Chosen Thief (Forever Evermore #4) by Scarlett Dawn ~ Review

Source: e-ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Chosen Thief (Forever Evermore #4) by Scarlett Dawn

The second saga in the bestselling, groundbreaking Forever Evermore series begins with Chosen Thief, where the life of a skilled lawbreaker becomes much more than she ever wanted...

Caroline Jules knows death is imminent. She’s only 22, but as an inmate of Death Row in the most secure Mystical jail, what else could her future hold?

Caro has no idea. Her solitary, transient life is about to get flipped on its head when it is revealed that she is the new Prodigy Elemental, and she has responsibilities and ties that she can’t ever escape. Caro is attempting to run from a brutal past, but the Rulers have other plans for this thief’s future.

But the transition from a self-contained existence to life with the other Prodigies, the Kings and Queens, and even the Elders was never going to be easy, and Caro has secrets she’s loath to share. Suddenly she has friends, mentors, lovers — and they all want to know more about her than she is willing to reveal.

Will Caro ever escape the darkness of all she is, or will she fall deeper into the life that has been chosen for her?

Review...

When I read King Hall back in August of 2013, I was in love. The characters, the story, the EVERYTHING struck something in me that had me already loving this series. Then I read King Cave in January of 2014 and again, I fell head over heels. That lovely sequel cemented this series as one of my all-time favorites. Then King Tomb happened and Lily and Ezra's story was over. BUT... there were more books. More books that follow different characters, where we'd get to see old characters but the true focus would be these new characters.

I was a mix of nervous and excited about this continuation. It's the same world, and we DO see the old characters. A whole heck of a bunch, actually. But I was worried there wouldn't be that spark I felt with King Hall and the original trilogy that made me fall so far in love. I was still looking forward to this book. Goodness gracious, I was SO excited for this. But I was nervous, too, and that was okay, because I could handle being both. Chosen Thief released, and I've waited this long to have the time to pick it up, and...y'all.

Y'all.

Y'ALL.

This book... With this book, Scarlett Dawn has done it again. All my worries? My fears that there wouldn't be that SOMETHING to make this series stand out as one I adore? HA. Such a useless worry. Because this book brought back that EXACT same feeling I had with King Hall. Gah, I freaking love this series.

I freaking love this BOOK.

Caro is an elemental, a special kind of elemental at that. She's tough and mysterious, and completely interesting. I was a huge fan of her being an elemental. We didn't see that kind of mys much in the first three books. Other than Jack and a couple of Elders, we didn't see or know much. But now we're immersed in it with Caro (and Sin!), and that was so cool.

There are new characters mixed with old ones here. New Prodigies--Aria, London, and Brann (Brann, of course, being my favorite of these). New friends--SIN. Dear sweet baby goodness, I adored Sin. And then there was Leric, who I am for some reason a huge fan of. I'd originally thought it was a tie between Brann and Sin as my favorite characters, but now that I've finished the book I'm stuck between Sin and Leric. I just do not know. But I'm a fan nonetheless. These new characters along with Caro brought in all the banter and wit I've come to expect from these novels, and I loved it!

And our wonderful characters from the first three books are prominent in Chosen Thief, as well--Lily, Ezra, Pearl, and Jack. We see them as King Collins, Queen Ruckler, etc now, but in my mind they're always their first names. They were just as great as always, but their growth from the first books is extremely evident. They're grown up, strong, and can be responsible...but they're also still themselves. They've still got humor, and they're Rulers now! So they're training their Prodigies and acting like the Kings did when THEY were Prodigies. It was so great.

There are also Elders present, by the way. I feel like they will play more of a part in the next book(s) than they did in this one, however. Still, it was nice seeing them again. I love the original cast so much, it makes me incredibly happy that I don't really have to let them go yet, though there IS a new story happening with new characters.

The writing, the pace, and the general story and plot are just as engrossing as the other books in the series. I was stunned when I made it to the end--like, it's actually OVER? ALREADY? I want more. So. Bad. There was humor and sweetness, and all the things I look for and love in a book, along with all the things I've come to know, expect, and love from a Forever Evermore novel.

