Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston Review

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS NOVEL DEALS WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT As stated, this novel deals with sexual assault and violence. Please read with caution. If you or a loved one have experienced sexual assault or have been directly impacted by sexual violence, please reach out for help at 800-656-4673 or visit RAINN for more information. This review does not contain explicit description of sexual assault or violence. No major spoilers are discussed or mentioned. I honestly have to say that this novel has impacted me in so many ways that I am unable to describe how moved I am by Johnston's words. Hermione's character has been through the unimaginable, and I have the upmost respect for her and the way that she was able to cope with the assault. Dealing with material such as what is discussed in the novel takes serious understanding of what is occurring to Hermione and seeing how the people around her react to the situation. I found that multiple times that Johnston's words had moved me to tears as Hermione's story moved on, and discovered that those around a victim may not react the way that they are expected to. The students and adults who were involved in Hermione's life had influenced her decisions, but I had gained so much respect for Hermione when she took her fate in her own hands and would not let the "curse" of her high school change the course of her future as well as her being. Especially regarding the horrific event that Hermione has gone through, Johnston writes in the most powering and unflinching manner of the hardships and obstacles that Hermione has to go through, including dealing with rumors and her boyfriend, Leo. In my most sincere opinion, Exit, Pursued by a Bear, is one of the most impactful and riveting novels that I have read in years, and is a story that all must hear. Johnston does an outstanding job in the depiction of the aftermath of a sexual assault as well as the internal struggles that are commonly overlooked. You are there with Hermione through it - from the initial assault all the way to the end, and as you travel alongside her as she begins to remember the night of the attack as well as respond to the reactions of her classmates and the events after the assault. As a topic that is not discussed often among the young adult community, this novel takes storm as Johnston creates a story that is all too real for many people, and opens the eyes of the reader. I definitely recommend this novel to older and mature readers, as this is a topic that can take a serious toll on the reader, or may trigger some readers. That being said, with such a hard topic to discuss, Johnston did a fantastic job in showing all sides of the trauma that was experienced - it was not looked over and dismissed, but rather addressed to the readers. The interactions that Hermione has with other characters is raw, and the readers are truly in her mind as she lives through this trauma. Because this is a topic that many people are weary of discussing, this novel really allows a healthy discussion of sexual assault and the repercussions it has on the victim, their life, and those around them. If you have read The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith, you will find a similarity in the way true honesty that Johnston writes in Hermione's story. You can add Exit, Pursued by a Bear on Goodreads now, and follow the author to keep up to date on publications and releases. You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney Review + BLOG TOUR

Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney

I would first like to thank Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for including me in this blog tour, and providing me with a copy of Black Dawn for an honest review! It is an honor to be the first stop on this bog tour! Is it bad that from the very beginning, I was rooting for Emory and Brokk to get together? I don't know what it was about them, but their chemistry seemed so strong from the first chapter, and while after Emory regains her memories and appears to have a distaste for Brokk, I still held on to hope that they would work it out. Memphis, on the other hand, did not appear to act the way I expected him to. While I understand that he was her childhood friend, he laid this claim on her from the minute they rescued her, even when he was seeing someone else. I really do like the dynamic between the three characters, and each are written so well and unique. You don't get the usual character tropes in this book, you are given characters with attitudes and a sense of individuality. The book is written very well, it is quick paced and is a great read. It definitely is a book that you can read in one day, and is a book that will make you dying for more. As this being Mallory's debut book, I am very impressed and will definitely be reading more! I would highly recommend this book to fans of Catalyst Moon and Blackmoon Beginnings!

Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney

Publication Date: February 14, 2017

Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing

The end of an Empire, the rise of a Queen

Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory's arrival she will discover she is the long-lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.

With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.

Some things are better left in the shadows.

Mallory McCartney currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their two dachshunds Link and Lola. Black Dawn is her debut novel, the first in a series. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found dog grooming, book shopping and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

 Three (3) winners will receive a signed copy of Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney (INT)

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Catalyst Moon: Incursion by Lauren L. Garcia Review

