Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade #2) by Jennifer Estep

Hi guys! You all know how much I love Jen's stuff, so I was so happy to be able to be part of this amazing blog tour! I LOVED Dark Heart of Magic (as you will see in my review below)! And also I share some of my favorite quotes!

Title: Dark Heart of Magic

Series: Black Blade #2

Previous book in this series: Cold Burn of Magic

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 27th 2015

Published by: Kensington

Source: Publishers via Netgalley for review and this blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | iTunes

Synopsis:

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...

My rating: ★★★★★
I love Jennifer Estep and all of her writing and am absolutely loving this series as well! I just love the world and all it's characters with awesome powers (love me some good supernatural abilities, and Lila's are awesome!). So, yeah... it's no surprised I loved this book ;)

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

Sunday Post #83: It's Fall, yay!!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: The Suffering (The Girl from the Well #2) by Rin Chupeco

Title: The Suffering

Series: The Girl from the Well #2

Previous book in this series: The Girl from the Well

Author: Rin Chupeco

Genre: YA, paranormal, horror

Publication date: September 8, 2015

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: For review from publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Over the last year I've gone against faceless women, disfigured spirits, and grotesque revenants. Some people keep dangerous hobbies; skydiving and driving at monster truck rallies and glacier surfing. Me? I cast my soul into the churning waters of potential damnation and wait for a bite.

It’s been two years since Tark Halloway’s nightmare ended. Free from the evil spirit that haunted him all his life, he now aids the ghostly Okiku and avenges the souls of innocent children by hunting down their murderers. But when Okiku becomes responsible for a death at his high school, Tark begins to wonder if they’re no better than the killers they seek out.

When an old friend disappears in Aokigahara, Japan’s infamous ‘suicide forest’, both must resolve their differences and return to that country of secrets to find her.

Because there is a strange village inside Aokigahara, a village people claim does not exist. A village where strange things lie waiting.

A village with old ghosts and an ancient evil – one that may be stronger than even Okiku...

My rating: ★★★★★
The Suffering... Weeeeeee! Not usually something you say about a horror book, but I loved it!

So this is a sequel/companion book to The Girl from the Well that is, this time around, told in the POV of Tark, yay! I loved him in the last book and loved him even more in this one! I also loved that it was a male POV, which I always find refreshing and feel there should be more of... Just saying.

Review: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Title: The Girl from the Well

Series: The Girl from the Well #1

Author: Rin Chupeco

Genre: YA, paranormal, horror

Publication date: August 2014

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

The Girl from the Well is A YA Horror novel pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge", based on a well-loved Japanese ghost story.

My rating: ★★★★☆
It's no surprise that I love horror. What is a surprise is that this book was completely off my radar until I saw the sequel. So I immediately fixed that and read Girl from the Well! I heard/saw somewhere that this was kind of like a cross between the movies The Ring and The Exorcist, and I agree! It very much was like them! It's one of the reasons why I was initially drawn to this series, and I'm so glad I read it 'cause it was awesome! One thing I didn't know was that Girl from the Well and The Ring are both based on the same myth/legend! So awesome! Even more great is that this book is told in the POV of the killer ghost! :D It was such a unique perspective that I quite loved and one I wish happened more often. And, okay, before you start freaking out, this ghost only goes after child killers, as she herself was murdered way back when. The concept was just fantastic, to say the least.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #69: Ghosts and Mysteries, Oooooooh!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Book Spotlight: Annie's Defiance (Elemental Myths #3) by Nicole Pouchet

If adult paranormal books are your jam, check out the following! Plus, there's a splash a mythology, which is always great! :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #68

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Sunday Post #82: Water Marbling!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Book Spotlight: Beautiful Curse by Jen McConnel

Hey guys! I have a special spotlight post for you guys today! Why special? Because this book is Greek mythology-based! :D

Review: Valentine's Day Sucks by Juli Alexander

Title: Valentine's Day Sucks

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: January 2012

Published by: Juli Alexander

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon, it's FREE! (As of date posted)

Synopsis:

Who would have thought that a night of babysitting could change her life forever?

