Bookstagram (11)

I really enjoyed this Sense and Sensibility retelling with Dragons.

Of course I love Jane Austen

But I'm also a fan of Stephanie Burgis who writes some great middle grade reads as well. 

 

Review: Fire & Heist

Sky's family is different from other families - she's a wyvern (a human capable of turning into a dragon). Sky used to have the perfect life, but that was before. Now her mom's missing, her Dad isn't talking, and her family's become outcasts. Her boyfriend and her friends all dropped her.

It doesn't help that her mom was stealing from her ex-boyfriend's family. In the wyvern world, stealing isn't a crime. It's celebrated. Unless you get caught.

Sky isn't about to let this go. She needs to know what happened to her mother. When her ex-boyfriend shares some information, she eagerly starts putting together a crew of her own. It's time for her first heist and to find out the truth - or die trying.

My Thoughts: First I love this author. But she had me at heist and again at dragon. I loved how Sky was determined to uncover the truth about her mom's disappearance. I admired how she put together her crew - even after her family rejected her idea. I loved learning about their wyvern history. I enjoyed the moments between Sky and her brothers - both the banter and their sibling bonding moments. I love Gabriela. I loved the twists that I didn't see coming.

Cover Thoughts: Fun
Source: ARC sent for review

If You Like Pins (14)

I haven't done one of these in a long time. But I made a few recently and thought I'd share them. There's no theme to this one. But enjoy!

Travel Romances

Dragons

Girls rocking the fantastical worlds

Graphic novels

Review: Dash of Dragon

Lailu graduated as a master chef and finally found someone to back her restaurant. Little does she know that her master made a deal with the devil in order for funding. Now he's come calling and Lailu learns the truth.

If they don't pay  back the loan within a year, they will lose the restaurant and also their freedom. Lailu is not about to let this happen, she'll do anything in power to stop it - even if it means spying for the elves or fighting dragons.

With the help from a friend and one rival, she comes up with a plan to make her restaurant filled with people. She hates depending on her rival for help, but she can't do it without him. Is her pride worth the sacrifice for her future?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved the banter between Lailu and Greg (her rival). It added humor to the story. I enjoyed the moments between Lailu and her fashion loving friend. I loved the world and understanding the hierarchy. I loved the mystery and the spying (along with with the action and danger of course.) I enjoyed the cooking parts, even if they were dishes I would never eat! I loved Lailu coming up with plans. I really hope there's a sequel in the works! 

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: My Library
If you like:

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public library and school library! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Dragon Books

This week's topic is books with Characters of our choice. I chose dragons because I'm reading a dragon book right now. I think my love of dragons goes back to a favorite childhood book.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

My Childhood Favorite:

Kids:

Middle Grade and YA 

What I'm reading:

Review: Dragon with the Chocolate Heart

Aventurine loves her dragon life, but she hates being cooped up in the caves waiting until her scales are hardened so she can escape danger. Annoyed at everyone, Aventurine  decides to take matters into her own hands and show her family that she can survive.

She escapes through a hole in the mountain case, hurting her wings as she maneuvers outside. But when she encounters a human, she's distracted by the smell of hot chocolate.

After she drinks the chocolate, her form changes into a human. Without her dragon form, Aventurine isn't sure what to do next, but she knows that she finally found her passion - chocolate. Armed with barest hint of knowledge, she makes her way towards the city to become an apprentice at a chocolate house. Can she survive in the city with her limited knowledge of humans?

My Thoughts: I adored this novel. First for the dragons - I loved the family squabbles. I loved Aventurine learning more about the human world. Her limited knowledge made me laugh. The secondary characters brought life in to the story. Greta added humor. Marina added motherly affection. I adored Marina and her knowledge of chocolate. I liked that she feared success. Silke added friendship and sass. I love how she knew how to obtain information and how she pushed herself forward. I adored the two princesses and how Aventurine immediately understood their behavior based on her own siblings. I loved reading about the chocolate houses and the politics of the town. Of course, this book made me crave chocolate - how could it not? I was sad when it ended because I desperately wanted more - and there is more coming! 

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: ARC sent for review
Date Released: May 30, 2017

Library Recommendation:Be sure to get this one for both your school and public library. It's so charming; readers will gobble this one up!

