momwithareadingproblem's reviews
1177 reviews

What an ending!!!!!


Conquered is the final installment of The Te-Trad Tale by [a:M.A. Wilder|6997889|M.A. Wilder|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1391999263p2/6997889.jpg] and it does not disappoint! I am always leery going into a final novel in a series. Will it live up to my expectations? Will the author do something crazy and kill my favorite characters? (Erm......Veronica Roth) Will I leave the series satisfied? The answer to these questions after reading this book: yes, maybe (no spoilers), yes.

Book three picks up two days after the shocking ending of book 2. If you haven't read book two yet, please do NOT read this spoiler!

Spoiler

Wilder nearly killed me with the cliffhanger ending in book 2. Aaron and Beckit are engaged and happy, they have found the Air Te-Trad and are now back on Traterra. Then out of nowhere a red-eyed Linnie comes running down the hall to kill Beckit, except she doesn't. Aaron steps in and is stabbed before he can armor up. Then he disappears in Beckit's arms. The END!!!!

Cliffhangers kill me!!! At the beginning of the book, Beckit is being kept under sedation and she is dreaming of Aaron. Is he alive? She's convinced he is so with the help of Atlas, the story begins. But the story isn't just about finding Aaron. This plot revolves around two other major themes: Beckit developing her Te-Trad ability and the final showdown with Crimson.

I don't know that I've said this enough....I love these characters!!! Beckit is a strong heroine and in this final installment she really comes into her own. She finds and develops her Te-Trad ability, she's strong for her friends who are really now her family, and she kicks butt! Aaron is as dreamy as ever and his character has a lot of growth in this book that I loved. It's fun watching the macho guy have a breakdown and come to terms with it (is that sadistic of me?). All the others are back as well: Ran, Frost, Tameka, Royce, Atlas, Xoe, and Linnie. I love them all and I feel that each of them got a good conclusion to their stories....though I would love to see more of Linnie and Xoe please!?!

Not too much world-building in this installment since it's already been established, but again the imagery of this series is phenomenal. I would love to see black flowers with vivid blue centers in real life!!! In my mind's eye, Traterra is a truly beautiful and dangerous world. And I want it no other way.



This last book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I cried a lot! I laughed just as much and the ending left me happy and content for the characters I've grown to love. At nearly half way through Crimson crashes a wedding and some characters die. I literally had to sit the book down so I could have a good cry before I continued. Amazing read!!!

For this to be a debut series, the author has done an awesome job. Yes there's grammar mistakes as with any indie author, but despite those the story flowed well, the characters were developed with their own unique personalities (an amazing feet considering how many characters were in nearly every chapter) and the world-building/imagery was outstanding! I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next....If you enjoy paranormal romance, young adult with strong heroine, vampires/werewolves/witches/aliens/knights/mermaids then do yourself a favor and pick up this book! I promise you won't be disappointed.

This book is nothing like I expected! Vampir by [a:John Reinhard Dizon|1337311|John Reinhard Dizon|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1390958690p2/1337311.jpg] is a cross between a crime drama like Law and Order and a cheesy black and white horror film, minus the cheesy parts. The story begins with a news report about Celeste Maher, a prominent NYC lawyer, being arrested as a suspect in the murder of Count Velimir Radojka. This Count was her client and had been arrested for a string of murders/disapperances involving throats being slit and blood drained from his victims. Homicide detective Shea Tyrone arrives at the precinct to speak to his long-term girlfriend Celeste after her arrest, he also happened to be the detective on the Radojka case.

This story is by no means my typical read, however I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and found I wasn't able to sit it down. As I said earlier the plot plays out much like the crime dramas that were so popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Though the focus is Celeste telling her side of the story to the questioning officers, a majority of the plot is played out in flashbacks told from Celeste's, Shea's, a priest's, and Radojka's POVs. For me I found it a little hard to follow at first, but after a couple chapters of the back and forth POVs and the flip from past to present the story flowed well. Instead of focusing on the problem presented on the first page (Celeste's arrest for the murder of Radojka), the story focuses on the ritualistic killings that Radojka was arrested for.

I found the characters well developed and relatable for the most part. There were instances however that I felt could have been left out of the story, like Celeste giving Shea a blow job. To me that didn't add to the story or the characters, I felt it was just an attempt to add some sex into the story when it could have just been alluded to. Anyways that's my personal thoughts on the subject.

Overall, the story was just ok. I would give it a solid 3.5 to 4 stars. The twist ending was a nice surprise for me and actually upped how much I enjoyed the entire book. If you like crime novels or horror novels, than I think you would enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Right, I'm dead. I'm dead and that's pretty much all I know for now. My name is Evangeline, and I passed away.

