Cover Reveal: Orbit by Leigh Hellman

Today I’m helping unveil the cover for Orbit—the new adult, speculative fiction debut novel by Leigh Hellman. Without further ado, here is the cover (designed by Najla Qamber):

Characters as Dancers: Hexen's Cross Edition

Which dance style would fit the characters from Hexen’s Cross the best? In this post, I will match some of the characters from Hexen’s Cross by J. Kowallis with the dance that would be perfect for them. Read on to find out why Taran should dance ballet and why Coll would be an amazing tango dancer! Or, you can check out my five-star review of the book (by the way, you totally need to read it).

A fresh take on old mythology - Hexen's Cross ARC Review

*I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the author in exchange for review consideration. This does in no way affect my opinion, and all thoughts expressed in this review are unbiased and my own.*

Title: Hexen's Cross

Author: J. Kowallis

My rating: 5 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pub. date: May 1st 2018

Synopsis: The magic calls her. 

A prophecy binds her. 
The ancestors guide her. 

Dr. Taran Grim, a young professor of occult studies, knows the written history of witches better than anyone in her field. And she should. She’s one of them. 

After a mysterious stranger arrives at her office inquiring about the mythical staff of Woden, Taran’s curiosity reveals a millennia-old prophesy directly tied to her. The answers wait in Bryden, England and the only person who can help her gain access to the hidden valley is the descendant of Ruhmactir, and a member of the shape-shifting Geri clan: Collens “Coll” Donovan. 

But the Donovans have secrets of their own, and Taran’s underdeveloped magic is wreaking strange havoc on her life. If she can’t manage her magic and strike a truce with Coll, they’ll fail to prevent the prophesied event known as Deireanhexe: the end of the hexen race. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Unique but disappointing - Dwarves of Calcus ARC Review

*Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader's Copy from Netgalley in exchange for review consideration. This does in no way affect my opinion, and all thoughts expressed in this review are unbiased and my own.*

Title: Dwarves of Calcus

Series: Fairytale Galaxy Chronicles

Author: Katie Hamstead

My rating: 2 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Retelling, Romance

Pub. date: March 6th, 2018

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Synopsis: When she was thirteen, Snow Sabbia crash landed on the dwarves' home planet of Calcus. After fleeing from her step-mother's huntsman, seven brother dwarves took her in to hide and protect her. She has hidden for years on the peaceful planet, tinkering with old automobiles and pushing papers in the mine office.

Then, Timothy White shows up.
The shy, nervous, nerdy heir captivates Snow before she even knows who he is, and quickly she falls in love. But his high profile in society draws unwanted attention from her vengeful stepmother, who wants Snow dead.
Geneva believed Snow died years earlier and she had consumed her innocent heart. With her late husband's wealth, Snow's inheritance, in tow, she married a young lord, Conrad. Both are using each other--Geneva for his title and to have a child, Conrad for her money and beauty. But when Conrad lays eyes on his boyhood rival's lovely fiance, Snow, his overwhelming desire for her reveals the truth to Geneva, that Snow lives.
Desperate to hold onto her wealth and power, Geneva seeks to kill Snow properly this time. Snow has the power to wield the one thing that can destroy her, so she cannot let the girl claim possession of the family heirloom, the Nevollo Sword. 
Snow soon learns her step-mother knows she is alive. But she is a pacifist, so she must outwit Geneva and remain hidden... until Geneva, disguised as a child, presents her with an apple. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Trailer Reveal: Moonlight Seduction (de Vincent #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Moonlight Seduction: A de Vincent Novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is coming June 26th and we have the trailer reveal!

Top Five List: New Adult Books

To end this New Adult Theme Month, I have a Top Five list with my favourite New Adult books. If you’re looking for recommendations, or just curious about what books I’ve read and loved, keep reading this post! And at the end of the post, I’ll post the giveaway for one of my favourites, that ends soon, so make sure to get those entries in!

Review: Afterimage (The Enertia Trials #1) by J. Kowallis

Title: Afterimage
Series: The Enertia Trials

Author: J. Kowallis

My rating: 4 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Dystopia, Romance

Pub. date: May 7th 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Synopsis: Reggie’s dreams . . .

aren’t dreams.

Visions of the future flood her mind like shards of broken puzzles. Caged in her cell, every morning begins the same. She’s drugged, tortured, and images are torn from her memory by Public One.

Until the morning everything changes. The vision is different. The future’s never been about her, and now she knows they’re coming for her:

Nomads.

How will she convince them to keep her alive when Nate, their leader, doesn’t like or even trust her? To him, she’s a science experiment. A machine.

When Public One will do anything to keep her, Reggie must make a decision: remain a slave to her past, or risk her future to venture into a world more terrifying than she’s ever known. (synopsis from Goodreads)

New Adult Mini Reviews

So today I have two mini reviews for you guys! These are both two books that I read a while ago, and I really enjoyed reading both of them. Now, as I said, it’s been a while since I read these books, so I’m reviewing from memory. So the books I’ve decided to review are Rule by Jay Crownover and Iniquity by Melody Winter. So without further ado, here are my reviews!

Book Spotlight + Favourite Quotes: The Animal Under the Fur by E.J. Mellow

Today I have a book spotlight for one of the books that most surprised me last year. While I love the author, The Animal Under the Fur is a genre I don't usually read, but since it was by E.J. Mellow, I had to try it, and I didn't regret it. The writing that truly transports you into another world, characters that make you laugh, cry and swoon, and a plot that will make your heart stop, only to race faster than ever. So when I was planning my New Adult month, this book was one of the first ones that popped into my mind. Now, keep reading for all the info on the book and my favourite quotes from the book!