As far as romance goes... I don't know! It was there and sufficient and my heart feels so happy with this book. But I have no idea who Caro is going to end up with. I think I know who I WANT her to end up with, but I'm terrified that won't happen. There's Sin...who I enjoy, but I don't think he's really a love interest. An amazing friend, though. I want my own Sin. Then there's Isa, who is okay, but of all the other possibilities for love interests here I like her least. The way I see it, they have the smallest connection of all the others. I'd put Sin above her in the running for love interest. And then there's Brann, but I'm not touching that one. Love him. Don't know how likely an actual relationship is, though. Lastly, there is Leric. I am oddly attached to Leric. I want him to be around and stay around and I want to be WITH him. It's too early to tell what will happen, however. But I'm sure you can tell what I'm hoping for...

Overall, Chosen Thief was everything I could have hoped for and more in this fourth installment in the Forever Evermore series! Witty banter, quirky characters, and an addicting quality that is thread through every word all add up to equal a story I 100% ADORED. And now I'm anxiously awaiting the next book. I need it in my hands. Goodness, this waiting is already painful, but also so very worth it. This series is phenomenal.

5 stars - Everything I could have hoped for and more in this fantastic addition to one of my all-time favorite series!

Sweet by Erin McCarthy ~ Review

Source: Received an eBook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sweet(True, #1) by Erin McCarthy

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house.

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself.

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

My Thoughts:

4 stars- This book, this series stands out among New Adult and shouldn't be missed.



There's something different about this series.  It's New Adult and the books are campaign so they stand on their own but the flavor is different.  Let me try and explain.

I totally love campaign series'.  I love the focus on two characters while still finding out what's up with the rest.  Meeting Riley and Jessica in book 1 was great and still seeing Tyler and Rory in this book was awesome.  The hints were there for book 3 as well and I loved that too.  All of that is similar to other campaign series'

I loved the New Adult aspect of this book.  Learning who you are and what you want out of life is such a fun story line.  Jessica makes some serious growth in this book.  She faces some huge changes in her life and I love that she meets the challenge.  Riley must deal with equally difficult and very grown-up issues.  While his temper gives him fits, he does a great job getting his stuff together.  I've seen this in other NA books as well.

The love between Riley and Jessica is far from instant.  I actually think they might do each other in at the beginning, given the chance.  But they find out that they are so much alike that it works for them.  Their relationship develops at a great pace and I really enjoyed hanging out with them for it.  Again, you will see this in lots of NA books.

So what is that different flavor to this book?  It's the ride.  Some books send you on emotional jumps and leave you reeling.  Breaks are required just to get yourself in a place to keep going.  Authors do this to add depth and passion to the story but sometimes it just makes the book too hard to read.  This book, however has a way of adding the depth and passion without the emotional pain.  I always felt like there was hope.  The characters never stepped outside of their relationships.  Even when they fought, I knew they cared about each other and I felt the resolution to get through it.  That's what I really liked about this book.  The hope was never taken from me yet I still felt their pain and level of emotions.  It made it so much more enjoyable to read.

There was lots of laughing in this story.  I loved the pita nickname.  I loved the dance between Riley and Jessica when it came to sex.  I loved that they reached for something more - though Jessica may have wished to plow into it faster.  She realized the reasons later.  It was so beautiful to see their relationship become genuine and durable.  Their road will not be easy.  They needed that.  So it's real.

This book, this series stands out among New Adult and shouldn't be missed.

About the Author:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written almost fifty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for New Orleans, tattoos, high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

All Of You by Christina Lee ~ Review

Source:  Received an eBook copy through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

My Thoughts:


 
4 stars - Two souls that crave and need each other - such a great ride!

When trust is taken at a young age, it's hard to trust again.  Both of these two characters have trust issues.  Both have come from similar childhoods where moms made decisions that affected them profoundly.  But each has reacted to things differently.  Avery plays the field, never letting a guy in her bed for long and never in her heart.  Bennett holds his heart differently, not giving a girl all of him.  They need each other to learn that trust again.