Mini Review: HeartStone

A Pride and Prejudice Retelling with Dragons

How it's Different:
Wyverns
Jane and Lizzie's sister dies before the books open
Monsters
Merybourne Manor
Charlotte's happiness with her husband
The battle at the end

The Feel of the Book is the Same:
It follows a similar plot line (obviously details have been changed to fit the dragon)
Lydia/Wickham story is a bit different - which I liked
The tension between Aliza and Alastair is spot on

I really enjoyed this retelling! 

I wouldn't mind other Austen novels set in this world too! 

If you missed my Q and A with the author, check it out here.

Blog Tour: Heartstone

Title: HEARTSTONE

Author: Elle Katharine White

Pub. Date: January 17, 2017

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Pages: 352

Formats: Paperback eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.

They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.

Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.

Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.

It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.

Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen’s beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.

About Elle:

Elle was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, where she learned valuable life skills like how to clear a snowy driveway in under twenty minutes (a lot easier than you think) and how to cheer for the perennial underdog (a lot harder than you think).

MEET ELLE

When she's not writing she spends her time reading, drinking absurd amounts of tea, having strong feelings about fictional characters, and doing her best to live with no regrets.

​

Connect with her on Facebook at @ellewhite.author, or witness the hilarious spectacle that is a writer contending with the 140-character limit on Twitter at @elle_k_writes.

Website | Twitter |Tumblr | Facebook | Goodreads

Q and A with Elle:1. When did you first discover Jane Austen?Pride and Prejudice was required reading for English class my senior year of high school. Despite being a romantic at heart, I’d made it almost eighteen years without spoilers, so I went into it without any idea of what was going to happen. Good grief, I was so deep into the story I think I actually shouted at Darcy during his first proposal. Needless to say, it was love from page one.
  
2. What made you decide to cross dragons with Pride and Prejudice?Lazy Sunday afternoons and housemates with good taste in movies are a magical combination. I was rereading Pride and Prejudice while my housemate watched How to Train Your Dragon. Halfway through the movie I had a sudden image of Mr. Darcy riding a dragon and, well, that was that. I started writing HEARTSTONE that night.

3. Would you rather be a dragonrider or a healer?Dragonrider. Hands down. First, there’s flying. (Plot twist: I’m terrified of heights, but here’s assuming my hypothetical dragon would be good at catching. So it’d work out.) Second, it’d make for an epic commute to work, and who doesn’t want that? Third, heated seats.
Oh, and also there’s FLYING.

4. Would you ever listen to advice on romance from Aliza's mother?I’d take her advice with several tablespoons of salt, but yes, I’d listen to Moira Bentaine. She has lots of life experience, and hiding beneath her theatrics is a fair bit of well-earned wisdom.

5. What's the best romantic advice you've ever received?“It’s not about you.” In life and in love, that’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten.

Awesome, I CAN'T WAIT to read this book!

Check out the rest of the Tour:

Week One:

1/9/2017- YA Book Nerd- Interview         

1/10/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland - Review

1/11/2017- Novel Novice- Guest Post     

1/12/2017- What the Cat Read- Review 

1/13/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview        

Week Two:

1/16/2017- Fiction Fare - Review

1/17/2017- The Eater of Books!- Excerpt

1/18/2017- History from a Woman's Perspective- Review             

1/19/2017- Stories & Sweeties- Excerpt

1/20/2017- The Book Nut- Review   

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of HEARTSTONE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Review: Smoked

* The final book in the Scorched trilogy * 

Now that Emmy's secret is out, she's in constant danger. Trinity does what she can to help out her dragon, but the tension between them is high.  Especially due to a secret from Emmy. Could her secret destroy everything they've been fighting against?

The Good:
The return of Emmy and Trinity
The danger
The high emotions that ran through the book
The brothers
The ending

The Bad:
The characters made some pretty bad choices along the way

Cover Thoughts: I liked the other two covers better
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A satisfying ending to a trilogy filled with emotion, danger, action, plot twists, and romance. If you're a fan of dragon books, be sure to check this trilogy out!

Spotlight on Smoked

Title: Smoked

Author: Mari Mancusi

Series: Scorched, #3

Pubdate: September 1^st, 2015

ISBN: 9781402284649

Once upon a time the world burned.