Author Interview: J. Kowallis, author of The Enertia Trials

Hey guys! I'm so excited to share this interview with J. Kowallis today! She's the author of The Enertia Trials, a New Adult Dystopian series, and it's amazing! Afterimage, the first book, is one of my favorite Dystopia books of all time. Intense, dark and devastating, it will keep you hooked from page one! And the world is amazing, even though it gives me nightmares. Keep reading for my interview with J. Kowallis, and all her links!

New Adult Book Recommendations + Giveaway

Just like with Young Adult, there are of course many subgenres in New Adult, meaning there’s something for everyone. No matter if you’re looking for a sweet romance, a dark dystopia, or a fantastic fantasy, you’re sure to find something that fits you. In this post, I will recommend my favourite New Adult books from different subgenera! And you get the chance to win your choice of one of my recommendations, so keep reading for the giveaway!

Why New Adult + Giveaway

Hey guys! So, this month, I'm doing a theme month, which I'm really excited about! A few years ago, I started reading New Adult, and fell in love with it immediately. And since, I've only fallen more and more in love with it. But recently, I've started noticing that not a lot of people really read NA, so I decided I wanted to do something to bring more attention to the genre, and that's how I came up with this little blog event. So the month of March will be filled with themed posts, reviews, interviews, discussion posts, and more, not to mention a giveaway of one of my all-time favorite New Adult books!

Now, to kick this event off, I have a post about all the reasons why you should give New Adult a try, and hopefully convince some of you to try the genre. And if you're already in love with NA, look at it as an introduction to this month of fun! (Too much? Yes? Sorry about that.) And keep reading for the giveaway, that will last the entire month!

Emotional and unputdownable: The Prophecy ARC Review

*Disclaimer: I received an advance reader's copy from the author in exchange for review consideration. This does in no way affect my opinion, and all thoughts expressed in this review are unbiased and my own.*

Title: The Prophecy

Series: Titan #4

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pub. date: March 8th, 2018

Synopsis: History is on repeat…

Seth never thought he’d have a future. But now he’s on the brink of having it all with Josie: A tomorrow. A family. A forever. And all that's standing between him and that forever is the Titans. If he helps Josie entomb them -- without killing them, a nearly impossible task for him -- everything he could ever want will be in reach. But he soon realizes that as a god, every little choice he makes can reshape the world for the better… or worse. And in meddling with the Titans, Seth may have just set into motion catastrophic consequences that will force the Olympians to enter the mortal realm and reshape the delicate balance of power that keeps the world from total collapse.

A price must be paid…

Entombing the Titans is Josie’s top priority. After all, it was what she was born to do. But the plans her father put into play to help her are no longer an option, and the odds she and Seth face in forging their own path are grim. The escalating violence between halfs and pures only increases the danger closing in on them and their friends. Josie knows their chances of succeeding in their task are slim at best -- and if they fail, they might lose everything. But she also knows she's not fighting just for herself -- she's fighting for the man she loves, for their future, for the world. Together with the Army of Awesome, Josie and Seth will face the unthinkable. And to win this war, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

For the end is here and the Prophecy will be fulfilled…. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Review: Wicked (A Wicked Saga #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Wicked

Series: A Wicked Saga

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pub. date: December 8th 2014

Synopsis: Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Best Reads of 2017

This is always the most difficult post of the year, because there are always so many great books I’ve loved that I think need to get attention! Which is why I now have more categories than ever – to be able to tell you all about all the books I’ve loved this year!

Release Day Launch: Shelter (The Getaway Series #2) by Jay Crownover

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover returns with the second standalone title in her Getaway series, SHELTER. Check out the excerpt below and pick up your copy today!

And that’s not all! RETREAT, the first standalone title in the Getaway series, is on sale! You can grab your copy for just $.99 for a limited time only.

Review: Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rowdy

Author: Jay Crownover

My rating: 4 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pub. date: October 21st 2014

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Synopsis: The New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with this sizzling, sexy story of love, heartbreak, fate, and second chances.

After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Review: Nash (Marked Men #4) by Jay Crownover

Title: Nash

Author: Jay Crownover

My rating: 4 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pub. date: April 29th 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher

Synopsis: Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again? (synopsis from Goodreads)

Character Interview: Apolline from Princess of Tyrone by Katie Hamstead

Hi guys! I have something really exciting to share with you today! You have no idea how hard it's been to keep this from you the last few months, but it's finally here! A character interview with Apolline from Princess of Tyrone, the first book in The Fairytale Galaxy Chronicles by Katie Hamstead. I absolutely loved the book, and Apolline was so much fun to read about, she's totally badass and cool, and I'm so excited to have gotten the chance to interview her. Keep Reading for the interview, plus some teasers.

Review: The Struggle (Titan #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: The Struggle

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pub. date: March 20th 2017

Synopsis: A bloody path has been chosen… 

The war against the Titans continues, and they remain determined to wreak havoc on the world, but Seth has become something all gods fear. Now the most dangerous, most absolute power no longer resides in those who have been freed from their tombs. 

The Great War fought by the few is coming… 

All may doubt and fear what Seth has become. All except the one woman who might be his final chance at redemption. Josie will do anything to prove that Seth is on their side, but fate has a nasty way of changing lives, of changing people. 

In the end, the sun will fall… 

The only way they can save the future and save themselves is by facing the unknown together. It will take more than trust and faith. It will take love and the kind of strength not easily broken. No matter what, their lives will never be the same. 

For what the gods have feared has come to pass. The end of the old is here and the beginning of the new has been ushered in… (synopsis from Goodreads)