Since his little sister bit her in November, Matt Johnson has kept her alive. Only Natalie could have a hot guy climb through her bedroom window every night and have it mean absolutely nothing romantic. Natalie works hard to hide her crush on Matt because the last thing this newly-turned vampire needs to deal with is a broken heart. Her insecurities about Matt come to a head when the mothers insist on them going to the Valentine's dance together. Will this Valentine's Day suck worse than all her previous Valentine's days?

My rating: ★★★★★
Another (surprisingly) fun short story. I say surprisingly because I don't read many short stories... I love my full length novels, especially if they're a series! I also say surprisingly because I'm not a big vampire fan, but seeing as how I pretty much love everything Juli Alexander writes, I decided to give this a shot.

Review: Dead Girl Walking by Sharon Sant

Title: Dead Girl Walking

Author: Sharon Sant

Genre: a, mystery thriller, paranormal

Publication date: July 2015

Published by: Lawsome Books

Source: For review from publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Cassie Brown doesn’t see dead people, she becomes them. The slightest touch forces her to relive their final moments in breath-sapping detail. She herself was dead, killed in the accident that took the rest of her family. But whatever strange power governs the universe, has plans for her that don’t involve her death… yet.

Dante has a recurring dream. Every time he sleeps he sees the exact moment of his own demise. But where did the nightmare come from? If it is a premonition, how long has he got?

A girl and a boy, two damaged souls drawn together. Add a serial killer stalking the streets, a desperate cop and a newspaper reporter with an unhealthy interest in her story, and Cassie is soon mixed up in a lethal game. She may have cheated Death once, but this time he’s keeping a much closer eye on his prize...

Dead Girl Walking is an unpredictable mix of romance, paranormal and crime thriller that will keep you gripped until the very last page.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
In Dead Girl Walking, our main character, Cassie, has the ability to see the memories of the dead, particularly the memories of their death. You see, Cass and her family got in a car accident, one which killed everyone--Cassie's mom, dad, sister, and even herself. But Cass didn't stay dead for long. A couple of hours later, Cass wakes up in the morgue with a morbid power bestowed upon her. You can see why I needed to read this right away! I love awesome, morbid powers like this! That, plus, we get a murder mystery, (and you know how much I love them murder mysteries!) one in which Cass starts out helping but may soon end up as a victim herself. Dun, dun, DUN!

Review: Impostor (Slide #2) by Jill Hathaway

Title: Impostor

Series: Slide #2

Previous book in this series: Slide

Author: Jill Hathaway

Genre: YA, paranormal, mystery

Publication date: March 2013

Published by: HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray

Source: For review from the publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet

Synopsis:

What if a killer took control of you?

Vee Bell’s gift (or curse) of “sliding”—slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes—has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.

But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.

As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide—and that this “slider” is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I read Slide a while ago, but I remember loving it and its concept. I mean, it’s just such a cool power! That being said, I don’t know why it took me so long to read this, but I loved it as well!

Monthly Wrap-Up: August 2015

Another month, another wrap-up post :)

Sunday Post #81

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #67: Short Stories

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Sunday Post #80: No Dragon Balls For Me *Sad Face*

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #66: Mysteries, Mysteries Everywhere!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Sunday Post #79

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2015

Another month, another wrap-up post. This year is going by way too fast!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #65: Mysteries and Superheroes!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Sunday Post #78: The Nail Polish Obsession is Real! (I Also Went on Vacation!)

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: Camp Cauldron by Juli Alexander

Title: Camp Cauldron

Series: Stirring Up Trouble

Books in this same world: Stirring Up Trouble (#1) | Trouble's Brewing (#2)

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: December 2013

Published by: Juli Alexander

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Forced to spend Spring Break as a counselor at a camp for troublesome young witches instead of drooling over hotties at the beach, Emma relinquishes her hopes for romance. Could the perfect guy be waiting in the midst of poison ivy, s'mores, elephant trunks, and kangaroo feet?

