The Great Hunt

The Great Hunt

 By Wendy Higgins

3 Wine Glasses

After reading the Sweet trilogy, Higgins has easily become an author that I look forward to reading! When I found out that she would be coming out with a new duology, I flipped.

Plus, after reading the premise I was more then intrigued. And I was intrigued, for most of this book I was seriously invested, but by the time I finished it I realized I didn’t actually love this book. I really think the way it ended wasn’t satisfactory for me. I know there is going to be a second book, but this ending kind of killed me. By the time I put it down I was like, “ this is one of those books that you read in one sitting, finish it, and wonder why you read it in one siting.” I know all of this sounds really negative, but this book honestly wasn’t bad, I’m just a bit unsatisfied with the ending.

Now, Higgins is a romance junkie, so when I picked this book up I was expecting so many moments…. there isn’t, people. Yeah, I swooned for some of it, but it wasn’t the Higgins I was expecting. However, considering the book and its storyline I really shouldn’t be that shocked. This is a hunt, with beasts, men who can’t keep their opinions to themselves, and a family full of moxie. So, the romance really isn’t an important part of this book, but with good reason. This all being said, I don’t think the lack of romance takes away from the book. I do wish there was a bit more, but I like the call she made.  

The character development was one of the few things that was done well for some characters and eh for other characters. I did like most of the characters, but some of their relationships weren’t developed enough. It felt slightly rushed in a way. When I finished I realized I was so invested in finding out the ending that the development didn’t quite match up. People were at places in their relationship that didn’t make sense to me.  

Overall, this book is one that I would tell people to wait for the second one if they want to read it. It’s good, but I feel this should have been made into one large standalone.

Stay Drunk…on Books,

Steph

Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight

By: Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5 Wine Glasses

Cassandra Clare is brilliant with words. I just want to see her sentences placed everywhere. Every single time I read one of her books I am reminded once again that Cassandra Clare is one of the Queens of YA for a reason. She has tact for detail that is unlike any other, and in Lady Midnight I was swept away by the shadow world once again.

 

I’d just like to point out that, I know I sound calm, but I am in no way calm about this book. 

I have patiently (not really) waited for this book for YEARS.  And now here I am, done with the book, and it’s honestly taking everything in me not to cry about the fact that I have to wait another year or two for a book that I would sell my college education for --so basically my future. My heart was broken and mended in ways that only Cassandra is capable of doing. However, as I sit here typing this, I can truly admit that I am beyond satisfied with Lady Midnight.

New characters sometimes make me a bit nervous, but it was so easy to love these characters right from the start. We are introduced to incredibly fierce Emma, who encompasses everything I love about a MC. If you don’t love Emma, I’m not sure we could be friend, honestly. Julian is just…WOW. Cassandra knows how to create her men. Julian basically has to raise all of his siblings, and you see just how much responsibility he has placed on his shoulders. He might be a 17-year-old guy, but he’s dealing with things that parents would be dealing with. The Blackthorn family is one for the books people; they are a quirky, amazing, and loving group. They all seem to have each other’s backs, and it’s a very big part of the book! I know I was laughing throughout a lot of their interactions with each other.

One thing that I not only want to point out, but applaud Cassandra Clare for, was how she included REAL issues, and problems that people deal with. 

Yes, this is a fictional book, but she made sure to intertwine current issues. Such as weight, family issues, relationships, and autism. What a breathe of fresh air this book was! I can’t think more highly of Cassandra, plus she definitely had some awesome references to women.

For Example: “Women are fiercer by far then men.”

LOVE IT.

The plot in this book was well thought out, and you will pretty much be unable to put it down. So fair warning: If you start this book at 9 at night…you will be up until 6 in the morning read.

Now, because I love Cassandra Clare quotes so much I’ll give you my favorite one from this book:

“You’re walking the edge of a razor blade, Julian, with everything you hide. Believe me. I’ve walked that razor blade half my life. You get used to it, so used to it sometimes you forget that you’re bleeding.”

BAM.

I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for the next book, but Godspeed to us all.

Stay Drunk on Books,

Steph

Starflight

STARFLIGHT Launch Blitz & Giveaway

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

What do reviewers have to say?

“Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” –New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” –School Library Journal

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist

If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RUTRl2

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1MKVTwt

Book Depository (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1OoN2WD

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1IIMPx7

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

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Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Thief of Lies

I'm thrilled to be taking part in Brenda Drake's Release Day Launch (hosted by Jen Halligan PR) for THIEF OF LIES (Library Jumpers #1)! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaways!

