help myself. When he touched me the whole world disappeared. I should’ve known I could lose myself to him, that he could be the one man to destroy me.
I guess it’s true what they say—some things are too good to be true. And Levi Michaelson might just be one of them.
#LevisBlue  #Unzipped  #Sept19  #NewRelease  #ComingSoon  #MLeighton

NOW LIVE on all platforms!
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Add To Goodreads

Source: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My Thoughts:

We all know I’m a certified M. Leighton fan girl, so I’m sure this isn’t really a surprise, but I loved Levi’s Blue. Levi’s Blue is vintage M. Leighton. It feels like some of her earlier contemporaries, yet it still stands out. It’s very much its own story but it has the feel of Down To You and The Wild Ones. It’s steamy and heartbreaking and swoony and emotional and lighthearted all in one.

Probably the best thing about the book is the characters. Levi and Evie are both wonderful. I adore Evie and love her even more for everything she has endured. And well, Levi is ridiculously easy to fall for. And together their chemistry is off the charts. They make one another better. Also, their banter is phenomenal. Some of my favorite banter ever. Their conversations had me laughing out loud and you know they would be tough to keep up with in person. And I can’t forget to mention Cherelyn. I adore strong female friendships and I love Cherelyn and Evie’s relationship. They are their own little family.

As with any of Michelle’s books she delivers the steam. Levi and Evie’s chemistry is off the charts. Have a glass of water handy as you read. But as steamy as it is, it’s also sweet. I loved watching these two fall for one another and Levi knows how to make anyone swoon.

Levi’s Blue is a great read and any contemporary romance fan is sure to love this one. It’s addictive and so difficult to put down and you’ll swoon from beginning to end.

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