Catalyst Moon: Incursion by Lauren L. Garcia

I would first like to thank tumblr user "chrissylvania" for recommending this book to me and sending me a link to read it. Thank you! I would also like to thank Leo from Inkitt for sending me a physical copy of the book as well! This was such an amazing read - the characters were all unique in their own way, and their development was written very smoothly and realistic. As soon as you begin reading the book, you are immediately thrown into the action and plot line, and are introduced to the main characters that you will be seeing throughout the book. There was never a dull moment while I was reading this book - there was always some sort of action, situation, or confrontation - making this the perfect read for those who love to be on the edge of their seats reading a book that is constantly moving at a fast pace. You will fall in love with the characters and root for their success throughout the entire book, hoping for the best, as any reader would. There is a dash of romance in the book, but it does not overtake the entire plot, which is refreshing to see, and allows the readers to become invested in the plot, rather than the romance alone. Also, huge plus - no love triangle!! - this was such a nice aspect of the book because it took away the constant struggle of choosing who Kali, the main character, would end up with. I highly recommend this book to fans of Blackmoon Beginnings by Kaitlyn Hoyt and The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, both include a fantasy aspect and romance that will draw the reader in until the very end. Please check this book out, and support Lauren L. Garcia and her fantastic writing!

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker Review

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker Review

I wish I could give this book 100 stars, it was just such an amazing ending to a duology and I am so satisfied with the ending that the author wrote :) I was so happy to be back in the world of Elizabeth, John, Fifer, and everyone else, and it was such a well written novel as well. It picks right back up after the ending to The Witch Hunter, and dives back into the situation that we were last left off with handling. The book ran very smoothly, and was at such a nice pace that I was able to nearly finish the entire book in a day; the pace really helped the motions of the book flow as well, and added the extra action that the book needed. Virginia Boecker did an amazing job writing the characters and their developments throughout The Witch Hunter, and she definitely did not disappoint in this installment. You are able to feel connected to the characters and understand why they do the things that they do, and get into their thought processes as well. Elizabeth is such an interesting character to read about because she starts off in the series as one of the most hated types of people in the land - a witch hunter - and then slowly is able to change her ways and become one with the people of the city. Each character has their flaws, and they make them who they are and influence how they act in certain situations. I absolutely loved this book, and can probably say that it is one of my favorite reads of 2016, and one of my favorite series that I have read. I highly recommend this series to fans of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige. Both books involve young girls who are fighting to take over the existing ruling power, and are done so beautifully. “I understand the need for deception. I should; I live a life of it. Distasteful, perhaps. But necessary.”  ― Virginia Boecker, The Witch Hunter

COVER REVEAL: The Promise by C.E. Wilson

   

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

The Promise by C.E. Wilson!

 

What does it mean to be a human?

Lily Larkin is about to find out when on what should have been a day of great happiness, she is diagnosed with a rare and unbelievable disease. She is shrinking, possibly without limit. As her life starts to spin out of control and the world starts to grow around her at an uncontrollable rate she is forced to confront her greatest fear - losing the man whom she loved from the moment she saw him. Can they stay together even though she feels her humanity slipping away? Can she trust him with her secret and, as her disease progresses, her safety and even her life? Can she trust herself? A bittersweet story of love and loss, The Promise is a YA Paranormal Fantasy that will have you questioning the meaning of your own humanity and the weighing of trust against love. What will Lily choose? What would you choose?

The Promise by C.E. Wilson Publication Date: November 16, 2013

Available for Purchase:

Amazon

 

 

C.E. Wilson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and has been living in Pittsburgh since 2009. For the first few years living in Pittsburgh, she was an English teacher. Her first book, "Oath of Servitude," was published in 2012. In 2013, she quit teaching to be a full time author and hasn't looked back since. She loves spending time with her daughter and husband.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard Review

The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard

I've always been a fan of Sara's writing, ever since I was gifted the first ten books in the Pretty Little Liars series right after the show first aired on ABC Family, and have loved her books ever since. I already have a review of The Good Girls, the second and final installment in this series, up on my blog, in case you want to check that out as well :) I didn't really know what to expect from this book, mainly because I didn't really know much about the plot when I first bought the book. I had an idea of what was going to happen, but didn't have enough information to really have a steady grasp on what was about to come - and I'm glad for that. The best thing for someone who is about to read this is to not really know much about the book, it adds to the mystery of the book. I really enjoyed meeting all of these new and unique characters that Sara created, and found that none of them were characters that I didn't really connect with or understand. The entire premise of the story is so interesting, and will definitely draw the reader in as they begin to dive deeper into the world of The Perfectionists, and learn that everything is not what it seems. I was never bored while reading this story, and felt that the pace was very well played out and easy to follow as reader and gave the story just enough push that the reader would be able to finish the book in one sitting if they were determined to do so. The twists and turns that Sara includes in the book are truly some that I have never seen before, and it is completely refreshing to be able to see the normal tropes from YA novels be broken down and formed into something new. Anyone who is a fan of Sara's series Pretty Little Liars or The Lying Game will greatly appreciate this novel, as well as fans of The Good Girl by Mary Kubica (similar titles, both completely different and amazing stories!) The mystery, character development, and relationships between characters are all truly stunning, and will indulge any reader who picks up this book.

