30 Nov 2017

#Discussion: 10 Instagram Accounts I Love With Under 1000 Followers!

30 November 5 Comments
Hey guys! I have a special post for you today because I got sick of seeing roundup posts of Instagram accounts that have a billion followers. So I made a call out to people on Twitter who have less than 1000 followers to send me links and I am going to show off 10 of those accounts today and give you a list of the rest so you can check them out! Some of these accounts are my friends but idgaf they are super talented and should be showcased. You can see all the people who responded to my tweet by going through the replies.

I don't qualify for this post but if you want to follow me, you can do it by checking out my account.

Iris @ EatTrainRead

Iris is taking BEAUTIFUL pictures, photoshopping them, and just creating quality all around and yet has less than 400 followers which is unacceptable. Check out Iris's feed and then follow EatTrainRead on Instagram!
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Jesse @ BooksAtDawn

Jesse is a super skilled photographer, a fellow Canadian, and has the most aesthetically pleasing feed I've ever seen. I love when Jesse posts a new picture because I always want to reach out and pick up that book off my shelf. Check out Jesse's feed and then follow BooksAtDawn on Instagram!
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29 Nov 2017

#Review: GOLDEN GUARD TRILOGY by Elise Kova

29 November 2 Comments
Today I am doing a series review of the 

GOLDEN GUARD TRILOGY by Elise Kova!

I beta read the first two books, but wanted to reread once they were done so I could give you thoughts on the finished copies of THE CROWN'S DOG and THE PRINCE'S ROGUE. However, I was busy with school and did not beta read THE FARMER'S WAR so you can read my thoughts on just the finished copy of that one! 

Also, you can read the entire trilogy for free with Kindle Unlimited, so you should get on that. Additionally each of these can be read as a standalone, so if you want to read about some Golden Guard members over others, feel free to do so! THE CROWN'S DOG focuses on Jax and Erion, THE PRINCE'S ROGUE focuses on Baldair and Raylynn, and THE FARMER'S WAR focuses on Craig and Daniel!

So let's get to it!

THE CROWN'S DOG

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Golden Guard Trilogy #1
Source: beta read for the Author/Purchased from TBD
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
Rating: 4/5 stars

 Summary:
A coastal summer is turned upside down by a violent murder, and a quest for lost pirate treasure turns into a hunt for the killer.

 Jax Wendyll is the crown’s dog. As punishment for the unspeakable crimes that tourment him to this day, his life has been conscripted to the Empire Solaris. However, in an Empire afflicted by peace, his duties are relegated to unquestioningly aiding the antics of the youngest prince, Baldair.

 Erion Le’Dan, a nobleman’s son, expects a quiet summer visit to the Imperial Palace, his only agenda to visit with his unlikely friends. But Jax’s discovery the legendary pirate Adela Lagmir’s old workroom inspires a hunt for her long lost treasure.

 The pursuit of Adela’s truth takes the three men to the Imperial summer manor, built along the old pirate mainstays. When Adela’s trident is branded into a murdered servant, Prince Baldair’s summer amusement of treasure-hunting becomes a hunt to find the killer. But, as mysteries compound, the ghosts of Jax’s past may not be the only things haunting them.
Purchase:
Disclaimer: I beta read the manuscript; however, I reread the finished copy of the book to give an opinion based on the finalized version.

Hello and welcome to Jamie Fangirls Session #1. I absolutely LOVED this book and being back in the Air Awakens world. I think what was best about it is that we saw aspects of the world from Air Awakens that we didn't see in the original series, so it felt like its own world while still fitting in to the overarching world and canon. I loved learning more about Jax and Erion and thought they had a really strong character arc in here that ties in nicely to what we see in Air Awakens.

Jax was probably the strongest character in this one. I liked seeing how he took his internal struggles and made them his own. I thought it was such a good look at how to be respectful to someone who saved your life while also trying to forge your own path in the world as well.