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather-clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound. Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt from THIEF OF LIES

We stepped into the Children’s Library and stopped in the center of the room. A massive light fixture designed to resemble the solar system dominated the ceiling. The hushed rumble of two male voices came from one of the reading nooks. I crossed the room, paused at the built-in aquarium, and inspected the fish. Afton halted beside me. “This is great,” I whispered, not wanting to disturb whoever was in there with us. “Fish and books. What’s not to love?” Spotting a sign referencing classic books, I searched the shelves for my all-time favorite novel. The male voices stopped and there was movement on the other side of the bookcase. I paused to listen, and when the voices started up again, I continued my hunt. Warmth rushed over me when I found The Secret Garden. With its aged green cover, it was the same edition I remembered reading as a young girl. The illustrations inside were beautiful, and I just had to show them to Afton. Coming around the corner of the case, a little too fast for being in a library, I bumped into a guy dressed in leather biker gear. My book and notebook fell and slapped against the floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry—” I lost all train of thought at the sight of him. He was gorgeous with tousled brown hair and dark eyes. Tall. He flashed me a crooked smile, a hint of dimples forming in his cheeks, before bending over and picking up my forgotten book. He held the book out to me. “Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” He’d quoted a verse from The Secret Garden with a sexy accent that tickled my ears. I stood there like an idiot, my heart pounding hard against my chest, unable to think of a response. The fact that he had read the book and could recite a line from it stunned me. And impressed me. Say something. Anything. “Good read there,” he said when it was obvious I wasn’t going to speak. He winked and nodded to a guy behind him before ambling off. When he reached the end of the row, he paused and glanced back at me, flashing me another killer smile, and then he disappeared around the bookcase. Tingles rose in my stomach. He looked back at me. The guy following his Royal Hotness gave me a final appraisal before departing. His stringy blond hair hung over his large forehead. It looked like he hadn’t washed it in weeks, and there was probably an acne breeding ground under it. He grinned, and I broke eye contact with him, making for the nearest window. Oh God, you’re so lame, Gia. You could have finished the quote or anything less tragic than not speaking at all. The response I would have said played in my head. With silver bells, and cockleshells, and marigolds all in a row. Why? Why hadn’t I said that?

About the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up are of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Giveaways!

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Follow Entangled Teen's THIEF OF LIES Blog Tour for more chances to win the prizes below!

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Stay Drunk...On Books,
Steph

2015 Wrap Up!

My Top 5 Books of 2015

As we all know the year is coming to an end and it's only fair that I recognize the top books that really blew me away!

5) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Wow. Wow. Wow. This debut book by Victoria Aveyard was SPECTACULAR. I know I was expecting it to be good, but it was better than I thought. The concept is utterly unique and positively enthralling. I'm pretty sure I would do just about anything for an ARC of Glass Sword. (Hears to waiting and delayed gratification, though.)

4) Ensnared by A.G. Howard

There were far too many concluding books for the year 2015 and Ensnarled was definitely one that made my heart really hurt from knowing that. I was never a major Alice in Wonderland fan until I read these books! Finishing this series was all kinds of painful, but hey, Untamed just came out so i'll still get my Wonderland fix. ;)

3) End of Days by Susan E.E.

I waited and waited and waited for this book. I'm not patient, and when I finally got a hold of it i'm pretty sure I didn't put it down AT ALL. Knowing that this was the last book in the trilogy kind of killed me, but Susan really finished it with a bang and some good action. (Thank God rereads exist.)

2) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

 Alright, so it's only fair that I mention how much I FANGIRLED OVER THIS BOOK. MY GOSH.  ACOTAR was very close to making first place for me. I am in love with these characters and THIS WORLD IS MIND BLOWING. Easily a top read for me this year!

1)   Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Sarah J. Maas is just killing it this year.  I am completely invested in the world of Celaena Sardothien. Queen of Shadows was by far my favorite book of 2015, I still can't think of all of the amazing words that could describe this book- but it's my MVP, and #1 for this year!  It was the star of my book tree, too!  Plus, what other book would I take selfies with? 

Happy New Years, Readers! Hope it's one full of happiness, completed goals, and books.

Stay Drunk... on Books,

Steph