When I was asked to read this one, I read the premise and thought - oh yeah...WANTS.  Tattoo artist and player girl?  Hearts hidden but events changing that?  Yes, please.  I love it when two people can heal each other.  Some may feel it's an over used New Adult theme but I think it's the most hopeful thing about New Adult.  So many grow up in less than perfect circumstances and those years right after reaching adulthood is the time to either fix it or to become more jaded.  I love the hopeful stories of healing hearts and minds.  And the healing in the story doesn't magically happen just because they are attracted to each other - no time and experiences combined with that attraction build the love they need to heal.  Loved that.

I so loved Bennett.  He's a hot artist.  Yeah he does tats too but I love that he's an artist first.  He draws and there's an art show in the story.  We see a couple of his consult sessions for tattoos and I love how he asks questions and then he draws from their answers, creating something unique for each person.  My daughter is an artist and I recognize the process.  She starts with someone's idea but then she wants details to make it real.  I love how the art comes alive then.  So Bennett rang true to me.  

While this boy is a virgin, he is no saint - his words.  He has some sexy experience and it flows through the story A LOT.  Oh yeah, this is steamy and sexy.  Everything and anything is fair game except that one last thing.  And skills?  This boy has some skills.

I loved Avery too.  She's protecting herself after some pretty tough pain in her teens.  I so got her and I was proud of her.  She pulled herself out of the mess that was her upbringing.  College and a job are her focus.  Kick-boxing and self-defense are important parts of her life along with a couple of great girlfriends.  She's strong and determined - perhaps a little too determined to protect her heart.  In this one thing, her and Bennett are polar opposites.  She's bound up her battered heart to protect it while he's waiting to find the only one that's going to ever own his.  Loved them together from the first time they meet.

The story is strong and I didn't want to put it down.  I really liked the combination of detail and summary.  The balance was perfect.  I never felt like I missed anything but got the whole story.  Started it one night and woke up early the next day to finish it.  The clues gave me what was up with Avery's past and I did figure out most things a little before they happened but I loved it! 

If the New Adult bug has bitten you like it has me, then you should totally pick this one up!  If that NA bug hasn't bitten, you need to let it and this one is a great one to start.

About the author:

Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a fashion stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.

Now I live in my hometown of Cleveland, with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I’ve always been an avid reader—reading was actually my favorite time of day when I taught second and third grade.  

But it wasn’t until I became a local newspaper columnist that something clicked. I finally realized I could turn my love of words into my dream of writing fiction.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown ~ Review

Available today! 

Source:  Received from publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story.

 My Thoughts:

 

4 stars - This story, this picture is so much more than a thousand words

This is not my normal read, not even close.  I wanted to read this book because I teach middle school students a unit on Internet Safety and it includes sexting.  I wish I could have them read this book.  That would be enough to convince them to never do it.  It would be enough to convince them it's possible to pick up the pieces after everything has fallen apart.  This story, this picture is so much more than a thousand words.

I liked Ashleigh.  She was your typical good student/athlete kind of girl.  Great boyfriend and great friends with no real issues.  The only problem was that her boyfriend was leaving for college and she was afraid of losing him.  Her choice to take and then send him a nude picture to keep his interest dramatically effected her life.  It effected Kaleb's life so much too.  You see, he was eighteen when he decided to pass that picture on in a fit of rage.  Now he's facing adult charges of child pornography.  Neither of these two meant to cause the problems that they did, they didn't think.  That's what I really want my students to understand.  The moment you hit send, you lose all control over what you sent.  Anything can and does happen to it once it hits cyberspace.  I explain this.  I show videos of people this happened to.  We look at real life case studies.  We make presentations about them.  But it just doesn't seem to hit home.  How do I know it doesn't hit home?  All you have to do is visit You tube to know they are not listening to me.  I think they would listen to Ashleigh.

This book is split between before and after the incident.  We see the events unfolding in one chapter and the consequences  in the next.  Knitting both sides together, this book is a powerful story of just how painful this kind of mistake can be.  It can show just how much you might have to pay for a moments mistake.  But it also shows how it's possible to survive such an event and move on with your life.

I shall not speak of Kaleb.  He made me so angry that I struggled to have sympathy for him, though I know he got much more than he deserved.   I will, however, speak of Ashleigh and Mack.  Ashleigh is strong but not enough to survive this when even her friends abandon her.  What I loved was that the quiet boy from community service had so much to teach her.  She learned without him speaking a lot.  He was her strength and stood by her.  His life and his pain was bitter but he stood by Ashleigh.  This isn't a new love interest for her, no this is a great friend.  Mack helps her discover the strength that was in her all along.  He is the friend she needs to over come the pain that others thoughtless dump on her for a moments mistake.  I loved Mack.