 At times, I was frustrated with Erion, but I think that speaks more to Kova's writing of a complex character than to anything else. Erion is struggling between being a good son and friend but every time he internally justifies his actions based on familial needs, it makes me want to scream because he is such a good person and deserves a better family. 

 I thought the plot was well executed (and I mean, I should since I helped tighten it up) and that it was a nice deviation from the typical fantasy story to have a bit of a murder mystery involved in it. I liked seeing the characters have to interact with elements from other genres of stories that you wouldn't necessarily believe fantasy characters to deal with. I think Kova did a fantastic job bringing in elements of a mystery and fantasy novel to wind them together to be an absolutely riveting story.

 I absolutely adored THE CROWN'S DOG and loved stepping back into the world of Air Awakens. We meet all these characters in the original series, but this expose of them prior to the war that drove Vhalla to the front lines was a nice change. I also liked the cross-genre aspects to this one with the "murder mystery" aspect. There were enough lines through this one to connect it to the original series (and to a future series, if Kova chooses to write it) that made me feel as though I was at home yet still exploring something new. If you are looking for some intrigue, magic, and characters that you hate to love and love to hate, this is the book for you.

THE PRINCE'S ROGUE

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Golden Guard Trilogy #2
Source: beta read for the Author/Purchased from TBD
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary:
The Empire has declared war against its neighbor to the north, the country of Shaldan. Prince Baldair is summoned to lead, but the untested royal harbors secret reservations about his ability to inspire confidence in troops his senior in both age and experience. The memory of his first kills the summer prior still weigh heavy on his shoulders, and he flees to his friend Erion’s home near the Crossroads to wait for the army before marching north.

 Raylynn Westind had never held a responsibility in her life. After losing her mother years ago, she wanders from town to town in search of a challenge, honoring the sacred song of the sword her mother taught her. She never backs down from a fight, not when her opponents are the deadly Knights of Jadar, mysteriously insistent upon her death. And certainly not when the opponent is the Empire’s young playboy prince.

 Baldair has never met another person as gifted with the sword as he, and is insistent on seeing a golden bracer grace Raylynn’s forearm. But the woman lives a mercenary’s life, and Baldair quickly learns that her loyalty comes at a high price. When he discovers the bounty on her head, the prince must choose between his responsibilities to his father’s Empire, and the woman who has captured his heart as a soldier, and as a man.
Purchase:
Disclaimer: I beta read the manuscript; however, I reread the finished copy of the book to give an opinion based on the finalized version. Also, this book is dedicated to me, so if you are going to buy one of the books, this should be the one.

 Hello and welcome to Jamie Fangirls Session #2. As much as I loved THE CROWN'S DOG (see: above), I enjoyed THE PRINCE'S ROGUE that much more. With The Crown's Dog, we are limited in what we learn about Baldair through the eyes and actions of Jax and Erion. But in The Prince's Rogue, we get Baldair's perspective as well as Raylynn's. And you know how much I love Baldair (when the THING happens in Book 4 of the Air Awakens series, I was like "yes this has to happen but also please don't let it happen"). I really enjoyed being able to learn more about Baldair's inner thoughts and we were truly introduced to Raylynn as a character.

 I thought Raylynn was such a strong character! I think what I disliked about The Prince's Rogue is that we didn't get to see more of Raylynn in the Air Awakens series, which I know makes no sense. But she is a BAMF like no other BAMF you have ever met and it upsets me that she is given limited screen time in the original canon. Because then we see her in here and she is sword wielding, heartbreaking, BADASS, and vulnerable and ???? Why didn't we get more of this in the original series????

 Clearly Baldair was perfect so like no more comments necessary beyond that. Okay wait I lied: Although we didn't get a chapter from his perspective in The Crown's Dog, we still did see some traumatic things happen to him so it was nice to see how he was internally dealing with that. I liked that he was essentially running away from his responsibilities and realized because of Raylynn that he was allowed to be upset but that didn't mean he could continue to run forever. GOSH THEY ARE SO PERFECT. Their relationship is the one we deserved all along. Vhaldrik WHO??