Right away this book captured my attention and held it. I was so engrossed in the world that I couldn't set it down until I knew what had happened and what was going to happen to our main character.

For Better or for Worse is the debut novel by [a:Ingrid Nickelsen|7872737|Ingrid Nickelsen|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1393144336p2/7872737.jpg] about a girl who dies and when she awakes doesn't know who she is or where she is. The author takes you on a stunning journey of an in-between world where Eve must come to terms with her past before she moves on, but how can you do that when you have no memory?

I really loved the characters in this novel! Evangeline or Eve is such a strong, independent young woman. She accepts though begrudgingly that she's died young. At the beginning she's bitter and it's with the help of the mysterious Will and her Godparents Brielle, Blake, and Nate that she moves past this. There's great character growth for her moving from bitter to accepting. The mysterious Will is a nice twist character in this story. He is very mysterious giving little away to Eve as he helps her navigate the in-between and promises to help her with her memory loss. But the mystery remains who is he? You'll have to read to find out, I'm not about to spoil it for you :) Then there's Eve's godparents. She is assigned other souls who have been there longer to help her in her transition. But can she trust them?

The plot takes a great twist when Eve starts slowly remembering her past through dreams and then one letter she reads. (The characters receive letters that are the prayers of those they left behind) This letter suggests she wasn't alone when she died. Eve becomes obsessed with finding this person, thinking he/she is the key to her past. It makes for a wonderful kink in the story and then throws another kink in a surprise twist ending!

I loved the world-building in this book! Though the in-between looks much like our world, there's a lot of mystery surrounding the Godparents, the head of the city, Will, and the mysterious shadows that Eve watches in horror as they burn another person. Can someone really die if they are already dead? is a question that haunts Eve through a good portion of the book.

I would never have guessed that this was a debut novel. There's a lot of mystery and interweaving tales throughout the plot and Nickelsen does a wonderful job of bringing these characters full circle and leaving you wanting more! I believe that she has set up for a wonderful series and it won't be last we hear about Eve. If you like afterlife novels, young adult/new adult romances then pick up this book. You will not be disappointed!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

In the Mirror by [a:Kaira Rouda|1105560|Kaira Rouda|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1299806086p2/1105560.jpg] tore my heart to pieces! This story follows Jennifer Benson, a daughter, wife, mother who at the age of 34 is dying of an aggressive form of breast cancer. It begins with Jennifer meeting with her terminal friend Ralph who lives with her at Shady Valley (a hospice center). They are discussing, rather morbidly, her need for a party. This party is like a funeral before death. Jennifer wants to meet with the people who meant something to her before she dies and give them a true memory of her, instead of them seeing her in a casket.

The characters of this story are wonderfully written. Jennifer is the main character and the story is told from her POV. I was amazed at the depth the author went into when describing everything that Jennifer goes through. She took us through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). And just like in real life, these stages don't necessarily come in order and the author showed that really well. Her husband Henry is just amazingly heartbreaking! At the beginning of the story we see a detached husband who is struggling to keep his family together and at the end he's back to being the husband Jennifer remembers who kisses her just because.

The plot of this story is really quite simple. It's a reflection of Jennifer's life and how she is coping with her diagnosis of death. She chooses to focus on her good memories instead of the bad ones when remembering her past which leads to a little trouble with her ex Alex (nothing she and Henry can't handle). There were a few moments were I couldn't help but chuckle (gallows humor and the beginning of each chapter started with a drug warning label) It's truly a heart-wrenching story as Jennifer asks the questions no one wants to ask. Who will raise her kids with Henry? Will they remember her? Will Henry fall in love with another woman, a younger healthy version of herself?

As a young wife and mother myself reading certain parts of this book proved to be too much. I sobbed, wondering how my own family would handle this situation. If you or someone you love has dealt with cancer, then you will understand Jennifer's troubles all too well. Realistically written, I wouldn't doubt that the author herself has seen this firsthand. If you enjoy realistic, women's literature then I highly suggest you pick up this novel. It's sweet, it will make you cry, but it's so worth it!!