“She just looked tired. Like she battled the world and the world had won.” 

― Sara Shepard, The Perfectionists

Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki Review + BOOK TOUR

Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki Review

I’m so glad to be a part of the Blog Tour for this book, which was put together by Nori from ReadWriteLove28; thank you so much for including me in this tour and providing me with a copy of this novel! I’m also so proud to be able to participate in this tour during Pride Month, and though I am not a member of the LGBT community, I am a proud supporter of equal love :) This was such an AMAZING book, the representation alone was astounding, and how authentic and realistic it was truly left me as a reader feeling as if I was able to look into the lives of these characters and see something that could be evident in real life. The main character, Montgomery Sole, was a relatable character thatI was able to connect with as a person who is hit with struggles in life, but also as a teenage girl that is going through high school and all of the drama that comes with it. She is put through an experience that is definitely a defining moment in her life, and while she doesn’t handle it well at first, she comes around and finds her way to finding a solution to the problems that have been the result of Montgomery and her antics. The dealing with of the arrival of a man and his debatable views takes the stronghold as Montgomery and her friends’ lives are affected by the influence that he begins to hold over the town. The development of this situation was written very well, and added an aspect to Montgomery’s life that allowed her to be able to realize how her actions are affecting those around her as well as how she is changing as a person as well. The author finds a way to pull everything that happens in Montgomery and the town’s lives together and resolve the major issues that are affecting how they live and how they treat those around them. The Eye of Know plays a decent sized part throughout the story, causing some major problems for some of the town’s most, shall we say “aggressive,” people. I absolutely adored this book and the message that it portrays, and highly recommend this to everyone who needs a nice contemporary read with a dash of self-discovery.

GIVEAWAY: There are 5 (yes, 5!) copies of Saving Montgomery Sole up for grabs - US only

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4197540e86/

Hair in All the Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley Review + BOOK TOUR + GIVEAWAY

Hair in All the Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley

Review: I'm so glad to be a part of "Hair in All the Wrong Places" Book Tour! Thank you so much to Chapter by Chapter for sending me a review copy of this novel and having me as a tour host! I really enjoyed the essence of the story  - it is a quick read that is light and fluffy, definitely for someone who enjoys a type of Middle Grade fantasy. The main character is relatable and is easily understood throughout the entire book, and I found myself really enjoying what Colin had to say rather than wanting to skip to the action part of the plot. All of the characters are unique in their own ways and that element really assists the writing style as well, for you can tell when a certain character is talking without needing the extra "so and so said" at the end of each piece of dialogue. This was such a cute read, and I liked the romantic aspect as well, adding it in made the readers be able to root for the character and his love interest all while hoping that everything would turn out okay in the end. The romance did not over power the true nature and plot of the book, and for that I am thankful - we were able to focus at the problems at hand and not have the romance shadow over everything else that was happening throughout the novel. I highly recommend this book to fans of werewolf novels and any Middle Grade fantasy novel as well. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Andrew's writing and seeing more of his characters.

Publication Date: June 7, 2016

Publisher: Month9Books

What has he done?

What’s happening to him?

And what on Earth is that smell?

For Colin Strauss, puberty stinks. Blackouts, hallucinations, and lapses in memory are the perils of growing up werewolf.

Worse than that, Colin worries he might have had something to do with the recent attacks on the townspeople. He may have eaten a person. It doesn’t matter that it’s someone he doesn’t particularly like. What kind of boy goes around eating people?

Foolishly, all Colin can think about is how Becca Emerson finally kissed him for the first time. Yep, hormones are afoot.

Yikes!

But girls will have to wait. Collin better get himself under control before someone else ends up hurt or worse . . . dead.

Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25014122-hair- in-all- the-wrong- places

Purchase Links:

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

About the Author: Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press. Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind. Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.

Giveaway Information: Contest ends June 24, 2016

 One (1) winner will receive a scrabble tile book cover charm (US ONLY)

 Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Hair in the Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley (INT)

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e8e554/?

