Tag: book review

Laugh-Out-Loud Humor With Lots of Heart — Two Witches and a Whiskey by Annette Marie {ARC Review}

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GCS3 Two Witches and a Whiskey- AnnetteMarie GRTitle: Two Witches and a Whiskey (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #3)
Author: Annette Marie
Publisher: Dark Owl Fantasy
Release Date: February 8th, 2019
Standalone/Series: Series 06
Genre: New Adult – Urban Fantasy

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My rating in stars: 4,5 stars
My rating in words: Loved it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Three months ago, I landed a job as a bartender. But not at a bar—at a guild. Yeah, the magic kind.

I’m not a badass mage like my three smokin’ hot best friends. I’m not a sorcerer or an alchemist, or even a wussy witch. I’m just a human, slinging drinks like a pro and keeping my non-magical nose out of mythic business. Seriously, I know my limits.

So why am I currently standing in a black-magic ritual circle across from a fae lord?

Somewhere behind me, my three mage friends are battling for their lives. Somewhere near my feet is the rogue witch I just knocked out with a stolen spell. And I have about five seconds to convince this very angry sea god not to shmoosh me like a bug.

I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of the job description.

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Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.

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THE GUILD CODEX: SPELLBOUND
Three Mages and a Margarita (#1)
Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (#2)
Two Witches and a Whiskey (#3)
Demon Magic and a Martini (#4) Continue reading →

Sweet & Steamy Gender-Swapped Pretty Woman — The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang {Book Review}

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The Kiss Quotient by Helen HoangTitle: The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 5th, 2018
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Adult – Contemporary – Romance

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My rating in stars: 4 stars
My rating in words: Loved it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases — a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice — with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan — from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…
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More Humor, More Worldbuilding & More Intriguing Characters Equals More Fangirling From Me — Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie {ARC Book Review}

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Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette MarieTitle: Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #2)
Author: Annette Marie
Publisher: Dark Owl Fantasy
Release Date: November 16th, 2018
Standalone/Series: Series 
Genre: New Adult – Urban Fantasy

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My rating in stars: 5 stars
My rating in words: Loved it, new all-time favorite!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here.

It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender—but not at a bar. At a guild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?

Then my favorite guild members—three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages—asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.

So that’s what we did. And that’s why I’m here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago.

Why did I agree to this again?

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Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.

Tori has no problem getting herself into trouble in every book in the Guild Codex series, but each one is a complete adventure—no cliffhanger endings.

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Blog Tour: Three Mages And A Margarita by Annette Marie {Book Review & Giveaway}

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ThreeMagesAndAMargaritaTourBanner

Hi everyone, and welcome to my stop for the Three Mages And A Margarita Blog Tour!

I have been a huge Annette Marie fangirl ever since I picked up and fell head over heels in love with her Red Winter trilogy (check out my post on Ten Reasons Why Red Winter Is THE Hidden Gem YA Fantasy Series). I quickly devoured her other series: Steel and Stone and The Night Realm and loved them all just as much. Naturally, when I got accepted to be an Xpresso Blog Tour Host for Annette Marie’s newest fantasy book, I was ECSTATIC! Yes, give me all the Annette Marie books please, and I will gladly talk about them all!

So without further ado, please scroll down to see my review and thoughts on Three Mages And A Margarita, as well as the fun tour-wide giveaway!

Notes:
I received an advanced reading copy through Xpresso Book Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Check out the other stops on this blog tour here.

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A Four-Step Guide On How To Get Lindsey To Read A Book About Soccer — Running With Lions by Julian Winters {Book Review}

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Running With Lions by Julian WintersTitle: Running With Lions
Author: Julian Winters
Publisher: Duet Books
Release Date: June 7th, 2018
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary

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My rating in stars: 3,5 stars
My rating in words: I liked it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Bloomington High School Lions’ star goalie, Sebastian Hughes, should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing and he’s got a coach who doesn’t ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah shows up to summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team’s success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him. Determined to reconnect with Emir for the sake of the Lions, he sets out to regain Emir’s trust. But to Sebastian’s surprise, sweaty days on the pitch, wandering the town’s streets, and bonding on the weekends sparks more than just friendship between them.

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The One Where Lindsey Predictably Falls For A Band of Dangerous Misfits (Again) — Vicious by V.E. Schwab {Book Review}

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vicious-by-v-e-schwabTitle: Vicious (Villains #1)
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: September 24th, 2013
Standalone/Series: Series
Genre: Adult – Fantasy

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My rating in stars: 4,5 stars
My rating in words: Loved it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. 

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

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A Purrfectly Fun Read — Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas {Book Review}

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Catwoman Soulstealer by Sarah J. MaasTitle: Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Random House Books
Release Date: August 7th, 2018
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy

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My rating in stars: 4 stars
My rating in words: Really liked it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

When the Bat’s away, the Cat will play. It’s time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing.

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Don’t You Know Who You Are, You’re My Shooting Star — Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett {Book Review}

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Starry Eyes by Jenn BennettTitle: Starry Eyes
Author: Jenn Bennett
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 3rd, 2018
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary

Goodreads link

My rating in stars: 4,5 stars
My rating in words: Loved it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

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Fandom, Friendship and Anxiety — I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman {Book Review}

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I Was Born For This by Alice OsemanTitle: I Was Born For This
Author: Alice Oseman
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: May 3rd, 2018
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary

Goodreads link

My rating in stars: 4,5 stars
My rating in words: Loved it!

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world.

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare.

Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.

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Boys, Religion, Writing and Love — Autoboyography by Christina Lauren {Book Review}

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Autoboyography by Christina LaurenTitle: Autoboyography
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books
Release Date: September 12th, 2017
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult – Contemporary

Goodreads link

My rating in stars: 5 stars
My rating in words: New all-time favorite

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

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