Books Less Travelled

*I received a copy from the Publisher for review. This does not affect my review*

This book, where to start? From the first, I enjoyed watching the nameless heiress of Rothford, even though her personality wasn't my favorite. While at times she showed her spoiled, pampered side, she was fun to read about because of her dangerous and daring side. From the moment she met Cedric, her life was forever changed. How much? Turns out, a lot more than the bargained for!

I loved seeing Adelaide in The Glittering Court, but it was the side characters that really made this story for me. There were quite a few, but my favorites were Mira, Nicholas, and Temsin, although Grant had his purpose as well, and the Marshall's. Not to mention Cedric's rebellious yet charming nature.

While the gist of the story line has been done countless times, I liked the unique twists this one had, and the idea of the Glittering Court, and a sort of mail-order-bride for the...New Nobility of Adoria.

I did have a few problems with this book...Most of them happening in the last half. While I admit the love interest is charming, the fact that his religion is...often ignored and never really resolved between Adelaide (Elizabeth) and him bothers me. Religion is a big deal...like really big, and should be an important factor in marriage plans.

Also blackmail, attempted murder, and sexual assault are also big deal, and even the 'rich and famous' should not be able to 'bribe' their way out of the consequences.

This was my first time reading anything by Jay Kristoff. I'll be honest, I've heard so much praise for his writing, and I went in with high expectations...And was utterly disappointed. I never did connect with any of the characters...well maybe Ezekiel, he was pretty cool, but otherwise...Nope. I also hated how everyone talked, "brainmeats' and 'Fug' everything? Uh, yeah...no! I'll admit, the setting was pretty cool, and I'm super picky about sci-fi, but the characters just weren't working for me. (It also reminded me of the movies Real Steel and/or The Iron Giant for some reason...maybe just me?)

I must be the only one, but I found that I wasn't a fan of this story. From the start, I kept being pulled out of the story, and couldn't relate to any of the characters. I liked Lennon least of all, and couldn't understand why Zorie even liked him. There was way more sex and foul language than needed for a YA, if I was in the mood for that I would have picked up a NA book instead. (by the way, I've read NA books that are tamer than this!) Normally I wouldn't care about those things, but the summary gives no warning at all about the adult content in this book, and I was expecting more of a sweet romance, but that's not at all what I ended up with. I haven't read any of this author's other works, but after this one, I'm not so sure I'm missing much.

*I received an eCopy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

Such a fun read! I'm not a big sci-fi fan, and don't often read about space, but this one was easy to follow, and I was quickly hooked! I find some sci-fi books to be confusing and too technical, but this one, written in typical YA fashion, is super easy to understand, and I loved the characters and world it contained. I'm always a sucker for a good retelling, and I loved how this one played out, and the original spin this one puts on a classic story.

*I received an eCopy from the publisher for review. This does not affect my review.*

What a creative world! I enjoyed the world-building in this story, and loved the story-line. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, and while I enjoy Steampunk, I don't read it often, but this genre-bending story was a well told mix of sci-fi, Steampunk, and my favorite, fantasy! I enjoyed Talis and her crew, as well as the characters they meet throughout the story. I loved seeing the different settings throughout Peridot, and the aliens and gods were also fun to read about! I didn't have trouble understanding what was going on, as I do in some science fiction stories, and loved the fast-paced action.

Such a unique story! In a world where shadows can be used as a power source, sides are forming. I loved the cast of heroes in this one, and even the villains were fun to read about. I haven't heard much about this one, and actually stumbled on it by chance, but I'm so glad I did! It's my first time hearing about this author, but I can't wait for more from this series!

*I received a copy from the author through the Facebook group: Happily Ever After ARC Readers. This does not affect my review.*

This is my first time reading one of India R. Adams' books, but I have to say, I really enjoyed it! The story and world-building was so unlike anything I have read before. While it wasn't the emotional roller-coaster I'm used to, there were some places that I found myself cheering for the characters, and even a part where I felt the characters' pain.

Rose is about to turn 20, in a world where sickness is killing those she loves. Her father died of the illness, and her mother is fighting a loosing battle. She is forced to work, and raise her younger brother and sister, with the help of Gunner, her best friend.
On her 20th birthday, Gunner convinces her to go to a party with friends. There she meets a stranger, one who she met in a dream.