 I thought at some points this dragged a little bit, but overall I was super intrigued with the plot and story line as well as the characters so it probably didn't bother me as much as it will others. I liked the way it all played out in the end, answering some questions, but leaving that many more open for future instalments (and the original canon to answer some of them). This book also had little threads that pulled it together to the first in the series and the rest of the Air Awakens world if you know to look for them. I definitely recommend this one to everyone!

 I will say that as much as you can read these as standalones, which is really nice, they do make more sense if you've read them in sequential order. However, you definitely don't need to have read the Air Awakens series to pick these up and enjoy them. Although I would recommend reading that series as well! 

THE FARMER'S WAR

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Golden Guard Trilogy #3
Source: Purchased from TBD
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Rating: 4/5 stars

 Summary:
Lieutenant Craig Youngly has only ever wanted one thing in his life -- to join the illustrious Golden Guard. In pursuit of his goals, he has found himself protege to Raylynn Westwind, notable Guard member and favorite of Prince Baldair. He has fought for two years in the sweltering North and now prepares to embark on a mission on behalf of the Guard that could secure his long-sought membership. It's the opportunity Craig has been waiting for, until Raylynn's attention turns toward another swordsman, Daniel Taffl.

 Daniel has always been a man of modest aspirations. As a farmer's son from the East, he seeks a soldier's wage to support a future for the woman of his dreams when he returns from the front lines. It isn't until he's conscripted into Craig's mission that he learns his sword-craft has caught the eyes of the powers above him.

 Craig sees his mission as an opportunity to impress the guard and exert his authority over Daniel. Daniel sees it merely as the chance to secure a more financially stable future. Their goals seem too simple to go awry. But, in the perilous jungles of the North, luck is something both men find to be in short supply.
Purchase:
Hello and welcome to Jamie Fangirls Session #3. As much as Baldair is my one true love, I had a soft spot for Daniel when reading Air Awakens, so I was really excited for this book specifically in this series. 

 I thought the way Daniel and Craig became friends was natural and fitting for them. We see them together for the first time in Air Awakens and they intrigued me from there. I am glad Daniel got more of a starring role, but Craig's character is a really strong one that I am glad got the recognition he deserved.

 I think what I liked about this one so much is that in the Air Awakens series we lose track of Craig and focus mainly on Daniel, so I enjoyed getting to see more of Craig and how he and Daniel became good friends in this one. I liked seeing the front of war that we don't necessarily get, even in the Air Awakens series, until much later. I think this is probably the closest to a typical fantasy novel even though neither of the main characters use magic. 

 I thoroughly enjoyed this and thought it was a brilliant way to end the Golden Guard trilogy and set up the Air Awakens series.
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28 Nov 2017

#SapphicAThon TBR + #Interview with JULIA EMBER, author of THE SEAFARER'S KISS!

28 November 0 Comments
Hey guys! I am so glad to be back in the blogging world and I will have a bit of free time at the end of December so I am going to participate in #SapphicAThon! It is a readathon where the feature is f/f relationships being the centre of the book. It runs from December 14th to December 28th so you can ask for some of these books for Christmas and have time to read them after! You can learn more by reading the original post which has recommendations for each of the challenge categories.

My plan is to try and fill up the whole card using a different book for each category, but we shall see how much progress I make. Below are the challenge categories and what I plan to read for each of them with buy links!

Also, as a special treat, there is an interview with Julia Ember who is the author of THE SEAFARER'S KISS, one of the books I'm reading for the readathon! Learn more about her books, writing process, and more in the interview below!


Bisexual MC

QUEENS OF GEEK

Author: Jen Wilde
Series: N/A
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: March 14, 2017

 Summary:
Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.

 Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

 Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is an empowering novel for anyone who has ever felt that fandom is family.

Purchase:

SFF F/F

THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS

Author: Emily Skrutskie
Series: The Abyss Surrounds Us #2
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: April 18, 2017

 Summary:
Three weeks have passed since Cassandra Leung pledged her allegiance to the ruthless pirate-queen Santa Elena and set free Bao, the sea monster Reckoner she’d been forced to train. The days as a pirate trainee are long and grueling, but it’s not the physical pain that Cas dreads most. It’s being forced to work with Swift, the pirate girl who broke her heart. 

 But Cas has even bigger problems when she discovers that Bao is not the only monster swimming free. Other Reckoners illegally sold to pirates have escaped their captors and are taking the NeoPacific by storm, attacking ships at random and ruining the ocean ecosystem. As a Reckoner trainer, Cas might be the only one who can stop them. But how can she take up arms against creatures she used to care for and protect?
Will Cas embrace the murky morals that life as a pirate brings or perish in the dark waters of the NeoPacific?

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27 Nov 2017

A List of Books to Ask for from Santa

27 November 2 Comments
Hey guys! With the holiday season fast approaching, it is time to compile those lists of books you didn't get a chance to read or buy this year that you want to ask your friends, family, and Santa or the holiday gift giver of your choosing! I know some of these will be on my list as well, so I hope you find some good finds on here! Plus I'm giving away a copy of one of the books, so read to the bottom to find out which one.

Comment below if there are other books you would recommend people ask for during this holiday season!

WILD BEAUTY

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Series: N/A
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
My Review!

 Summary:
Love grows such strange things.

 For nearly a century, the Nomeolvides women have tended the grounds of La Pradera, the lush estate gardens that enchant guests from around the world. They’ve also hidden a tragic legacy: if they fall in love too deeply, their lovers vanish. But then, after generations of vanishings, a strange boy appears in the gardens.

 The boy is a mystery to Estrella, the Nomeolvides girl who finds him, and to her family, but he’s even more a mystery to himself; he knows nothing more about who he is or where he came from than his first name. As Estrella tries to help Fel piece together his unknown past, La Pradera leads them to secrets as dangerous as they are magical in this stunning exploration of love, loss, and family.
Purchase:

Why You Should Want It Under The Tree:

Beautiful, lyrical, and imaginative - those three words describe every book Anna-Marie McLemore has written and WILD BEAUTY is no exception. Bisexual characters are on the main stage and not shamed for it. Gay girls are allowed to love freely and the main characters are rich and full of depth. You will get sucked into the world and not want to leave. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
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24 Nov 2017

#BlogTour: HERE SKIES SURROUND US by Melanie McFarlane // #Interview + #Giveaway

24 November 1 Comments
Hello and welcome to my blog tour stop for

HERE SKIES SURROUND US by Melanie McFarlane!

Today I have an interview for you guys where you can learn more about the author and the book. Plus there is a giveaway for an echo dot that is international, so keep scrolling for that! But first, let's learn more about the book...

HERE SKIES SURROUND US

Author: Melanie McFarlane
Series: Dome 1618 #2
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication Date: November 21, 2017

 Summary:
Nat leaves her home, Dome 168, just as they begin to colonize on the outside. She travels with Evan to his home, Dome 569, to deliver a replica of the immune serum and allow Evan to report back to his mother, Caroline. But when they arrive, members of the “New Order” take them into custody and Nat and Evan are separated, once again.

 Thankfully she is reunited with her uncle, Alec, who takes Nat under his protection. But Nat has a lot to learn about Evan’s home, a progressive dome that colonized on the outside over a decade ago. There are many rules in Dome 569 put in place by Caroline; some that come with sharp and sometimes deadly consequences when broken. Here, Nat learns of the struggles that can come with change, and how tearing down the old ways doesn’t always make things better overall. In the process, she uncovers truths that could tear down the kingdom Caroline has sacrificed to protect, and in turn puts Nat at risk.