My rating: ★★★★★
So this short little story actually takes place in Juli Alexander’s Stirring Up Trouble world, one which witch I love! See what I did there? Because they’re witches? Eh? Yeah, yeah… lame, I know. Lol. Anyway, the main character from that series, Zoe, and her witchy best friend Milo were actually mentioned! Eeeep! That was exciting! I just love Juli’s work! Everything I’ve read so for is just so much fun and so very funny!

Review: No Angel by Helen Keeble

Title: No Angel

Author: Helen Keeble

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Own paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet

Synopsis:

Rafael Angelos just got handed the greatest gift any teenage boy could ever dream of. Upon arriving at his new boarding school for senior year, he discovered that he is the ONLY male student. But what should have been a godsend isn't exactly heaven on Earth.

Raffi's about to learn that St. Mary's is actually a hub for demons-and that he was summoned to the school by someone expecting him to save the day. Raffi knows he's no angel-but it's pretty hard to deny that there's some higher plan at work when he wakes up one morning to discover a glowing circle around his head.

My rating: ★★★★★
No Angel was so much fun! I cannot believe I didn’t read it sooner! I LOVED it!

So, our main character Rafael has decided that he wants to go to his mom’s old all-girl boarding school, this being the first year to open up to boys. But much to Raf’s surprise, upon arrival he finds out that he’ll be the only male in attendance! What starts out as a dream for any guy out there soon turns into a nightmare when things get a little weird from there... a glowing halo, wings, and then more freaking wings! What?! It turns out that Rafael Angelos is a freaking angel! Well, part angel, anyway. And wouldn’t you have it, there are demons roaming around the school, what a coincidence! (Not really, lol.) So, Raf is appointed not only a guardian angel, but a demon hunter as well. Only, there’s more to the situation than he could possibly imagine...

Review: Freak Show (The Nightshade Cases #1) by Patti Larsen

Title: Freak Show

Series: The Nightshade Cases #1

Author: Patti Larsen

Genre: Adult, paranormal, mystery

Publication date: June 2014

Published by: Patti Larsen Books/Purely Paranormal Press

Source: E-book from author for review

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

When transsexual starlet Aisling is murdered, Detective Geraldine Meyers is assigned the case. With help from medical examiner Dr. Rachel Hunter, Gerri realizes this is no ordinary killing. While she might not want to call in over-eager anthropologist Dr. Kinsey DanAllart, the detective is forced to trust her friend's expertise in symbology, even though doing so means admitting "weird" things might be happening in Silver City. As the three friends unravel the mystery of the dancer's death, one thing is made absolutely apparent--something isn't right in their new hometown. And someone is doing everything they can to make sure the truth doesn't come out.

In Silver City, sometimes friendship can be murder.

Welcome to the first Nightshade Case, a series of twenty-one episodes in twenty-one weeks. Please note: this episodic series is based on the television show model, with screenwriting notations and shorter formats. There will be a complete mystery each week, with cliffhangers only occurring in the full season story line.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Freak Show was a very interesting book in that the format of it was very different than your typical novel. It was actually set up like a TV show and I really, really liked that! That was pretty cool and very unique.

Sunday Post #77: Dinosaurs, Sharks, and Pretty Nails, Oh My!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: Spider’s Revenge (Elemental Assassin #5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider’s Revenge

Series: Elemental Assassin #5

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Old habits die hard for assassins.

And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.

Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very, very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen. Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters Mab hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second. Good thing I’ve got my powerful Ice and Stone magic—and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson—to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me . . . no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

My rating: ★★★★★
Finally, the fight we've all been waiting for: The Spider vs Mab Monroe!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #64: Funeral Crashing? What?!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Sunday Post #76

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin #4) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Tangled Threads

Series: Elemental Assassin #4

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: April 2011

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead.

Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too.

The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling... or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead...

My rating: ★★★★★
The war between Mab Monroe and the Spider is finally on.