I loved the elves in this, and the blood demons. The more we learned of both races, the more I liked the story. The Vikes are my favorite, from the way they talk, to their playful natures. While I'm not big on their relationship arrangements, and was worried that Rose might be in a similar position, I'm happy with how things turned out. I loved the elf village, and their way of life, and am excited to see more of these characters in the next book. I also loved how things ended, and how the first book got it's name. It's very fitting.

*I received a copy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

I really enjoyed the diversity and representation in this one! While I didn't love it, it has a lot going for it, and is great for those who are into books with POC and LGBT+ characters. Well written, and the plot was fast paced and original.

*I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.*

This one focuses on the love story of Kate and Gabe. Gabriel Blake is a siren (mermaid) who meets Kate as a child, and they grow up together. I enjoyed this one and loved the positive messages it gives about love and family. The narration was well done, Sean Posvistak does a great job bringing the characters to life.

This story is so original and unlike any other I've read! The 'rules' of being a siren, as well as the way Kate and Gabe's relationship grows, were thought out and well planned. The story flowed at an even pace and didn't lag or ever get old. I loved the connection Kate and Gabe have from the beginning when they meet and become instant friends. The scenes and emotions are described in vivid detail, playing out in my mind as if it was a movie!

*I received a digital ARC from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

A year has passed since Tom left Camelot, and he's starting to question the decision to leave when he's suddenly given a chance to return. Like the first, this one is well written and I couldn't put it down! I love Green's writing style in this series! This series is such a fun read, and a recommend it to YA Fantasy readers as well as those who enjoy a good retelling or Arthurian lore!

*I received an eCopy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

I wanted to love this story, and it had loads of potential, but I can't say I loved it. I heard about it soon after binging SJMaas' work and was excited that Charlie Bowater was also the cover artist for this one, I had to read it! But when I did start reading it, I realized it wasn't going to love up to the hype. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but it won't be going on the "Best of 2018" list nor my "Favorites" list.

It does talk about sexual abuse, and tries to support the #MeToo campaign, but the characters didn't connect with me, and I never really felt they lived up to their potential.

A well thought out guide to going from employee to entrepreneur. A step to step guide to getting results in your business. I really enjoyed reading this title, and how easy it was to understand each of the steps.

I received a copy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.

I loved this one! Well written, I had no problem falling into this story. While it's short, it's well worth the read for any fan of horror or paranormal stories. I loved the unexpected ending!

*I received a copy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

Ok...I'm not sure how to review this one, so I'll start with my thought process.
When I first started reading this, I admit, I wondered what I had signed up for. This is so completely different from my normal reads, but I'm happy to admit I ended up loving it! It takes a while for the Gothic bit to make sense, but by the second half of the book I was sold! This story is well written, and while I had a love/hate relationship with JD, I ended up really enjoying this read!

*I won an ecopy on LibraryThing for review. This does not affect my review.*

I really liked the tone and writing style of this one! It reminded my of the old fairy tales and wives tales I have heard. But it was also a breath of fresh air, and something new. I enjoyed Tabitha and Lysander, and though I didn't see much of her, I also enjoyed Moll.

I love all the fae creatures Tab encounters, and though her naivete tends to get her into trouble, I like that I can see her slowly coming to understand as her journey continues that not all strangers are nice. That said, I'm hoping she finds some friends she can trust as her journey continues.

*I received an ecopy from the author for review. This does not affect my review.*

I really wanted to love this one, and while I did enjoy parts, I didn't love it. I think this is more a case of it's not you it's me. The odd thing is, that I loved the villains, especially the Waywards! It was the heroes that I struggled to connect with. I know I'm older than the target age, but I've read many other books for more of a middle-grade and YA age range and loved them.

My biggest issue was that I was never pulled into the story. I kept getting distracted, and after the second half, it was a struggle to read more than a few chapters at a time. Normally I fly through the last half of a book, but for this one, that wasn't the case. I am glad to see that I'm the minority on this, because the characters are original, and I did enjoy the world-building.