Until a girl and her dragon smothered the flame.

But the spark that ignited the apocalypse never went out.

And the scorch is about to begin…

When Team Dragon rescues Emmy from the government lab, they think the future is finally safe. But they soon discover that Emmy has a secret—a secret so dangerous it could trigger the very apocalypse Connor and Caleb were sent back in time to prevent.

As a dragon hunter, Connor has committed his life to saving the world. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to complete his mission…even if it meant betraying his brother and losing Trinity’s heart. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable.

But a desperate choice meant to prevent The Scorch, may be the spark that sets the world aflame once more.

The epic conclusion to the genre-bending Scorched series, which Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of the Blue Bloods series, called  "A heart-pounding, twisty, time-travel fantasy.”

I really liked books 1 and 2! I can't wait to read the end of the trilogy!

Character Interview: EMMY

Full Name: Emberlyn

Nickname (if applicable): Emmy

Height: I’m growing bigger every day

Scale Color: Green

Eye Color: blue

Age:  1

Originally from: my egg was unearthed from a melting glacier. 

Describe yourself in 200 words or less:

I’m the world’s last dragon and I’m bonded to my Fire Kissed, Trinity Foxx, who helped me hatch from my egg. I love TV (my favorite show is the BBC’s Merlin) and scratches on my snout and behind my ears. I’m actually very loyal and loving, though many believe I am a monster that should be put down before my kind destroys the world. I also LOVE meat. All meat, but the bloodier/rawer the better. But no, I don’t eat humans so don’t worry!

What matters most to you?

My Fire Kissed, Trinity. Her safety and happiness mean everything to me.

When not trying to save the world, how do you spend your time?

I’m sort of limited in activities, as I have to keep out of sight. I love watching TV and eating though. Simple, satisfying pleasures.

If money was no object and you had 3 weeks of vacation from being on the run what would you do with your time?

I would fly everywhere, stretching my wings and checking out the world. It would be amazing to have that freedom. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. As I have learned firsthand, the world is not a place for dragons.

An Excerpt
“Okay, Fire Kissed,” he said. “It’s showtime.”Together they jumped out of the truck, slamming the doors behind them. Connor ran around the back, rolling up the door and pulling out a huge box. Trinity helped him heave it onto the loading dock.“Are you okay in there?” she whispered to the box. “Perfect,” Nate assured her from inside. “You guys go on ahead. I should be close enough now to hack into their security cameras and get them offline.” He paused then added, “Good luck. Just don’t forget about me once you have your dragon.”“Never,” Trinity assured him, patting the box. Then she rose to her feet and approached Connor. “Ready?”“As I’ll ever be.”With confident, casual steps, they strode up to the guard, who was propped in a chair by the elevator, his feet up, nose in a book, completely ignoring the chaos around him. Guess deliveries weren’t in his job description. Connor gave him a small smile. “We need the elevator,” he informed him.“Yeah, well, I need my ex-wife to get off my back,” the guard said lazily, snapping his gum. “We’ve all got problems.” Connor’s eyes zeroed in on him. “I don’t think you under- stand,” he said. “We need the elevator. We need to get upstairs. You need to let us in.”Trinity drew in a breath, watching him work. She had to admit, Connor looked particularly hot when he was working to manipulate people’s minds. It was like he got this look in his eyes—those blue, glowing eyes of his—like he was some kind of Jedi Master or something. Truth be told, it kind of made her want to jump his bones. Not that this was the time or the place.Pushing the inappropriate thought down, she turned back to his victim. Sure enough, the man’s face had gone slack, and he was staring up at Connor with vacant eyes. “You need the elevator,” he droned. “You need to get upstairs. You need me to let you in.”Then, to Trinity’s excitement, he slowly rose to his feet, walked over to the elevator in question, and inserted his key. Just like that. A moment later, the doors yawned open. The guard looked at them expectantly.Trin flashed Connor an approving look. You didn’t even need my help for that one, she teased.Yeah, well, it’s all you from here on out, he shot back, but he looked pleased by the compliment all the same.