I received an eARC from the publishers at Real You via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is super cute! If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur written by [a:Linda Bailey|186774|Linda Bailey|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1284365252p2/186774.jpg] and illustrated by Colin Jack is a guide for the uses of dinosaurs. Giving instructions on how to use your dinosaur in case of rain or if in need of a pillow this book with it's beautiful illustrations expands on the imagination of little ones, especially little ones who love dinosaurs! My three year old loved this book! Giggling at the things this book says to use your dinosaur for (like an umbrella or mowing your lawn). This isn't an educational book by any means, simply a book to expand on your child's creativity. My only complaint was the random ending. It ends with now if you happen to have a kangaroo....what does that have to do with dinosaurs? Even my son looked at me like I was nuts when I read that last line. I think it would have been better suited with something you would do at the end of the day like bathing or going to bed. But that's me. Otherwise, this is a sweet, short story that can make a great bedtime or anytime story!

I received an eARC via Netgalley from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Note to Readers: this book's plot centers around sexual abuse, teen bullying, eating disorders, and suicide. Also strong language. Read at your own risk

PROMISCUOUS is a story told by Natasha "Tash" Bohner, an eighteen year old who at a very young age learns to distrust everyone. Tash is angry at the world and how she feels it views her, as a slut, trailer trash, and dirty. But after her best friend "checks out" of life, Tash decides to get revenge. Through this, she meets a boy, Grant Blue who in her estimation is perfect in every way. And it is Grant that helps her see herself for what she could be, not for what everyone believes her to be.

First let me just say I loved this book, I hated this book, and then I loved it even more! The writing is outstanding. It's funny, ironic, and at times I feel like I'm gabbing with my best friend. Throughout the story Tash is talking to you the reader, she even insults you many times making it very hard to like her. But in spite of those things, I loved her! I related to her struggles even though I personally have never experienced the horrors that she did as a child.

The author creates a world of high school hell, one I remember well. And with Tash's words, I felt like I was right back there. Her best friend Margot is lovable, frail, and so relatable to many of the girls I went to school with. Then there's the perfect guy, Grant Blue who "seems to deserve a classification apart fom everyday human beings." He's valedictorian, her tutor, and for some reason she can't fathom he thinks she deserves "better." I think we all had a Grant Blue! I know I did. Oh and Becca Foster!!! The penultimate mean girl......the way this character is described by Tash made me want to find this person and shove her head in a toilet (and I am not a violent person, but she would so drive me to it)! I hated her with a passion! Not sure I've ever felt that kind of hatred towards a fictional character, yet maybe it's because we all knew a girl just like her in high school. Ugh! and Trent Gibson....yuck! That's all I'll say about him.

This book, for no better way of explanation, is somewhat of a modern day telling of Cinderella, without the fairy tale part. It sends a good message to young women to stand up for yourself, that you are worth it, and you did not ask for it.
So my parting thought, Tash deserves a second chance and a happily ever after!

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is nothing like I expected it to be which made it all the better. Really enjoyed it!

Bound by Lies by [a:Hanna Peach|6586877|Hanna Peach|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1353805982p2/6586877.jpg] is book one of the Bound series, an adult erotic suspense novel. The premise of this story is fairly simple, girl on the run from her past, meets stranger in bar, falls madly in love, and past catches up to her. However if you have read anything by this author, what looks simple in the beginning is never the case in the end.

I absolutely loved the Dark Angel series by this author and was looking for something to read when I came across this book. I usually don't shy away from books, but I did for a little while on this one. In fact I bought it back in February and literally waited til just now to read it. So first chapter in and a main character is already showed that she is screwed up in the head. In fact she's at some bar where you can actually rent a private room for your :::clears throat::: pleasure and that's exactly what she's doing...



Well I soldiered through that atrocity until our MC meets Caden Thaine (same chapter mind you) and hops on his motorcycle for a ride home. Apparently she's seen him around the bar and well is attracted to him. After this initial meeting they begin seeing each other on his terms. He somehow leaves her notes with no postage stamp mind you at her work, home, in her purse telling her where to meet him and when. Stalker alert!!!



I'll be honest, I wasn't completely invested in this book until I got about half way through it. At that point, the author takes us into the MC past and we see why she is the way she is: secretive, non trusting. It blew my mind. Before reading about her past, I was completely apathetic to the character and her story, then it left me bereft and I actually cried for her. This story is more than just an erotic novel. It brings light to abusive relationships and how to escape them.

But the MC isn't the only one hiding something. Caden is too and I won't spoil it because it was nothing that I could've guessed. I found his character flawed, yet very sweet in his love for the MC. Now you are probably wondering why I call her the MC or main character. Well, the author never revealed her name, not once! Instead we get the nickname "Kitten" which I'm sorry, but every time Caden called her that I felt my skin crawl. I'm not sure why, but it did.

