Month: February 2018

Review: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

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Review: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie LuTitle: Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2, 2018

four-half-stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Amazon “Book

I had very high hopes for Batman: Nightwalker since I enjoy Batman’s story and Marie Lu is one of my all-time favourite authors, and I can definitely say that I was not disappointed. This book is an action-packed Batman origin story, and the main characters are so developed. It is also well-written and does the franchise justice. I would say that this story is definitely worth the read, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released. Continue reading →

Review: Batman: Nightwalker

I had very high hopes for Batman: Nightwalker since I enjoy Batman’s story and Marie Lu is one of my all-time favourite authors, and I can definitely say that I was not disappointed. This book is an action-packed Batman origin story, and the main characters are so developed. It is also well-written and does the franchise justice. I would say that this story is definitely worth the read, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released. Continue reading →

Friday Reads: Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington

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Bookshelves with the words Friday Reads.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Reads! Today I am sharing  a few quotes from Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington. I have just started reading this one and it is such a great concept for a contemporary.

Book Beginnings is a book meme hosted by Rose City Reader where participants share quotes (the first sentence, or so) of the book, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice, and the rules are quite simple: Grab a book, any book, and turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader. Find any non-spoilery sentence(s) and post.

THIS WEEK’S BOOK:

Book cover for Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington.Title: Love Songs & Other Lies
Author: Jessica Pennington
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: April 24, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads): It’s summer romance and second chances, the songs that stay in your head, and the boy you’ll never forget.

Two years after rock-song-worthy heartbreak, Virginia Miller is looking forward to a fun, carefree summer. Her friends just landed a spot on a battling bands reality show, and Vee is joining them for her dream internship on tour. Three months with future rockstars seems like an epic summer plan. Until she learns she’ll also be sharing the bus with Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Now Vee has more than just cameras to dodge, and Cam’s determination to win her forgiveness is causing TMZ-worthy problems for both of them. With cameras rolling, she’ll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending. And if she’s brave enough to expose her own secrets to keep Cam’s under wraps.  Continue reading →

Review: The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz

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Review: The Lucky Ones by Tiffany ReiszTitle: The Lucky Ones
Author: Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: February 13, 2018

four-stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

They called themselves “the lucky ones.”

They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.

Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She's determined to find out what really happened that fateful night--was it an accident or, as she's always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?

But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she'll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.

Amazon “Book

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz

The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz is one of those thrillers that will give you goose bumps, and make you question your own beliefs. Set in picturesque Oregon, this beautifully written book complete with its cast of flawed characters will have you guessing until you get to the shocking conclusion.

A Disturbing Story

There is so much to this book that is hard to discuss without revealing too much much of the plot. However, I will tell you that its contents will disturb you and give you many opportunities to ask yourself about your own moral compass. It is definitely eye-opening to read and gives the reader many sides of the story that bring these “Lucky Ones” together.

Imperfect Characters

Having never read a Tiffany Reisz novel, I had no idea what to expect from these characters that are deemed “The Lucky Ones.” Every single one of them is as imperfect as they come, and have so many layers to them. The main character, Allison, is one that is highly intelligent, has a huge heart, and a love for books and poetry. However, her life choices are so poor that it is what propels the story forward. I found Allison to be dislikable, but I did empathize with her, which is something to be said for the writing.

The Setting is also a Character

The one thing that I love most about books is their ability to transport the reader to its setting. Reisz’s ability to describe the Oregon coast has left me with a strong desire to travel to the region myself. The setting is actually a character of sorts, as the climate and the surroundings have a profound effect on its characters.

The Lucky Ones is one to add to your reading list if you are looking for a thrilling book that makes you think. It is packed with interesting characters, and the writing is quite descriptive. Reisz will have you packing your bags for Oregon, for sure.

Book Quotes

If I wanted to judge people all day I’d either be a priest or get a Facebook account…

He buys his Catholic guilt in bulk at Costco…

About Tiffany Reisz

Tiffany Reisz

Tiffany Reisz is the USA Today-bestselling author of the Romance Writers of America RITA®-winning Original Sinners series from Harlequin's Mira Books.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, Tiffany graduated from Centre College with a B.A. in English. She began her writing career while a student at Wilmore, Kentucky's Asbury Theological Seminary. After leaving seminary to focus on her fiction, she wrote The Siren, which has sold more than half a million copies worldwide.

Tiffany also writes mainstream women's suspense fiction, including The Bourbon Thief(winner of the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence Award) and the RITA®-nominated The Night Mark.

Her erotic fantasy The Red—self-published under the banner 8th Circle Press—was named an NPR Best Book of the Year and a Goodreads Best Romance of the Month. It also received a coveted starred review from Library Journal.

Tiffany lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer, and two cats. The cats are not writers.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Wishlist Wednesday #142: Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June

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Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming new release books that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by  Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about and have yet to read.

THIS WEEK’S BOOK:

Book cover for Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June.Title: Everywhere You Want to Be
Author: Christina June
Publisher: Blink
Publication Date: May 1, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads): From author Christina June comes Everywhere You Want to Be, a modern tale inspired by the classic Red Riding Hood.

Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior years, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes–not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly’s mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she’ll give up dancing and go off to college.

Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends … and new enemies. Tilly isn’t the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can’t help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.

As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly’s future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother’s path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.  Continue reading →

Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

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Review: Surprise Me by Sophie KinsellaTitle: Surprise Me
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press
Publication Date: February 13, 2018

four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

After being together for ten years, Sylvie and Dan have all the trimmings of a happy life and marriage; they have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, beautiful twin girls, and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. However, a trip to the doctor projects they will live another 68 years together and panic sets in. They never expected "until death do us part" to mean seven decades.

In the name of marriage survival, they quickly concoct a plan to keep their relationship fresh and exciting: they will create little surprises for each other so that their (extended) years together will never become boring. But in their pursuit to execute Project Surprises, mishaps arise and secrets are uncovered that start to threaten the very foundation of their unshakable bond. When a scandal from the past is revealed that question some important untold truths, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all.

With a colorful, eccentric cast of characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella crafts a humorous, yet thoughtful portrait of a marriage and shines a light on the danger of not looking past the many layers of the ones you love to discover how infinitely fascinating--and surprising--they truly are.

Amazon “Book

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃

Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

If you are a fan of Sophie Kinsella, you are in for a real “surprise” with Surprise Me. This book is a little bit different from Kinsella’s typical novels, however the wonderful writing  that we have come to expect is definitely still here. This book is a mix of humour and seriousness. The characters are super quirky and the themes of aging, friendship, and family really pull the book together. Continue reading →