Guilty Bookish Tag

 I cam across a fun tag that was posted by AdventuresofaBookishGirl It looks like a fun tag. The original creator of this tag has their profile private, so due to inconvenience, I will not be linking the creator in this post. Their username is ReadLikeWildfire but that’s about all I know. So without further adieu, lets begin.

HAVE YOU EVER REGIFTED A BOOK YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Not that I am aware of. I usually keep all of my gifts that are books. I will give it away or donate it after I’ve read it. But I don’t regift.

HAVE YOU EVER SAID YOU’VE READ A BOOK WHEN YOU HAVEN’T?

I don’t think I have. As a reviewer, I will read a book so I can give an honest opinion and review. If the book drags on too much I start to struggle. And really it’s not that I haven’t read it, I never finished it. The way it was written was horrid and I never could get myself to finish.

HAVE YOU EVER BORROWED A BOOK AND NOT RETURNED IT?

Never, I always returned books that I have borrowed. However, there are only 3-4 books that I borrowed from my mother. Sadly after I got them, I lost my house to a flood. I told my mother that I will replace them and she told me not to worry about it. So I guess that counts? maybe? I mean there is really nothing you can do if your entire house is submerged under water, right?

HAVE YOU EVER READ A SERIES OUT OF ORDER?

Adult books or YA, no. I read them in order. If I purchase a book and learn before I read it, that it takes place later, I will hold onto it until I can get the prior books. 
Childrens books, yes I have read out of order. For example, Nancy Drew and Black Stallion I have read entirely out of order. I am pretty sure I read The Chronicles of Narnia out of order too, until I learned the proper order and corrected my reading.

HAVE YOU EVER SPOILED A BOOK FOR SOMEONE?

Yes, I have. I know I have spoiled at least one book to my best friend. Sorry Anna!!! I can’t remember which book it was, but I’m sure she still remembers.

HAVE YOU EVER DOG EARED A BOOK?

As a child I did a lot. It stopped when I got into my teen years. I could’t stand the crinkle in the page, so it bugged me to keep doing it.

HAVE YOU EVER TOLD SOMEONE YOU DON’T OWN A BOOK WHEN YOU DO?

No, not at all. I don’t care what people think of my reading habits. It’s mine and mine alone. At one point I swore I would never own a trilogy, which I do own now. My reading choices change constantly. So why should I be ashamed for what I read?

HAVE YOU EVER TOLD SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T READ A BOOK WHEN YOU HAVE?

Same question as before, really. As a reviewer, I have to put out there reviews for books I have read. I need to give my honest opinion about the book. So if someone asks me if I read a book, I need to be able to tell them the truth. Yes or No.

HAVE YOU EVER SKIPPED A CHAPTER OR A SECTION OF A BOOK?

Yes. I have. If a book I’m reading drags on to much, I will skip a chapter or two to skip the unnecessary stuff. Or if I am reading a book that I have totally lost interest in, I will start skipping to finish and learn how it ended. 
I have done that with at least one of my club’s reads. I completely lost interest in it after the 6th or 7th twist. At that point it just became a nuisance. I skipped quite a few chapters in that one to finally figure out what was going on.

HAVE YOU EVER BAD MOUTHED A BOOK YOU ACTUALLY LIKED?

No. I have not. Nor do I think I ever will. I don’t bad moth any books I hated either. (Except one because I have no freaking clue how it even became published, It was THAT bad.) 
I don’t even post reviews for the books I didn’t enjoy. I will do a star rating, but I will email the author (if I am reading for them) and explain why I can’t post a review. Even then, I have yet to email an author to give a reason.

That concludes this tag. Please check out AdventuresofaBookishGirl. Her site it rather enjoyable.

Until next time my dragons!

Cursed By Fire by Danielle Annett

Title: Cursed by Fire Author: Danielle Annett Series Title: Blood and Magic Published: April 24th, 2018 Duration: 5 hours 52 minutes Format: Audiobook  Narratedby: Nicole Poole Source: Given for an honest review by author.

Book Summary: Blood is going to spill…. I just hope it won’t be mine.

After two weeks of searching, I found the seven-year-old I’d been hired to find too late. His body broken and discarded. Dead. My boss doesn’t want me to hunt down his killers. It’s too dangerous. But the Pacific Northwest Pack steps in, hiring me to bring the bastards to justice.