The Rose and The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

The Rose and The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Oh. My. God. This book was everything that I had wanted and more. I absolutely love Renee’s writing, and this series is one of my favorite fantasy/romances that is published. The world of The Wrath and The Dawn is truly exceptional, from the beautifully written characters to the breath-catching plot and setting, it draws the reader into the story. Never once did I become bored with the storyline or have to force myself to read through certain parts of the book - everything flowed so smoothly and effortlessly that it allows the reader to completely immerse themselves into the story and connect with the characters. Speaking of characters, the author did a masterful job in writing the character development from The Wrath and The Dawn to this sequel as well as the development in this novel as well. You will fall in love with the story of these characters as they live through the hardships of their world as well as they discover who they are inside. I suggest reading the three novellas that go alongside this series (read in order) so that you will have a better understanding of who the characters are and how their minds work, as well as having that extra background information on them before you advance any further in the story. I highly recommend this series to fans of A Thousand Nights by E.K. Jonston and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, as all three of these series capture the essence of a beautifully told retelling.

“Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi. For love, people consider the unthinkable...and often achieve the impossible. I would not sneer at its power.” 
― Renee Ahdieh, The Wrath & the Dawn

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Review

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

 I absolutely adored this book! Jane Austen was able to create characters that draw you into their lives and make the reader committed to their every move. The plot never dropped - I was always turning the pages and only set it down when I had to. The writing was beautiful, even though it’s been said that this style of writing is hard to understand, I understood every word and was completely immersed into the story. You’ll fall in love with the relationships between the characters and root for their success and cringe in their downfall. I laughed, I cried. People who are already fans of Austen’s work will thoroughly enjoy this story, and will definitely appreciate the novel. These are some of my favorite characters in the literature world, and hold a dear place in my heart. The romance is not overplayed, and isn’t the center of the entire novel, which is refreshing to see. I only had a few problems while reading it, which were that only at one point that the story seemed to drag out a bit, and that it seemed that Elizabeth was allowing people to control her life and what she did. Overall, this book left a huge impression on me, and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to start reading classic novels that are full of intrigue and choices.

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardguo Review

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This. Was. Amazing. There was action and adventure, with just a twinge of romance that didn’t take over the entire plot line, which was refreshing to see. The characters were each their entirely own person and proceeded throughout the story as individuals who were joined together in this miraculous group of thieves. As usual, Leigh Bardugo’s writing was flawless, and captured the image of the story so beautifully through words and the vocabulary from the world of the Grisha. The story moved with such rhythm that it was so easy to read large portions in a single sitting, and with the world being so captivating, it was easy to get lost into the story. There were only a few times that I felt that the story began to slow down and that I had to make myself continue on, but they picked up after a few pages and carried on with the fantastic tale that our thieves were living. I highly recommend reading the Grisha Trilogy before reading Six of Crows, for that way the reader will have background in the world and understand what events took place before Six of Crows begins, however, it is not necessary to read the trilogy in order to understand the world of this novel. These characters are lovable, even though at sometimes you don’t understand why they do the things they do, they just always bring humor and sass into the storyline. The twists and turns throughout the novel made it even more intriguing than it is made out to be. I can’t wait until Crooked Kingdom, the final installment in this series, comes out!

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard Review

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard

HOLY. MOLY. THE TWISTS. THE TURNS. This book went above and beyond my expectations for the conclusion of The Perfectionists series, and I can honestly say that this book deserves the five star rating that I gave it. The character development was flawless, each time the book changed POV, I felt as if I was truly in the mind of each different character, and they each had their own voice and attitude to contribute to the story. Sara Shepard has been a long time favorite author of mine, every since six years ago when I picked up Pretty Little Liars when I heard there was going to be a show based on the book. The writing in this book made it truly feel as if a teenager was telling a story, and the plot line flowed very well, there was no choppiness to the story or how it progressed, and I was on the edge of my seat during the second half of the book, dying to know who the killer was. Speaking of - THAT PLOT TWIST - I never, in a million years, expected the reveal of a killer to be done so in this fashion, and I must say - it was fantastic. I loved this book so much and I absolutely will continue reading Sara’s books, and highly recommend this series, and any of Sara’s series, to anyone who loves a good mystery. I’m still in shock after finishing this book, and that hasn’t happened to me in a long time :)

“You want to throw your life away for some stupid conversation we had? Like we're the first people ever who talk about people we want dead.” 
― Sara Shepard, The Good Girls