Review: Venom (Elemental Assassin #3) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom

Series: Elemental Assassin #3

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2010

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.

To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.

At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

My rating: ★★★★★
Our retired assassin known as the Spider sets out to help a friend with a problem.

Review: Winging It! (Confessions of an Angel-In-Training #1) by Shel Delisle

Title: Winging It!

Series: Confessions of an Angel-In-Training #1

Author: Shel Delisle

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: April 2012

Published by: Something Else Publishing

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon (Freebie! But double check the price.)

Synopsis:

She Just Wants to Fly.

Ever decided to do something that seemed like a good idea and in the second before there’s no turning back think, I musta been totally mental when I came up with this? And, then, Oh, well, here goes.

That’s how Angel inTraining Grace Lightbourne felt right before she asked the Big Kahuna to go straight to Earth on a mission as a Guardian Angel. The problem? She never was a great student and now she won’t even finish her last three years of school. To make matters worse, Archangel Michael isn’t happy about her special assignment, but Grace is convinced she’s on a fast track to her wings. Besides, how hard can it be? She’s working with humans, after all.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Winging It! was light and fun and exactly what I needed! Before starting this, I had finished reading a particularly frustrating book, so this was a nice change!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#63)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

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Sunday Post #75: New Hobby?

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: Web of Lies (Elemental Assassin #2) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Web of Lies

Series: Elemental Assassin #2

Previous book in this series: Spider's Bite

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2010

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man... dead or alive.

My rating: ★★★★☆
In Web of Lies, our retired assassin Gin Blanco decides to take on another assignment, completely free of pay. You see, Gin was just working at her restaurant one day when all of a sudden it gets shot at. She of course thinks that it was meant for her, Gin being the Spider, and all. But whoever shot up her restaurant wasn't aiming at Gin, they were actually aiming at one of her customers, Violet Fox. It turns out that this guy--a bully, really--wants the land that Violet's grandfather owns to expand his mining business. And he wants it bad. Gin helps Violet and her grandfather take out this a-hole with a little help of the goody-goody known as Detective Donovan Cain.

Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2015

Hey guys! Can you believe it's July already? Wow!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#62)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

Sunday Post #74

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider's Bite

Series: Elemental Assassin #1

Previous short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: January 2010

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library Book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction... especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

My rating: ★★★★☆
If you've been around for a while, you may have realized that I don’t actually read many books in the Adult genre. But seeing as how I've loved every other book I've read by Jennifer Estep, (Mythos Academy is one of my favorite series ever, and I had just finished reading Cold Burn of Magic before starting this one--which was also awesome!), I knew I had to at least give her other series a chance. And boy was I not disappointed! This Elemental Assassin series just has a very complex and interesting world with equally interesting and likable characters.

Summer 2015 Mythology Review Link-Up

Hey guys! Wow, is it Summer already? That means we're halfway done with the challenge! How are you guys doing?



Happy summer! :)

Review: Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

Title: Forget Me

Author: Kim Harrington (as K.A. Harrington)

Genre: YA, mystery

Publication date: August 2014

Published by: Putnam Juvenile

Source: Library book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

On the three-month anniversary of her boyfriend Flynn’s death, Morgan uploads her only photo of him to FriendShare to get some closure—but she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as "Evan Murphy." She’s never heard of Evan, but a quick search tells her that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Only this boy is very much alive.

Digging through layers of secrets and lies, Morgan is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her boyfriend, her town, and even her parents' involvement in this massive web of lies.