Turns out the kid was half shifter. And shifters don’t abandon their own. In a search that takes me through the maze of shifter hierarchy and the depths of the paranormal underworld, these killers underestimate how determined I am to mete out their punishment. Vigilante justice is the only kind these people understand. Yes, blood will spill. And I’m determined it will be theirs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Listener’s Thoughts: I really enjoyed listening to Cursed by Fire. the characters were well developed and the plot perfect. i connected well with Ari. Love the shifter James, personally team James. I find paranormal a little out of my usual reads but this made me want to jump back in. 
I loved the new concept on how the supernatural was brought into the world. I hope we discover more of how that happened. The author thought this through. She made it to where her audience felt every emotion Ari experienced. The scenes were detailed nicely. Not to much to make it over bearing and not to little to make it jump around. 
The cliff hanger though!!!! I need more!!!

This was my first time listening to an audiobook for a review. It was a great experience and I loved it. You can listen to Cursed by Fire on Audible HERE. Or purchase in on Amazon HERE.

Until next time my dragons!

** I was asked to write an honest review for this novel. It was not agreed for the review to be positive. I’m not compensated for my reviews.**

 

Dead Aware: A Zombie Journey by Elenor Merry

 Title: Dead Aware: A Zombie Journey Author: Eleanor Merry Series Title: Dead Aware Published: August 23, 2019 Pages: 251 Format: Kindle Source: Given for an honest review by author as an ARC

Summary:Fever Induced Rapid Encephalitis; AKA. F.I.R.E.

This is the name humanity gave for the virus that covered the globe within days. A highly contagious disease that first seemed to be a run of the mill flu but soon turned into something much more sinister. 
When Max and Clara Jacobs married 20 years ago, they promised to love each other until death did them part. But what happens after that? 

The devoted couple are at opposite ends of the country when a highly contagious virus sweeps across Canada, making zombies of a third of the victims. Waking after death, Max and Clara must learn to accept their new forms, and navigate a chaos-ridden world filled with people who are out to get them. 

Dead Aware is a post-apocalyptic novel written mostly from an undead point of view. Motivated by love this is a story of death, adventure, acceptance… and zombies

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reader’s Thoughts: Dead Aware is an exciting debut for a new author. Eleanor did so well on developing her characters and she thought through each scene.
The exciting thing about this new series is that it takes place in Vancouver, Canada. So we get a new location besides the typical American major city.
This book is fast paced and full of interesting characters. It reminds me of a mix between The Walking Dead and Warm Bodies (minus the obvious Romeo and Juliet romance.)
Excellent work Eleanor! You have a new fan!

You can read Dead Aware: A Zombie Journey on Kindle Unlimited for FREE here

Until Next Time my Dragons!

** I was asked to write an honest review for this novel. It was not agreed for the review to be positive. I’m not compensated for my reviews.**

The Longest Night by Lindsey Pouge

 Title: The Longest Night Author: Lindsey Pouge Series Title: Savage North Chronicles Published:, August 9th 2019 Pages: 119 Format: Kindle Source: Given for an honest review by author as an ARC

Summary:Alaska can be a bleak and dangerous place, especially in the dead of winter. But when hair-raising whispers about an outbreak reach the small harbor town of Whitely, the townspeople face a new, unfathomable fear— the virus is coming for them.

Sophie thought life was complicated when she had teen pregnancy and her squeaky-clean reputation as the mayor’s daughter to worry about. But strict schedules and perfectly groomed hair become yesterday’s concerns as bloodcurdling screams pierce the night air and lurid memories haunt feverish dreams. Weak and alone, Sophie must survive the longest, most terrifying night of her life and pray she won’t be the only one left when she wakes.

Alex is the kid from the wrong side of the tracks and trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. It’s all he can do to keep his head down until his eighteenth birthday when he can leave his life in foster care behind him. But Alex doesn’t realize he and the quiet girl from class with lonely, blue eyes are fated in the most impossible way imaginable. Death is everywhere, and even in the gray dawn of morning, after the fever subsides and the world echoes in silence, Alex will have to face his darkest fear yet.

The Longest Night is a prequel novella in the Savage North Chronicles, part of the bestselling, post-apocalyptic Ending World. You do not have to read The Ending Series in order to enjoy the Savage North Chronicles

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Reader’s thoughs:I can’t put into words how much Lindsey blew me away with this prequel. I love how we got a glimpse of what Sophie and Alex went through as the world ended in the Last Frontier before meeting Elle and Jackson. The fear and trials they went through, makes you wonder what kids/teens today might have to experience if the world came to a terrible end. Such a great prequel to an amazing series!!

Until Next time my dragons!

** I was asked to write an honest review for this novel. It was not agreed for the review to be positive. I’m not compensated for my reviews.**

The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O'Neal

 Title: The Art of Inheriting Secrets Author: Barabara O’Neal Published: July 17, 2018 Pages: 359 Format: Aubiobook Source: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime

One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.

Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reader’s Thoughts: I absolutely enjoyed this novel. the characters are well developed and carefully thought about. I loved the mystery surrounding Olivia and her new found history and inheritance.
The development between Olivia and Sam went smoothly, and I routed for them 100%.
I really enjoyed the whole American learning she’s English royalty. This was like a dream that every girl has.
The description of the Estate in England is extraordinary. I felt like I was in the Estate itself.
I believe Barbara O’Neal is a new favorite

You can purchase or listen for free on Kindle Unlimited HERE

The Darkest Winter by Lindsey Pouge

 Title: The Darkest Wnter Author: Lindsey Pouge Series Title: Savage North Chronicles Published:,May 9th 2019 Pages: 494 Format: File Source: Given for an honest review by author as an ARC

Summary: The Virus spread. Billions died. The Ending began.

A group of orphaned misfits.
The wild lands of the last frontier. 
Superhuman abilities, harrowing adventures, and heartbreaking secrets.

Elle – Haunting shadows are nothing new to Elle St. James, she’s been running from them all her life. But since the outbreak spread from the lower forty-eight, new monsters lurk in the darkness. After Elle wakes from The Fever, capable of horrific deeds, she fears she’s one of them. When she stumbles upon four orphans, Elle’s forced to discover what happens when her greatest fear becomes her darkest secret and her only hope of surviving.

Jackson – After the world goes mad and takes his family with it, Jackson decides a bottle of bourbon and the depths of despair are preferable to any semblance of living. But when Jackson wakes from the black hole of oblivion with a gun in his face, he must choose whether he wants to die or fight to find something worth living for. 

Brought together under the worst possible circumstances, Elle and Jackson must face the inexplicable realities of the new world. Their past lives are over, and the arctic isn’t all that’s savage anymore.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Reader’s Thoughts: Such an awesome first of a new spin-off series. 
The Darkest Winter is the first book of the new Ending Series, The Savage North Chronicles. It takes place in the last frontier of Alaska and parts of the Yukon territory, Canada.
The two main characters are Elle and Jackson. Both characters experienced trauma and together, work through the scars to save and protect 4 orphan children as the world ends. 
This book gives you a peek into the Alaska experience. How much people do rely on the land. Especially everyone is dealing with a mystery virus and experiencing new “abilities.”
I was sucked in from page one. Being an Alaska raised girl, this book gave me a taste of home. 
The suspense of the illness and the development of each character is spot on. The Savage North Chronicles can be read with The Ending series, or it can be a complete stand alone series. 
Great job and I can’t wait for book two!!!

You can purchase The Darkest Winter for Kindle Unlimited for Free or the paperback for $14.99 HERE

Until next time my Dragons!!

** I was asked to write an honest review for this novel. It was not agreed for the review to be positive. I’m not compensated for my reviews.**

The Haunting of Alice May by Tony Lee Moral

 Title: The Haunting of Alice May Author: Tony Lee Moral Series Title: Ghost Maven Published:March 16, 2019 Pages: 235 Format:Kindle Source: Given for an honest review by author as an ARC

Summary: Alice May Parker moves with her family to the sleepy town of Pacific Grove after her Mom dies, but little does she know the strange and terrifying events to come. When she falls into the bay during a kayaking trip, she is rescued from drowning by the mysterious Henry Raphael. Handsome, old fashioned and cordial, he is unlike any other boy she has known before. Intelligent and romantic, he sees straight into her soul. Soon Alice and Henry are swept up in a passionate and decidedly unorthodox romance until she finds out that Henry is not all what he seems. . .

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reader’s Thoughts: As you start this novel, you follow Alice, a seventeen year old girl who is tormented by her mother’s sudden death. Her father decided to relocate her and her little sister to a small town on the coast called Pacific Grove. While trying to adapt to her new home, Alice makes a few new friends, but is battling her fear of water.

You watch as Alice grows stronger and out of her shell after she meets Henry, a young man who is a bit out of the ordinary. While starting a relationship with the young man who literally saved her from drowning, Alice discovers that Henry isn’t who he seems. If fact he isn’t human at all. He’s a 100 year old ghost of a dead man.

After having a few mishaps, Henry and Alice start a romantic relationship together. Yeah you heard that right. This is a concept that I haven’t read before and find quite interesting. While the plot is a tad confusing at first, I found this book to be an enjoyable light read. I see a lot of potential for a second novel, maybe more considering the series name is neat. I enjoyed the growth of Alice as she starts to settle into her new home and has a strong connection to Henry. I wish there was a little more explaining about the “ghost maven” and that Henry’s story was told as well.

The ending of this novel was quick and swift, with enough action to keep those pages turning. I sure do hope to see more of our main couple in a next book.

Until next time my dragons,

** I was asked to write an honest review for this novel. It was not agreed for the review to be positive. I’m not compensated for my reviews.**