About the author: Mari Mancusi is a two-time Emmy award-winning television producer and author of novels for adults and teens. A graduate of Boston University, she now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and young daughter. When not writing or producing she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, reading fantasy novels, and her favorite guilty pleasure: video games.

Sounds fantastic right? Then enter to win the complete set!
(US only)

: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Shattered

* Book 2 in the Scorched trilogy *

Trinity's on the run with her two friends, her grandfather, and her dragon.  Emmy doesn't like being cooped up, but there's nothing Trinity can do. She wants to keep her dragon safe.

Trinity doesn't know that Caleb's been letting Emmy out at night for short flights. While out flying, Emmy meets a girl in danger. Emmy helps heal her and in the process gets caught on camera.

Everything Trinity's worked for goes up in smoke when the video goes vial and Emmy's spotted in public.  Both the media and the government are ruthless at discovering the whereabouts of Emmy and  Trinity. Can they stay one step ahead of will their future go up in flames?

My Thoughts: A great sequel filled with lots of action and danger. Bed choices set off a chain of reactions that no one has the power to stop. Trust and loyalty are both called in question.  Trinity's not sure who to trust - and that includes Emmy. It's heart-breaking and it made my heart pound. So many things happen in this book that make me long for the next book immediately to see how it all turns out!

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library

Cover Love: Shattered

Here's the cover for the sequel to Scorched!

Doesn't it look awesome? I can't wait to read this one - loved the first book.

PLUS, Mari's giving away an awesome necklace:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Scorched

Trinity worries about keeping the family museum alive and the bills paid on time She sold her mother's ring for rent money, but instead of paying rent, her grandfather bought an egg for the museum.

It's supposedly a dragon egg. Annoyed, Trinity yells at him and makes him go home while she cleans up for the day.

Almost immediately, she spies a boy about to break the egg. She stops him.  As she's questioning him, men break into the museum. It's not clear what they want, but everyone seems interested in the egg.

The boy helps Trinity escape for the moment. She doesn't understand why she's on the run with this egg and why all these people want her.  Could it have something to do with the voice in her head?

My Thoughts: A start to a new fantasy series that's filled with action, danger, dragons, and a little romance. I like both the brothers - even though they hold very different views. I enjoyed figuring out their relationship. I loved the moments between Trinity and Emmy - especially flying together. The view from the future is horrific, but I love watching Trinity an the brothers struggle to make the world (and the future world) a better place and how they acted upon their ideas. I can't wait for more in this story.

Cover Thoughts: Love it - Love the cover without the jacket more - those scales!
Source: Signed ARC at BEA

Tween Tuesday Review: Dragon Flight

Creel and Marta are busy making Lady Isla's wedding gown - for her upcoming marriage to Prince Milun. Right in the middle of a fitting, Creel receives a note that Citatie has declared war.

The entire Citatie army is riding dragons.

Immediately Creel leaves for the palace where she volunteers to leading a scouting party into Citatie to spy on the other dragons. She hopes to gain information and bring it back to her King.

As Creel is the expert on dragons, it makes sense that she leads the party. The King finally agrees to her plan with the condition that his son's former bodyguard accompany her.

When they arrive in Citatie, Creel's horrified at what she discovers. They have a dragon army. They are breeding dragons. They are controlling dragons with alchemy. Creel's not sure she can stop this army. She hopes beyond hope that it doesn't come down to a dragon fight. After the last fight, she's not sure her friends will survive.

My Thoughts: The sequel to Dragon Slippers I love the bits about sewing (even though I can't sew well). I love the romance between Creel and Prince Luka. I love Marta. I love the dragons. I really just love this trilogy. I can't wait to read the conclusion.

In the acknowledgements, the author mentions how she never meant to write this book. Dragon Slippers was supposed to be a stand alone title, but her editor and her fans kept asking for more. She came up with the idea from chatting with her husband. I have to say, I'm awfully glad that she wrote it.

Cover Thoughts: Good - I like the dragons in the background flying.

Source: Inter-Library Loan.

review: Vanish

Jacinda showed her true colors in front of humans putting the pride in danger in order to save Will.

There's one bright spot in all of her troubles - her sister Tamra finally manifested. She's a shader. She can erase memories and she uses that power to help Jacinda escape the hunters after she showed her true self.