My rating: ★★★★★
So this little book is written by Kim Harrington under the pen name K.A. Harrington. It's a bit different than her other books in that it is a more contemporary with no supernatural components. And if you know me at all, you know I don't read contemporaries, like, at all. These realistic-type books are just to every-day-life for me! I need a little paranormal stuff in my life! However, because I read and loved every other of Kim's books and I just happened to be in the mood to read something specifically by her (and this was the only YA book by her that I had left to read and I actually love mysteries), I knew I had to read Forget Me! And after having read it, I will pretty much read anything by Kim Harrington and under any pen name! She is amazing! *Forget Me* is amazing!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#61)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

Review: Forgive My Fins (Fins #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Forgive My Fins

Series: Fins #1

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: May 2010

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Own paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet

Synopsis:

Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but for Lily Sanderson, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily has a secret, and it's not her huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid--she's a Thalassinian princess. When she discovered three years ago that her mother was actually a human, Lily finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been going to Seaview High ever since. Living on land has its problems--like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher--but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type--when they bond, it's for life.When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Lily, a half-human, half-mermaid princess from the underwater kingdom Thalassinia, is head over heels infatuated with her classmate Brody, which let me tell you was absolutely annoying! Yeah he's a nice guy, and gorgeous apparently, but come on Lily! Just no. Quince kept telling her and telling her that Brody was not for her and that her constant swooning over the guy was ridiculous. I cannot tell you how right Quince was about everything.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (#60)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

Cover Reveal: Children of the Gods by Jessica Therrien

Today I have a cover reveal for you guys! The author of the Children of the Gods series decided to redo her first two covers and release the cover of her third and final book! I read the first book in the series, Oppression, and second, Uprising, a while ago, but I remember I loved them! Hello, Greek mythology! Anyway, I personally loved the two original covers, but I think these new ones are gorgeous as well! Check them out!

Sunday Post #73: Me, Music-Obsessed? Nahhh

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week! Let's get started!

Review: When Lightning Strikes (1-800-Where-R-You #1) by Jenny Carroll

Title: When Lightning Strikes

Series: 1-800-Where-R-You #1

Author: Meg Cabot (as Jenny Carroll)

Genre: YA, paranormal, mystery

Publication date: February 2001

Published by: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Source: Borrowed from library

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Jess Mastriani has never been what you'd call a typical Midwestern teenager—her extracurricular activities, instead of cheerleading or 4-H, include fist-fights with the football team and month-long stints in detention. A part of Jess would like to be the prom queen her mother has always envisioned her being, but another part is secretly counting the days until she's saved up enough money to buy her own Harley.

Then something happens that guarantees Jess will be one of the in-crowd... at least until her newfound talent ends up getting her dead.

My rating: ★★★★☆
It's a typical day at school for Jess--beating up guys bigger than her, going to detention, that sort of thing. But on her typical walk home from school, things take a weird turn... Jess gets struck by lightning! Shocking, I know. (see what I did there? Eh? Ehhh? Oh, I give up...) Anyway, Jess wasn't majorly hurt or anything, so that's great! Until she wakes up the next morning knowing where a missing kid is... Turns out the lightning strike gave her the weird ability to find people who are missing. Useful, but it could also put her in danger under the right (or wrong) circumstances.

Review: Cold Burn of Magic (Black Blade #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Cold Burn of Magic

Series: Black Blade #1

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: April 2015

Published by: Kensington

Source: From publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

There Be Monsters Here...

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her...

My rating: ★★★★★
So, I'll admit that at first I was a bit hesitant about this book. Don't get me wrong, I love Jennifer Estep's other books--Mythos Academy is one of my favorite series! But I think the thing that may have put me off a little was the whole mobster, "Families" thing. I am pretty sure this stemmed from the season nine episode on Supernatural called Bloodlines, which was actually very similar to this. That episode sounded very interesting--a town ran by "Families" of monsters, shifters, werewolves, all sorts of creatures previously seen on the show. Anyway, this episode left much to be desired. Loving Supernatural as much as I do, this was a total disappointment.

At the time I didn't know this episode was this sort of pilot that was supposed to lead into a Supernatural spin-off series called Bloodlines, but I can see why that ended up not happening.

So that's why I was just the tiniest bit hesitant with the whole mob thing--I hadn't had a great experience with it in the past. But I should've known better, Cold Burn of Magic was absolutely amazing! I mean, hello! This is Jennifer Estep! After delving into three of her series (Mythos Academy, Elemental Assassin, and this one), I am convinced anything she writes will be pure gold!