 Will Nat be able to protect Evan from the lies, or will he succumb to them for the sake of his family, just as his mother did many years before? As Nat uncovers the secrets of Dome 569, will she be willing to give up her morals and values to pay the price for freedom, or die fighting for what she believes in?
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23 Nov 2017

#Review: WILD BEAUTY by Anna-Marie McLemore

23 November 1 Comments

WILD BEAUTY

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Series: N/A
Source: ARC via Publisher
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Rating: 4/5 stars

 Summary:
Love grows such strange things.

 For nearly a century, the Nomeolvides women have tended the grounds of La Pradera, the lush estate gardens that enchant guests from around the world. They’ve also hidden a tragic legacy: if they fall in love too deeply, their lovers vanish. But then, after generations of vanishings, a strange boy appears in the gardens.
The boy is a mystery to Estrella, the Nomeolvides girl who finds him, and to her family, but he’s even more a mystery to himself; he knows nothing more about who he is or where he came from than his first name. As Estrella tries to help Fel piece together his unknown past, La Pradera leads them to secrets as dangerous as they are magical in this stunning exploration of love, loss, and family.
Purchase:
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book and decided to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion of the book.

 Hi, I love Anna-Marie McLemore's books so it is probably not surprising that I also enjoyed WILD BEAUTY. However, if this was my introduction to her books, I'm not certain I would have picked up the rest. While still beautiful and imaginative and full of great representation and culture, it was way too slow to start for me and I found the side characters to be a little bland and similar. I know that the family was meant to feel as though the girls could be interchangeable but it was too much for me to really enjoy that aspect because I could never really differentiate between any of them.
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21 Nov 2017

#Review: THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

21 November 2 Comments

THE NIGHT CIRCUS

Author: Erin Morgenstern
Series: N/A
Source: Audiobook via Audible
Publisher:
Publication Date:
Rating: 2.5/5 stars

 Summary:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

 But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

 True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 

 Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart. 
Purchase:
Y'all lied to me. And I am upset about it. I was told when I DNFed THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye that I would enjoy THE NIGHT CIRCUS because it was the same premise but SOOO much better. So I downloaded it as an audiobook and set out to listen to it. And it was alright at first but... it was really slow. I thought "that's okay, everyone said it's so good so it must get better!" Spoiler: It did not get better.
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20 Nov 2017

#REVIEW: PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson

20 November 1 Comments

PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS

Authors: Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson
Series: Peter and the Starcatchers #1
Source: Audiobook from audible
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 1, 2006
Rating: 3/5 stars

 Summary:
Orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious cargo the "greatest treasure on earth" - but is it gold, jewels, or something far more mysterious and dangerous? Adds to classic Peter Pan.
Purchase:
This one was sooo slow. I had the audio on 3x the speed and it still felt like it was taking forever to get through. But the ending was great so if you can push through the beginning to get to the end, you'll be happy about it! Unfortunately for me, a good ending isn't enough for me to be completely satisfied with the novel.
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17 Nov 2017

#COVERREVEAL: RIGHT KISS, WRONG GUY by Natalie Decker

17 November 0 Comments
   
Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Right Kiss. Wrong Guy. (Offsides #2) by Natalie Decker

presented by Swoon Romance!
Be on the lookout for this upcoming title!
 

What do you think of the cover?

     
 

RIGHT KISS, WRONG GUY

Author: Natalie Decker
Series: Offsides #2
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: January 23, 2018

 Summary: 
You'd think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.

 But Valentine's Day sucks when you're single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.

 A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom's match-making business is doing great, and her school's new fundraiser is "Love-Grams."

 Juliet's miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.

 Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he's all but invisible. She isn't impressed.

 Jared's never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and he's determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla's sister.

 Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won't work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?

 Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone's face. Juliet won't play his game.

 Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.
Pre-order: 
Amazon

Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
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