This is must read for any teen.  I wish I had the power to assign it as required reading at every middle school and high school in the nation, in the world.  I would.  Teens need to understand this.  This story does a powerful job of teaching.

If you are a teen, or know one, then pick this one up and check it out.

 

Jennifer Brown | Goodreads | Twitter | Amazon | B&N

The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar

Source:  Received eBook from publisher through netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

My Thoughts:




4 stars - Fun magic and kissing, what could be better?

Genies? Really.  Love that idea.  Love the idea of how they come into being.  Love how it fits so nicely into a modern and normal life - like they could be there hanging around and I'd never know.  The premise is fun and different.  The mind reading thing makes things interesting.  The bad genie dude is interesting.  Just loved the story.

Oliver.  Loved him.  I can't tell you the things about him that I want to for fear of spoiling things but I love how real he really is.  And green eyes! He has green eyes.  I can say that I love how he approaches his magic.  His desire to get wishes right, his hope to make the lives better of those he serves, his pride in his work...I loved all those things about him.  He's sweet and kind.  AND I loved how despite not falling for others in the past, he falls for Margo.  It's sweet.

Margo is interesting.  I like how she thinks things through and figures things out.  She probably over thought the age thing and maybe the other thing that I can't really say but I liked her.  She didn't fall all over Oliver but came to love him.  I loved that she kissed him the first time.  You go girl.

This one's quick and easy.  A comfortable, satisfying read after some emotional ones I've read lately.  Just what I needed.   If you like a little paranormal in your romance or a little romance in your paranormal, then this is a great choice.

Lindsay Ribar | Goodreads | Twitter | Amazon | B&N

Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler ~ Review

Add to Goodreads

Source: netgalley

From Goodreads:

She Never Thought A Kiss Could Kill. . .

Samantha is new at school and just recently joined the swim team. She’s been flirting with one of her teammates, Zee, who invites her to a party and just as quickly dumps her for another girl. Hurt, but pretending not to care, she turns to his best friend, Alex, and gives him a kiss. And he dies—right in her arms. Alex was allergic to peanuts, and Samantha had eaten a peanut butter sandwich right before the party. She didn’t know. Overnight, Samantha turns into the school pariah and a media sensation explodes. Consumed with guilt, abandoned by her friends, and in jeopardy of losing her swimming scholarship, she will have to find the inner-strength to forgive herself for the tragedy.

My Thoughts:

 

4 stars- Messy and real, this story will stay with you

I needed this book.  Some books I read are crazy with misunderstandings that get figured out and everything just ends up working out perfectly.  Not that I don't love and want the HEA but life just isn't like that.  Even when things work out in life, there are always these pieces parts that are a mess.  I was ready for a book that was more like real life.  Ready to read something where the teens acted like the ones I hang with as a teacher.  Where the pain is real and the HEA isn't perfect but real.  That's what this book brings.

I didn't cry through this book, I flew through it.  Sam is devastated by Alex's death, filled with pain and guilt.  She doesn't pick herself up after a couple of days and say, yeah I'm okay and fall head over heels for some boy trying to help her.  No, her reaction seems real and while it's hard to watch I couldn't tear myself away.  I had to know what happened.  And there's more going on than any one character even knows.  Sam lost her mother at a young age.  Both her and her father have yet to deal with it.  This brings that all to the surface again.  Her dad has a little secret of his own that he's not sure how to tell her.  Zee, Casper, Chole, they're all are not dealing with things but are just surviving.  I think a lot of times that's what people do when there are problems in their lives.  They ignore and cope the best they can until something happens to force it to the surface.  That what this book brings.

The pace of this story was perfect.  You can't survive this kind of thing in a few days or weeks and this story had a solid timeline.  All through that pain, I wasn't waiting for the end but watching the story flow so well.  Real. Messy. Genuine.  That's what this book brings.

If you like the YA scene, then this one needs to be on your list and moved up to the top.

Janet Gurtler | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Amazon | B&N