So overall, I truly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for its sequel. The ending is a surprise twist and is explosive! So why 4 stars instead of 5? It took nearly half the book before I was invested in the characters and storyline, several reviews I've read gave up reading before then. If you are one of them, go back and finish! If not, then push through and you won't regret it.

My Initial Reaction:

That's it?!?!?! Don't be fooled by the synopsis as I was. This is not a standalone book and ends with a major cliffhanger after taking nearly the whole book to get to the climax.

End Times by [a:Anna Schumacher|7341043|Anna Schumacher|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] is the first in a series about well the end of times. Told in limited 3rd person POV and alternating POV between three main characters and a few ancillary characters, I found the storyline hard to follow and the plot dragged out. The book begins with Daphne, a seventeen year old, who is running from her past and runs straight to her uncle and his family in Carbon County, Wyoming. On her arrival strange things begin happening, trumpets sound when she crosses the town border and she strikes oil for her uncle. But that's only the beginning.

Oh where do I begin?!

It's so easy to write a review for a book you love and a book you hate, but very hard to write one on a book that you are indifferent to. I'll break it down for you:

What I liked:
1. The alternating POVs: I love books that give the readers an overall picture and this one does with the different POVs. It alternates mainly between the two main characters, Daphne and Owen, whose individual stories come together about midway through the book. But it also gives us the POVs of Janie (Daphne's cousin) and her boyfriend Doug (who happens to be the antagonist of this book).
2. The Plot: I liked the premise of the plot, you know doomsday, end of times stuff.
3. The Resolution: The ending, though it is definitely a cliffhanger, still redeemed this book for me. It answered many of the questions that hovered throughout the whole book.

What I didn't like
1. The characters: I was very apathetic towards the characters. I didn't feel any real connection with them and to be honest could have cared less what happened to them. Only one instance did I actually feel any emotions towards the characters and that was an event that happens towards the end (so no spoilers!!) with Janie and I'm not sure if I felt something for the characters themselves or the event stirred emotions in me (I'm thinking it was the event that occurred).
2. The plot: So as I already stated I liked the premise, but the execution I did not care for! There was a lot, and I do mean a lot, of build up to the climax and then it was just okay. It was not mind-blowing, or even something that I didn't predict. I had already guessed, so I found it very anti-climatic, especially after the build-up (which was essentially the entire book, as the climax occurred in the last two chapters).
3. The Resolution: Again, it's a cliffhanger and I was under the impression that this was a standalone book, so this dislike is all my own and has nothing to do with the book or author. I was just sorely disappointed when I reached the ending and it was not concluded.

Overall I have mixed feelings for this book. Did I like it? Eh, maybe a little. Would I have purchased it on my own? Definitely! The synopsis and cover alone were enough to entice me. Will I keep reading when the next in the series comes out? Yep. Why you ask if I am so indifferent. Well, I'm a little OCD when it comes to books or anything with a cliffhanger. I like to know the ending and after investing a few days into the first book, I will definitely watch for the rest of this series as I think the author has laid a good foundation and the rest of the series should be excellent! If you like YA dystopians, doomsday, and action/suspense/mystery you should give this book a go. You may find you enjoy it!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet story!


The Lady Astronomer by [a:Katy O'Dowd|5311518|Katy O'Dowd|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1396016591p2/5311518.jpg] is a throwback to classic fairytales of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth. And I loved it! This story revolves around Lucretia and her brothers Freddie and Al. Freddie and his sister are astronomers for the King and have been commissioned to make a forty-foot telescope and chart the skies. Unfortunately for them this means a move, and after several unlikely mishaps Lucretia finds herself away from her family and in the King's court until the telescope is completed.

The characters are so charming and well written. Lucretia is a petite woman with no physical beauty due to malformations from disease as a child. She also must wear a mono scope fashioned by her brother Al. This has never bothered her. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and very loyal to her brothers. Freddie is the eldest brother and also in many ways the father to his sister and Al. He is also quite smart and unable it seems to do anything without his sister. Al is the middle child and an inventor. He is very imaginative and always thinking up new ideas and creations. But I can't forget Orion the owl and Leibniz the lemur, Lucretia's pets but in many ways they are her children.

The story itself is very much like a fairytale and the style of writing puts me in the mind of Neil Gaiman and C.S. Lewis. Very classic and completely magical! Al's creations, like his clockwork orchestra, come to life with their own thoughts and ideas even though they are simply made of metal. But this magical component is so well blended with the everyday that it feels as if this world exists!

With strong characters and such a well thought out world, the book is captivating and I personally can't wait for my son to be old enough to enjoy this book as much as I have. It is truly a fairytale for all ages!

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.