With her secret out, Jacinda's brought back to the pride in shame. Her sister's finally celebrated and accepted. Jacinda is happy for her sister, but struggles to find her place in a world where she was once revered. She is nothing now.

Jacinda attempts to put Will out of her mind for good, but it's no use. She doesn't want to let him go. She doesn't want to give in to the pride and become their puppet. How will she survive?

My Thoughts: I loved the second book!!! I loved how Tamra becomes a larger part of the story and how the sisters bond again. I love how they fly together. The love triangle becomes a more significant part of the story with Cassian taking a larger role. Jacinda has a hard time choosing between what's best for her and what might save her life. She makes mistakes and tries to live with them. She's suffering under the pride rule, but she has inner strength. I can't wait to read more of this sizzling, engrossing, fantastic read.

Cover Thoughts: Love it - I love how Tamra is on the cover.

Source: My Library

Spotted: EONA

I saw this on goodreads this morning.

It looks similar to the new cover of EON. I think I'm one of the few people who liked the original hardcover of EON.I really like this one too though.

Eona comes out 04/19/2011.
I've been waiting for this since I finished EON.
I can't wait to devour Eona!

What about you?

Book of the Month

It's that time again! To share my favorite read and reviewed book this month.

This month's winner is:
Check out my review

What's the favorite book you read last month?

Review: Firelight

Jacinda has a deep dark secrets that one morning almost comes out destroying everything she holds dear. She's a draki - a descendant of dragons who can portray themselves as humans. Each draki has a special power and Jacinda can breathe fire.

This has gained attention from the Prince of her pride. She's not interested in his attentions. After that almost fatal morning, her mother doesn't give her a choice.

Her mother, her sister, and Jacinda pack their bags and escape in the dead of the night. They travel to the desert, where they will blend into the human world. Jacinda's sister can't wait for school, making new friends, and maybe trying out for cheerleading. Jacinda can't believe it.

The heat from the desert threatens to kill her draki form - which is part of her mother's intention. Jacinda feels trapped. She hates her life. Then she meets Will. She meet Will the morning her life changed forever. She feels drawn towards him and even though she knows she should stay away from him, she can't. They dance around each other.

Will she remain in human form or will her struggle with her draki side force her to take action in saving herself?

My Thoughts: When does book two come out? Because I want to read it NOW. Seriously, it's that good. Jacinda and Will's relationship is steamy and sizzling - literally. I can't say enough about this book: there's danger, family drama between sisters, attempting to fit in at a new school, jealous mean girls, a that one boy who makes everything worth it.


The Cover: Amazing. I love the scales around the eye and the shimmering skin- so creative!

Source: My Library

Review: Dragon Slippers

Creel's parents have died, leaving her in the care of her aunt and uncle - who are also struggling to survive. Her aunt concocts a plan to leave Creel at the entrance to the dragon's cave. Surely the dragon will keep her and some brave knight will win back her freedom. Creel will of course have to marry this knight.

Creel is not impressed with her aunt's plan. She doesn't wait for a knight to rescue her. Instead she makes a deal with the dragon. In exchange for leaving and taking the knight with her, she will earn a pair of shoes from the dragon's hoard.

As the dragon agrees to her plan, she selects a pair of blue slippers without knowing their powers. Creel makes her way to the city, where she hopes to find employment with her embroidery skills. In her travels, she runs into trouble and cries for help.

A larger golden dragon hears her cries and comes to her rescue. He takes her to his cavern where she stays for some time as she works produces something to showcase her skills. They form a bond.

Creel reluctantly leaves and heads for the city. There in the space of a short period of time, Creel makes an enemy out of a Princess, meets and befriends a Prince, and finds herself a place among the dressmakers.

However, trouble follows Creel. She's soon in conflicts with the Princess and her employer. When someone betrays her, actions go forth into motion that set the city into danger. Creel finds herself in the middle of all the action.

My Thoughts: I picked this book up because I'd heard good thing about it from a co-worker and also because I love her Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass. I really loved this book - I loved the dragon elements and their different and unique hoards. I loved Creel's adventure in the shop and her relationship with the shop girls. I loved the dragons. I didn't realize this is part of a series, but now I'm eager to read more!

The Cover: I love the dragon - but not really the people.

Source: My Library